16 Days Uganda Gorillas, Primates, Culture & Wildlife Safari

Safari overview

This safari experience will take you to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to visit the reintroduced white rhino, Kidepo Valley National Park, besides the expected wild game drive across the park where you shall see lions and other animals, you can enjoy activities include hiking trips, sightseeing tours, bird watching, and the rich culture of the Karimajongs, Murchison Falls National Park and boat trips to the Murchison Falls and the Victoria Nile delta. In the delta there is a chance to see the strange shoebill, Kibale Forest during a chimp walk and see lots of birds and smaller primate species when walking through Bigodi Swamp. Look for lion, leopard and the unique Uganda kob during game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park. See lots of African buffalo, hippo, bush elephant and other mammals when sailing on the Kazinga Channel, but don’t forget to look for birds and large Nile crocodiles. Meet a small group of chimpanzees in the untouched Kyambura Gorge and look for tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha Sector, enjoy the highlights of this safari; gorilla tracking. Visit the last mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and spend an hour amongst these gentle giants. Have an extra day to explore Kisoro and surroundings. Spend time at a coffee tour or climb for example Mount Gahinga and game drives in Lake Mburo and watch for impala, plains zebra, eland antelope and topi, but don’t forget the wide variety of birds.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Travel to Kitgum via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

Early morning after breakfast, you will leave for Kitgum which is in the northern part of Uganda. You will stop at Ziwa Rhinos Sanctuary for Rhino tracking. You will have a lunch and then proceed to Kitgum staying overnight at the Lodge.

Accommodation options

Mid-range: Bomah Hotel

Meal Plan: Breakfast Lunch and Dinner.

Day 2: Travel to Kidepo Valley National Park and Evening Game Drive

Early morning after breakfast, you will leave for Kidepo Valley National Park which is in the northern part of Uganda. You will have a lunch and then proceed for an evening game drive in Kidepo.

Accommodation options

Mid-range: Kidepo Savannah Lodge/Nga’moru Wilderness Camp

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 3: Whole Day Game drive and Hot springs

Start with an early breakfast and then go for a game drive along the trails of Kidepo Valley. The park inhabits one of the most exciting faunas of any Ugandan parks, with over 80 species of mammals several of which are endemic to Kidepo National Park like the cheetah, the striped hyena the caracal and over 465 bird species including the ostriches.

In the afternoon visit the Karamojong village to learn more about their culture, music and dance Karamoja has a cattle culture and the Karamojong are notorious as cattle raiders. Unlike most other Ugandans, many Karamojong shun western-style clothes and instead wear “traditional” dress of a blanket -like shawl, often in red and black. The women wear elaborate beadwork.

Accommodation options

Mid-range: Kidepo Savannah Lodge/Nga’moru Wilderness Camp

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 4: Travel to Gulu and Community visit

In the morning after a breakfast at your lodge, you will set off to Gulu Town. Up on your arrival, you will check in at your lodge/Hotel have lunch and spend the whole of the afternoon relaxing at the lodge/Hotel or you can decide to go for a community visit around Gulu Town. Dinner and overnight stay

Accommodation

Mid-range: Bomah Hotel

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 5: Travel to Murchison Falls National Park

In the morning after breakfast, and then leave for Murchison falls national park the northern sector with lunch along the way. The park is bisected by the Victoria Nile, which plunges 45m over the remnant rift valley wall, creating the dramatic Murchison Falls, the centerpiece of the park and the final event in an 80km stretch of rapids. The mighty cascade drains the last of the river’s energy, transforming it into a broad, placid stream that flows quietly across the rift valley floor into Lake Albert. There are a lot of animals to see on your way to the hotel through the park such as elephants, giraffes and buffaloes; while hippos, Nile crocodiles and aquatic birds are permanent residents.  Dinner and overnight at the lodge

Accommodation options

Mid-range: Murchison River Lodge/Pakuba Safari Lodge/Bwana Tembo Safari Camp

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Game drive and Boat Launch in Murchison Falls National Park

In the morning we will go for the game drive, special are here the lions, giraffes, Elephants, Leopards, Uganda Kobs and many more animals and birds.

In the afternoon you will have an impressive launch trip on the Nile to the Falls. Hippos, crocodiles, buffalo, elephants and many birds will be seen

Accommodation options

Mid-range: Murchison River Lodge/Pakuba Safari Lodge/Bwana Tembo Safari Camp

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7: Travel to Kibale Forest National Park

Early in the morning, you will departure for Kibale Forest National Park. You will pass close to Lake Albert, on a clear day the view from the top of the Albert rift is spectacular. In the afternoon we will arrive at Kibale Forest, sleeping with the noises of the tropical rainforest.

Accommodation options

Moderate: Isunga Lodge/Kibale Forest Camp

Meal plan: Breakfast Lunch and Dinner

Day 8: Chimp trekking and Bigodi Swamp Walk   

Early in the morning, you will start with the chimp trekking, 10 other primates can be seen!! The park is also known for all the butterflies and birds.

In the afternoon a walk through Bigodi Swamp (community based project)

Accommodation options

Moderate: Isunga Lodge/Kibale Forest Camp

Meal plan: Breakfast Lunch and Dinner

Day 9: Travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Early morning, you will departure for Queen Elizabeth National Park via Fort Portal and the beautiful craters; you will reach in Queen Elizabeth NP with a stunningly beautiful view over Kazinga Channel and mountain Rwenzori.

In the late afternoon we will make a game drive.

Accommodation options

Moderate:  Bush Lodge (in rooms) / Simba Safari Camp in rooms/ Buffalo Safari Resort/ Enganzi Lodge/ Ihamba Safari Lodge

Meal Plan: Full Board Basis

Day 10: Game drive and Boat launch in Queen Elizabeth National Park

In the morning, you will go for a game drive on the plains of Queen Elizabeth with thousands of Ugandan kobs, lions, elephants and many more without forgetting a variety of bird species.

In the afternoon, go for a two hours launch trip on the Kazinga channel where we will see all the animals and bird species from the waterside.

Accommodation options

Moderate:  Bush Lodge (in rooms) / Simba Safari Camp in rooms/ Buffalo Safari Resort/ Enganzi Lodge/ Ihamba Safari Lodge

Meal Plan: Full Board Basis

Day 11: Travel to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park via Ishasha for Tree Climbing Lions

In the morning after a breakfast, you will leave for Bwindi via Ishasha part in search for tree climbing lions. This road will take you through a beautiful landscape called the “Switzerland of Africa”. You will pass mountains, hills with cultivated terraces and tropical rainforest and bamboo forest. On the last hill the landscape unfolds beneath us, in the vast plane of Uganda, Rwanda and Congo, the Virunga volcanoes dominate the view.

Accommodation options

Midrange: Gorilla Mist Camp/ Mutanda Lake Resort/Rushaga Gorilla Camp/Gorilla Valley Lodge/Engagi Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 12: Gorilla tracking  and Batwa Visit in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

On this day you will have come to the highlight of your safari; Gorilla tracking. Early in the morning, you will be taken at the Offices of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest for pre-briefing and at 8:30 you will start the trek after finding the Gorillas you will spend with maximum 1 hour. Later in the afternoon after gorilla experience, you will go for Batwa visit. Then dinner and overnight stay at the lodge

Accommodation options

Midrange: Gorilla Mist Camp/ Mutanda Lake Resort/Rushaga Gorilla Camp/Gorilla Valley Lodge/Engagi Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 13: Travel to Lake Bunyonyi

In the morning after a breakfast, you will leave for the stunning lake Bunyonyi which is known as a deepest lake in Africa and the 29 historical islands. There you have canoe or boat ride to explore the beauty of the Lake. Dinner and overnight at the lodge

Accommodation options

Midrange: Arcadia Lodge Lake Bunyonyi

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 14: Travel to Lake Mburo National Park

Early in the morning, you will leave for Lake Mburo National Park. You will have lunch in Mbarara before you continue to Lake Mburo, a smaller but unique park, and the only one in the Western part of Uganda with impalas and zebras. You can go for the village/cultural walk or evening game drive.

Accommodation options

Moderate: Lake Mburo Safari Lodge/ Rwakobo Rock

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 15: Guided game walk, Boat cruise and evening game drive in Lake Mburo National Park

Early morning we will go for a game walk. In the afternoon a boat trip on Lake Mburo followed by another game drive in the evening. This little park hosts a variety of animals, that is to say 68 mammal species, including a large number of impalas (the antelope from which “Kampala” is named after), zebras Uganda kobs, duikers bushbucks, Ankole cattle topis, buffaloes, leopards, spotted hyenas, waterbucks, warthogs, oribi. There are 315 bird species including; shoebill stork, red faced barbet, crested crane, papyrus yellow warbler. The vegetation is mainly open Savannah of Acacia trees, Olea and Boscia. Lake Mburo is a natural haven for fauna and flora. The bank teems with animals and birds. Crocodiles and hippopotami are permanent residents, and buffalos come to drink during the dry season. Others include; impalas (the antelope from which “Kampala” is named after), zebras Uganda kobs, duikers bushbucks, Ankole cattle topis, buffaloes, leopards, spotted hyenas, waterbucks, warthogs, oribi. The wide variety of resident birds includes Malachite Kingfishers, Pied Kingfishers, African Fish Eagles, Rufous Long-tailed Starlings, Blue-headed Weavers, Green-necked Doves, Hammerkops, Pelicans, Herons, Cormorants and even rare Shoebills.

Accommodation options

Moderate: Lake Mburo Safari Lodge/ Rwakobo Rock

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 16: To Kampala / Entebbe and Departure

After breakfast the last part of the journey will bring us back to Kampala. On the way back you will have lunch at the equator with an opportunity to a stop at the Equator for photo shoots and buying souvenirs and have tea or coffee.  Then proceed to Kampala/Entebbe Airport for your departure flight.

No accommodation

Meal Plan: Half Board Basis

Requirements for this Safari:

• Uganda Visa which can be got on arrival at the Airports
• Chimpanzee, Gorilla trekking permits (paid for in advance through our company)
• Travel & Health insurance arranged for from your home country
• Proof of Yellow fever vaccination (certificate}
• Travelers must be at least 15 years old on the day of the trekking.
• Good physical, fit health and mental condition
• Waterproof Jacket, breathable with hood.
• Insulated warm Jacket synthetic or down.
• Long Sleeve Shirt and Waterproof Pants.
• Footwear - Hiking.

Safari Cost Includes

• Airport transfers
• Transport in a 4×4 safari vehicle
• Rhino tracking fee
• English speaking driver guide
• Canoeing fee
• Community visit fee
• Fuel for the whole trip
• Accommodations and meals as per the itinerary
• All park entrance fees
• Drinking water while in the vehicle
• Gorilla trekking permit
• Chimpanzee trekking permit

The Safari cost excludes,

• Pre and post tour accommodation in Uganda or Rwanda
• International airfares
• Uganda & Rwanda East African Tourist Visa
• Items of personal nature such as tips, drinks, and laundry
• Insurance