15 Days Uganda Gorillas, Chimpanzees and Wildlife Safari

You will have an early breakfast at the hotel after which you start the journey to Murchison falls National Park. You will set off from the hotel at 7:00 am so as to be in time for your rhino trekking. The drive to the park takes you through the beautiful scenery and landscape of Uganda. You stopover for lunch Masindi town which is located along the way to the park. You will have a stopover for rhino tracking at Ziwa Rhino sanctuary. The sanctuary currently has 32 white rhinos. At the sanctuary office you will be taken through a briefing by your ranger guide about the trek guidelines. You then start your trek on foot to meet the rhinos. You have opportunities to take photos of the rhinos and watch them as they feed. After the trek you proceed with your journey. On arrival at the park, check in at the lodge and have dinner. Journey time: 6 hours Accommodation: Luxury – Anyadwe House Mid – range – Pakuba Safari Lodge Budget – Fort Murchison Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

You will leave the lodge as early as 6am for the morning game drive which will take place in the northern section of the park. Murchison Falls National Park has a large concentration wildlife and the animals to look out for while on this game drive include elephants, giraffes, lion, warthogs, buffaloes, patas monkey, olive baboons, Uganda kobs, water bucks, leopard hyenas and bush bucks. In the afternoon you will head for a boat ride on River Nile at 2:00 pm. Animals that can be seen while on the boat cruise include crocodiles, hippos, gigantic monitor lizards, elephants that can usually be seen playing in the water, antelope species and water birds. The animals usually come to the river to drink water and cool off under the afternoon scorching sun. The boat continues to the base of the water falls where you get off the boat and start the hike to the top of the falls.. The top of the falls offer breathtaking views and opportunities to take great photos of the water falls and the ever present rainbow at the falls. The hike takes about 45 minutes – 1 hour. Your driver guide will be waiting for you to take you back to the lodge after this experience. Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today you check out of your lodge and then travel to Kibale Forest National Park which is also referred to as primate capital of East Africa. The drive to the park offers scenic views of Uganda’s landscape and vegetation. On arrival at Kibale you check in and have lunch. After lunch your driver guide will take you to visit the Fort Portal crater lakes located near the park, here you will capture great photos and return to the lodge later for dinner. Journey time: 5 hours Accommodation: Luxury – Ndali Lodge Mid –range – Turaco Treetops Budget – Chimpanzee Guest House Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Have breakfast at the lodge early in the morning and then your driver guide will transfer you to the park headquarters for a briefing from your ranger guide. After the briefing you start the journey in to the rain forest as you look out for the chimpanzee, man’s closest relatives. Once you locate the chimps you will spend one hour with them as you watch then hop around the tree branches, feed,play and feed their young ones. You will also be able to capture great shots of the chimpanzee during this time. After this you trek back to the starting point. In the afternoon you go on the Bigodi swamp walk. The Bigodi wetland walk is a community run initiative outside the park boundary adjacent to Bigodi trading center. The wetland is home to several species of monkeys including the black-and-white colobus, red-tailed, vervet and olive baboons. The wetland hosts several bird species that you can look out for along the trail. The wetland walk ends with visiting the community to get a look in to the culture and life of the locals that live on the edge of Kibale forest. The revenue from this ecotourism site is put back in to the community through different projects. Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today you will check out of your lodge in Kibale National Park and then travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Once you arrive at the park you check in and spend the rest of the day relaxing at the lodge. Optional Activity:Community Walk and Tour Journey time: 2 hours Accommodation: Luxury – Kyambura Gorge Lodge Mid – range – Kikorongo Safari Lodge Budget – Bush Lodge Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

You will go on an early morning game drive in the park after having breakfast at the lodge. The game drive will take place in Kasenyi plains as this is where you get the best game viewing opportunities. Wildlife to look out for includes hyenas, lions, elephants, buffaloes, hyenas, leopard and antelope species among other animals. Your afternoon will be spent on a boat cruise on Kazinga channel. The boat ride offers great opportunities to look out for water birds, hippos, huge monitor lizards, crocodiles that like to sunbathe on the shores, elephants that like to play in the water and antelopes as they come to the shores to drink water in the afternoon. The boat cruise takes 2 hours and offers you a relaxing afternoon taking on the cool breeze while on the boat. Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today you will travel to Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Ishasha is in the south western part of the park and the main attraction in this area is the tree climbing lions. You will go on a game drive in search of the tree climbing lions in Ishasha with your ranger guides. The lions can be seen hanging and relaxing in the fig trees while they escape the afternoon scorching sun and the biting flies. Other animals to be spotted include topis, buffaloes, and elephants. Journey time: 2 hours Accommodation: Luxury – Ishasha Wilderness Camp Mid-range – Ishasha Jungle Lodge Budget – Enjojo Lodge Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast you check out of your lodge and then travel to Bwindi National Park the home of mountain gorillas in Uganda. Bwindi Forest harbors half of the world’s mountain gorilla population with at least 459 individuals. The journey furthers offers stunning views of Uganda’s beautiful landscape. Optional Activity – Community Tour Journey time: 5 hours Accommodation: Luxury – Chameleon Hill Lodge Mid – range – Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge Budget – Rushaga Gorilla Camp Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today morning you will have breakfast at the lodge and then you will be taken to the park headquarters which is the starting point mountain gorilla trekking. You will receive a briefing from your ranger guide with guidelines on the trek and how to behave around the gorillas. After this you will be given walking sticks for support as you trek in the forest and you will also be able to get porters who can be hired at a fee of 15 US dollars to carry your luggage for the day. We advise that you hire a porter because the gorilla trek can be strenuous and hectic hence the need for extra help. The park guides will lead you through the rain forest in search of these endangered species, once you locate the mountain gorillas you are allowed to spend one hour with them. The gorilla trek is an exciting adventure and watching the gorillas as they feed, move around and play with their young ones is a rewarding experience. You will have an opportunity to capture your great shot of the mountain gorillas and you are advised to turn off your camera flashlight when taking pictures. Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

You will have breakfast at the lodge and after that you start the journey to Lake Bunyonyi. Lake Bunyonyi referred to as “the place of many little birds” is a stunning lake in southwestern Uganda. Journey time: 2 ½ hours Accommodation: Mid – range -Bird’s Nest@Bunyonyi Budget – Crater Bay Cottages (Budget) Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today you will go on a canoe ride on Lake Bunyonyi. The motorized canoe ride on offers you spectacular views of the scenery and landscape of Uganda. Lake Bunyonyi is the deepest lake in Africa and has 29 islands, while on the canoe ride the site guide will tell you traditional stories about the different islands with the most common story being about the punishment island. After this you head to the lodge and spend the rest of the day at leisure. Optional Activity – Community walk Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After a hearty breakfast at your lodge you will head to Lake Mburo National Park. The park is the smallest savanna national park in Uganda and this hidden gem offers excellent game viewing opportunities. On arrival you will go on a short game drive where you will spot some wildlife in the park. Proceed to the lodge after this check in and have dinner. Journey time: 4 Hours Accommodation: Luxury – Mihingo Lodge Mid – range – Rwakobo Rock Budget – Eagle’s Nest Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After an early breakfast you will head in to the park for the game drive. Lake Mburo offers excellent game viewing and this guided morning game drive starts as early as 6:00 am as morning hours is the best time sight animals. The park has different tracks to be explored from the impala and zebra tracks to the swamps and lakes where animals usually come in the dry season to drink water after feeding. Common animals that can be seen while on the game drive include buffaloes, topis, zebras, giraffes, impala, oribi and hippos. You will also sight different species of birds in the park and have amazing views of the vast landscape of Lake Mburo national park. Lion and leopard are very rare sightings in this park so do not expect to see them. In the afternoon you will go on a boat ride on Lake Mburo, take in the cool breeze of the lake. Animals to look out for while on the boat include hippos, crocodiles, other animals as they come to the lake to drink water and several species of water birds. After this you return to the lodge. Optional Activity: Night game drive where you look out for the nocturnal animals which tend to be active in the night. Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After you end your game drive you will then travel back to Kampala with a stopover at the equator monument where you will take photos and have lunch. On arrival your driver guide will take you back to your hotel in Kampala or drop you off at the airport for your flight. Journey time: 3½ Hours Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch