Safari Overview
This 13 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. 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 Jinja engage in a quad biking experience, boat cruise to the source of the Nile and continue to Mbale
Day 2: Visit the Sipi falls and then drive to Kidepo Valley national park
Day 3: Full day game drive in Kidepo valley park
Day 4: Morning game drive in Kidepo and drive to Murchison Falls Park
Day 5: Engage in a morning game drive and an afternoon boat cruise with a hike to the top of the falls
Day 6: Transfer to Kibale National Park with a hot lunch in Hoima
Day 7: Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale and transfer to Queen Elizabeth Park
Day 8: Moring game drive and an afternoon boat cruise on the Kazinga
Day 9: Transfer to Ishasha and engage in an afternoon game drive
Day 10: Transfer to Bwindi via Ishasha for possible sighting of the tree climbing lions
Day 11: Enjoy gorilla sightings as you do gorilla trekking
Day 12: Drive to Lake Mburo and engage in an afternoon boat cruise
Day 13: 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 Jinja for a quad biking experience, source of the Nile boat cruise and continue to Mbale town.
Day 1 of this safari will have you picked up from your hotel in Entebbe at 6:00am and embark on a 120km or 2-3 hours drive depending on the traffic to Jinja. Upon your arrival here, you will engage in a thrilling quad biking experience as you get to ride through the pristine villages of Jinja following the dirt roads. Depending on your level of experience, you will experience the thrill of your life as you enjoy riding these dirt roads which will give you an African massage. After about 2 hours of thrill seeking, you will transfer to the source of the Nile river, here you get to enjoy you a boat ride to a point where the majestic river Nile the longest river in the world begins its spectacular journey to the Mediterranean Sea. You will have a lunch break after which you will continue with your journey to Mbale town where you will close off the day from.
Accommodation: Mbale Resort
Meal Plan: Lunch & Dinner
Day 2: Visit Sipi falls then transfer to Kidepo valley park
Today you will wake up at 7:00am have breakfast after which you will check out of the lodge and drive to Sipi falls that are located in Kapchorwa which lies about an hours drive from the hotel. Upon arriving here, you will get to enjoy a rather spectacular hike through the villages along the path that will lead you to these falls. This walk will give you a front row seat and a sneak pick into the lives of the locals here as you get to meet many of them going about their daily routines such as tending to their coffee and banana plantations. As you get near these falls, you will be welcomed by their thunderous roar which will let you know how strong these falls are. These falls are in 3 distinct phases with you will be able to see with the largest of them having its water plunge a whole 90m below off a cliff. The water cascading down creates this kind of a beautiful space between itself and the cliff and if you are strong hearted you can get near this point and pose for those incredible photos that will immortalize your presence here. From here, you will drive forward towards Moroto town where you will have lunch break before you finally make your way to Kidepo Valley national park later in the evening.
Accommodation: Kidepo Savanna Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 3: Morning game drive in Kidepo’s Narus Valley and an afternoon cultural encounter with the Karimajongs
Day 3 will have wake up early in the morning to a wonderfully crafted breakfast which you will enjoy while listening to the sounds of Kidepo made up of several birds twittering to the dawn of a new day over the Karamoja plains that are routinely interjected by several mammal calls that are either readying themselves for the new day ahead or retreating into their homes after an eventful night. You will embark on a game drive here which will reveal to you several of the secrets of Kidepo. On a clear day, watching the sun rise over these savanna grasslands is something worth looking out for because its breath takingly beautiful. After your encounter with the wild mammals of Kidepo which include the African elephants, Cape buffaloes Rothchild giraffes, Burchell zebras as they roam these grasslands, you will return to the lodge and have a lunch and also get out of the rather scotching Kidepo heat. In the evening when the temperatures have cooled off you will set out and visit one of the local villages that are dotted on the peripherals of this park. A unique cultural experience here awaits you as you get to see first hand how these locals live here. You will visit their homesteads called the Manyatas which are constructed and designed beautifully using local materials such as reeds small sticks and cow dung to given them a rather unique style finish. You will listen to inspiration behind their designs and its meaning. Enjoy a truly spectacular cultural dance session with these animated locals as you follow their local rhythms and dance beats. Buy a souvenir or two to support this community and also add to your collection of travel memorabilia. You will return to the lodge for dinner.
Accommodation: Kidepo Savanna Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 4: Enjoy another morning game drive and transfer to Murchison Falls Park
Today will be your last day in Kidepo valley, you will wake up a bit a late but still in time for breakfast, you will check out of the lodge and do another round of a morning game drive as you get out of Kidepo valley park and embark on a 355km or 7-8 hours drive to Murchison Falls Park with a lunch break in Gulu town.
Accommodation: Pakuba Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 5: 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 6: 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 7: 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/ Aadvark Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 8: 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 / Aadvark Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 9: 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 10: Have a morning game drive in Ishasha and drive to Bwindi
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 11: 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 12: 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 Bwindi their home. After breakfast you will embark on your drive to Lake Mburo National Park. Mburo National Park lies about 250km or 5-6 hours’ drive North East of Bwindi. 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 13: 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
Safari Exclusions
