14 Days Uganda Gorilla Tracking & Primates Watching Tour

Tour Country

Uganda

Duration

14 Days 13 Nights

Final Destination

Uganda

Tour Overview

14 Days Gorilla Safari in Uganda Bwindi Impenetrable. This 14 days Uganda Gorilla safari takes you through all the major safari destinations in Uganda: Kibale chimpanzee forest, Queen Elizabeth national park, Lake Bunyonyi, Bwindi Impenetrable gorilla Forest and Lake Mburo National park. Therefore this Uganda safari takes you all around the different tourism circuits of Uganda.

The safari will start with the discovery of the cultural treasures which include the Royal Kasubi tombs, the Uganda museum, the Baha’i temple and Makerere University as well as other heritage sites. The safari will take you for chimpanzee tracking in Kibale National park – probably the park with the highest density of primates on the African continent and later visit the savannah plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park where you can see a wide diversity of game such as elephants, lions, buffaloes, hippos, and leopards.

The climax of the safari will be tracking the mountain gorillas from Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Mountain gorillas are one of the most endangered species vanishing from the wild. Scientists estimate that currently there are about 700 mountain gorillas in the world with half of its population residing in Uganda´s Bwindi forest.

Tour Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Uganda (Entebbe International Airport) and transfer to the Hotel
Our Safari Company representative will pick you from the airport following your flight from the respective country of origin and transfer to the proposed accommodation site in Kampala. You enjoy the impressive sites of Lake Victoria the second largest fresh water lake on a world scale and the surroundings. Arrive at the Hotel for relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Accommodation
Upmarket / Luxury: Kampala Sheraton Hotel
Midrange / Standard: Cassia Lodge
Budget / Basic: Buziga Country Resort
Camping at Back Packers Hostel

Day 2: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park. Make a stop en route in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for white Rhino tracking
Head northwest from Kampala to go through the famous Luwero triangle and the flat landscapes so of Nakasongora to Murchison Falls National Park 311km about 5 hours’ drive. You branch off at Nakitooma for 7km to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary headquarters where you will attend to briefing about Rhino trekking and eventually head to the savannah thicket on foot in search of these animals that are among the Big five.

The encounter with the southern white Rhinos thriving in the savannah thicket of Ziwa is rewarding. You retreat from the activity and continue in the drive to Murchison Falls National Park arriving in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight
Accommodation
Upmarket / Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge
Midrange / Standard: Pakuba Safari Lodge
Budget / Basic: Heritage Safari Lodge
Wild Camping

Day 3: Do morning game drive and afternoon Nile launch cruise
Take a cup of tea to go very early in the morning for a game drive where you will sight variety of game such as Elephants, Lions, buffaloes, Jackson hartebeests, waterbucks, Oribi, Rothschild giraffe, spotted hyenas, leopards and many others. Return from the 3 – 4 hour game drive to the lodge for relaxation and lunch after which you gather at Paraa Jetty to embark on an afternoon launch cruise upstream of the Victoria Nile to the base of the falls offering possibilities of encountering aquatics like Hippos, Nile crocodiles, counts of birds including the Shoebill stork along with the grazers on the shores drinking water. Retreat from the activity for relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Accommodation
Upmarket / Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge
Midrange / Standard: Pakuba Safari Lodge
Budget / Basic: Heritage Safari Lodge
Wild Camping

Day 4: Drive to Kibale National Park. Whole day drive
After breakfast, drive to Kibale National park via Hoima with impressive views of the Albertine rift and the rural landscapes of Uganda. Drive through the districts of Kagadi and Kyenjonjo before arriving in Fort Portal and Kibale National Park in particular in the evening for relaxation dinner and overnight.
Accommodation
Upmarket / Luxury: Ndali lodge
Midrange / Standard: Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse
Budget / Basic: Rwenzori View Guesthouse
Wild Camping at Primate Lodge Campsite / Kanyanchu River Camp

Day 5: Do Chimpanzee trekking and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
This park is commonly accepted for a superlative diversity and highest massing of primates in the Great Lakes region. Here we shall take a nature walk in the tropical rainforest, search for wild chimpanzees with trained guides. The search for the chimpanzees takes about 2 – 5 hours inclusive of one hour direct viewing encounter with them. You enjoy their sights as they consume fruit, roll themselves on tree branches, play with their young ones, patrolling, copulating and make pant hooting calls which combine to derive an exciting moment with them.

You attend to the themed interpretation from the Park ranger describing the chimps and you are free to ask more questions that might come to your mind. You are free to also take photos. Retire from the activity and connect back to the starting center, settle for your packed lunch as you relax before embarking on the transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park 157km about 3 hours’ drive arriving in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight
Accommodation
Upmarket / Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge
Midrange / Standard: Enganzi Game Lodge
Budget / Basic: Pumba Safari Cottages
Wild Camping

Day 6: Do morning game drive and afternoon Kazinga Channel launch cruise
Wake up for a morning cup of coffee/ tea and embark on an early morning game drive in search for savannah wildlife in the rolling savannah plains of Queen Elizabeth in particular the Kasenyi area. Expect encounters of Lions, Leopards, Elephants, Antelopes like waterbucks, Uganda Kobs, Bushbucks among others, leopards, side stripped jackal, the spotted hyena not forgetting remarkable birdlife since Queen Elizabeth supports 600 bird species being the great bird habitat in Uganda and East Africa.

You retreat to the lodge for relaxation and lunch after which you connect to Mweya jetty for an afternoon boat cruise on Kazinga Channel that stretch for 45km from Lake George to Lake Edward. Along the channel, you enjoy the sights of the Nile Crocodiles; the great concentrations of Hippopotamus antelope, sights of birds such as the African skimmer and wild game drinking on the channel side including elephants and Buffaloes. In the evening, you take a game drive along the channel track in Mweya Peninsular as you connect to the loge for relaxation, dinner and overnight
Accommodation
Upmarket / Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge
Midrange / Standard: Enganzi Game Lodge
Budget / Basic: Pumba Safari Cottages
Wild Camping

Day 7: Do morning chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura gorge & afternoon forest walk in Maramagambo forest
After breakfast connect to Kyambura gorge to catch up with the chimpanzee trekking experience at 8am. Upon arrival, you embark on the briefing and then eventual trekking experience. Hiking through the 100m deep gorge covered with lush mature tropical forest that is proudly thriving below sea level is amazing. You have one hour of full direct encounter with the chimpanzees as you see them munch fruit, roll themselves on the tree branches, copulate, patrol and socialize with option of taking as many photos as you wish.

The activity tends to last 2 – 5 hours after which you connect back to the lodge for relaxation and lunch. In the afternoon, you embark on the forest hiking in the Maramagambo forest exploring the amazing forest landscapes with lush flora, fauna and birds.

The forest trail exposes to the Crater Lake fields and also to the Bat cave where you encounter thousands of bats hanging upside down in their natural habitat, Retreat from the encounter for relaxation, dinner and overnight
Accommodation:
Upmarket / Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge
Midrange / Standard: Enganzi Lodge
Budget / Basic: Pumba Safari Cottages
Wild Camping

Day 8: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Do a game drive in Ishasha sector in search of tree climbing lions
After a morning cup of coffee, embark on the transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park driving through the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth NP named Ishasha in search of the famous tree climbing lions along with other wild game, Tree climbing lions are noted to be thriving only in Ishasha sector Uganda and Lake Manyara National Park in Tanzania on a world scale. Retreat from the drive and transfer to Bwindi impenetrable arriving in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight
Accommodation:
Upmarket / Luxury: Chameleon Hill Lodge
Midrange / Standard: Gorilla Mist Camp
Budget / Basic: Broadbill Forest Camp
Wild Camping

Day 9: Do gorilla trekking and attend to the Bakiga / Batwa Performances at the lodge
Leave port for the long awaited adventure of Gorilla tracking in the Bwindi Impenetrable forest. Gorilla tracking is unpredictable; it is difficult to estimate how long you may take the jungle; however the excursion may take 2-8 hours. It all depends on the movement of these great apes. But regardless of the time spent during the trek, the excitement of seeing the gorillas makes it all worthwhile!

You explore the impressive forested landscapes of Bwindi dubbed the Impenetrable which stands one of the largest Afro montane forests with great tree count compared to other forests of its altitude. The one hour with gorillas allows you to gain direct views of these ancient apes while maintaining a seven meter distance. You retreat from the encounter and connect to the lodge for relaxation.

In the evening, you attend to the local performances of the Bakiga and Batwa including their impressive energetic dances that will make your evening colorful. Retire for overnight
Accommodation:
Upmarket / Luxury: Chameleon Hill Lodge
Midrange / Standard: Gorilla Mist Camp
Budget / Basic: Broadbill Forest Camp
Wild Camping

Day 10: Day 10: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi and do whole day Island hopping
After breakfast, embark on the transfer to Lake Bunyonyi driving through fascinating Kigezi Highlands which locals apply terracing method to cultivate their slopes deriving impressive scenic landscape worth of viewing and photography. Upon arrival at Lake Bunyonyi, you embark on the Island hopping experience. You explore the Bucuranuka (Upside down) Island which is believed to have buried people alive after refusing to offer local brew to an old woman and she cursed the Island turn upside down burying its inhabitants.

You also visit the Akampane (Punishment) Island where the girls with unwanted premarital pregnancies would be dumbed to die of hunger or as they as try to swim back the main land. There is also Bushara, Kyahugye and Njuyera Islands which can also be visited. The hopping experience exposes you to the local life of the Island communities including the process of brewing local beer. Retreat from the whole day encounter and retire at the lodge for relaxation and overnight.
Accommodation
Upmarket / Luxury: Birdnest @Lake Bunyonyi Resort
Midrange / Standard: Lake Bunyonyi Eco – resort
Budget / Basic: Byoona Amagara Island Retreat
Resort Camping

Day 11: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park, make a stop at Igongo Cultural Center en route for traditional lunch and do an evening game drive
After breakfast we drive to Lake Mburo National Park 199km about 4 hours’ drive passing through impressive landscapes of south western Uganda and sights of Mbarara town before making a lunch stop at Igongo Cultural Center 12km past Mbarara. After lunch, you proceed to Lake Mburo National Park 33km entering through Sanga Gate for an evening game drive in search for; Topis, Buffaloes, Water buck and not forgetting the Eland, Rothschild giraffes, the Burchell’s Zebra among other species before connecting to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight
Accommodation
Upmarket / Luxury: Mihingo Safari Lodge
Midrange / Standard: Rwakobo Rock
Budget / Basic: Eagles Nest
Wild Camping

Day 12: Do morning game walking safari and transfer to Kampala. Make a stop at Uganda Equator crossing Kayabwe en route for amazing photo shoots and souvenir purchase
At dawn, take game walk in park to explore the scenic landscapes and its remarkable acacia Species supporting counts of grazers including Buffaloes, Giraffes, elands, Zebra, Topis, Impala, water bucks among others. You hike to the top of Kazuma hull to gain views of the park and lakes below.

You retreat from the activity and embark on 240km about 3 – 4 hour transfer to Kampala. You make a top at the Equator for impressive photo shoots and purchase of memorabilia at any of the gift shops to commemorate your visit to Uganda. Continue to arrive in Kampala in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight
Accommodation:
Upmarket / Luxury: Kampala Sheraton Hotel
Midrange / Standard: Cassia Lodge
Budget / Basic: Buziga Country Resort
Camping at Back Packers Hostel

Day 13: Do Kampala City tour
After your breakfast, take a trip to Uganda’s capital city which starts in the morning at 0830hrs after your breakfast and will take you on a tour of Kampala exploring sites of cultural, historical, religious, political and educational significance. Visit the Bahai temple – the biggest and only religious temple building of its kind in Africa. Baha’i temple is a good site for picnic because of its beautiful picnic scenery rightly placed on a hill that gives you a view of the city.

Then the Uganda Museum – a historical feature with lots of colonial, cultural and traditional collections pass by the Makerere University -the first and the oldest university in East Africa. Kasubi tombs – The largest crypt in Africa and special burial place for Uganda kings. Our guide will be pleased to give you a brief and interesting history on the same. With the Namirembe Cathedral – the first and oldest religious feature that was constructed by the European missionaries. Explore Namugongo Shrines – a historical place where the first Ugandan Christians were murdered by the orders of Kabaka Mwanga of Buganda and then pass by the Ugandan craft village to do some shopping if you wish to have African art, curving, and masks of your desire. Return to your Hotel for Dinner and overnight.
Accommodation:
Upmarket / Luxury: Kampala Sheraton Hotel
Midrange / Standard: Cassia Lodge
Budget / Basic: Buziga Country Resort
Camping at Back Packers Hostel

Day 14: Departure through Entebbe International Airport.
Depending on the time of your flight, have an expedition before the Airport transfer. Do some shopping for souvenir for remembrance. Pack to your bags and get ready for the 40 minutes ride to the Airport, Check in before time of the flight and the company representative will be off.

  • Gorilla Permit (for gorilla trekking safaris)
  • Chimpanzee Permit (for chimpanzee trekking safaris)
  • Full Board Accommodation on Safari
  • Transportation in either 4X4 Safari Van or 4X4 Safari Land Cruiser all with Pop up roof & AC
  • Fuel
  • Professional English Speaking driver guide. Any other foreign language speaking guide can be arranged on request.
  • Entrance fees to the tourist sites including Protected areas mentioned
  • Activity fees of the tourist activities mentioned
  • Bottled water while on safari
  • Border crossing fees (for cross border safaris)
  • General tips for the driver guide, site guides and service staff at the lodges
  • Laundry Services, Other Beverages / drinks of personal nature like Alcohol
  • International Flights (Arranged on request)
  • Domestic Flights (Arranged on request)
  • Visas, Optional Activity fees
  • Other extras not mentioned in the Itinerary
  • Airport Transfer (Arranged on request)
  • Accommodation in Kampala or Kigali unless it is part of the Itinerary (Arranged on request)

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14 Days Uganda Gorilla Tracking & Primates Watching Tour