9 Days Uganda wildlife and gorilla safari
The 9 days Uganda wildlife and gorilla safari is an exceptional adventure that will take you to the most interesting destinations in Uganda including Murchison falls national park, Queen Elizabeth National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. During the safari you will be able to spend time with the endangered gorillas in their natural environments, view different animals including elephants, rhinos, waterbucks, lions, leopards, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, giraffes, Jacksons hartebeest, Nile crocodiles, hippos, warthogs, zebras, topi, elands, impalas, oribi, bushbucks among others during the game drives and boat cruise.
Highlights of the 12 days Uganda safari tour
Day 1: Pick up and transfer to a hotel in Kampala/ Entebbe
Day 2: Transfer to Murchison falls national park via Ziwa Rhino sanctuary
Day 3: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise
Day 4: Transfer to Fort Portal
Day 5: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park – game drive and afternoon boat cruise
Day 6: Chimpanzee trekking and afternoon game drive
Day 7: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park via Ishasha sector
Day 8: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park
Day 9: Departure to Kampala
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Pick up and transfer to a hotel in Kampala or Entebbe
Depending on your location on day 1 of the 9 days Uganda wildlife and gorilla safari, you will be welcomed by our driver guide who will brief you about the safari and then transfer to a hotel in Kampala or Entebbe for relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Day 2: Transfer to Murchison falls national park via Ziwa rhino sanctuary
After breakfast on day 2 of the 9 days Uganda wildlife and gorilla safari, our driver guide will pick you up from the hotel and then start the journey to Murchison falls national park which is located in north western part of Uganda. On the way you will have a stopover at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for rhino tracking where after you will continue the journey with another stopover in Masindi for lunch. After lunch you will proceed the journey to Murchison falls national park and upon arrival you will go for an optional evening game drive where you will be able to view animals like buffaloes, Uganda kobs, waterbucks, elephants, giraffes among others heading back to their resting areas. After the game drive you will drive to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise
Morning game drive,
After an early breakfast on day 3 of the 9 days Uganda wildlife and gorilla safari, your driver guide will pick you up from the lodge to go for a morning game drive where you will be able to view the early risers. During the game drive you will be able to spot large herds of elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, waterbucks, warthogs, giraffes, lions, leopards, view several bird species among others. After the game drive you will return to the lodge for lunch.
Afternoon boat cruise, after lunch you will go for an exciting boat cruise to the bottom of the falls where you will get a chance to view large herds of hippos and crocodiles in water, buffaloes, elephants, antelopes along the shores, view aquatic birds like kingfishers, cormorants, bee-eaters, hornbills among others. After the boat ride you will drive back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Transfer to Fort Portal
After an early breakfast on day 4 of the 9 days Uganda wildlife and gorilla safari, you will check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Fort Portal. On the way you will have en-route lunch and enjoy spectacular views of the local people, farmlands, traditional homesteads, Rwenzori Mountains, tea plantations with stopovers to take photos and stretch your legs. Upon arrival in Fort Portal you will continue to the lodge, check in for dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park-game drive and afternoon boat cruise
After an early breakfast on day 5 of the 9 days Uganda wildlife and gorilla safari, you will check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park which is the second largest national park in Uganda. Upon arrival in the park you will go for a morning game drive in Kasenyi plains where you will be able to view lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks, bushbucks, Uganda kobs, views of different bird species among others. After the game drive you will return to the lodge for lunch.
Afternoon boat cruise, after lunch you will drive to the landing site near Mweya safari lodge for an incredible boat cruise along Kazinga channel which is a 40km long channel that connects Lake George and Lake Edward. During the boat trip which lasts for about 2 hours you, will be able to view large concentrations of hippos and Nile crocodiles in water, view buffaloes, elephants, warthogs drinking water along the banks, view water birds among others. You will also be able to see the fishermen along the shores preparing their fishing gears for night fishing, take beautiful pictures among others. After the boat cruise you will drive back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 6: Chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura gorge and evening game drive
After breakfast on day 6 of the 9 days Uganda wildlife and gorilla safari, your driver guide will pick you up from the lodge and transfer to Kyambura gorge for a chimpanzee trekking briefing. After the briefing, you will start trekking in the forest in search of the chimpanzees which takes about 2 to 5 hours depending on where the chimpanzees are located. Once they are found, you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their habitat.
After the one hour with the chimpanzees, you will return to the lodge for lunch where after you will go for an evening game drive which gives you an opportunity to view some of the animals that you might have missed during the previous game drive. After the evening game drive, you will drive back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 7: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park
After breakfast on day 7 of the 9 days Uganda wildlife and gorilla safari, you will check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park which is the most visited gorilla destination because it harbours half of the world’s mountain gorillas. The journey takes about 3 to 4 hours’ drive and on the way you will have a stopover at Ishasha sector in the southern part of Queen Elizabeth national park. Ishasha sector is famously known for the tree climbing lions which will be viewed lying up in acacia/fig tree branches during the game drive. Ishasha sector also harbours other animals like elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks, Uganda kobs among others. After the game drive you will have lunch where after you will proceed the journey to Bwindi impenetrable national park, upon arrival you will check into the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 8: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park
Gorilla trekking,
After an early breakfast on day 8 of the 9 days Uganda wildlife and gorilla safari, you will carry packed lunch and your driver guide will pick you up from the lodge to transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing about the rules, regulations and expectations of gorilla trekking. After the briefing you will be allocated a gorilla family to trek and a park guide who is knowledgeable about the gorillas and well conversant with trails in the jungle. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park takes about 30 minutes to 7 hours depending on where the gorillas are located because they like to move from one place to another in search of food. During trekking you will have views of animals like forest elephants, buffaloes, other primates like l’hoest monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, chimpanzees, different bird species like African harrier hawk, crowned hornbill, African green pigeon, blue headed sunbird among others. Once the gorillas are found you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their habitat which gives you an opportunity to watch them carry out their daily activities like feeding, breastfeeding, playing, observe their behaviours, take great photos and record the breath taking moments to show people back home. After the one-hour encounter with the gentle giants you will trek back to the park headquarters where you will be awarded a certificate for participating in gorilla trekking, meet up with your driver guide to transfer to the lodge for an evening relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Day 9: Departure to Kampala
After breakfast on the last day of the 9 days Uganda wildlife and gorilla safari tour, you will check out of the lodge and meet up with your guide to start the journey back to Kampala with en-route lunch on the way and a stopover at the Equator where you will buy souvenirs, craft items among others. From the Equator, you will continue the journey to Kampala arriving early evening and upon arrival your driver guide will drop you off at Entebbe international airport for your departure flight or drop off at any place of advise.
End of 9 days Uganda wildlife and gorilla safari
Tour includes
- Gorilla trekking permit
- Chimpanzee trekking permit
- Rhino tracking fees
- Park entrance fees/ game drives
- Boat cruise fees
- Professional English speaking driver guide
- Full board accommodation
- Ground transfers (in a 4WD vehicle)
- Vehicle and fuel
- Bottled drinking water
Tour excludes
- International air flight tickets
- Visas
- Optional activities not included on the itinerary
- Life insurance
- Personal expenses like buying souvenirs, crafts, drinks, laundry services, hiring a porter, tips among others.
