12 Days Uganda Gorilla Tour
Duration : 12 Days (11 Nights)
Parks to Visit : Murchison Falls, Kibale Forest, Lake Mburo, Queen Elizabeth National Park
When to go : Any Time (for private safaris).
Activities :Gorilla Trekking, Chimpanzee Tracking, Bigodi Nature Walk
TOUR ITINERARY
Day 1: Head to Murchison Falls
After breakfast, drive via Bombo and Masindi town to Murchison Falls National Park. Have either lunch in Masindi or a picnic lunch in Kaniyo - Pabidi forest. Proceed to kichumbanyobo gate accessing Murchison falls National Park late afternoon. Drive to the "Top of the falls" for a breathtaking sight of the raging Nile and witness it forcing its way through a rocky gap barely six meters wide, point where the Nile River detonates through a narrow gorge and cascades down to become a placid river. Overnight at Paraa Safari Lodge / Sambiya River Lodge / Red Chilli Camp (FB)
Day 2: Game drive and boat trip
Have an early morning game drive at the Northern Bank of the Murchison falls National park to view animals unique to the African Savannah like giraffe, elephant, antelope, lion, and the Uganda Kob. Mid morning return to the lodge for breakfast, relaxation and lunch. In the afternoon, return to the Nile river for a launch cruise that leads to the bottom of the roaring falls where huge crocodiles, schools of hippos, buffaloes, elephants and a variety of water birds like herons, ducks, cormorants, bee-eaters, skimmers, kingfishers, fish eagle and the rare shoebill are seen. Dinner and Overnight at Paraa Safari Lodge/Sambiya River Lodge / Red Chilli Camp
Day 3: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
Drive via the Albertine Escarpment of the western Rift valley on the Masindi-Hoima - Fort portal road. This will be a long drive south via Hoima to Fort Portal, passing though verdant countryside and traditional homesteads and farms. Fort Portal rests in the shadow of the Fabled "Mountains of the Moon" The Journey is long! At least five hours of driving. Dinner and overnight at Ndali Lodge/Rwenzori View Guest House/ Primate Lodge Cottages
Day 4: Chimpanzee Tracking
After breakfast, you will be taken to Kanyanchu headquarters for briefing before you head for our chimpanzee tracking and other primates including Red-Colobus, phoestes, Red-tailed and grey cheeked Mangabey. You will walk through the forest with an experienced guide who will be enlightening you about both plant and animals. Tracking the noisy chimpanzee families racing through, this luxuriant forest is a tremendous experience. Have lunch at Tinka’s place where Traditional dishes are prepared for tourists to feel the taste of Uganda culture. After lunch, have a Bigodi Swamp walk in bid to view the birds and monkeys that inhabit the swamp. Dinner and overnight at Ndali Lodge/Rwenzori View Guest House/ Primate Lodge Cottages
Day 5: Enroute to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Transfer straight to Queen Elizabeth National Park located in Western Uganda on Mount Rwenzori foothills. While on the drive, take keen of the wild game that you may come in contact with, on your way to the park. The game seen will depend on the season; the Kasenyi plains are good for lion and the Mweya peninsula for a variety of animals. Dinner and overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge / Institute of Ecology (FB)
Day 6: Chimpanzee tracking and Launch cruise
Early morning have an expedition to Kyambura Gorge nearby to track chimpanzee. Alternatively go for a nature walk in Maramagambo Forest to see other primates and visit the bat cave and the blue lake. After Lunch, head for the boat cruising at the Kazinga channel. As you cruise, you will view variety of birds and animals and of course the wonderful scenery. Dinner and overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge / Institute of Ecology (FB)
Day 7: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Have breakfast and enroute to Bwindi Forest driving through the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park which is the Ishasha where you will view the climbing tree lions. You will have lunch at the Ishasha River and proceed to the forest, a home for the endangered mountain gorillas. On your, arrival at the Resort, relax or have an optional community tour and be back for dinner and overnight. Dinner and overnight at Gorilla Resort / Buhoma Community Bandas (FB)
Day 8: Gorilla trekking
An early morning breakfast and depart with packed lunch to report to the ranger station for a gorilla briefing. Since the forest is quite impenetrable, you will have an experienced guide who will lead to the forest through the undergrowth, parting thick creepers, to track the gorillas. When trekking, you will hear the grumbles of these great primates. This activity is adventurous and tiresome at the same time. If time allows, you may carry out bird and butterfly watching. Dinner and overnight at Gorilla Resort / Buhoma Community Bandas (FB)
Day 11: Head to Lake Mburo
After breakfast we will depart for Lake Mburo National Park. This scenic drive which is approximately 7-8 hours will take you to Mbarara where you will stop for lunch before making our final descent to Lake Mburo National Park. After checking in, you will go for a boat trip; this park is an extension of the Tanzanian Plains with big herds of Zebra, Impala, Eland and other savannah species. For birders, this is one of the best places to find African Fin foot, Papyrus, Bush Shrike. Go for an evening game drive. Dinner and overnight at Mantana Tented Camp / Rwonyo Campsite
Day 12: Return to Kampala
In the morning following breakfast you will drive back to Kampala to reach in the evening.
End of the Safari in Uganda
Uganda
