10 Days Gorilla, Chimpanzee, and Wildlife Safari

This 10 Days Gorilla Chimpanzee, and Wildlife Safari takes you to the most known National Parks in Western Uganda, in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park which covers an area of 321sqkm also known for half of the endangered mountain gorillas in the whole world, Queen Elizabeth National Park which covers an area of 1978sqkm known for boat cruises on Kazinga channel and game drives, Kibale National Park covering an area of 766sqkm known for chimpanzees and wetland walks before heading to Murchison Falls National Park which is the biggest park in Uganda covering an area of 3840sqkm known for game drives and boat cruises to the bottom of the falls.

Tour Highlights 10 Days Gorilla Chimpanzee

Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi.

To Queen Elizabeth National Park, evening game drive.

Morning game drive and boat cruise on Kazinga Channel in the afternoon.

Transfer to Kibale National Park.

 Chimp trekking and the Bigodi wetland walk.

Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park.

Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise to the bottom of the falls.

To Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for white rhinos.

Early morning rhino trekking and drive to Entebbe.

DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

After breakfast, you will be picked by our driver from Entebbe at your lodge/ airport and drive to South-western Uganda, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park which is approximately 570km via Kampala-Mbarara-Kabale road using approximately 8-9hours. You will have a stopover at the equator for photographs and a lunch break at Igongo Cultural Centre in Mbarara town. This journey takes you through the Banana Plantations, Farms, and beautiful hills of Kigezi for your overnight.

Accommodation options:

Luxury:  Gorilla heights Lodge.

Midrange:  Ichumbi Lodge

Budget: Rushaga Gorilla Havens Lodge.

Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi.

Following an early breakfast at the lodge, you will transfer to the park headquarters to join others for the full briefing about the dos and don’ts while with the gorillas. After that, you will start off your trek into the forest and this trek may take 30minutes-7hours depending on where the mountain gorillas will be. Once you find the gorillas, you will be allowed one hour for observation and taking photos. You will then return to Lodge for Lunch and choose an Optional activity of visiting the Batwa or relaxing at the Lodge.

Accommodation options:

Luxury:  Gorilla heights Lodge.

Midrange:  Ichumbi Lodge

Budget: Rushaga Gorilla Havens Lodge.

Day 3: To Queen Elizabeth National Park, evening game drive.

This morning you will drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park which will take approximately 155km via Kihihi-Kambuga road using approximately 4-5hours, be prepared for some incredible scenery along the way. You will have Lunch in Kihihi and proceed for en-route game drive in the Ishasha sector in search of the tree-climbing lions and proceed to the Northern side of the park and check at your lodge and prepare for an evening game drive. in the plains of Kasenyi to look for the savannah animals for example lions, elephants, leopards, buffalos among others.

Accommodation Options:

Luxury:  Elephant Plains lodge

Midrange: Elephant Hab Lodge

Budget: Pumba Safari cottages.

 Day 4: Morning Game drive and boat cruise on Kazinga Channel in the afternoon.

Having breakfast, you will drive back to Kasenyi plains for a game drive to see whatever you missed out on in the previous game drive and it is in the morning when the big cats are out hunting for their prey, buffalos, mongooses, monkeys in Kyanbura Gorge, kobs, topis among others. You will then continue with the boat cruise along Kazinga Channel in the afternoon which will take you not less than two hours.  see the crocodiles along Kazinga Channel, bathing hippos on the shores and birds how they play around big mammals like buffalos. You will also have a chance to see Katunguru fishing village and by chance watch fishermen as they drop their fishing nets into the water ready to yield fish. After the boat cruise, you will drive back to the lodge for relaxation and overnight.

Accommodation Options:

Luxury:  Elephant Plains lodge

Midrange: Elephant Hab Lodge

Budget: Pumba Safari cottages.

Day 5: Transfer to Kibale National Park and Bigodi wetland walk in the evening.

Following breakfast, you will drive to Kibale National Park which will take approximately 142km via Katunguru-Mbarara-Kasese road using approximately 3-4hour driving arriving at your lodge for lunch. You will then have a Bigodi wetland walk after having lunch, you will move into the swamp in the tropical jungle, filled with natural wonders that have amazed and delighted thousands each year as they walk through this jungle, you will have a chance to visit the plants, trees, and palms in Bigodi wetland sanctuary. You will transfer to the hotel overnight.

Accommodation Options.

Luxury: Primate Lodge

Midrange: Isunga Lodge

Budget: Kibale Forest Camp.

Day 6: Chimpanzee trekking and cultural encounter.

After breakfast, you will transfer to the park headquarters and join others for briefing about the dos and don’ts while with the chimpanzees in the forest. You will be divided into small groups of six people headed by one guide who will move with you into the forest to find the chimpanzees because they normally break up into small groups to reduce the competition of food amongst them and they gather in the evening for rest.  Allowed one hour with the chimpanzees for observing and taking photos before going for lunch and then cultural encounters in the nearby village in Kibale National Park. You will have a chance to know more about the two tribes that are Batooro are the indigenous tribe also occupying the largest portion of the land and Bakiga are minority immigrates from Kigezi.  Then drive back to the lodge for overnight.

Day 7: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park

After breakfast, we will drive to Murchison Falls National Park which is approximately 404km via Mubende- Fort Portal road passing through the small town, villages, and great views of the escapements using approximately 7-8hours arriving late evening for your dinner and overnight

Accommodation Options:

Luxury: Paara Safari Lodge

Midrange: Murchison River Lodge

Budget: Heritage Safari lodge.

Day 8: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise to the bottom of the falls.

Following an early morning breakfast, drive to the northern section of the park known as Paraa for your game drive where you will be able to spot some of the mammals like; the lions, hippopotamuses, Rothschild’s giraffe, warthog, Cape buffalos Uganda kob among others. In this early morning, you will have a chance to see plenty of games and Nyamsika Cliffs where you can enjoy your picnic. Return to the lodge for a lunch break before going ahead with a two-hour boat cruise to the bottom of the falls to witness how River Nile enters into Lake Albert and takes you to the bottom. While on the cruise, you will be able to sight waterbucks, crocodiles, buffalos, elephants, and water birds such as fish eagles, kingfishers, ducks, bee-eaters, and the shoebill. After that, you will return to the Lodge for your dinner and overnight.

Accommodation Options:

Luxury: Paara Safari Lodge

Midrange: Murchison River Lodge

Budget: Heritage Safari lodge.

Day 9: To Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for Rhinos.

After breakfast, we will drive to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary which will take you approximately 127km using 2-3hours to arrive for Rhino trekking. You will have an opportunity to see the BIG-FIVE while on tour. Guided by the rangers, you will trek the rhinos on foot allowing you to have photos and clear observation of the massive endangered animals at Ziwa. You will then head to Amuka Safari Lodge for an overnight after rhino trekking.

Accommodation Option.

Luxury: Amuka Safari Lodge.

Day 10: Early morning Nature walk and drive back to Entebbe.

After morning breakfast, you will head out for a morning walk through the Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary. you can also opt to have a canoe ride for the shoebill stork in the wetlands of the Sanctuary. Different birds can be spotted during this walk and different small primates like baboons, monkeys, after walking back to the lodge and preparing for your return journey to Kampala/ Entebbe to End the Safari.

 Tour Inclusions on 10 Days Gorilla Chimpanzee

• Park fees (for non-residents)
• Gorilla Permit
• Chimpanzee Permit
• Rhino tracking
• Game drives and boat cruises
• All activities (unless labeled as optional)
• All accommodation
• A professional driver/guide
• All transportation (unless labelled as optional)
• Roundtrip airport transfer
• All Meals as mentioned on the program
• Drinking water (on all days)

 Tour Exclusions on 10 Days Gorilla Chimpanzee

• International flights (from/to home)
• Additional accommodation before and at end of the tour, if needed
• Tips
• Personal items (souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)

Best of 10 Days Gorilla Chimpanzee