11-Day Best of Uganda Wildlife and Gorilla Safari

On arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be met by our company representative or your tour guide. After, you will be transferred to your booked hotel in Entebbe town and relax. Later, you will meet with your assigned tour guide, who will provide an overview of the 11-day best of Uganda Wildlife and gorilla trekking Safari. Soon after lunch, you will have a drive to Entebbe Botanical Gardens, which are found on the shores of Lake Victoria, the largest water body in Africa, and the source of the longest river on the planet, for a nature walk where you will see some primate species like the vervet monkeys and several bird species. Later, you will return to your hotel to have dinner and an overnight stay.

Accommodation: 2 Friends Hotel
Meal plan: lunch and dinner

After an early morning breakfast, you will check out of the hotel and start your journey to the legendary Murchison Falls National Park, located in northwestern Uganda, about 320 km from Kampala. On your way to the Murchison Falls National Park, you will visit the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, the only place in Uganda where you can fully immerse yourself in the presence of white rhinos in a wilderness setting. During rhino tracking, you will encounter rhinos close to their feet with the help of your site guide and spend one hour with them. You will be allowed to photograph in order to have these magical moments with these animals captured. After the experience, you will have lunch at Kabalega Dinner, relax for a while, and then proceed with your drive to Murchison Falls National Park. On arrival at the park before checking into your booked lodge, visit the Murchison Falls to enjoy the breathtaking views of the whole River Nile passing through a tiny gorge of only 7 meters wide. After seeing the Murchison Falls, cross the River Nile and drive to your booked lodge to check in and relax for the evening till it’s time to be served dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Parra Safari Lodge (Luxury), Pakuba Safari Lodge (Mid-range), and Hornbill Bush Lodge (Budget)
Meal plan: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

You will have an early rise, then grab a packed breakfast in preparation to head to the northern sector of the park, where the game drive safaris are carried out. During the game drive, you will spot several animal species such as cape buffalo, elephants, Uganda kobs, and Jackson’s hartebeest, and a leopard may be spotted on a lucky day. You will have a short break to enjoy your packed breakfast and later proceed with the game drive to fully explore and experience the park’s wildlife species. Later, you will return to the lodge to relax and have lunch, and then drive to the Paraa gathering point for an afternoon boat cruise safari on the Victoria Nile. The boat cruise leads you to the base of the Murchison Falls, stopping a few meters from the devil’s cauldron of the falls, which will give you a magnificent view of the falls. Along the river, you will experience various water mammals like the Nile crocodiles, hippos, and several birds such as the African Fish Eagle, Malachite Kingfisher, African Darter, Egyptian Goose, and many others. Soon after, you will return to the lodge to relax and prepare for the night game drive. The night game drive is so adventurous and gives you a chance to see nocturnal animals and predators out on the hunt for food. Murchison Falls National Park is the best when it comes to night game drives because you get to experience the remarkable nightlife and sounds of the jungle. After return to the Lodge for an overnight.

Accommodation:  Parra Safari Lodge (Luxury), Pakuba Safari Lodge (Mid-range), and Hornbill Bush Lodge (Budget)

Meal plan:  Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After an amazing breakfast, check out of the lodge and slowly drive through the park across the river, and then drive to Kibale Forest National Park. The park is popular for having the highest concentration of primates, totalling over 13 species, where chimpanzees are the top highlight of the park, followed by other primates, including the L’Hoest’s monkeys, red-tailed monkey, the endangered red colobus monkeys, olive baboons, and so many others. The park also inhabits over 375 bird species and other mammals such as bushbucks, blue duikers, and bush pigs. The drive to Kibale Forest National Park will take you through the breathtaking landscapes, villages, and small towns, offering the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the countryside that will make the drive more adventurous and memorable. You will have a stopover in Fort Portal City to have lunch and later drive to the lodge to check in and spend the rest of the evening resting. Have dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Chimpundu Safari Lodge (Luxury), Isunga Safari Lodge (Mid-range), and Kibale Forest Camp (Budget).

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, you will meet your safari guide and transfer to the park information offices for a briefing on the dos and don’ts during chimpanzee tracking. Soon after, you will embark on a guided nature walk to search for the magnificent chimpanzees. During the walk, you are bound to see other wildlife species. Once you meet the chimpanzees, you will spend a maximum of an hour with them to watch their way of life. Soon after, you will return to the starting point to have refreshments and then drive back to your lodge to have lunch, relax, and then prepare for the evening Bigodi Swamp for a nature walk and community experience.

The Bigodi wetland is located on the eastern edge of the forest in the Magombe swamp. Punctuated by biodiversity and lovely scenery, the swamp is definitely a must-see for any bird lover, entailing over 138 bird species and hosting eight species of primates, such as the black and white colobus, red-tailed, and grey-cheeked mangabey, among many others. The Bigodi community walk will take you through the nearby community to have a chance to interact with local people to learn how they harmoniously live and cohabit with wildlife species. After the community experience, you will head back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Chimpundu Safari Lodge (Luxury), Isunga Safari Lodge (Mid-range), and Kibale Forest Camp (Budget).

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After enjoying your breakfast, check out the lodge and then go for the Kasenda Crater Lakes exploration tour. The area has amazing views, beautiful small crater lakes, the best atmosphere, and cool breezes that make the Kasenda Crater Lakes area a nature lover’s true haven. The exploration tour will take you to visit several crater lakes on foot through the green forested areas. This beautiful scenery can’t be seen anywhere else. The tour will end at the Ndali-Kasenda viewpoint, also known as the top of the world, with magnificent views of Lake George and the Kichwamba escarpment in the rift valley, Kibale National Park, and the Rwenzori Mountain ranges. After the crater exploration, you will proceed to Queen Elizabeth National Park, where you will have lunch and some relaxation time.

Later, you will visit the Lake Katwe salt mining community, which gives you insights into how salt is extracted by the local people, and you will have a chance to interact with the locals and learn more about the skill of saltwater extraction. Soon after, you will drive back to your lodge to stay at leisure until dinner time and then overnight.

Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge (Luxury), Buffalo Lodge (Mid-range), and Pumba Safari Cottages (Budget)

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After an early morning fulfilling breakfast, you will head to the Kalinzu Forest Reserve head office to receive a briefing on rules and regulations regarding trekking and the second chimpanzee tracking safari from a different environment. Once you find a community of the habituated chimpanzees, you will have a maximum of one hour to be with them and experience them in their natural habitat; soon you will return to the starting point for refreshments and then drive back to your lodge to have lunch, relax, and prepare for the afternoon boat cruise.

The boat cruises along the Kazinga Channel, the main water stream that goes through the park and connects Lake George and Lake Edward. The cruise will bring you very close to mammals such as hippos, Nile crocodiles, and buffalo, among others. Later, after the boat cruise safari along the Kazinga Channel, you will return to your lodge to spend the evening relaxing and overnight.

Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge (Luxury), Buffalo Lodge (Mid-range), and Pumba Safari Cottages (Budget)
Meal plan: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

After having a delicious breakfast, you will be driven to Kasenyi Plains, located in the northeastern part of the park, for the morning game drive safari in search of various wildlife species. The national park is one of Uganda’s most popular national parks and is a habitat for remarkable big game with four of the big five mammals including lion, buffalo, Leopard, and lions. Soon after the game drive, you will relax and then head to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park via the Ishasha sector in the southern parts of Queen Elizabeth National Park for a game drive to look out for the rare tree-climbing lions. After the drive, you will have lunch and then proceed on your journey to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, famous for having half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas.

Accommodation: Bwindi Lodge (Luxury), Bakiga Lodge (Mid-range), Ride for a Woman (Budget)

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Your day 9 of the 11-day best of Uganda wildlife and primate safari starts with waking up early in the morning to head to the information offices to get briefed about the trekking experience, how to behave in the presence of mountain gorillas, and the expectations. You will be given a packed lunch, and it will be recommended to hire a porter to carry items you will need during the trek. You will start with a forest walk in search of endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitats. Once you encounter the mountain gorilla family in their natural habitat, all the hardship endured to find them will be outweighed by the beauty these majestic creatures entail. In the time spent, you will get to know about their behaviors regarding how they socialize; you will spend an hour with them, and will be allowed to capture the unforgettable moments. After the experience, you will receive a mountain trekking certificate in appreciation for your contribution to the conservation of the endangered mountain gorillas in Uganda. You will then have refreshments and lunch, and then drive to Lake Bunyonyi to relax and stay overnight.

Accommodation: Birdnest Bunyonyi (luxury), Bunyonyi Rock Resort (mid-range), and Heritage Lodge (Budget)

Meal plan: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

After the delicious breakfast, you will go boat canoeing on Lake Bunyonyi, which takes 2 hours of exploration of the 29 islands within the lake while learning about the area’s legends and folklore. After canoeing on Lake Bunyonyi, return to the lodge to check out and begin your journey to Lake Mburo National Park with a stopover at Igongo Cultural Center to have lunch and then tour the museum that entails the Ankole culture and heritage. Thereafter, proceed with the journey to the park to check in at your booked lodge and drive to the park for the evening, and an optional night game drive to spot some of the unique wildlife such as the beautiful bush babies, leopards, zebras, jackals, impalas, and elands, and others. The park has 350 recorded species, 68 mammal species, and 13 small lakes.

Accommodation: Mihingo Lodge (Luxury), Rwakobo Rock Lodge (Mid-range), and Eagles Nest (Budget)
Meal plan: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

On this day, you will have a simple breakfast in the morning and then go for your early morning jungle horseback riding in the park while having an amazing view of wildlife on horseback. After the unique experience, you will start on your journey back to Entebbe, where you will happen to pass by the equator landmark and then head to Entebbe town for dinner at your booked hotel to prepare for travel the next day.

Accommodation: 2 Friends Hotel
Meal plan: Half Board

Includes:

• All airport transfers (pick up and drop offs)
• English-speaking guide for 10 days
• 1 mountain gorilla trekking permit per person
• Chimpanzee trekking permits per person (Kalinzu and Kibale)
• Bottled drinking water
• All accommodation on a full board
• All en-route meals
• Fuel for 11 days
• All activities mentioned on the itinerary

Excludes:

• Personal Items like gifts, phone bills, laundry, souvenirs
• Travel Insurance
• Travel tickets
• Drinks (soft and alcoholic drinks)
• Tips
• Extra activities
• Personal Items like gifts, phone bills, laundry, and others