10 Days Uganda Gorillas & Wildlife Safari

Detailed Itinerary

DAY 1: ARRIVAL

On arrival in Entebbe, you will be transferred to the lodge with the remainder of the day at leisure.

You will be staying at Papyrus Guest House, Bed & Breakfast

DAY 2: ENTEBBE – KIHIHI – BWINDI IMPENETRABLE NATIONAL PARK

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Kihihi

On arrival in Kihihi, you begin your drive to Bwindi through traditional villages

Choice of Activities
As exciting as the gorillas may be, Bwindi is a place that has plenty to keep you busy, without making the leg muscles ache too much. Time spent at the welcoming communtiy hospital offers the chance to meet many of the people who call this remote region home and the challenges they face. If the rainforest is the draw, the forest walks offer some of the best birding in the region, with turaco’s and green broadbills flashing through the trees, but for a more relaxed adventure, head off to the sparkling water fall found nearby. Failing this, simply relax at the lodge, looking out over the forest and admire the view.

Covered in thick tropical rainforest and often shrouded in mist, Bwindi provides a perfect habitat for mountain gorillas. Spread over a series of steep ridges and valleys it looks the part and having survived the last ice age is considered one of the most diverse forests in Africa. The birding here is big and colourful, the forest dark and inviting and the sense of adventure palpable.

You will be staying at Buhoma Lodge, Full board

DAY 3: BWINDI IMPENETRABLE NATIONAL PARK

Day of Gorilla Trekking

Head out early to meet your rangers for a briefing, before stepping into the park to search for one of the gorilla families that inhabit Bwindi’s forests. Track the gorillas across the steep hills they call home, through dense jungle, with the rangers clearing the way.

The mud, sweat (and sometimes tears) are worth it and coming face to face with the gorillas is like no other wildlife experience out there. Bring plenty of memory cards, lots of water and strong legs. Leave any bags with the porters, and spend an hour close to the group, before trekking back, out of the trees.

Afterwards, spend the rest of the day at leisure or perhaps arrange a visit to one of the nearby villages.

You will be staying at Buhoma Lodge, Full board

DAY 4: BWINDI IMPENETRABLE NATIONAL PARK

Second day Gorilla Tracking or Alternative Activities

Today is another opportunity to trek gorillas. Some alternative options include a guided walk in the rainforest, home to several endemic bird species, clouds of butterflies and rare plant life, with excellent photographic opportunities. Walk through the local village learning about a variety of community projects, such as the Amagara project that assists local farmers and their communities and the Bwindi Community Hospital which started as a health clinic under a tree and now provides vital medical and educational services to over 60,000 people. There is also the chance to spend time with the Batwa Pygmies in the area and learn about the native tribal inhabitants of the forest who whilst no longer resident there, still practice many of their traditional hunter-gatherer skills.

You will be staying at Buhoma Lodge, Full board

DAY 5: BWINDI – QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK

Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park, via the tree climbing lions.

Depending on your time of arrival, you can enjoy some game drives or walks.

You will be staying at Ishasha Wilderness Camp, Full board

DAY 6: QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK

Game Drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Head out on an early morning game drive as the sun rises and the animals stir, first to explore the Kasenyi plains, excellent for sighting lion and large herds of Ugandan kob. Mweya is also one of the best places to look for leopard, which live in the dense, scrubby thickets. After lunch back at the lodge, you can head out again and enjoy another drive or you may prefer to stay out all day with a picnic. Just discuss this with your guide.

Queen Elizabeth National Park is located in the western arm of the Great East African Rift Valley, and encompasses Lake Edward and Lake George. This is a park with an incredible variety of habitats, which in turn are home to an astonishing diversity of wildlife. From volcanic craters and grassy plains to stunning tropical forests, wetlands and rivers, there is something different to see at every turn.

You will be staying at Ishasha Wilderness Camp, Full board

DAY 7: QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK

Queen Elizabeth National Park Boat Trip

An afternoon boat trip on the Kazinga Channel (connecting Lakes George and Edward) is a great way to see the park from a different perspective. Large herds of elephants come to drink at the waters edge, whilst colouful water birds including storks and pelicans wade in the shallows alongside fishermen tending their nets in the setting sun.

Transfer to the Mweya area of the park for afternoon game drives and chimp viewing tomorrow

You will be staying at Mweya Safari Lodge, Full board

DAY 8: QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK – KIBALE

Chimp tracking in Kyambura Gorge

The steeply forested walls of Kyambura are home not only to chimpanzees but also to the red-tailed monkey, black and white colobus, giant forest hog and many bird species. A half day walk down to the Gorge is a rewarding experience, not only for seeing chimpanzees but also to explore the beautiful river valley.

After trekking, you drive north to Kibale Forest.

Visit Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary

Explore the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary. The reserve is abundant with butterflies, plants, animals and, in particular, birds. Spectacular birds like Great Blue Turaco and rare Papyrus Gonolek may be of great interest to you. The swamp is also home to more elusive animals such as Red Colobus monkeys and Sitatunga antelope.

Kibale Forest National Park is one of the best safari destinations in Uganda. The park plays host to 13 primate species including the red colobus and L’Hoest’s monkey. The most accessible of Uganda’s major rainforests, Kibale’s major attraction is its chimps. Tracking these noisy apes as they squabble and play in fruiting trees is a thrilling experience. There are also 335 species of bird here and other rare animals including the forest elephant and the giant forest hog.

You will be staying at Primate Lodge, Full board

DAY 9: KIBALE

Chimp trekking

Gorillas are all very well, but chimpanzees are their raucous, misbehaving cousins ready to show off at the drop of a hat. Head into the forest at first light. Depending on where the chimpanzees nested the night before, it may take anything from ten minutes to over an hour to reach them – sometimes longer.

Silhouettes of chimpanzees appearing in the trees as troops forage and explore is mesmerising, but the pant hoots and calls between troops of up to 60 individuals is when the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. If playing Tarzan for the day appeals, then all day chimp trekking can be arranged…

Depending on what time you return, the afternoon can be spent relaxing at the lodge, or exploring the nearby crater lakes and villages.

Kibale Forest Walk

This afternoon, time permitting, take time to explore Kibale forest – incredible birdlife, blue lakes, bat caves and snakes for the brave or the chance to find out more about the families working in the region with a visit to the KALFRED community project.

You will be staying at Primate Lodge, Full board

DAY 10: KIBALE – ENTEBBE

Today you drive back to Entebbe, through Ugandas colourful rural villages, arriving late afternoon.

Fly back home

Accommodation

Entebbe — Papyrus Guest House — B&B

Bwindi — Buhoma Lodge — Full Board

Queen Elizabeth N.P — Ishaha Wilderness Camp — Full Board

Queen Elizabeth N.P — Mweya Safari Lodge — Full Board

Kibale Forest — Primate Lodge — Full Board