11 Days Uganda gorilla and Wildlife safari

Safari Overview

This 11 Days Uganda gorilla trekking and wildlife safari is aimed at giving you the best of Uganda as it exposes you to the best wild encounters Uganda has to offer. While on this Ugandan odyssey, expect to enjoy memorable encounters with Uganda’s wild mammals as you are set to visit national parks such as Murchison falls, Queen Elizabeth and Lake Mburo National parks which are home to a myriad of these mammals such as 4 of Africa’s big five which include lions cape buffaloes, leopards and the African elephants. Further still you have will have a chance to enjoy a close encounter with chimpanzees as you are set to visit Kibale national park which is the primate capital of the world with 13 primate species calling this park their home. The epitome of this safari will be a memorable encounter with the gentle giants the mountain gorillas as you will get to visit Bwindi Impenetrable National park which is home to these shy primates. 

Safari Highlight 

Day 1: Transfer to Murchison Falls Park with a visit to Ziwa rhino sanctuary and a hot lunch at Kabalega dinners

Day 2: Engage in a morning game drive and an afternoon boat cruise with a hike to the top of the falls

Day 3: Transfer to Kibale National Park with a hot lunch in Hoima

Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale and transfer to Queen Elizabeth Park

Day 5: Moring game drive and an afternoon boat cruise on the Kazinga

Day 6: Transfer to Ishasha and engage in an afternoon game drive as you search for the tree climbing lions

Day 7: Transfer to Bwindi 

Day 8: Enjoy gorilla sightings as you do gorilla trekking 

Day 9: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi and enjoy an evening boat cruise

Day 10: Drive to Lake Mburo and engage in an afternoon boat cruise

Day 11: Enjoy a morning walking safari in L. Mburo and transfer to Kampala or Entebbe with an enroute at the Equator for the equator experience at Kayabwe

 

Detailed safari itinerary 

Day 1: Transfer to Murchison Falls Park with enroute stop at Ziwa sanctuary for rhino trekking

Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park which promises to give you thrilling encounters with a myriad of Uganda’s wildlife. Along your journey, you will make a stop over at Ziwa rhino sanctuary where an encounter with the rhinos is assured as this sanctuary is home to an ever-growing number of rhinos. You will have an enroute lunch at Kabalega dinners

Accommodation: Murchison River Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 2: Enjoy a morning game drive and an afternoon boat cruise to the bottom of the falls

Today you will engage in a stunning morning game drive in Murchison falls National Park and this will give a face to face encounter with the dwellers of this park such as 4 of the Africa’s big five lions, African elephants, leopards and cape buffaloes among many others like giraffes and a multitude of birds. In the afternoon you will enjoy a mind-blowing boat cruise to the bottom of Murchison falls and the thunderous roar from these falls will surely let you know why they are referred to us the world’s strongest water falls. From here, you will hike to the top of these magnificent falls where you will be able to take numerous pictures in order to immortalize your visit forever.

Accommodation: Murchison River Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 3: Transfer to Kibale Park

This day will see you transfer to Kibale National park. Kibale Park lies about 310km or 6-7 hours’ drive through rural Uganda which makes this journey quite fascinating for a first-time traveler in this country. You will have a lunch stop in Hoima. Along the way to Kibale, look out for beautiful sightings of large tea plantations which cover the gentle hills of Fort portal and Kibale. You can take a moment to pose for photos here. If you visit coincides with the harvesting period, you will be mesmerized by the tea harvesting process which involves laborers carry large baskets over their backs which they fill with the tea leaves plucked at a lightning speed.

Accommodation: Isunga Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 4: Trek the Chimpanzees of Kibale and transfer to Queen Elizabeth Park

On this day, you will have a chance to have an upclose encounter with the man’s closest wild cousin the chimpanzees as you engage in an exciting chimpanzee trekking experience as Kibale national park is home to these humbling primates. In the afternoon you will transfer to Queen Elizabeth park. Upon your arrival here, you will engage in an enroute game drive to your lodge.

Accommodation:  Marafiki safari Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 5: Morning game drive and an afternoon boat cruise on the Kazinga channel

This day will see you being exposed to what Queen Elizabeth national park has to offer. You will kick off with an early morning game drive where you meet more of Uganda wildlife mammals which include lions, Cape buffaloes African elephants Topis Bush bucks. In the afternoon enjoy another round of thrilling boat ride as you get to cruise the Kazinga channel and this comes with numerous encounters with hippos, more grassland wild animals and a myriad of bird species as this park is home to 600 bird species

Accommodation: Marafiki Safari Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 6: Transfer to Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park for an afternoon game drive.

This day is a bit relaxed and you will wake up at 7:30am for breakfast then start off your drive north wards to Ishsasha sector of Queen Elizabeth Park, on arrival to this sector, you will indulge in a fascinating game drive through this sector which is aimed at giving you an opportunity to come face to face with the tree climbing lions that have made this part of Queen Elizabeth Park a place that should never be missed on any Uganda safari adventure to this park. After about 2-3 hours of exploring this sector, you will check in to your lodge here and have a lunch break. You can decide to spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing at the lodge as you take in the weeping views of the Ishasha wilderness or you can venture out again and enjoy another round of game drive here before returning to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay. 

Accommodation: Ishasha Jungle Safari Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner 

Day 8: Have a morning game drive in Ishasha and drive to Kasenyi sector

This day is dedicated to have you try your luck to see if you can still see more wild game in Ishasha as you undertake a morning game drive in this sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. After this game drive, you will depart Ishasha and head for Bwindi Park which lies about 70km or 1.5-2 hours drive away from Ishasha. You will check into your lodge and have lunch and spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing at the lodge

Accommodation: Buhoma Haven Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner 

Day 9: Enjoy a gorilla trekking expedition 

This day you will get to actually meet the gorillas as you engage in a memorable gorilla trekking experience which will have you meet these gentle giants in their natural habitat. You will spend an hour observing these majestic creatures in order to to have an understanding their habits which aren’t far from our own. 

Accommodation: Buhoma Haven Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner 

Day 3: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi

Day 3 is a fairly relaxed day and you will wake up a bit late but still in time for breakfast. After having breakfast, you will check out of the lodge and drive to Lake Bunyonyi where you get to relax from the rather a bit tedious gorilla trekking experience. On arrival to this beautiful tropical gem of the Kigezi highland, you will be fascinated by the tranquil waters of this lake and the numerous islands that are dotted all over it hence leading to its famous name The Lake of a Thousand Islands. You will enjoy a relaxing boat cruise on the waters of this lake as you are taken through the history behind several of these islands such as the Akampene island which is also known as the Punishment island where young girls who had got pregnant were thrown and left to die alone, the upside-down island which legend has it that it was cursed by an old lady when the young people who lived on that island refused to give her beer, she cursed it and it turned upside down hence having them all drowned. From this boat cruise, transfer to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay. 

Accommodation: Birdsnest @ Bunyonyi / Lake Bunyonyi Rock Resort

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner 

Day 10: Transfer to L. Mburo and enjoy an evening boat cruise 

This day has you waking up at the soothing twittering of some of the numerous birds that call this lake their home as it has its name Lake Bunyonyi derived from hundreds of bird species. After breakfast you will embark on your drive to Lake Mburo National Park. Mburo National Park lies about 270km or 5-6 hours’ drive.  Upon your arrival to Lake Mburo Park, you will undertake a spectacular boat cruise that will reveal to you several of the park’s wild mammals and reptiles such as the Cape buffaloes, Giraffes, numerous antelope species such as Bush backs, Ellands, Impalas and the Burchell zebras. At the end of the boat experience, you will indulge in a game drive as you go to your lodge. It is also a good birding destination given its 300-bird species count. 

Accommodation: Rwakobo Rock

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 11: Do a morning walk and transfer to Entebbe

On the last day of this safari, you will enjoy a thrilling walking safari which will put you in a position to some meet several of the wild dwellers of this park from a close range. You will return to the lodge to have breakfast after which you will then embark on a return drive back to Entebbe where your safari with us comes to an end.

Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch

 

Tour Inclusions

  • Full time English professional safari driver guide
  • 4×4 safari van/ 4×4 Safari land cruiser
  • Full board accommodation
  • Gorilla trekking permit fees
  • Domestic flight fees
  • Bottled water

 

Safari Exclusions

  • International &domestic flight fees
  • Visa fees
  • Laundry services
  • Items of personal nature
  • Gratuities and tips
  • Other beverages/ drinks
  • Other extras not mentioned in the itinerary above