Our 10-day Uganda-Rwanda-Congo-Tanzania-Burundi Safari Tour
https://antiquesadventures.com/product/10-day-uganda-rwanda-congo-tanzania-burundi-safari-tour/ Began in Entebbe, taking us through an incredible mix of wildlife adventures and cultural experiences. Our journey started with a visit to Kibale Forest, where we experienced an exciting chimpanzee tracking adventure and a fascinating coffee farming tour. This was followed by thrilling game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Next, we ventured into the Ruhija sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest for an unforgettable gorilla trekking experience, marking our final activity in Uganda with golden monkey tracking at Mgahinga Forest. Crossing into Rwanda, we explored the stunning Lake Kivu, a major lake shared by Goma and Gisenyi. Given the ongoing conflict in Goma, DRC, at the time, we were anxious to see what a war zone looked like. Surprisingly, everything appeared calm despite M23 rebels controlling the city.
Our next stop was Kigali, Africa’s cleanest and most vibrant city. However, due to the closure of the Rwanda-Burundi border at the time, we had to transit through Tanzania to reach Burundi. Of course, no visit to Tanzania is complete without a game drive, so we decided to explore the lesser-known Burigi Chato National Park.
Burigi Chato National Park – The Hidden Gem
Before our trip, we researched Burigi Chato National Park but found very little information. Google Maps did not provide entry gate locations, and the only available details were on the Tanzania National Parks website. Even then, the listed gate names were not identifiable on Google Maps. According to the Tanzanian National Parks website, the Nyungwe Gate was the most accessible entry for visitors coming from Rwanda or Uganda. However, searching for Nyungwe Gate on Google Maps directed us to Nyungwe Forest in Rwanda instead.
From Kigali, we drove approximately 2–3 hours to the Rusumo border post. The crossing was smooth but heavily trafficked with cargo trucks, indicating that it was not a major tourist route. The Tanzania National Parks website indicated that the Nyungwe entry gate was the nearest, but unfortunately, the Rusumo–Biharamuro road was under construction at the time, causing delays. Signposts to the park may have been removed during the construction.
Our next focus was the Chato section, formerly known as Biharamuro Game Reserve, approximately 3–4 hours away. The drive took us through vibrant Tanzanian villages on well-maintained roads. Chato is a small town on the shores of Lake Victoria, where we found a signpost indicating that Kijuu Entry Gate was 38 km away. However, the sign was difficult to spot, being parallel to the road and not easily visible to drivers.
We checked into Chato Beach Resort, a decent lakeside accommodation, for the night. Early the next morning, we set off for Kijuu Gate, just thirty minutes from our hotel. To our surprise, we arrived at a well-built but seemingly abandoned park gate. The hotel staff had helped us obtain the contact information of the Burigi Chato National Park manager, who arranged for someone at the gate to assist us. The park staff were not expecting any visitors, and we were informed that Kijuu Gate did not process entry permits. Instead, we were required to drive back to Biharamuro to obtain the permits.
Due to the strict travel time regulations in Tanzania, the park manager granted us permission to go for a game drive before heading to Biharamuro for permits as we continued our journey to Burundi.
A Challenging Safari Experience
We entered the park at coordinates 2°22’40.5″S 31°39’54.9″E. The only available road was a rough track, nearly impassable due to overgrown vegetation. Fortunately, the good weather and well-drained water channels made our drive manageable. A few minutes in, the road almost disappeared, forcing our 4×4 Land Cruiser through tall bushes and shrubs. In some areas, our driver-guide had to step out to survey the terrain to avoid ditches and other obstacles. After three hours of difficult off-road driving, we finally emerged onto a paved highway from Biharamuro to Bukoba at coordinates 2°25’46.0″S 31°28’33.5″E.
Unfortunately, wildlife sightings were minimal—only a few baboons appeared along the route. The dense, uncontrolled vegetation likely kept most animals hidden deep in the park. Compared to nearby Lake Mburo National Park in Uganda and Akagera National Park in Rwanda, Burigi Chato National Park receives far less attention. Given its proximity to Rwanda and Uganda, it has great potential to attract more visitors, especially those looking to extend their forest wildlife experiences.
Onward to Burundi
After our challenging game drive, it was time to move on to our next destination—Bujumbura, Burundi. We planned to cross through the Murusabanga border, a small town about 2.5 hours from Biharamuro. Our journey continued, marking the next chapter of our adventurous East African safari.
Final Thoughts
Burigi Chato National Park remains an untapped treasure that deserves more attention from Tanzanian authorities. With better infrastructure, clearer visitor information, and improved access, this park could become a key wildlife destination, especially for travelers connecting from Uganda and Rwanda.
