10 Days Gorilla, Chimp and Wildlife Safari

During this 10-day gorilla, chimpanzee and wildlife safari you will have an exceptional opportunity to visit 4 of Uganda’s national parks — Murchison Falls National Park, Kibale National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. You will also visit Lake Bunyonyi and the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.

DETAILED ITINERARY

Arrival: You will be picked up either from the airport the day before the trip or from your hotel if you are already in Uganda. Please note, accommodations prior to or following the trip can be arranged at additional cost.

Day 1: Transfer to Murchison Falls

After an early breakfast, your safari guide will pick you up and you will embark on the approximately 4½-drive to Murchison Falls National Park. About 3 hours into the trip, you will visit the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for a rhino tracking experience.

The activity will be followed by lunch at the sanctuary canteen and then you will continue your journey to Murchison Falls National Park, via the town of Masindi and entering the park through the Kichumbanyobo Gate. A late-afternoon arrival at your lodge is projected. Dinner and overnight at your lodge.

Accommodation: Paraa Safari Lodge (luxury) / Pakuba Safari Lodge (midrange) / Red Chilli Rest Camp (budget)

Meal plan: lunch and dinner

Day 2: Game drive and boat cruise

Following an early breakfast, your safari guide will take you on a game drive at the Lake Albert Delta, the point where the Nile River empties into Lake Albert, during which you may spot such wildlife as elephants, giraffes, lions, leopards, hyenas, kobs and many others.

You will return to your lodge for lunch and at 2:00 pm, set out for the boat cruise along the Nile to the bottom of the Falls. Expect to see hippos and crocodiles, as well as some grazers enjoying an afternoon plunge. Following the cruise, you will hike up to the top of the Falls from where you will be driven back to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Paraa Safari Lodge (luxury) / Pakuba Safari Lodge (midrange) / Red Chilli Rest Camp (budget)

Meal plan: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 3: Transfer to Kibale National Park

Following an early breakfast and check out, your safari guide will drive you to Kibale National Park for your chimpanzee tracking adventure. The journey is approximately 260 kms and may take 4 to 5 hours. Arriving in the city of Fort Portal mid-afternoon, you will check into your lodge for lunch and relax after the long drive. Dinner and overnight at your lodge.

Accommodation: Turaco Treetops (luxury) / Kibale forest camp (midrange) / Rweteera Safari lodge(budget)

Meal plan: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 4: Chimpanzee tracking and Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary

After an early breakfast at your lodge (your lodge will provide you with a packed lunch), your safari guide will drive you to the park office for registration and briefing. You will then proceed with your small group to track your assigned chimpanzee family. This can take anywhere from 2 to 5 hours during which time you will encounter other primates and a slew of birds. Once you locate the chimpanzee family, you will have 1 hour to photograph and observe them.

After tracking and relaxing at the lodge, you can opt for a 2-hour afternoon nature walk in the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary. The sanctuary is home to numerous primates including the red colobus monkey and the black & white colobus monkey, as well as many other mammals and some 130 species of birds.

Accommodation: Turaco Treetops (luxury) / Rweteera Safari Park (midrange) / Sunbird Hill (budget)

Meal plan: breakfast, packed lunch and dinner

Day 5: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park and afternoon boat cruise

After an early breakfast, your safari guide will drive you on the 100 km journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park. As you travel along the Kasese Road and cross the glacial Nyamwamba River, you will see spectacular vistas of the Rwenzori Block Mountains.

Prior to your arrival at your lodge, you will have a photo-op at the equator.

Following check in at your lodge and lunch, your safari guide will take you to the launch for a boat cruise to observe and photograph an array of sunning and bathing wildlife such as elephants, buffalos, hippos, crocodiles and water birds like flamingos, herons, kingfishers, and so many more. You will then be driven back to your lodge. Dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge (luxury) / Parkview Safari Lodge (midrange) / Kazinga Wilderness Camp (budget)

Meal plan: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 6: Game drive and crater lakes

Following an early breakfast, your safari guide will take you on a game drive (approximately 4 hours) during which you will most likely encounter Ugandan kobs, elephants, warthogs and many other species. Nothing is guaranteed, but sightings of lions are quite likely, leopards are less so. And keep an eye open for the birds, some 600 species call this park their home.

Following a return to your lodge and relaxation, you safari guide will take you on a late-afternoon visit to crater lakes and a sunset view of the Kyambura escarpment. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge (luxury) / Parkview Safari Lodge (midrange) / Kazinga Wilderness Camp (budget)

Meal plan: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 7: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National

After an early breakfast, your safari guide will drive you to Bwindi via the Bunyaruguru district, where crater lakes are visible along the roadside and over the hills. This route will afford you many opportunities to observe the natural diversity of the region. Photo-ops abound and your safari guide will be glad to stop for that perfect photo.

On your journey to Bwindi, we have scheduled a brief visit to the Kitagata hot springs. Your journey will proceed through the Ntungamo district, for a relaxing 2-hour lunch at the Great Lakes Museum and then you will proceed to Bwindi and check into your lodge in the late afternoon. Dinner and overnight at your lodge.

Accommodation: Nkuringo Gorilla lodge (luxury) / Bweza Gorilla lodge(midrange) / Rushaga Gorilla Haven(budget)

Meal plan: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 8: Gorilla tracking

After an early breakfast and check out (your lodge will provide you with a packed lunch), your safari guide will drive you to the briefing point in the park where you will check in. The briefing begins at 8:30 am, however guests are requested to arrive by 8:00 am. Then, with your ranger guide and small group, you will begin your trek into the Impenetrable Forest in search of the gorillas. Depending upon where the gorillas slept the previous night, this trek can take 4 hours or more. Once you locate the gorilla family, you will have one hour to photograph them and observe their behavior, after which you will hike back to the ranger station for your graduation ceremony and receive your gorilla tracking certificate. Your safari guide will then drive you to Lake Bunyonyi for an afternoon of relaxation. Dinner and overnight at your lodge.

Accommodation: Arcadia Lodges Bunyonyi (luxury) / Lake Bunyonyi Rock Resort (midrange) / Bunyonyi Overland Resort (budget)

Meal plan: breakfast, packed lunch and dinner

Day 9: Lake Bunyonyi

Wake up at a convenient time for you and enjoy your breakfast and then start your day’s activities with a boat or canoe trip on Lake Bunyonyi. Uganda’s deepest lake, it is dotted with 29 islands and home to some 200 species of birds. In fact, its name means “lake of the small birds.” Return to your lodge for lunch and in the afternoon you can take a hike to the view the vistas from on high or partake of other lake activities.

Accommodation: Arcadia Lodges Bunyonyi (luxury) / Lake Bunyonyi Rock Resort (midrange) / Bunyonyi Overland Resort (budget)

Day 10: Transfer to Entebbe/Kampala                       

Following an early breakfast, your safari guide will drive you back to Entebbe or Kampala, depending on your plans. Lunch will be en route in Mbarara and there will be a brief stopover at the equator for a photo-op.

End of trip.

Trip includes:

• Accommodation and meals as per the itinerary
• Safari 4x4 vehicle
• Drinking water
• Airport or hotel transfer on the first and last day
• Driver/Tour guide
• Fuel for the entire trip
• All park entrance fees
• Hand sanitizer

Trip excludes:

• International and/or internal flights
• Visa
• Tips
• Food and beverages not otherwise indicated
• Laundry
• Face masks
• Gorilla and chimpanzee tracking permits (to be booked and paid for in advance; preparation upon request)