11 Days gorillas-chimpanzee & wildlife safari
This 11 Days gorillas-chimpanzee & wildlife safari: will take you to Murchison falls, Queen Elizabeth, Lake Mburo National Park and Lake Bunyonyi. Your tour will begin with Murchison Falls National Park also referred to as Kaberaga Falls is Uganda’s largest protected area and one of the most exciting to track animals, bird watching such as the shoebill, Giant Kingfisher, Giant Heron and more. Queen Elizabeth National Park is a home to various mammals like the tree climbing lions in the Ishasha sector, crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes and much more. The park also holds different activities like bird watching whereby the park contains 600 bird species making it a must visit destination for birders and here Migratory birds are seen from November to April, boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel and Chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura Gorge. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park which is among the oldest forests. Besides the Gorillas, you will also have an opportunity to see other primates such as the baboons, red-tailed monkeys, chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys among others. The park also offers some of the best montane-forest (mountain-forest) bird watching in Africa with an estimation of over 350 bird species, 14 not recorded anywhere else in Uganda and migratory birds are present from November to April. Lake Mburo National Park harbours several mammal species not easily observed elsewhere in the country. The park supports Uganda’s only remaining population of impala and is one of only two national parks where Burchell’s zebra occurs. Lake Bunyonyi derived its name from the abundant bird life that call it home. All the 6 islands around it have got many bird species that can be enjoyed by many bird watchers that visit the Lake.
SUMMARY
Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe-Pick up
Day 2: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park – Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Day 3: Murchison game drive – Boat cruise – Top of the fall’s walk
Day 4: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 5: Morning game drive – Boat trip on the Kazinga Channel
Day 6: Chimpanzee Tracking – Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 7: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Day 8: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi – Tour the Islands
Day 9: Transfer to Lake Mburo
Day 10: Game drive – Transfer to Kampala/Entebbe
Day 11: Kampala City tour – Transfer to the Airport
DETAILED ITINERARY
Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe-Pick up
Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, our representative from Great Nest Image Safaris will receive and welcome you to Uganda the Pearl of Africa. Thereafter, you will transfer to the booked hotel in Entebbe/Kampala for your accommodation.
Accommodation:
- Innophine Hotel (Entebbe)/Prestige Hotel (Kampala)
- (Mid-range accommodation)
Meals & Drinks
- Breakfast
- Bottled Drinking water
Day 2: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park – Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary
After breakfast, the assigned driver will pick you from the hotel and hit the road to Murchison Falls National Park. En route, make a visit to Ziwa Rhino sanctuary for your first Big 5 experience where you will have an hour of rhino tracking and another stop will be in Masindi in order to enjoy your lunch. We shall then proceed to with our journey to Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s largest National Park where you will have the chance of viewing lions, giraffes, hartebeest, buffalo, and elephants. Reaching in the park late afternoon, you will check in your lodge and relax for the evening.
Accommodation
- Red Chili Rest Camp
- (Budget lodge located inside Murchison Falls National Park)
Meals & Drinks
- Breakfast
- Bottled Drinking water
Day 3: Murchison game drive – Boat cruise – Top of the fall’s walk
You will have your breakfast early in the morning and go for an early morning game drive across the rolling plains of Uganda’s largest National Park and be on the lookout for wildlife including: lions, giraffe, elephants among others. For any birder, there are quite a number of birds to sight too during the drive like the kingfishers, standard night jar, herons and more. Later return to the lodge for some rest time and lunch. After lunch, you will head out for a 2-3hr boat trip/launch cruise to the base of Murchison Falls where you will also be able to catch sight of more animals including Hippos and Crocodiles and several water birds. Continue with a hike (if you like) to the top of the falls as you enjoy the thunderous roars of the magnificent falls as they make their way through an 8m gorge and falling at 43m to meet again the Victoria Nile. The hike may be a strenuous one but the thrill on reaching the top is unforgettable. Return to your accommodation and have a relaxed evening.
Accommodation
- Red Chili Rest Camp
- (Budget lodge located inside Murchison Falls National Park)
Meals & Drinks
- Breakfast
- Bottled Drinking water
Day 4: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
After breakfast, you will depart from the Murchison Falls National Park to Queen Elizabeth National Park as you drive Southwest through Fort portal and the Albertine Escarpment of the Western Rift Valley, and you will have lunch on the way. From here you will continue to Mweya peninsula found in the Queen Elizabeth national park. You will arrive at the Park in the evening, have dinner and overnight stay at the lodge.
Accommodation
- Engiri Game Lodge and Campsite
- (Budget lodge located just outside Queen Elizabeth National Park)
Meals & Drinks
- Breakfast
- Bottled Drinking water
Day 5: Morning game drive – Boat trip on the Kazinga Channel
Early in the morning have your breakfast, proceed for a morning game drive to the Kasenyi plains and be on the look for Cape buffalos, herds of elephants plus the big cats: lions, leopard (not easy to spot) among others. Return to the lodge for some rest and lunch. After lunch, you will go for a 3 hour boat trip on the Kazinga Channel that connects Lakes George and Edward. During the trip, the sight of wildlife including giant hippos, elephants and crocodiles among others will fascinate you. You will also be able to spot out different species of birds at the water shores. You will have dinner and overnight at your accommodation.
Accommodation
- Engiri game lodge and campsite
- (Budget lodge located just outside Queen Elizabeth National Park)
Meals & Drinks
- Breakfast
- Bottled Drinking water
Day 6: Chimpanzee Tracking – Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After breakfast, you will head to the park headquarters for briefing about the do’s and don’ts while tracking the chimpanzees and then after head to Kyambura gorge to track Chimpanzees and other primates. Among the other primates you will encounter here are baboons and monkeys. Later you will drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park through scenic region also referred to as The Switzerland of Africa. With lunch along the way arrive at the park late afternoon. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Accommodation
- Gorilla closeup lodge
- (Mid-range lodge outside Bwindi National Park)
Meals & Drinks
- Breakfast
- Bottled Drinking water
Day 7: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
You will have breakfast and then move to the rangers’ post and here you will receive some briefing on the dos and don’ts during the trekking. Thereafter, you will enter the gorilla sanctuary for your adventure. The area offers dramatic steeply forested landscape and is incredibly dense but crisscrossed by numerous animal trails allowing access to tourists. The time taken and the terrain vary with the movements of these great primates and once you have located a gorilla group, you will be allowed an hour in their presence. The experience of coming face to face with these peaceful giants is very overwhelming. Later you will head back to your lodge, freshen up, have lunch and in the after you can decide to visit the Batwa community, they will tell you their forest stories, learn about their culture, learn their dances as you join them in dancing and much more. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Accommodation
- Gorilla closeup lodge
- (Mid-range lodge outside Bwindi National Park)
Meals & Drinks
- Breakfast
- Bottled Drinking water
Day 8: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi – Tour the Islands
You will have your breakfast and later depart for Lake Bunyonyi well known as the second deepest Lake in Africa. The word Bunyonyi means “small birds” in direct translation which means that the lake is a must stopover for committed birders and besides that; its serpentine shape and numerous islands are other highlights one must look out for. The Lake has 29 Islands and is a good stop over for relaxation from trekking Mountain Gorillas. After checking in your lodge, you will go for a Boat ride/Canoeing and here you will be able to visit most of the Islands on the Lake. The Islands on the Lake were named according to the different bird species found on the Island and some were named for different reasons for example the Punishment Island which is the smallest and was used by the Bakiga people to drop their girls who got pregnant before marriage and here you will also learn a lot about the people that inhabit the Islands. Bwama Island is good for birders, or you could take a nature walk helping you to appreciate a variety of small birds. Later you will return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation
- Bunyonyi Overland Resort
- (Mid-range resort located near Lake Bunyonyi)
Meals & Drinks
- Breakfast
- Bottle Drinking water
Day 9: Transfer to Lake Mburo
Early morning after breakfast transfer to Lake Mburo national park, a small but rich National park seated on an area of 371sq km. Lake Mburo National Park is home to a big number of antelopes, Zebras, warthogs, reed bucks and a number of bird species. On your way, you will go through the rolling terraced hills of Kabale and have a stop in Mbarara for lunch. After, you will continue to park reaching late afternoon. Later you will have a 2-hour boat cruise on the lake and later have dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Accommodation:
- Muhingo Lodge
- (Budget lodge outside Lake Mburo National Park)
Meals & Drinks:
- Breakfast
- Bottle Drinking water
Day 10: Game drive – Transfer to Kampala/Entebbe
After breakfast set out for a game drive through the park and feed your eyes as you watch amazing animal species and birds and also amazing savannah grasslands. You will drive out of the park with stopovers in Masaka for lunch and at the Equator, refreshments, take photographs and purchase some souvenirs. You will arrive Kampala in the evening. Dinner and overnight at your lodge.
Accommodation:
- Prestige Hotel (Kampala)
- (Mid-range accommodation)
Meals & Drinks
- Breakfast
- Bottled Drinking water
Day 11: Kampala City tour – Transfer to the Airport
In the morning after breakfast, go for a city tour, visit the Uganda museum, Kasubi tombs and also some craft shops to buy some crafts and souvenirs to take back home with you. After you will be driven to Entebbe, have lunch and proceed to the Airport to catch up your flight back home.
END OF SAFARI TOUR
BEST TIME TO VISIT
All the above parks can be visited throughout the year and all the activities can be enjoyed any time of the year.
Activities
- Rhino tracking
- Visit the top of the falls
- Game drives
- Boat cruise
- Gorilla trekking
- Nature walk
- Community visits
Number of Days
11 Days / 10 Nights
Included
- All Park entry fees
- Gorilla permits
- Chimp permits
- A professional driver/guide
- All transportation including fuel
- All activities (included in the itinerary)
- All accommodation (included in the itinerary)
- All Taxes/VAT
- Roundtrip/Airport transfer
- Drinking water
- Ferry crossing
Excluded
- International flights
- Personal items
- Meals
- Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
- Tips
- Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
PERMITS
In Uganda chimpanzee and Gorilla tracking is done throughout the year. Chimpanzee permit goes for $50 per person while a Gorilla trekking permit goes for $700 per person and all these are payable through the Uganda Wildlife Authority or through our Company.
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SAFARI
- Gorilla and Chimpanzee trekking permits should be paid in advance through our Company or Uganda Wildlife Authority.
- Proof of Yellow fever vaccination.
- Good physical, fit health and mental condition.
- Uganda Visa which can be got on arrival at the Airport.
- Travelers must be at least 15 years old on the day of the trekking.
- Travel & Health insurance arranged from your home Country.
- Hiking shoes.
- Water proof Jacket.
- Long Sleeves shirt & Waterproof Pants.
- Warm Jacket.
Standard 4X4 Safari Vans/Land cruisers
Our standard mode of transport is by road and we use 4×4 Safari van and Land cruisers with open roof tops customized for game viewing and photography. Each Safari van/Land cruiser comes with a professionally trained driver/guide with fuel for the whole safari. Each client is entitled to a window seat and can take up to 8-10 people. We also have very comfortable super customs which can carry up 6 people with their luggage also have small vehicles like Alphads, Harrier and much more that can carry 4-5 people.
Our Special Safaris
