15 Days Uganda gorillas, chimpanzee & adventure safari
OVERVIEW
This 15 Days Uganda gorillas, chimpanzee & adventure safari: will take you to Murchison Falls, Kibale, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi, Lake Bunyonyi and Lake Mburo National Park. 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. Kibale Forest National Park is particularly rich in primates with at least 60 mammal species with 13 species recorded. The park is the most important stronghold of Ugandan red colobus but it supports eight other diurnal primate species; vervet, red-tailed, L’Hoest’s and blue monkeys; Uganda mangabey; black-and-white colobus; olive baboon and chimpanzee. 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 Bunyonyi also takes its name from the abundant birdlife 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. 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
ACTIVITIES
- Game drives
- Boat cruise
- Top of the falls visit
- Zziwa rhino tracking
- Nature walks
- Chimpanzee tracking
- Gorilla trekking
- Water rafting
- Visit to the Source of the Nile
- Batwa Experience
SUMMARY
Day 1: Transfer Entebbe/Kampale – Travel to Murchison Falls National Park
Day 2: Game drive – Boat cruise
Day 3: Transfer to Kibale National Park
Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking – Bigodi wetland visit
Day 5: Travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 6: Game drive – Afternoon boat cruise
Day 7: Nature walk – Afternoon game drive
Day 8: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 9: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Day 11: Lake Bunyonyi – Tour the Islands
Day 12: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park- Home of Zebras
Day 13: Transfer to Jinja
Day 14: White water rafting – Discovering the Nile
Day 15: Return to Kampala/Entebbe
DETAILED ITINERARY
Day 1: Depart Entebbe/Kampale – Travel to Murchison Falls National Park
After breakfast, our representative from Ssemambo Alex Tours & Travel will pick you from the hotel and hit the road to Murchison Falls National Park. En route, make a visit to Zziwa 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 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 visit the falls at the top where you will see the magnificent falls passing through the 7 m gap with rocks and form the Victoria Nile. Later 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 2: Game drive – Boat cruise
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 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 like the kingfishers, wagtails, herons, shoebill and many more. 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 3: Transfer to Kibale National Park
After breakfast, you will depart right away for Kibale Forest National Park and this drive is quite long but incredibly scenic, passing through villages, lush green countryside and hills dotted with tea plantations that characterize this part of Uganda. You will have a stopover in Hoima at any hotel to have your lunch and after drive pass Lake Nkusi joining along Lake Kyoga. You will as well enjoy fort portal which is in the foot hills of Rwenzori Mountains filled with tea plantations, you will have a chance to take to some photos then you will continue to Kibale National Park which is one of the great rain forest in Africa.
Kibale National Park is popular for its primates like the chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys and L’Hoest’s monkey and while on your chimpanzee trails, you will see them swinging in the forest trees and others feeding on the wild fruits. You will reach and do little but check into your lodge where you will have dinner and the overnight rest.
Accommodation
- Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse
(Mid-range guest house located just outside Kibale Forest National Park)
Meals & Drinks
- Breakfast
- Bottled Drinking water
Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking – Bigodi wetland visit
After an early morning breakfast, you will go to the park headquarters where you will be briefed about the do’s and don’ts while doing chimpanzee trekking. After, you will start your search for the chimpanzees within the park and this can take you half a day depending on the movements of these primates. These primates are the closest relatives to the human being and they share 98% of their DNA with that of the human beings. There are other primates in the area like the golden monkeys, baboons, L’Hoest monkey, white and black Colobus monkeys, red Colobus and blue monkeys. Other animals to watch include; forest elephants unique from the common type and giant forest hogs. This park is one of the great rain forests in Africa and has the largest community of chimpanzees consisting of 1-100 individuals.
Later after lunch, you will take a guided nature walk to Bigodi swamp sanctuary, a good site for birders and here watch out for the Great Blue Turaco, Papyrus Gonolek, herons and kingfishers among others. Other primate species to view include; the bush pigs, baboons, bush bucks and more. Dinner and overnight stay at your lodge.
Accommodation
- Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse
(Mid-range guest house located just outside Kibale Forest National Park)
Meals & Drinks
- Breakfast
- Bottled Drinking water
Day 5: Travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park
After an early morning breakfast, you will enjoy a walk along the foot hills of the Rwenzori Mountains were you will have a glance at the great peak of this mountains of the moon. After, you will transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park which is 3 hour’s drive away from Kibale National Park. You will 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. This park was named after Queen Elizabeth the second and it has variety of wildlife species including; the impalas, kobs, forest hogs, elephants, buffaloes, tree climbing lions, and the cape buffaloes. The park also contains 600 bird species making it a must visit destination for birders to Uganda. You will arrive 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 6: Game drive – Afternoon boat cruise
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 7: Nature walk – Afternoon game drive
After breakfast, you will go for a walk through the Maramagambo forest which is one of the second largest forests in Uganda. This forest is a habitat to a number of primates and harbors many wildlife species including; the butterflies, birds, bats and the chimpanzees which are found in Kyambura Gorge with in the forest. This walk will also take you to the volcanic caves which is a home to thousands of bat species as well as the predator pythons which prey on the bats that leave within the cave.
Later in the afternoon after lunch, you will go for the game drive through the Ishasha sector where you will be able to view the tree climbing lions and other animal species including the birds, elephants, buffalos, kobs, monkeys and many more.
Accommodation
- Engiri game lodge and campsite
(Budget lodge located just outside Queen Elizabeth National Park)
Meals & Drinks
- Breakfast
- Bottled Drinking water
Day 8: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Have breakfast in the morning then set off for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park through the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park famously known for its resident tree-climbing lions. The chance of spotting these lions is about 80% though sometimes are hard to spot most especially when they are down in the grassland looking for prey.
You will continue to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park which is a big habitat for mountain gorillas in Uganda harboring an estimated 459 mountain gorillas, including several habituated groups, which you will trek. With a strenuous day ahead, you will do less on arrival but just check in your accommodation, relax as you prepare for the Bwindi gorilla trekking experience early in the morning the following day.
Accommodation
- Gorilla closeup lodge
(Mid-range lodge outside Bwindi National Park)
Meals & Drinks
- Breakfast
- Bottled Drinking water
Day 9: 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 decided 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
You will have your breakfast and later depart for Lake Bunyonyi well known as the second deepest Lake in Africa and here you are in the base that was named by British’s great diplomat Winston Churchill as the Switzerland of 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. On this day, you will just check in your lodge, relax, dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation
- Bunyonyi Overland Resort
(Mid-range resort located near Lake Bunyonyi)
Meals & Drinks
- Breakfast
- Bottle Drinking water
Day 11: Lake Bunyonyi – Tour the Islands
After breakfast, you will head out for a canoe/boat cruise ride on the lake, here you will be able to visit most of the Islands on the Lake that harbors 29 islands and almost every island with its history.
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 12: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park- Home of Zebras
After breakfast, embark to the 4hours drive to Lake Mburo, a small but rich National park seated on an area of 371 sq 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:
- Mihingo Lodge
(Budget lodge outside Lake Mburo National Park)
Meals & Drinks:
- Breakfast
- Bottle Drinking water
Day 13: Transfer to Jinja
Enjoy an early morning breakfast, you will do a game drive as you continue to Kampala, have a stop at the Equator line for refreshments, take photos and also buy some souvenirs from craft shop. Enjoy lunch still at the Equator or along the way depending on the arrival time.
After lunch, you will embark on your journey to Jinja located in the East of Uganda and the home of the source of the Nile River. You will arrive in the evening, check in your lodge, relax, dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation:
- Hotel Paradise
(Mid-range accommodation)
Meals & Drinks
- Breakfast
- Bottled Drinking water
Day 14: White water rafting – Discovering the Nile
After an early morning breakfast, you will head for water rafting on the Nile. It is an amazing and adventurous time rafting on these falls and this takes 2-3hours. Later you will have lunch and after you will be driven to where the beginning point to catch up with your boat as you go for your discovering the Source of the Nile. Later you will return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation:
- Hotel Paradise
(Mid-range accommodation)
Meals & Drinks
- Breakfast
- Bottled Drinking water
Day 15: Return to Kampala/Entebbe
You will have your breakfast and leave Jinja for Kampala/Entebbe. If you have a flight on the same day your guide will transfer you to Entebbe as you bid farewell to Uganda and we believe you had a great time in this 15 days Uganda Adventure & wildlife safari.
END OF SAFARI TOUR
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
Other optional activities in Jinja
- Bungee jumping
- Kayaking
- Quad
- Biking
- Horse riding
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.
PERMITS
In Uganda chimpanzee and Gorilla tracking is done throughout the year. Chimpanzee permit goes for $200 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.
