9 Days Uganda Wildlife & Gorilla Tour – Overview

The 9 Days Uganda Wildlife & Gorilla Tour is complete safari package that will take you to the Pearl of Africa’s most outstanding tourism destination like Murchison Falls National Park which is very popular because of its powerful falls and unique wildlife, Kibale Forest with the highest number of Chimps in East Africa, Queen Elizabeth National Park with ists tree climbing lions, Kazinga channel and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest- Natural habitat of Mountain Gorillas, The Safari which will start and in Kampala entails activities such as Boat cruise to the bottom of the falls, Game drives in Murchison falls national park, Nature walk to the top of the falls, Game drives and boat cruise in Queen Elizabeth national park, Chimpanzee tracking, Viewing tree climbing lions and Memorable Gorilla Trekking.

9 Days Uganda Wildlife & Gorilla Tour – Highlights

• Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe & Transfer to Kampala
• Day 2: Transfer to Murchison falls National Park & En-route Visit to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
• Day 3: Early Morning Game drive & Afternoon Launch Cruise, Hike to the top of falls.
• Day 4: Transfer to Kibale Forest national park & En-route Lunch stopover in Hoima
• Day 5: Early Morning Chimpanzee tracking & Afternoon Guided Bigodi Walk.
• Day 6: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park & Do afternoon boat cruise
• Day 7: Do morning game drive & Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
• Day 8: Early Morning Gorilla Tracking & Afternoon Cultural Walk to visit the Batwa
• Day 9: Transfer from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to Kampala/Entebbe& departure.

9 Days Uganda Wildlife & Gorilla Tour – Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe & Transfer to Kampala

Upon your arrival at Entebbe Airport, you will be met by our company guide who will welcome you and transfer you to Kampala for refreshment from long hectic flight, dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodations: Sheraton Hotel (Upmarket /Luxury), Acacia lodge (Mid-Range/Standard), Buziga Country Resort (Budget).

Day 2: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park & En-route Visit to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

After an early breakfast, the driver guide will pick you up from your  place of stay in Kampala, embark on drive transfer to Murchison Falls National Park in the north west of Uganda 311km about 5 hours’ drive without en-route stopovers.

The drive journey will take through fascinating flat landscape of Nakasongora dotted with long horned Ankole cows.

You will have perfect stopover at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary located just 7km from the main road at Nakitoma 115km from Kampala.

Explore the only white Rhinos in Uganda protected in the savannah thicket of Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.

Have lunch at Kabalega dinner and thereafter advance with the drive to Murchison Falls National Park for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Paraa Safari Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Pakuba Safari Lodge (Mid-range/Standard) or Heritage Safari Lodge (Budget/Basic).

Day 3: Early Morning Game Drive & Afternoon Launch Cruise, Hike To The Top of Falls.

On your third day of the trip, go for an early game view drive through the well –coordinated delta area tracks, Buligi tracks, Albert and Queen Tracks in Murchison falls NP.

The range of wildlife you may view or spot include the Lions, buffaloes, waterbuck, Jackson’s hartebeest, oribi.

As soon as the game drive is done, retire to the lodge for lunch and preparation for an afternoon launch cruise to the bottom of the falls.

Immediately after taking lunch, transfer to Paraa area to catch-up with an afternoon launch cruise on the Nile.

The lunch cruise will offer you opportunities to spot schools of hippos, large crocodiles, and small herds of buffalo.

There’s rich birdlife on the papyrus banks, watch out for the shoebill stork, the most sought after bird in Africa.

Thereafter, go to the Top of the falls; such a lovely scene for viewing the magnificent world’s most powerful fall. Retire back to the lodge after the activity for dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation: Paraa Safari Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Pakuba Safari Lodge (Mid-range/Standard) or Heritage Safari Lodge (Budget/Basic).

Day 4: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park & En-route Lunch Stopover in Hoima

After breakfast, transfer from Murchison Falls National Park heading Southwest via the Albertine Escarpment of the great Western Rift Valley to Kibale forest national Park.

Along the way, you will enjoy the sights of traditional homesteads and farms in this verdant country side.

Have lunch stopover in Hoima and thereafter, proceed with the drive through Fort portal town where you may have glimpse at the fascinating Toroo Palace, Visit the Karambi Tombs site before connecting to Kibale Forest Park.

Arrive at the park in the evening and head to your respective lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodations: Kyaninga Lodge (Luxury) Chimp’s Nest Lodge (Mid-Range), Rwenzori View Guest House (Budget).

Day 5: Early Morning Chimpanzee Tracking & Afternoon Guided Bigodi Walk.

Wake up for an early morning breakfast to get ready for chimpanzee trekking in Kibale forest national park.

Thereafter, report to Kayanchu tourism Centre for an early morning briefing from the senior park rangers about the rules and regulations to follow when trekking the primates.

Thereafter, you will be transferred to trail head to start looking for the luring chimpanzees. Though chimp sightings are not guaranteed, there are 95% chances of seeing, hearing the chimpanzees in their natural forest of Kibale.

Retire from the activity which takes 2-5 hours depending on the Movements of the primates to the lodge for lunch as you prepare for an afternoon encounter.

Later in the afternoon, you will embark on a guided nature walk to Bigodi swamp sanctuary, a good site for birders.

Expect to see the Great Blue Turaco and Papyrus Gonolek which can easily be sighted among the other many bird species.

There is also an array of butterfly species. In the evening return to your previous lodge for relaxation and dinner.

Accommodation: Kyaninga Lodge (Luxury), Chimp’s Nest Lodge (Mid-Range), Rwenzori View Guest House (Budget).

Day 6: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park & Do Afternoon Boat Cruise

After taking a relaxed breakfast, embark on the transfer drive from Kibale to Queen Elizabeth National Park 157km about 3 hours’ drive without en-route stops.

You will have a stop at Rwenzori Art foundation – the only bronze casting center in Africa in the shadows of Rwenzori Mountains.

The process of sculpture making of which you will be free to participate in will be rewarding.

The extension to visit the Ruboni community wax and craft center expose you the local traditions and the applicability of indigenous knowledge to contemporary development.

Continue to the Queen Elizabeth NP, drive through the crater are with possible views of the olive baboons and elephants not forgetting magical sceneries before connecting to Mweya for an afternoon Kazinga Channel boa cruise which will offer you possibilities of encountering Hippos, Nile crocodiles , wild game drinking on the channel side and counts of water birds. Retire in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge (Luxury), Katara Lodge (Mid-range/Standard) or Pumba Safari Cottages (Budget/Basic).

Day 7: Do Morning Game Drive & Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Wake up early for cup of tea and thereafter embark on the game drive at 6:30am in the rolling savannah plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park.

The drive will take you through Kasenyi with the opportunities of confronting wildlife species like the elusive leopard, defassa waterbuck, Uganda kob, Side stripped Jackal; Oribis elephants, lions, buffaloes, Antelopes among others. After 3 -4 hours of game drive, you will retreat back to the starting point. Thereafter, embark on the interesting drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

The drive will take you through the famous Ishasha sector where you will have possibilities of encountering tree climbing lions that tend to lie on the branches of fig trees.

Have your stopover for Lunch at Ishasha and thereafter continue with the drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park arriving in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Chameleon Hill Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Gorilla Mist Camp (Midrange/Standard) or Broadbill Forest Camp (Budget/Basic).

Day 8: Early Morning Gorilla Tracking & Afternoon Cultural Walk To Visit The Batwa

After an early morning after hearty breakfast, you will report to the Park headquarters for registration and join other trekkers in a briefing about the etiquettes of Gorilla Trekking at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

After briefing, UWA experienced ranger guide will lead you to the trail heads to entre in the ancient, thick dark Bwindi impenetrable forest to start searching for the unique species of the mountain gorillas inhabited in the hilly forested areas of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.

The trek may take you between 2-8 hours to encounter face to face with the mountain gorillas and once up close, you will be allowed to spend one magical hour with these stunning apes.

During this time you can decide to sit down listen to gorilla crumble, study how these apes go about their daily activities and you can take as many photos as possible.

Retire back to the starting point after the one hour and proceed to your lodge for a late lunch and relaxation.

Thereafter, embark on an evening community walk to visit the native Batwa community and have a cultural encounter. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation: Chameleons Hill Lodge (Luxury/Upmarket), Gorilla Mist Camp (Mid-Range/Standard), Broad Bill Forest Camp (Budget/Basic).

Day 9: Transfer From Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to Kampala/Entebbe & Departure.

After an early morning breakfast, you will embark on drive back to Kampala Entebbe International Airport for your flight back home.

You will pass through Mbarara town having your lunch stopover at Igongo Cultural Centre and then proceed to Mpabire where you will have view of the traditional drums made by the local drummers and also enjoy drumming session.

Thereafter, drive to Kampala and on arrival, the driver guide will drive you back to your lodge or Entebbe international Airport for your onward flight back home.

End of The 9 Days Uganda Wildlife & Gorilla Tour

Getting There

Safari Inclusions

• Chimpanzee Permit (for chimpanzee trekking safaris)
• Gorilla Permit (for gorilla 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)

Safari Exclusions

• 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)