9 Days Uganda Gorilla-Chimpanzee & Wildlife Safari
This 9 Days Uganda Gorillas-Chimpanzee & Wildlife Safari: takes you to the most visited parks in Uganda. Your tour will begin with Murchison Falls National Park also referred to as Kaberaga Falls. It is generally Uganda’s largest protected area and one of the most exciting to spot animals. The safari will continue to Queen Elizabeth National Park which is famous for its tree climbing lions. You will conclude your safari with Bwindi Impenetrable National Park which is among the oldest forests. Besides the Gorillas, you also have an opportunity to see other primates as well as different bird species.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival at the Airport
Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, our representative from Great Nest Image Safari will receive and welcome you to Uganda the Pearl of Africa. Thereafter, you will transfer to the booked hotel for your accommodation. In case you have an early landing in Uganda, you can proceed to visit some of the places around Entebbe/Kampala.
Accommodation
- Innophine Hotel (Entebbe)/Prestige Hotel (Kampala)
Meals & Drinks
- Full board
Day 2: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park-Ziwa rhino sanctuary-Top of the falls
After breakfast, you will be picked by your assigned driver then start on your journey to Murchison Falls National Park. Along the way, you will have a stopover at Ziwa Rhino sanctuary where you will do your on-foot rhino tracking. As a matter of fact, this is currently the only place in Uganda that hosts rhinos in their natural habitant. Afterwards, you will proceed with your journey having another stopover in Masindi for lunch.
Upon arrival in the park, you will go to the top of the falls that makes this park so famous. Interestingly, this is where the water of the Nile makes its way through a narrow gorge making a thunderous sound pouring downstream in a pool of 7 metres down. This place is also good for memorable pictures and taking in of the sounds and sights, including the rainbow that does not disappear, created by the mist of the falls. Basically, the top of the fall is spectacular, being so close to the falls and seeing the splendor from the top is such a wonderful experience. Later you will check in your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation
- Pakuba Safari Lodge
Meals & Drinks
- Full board
Day 3: Morning Game drive-Boat cruise
After an early morning breakfast, you will set off for an early morning game drive across the savannah, along Lake Albert Delta. However, what you will see, sense and feel around cannot be replicated anywhere else in the world. Afterwards, you will head to the dock and have your packed lunch as you prepare for the afternoon boat cruise. The boat will take around 3 hours and while on water therefore, don’t forget to pack some snacks and drinks to enjoy. While here, you will be able to view different animals like the crocodiles, hippos, etc as well as different water bird species. The boat ride will take you to the base of the Murchison Falls and when here you will be able to see clearly the mighty waterfalls.
Accommodation
- Pakuba Safari Lodge
Meals & Drinks
- Full board
Day 4: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park-Evening game drive
After breakfast, you will start on your journey to Queen Elizabeth National park. The drive takes approx. 3 hours, passing through fort portal and arrive at the park in the lunch hours. Upon arrival, you will check in your lodge and enjoy your lunch as you prepare to enjoy an evening game drive. Here, you will view many animal species including the lions, elephants, buffalos, kobs, antelopes as well as different bird different species. After you will return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation
- Buffalo Safari Lodge
Meals & Drinks
- Full board
Day 5: Morning game drive-Evening boat cruise
After an early morning breakfast you will go for the morning game drive in the Kasenyi area which is well known as the kob mating grounds. Therefore, this is a perfect place to spot a lot of kobs and other antelopes like the sitatungas. Other wildlife can also be spotted out such as lions, elephants hyenas among others. Later in the afternoon, you will go for launch cruise on the Kazinga channel famous for its highest hippopotamus, you will also spot crocodiles, buffalos, elephants and other animals as they come down to drink and bathe. Later return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation
- Buffalo Safari Lodge
Meals & Drinks
- Full board
Day 6: Chimpanzee trekking
After breakfast, you will head to the park headquarters for a briefing about the do’s and don’ts while tracking these chimpanzees. Afterwards, you will head to Kyambura gorge to track Chimpanzees and other primates. Among the primates you will encounter here include; Chimpanzees, baboons, monkeys, not to mention but a few. Upon locating a family, you will be given one hour in their presence as you enjoy their daily activities. While here, feel free to take photos and videos to take back home for remembrance. Later, head back to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation
- Buffalo Safari Lodge
Meals & Drinks
- Full board
Day 7: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Have breakfast in the morning then set off for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park through the Ishasha sector famously known for tree-climbing lions. The chance of spotting these lions is about 80% although they are sometimes hard to spot. You will continue to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park which is a big habitat for mountain gorillas in Uganda. With a strenuous day ahead, you will do less on arrival but just check in your accommodation.
Accommodation
- Gorilla closeup lodge
Meals & Drinks
- Full board
Day 8: Gorilla trekking-Batwa Cultural Experience
After an early morning breakfast, you will be driven to the park headquarters where you will be briefed by the park rangers about do’s and don’ts while trekking in the park. Here you will also be divided in a group of 8 individuals and after you will start off your gorilla trekking guided by the park rangers. This is a memorable and an amazing experience watching the Mountain gorillas feed, play around as well as do their day to day activities.
However, the time taken and the terrain vary with the movements of these great primates. Upon locating a gorilla group, you will be allowed an hour in their presence as you take photographs and observe their unique characters. Later, for lunch and in the evening head for the Batwa community which will expose you to their culture basing on how they live, dance, as well as listening to stories concerning their culture which will leave you amazed. Dinner and overnight stay at your lodge.
Accommodation
- Gorilla closeup lodge
Meals & Drinks
- Full board
Day 9: Transfer back to Kampala/Entebbe
After breakfast, you will check out and later return to Kampala/Entebbe having lunch along the way in Mbarara.
End of safari
Best time to visit
Note that, all the above parks can be visited throughout the year and all the activities can be enjoyed any time of the year.
Activities
- Ziwa Rhino
- Boat cruise
- Top of the falls
- Game drives
- Chimpanzee tracking
- Gorilla trekking
- Batwa cultural experience
Optional activities
Birding watching in Bwindi
Birders with a limited amount of time in Buhoma are strongly urged to stick to the Munyaga River Trail. On a good morning you could hope to see over 60 bird species. Among the common species seen include; the great blue turaco, black bee-eater. red-tailed bulbul, bar tailed trogon, Doherty’s bush-shrike, white bellied robin-chat, etc.
Birding in Queen Elizabeth National Park
The park has a bird list of more than 501 different bird species which in fact makes it the best place for enthusiastic birders. Among the species commonly seen here include: the Long-tailed cormorants, African mourning Doves. African open-billed stork, Great-white and pink-backed Pelicans, Squacco heron Grey-capped Warbler, etc.
Village walk in Bwindi
This 3 hour stroll through Buhoma and its margins immerses visitors in the customs and practices of the Bakiga and Batwa. This generally takes in varied activities such as farming, brewing local beer, dispensing traditional medicines and concludes with dancing displays by members of the Batwa community.
Visit the Traditional Salt Mine at Katwe in Queen Elizabeth National Park
You will have an opportunity to check out this very old salt mine which since the fourteenth (14th) century has been in existence. You will also see the traditional mining methods being used by the locals to mine the salt as well as their fascination way of life.
Nature Walks in Maramagambo Forest (Queen Elizabeth National Park)
We organize short and longer nature walks guided by very knowledgeable and skilled guides inside the Maramagambo forest. During these walks, holidaymakers will get an opportunity to visit the bat caves found near the breathtaking Blue Lake. These ancient caves today are habitat to large pythons which prey on the hundreds and hundreds of bats that live here. You will also encounter several beautifully colored butterflies and several bird species as you explore this forest.
Number of Days
9 Days / 8 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 for 8 nights
- Meals at the lodge
- All Taxes/VAT
- Roundtrip/Airport transfer
- Bottled drinking water
Excluded
- International flights
- Personal items
- Extra meals
- Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
- Tips
- Beverages
- 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 $800 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.
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