10 days Gorilla and game safari in Uganda
This 10 days Gorilla and game safari in Uganda covers a lot of ground, and also a lot of water. Getting off to a fully immersive start, go white water rafting on the River Nile, starting at the adventure hub town of Jinja. Our wildlife adventures get off to a great start in Kibale Forest where we stay in a safari camp, giving us plenty of time to go in search of many of the forests’ mammals, including prolific primates. These include mangabey, colobus and L’Hoest’s monkeys and we will also dedicate a day to chimp tracking.
This trip is created in a way that brings more and more excitement for wildlife lovers every day. Next stop is, therefore, Queen Elizabeth National Park, where two game drives will hopefully bring you in sight of four of the Big Five along with thousands of hippos and over 600 species of birds. The latter are best seen on your cruise along the Kazinga Channel, leading into Lake Edward.
Then, last but not least, the fauna finale of this holiday is the gorilla safari and trekking expedition that takes place in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, home to over half of the earth’s 800 or so mountain gorillas. Travelling in a small group means that we are able to organise the much sought after gorillas safari permits in advance, staying in a nearby mountain lodge that is at the heart of the small rural community here.
And for one more treat before you go, Gorilla and game safari in Uganda also includes a visit to Lake Mburo National Park, which is conveniently close to Kampala for your departure, but also famous for its zebra, hippo and buffalo residents. This is a wonderful place to not only take a boat trip, given that there are five lakes in the park, but also a walking safari, following in the footsteps of the indigenous Bahima tribe, who herd the famed long-horned Ankole cattle in this region.
10 days Gorilla and game safari in Uganda Highlights
| Itinerary Summary |
Tour Includes |
| Gorilla tracking and trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park | Rwenzori Mountains | White water rafting River Nile | Jinja town | Chimp tracking | Kibale Forest | Fort Portal |Two game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park | Kazinga Channel, leading into Lake Edward | Kigezi Highlands | Lake Mburo National Park | Rwenzori Mountains | Kampala |
Gorilla permit, transport in 4WD, driver guide, accommodation, all meals except dinner on last day, national park entrance fees, drinking water, all activities in itinerary. |
1
Our tourist guide / driver will be waiting at Entebbe International airport to pick you up and then transfer you to your accommodation for the night. Accommodation at Cassia Lodge or Kazi Beach Resort. Meal Plan: Breakfast
2
Early morning after breakfast, you will be transferred to Jinja for a white-water rafting experience on the Nile. This can take either full or half day depending on your choice and also visit Jinja town and some craft shops for your souvenir shopping. Accommodation at Cassia Lodge or Kazi Beach Resort. Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
3
Today, after an early morning breakfast, your guide will transfer you to Fort Portal town; a 5 hours journey from Kampala with stop-overs along the way. This town nestles in the shadow of the Rwenzori Mountains so be sure to have that amazing view. Accommodation at Kibale Forest Camp. Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
4
Early morning after breakfast, you will visit the Kibale forest to track the Chimpanzees and 10 other primates including l’ hoestes, red colobus, blue, red-tailed and gray-cheeked mangabey. The guide will provide detailed explanations on primates, the forest fauna and flora. This primate walk is both informative and enjoyable. In the afternoon, visit the Bigodi swamp and community around the Kibale forest National Park. Accommodation at Kibale Forest Camp. Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
5
Today after breakfast early in the morning, we will have a cultural tour to the ‘
Amabere ga Nyina Mwiru’ caves located 10 km from Fort Portal town and also hike to the explosion craters surrounding this area. Return back to fort portal town for lunch, in the afternoon visit the ‘Tooro’ Kingdom palace. In the evening we drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park for about 2 hours following the mystical Rwenzori Mountain ranges for much of the journey. Accommodation at Kasenyi Safari Camp. Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
6
After breakfast, you will go for an early morning game drive in the park with the massive Rwenzori Mountains as a backdrop provides excellent opportunities to see lions, leopards, giant forest hog, Cape buffalo, elephants, defassa waterbuck, Uganda Kobs, Topi and bushbuck. Queen Elizabeth National Park’s diverse Eco-system of grassy plains, tropical forest, rivers, swamps, lakes and volcanic craters is home to an incredible abundance of wildlife. In the afternoon, your guide will take you for a unique 2- 3hour boat cruise on the famous Kazinga Channel and into Lake Edward. This boat trip passes through possibly the highest concentration of hippos. Many animals may be seen drinking at the water’s edge. This will give you excellent opportunities for photography, bird watching and game viewing. The prolific bird life is colorful and stupendous with well over 550 resident species. Accommodation at Kasenyi Safari Camp. Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
7
Today we drive through the Kigezi highlands region of Uganda also known as the “Switzerland of Africa” providing views of terraced hillsides and winding roads to Bwindi Impenetrable forest which is a 4 hours journey. Accommodation at Rushaga Gorilla Camp or Haven Lodge. Meal Plan: Breakfast , Lunch & Dinner
8
The Bwindi forest is a spectacular and incredibly dense rain forest which offers a dramatic steeply forested landscape. You will arrive at the park headquarters early in the morning (7:00am) for briefing by the UWA staff before going to trek. Don’t forget to carry along your tracking gear which includes raincoats, jungle boots and more. The trekking will take a couple of hours (2 -7 hrs) depending on how far the gorillas might have moved. In groups of 8 people, your guide will lead you through the numerous pathways created for the tourists and eventually you’ll find your way to the rare & shy gorillas. A certificate is awarded by UWA at the end of every gorilla trekking experience. Later relax at your lodge which will give breathtaking views of the park. Accommodation at Rushaga Gorilla Camp or Haven Lodge. Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
9
Check out after breakfast in the morning for a 4 hours’ drive to Lake Mburo National Park with a stopover in Mbarara town for Lunch. This is the best place in the country to see zebras. Lake Mburo has 5 lakes and is mainly savanna with scattered acacias trees. The park features animals such as impalas, elands, roan antelopes, reedbucks, klipspringers and topis, as well as buffaloes and hippos. Adjacent to the park are the ranches of the Bahima (Ankole) tribe, who herd the famous long-horned Ankole cattle that are a common sight here. Take an afternoon boat ride on the Lake & see a variety of birds and hippos too. Accommodation at Rwakobo Rock. Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
10
Early morning after breakfast, go for a safari walk in the park accompanied by your guide and later return to your lodge for Lunch. Check out in the afternoon and depart for Kampala which is 3 hours away with a stop-over at the Equator line. Your guide/ driver will later drop you in Kampala or at Entebbe International airport for your evening flight. Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch.
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