This morning, you wake up and have an early breakfast in preparation for the 8-Day Uganda Gorillas & Wildlife family tour. After your breakfast, at 6:30 am, your driver and guide will be on hand to help you pack all of your luggage in the safari vehicle and then commence your drive to Murchison Falls National Park. You will make a bathroom break-in Migyera along the Kampala- Gulu highway to also stretch your legs. After the break, you continue to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Rhino trekking takes about 2 hours in the company of well-trained and knowledgeable local guides. After this great experience, you will head to the restaurant for your lunch. After lunch, embark on the journey to Murchison Falls National Park.

Comfortable accommodation: – Heritage Safari Lodges.

Day 2: Game Drive and Boat Ride.

In the morning, Today, you are up at 6.00 am, have breakfast and head out for a game drive for a chance to view the glorious day-break from across the open savannah, birds and dotted woodland as well as riverine vegetation along the Nile. Game drive in Murchison Falls National Park is among the best in Uganda, garnished with wonderful birdlife that makes the park a wildlife and birders’ paradise. The park is home to 76 mammal species including herds of buffalo, and elephants that are scattered in the savannah woodland areas. The park is also home to a good number of camouflage leopards as well as a good number of lion prides.

The park is also known for the endangered Rothschild’s Giraffe. On the Nile’s banks and in the pools, you find hippos and crocodiles. You explore the area and are in search of lions, buffalos, elephants, giraffes, antelope and a lot more. At between 10-11 am, you will return to the lodge for relaxation and lunch. After lunch, at 2.00 pm, you will head out for the boat launch to the bottom of the powerful Murchison Falls. This three-hour boat cruise climaxes at the edge of the Rift Valley escarpment at which point you will get off the boat and trek to the top of the falls (wear sports shoes while on the boat for ease of trekking to the top). Having worked up a sweat, once at the top, get bathed in the misty spray that the Nile creates as it forces itself into the 7-metre cleft to create the famous Murchison Falls.

You marvel at the powerful falls and get bathed in the misty spray that the falls create as part of the river Nile gets squeezed into a 7-metre cleft to create the falls as the Nile tumbles over the rift valley escarpment at this point. Take lots of pictures. Your guide will be waiting up top to transfer you back to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Comfortable accommodation: Red Chilli Safari Lodge.

Day 3: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park.

After an early morning breakfast, Roots Tours and Travel driver/guide will brief you on this 7 days’ trip. You will set off to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The drive will take you through the lush green vegetation of the countryside and big tea plantations. Depending on the time of arrival you may have an evening game drive in the park. Along the way, you will have lunch and a stopover at the Uganda equator for a photographic moment.

Queen Elizabeth National Park is understandably Uganda’s most popular tourist destination. The park’s diverse ecosystems, which include sprawling savanna, shady, humid forests, sparkling lakes, and fertile wetlands, make it the ideal habitat for a classic big game, ten primate species including chimpanzees, and over 600 species of birds.

Accommodation: The Bush Lodge

Day 4: Chimpanzee Trekking and Boat Ride:

After Breakfast, head out to Kyambura Gorge for chimpanzee trekking. Kyambura Gorge is an underground tropical forest which is an extension of the Queen Elizabeth conservation area. The gorge is 100 meters deep. This dense tropical forest is home to many birds and primate species. Return to the lodge in time for lunch.

In the afternoon take a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel. Kazinga Channel is a 32-kilometre-long natural channel that connects the two Rift Valley lakes of George and Edward. The channel attracts a variety of animals and birds. Enjoy another late afternoon game drive on your way back to the lodge. Most of Queen Elizabeth comprises open grassland and savannah which tends to be moist and woody in the west than the eastern part, Thorny Acacia dominates this savannah habitat with a high concentration of candelabra shrub a cactus that grows along the Kazinga channel and on the kasenyi plains.

Accommodation: The Bush Lodge

Day 5: Drive to Bwindi/ Ishasha Tree Climbing Lions:

After breakfast, you will drive to the southern part of the park heading to the Ishasha sector. Ishasha is famous for tree climbing Lions. The endless Ishasha plains, whose fig trees hide lions ready to pounce on herds of unsuspecting Uganda kob. After Lunch, you will embark on a drive heading to Bwindi’s impenetrable Forest National Park home of mountain Gorillas.

Arrive at your lodge in the evening and have a relaxed evening. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park lies in southwestern Uganda on the edge of the Rift Valley. Its mist-covered hillsides are blanketed by one of Uganda’s oldest and most biologically diverse rainforests, which dates back over 25,000 years and contains almost 400 species of plants. More famously, this “impenetrable forest” also protects an estimated 459 mountain gorillas – roughly half of the world’s population.

Accommodation: – Gorilla Valley Lodge.

Day 5: Gorilla Trekking:

In the morning after having breakfast, Head to the park headquarters for a briefing about the park and the gorilla tracking activity. Then you will embark on the most memorable journey in your life. The time for trekking can be as little as two hours or as long as seven hours. Once you locate the gorilla family you will be allowed a maximum of one hour observing them.

This biologically diverse region also provides shelter to a further 120 mammals, including several primate species such as baboons and chimpanzees, as well as elephants and antelopes. There are around 350 species of birds hosted in this forest, including 23 Albertine Rift endemics. Bwindi is home to at least 200 butterfly species including the eight Albertine rift endemics. Also home to many reptiles.

Accommodation: – Gorilla Valley Lodge.

Day 6: Drive to Lake Mburo National

In the morning after breakfast, you will drive to Lake Mburo National Park. It is the smallest of Uganda’s savannah national parks and is underlain by ancient Precambrian metamorphic rocks which date back more than 500 million years. It’s home to 350 bird species as well as zebras, impalas, elands, buffalos, oribi, Defassa waterbuck, leopard, hippo, hyena, topi and reedbuck. Enjoy an afternoon game drive before retiring to your lodge for dinner & Overnight.

Accommodation: Eagle’s Nest

Day 7: Drive to Kampala/ Entebbe Airport to end the 8-Day Uganda Gorillas & Wildlife family tour

After breakfast at your lodge, you will head out for a morning game drive. Afterwards, you will embark on your journey heading to Entebbe, either to the Airport or hotel. The drive will take you through the beautiful scenery of the western countryside of Uganda via lush green hills. You will have lunch along the way with a stopover at the Uganda Equator for souvenir shopping and a photo moment as you say goodbye to Uganda.

End of our 8-Day Uganda Gorillas & Wildlife family tour.

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Day 1: Kigali City tour & Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi

On arrival, you will be welcomed by the driver-guide who will take you to Kigali city for breakfast and a short briefing about the trip. Immediately embark on a city tour visiting Kimironko market and the Gisozi based Kigali genocide museum.

Have lunch at the historical Hotel des Mille Collins – famous for the movie – Hotel Rwanda and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi in Uganda through Cyanika boarder, a very scenic route. Lake Bunyonyi is referred by many as the most scenic lake in Uganda.

Here, you will relax as you watch the birds on their nests as well as visit the different islands such as the punishment island endowed with rich history and beauty. Check – in at your accommodation for dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation options.

Bunyonyi Overland Camp / Supreme Adventure Park – Budget
Arcadia Cottages / Bunyonyi Eco Resort – Midrange
Bunyonyi Bird Nest Lodge – Luxury

Day 2: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park (Ruhija sector)

Enjoy breakfast, morning boat cruise on the lake to explore of its treasures. After this, embark on your journey to Ruhija, the base for Gorilla trekking in eastern Bwindi with half of the world’s remaining mountain Gorillas. You will feed your eyes with numerous beautiful sights of plantations as well as the hills along the way.

Check in to your accommodation for lunch. Thereafter, proceed for an encounter with the Batwa pygmies who will take you through their experience as hunters and gatherers as they perform some traditional songs. Get back to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation:

Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge – Luxury
Bakiga Lodge / Gorilla Mist Camp – Midrange
Broadbill Forest Camp – Budget

Day 3: Mountain Gorilla Trekking

Immediately after an early morning breakfast, head to the park office headquarters for a vital briefing prior to trekking the gorillas in the thick impenetrable forest. The park rangers will take through the dos and don’ts while trekking these gentle giants.

Though strenuous, this is a life time experience worth trying out. With your supporting stick, binoculars, cameras, trekking shoes, you will head to the forest accompanied by a park ranger who will lead you in the quest of this human relatives, the whole activity might take 3-5 hours depending on how far the Gorillas have gone. Upon finding them, one hour will be given to you to just relax and enjoy the presence of the mammals, watching them go on with their daily activities. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight

Accommodation:

Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge – Luxury
Bakiga Lodge / Gorilla Mist Camp – Midrange
Broadbill Forest Camp – Budget

Day 4: Transfer to Kibale Forest National park for Chimpanzee trekking

Wake up to an early morning breakfast before embarking to a 5-6 hour journey to the primate world of Kibale forest national park. While on this journey, spot different points of beautiful scenery coupled with rolling hills, the Rwenzori ranges, plateaus, valleys, and the green plantations along the road.

Kibale forest is home to several primate species such as Colobus monkeys, olive baboons, Vervet monkeys, bush babies, and the Chimpanzees, among others. Check-in to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation:

Primate Lodge – Luxury
Kibale Forest camp – Mid range
Rwenzori view Guest house – Budget

Day 5: Chimpanzee Trekking and transfer to Kampala / Entebbe international airport.

After a very delicious breakfast, head for a memorable chimpanzee tracking exercise in Kibale’s 795 sq. km national park. Here, you will encounter a number of chimpanzees having fun in the jungle full of sweet melodies of monkeys, birds and chimpanzees.

This park also has one of the most beautiful tracks of tropical forest in the whole of Uganda. After carrying out the activities, you will have lunch and then head to Entebbe international airport for your flight.

End of Safari.

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Day 1: Airport / hotel pick up and travel to Nyungwe Forest National Park

After a very hefty breakfast, embark on a six hour drive to Nyungwe forest for a life time primate experience. The route passes through Nyanza district and eventually Huye where you will have a stopover to visit the ethnographic museum in Huye. The ethnographic museum which is also the national museum of Rwanda showcases the historic and rich cultural aspects of Rwanda using guides and some ancient books from ages.

After the museum experience, have lunch before continuing on a journey to Nyungwe forest. Catch the amazing views of the famous ‘thousand hills’ through the winding road as you proceed to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation

Nyungwe Forest Lodge – Luxury
Nyungwe Top View Hill Lodge – Midrange
Gisakura Guest House – Budget

Day 2: Chimpanzee Trekking and Canopy walk

After a very early morning breakfast, head to the park for briefing session at Uwinka. The guides will explain to you what it takes to do chimpanzee trekking and all you need to know, as well as telling you the right trail to follow. Nyungwe forest has two main trail heads where Chimpanzee trekking takes place, and they include the Uwinka trail and another at Cyamudongo section.

Nyungwe forest is arguably one of the richest destinations with lush evergreen flora, hosting over 200 species of trees and flowering plants, 13 species of primates including, Colobus monkeys, Vervet monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, 300 bird species with several Albertine rift endemics and several species of butterflies.

If it is Cyamudongo, the driver guide will transfer you to the starting point. Upon completing the wonderful session, have lunch before heading for a canopy walk in the afternoon. When all is done, get back to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation:

Nyungwe Forest Lodge – Luxury
Nyungwe Top View Hill Lodge – Midrange
Gisakura Guest House – Budget

Day 3: Transfer to Kigali Airport

After your breakfast, start a journey back to Kigali from the amazing 3-day chimpanzee trekking safari. Start your morning with some photo moments in memory of the beautiful destination before transferring to Kigali international airport or your hotel.

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5 Days Uganda Gorilla & Chimpanzee Trekking Itinerary

Day 1: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park

In the morning, we leave for Kibale Forest. We will arrive at Kibale Forest Camp in the afternoon, settle in and rest after the long drive.

Day 2: Chimpanzee Trekking & Swamp Walk

The 4 hour chimp walk will start at 8:00am during which you may also get to see 10 other primates! Kibaale National Park is also known for its assorted butterflies and birds species. In the afternoon we will take a jungle walk through Bigodi Swamp.

Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

We will pass mountains, hills and lakes with cultivated terraces, tropical rainforest and bamboo forest until we get to Kisoro where we will stay in the famous Travellers Rest Hotel.

Day 4: Bwindi Gorilla Trekking

Early in the morning, we will drive to the starting point of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest NP. Once there we will be briefed and the tracking will start immediately after It might be challenging and you need to be physically fit but once you have found the gorillas, you will be able to spend up to one hour with them! We will then spend night at Gorilla Lodge on the edge of the forest.

Day 5: Back to Kampala

In the morning, we will head back to Kampala. We shall make a couple of stops for lunch and to pick up souvenirs.

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7 Days Uganda Safari Itinerary

Day 1: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park

We will pick you up early morning and head straight to Kibale NP. We will get to Kibale in the late afternoon and rest up at Kibale Forest Camp.

Day 2: Chimp Tracking & Swamp Walk

Our chimp walk starts at 8am. You are guaranteed to see a lot of primates during the trek. In the afternoon, we will go for a jungle walk through Bigodi Swamp where you will find plenty of wildlife and a huge variety of bird species.

Day 3: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

In the morning, we will head out to Queen Elizabeth NP. We will arrive in the late afternoon and check into The Bush Lodge. At around 4pm, we will head out for a quick game drive till about 7pm were will head back to the lodge and rest.

Day 4: Game Drive & Boat Cruise

In the morning, we will head out for a game drive on the plains of the park where there is plenty of wildlife to see up close like lions and elephants among so many others. Also on the menu is a 2 hour boat-ride on the Kazinga Channel to scope out the wildlife on the waterfront and the bevy of bird species. The day is not complete until we also check out the mating grounds of the Uganda Kob inside the park.

Day 5: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

In the morning, we will set off further south for Bwindi Impenetrable NP through Rukungiri. It’s an exciting trip with all the hills and valleys. On the way we will make a quick stop at Savana Lodge for lunch before driving on to Bwindi. We will reach late in the evening and check into our new accommodations.

Day 6: Mountain Gorilla Trekking

In the morning, we will drive to the starting point at the edge of the park for a briefing session before starting the trek at 8.30am. This can go on for hours and requires you to be physically fit. Once we find the gorillas, you are allowed to be with them for an hour before we have to get back to the starting point at 7pm. Then back to the lodge.

Day 7: Back to Kampala

Early in the morning after breakfast we will travel back to Kampala. There will be several opportunities on the way to take pictures and grab souvenirs.

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You will then observe the African fish eagles hunt in the Kazinga Channel as you enjoy a walk through Bigodi Swamp, scope out the  giant forest hog and leopards in Queen Elizabeth National Park, see the rare Rothschild’s giraffe as well as the fastest monkey in Africa: Patas monkey, the giraffes and dramatic falls in Murchison Falls National Park. You wouldn’t miss the rare eland in Lake Mburo National Park. You will do it all and live to tell about it.This trip is designed to be the unique, mind-blowing experience you have been looking for.

10 Days Uganda Safari Itinerary

Day 1: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park

Early morning we will drive to Murchison Falls NP. We will stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for the Rhinos and have Lunch before getting to Fort Murchison.

Day 2: Game Drive & Boat Ride

In the morning, we cross the Nile with the ferry at 7.00am and go on a game drive from 8.00am to midday. In the afternoon (2-5pm) we will go on a boat-ride on the Nile.

Day 3: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park

Early in the morning we will leave for Kibale NP. We will pass close to Lake Albert. There is a spectacular view from the top of the Albert rift on a clear day. In the late afternoon we will arrive at Kibale Forest Camp, where we will rest.

Day 4: Chimpanzee Trekking & Bigodi Swamp Walk

The chimp walk will start at 8.00am so we have to be at the starting point early enough. As we search for the chimps, we will come across various other primates and birds. In the afternoon we will walk through Bigodi Swamp which is great for birdies to admire the different species.

Day 5: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Early morning we will leave for Queen Elizabeth NP. We will travel through Fort Portal and reach The Bush Lodge in Queen Elizabeth NP at midday, with a stunningly beautiful view over Kazinga Channel.

Day 6: Game Drive & Boat Ride

This day is for a game drive on the plains of Queen Elizabeth NP, with thousands of Ugandan kobs, lions, elephants, etc. Then we will go for a 2 hour boat-ride on the Kazinga channel and see all the animals from the waterside.

Day 7: Transfer to Kisoro

Early in the morning we will leave for Kisoro. We will travel through Kabale taking in the beautiful landscape also defined as the “Switzerland of Africa”. On the last hill, the landscape unfolds beneath us. At the bottom of the valley is Kisoro. We stop at Travelers’ Rest Hotel where we will spend the night.

Day 8: Gorilla Trekking

We leave the hotel and drive to Bwindi Impenetrable NP via Nkuringo or to Mgahinga Gorilla NP depending on the availability of the permits. The tracking will start at 8.30am right after a briefing session. It will take a while to find the gorillas but once we do, we can spend up to an hour with them and return to the briefing spot before 6pm.

Day 9: Transfer to Lake Mburo

On the last day of the tour, we will drive to Lake Mburo for a magnificent game viewing drive. There’s so much to see: Bushbuck (lots of them), impalas (you wont find them elsewhere in Uganda), the defassa waterbuck, topi, dwarf and marsh mongoose, warthogs, common duiker, plain zebra, antelopes.

Day 10: Back to Kampala

After breakfast, we start the journey back to Kampala. We make a few stops on the way for pictures and to pick up more souvenirs.

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We will also take a long jungle walk through Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary which is also home to many mammals including the rare and elusive, semi-aquatic Sitatunga Antelopes (they have webbed toes) who make their home here, there are also Bush Pigs, Bush Bucks, Otters, Mongooses. If you are a birder, you are in luck because over 138 different bird species have been spotted in the swamp. It is also home to the Great Blue Turaco. Other varieties include Papyrus Gonoleks, Hornbills, Waxbills, Weavers, Cuckoos, Kingfishers among others.

3 Days Uganda Chimpanzee Safari Itinerary

Day 1: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park

We will pick you up from your hotel in the morning and depart for the park. We will arrive at our accommodations in the late afternoon, settle in and get some rest – falling asleep to the soothing sounds from the tropical rainforest.

Day 2: Chimp Trekking & Swamp Walk

At 08.00 after we’ve had our breakfast, we will begin the walk in search of the chimps. This can take up to 4 hours. On the way, we will see lots other primates and several bird species. Later in the afternoon, we will take an exciting jungle walk through Bigodi Swamp.

Day 3: Back to Entebbe

After breakfast, we will start traveling back to Kampala. We will stop a lot on the way so you can take in other interesting views or buy souvenirs.

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Bird enthusiasts will also get a chance to look at a large variety of bird species, you can’t miss the crocodiles. You will see tree-climbing lions, otters, plain zebra, eland, topi, impala and antelope and not forgetting the white Rhinos in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary . We end the trip with an exciting and challenging experience tracking gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Travel to Murchison Falls National Park

Early in the morning, we will pick you up and set off for Murchison Falls National Park. Will make a quick stop in Masindi for lunch and as we drive to our accommodations, we will visit the top of the falls and the Victoria Nile delta. Later, we will stop at Zika Rhino Santuary to check out the reintroduced white rhinos. We will then head to Fort Murchison where we will spend the night with a fantastic view over the Nile.

Day 2: Game Drive & Boat Ride

In the morning, we will drive through the park seeing lions and giraffes among so many other animals. In the afternoon, we will go for a boat ride on the Nile for a chance to see bush elephants, hippos, and so many other animals. The bird are of so many varieties, bird enthusiasts won’t want to leave.

Day 3: Travel to Kibale Forest National Park

Early in the morning we will leave for Kibale NP. We will pass close to Lake Albert. There is a spectacular view from the top of the Albert rift on a clear day. In the late afternoon we will arrive at Kibale Forest Camp, where we will rest.

Day 4: Chimpanzee Trekking

The chimp walk will start at 8.00am so we have to be at the starting point early enough. As we search for the chimps, we will come across various other primates and birds. In the afternoon we will walk through Bigodi Swamp which is great for birdies to admire the different species.

Day 5: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Early morning we will leave for Queen Elizabeth NP. We will travel through Fort Portal and reach The Bush Lodge in Queen Elizabeth NP at midday, with a stunningly beautiful view over Kazinga Channel.

Day 6: Game Drive & Boat Ride

This day is for a game drive on the plains of Queen Elizabeth NP, with thousands of Ugandan kobs, lions, elephants, etc. Then we will go for a 2 hour boat-ride on the Kazinga channel and see all the animals from the waterside.

Day 7: Chimpanzee Trekking & Ishasha Lions Visit

Early in the morning and after breakfast, we will set off for Kyambura Gorge. Once there we will walk for a few hours before meeting more chimps. In the afternoon, after lunch we will drive to south of the park to Ishasha sector where we will search for tree-climbing lions.

Day 8: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi

After breakfast, we will drive to Lake Bunyonyi in the hills of western Uganda. The view is fascinating. There are also plenty of birds to scope out. It is quite relaxing so you will feel quickly at home. Plenty of activities to enjoy including swimming and canoeing.

Day 9: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

In the morning, we will drive further south to Bwindi. You can admire the beautiful landscape on the way. From trees to mountains and lakes. When we get there, we will settle into our accommodations and rest. We will need the energy tomorrow.

Day 10: Mountain Gorilla Trekking

In the morning, we will drive to south Bwindi to the starting point. Here we will be briefed before heading out to start tracking at 8.30am. Once you have found the gorillas you are allowed to spend an hour with them before heading back to the starting point before 7pm – and head back to the lodge.

Day 11: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park

In the morning, we will set out for Lake Mburo National Park, stopping briefly in Mbarara for lunch. In the afternoon, we will drive through the park to see impalas and plain zebra among others. Mburo is the smallest park in Uganda but its uniqueness will be felt.

Day 12: Back to Kampala

After all this, it’s time to head back to Kampala. In the morning, we will set off stopping only to take pictures, have lunch and buy souvenirs on the way.

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