10 Days Uganda Gorillas, Chimpanzees & Wildlife Safari
This safari is well designed with mixed activities ranging from primates viewing safaris, wildlife viewing safaris, and boat cruise safaris, among others. This ultimate safari starts and ends in Kampala/Entebbe International Airport.
It includes nights in Murchison Falls National Park, Kibale Forest National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, Lake Bunyonyi, and Entebbe
Highlight
Day 1: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park and Ziwa Rhino Trekking
Day 2: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise
Day 3: Transfer to Kibale National Park
Day 4: Chimpanzee tracking and Bigodi swamp
Day 5: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 6: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise
Day 7: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 8: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi
Day 9: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
Day 10: transfer to Entebbe.
Detailed itinerary.
Day 1: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park and Ziwa Rhino Trekking
You will be picked up early in the morning from your hotel or Entebbe International Airport and be briefed about the safari, then start on the long drive to Murchison Falls National Park. This is the largest park in Uganda, covering almost 4000 km², and is one of the most spectacular parks in all of Africa.
There are the incredible falls from which the park takes its name, rugged savannah, dense woodland and spectacular wildlife. You will have a stopover at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for a rhino trekking that takes 1-2 hours, then later proceed with lunch. On reaching the park, you will proceed to Murchison Falls with the great views of the waterfalls (wonderful falls) and later connect to your booked lodge, relax, have dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodations: Entikko safari lodge, Nile safari lodge (luxury), Pakuba safari lodge, Tilenga safari lodge, Twiga safari lodge (mid-range) Parkside safari lodge as a budget
Day 2: Morning game drive and boat cruise in the afternoon
Have an early morning breakfast and go for a game drive, where you will spot different animals like elephants, buffalo, giraffes, antelopes, lions, leopard and jackals. If luck is really on our side, we may encounter one of Murchison’s few cheetahs’ later return to the lodge for lunch
In the afternoon, you will take a boat trip to the base of the 43 m high falls. This is also a good opportunity to spot a few of Murchison’s 460 bird species, including the shoebill stork and goliath heron. You will also see one of Africa’s hippo and crocodile populations. Dinner and overnight at the above accommodation.
Day 3: Transfer to Kibale National Park
You will have breakfast and then drive to Kibale en route. You will visit the Amabere Ganyinamwiru stalagmites and waterfalls site in Fort Portal and the crater lakes. Have lunch and proceed to Kibale National Park, arriving late afternoon. Dinner and overnight stay at your booked lodge
Accommodations: Chimpundu lodge, Primates lodge, Ndali lodge (luxury), Chimpanzee National Park, Kibale tourist safari lodge (mid-range), Kibale Forest Lodge, Kibale Forest Camp (budget), and others.
Day 4: Chimpanzee tracking—Kibale forest and Bigodi swamp
Take an early morning breakfast and go for a briefing and start chimpanzee trekking. Kibale Forest National Park is one of the best safari destinations in Africa for chimpanzee tracking. Kibale’s 795 km² National Park contains one of the most beautiful and the most varying tracts of tropical forest in the whole of Uganda. This is a place for a number of forest wildlife, most especially 13 species of primate coupled with chimpanzees.
After trekking, you will have lunch and then visit Bigodi Wetland, where you will discover a lot of bird life and nature! Later transfer back to the lodge for dinner and overnight at the above lodge.
Day 5: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Enjoy breakfast and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park, which is the second largest park in Uganda. On the way you will have breathtaking views of the landscape and scenery, and upon arrival in the park, you will check into your lodge, have lunch, and later go for an evening game drive.
You will encounter African elephants, Uganda kobs, herds of buffaloes, eland, bushbuck topis, and warthogs, among others. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodations: Elephant Plains Lodge, Mweya Safari Lodge, Acacia Wilderness Lodge (luxury), Elephant Hab Lodge, Buffalo Safari Lodge, Parkview Safari Lodge (moderate), Pumba Cottages, Kainga Wilderness Camp, and Tembo Safari Lodge are among the budget options.
Day 6 : Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise.
Enjoy the morning breakfast and go for a morning game drive in Kasenyi Plains. During the game drive you will be able to spot different animals like elephants, buffaloes, warthogs, Uganda kobs, and waterbucks that will be grazing in open savannah plains; predators like lions, hyenas, and leopards that will be looking for a morning hunt , View bird species, among others. Then return to the lodge for lunch.
In the afternoon, you will go for a boat cruise at the Kazinga Channel, the water channel that connects Lake Edward and Lake George, where you will view large herds of hippo and Nile crocodiles, buffaloes, elephants, and warthogs drinking water along the shores and view birds like hornbills, fish eagles, and kingfishers, among others. After returning to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 7: Transfer to Bwindi National Park (4 Hours)
Have breakfast, then exit the park via Ishasha, where you will get a chance to see tree-climbing lions as you head down to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, where you will see the stunning landscapes and scenery while on your way. Upon arrival, check in, unwind, and have dinner and overnight at your lodge.
Accommodations: Silverback Gorilla Lodge, Mahogany Springs Lodge, Bwindi Volcanoes Lodge (luxury), Buhoma Haven Lodge, Bakiga Lodge, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge (mid-range), Buhoma Community Rest Camp, Broadbill Lodge, and Rushaga Haven Lodge (budget), among others.
Day 8: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi
After an early morning breakfast, you will depart with your packed lunch and proceed to the park headquarters for a briefing, where you will be told about the do’s and don’ts while in the forest, and then after you will be taken to the forest for gorilla trekking. Gorilla trekking can take an hour or four depending on the movement of the gorillas.
The time remaining after visiting the gorillas can either be spent relaxing and remembering the trek or hiking in the foothills and visiting local communities. Dinner and overnight as above
Day 9: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
Have your breakfast, then drive to Lake Bunyonyi. Lake Bunyonyi means “place of little birds,” and the lake is made of steep hills covered with lush green vegetation showing from the water’s edges. It is a 2-3 hour drive from Bwindi National Park. Lake Bunyonyi is the best place for relaxation after your gorilla trek. Connect to your lodge with views of the rolling hills for lunch.
Later afternoon, connect for a canoe ride to visit some of the islands on the lake and sight different bird species. You will also enjoy doing other excursions of your choice. Dinner and overnight, you’re booked at your lodge.
Accommodations: Arcadia Cottages, Lake Bunyonyi, Bird Nest Lodge, Bunyonyi Resort, Bunyonyi Eco-lodge, among many others
Day 10: Transfer back to Kampala
After breakfast, check out of the lodge, and embark on a journey back to Kampala/Entebbe. It’s about a 4-5 hour drive with an en-route lunch and stop at the Equator for water experiments and photographs (in case you didn’t stop on the first day) and buy souvenirs. Proceed to Entebbe International Airport for your onward departure flight.
End of the 10 Days Uganda Gorillas, Chimpanzees & Wildlife Safari
Includes:
All activities as indicated in the itinerary
All accommodation as per itinerary
4X4 dust-proof safari vehicle (with popup roof) & fuel
Full-time English-speaking driver/guide
All meals as indicated
Park entrance fees
Boat cruise
Vehicle entrance fees
Bottled drinking water while on safari
All activities as indicated
Excludes:
Tips
Visa fees
Air tickets
All items of a personal nature like laundry, phone calls, beer, etc.
Anything else not included in the itinerary.
