Safari Information
A safari to encounter the mountain gorillas in Uganda offers wildlife lovers a rare, transformative travel experience and though tracking gorillas is the main highlight of this tour, Uganda offers much more, a variety of wildlife encounters, including chimpanzees and colobus monkeys, plus classic big game and some of Africa’s best birding in Queen Elizabeth National Park. You will discover Uganda in totality by visiting the top wildlife sanctuaries;
Murchison falls National Park – Uganda’s largest national park and bisected by the Victoria Nile from east to west, here you will also enjoy great sights of the magnificent Murchison falls that falls from a 45m wall through an 8m wide gorge hence giving it a very scenic look and a thunderous roar.
Queen Elizabeth National Park, – Arguably the most famous park in Uganda and hosts the 6th highest birds diversity in the world and the highest in Africa! Famous for its tree climbing lions, however, the park boasts of 10 primate species like chimpanzees and 95 mammal species including big game. A 2 hour boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel gives you a chance to further explore this oasis of wildlife among which are large schools of hippos, elephants, buffaloes, birds, crocodiles and so much more.
Kibale forest National Park – 351 tree species have been recorded in the park, some rise to over 55m and are over 200 years old! Kibale National Park contains one of the loveliest and most varied tracts of tropical forest in Uganda. Forest cover, interspersed with patches of grassland and swamp, dominates the northern and central parts of the park on an elevated plateau. Kibale is famously known for Chimpanzee tracking and is home to 13 species of primates and adjoins Queen Elizabeth National Park to the south to create a 180km-long corridor for wildlife between Ishasha, the remote southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Sebitoli in the north of Kibale National Park.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park – In local language (Lukiga), Bwindi actually means ‘Impenetrable; the paths go through thick vegetation and may be steep, there aren’t any roads inside the park here you travel around on foot. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park lies in southwestern Uganda on the edge of the Rift Valley. Its mist-covered hillsides are blanketed by one of Uganda’s oldest and most biologically diverse rainforests, which dates back over 25,000 years and contains almost 400 species of plants. More famously, this “impenetrable forest” also protects an estimated 400 mountain gorillas – roughly half of the world’s population, including several habituated groups, which can be tracked.
Safari Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Uganda
Upon arrival to Uganda, you will be met by our safari guide at Entebbe International airport bearing a signage with your name. It is advisable that the clients are fully vaccinated to avoid testing upon arrival at Entebbe airport. After completion of your emigrations formalities, you will be transferred to your accommodation in Entebbe. If time permits, you may opt to visit the famous Entebbe Botanical Gardens. Established in 1902, the gardens’ fine collection of plants spans the country’s tropical, sub-tropical and temperate zones. The gardens are also home to many different avian species, offering an excellent introduction to Uganda’s diverse birdlife plus you may spot vervet and black-and-white colobus monkeys here too.
Accommodation: Hotel Number 5 on Bed & Breakfast basis: This stylish boutique hotel is tucked within Entebbe’s leafy suburbs and features boutique accommodation overlooking a lush lawn, palm-studded gardens and shaded swimming pool.
Day 2: Flight to Murchison falls National Park. Walk to top of the falls
You will have the morning free at your lodge in Entebbe. At 10:30hr, you will be picked up and driven to Entebbe airport to check in for your 1-hour flight to Murchison falls national park with Aerolink Uganda. The flight departs Entebbe at 12:00hr and lands in Murchison falls at 13:00hr. Upon arrival, you shall be received by your private safari guide who will drive you to your accommodation. You will have lunch at the lodge. In the late afternoon, you shall drive to the top of Murchison falls and have a walk around this natural wonder. Upon reaching the top you will enjoy the spectacular view of the falls passing through the narrow paths between rocks making explosive roars and forming rainbow displays hence making an astonishing beauty for the eyes. Enjoy numerous photography opportunities. Afterwards you shall return to your lodge for the night.
Accommodation: Nile Safari Lodge on full board basis. (Alternatives include Paraa safari Lodge and Chobe Safari Lodge)
Day 3: Game drive and Boat cruise
After breakfast, you will head into the park with its beautiful landscape for a morning game drive that will give you an opportunity to encounter a wide range of animal species like Giraffe, warthogs, buffalo, elephants, lions and numerous antelopes. After a picnic lunch, you will take a boat cruise upstream to the bottom of the falls. During the cruise, you will be able to meet the Nile crocodiles at the shores of the Nile River, big pools of hippos, elephants and many other animals that come to the river to drink. Your onboard tour guide will help you spot and identify numerous birds along the Nile. You will later return to the Lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Nile Safari Lodge on full board basis. (Alternatives include Paraa safari Lodge and Chobe Safari Lodge)
Day 4: Drive to Kibale Forest National Park
After your breakfast, will check out from Murchison falls national park for a transfer to Kibale Forest National Park; commonly known as the capital for the primates due to its highest concentration of the primate species. The Park is also a home to one of man’s closest relatives the chimpanzees and other primate species and bird species. The journey will lead you through a typical Ugandan countryside with local homesteads and numerous tea plantations. You may stop for landscape photography especially at the Great Rift valley escarpment. You will have a stop for lunch in Fort Portal town. You will arrive in Kibale in the evening and check in to your accommodation.
Accommodation: Ndali Lodge on full board basis. (Alternatives include Kyaninga Lodge and Primates Lodge)
Day 5: Chimpanzee Tracking and Bigodi swamp tour
After breakfast, you will be transferred to Kanyanchu tourist center for briefing before proceeding for chimpanzee tracking. You shall be led by armed ranger guides to follow the trails of chimpanzees until you reach them. Aside from the Chimpanzees, the incredibly diverse forest is home to over 13 species of primates including the rare L’Hoest, red Colobus monkey, blue monkey, black faced vervet monkeys, grey mangabey, pottos, baboons and also bush babies. Kibale forest has a network of shady flora trails that provide much to delight botanists and butterfly lovers, while birders are in for a treat with about 335 species recorded including the endemic Peregrine’s ground thrush. You will spend one hour photographing and recording the chimpanzees. Thereafter you shall walk back to the information center. You will have a local cuisine lunch at Tinka’s place near the park headquarters. In the afternoon, you will be transferred to Bigodi wetlands for the swamp walk and birding experience. You may encounter different bird species including the rare papyrus Gonolek that may be spotted and many other primates’ species. Return to your lodge in the evening.
Accommodation: Ndali Lodge on full board basis. (Alternatives include Kyaninga Lodge and Primates Lodge)
Day 6: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Afternoon Boat ride
You will check out of your accommodation in the morning to be transferred to Queen Elizabeth National Park one of Uganda’s Premier wildlife destinations. The journey to the park will be complimented with the fascinating view of Rwenzori Mountain ranges. You may also visit one of the numerous crater lakes in the Tooro region on your way. Queen Elizabeth national park’s diverse ecosystems, which include sprawling savanna, shady, humid forests, sparkling lakes and fertile wetlands, make it the ideal habitat for classic big game, ten primate species including chimpanzees and over 600 species of birds. You will arrive at Mweya Lodge in time for a hot lunch. At 14:30hr, you will go for a boat cruise on Kazinga channel. The boat cruise at the Kazinga channel takes you through possibly the highest concentration of hippos in the world, crocodile and different bird species. You will also see many elephants and buffaloes drinking from the water’s edges. You will return to the lodge afterwards for overnight.
Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge on full board basis. (Alternatives include Ishasha Wilderness Camp and Kyambura Gorge Lodge)
Day 7: Morning game drive in Kasenyi. Drive to Ishasha sector
After an early breakfast, you will check out of Mweya Lodge and cross to Kasenyi plains for a 3-hours game drive. The mornings are very productive for sighting large herds of antelopes, buffaloes and elephants. Before the heat of the day, you will also have good chances to spot lions, hyenas and the elusive leopards. Near Lake Edward, you will also encounter hippos returning from overnight grazing. Your guide will assist you to spot as many animals as possible. With a picnic lunch, you will drive to Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth national park. Here you will have a game drive on your way to your riverside tented camp. Check in and relax for the night.
Accommodation: Ishasha Wilderness Camp on full board basis. (Alternative: Kyambura Gorge Lodge)
Day 8: Full day Game drive in Ishasha sector
You will have a whole day of game drives in Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth national park. This region is most famous for tree climbing lions and conspicuous wildlife viewing. Your first game drive shall start at 07:00hr to 11:00hr. You will then relax and have lunch at the camp before resuming at 15:00hr. This game drive shall end with a beautiful sundowner drink on a choice spot in the park.
Accommodation: Ishasha Wilderness Camp on full board basis. (Alternative: Kyambura Gorge Lodge)
Day 9: Drive to Bwindi impenetrable national park
You will check out of your accommodation in the mid-morning to be transferred to Bwindi impenetrable national park and your gorilla-trekking base in the rain forest. The park, whose name aptly references the dense forests it encompasses, is home to roughly half the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. Though best known for its outstanding gorilla tracking, it also provides refuge to chimpanzees, monkeys, elephants and various small antelope. Bwindi is also a key Uganda birding destination, with 23 of Uganda’s 24 Albertine Rift endemics, including threatened species such as African green broadbill and Shelley’s crimson wing. The journey will lead you through the mountainous region with numerous photography opportunities. Upon arrival you will check in to your accommodation and rest in preparation for the next day’s activities.
Accommodation: Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp (Alternatives: Buhoma Lodge, Ruhija Gorilla Lodge and Clouds Mount Gorilla lodge)
Day 10: Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi
Within the World Heritage Site that is Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, discover one of nature travel’s peak experiences: a visit with wild gorillas in their natural habitat. About 1,063 wild mountain gorillas remain in the world, and Bwindi is home to about 459—a population that is growing, but still threatened by the increasing human population in the surrounding communities. Your safari includes a chance to spend time among the gorillas, often at very close range. You will have one hour to observe, photograph and record the giant and gentle Gorillas. This is truly a rewarding experience you will live to remember. After breakfast, you will be accompanied by the guide to the park headquarters for the briefing at 08:00hrs well equipped with your packed lunch. You will then be divided into groups and depart on a trek through the dense rain forest on a quest to locate one of the habituated family groups your group has been allocated to track. The local guides are expert trackers, reading signs of the gorillas’ recent presence in the undergrowth. Finally you hear and see them, and watch enrapt as they sit in the trees chewing leaves, babies clinging to mothers’ backs, juveniles swinging from branches, and a big male silverback surveying it all. It’s hard to tell who is more intrigued with the other, the gorillas or us! During the Gorilla trekking experience, you may also encounter other different primate species as well as a variety of bird species. If time permits, visit Conservation Coffee, a local co-op of farmers who grow, process and roast beans to sell at a premium that benefits gorilla conservation. You may have a chance to walk through the coffee fields, pick some beans, and see firsthand how this sustainable community enterprise unfolds.
Accommodation: Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp (Alternatives: Buhoma Lodge, Ruhija Gorilla Lodge and Clouds Mount Gorilla lodge)
Day 11: Transfer to Kihihi airstrip. Flight to Entebbe
At 10:00hr, you shall be picked up from Bwindi to drive to Kihihi airstrip to take your flight to Entebbe airport. The flight departs Kihihi at 12:00hr and lands in Entebbe at 14:40hr. At Entebbe you shall be received by another guide who will transfer you to your accommodation. You will have samples take for COVID-19 testing.
Accommodation: Hotel Number 5 on full board basis.
Day 12: Airport transfer and departure
Depending on the time of your scheduled departure flight, you shall be transferred from the hotel to Entebbe airport for check in. If the clients have late flights, it is necessary to book day rooms or optional activities around Entebbe town.
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