Overview
This 10-day gorilla and Big Five safari in Uganda can include a variety of activities such as:
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to see gorillas, Chimpanzee trekking inKibale Forest National Park to see chimpanzees, Game viewing on game drives in Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and other parks to see the Big Five (lions, leopards, buffaloes, and elephants)
Boat cruises on the Nile River and Kazinga Channel to see hippos, crocodiles, and other wildlife, Rhino tracking on foot to track rhinos in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Community tours to Visit local communities, Drive to the top of Murchison Falls to see the falls from above
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe International Airport
Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will meet your tour guide from Nsheka African Adventures who will be holding a signpost bearing your names. Greet and later depending on arrival time you will either transfer to your assigned accommodation in Kampala or Entebbe for dinner and overnight stay (for evening and night arrivals) or take you on a short city tour around Kampala and Entebbe. You can visit places like the Kasubi tombs, Namugongo Marty’s shrine, Lake Victoria shores, Uganda museum and so on. Dinner and overnight at your Hotel in Kampala.
Accommodation Options: Serena Hotel / Sheraton Hotel or Cassia Lodge / Humura Hotel for mid-range or Holiday Express Hotel/Excellent Hotel for budget.
Day 2: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park
After breakfast at your Hotel in Kampala or Entebbe, your driver guide will meet you up and brief you shortly about your tour. Later you will transfer to Murchison Falls National Park via Luweero-Nakasongola and Masindi. En route, you can have a stop over at the Luweero Triangle and also at Ziwa Rhino sanctuary for Rhino tracking. You will reach Masindi town in time for lunch. After lunch, proceed to the park where upon arrival, you will go and visit the top of the falls. This is the most interesting area with in the park. At the top of the falls you will experience the beauty of the mighty river Nile where its waters squeezes its self into a 7 meter gorge deep down over 45metres and hence making a thunderous roar. Transfer to your assigned place of accommodation for dinner and overnight stay at
Accommodation Options; Paraa Safari Lodge(Luxury), Fort Murchison/Pakuba Safari Lodge(Mid-range), Red Chilli Rest Camp/Heritage Safari Lodge(Budget)
Meal Plan; Full Board
Day 3: Game drive and launch cruise
After breakfast early morning, you will go for the game drive in the northern part of the park. The game drive will reward with beautiful and a variety of wildlife in the park such as Elephants, Lions, leopards, buffaloes, Antelopes like bush bucks and water bucks, Kobs, warthogs and so on. Later on you will return to your lodge for lunch as you wait for the afternoon launch cruise along the Albert Nile. During the afternoon launch cruise, look out for water loving animals like crocodile along the river banks, elephants taking water, hippos and many bird species. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay at the lodge of your choice as above.
Day 4: Transfer to Kibale forest National Park
After breakfast, you will set out and transfer to Kibale Forest National Park. En route to the park, the journey will reward you with beautiful scenery especially of the great Rwenzori Mountains in Kasese. You will also pass by different homesteads of local people in Hoima, plantations of tea and bananas and so on. You will have lunch in Hoima town and later proceed to fort portal reaching in the evening. Transfer to the park for dinner and overnight stay at
Accommodation Options; Ndali lodge/Primate Lodge/Kyaninga Lodge/ Turaco treetops / Chimp nest lodge
Meal Plan; Full Board.
Day 5: Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale forest and Bigodi swamp walk
Breakfast will be served in the morning after which, you will set out for the short chimpanzee briefing from the Uganda Wildlife Authority officials. The rangers will guide you on how to walk while in the forest and also how to behave. After this, you will get into the forest to start your search for the chimpanzees. These great apes are known as mans closest friends because of different characteristics that they have in common with man. Look out in the trees for chimpanzees, other primates such as white colobus monkeys, grey-checked mangabey, red colobus, black-and-white colobus, Baboons and different bird species like the great blue turacco, Africa pied king fisher , malkites and so on. Return back to the lodge after the trek for lunch after which you will go for the Bigodi swamp walk to search for the water loving bird species. The forest is not only known for its 13 species of primates, but this swamp area with in it, is a bird watchers paradise. Return for dinner and overnight stay at as above.
Meal Plan; Full Board.
Day 6: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National park
After a fully served breakfast, you will leave Kibale Forest National Park and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National park. En route, the journey will provide with different scenic views of the great mountains of the moon. You will reach the park with a game drive en route which will offer you with sights of different animals and how they behave at different times. Look out for animals like Elephants, Leopards, Lions and Kobs. You will reach the park headquarters at Mweya in the late afternoon where you will have lunch. Relax while having a small tour around the area. Dinner and overnight at
Accommodation options; Mweya safari lodge/Katara lodge/Mazike Valley Lodge(Up market), Bush lodge/Ihamba Safari Lodge/Twin Lakes Lodge (Mid-range), Mweya Hostels/Bush lodge in Tents(Budget)
Meal Plan; Full Board
Day 7: Game drive and Launch cruise
After breakfast early morning, you will go for the game drive in Kasenyi area with in the
Park. The game drive will reward with beautiful and a variety of wildlife in the park such as Elephants, Lions, leopards, buffaloes, Antelopes like bush bucks and water bucks, Kobs, warthogs and so on. Later on you will return to your lodge for lunch as you wait for the afternoon launch cruise along the Kazinga commonly known as the area with the highest concentration of hippos in Africa. The launch cruise will reward you with views of the most famous water loving animals like crocodile along the river banks, elephants taking water, hippos and many bird species. Return back to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay as above.
Meal Plan: FB
Day 8: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable forest National Park
You will set out for the early morning game drive with in the park to search for the early risers and animals you missed out in the previous game drives. Alternatively, you can go for chimpanzee tracking in the Kyambura gorge. Later on have lunch and after transfer to Bwindi Park via the Ishasha sector commonly known for its rare tree climbing lions. As you pass the area, look out for the rare tree climbing lions in fig trees. Proceed and reach Buhoma in the evening where you will rest a bit, have dinner and an overnight stay at
Accommodation Options; Mahogany springs/Chameleon Hill/Silver back lodge/Buhoma lodge(Luxury), Gorilla Mist Camp/Bakiga Lodge/Ichumbi Gorilla Safari Lodge(Midrange), Ruhija Gorilla friends camp/Rushaga Gorilla Camp(Budget)
Meal Plan; Full Board
Day 9: Gorilla trekking experience
After breakfast at the lodge, you will go to the park headquarters for briefing from the Uganda wildlife Authority ranger guides. After the briefing, the ranger will lead you into the thick impenetrable forest to start your search for the endangered rare species of Mountain Gorillas. The gorilla search always continues from the place where they were last seen the previous day. Upon reaching the area where these famous species are, you will only be allowed to interact with them for only one hour and you should always keep maximum silence while with these Gorillas. You are allowed to take photographs and so one. To find the Gorillas, it’s such a tiresome experience since it can take you almost 3-8 hours to find them. However, once you meet these gorillas, you will easily forget the hatches you have gone through to find them and instead save the good memories you will experience with them. After the interaction, you will return late to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay as above.
Day 10: Transfer back to Kampala
After an early breakfast at the lodge, you will drive back to Kampala with your lunch en route in Mbarara town. On your way back, you will pass via Kabale commonly known as the Switzerland of Africa because of its hills and beautiful scenery. Reach Kampala late evening and drop off will be at your Hotel in Kampala.
End of Safari
THE ABOVE TOUR INCLUDES
- Gorilla Permits
- Chimpanzee Permits
- Rhino Tracking
- Bottled Water
- English Speaking Guide
- Park Entrance Fees
- Boat Rides
- Cultural Tours
- All Activities Mentioned
THE ABOVE TOUR EXCLUDES
- International flight fare
- Entry Visas
- Laundry services
- Tips
- Alcoholic Drinks
