Safari overview
In this 12 days safari, we meet your unique aspirations and safari expectation, with a Gorilla trekking and wildlife encounters in Uganda; the pearl of Africa in East Africa. An encounter with Mountain Gorillas in Uganda is Unforgettable as these are the world’s most powerful primates, only in Africa.
This is a road trip, to Lake Mburo national park for game drive and boat cruise; Lake Bunyonyi for exploration; Bwindi Impenetrable forest national park for gorilla trekking; Queen Elizabeth national park for chimpanzee trekking at Kyambura gorge, game drive, boat cruise and crater tours; Kibale forest national park for chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi swamp walk; Murchison Falls National park for Game drive, and boat cruise; and Ziwa Rhino sanctuary for Rhino trekking. Big 5 cats you stand a chance of seeing include; the lions, leopards, buffaloes, Rhinos and elephants. The trip starts and ends in Entebbe, with all meals, accommodation and transfers well planned.
Detailed Trip
Day1: Pickup from Entebbe and Transfer to Lake Mburo NP
The place of meet up is at Entebbe international airport, with a stunning view of the open skies and the vast Lake Victoria; the largest fresh water lake in the continent of Africa. After clearing with the immigration Authorities, our driver guide at the waiting point with a ply-card with your name will meet and greet you with a warm smile.
There will be a briefing on how the trip transpired, before hitting the road on a 4-5 hour Journey to Lake Mburo National park. The stunning Landscape, Lush plants, and busy centers, ushers you to the holiday sights and sounds. Arrive at the park, register and proceed to check-in to the lodge for Lunch, refreshment, and a peaceful nap. Lake Mburo is one of the smallest national parks in the country, yet with unmatched flora and fauna.
Day2: Game drive and Boat Cruise
Wakeup to an energizing cup of coffee at the Lodge, followed by a 3-4 hour game drive in the open savannah grassland. Beyond the beauty of the landscape, and several plant species; expect to sight a variety of Antelope species such as the Uganda Kobs, Impalas, Hartebeests, and Zebras, topis, Defassa waterbuck, warthogs, elephants, buffaloes and more. There are lots more bird species here such as the pied kingfisher, papyrus Gonolek, and African wattled lapwing; primates, and unique plants to identify. After the game viewing experience, you will have Lunch break, and then rest.
In the afternoon hours, there will be a 2-3 hour boat cruise at Lake Mburo, where in addition to enjoying the water serenity, the view of the lush swamp, and identifying the different aquatic residents such as the school of hippos, crocodiles, and birds. Your day ends at sunset with dinner, and a peaceful nap.
Day3: Transfer from Lake Mburo to Lake Bunyonyi
Wakeup like a baby and ask for a cup of coffee first thing, Thereafter, embark on a long day Journey to Lake Bunyonyi, with views of the lush greenery, rolling hills, open waters and more. This is a 6-7 hour Journey, with a Lunch stopover, and site seeing. Lake Bunyonyi is one of the deepest lakes in Africa, surrounded by over 29 islands with historical significance. The place is beautiful, with lots of birds and plants. You will arrive and check-in to the lodge for refreshment, dinner and a peaceful nap.
Day4: Explore the treasures of Lake Bunyonyi
Start this day with the Bunyonyi breakfast. Go on an African canoe ride through the calm waters of the Lake, with the guide showing and explaining facts about the different Islands surrounding the lake. Among those is the Punishment Island, where all unmarried ladies caught committing sexual offense were banished as punishment. It was left to them to either die in the evil forest, or dare swimming through the lake to a safe spot. After exploring the lake, you will return to the lodge for Lunch, and the evening is spent by the calm waters, swimming, nature walk, and photography. Enjoy the bird calls as you identify them return to their nests at night fall. Last activity of the day is dinner and a sweet slumber.
Day5: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi and Transfer to Queen Elizabeth NP
After breakfast, you will drive to one of the four sectors of Bwindi Impenetrable national park for an encounter with your cousins; the Kings of the Jungle. At 07:00hrs local time, the ranger guides will welcome, verify your gorilla trekking documents, and brief on the trekking dos and don’ts. The Gorilla species in Uganda are the Mountain Gorillas, which can only be found around the Virunga ranges which spans through Uganda, Rwanda, and DR Congo.
The trekking session is on foot, lasting for approximately 1-8 hours depending on how far the Apes have gone. These are the world’s most powerful primates, and live in families led by an alpha male-a silverback. Very active in the morning hours, you will first visit the place where they were last spotted, and then follow the Jungle echoes. More to your days viewing include the forest birds, primates such as the monkeys, and identifying the different plants. After a tedious walk, you will spend an hour with the apes, watching the mothers nurse the infants, the playful young stars, and giant silverback.
After an up-close look at the Gorillas, you will have a Lunch break, followed a drive to the Medley of Wonders; Queen Elizabeth National park. The eye-catching sceneries will welcome you to the park for you unforgettable experience. End this day with dinner and a peaceful nap.
Day6: Morning Game drive and Evening Boat Cruise
Wake up and first thing, jump on a safari vehicle for a 3-4 hour game drive with the wish of spotting the wild animals starting their day. Whereas sighting the likes of lions, leopards, and hyenas, is pure Luck, you will what to take advantage of the time when they return from the night hunt to their head outs. The day’s check-list include: Uganda Kobs, Red-tailed monkeys, topis, bush pig, elephant, buffaloes, waterbuck, and more. You will have bush breakfast, followed by a Lunch break.
In the afternoon hours, you will have a 2 hour boat cruise at Kazinga channel, with a cool lake breeze, stunning views of the landscape, a school of hippos, crocodiles and more. End your day with dinner and a peaceful nap.
Day 7: Kyambura Gorge Chimp Tour and Evening crater drive
After breakfast, go for chimpanzee trekking at Kyambura George at the boarder of Queen Elizabeth National park. This underground gorge harbors chimpanzees and other primates open for viewing. Visitors are welcomed and briefed on the trekking experience; followed by the activity which lasts for 1-4 hours, taking photos, and uncovering the haven. After the chimpanzee trekking, you will have Lunch, followed by the evening crater driver, where your guide will take you around crater, for site seeing, and nature walk. There is lots more to uncover by the end of the day when you will return to the lodge for dinner and a peaceful nap.
Day8: Morning Game drive and Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
Wakeup very early in the morning for breakfast, followed by a sunrise game drive, with hopes of encountering some of the animals that you might have not seen in the previous adventure. The rarest of the animal Jungles include the lions, leopards and hyenas. You will hope to catchup with among others; a kill, birth, and more. After a 3-4 hour game drive experience, you will return to the lodge for a checkout and hit the road to the primate capital of Africa-Kibale Forest national park. After a 2-3 hour drive with a view of mountain back drop, lush vegetation cover, and African homestead. Get your lodge in the evening hours, check-in, grab what to eat, and wait for dinner followed by a nap.
Day9: Chimpanzee trekking and Evening Walk in Bigodi Swamp
Kick start your day with a cup of coffee. Afterword’s, you will hit the road to Kibale forest national park for a rewarding chimpanzee trekking experience. There will be a pretrekking briefing which lasts for approximately 30 minutes, and a 1-4 hour chimpanzee trekking experience, guided by an expert ranger guide, with the vast knowledge of the chimpanzee and the other over 12 primate species in this Jungle notably the vervet monkeys, white and black Columbus monkeys and more. After finding these apes, you have an hour of watching them, taking photos and studying.
After time with your cousins, have a Lunch break, followed by Bigodi swamp walk. Bigodi swamp is one of the Ramsar sites, and a community initiative with lots of primates and birds. You will mingle with the local natives, take photos, and identify the treasures in here. End this day with dinner and a sweet slumber.
Day10: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park
After breakfast, you will hit the road to the largest and oldest national park in Uganda, with the most powerful waterfall on earth; Murchison Fall National park. This is home to the 4 of the big 5 cats. Love the stunning views of the vegetation at the route, the busy towns, and happy people. Lunch will be served enroute, and an evening arrival at the lodge for check-in, refreshment, dinner and an overnight.
Day11: Morning big game search and Afternoon boat cruise to the bottom of Murchison falls
After having your breakfast at the lodge, your guide will pick you up for a 4-5 hour game drive in the northern part of the Park. With the guide explaining facts about the animals, plants, birds, reptiles, and plants, you will have to be very active, and running your eyes across the wilderness at all times. Your camera will be in use from the start to the end of the experience. The day’s checklist features; lions, giraffes, Buffaloes, elephants, Uganda Kobs, warthogs, and more.
After game drive, you will have lunch break, followed by an afternoon boat cruise to the bottom of the falls, where you will get to see among others; the swamp, the giant Nile crocodile, hippos, aquatic birds, elephants or any other animals quenching their thirst by the lake shore. Ride to the bottom of the world’s most powerful waterfall where you will have a clear view of the thundering waters pouring to the Nile, taking photos and enjoying the moment. End this day at the lodge with dinner and a sweet slumber.
Day12: Transfer to Entebbe via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
After breakfast, you will check-out of your lodge for a drive to Entebbe for your flight/Accommodation. This is a 5-6 hour Journey, with an enroute stopover at Nakasongola district for a one hour Rhino trekking at Ziwa Rhino sanctuary. Except for the newly born Rhinos, this was to conserve the orphaned and rescued white and black rhinos in the country. There is no any other place to see Rhinos in Uganda except here. Your Lunch will be enroute, and an evening arrival in Entebbe for departure.