15 Days Of Amazing Uganda Safari: Gorilla, Chimps,Big Five

• Uganda

Uganda’s 18,783 plant and animal species, ranks her among the top 10 most biodiverse countries in the world. Uganda is notably home to half of world’s mountain gorillas. Kibale forest is home to 13 primate species; a number no other country can outcompete. The cultural, artistic and cultural expressions i.e., cultural beliefs, handicrafts, cultural sites, monuments and antiquities, etc. make Uganda a great tourist destination.

Sir Winston Churchill, in his book – My African Journey referred to Uganda’s forests as more luxuriant than any other forest he had earlier visited. ‘’Birds are as bright as butterflies; butterflies are as big as birds. The air hums with flying creatures; the earth crawls beneath your foot,’’ he wondered.

Tour Overview

On this 15-day safari through Uganda, discover a variety of animals, beauty, and cultural experiences. The most popular activities on this trip are often mountain gorilla trekking and chimpanzee tracking. There are incredible chances to observe a wide variety of exotic creatures, including rhinos, lions, hippos, buffaloes, leopards, elephants, and many bird species. Enjoy the crater lakes and the rumbling Murchison Falls in the Northeastern, western and southwestern parts of the nation. This voyage will bring you near to Uganda, the Pearl of Africa’s, natural beauty and cultural heritage!

Day 1: Arrive at Entebbe International Airport and transfer to the lodge for an overnight stay

Day 2: Kampala City Tour.

Day 3: Transfer to Lake Mburo National park

Day 4: Morning Game drive and afternoon boat ride on lake mburo

Day 5: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park

Day 6: Gorilla tracking

Day 7: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Day 8: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise on Kazinga channel

Day 9: Transfer to kibale forest for afternoon chimps tracking

Day 10: Transfer to Murchison falls national park.

Day 11: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise

Day 12: Transfer to back to kampala via ziwa  Rhino Sanctuary

Day 13: Transfer to jinja

DAY 14: Full day white water rafting in jinja

Day 15: Transfer back to Airport/  kampala-Entebbe to your hotel of choice.

15 Days Full Uganda Safari: Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive at Entebbe International Airport and transfer to the lodge for an overnight stay

Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, Muno Gorilla safaris’ assigned English-speaking Professional Tour Driver-guide will receive and welcome you to Uganda – the Pearl of Africa. Thereafter, you will transfer to the booked accommodation. You will check in and take your rest – recovering from jet lag, adjusting to time difference. #Optional (extra cost): Just in case you reached early and interested in some activity, you may consider; a). excursion to the Entebbe Botanical Gardens to sight a few primates and birds, b). excursion to Mabamba wetland in search for the pre historic shoebill stock

Accommodation Options: Entebbe palms hotel, Hotel No.5, 7seasons Hotel  | Meals: Dinner | Transfer Time: Approx. 1hr.of the prehistoric shoebill stork. Otherwise, check in and just take your rest.

Main Destination: Entebbe International Airport.

Day 2:  Kampala Capital city Tour.

After Morning breakfast you will embark on your journey to visit Kampala city Uganda’s capital where you will be able to visit the mengo king’s palace (King of Buganda), Gaddafi mosque in the heart of Kampala with the best views of Kampala city, Boda Boda Experience(motor bike experience) and market experience then after you be taken back at your hotel

Main Destination: Kampala

Day 3: Transfer to Lake Mburo National park.

Western Uganda’s Lake Mburo National Park is a hidden gem, and the drive there takes you past picturesque countryside, plantations, and farms, and here you will have a chance to stop at equator for equator experience then proceed to your way to the park. Within a few hours, you will be arriving at the park, check in at your lodge and then have lunch
Later that afternoon, you will be taken to the park for evening game drive after you will be taken back to the lodge for overnight stay.

Accommodation Options:

• Mihingo Lodge
• Lake Mburo Safari Lodge
• Eagles Nest Camp.

Destination: Lake Mburo National Park 

Day 4: morning game walk and afternoon boat cruise.

Enjoy your early breakfast and proceed for the Mburo morning park (bush) walk in the presence of an armed Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger-guide. On this early morning guided walk, you will have the opportunity to encounter (at close range): Zebras, Giraffes and Eland, Topi and other antelope, Cape buffaloes among others.Take the Trail to the top of the hills and see Lake Mburo and beyond. From this vantage point, you will have a great view of 9 of the twelve lakes surrounding Lake Mburo NP. Have lunch and then afternoon boat cruise on lake mburo where you will be able to spot many aquatic animals like Hippos and many others after you will be taken back to your hotel for an overnight stay

Main destination: Lake Mburo National park.

Day 5: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park.

It’s on day 5 that you will be transferred to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to achieve your dream of encountering the endangered mountain gorillas. Have breakfast and check-out of the Lodge and start the exciting journey that will reward you with the awe-inspiring views of the Kigezi highlands. Lunch can be en-route depending on the time of traveling, at a certain point it can be served at the hotel. check in after you can go for batwa(pygimies) experience, you will be able to observe their way of living when they were still in the forest of Bwindi.

NOTE: To book a hotel here, depends on the Permit of the tracking location given by Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).

Main Destination: Bwindi impenetrable forest National Park.

 

 

Day 6: Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi:

After your breakfast, get your trekking gear ready for the exhilarating gorilla trek. Move to the Briefing point where you will meet your fellow trekkers for a briefing on the guidelines of the activity. Later move/be driven to the trailhead where you will trek in the company of 7 other trekkers, armed rangers, guides, and porters. After 1-4 hours, you will be ushered to the allocated gorilla family going around with their daily activities. After when you come back you will be taken back to your hotel for an overnight stay.

Day 7: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Today you have another long travel day to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda’s most popular savannah reserve. This fabulous national park has a large range of wildlife, potentially including lions, buffaloes, elephants and many other species. This experience also includes a boat safari, one new way to view wildlife. The estimated travel time to your hotel is approximately 8 hours. Check in at the hotel, rest and chill for an overnight stay.

Main Destination: Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Accommodation options: Engiri safari Lodge, Aardvark Safari Lodge, Buffalo safari lodge

Day 8: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise on Kazinga channel.

Arise and shine to the sweet melodies of the wilderness, have breakfast and head for an early morning game drive where you will be introduced to the sights of the African wildlife including Uganda Kobs, Lions, leopards, buffaloes, Elephants and warthogs among others. The activity will also involve exploring some of the Crater Lakes in the Park and bird species that call Queen Elizabeth National Park home. Head back to the Lodge for lunch.
The afternoon boat cruise awaits you and will be conducted along the Kazinga Channel where you will be treated to yet another surprising wildlife sight at the banks of the Channel where the Nile crocodiles and Hippos will be seen relaxing as well as the aquatic birds especially the African fish eagles and pelicans among others. Retreat to the Loge to relax, have dinner and overnight.

Day 9: Transfer to kibale forest for afternoon chimps tracking.

After morning breakfast, check out of the hotel and be transferred to  Kibale Forest National Park, the primate capital of the World where you will track the chimpanzees, mankind’s closest relatives.

This exciting journey involves enjoying the jaw-dropping views of the lush tea plantations of Toro, check in the hotel, have lunch then after get your trekking gear ready then converge at Kanyanchu Visitor center for briefing. Start the walk slowly and increase the pace but after one hour to 3 hours, you will be alerted of the chimpanzees’ presence by the ranger/guide. Spend one hour with these interesting primates before returning to the Lodge for Dinner and Overnight stay.

Main Destination: Kibale Forest National Park.

Accommodation options: Kibale forest camp, Kibale Forest Lodge, Guerreza lodge, Turacco TreeTops.

Day 10: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park.

After Early morning Breakfast, drive with your guide to Murchison Falls, Uganda’s largest park and home to 451 bird species and 76 mammal species. Your eyes will be fed with lots of sightings along the way as you will enjoy a bottle of drinking water. You will have lunch on the way as you en route to Murchison falls national park, check in at the hotel and dine for an over night stay at the lodge.

Main Destination: Murchison Falls National Park.

Accommodation Options: Ikorom Safari Lodge, Fort Murchison lodge, Pakuba Safari Lodge.

Day 11: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise.

Have an early delicious breakfast, explore the Northern part hosting a high number of Savannah wildlife. This game drive offers great opportunities for photography of elephants, lions, Uganda kobs, buffaloes, giraffes, waterbucks as well as hippos, and in case you are fortunate to even the leopards, in addition to a big number of bird species. Following lunch, have for a 2-hour boat cruise to the bottom of the Murchison falls from where great volumes water escapes through the small gorge forming an immense thunderous roar. During this boat ride, you will see several water birds plus mammals in big numbers like Hippos and crocodiles. Head back to the lodge with a short evening game drive then have dinner and rest at your lodge.

Main Destination: Murchison Falls National park.

 

 

 

Day 12: Transfer to back to kampala via ziwa  Rhino Sanctuary.

Have breakfast in the morning and depart for Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for Rhino tracking, where you will track Rhinos on foot, but before you will pass via the Top of falls where you will be able to view the  Murchison falls from its top where the  Nile roars. Then you will proceed with your journey to the sanctuary, lunch on the way after tracking the Rhinos. After tracking the Rhinos you will proceed to kampala for an over night stay.

Main Destination: Kampala city.

Accommodation Options: 2friends hotel Entebbe, Best western premier Hotel,

 

Day 13: Transfer to jinja.

After breakfast you will be transferred to jinja, here you will be able to visit Sezibwa falls it is attached to culture site where you will get to know how the falls where formed culturally Nature walk to the forest then after you will proceed to jinja and Visit the source of the longest River the Nile. After you will be transferred to the hotel for an overnight stay in jinja.

Main Destination: Jinja

Accommodation Options: 2 FRIENDS Hotel jinja, Jinja Nile Resort, Nile Village Hotel jinja.

DAY 14: Full day white water rafting in jinja.

In Jinja, the Nile finds its origin; visit the Source of River Nile where it starts its 4000 km journey through Africa.  Your driver guide will transfer you to the starting point of the water rafting where you will find other people waiting for an adventure filled day. You shall have a whole days rafting experience on River Nile. You will go through half the rapids before lunch and the other half after lunch. There is an option for half day rafting and you choose to rest in the afternoon or choose any of the optional activities.

Optional activities

Quad bike safari, bungee jumping, horseback safari, kayaking.

Day 15: Transfer back to Airport/ kampala-Entebbe to your hotel of choice.

After an amazing 15 days in Uganda your adventure has now come to an end. We hope you will leave with amazing memories and great stories of your wonderful experience. On your departure date you may check out of your room by 10am and travel back to Entebbe, depending on your flight details departure. Your estimated travel time to Entebbe International Airport is 4 hours

15 Day’s Itinerary***Itinerary to be confirmed once flight information is received**

We hope you had a fantastic time in the Pearl of Africa both in the wild and with the people of Uganda. Buy souvenirs and transfer to the airport/ hotel of your choice.

END OF SAFARI

 

 

NOTE: Accommodation before and after the safari can be arranged on an extra cost.

Gorilla and Chimpanzee trekking tips

• Bwindi impenetrable national park requires hiking, you should pace yourself and drink plenty of water.
• Eating, drinking and smoking near the gorillas is forbidden. Your ranger guide will communicate a designated time and place for such.
• We encourage you to carry a rain poncho
• Waterproof walking shoes or hiking boots are essential.
• Gardening gloves for protection against stinging plants
• Long trousers and long-sleeved sweaters or shirts while in the forest to avoid insect stings.
• Photography is permitted, although you must not use flash
• Porters are available to help you carry your day pack for a minimum fee of $20 or 70,000 Ugx

PRICE INCLUDES

• 1 Gorilla Permits
• 1 Chimpanzee Permits
• Rhino Tracking
• Accommodation for 14 Nights
• Meals on booked program
• Bottled Water in the vehicle
• English Speaking Guide
• Park Entrance Fees
• Boat Rides
• Cultural Tours
• All Activities Mentioned

PRICE EXCLUDES

• International flight fare
• Entry Visas
• Laundry services
• Tips
• Alcoholic Drinks
• Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
We highly recommend the items below:
Bug spray, Mosquito repellent and Malaria preventive pills
Power Bank
International travel adapter
Head Lamp
Sunscreen
Comfortable sneakers /shoes
Hiking Boots
Sandals
Camera
Hat and Sunglasses for the hot days

CLOSING REMARKS
The above proposal is totally flexible and can be amended to match your intended experience. Iam happy to work with you to design and implement your trip of a lifetime.