This 7 days Uganda gorilla and wildlife safari is an adventurous action packed safari perfect for primate lovers, this safari package is organized to offer visitors an encounter with mountain gorillas – the endangered species in Bwindi impenetrable national park which hosts more than half of the world’s gorilla population.
This safari also takes you on a visit to Kibale Forest national park, a primate capital and a home to the largest population of chimpanzees in East Africa and Queen Elizabeth national park, a home to a variety of wildlife species.
HIGHLIGHTS OF 7 DAYS GORILLAS AND WILDLIFE SAFARI
- Day 1: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
- Day 2 : Chimpanzee trekking
- Day 3 Travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Day 4 Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Day 5 Travel to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
- Day 6 Gorilla Trekking
- Day 7 Travel to Entebbe/Kampala
DETAILED ITINERARY OF 7 DAYS GORILLAS AND WILDLIFE SAFARI
Day 1: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
Enjoy breakfast at your leisure, meet your safari guide and transfer to Kibale Forest National Park – a primate capital of the world, along the way you will enjoy spectacular views of country side. Arrive in time for lunch, check into your and relax. There is an optional nature walk to the Bigodi Swamp bordering Kibale Forest, in the swamp you will enjoy sights of several species of birds including fish eagles, herons, kingfishers, bee eaters and my primates such as black and white colobus monkeys, olive baboons among others.
Have dinner and overnight stay at the lodge.
Accommodation options
Luxury: Kyaninga Lodge
Midrange: Kibale Forest Camp
Budget: Isunga Lodge
Meal plan: Lunch and dinner
Day 2 Chimpanzee trekking
Wake up early for breakfast and head to the park’s Kyanyanchu Park headquarters where you will be briefed about the do’s and don’ts of chimpanzee tracking. You will then enter into the tropical rainforest of Kibale in search for chimpanzees – the closest relatives to humans. When you locate the chimpanzees you will enjoy a full hour observing their behavior and take amazing pictures and videos. Return to the lodge for lunch, you will spend the rest of the day relaxing at the lodge for take a walk around the park.
Have dinner and stay overnight.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 3: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Wake up early for breakfast, checkout of the lodge and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park, along the way you will enjoy views of the Rwenzori Mountains crowned as the Mountains of the moon by the locals. You will arrive in the park in time for lunch after checking in to your lodge, in the afternoon you will go for a boat safari on the beautiful Kazinga Channel searching for crocodiles, hippos, elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks along the banks of the channel and many birds such as herons, egrets among others. Kazinga Channel is a water stream joining Lake George and Lake Edward, the channel is known for hosting one of the highest concentrations of hippos in the world. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation options
Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge
Midrange: Engazi Game Lodge
Budget: Simba Safari Camp
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 4 : Queen Elizabeth National Park
Wake up early for breakfast and head to the park for a game drive in the Kasenyi plains in search for early risers, Kasenyi sector is known as a mating ground for antelopes therefore a hunting ground for predators such as lions and leopards. At the end of the game drive of about 3-4 hours, you will return to the lodge for lunch. In the evening you will return to the park for evening game drive around the Kabatoro sector known for large herds of elephants, buffaloes and waterbucks. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 5: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Wake up for a leisurely breakfast, checkout of the lodge and transfer to Bwindi impenetrable forest – a home to more than half of the surviving mountain gorillas. You will drive through the Ishasha sector famous for the rare tree climbing lions and from your vehicle look out for these cats lazing in the fig tree. You will also see elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks, topis, leopards among others. Arrive in the park in evening, check into your lodge, have dinner and stay overnight.
Accommodation options
Luxury: Buhoma Lodge
Midrange: Buhoma Haven Lodge
Budget: Buhoma Community camp
Day 6 Gorilla Trekking
Wake up early for breakfast and transfer to the park’s headquarters for briefing and registration, a senior ranger will brief you about the do’s and don’ts for gorilla trekking and be assigned a gorilla family to trek.
In groups of 8 people you will head into the jungle of Bwindi looking for mountain gorillas, searching for gorillas takes approximately 4-6 hours depending on the gorilla family you are trekking and when you locate the gorillas you will have one unforgettable one hour of being in their presence. Expect to see several species of birds and while in the presence of mountain gorillas, you will enjoy watching them play with each other, silverbacks guiding the group and take amazing pictures as long as your flashlight is off.
After being awarded by your gorilla certificates, you will be transferred to the lodge for relaxation or visit a Batwa Community for an insight in the lifestyle of the pygmy forest people. Have dinner and stay overnight.
Day 7 Travel to Entebbe/Kampala
After breakfast, you will checkout of your lodge and start on a journey back to Kampala or Entebbe, along the way you will have lunch in Mbarara. Have another stopover in Kayabwe for pictures at the Equator monument and a chance to stand in south and northern hemispheres.
End of 7 days Uganda gorilla and wildlife safari
