Description for the 10 Days Uganda Gorilla Safari & Wildlife tour

Day 1 of the 10 Days Uganda Gorilla Safari & Wildlife tour:Depart Kampala (visit Ziwa & top of the falls)

Leave Kampala after breakfast as early as 6:00am from your place of stay and head to the north of Uganda accompanied by the company guide. The journey is 311km about 5 hours’ drive to Murchison Falls National Park passing through the flat Nakasongora landscapes before diverting at Nakitoma from the main road 115 Km from Kampala to drive further for extra 7 Km to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. You will spend some time tracking the magnificent white Rhinos which only exist at this place in Uganda after which you will proceed to Masindi for Lunch. In the afternoon, you will continue on the drive to Murchison Falls National Park and upon arrival, you will hike the top of the falls to take time gaze at the splendid powerful waterfalls and listening to its roaring sound as it squeezes itself through the 8m ravine before falling 43m below the devils cauldron forming a plume of spray with a trade mark rainbow – the greatest feature to have ever happened on the course of the Nile River which happens to be the longest river in the world. Check in at your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Paraa Safari Lodge (Upmarket/luxury), Murchison River Lodge (Midrange/standard) or Red Chili Rest Camp (Budget/Basic).

Day 2 of the 10 Days Uganda Gorilla Safari & Wildlife tour: Do game drive & boat cruise:

Wake up very early for a cup of coffee and then head to Paraa ferry crossing at 7:00am to the northern sector of the Park where game drives are carried out. The possible sights of various wildlife including; elephants, buffalo, Jackson hartebeest, Kobs, lion, leopard, giraffe among other wildlife will leave you with a taste of African savannah wilderness. The activity takes 3 – 4 hours after which you will return to the Paraa ferry crossing at 11:00am to go back to your lodge for relaxation and memory sharing. After your stimulating lunch, gather at the Paraa for an after boat cruise on the Nile at 02:00pm. This boat trip has got captains and guides who have cruised on this waters for years and will be glad to share with every piece of information that you would wish to gather on this trip including any bird species and wildlife both aquatic and land that might present its self. The shoebill stork can be luckily seen on this boat while the great sights of Nile crocodiles – the second largest reptile in the world and the Hippos would make up your trip up to the base of the falls. The boat takes 3 hours after which you will have marked the end of your day’s adventures.

Accommodation: You will have dinner and overnight at your previous lodge.

Day 3 of the 10 Days Uganda Gorilla Safari & Wildlife tour: Transfer to Hoima & do Bunyoro heritage trail

After breakfast embark on the transfer to Hoima town in the south of Murchison falls National Park. You will visit the Bunyoro heritage exploring the tombs of the famous Omukama (King) Kabalega who is known for resisting British rule. The Bunyoro Kitara regalia are also interesting to encounter.

Accommodation: Kontik Hotel/ Kolping Hotel.

Day 4 of the 10 Days Uganda Gorilla Safari & Wildlife tour: Transfer to Kibale National Park & do Mpanga Tea estate cycling & Fort Portal crater hike and Amabere caves

After an early breakfast, embark on the drive to Fort Portal area. You will make a stop at Mpanga tea estates for a cycling tour through the teat plantations after which you will visit the tea factory to get acquainted with the process of tea growing and processing. You will proceed for lunch in Fort Portal town after which you will embark on the Fort Portal Crater Lake hike and a visit to the Amabere g’ Nnyinamwiru caves to explore the rich heritage associated with those sites not forgetting their geological significance. Retire for overnight in Kibale National Park.

Accommodation: Primate Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Chimpanzee guesthouse (Midrange/Standard) or Kibale Forest Camp (Budget/Basic).

Day 5 of the 10 Days Uganda Gorilla Safari & Wildlife tour: Do Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi wetland encounter

After breakfast, gather at Kanyanchu tourism center for briefing at 08:00am from the park rangers about the Chimp trekking conduct. Set off to this forest of Kibale after the short briefing in quest of Chimpanzees. The 2 – 5 hour trek will expose you amazing tree species and wildlife including other 12 species of primates like Colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, Red tailed monkeys and olive baboons. The sights of Birds cannot be avoided while their songs will offer you natural entertainment through the jungle. You will marvel at the Chimpanzees as the roll themselves on tree branches, munch fruits and make their pant – hooting calls. After utilizing your one hour, you will return to the starting point for relaxation and preparing for another activity. In the afternoon, you will visit the Bigodi wetland to encounter the swamp animals like Sitatunga and birds like Ruwenzori Turaco and an encounter with local people including the traditional healer.

Accommodation: You will have dinner and overnight at your previous lodge.

Day 6 of the 10 Days Uganda Gorilla Safari & Wildlife tour: Do Rwenzori hiking & transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Transfer very early after breakfast to Kasese 135km about 3 hours’ drive to undertake an active activity of Mount Rwenzori hiking. The hiking encounter exposes you to raised landscapes of Mount Rwenzori offering impressive scenic views of the ridges and glaciers and the rift valley flats below. The activity is a whole day experience and upon return, you will transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park 72km about 2 hours’ drive for relaxation and overnight.

Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Enganzi Lodge (Midrange/Standard) or Pumba Safari Cottages (Budget/Basic).

Day 7 of the 10 Days Uganda Gorilla Safari & Wildlife tour: Do game drive & boat cruise

Depart at 06:00am to encounter the rewarding Queen Elizabeth National Park game drive through the Kasenyi tracks. This early departure gives you possibilities of seeing the early risers and the night hunters retreating to their hiding places including the rare leopard, side stripped jackal, hyena, and owls among others. The morning game drive will also give you a possibility to see herds of elephants, buffalos, pride of lions, warthogs and a range of antelopes. You will retire from the 3 – 4 hours game drive and embark to the lodge for relaxation and lunch. In the afternoon, embark on the transfer to Mweya for Kazinga channel launch cruise that starts at 3pm lasting for two hours. You have opportunities of spotting hippos, Nile crocodiles, birds on the water shore and counts of wildlife like elephants and buffaloes drinking on the channel side. Retire for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: You will have dinner and overnight at your previous lodge

Day 8 of the 10 Days Uganda Gorilla Safari & Wildlife tour: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After breakfast, embark on the transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in the south (Rushaga) 309km. You will drive through Ishasha in search of tree climbing lions, have lunch en route and arrive in Bwindi in the evening for relaxation and overnight.

Accommodation: Chameleon Hill Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Gorilla Valley Lodge (Midrange/Standard) or Wagtail Eco-Safari Camp (Budget/Basic).

Day 9 of the 10 Days Uganda Gorilla Safari & Wildlife tour: Do gorilla trekking & transfer to Lake Bunyonyi.

Wake up for an early cup of coffee, before gathering at Park Headquarters at Rushaga for briefing about the gorilla trekking activity at 08:00am always conducted by park rangers. This gives highlights about the dos and don’ts while trekking gorillas. After briefing, you will traverse the jungle in search of the splendid mountain gorillas in the company of the park ranger guide which stretches between 2 – 8 hours. You will walk through the luxuriant vegetation, climb raised gradients, ascend down the valleys before you encounter the great mountain gorillas as they munch their food and get astonished by the young gorillas playing and demonstrating their tactics which will prompt you to use up your camera space unknowingly. Your one hour with gorillas is done and return to the starting point after which you will embark on the transfer to Lake Bunyonyi for relaxation and overnight.

Accommodation: Bird nest @Lake Bunyonyi Resort (Upmarket/Luxury), Bunyonyi Eco- Resort (Midrange/Standard) or Byoona Amagara Island Retreat (Budget/Basic).

Day 10 of the 10 Days Uganda Gorilla Safari & Wildlife tour: Do a morning boat ride & transfer to Kampala.

After breakfast, undertake a morning boat ride on Lake Bunyonyi not exceeding 2 hours exploring few of its islands amidst the mist covered Kigezi highlands. After the activity embark on the transfer back to Kampala 437km about 6 – 7 hours’ drive. Make a lunch stop at Igongo cultural center 12km past Mbara town and another stop can be made at the equator crossing Kayabwe for amazing water experiments and photo shoots if time permits. Arrive in Kampala in the evening.