12 DAYS LUXURY GORILLAS & BIG FIVE UGANDA SAFARI
Itinerary Overview
During this 12 Days Luxury Gorillas & Big Five Uganda safari you get the chance to search for the Big 5 as well as trek in the jungle for both mountain gorillas and chimps. We take you on a journey through Uganda as you take in the wildlife, scenic nature and enjoy meetings with Uganda’s friendly people. Four of the Big 5 roaming freely in National Parks in Uganda, this is the lion, leopard, buffalo and elephant that you will have chance to see in Murchison Falls National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park. The 5th of the Big 5 is the rhino that was hunted to extinction in Uganda in the 80’s. Luckily it is now being reintroduced thanks to the great efforts of Ziwa Rhino sanctuary where you will see it during this 12 Days Gorilla & Big Five Uganda Safari.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Transfer From Airport To Hotel In Entebbe
When you land at Entebbe Airport, the driver will welcome you and transfer you to a Hotel in Entebbe ahead of your safari. While in Entebbe, we can visit art and craft markets and take a walk in the botanical gardens or relax at your hotel.
Overnight:
Hotel No. 5
Day 2: Transfer To Murchison Falls NP Via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Following a delicious breakfast, you will begin the 5 – 6 hours’ drive to Murchison Falls National Park, which is the country’s largest and oldest national park. A one hour Rhino trekking stopover will be made en route in the Nakasongola district. After that, it’s time for lunch before heading to the lodge for some rest, dinner, and an overnight stay.
Overnight:
Paraa Safari Lodge
Day 3: Morning Game Drive, Afternoon Nile Boat Cruise
After breakfast, we shall drive out for a morning game drive with a chance to spot different animals. We shall proceed at the hippo pool where bush breakfast will be served while viewing hippos and birds. After the game drive, we shall drive back to the lodge for lunch before we go for our boat cruise where we shall have a chance to see hippos, and crocodiles, and other mammals such as elephants, antelopes, buffalos, and more at the banks swimming, sunbathing and taking water. We shall also have a great view of the falls from the bottom.
Overnight:
Paraa Safari Lodge
Day 4: Transfer To Kibale Forest NP
After an early breakfast, we shall start our journey to Kibale Forest NP which is also Uganda’s primate city. It is a long drive of about 5hrs so we shall have lunch in Fort portal town and continue for an evening around the craters. Along the journey we shall go through typical African village setup in the far countryside and tea plantations. In the craters, we have a chance to spot monkey species such as black and white colobus, red colobus, red tailed monkey and grey cheeked mangabeys.
Overnight:
Chimpundu Lodge
Day 5: Chimpanzee Trekking, Transfer To Queen Elizabeth NP
In the morning, we shall drive to Kibale Forest National Park headquarters for briefing about the dos and don’ts of chimpanzee trekking and get allocated a trekking group.
We shall start our trek into the forest in search for chimps, in the forest, we shall have a chance to meet different species of monkeys for example red colobus, red tailed monkey and bush babies, we shall also meet butterflies and various bird species like the native Great Blue Turaco, joyful greenbul, olive long tailed cuckoo and the superb black bee eater. When you finally meet the chimps, you will be allowed one hour with them as you take pictures and videos while learning about their behaviors. After the trek, your guide will pick you for lunch and then embark on our journey to Queen Elizabeth.
Overnight:
Mweya Safari Lodge
Day 6: Morning Game Drive, Afternoon Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise
After an early breakfast, we shall drive to the park to explore the beauty of this Queen Elizabeth NP with a chance to spot elephants, mongoose, lions, leopards, Uganda kobs, waterbucks, leopards, warthogs, and many more. We shall drive back to the lodge for lunch and later go for an afternoon boat trip on Kazinga Channel.
While on the Kazinga channel boat trip, a water body that connects Lake George and Lake Edward, we have a chance to spot different bird species like pelicans, vultures, fish eagles, kingfishers, sacred ibis and many more and animals such as buffalos, bushbucks, crocodiles, hippos, elephants, and others. Return to the lodge with a simple game drive.
Overnight:
Mweya Safari Lodge
Day 7: Morning & Evening Game Drives In Ishasha Sector
After an early breakfast, we shall set off for an adventurous road trip in the vast savannah of Ishasa sector; the South of Queen Elizabeth NP famous for its tree climbing lions. During the game drive, we have an opportunity to encounter topis, buffaloes, elephants and luckily find the tree climbing lions which will be the high on this day. The lions are usually spotted lazily sleeping in the fig tree branches.
After the morning game drive we shall drive back to the lodge, check in, enjoy lunch and a bit of relaxation and in the evening we shall drive back to the lodge for another game drive for a chance to search for more wildlife we might have missed during the morning game drive.
Overnight:
Ishasha Wilderness Camp
Day 8: Morning Game Drive, Transfer To Bwind Forest NP
After our breakfast, we start our drive towards Bwindi Impenetrable National Park; home to the magnificent Mountain Gorillas. Before the journey, we will go to the park for a game drive for a chance to encounter some animals and thereafter drive to Bwindi Forest National Park. We shall get to the lodge just on time for lunch and after lunch, we can take an evening walk around the community or enjoy a leisurely evening at the lodge as we share some stories and memories of the safari.
Overnight:
Buhoma Lodge
Day 9: Gorilla trekking, Batwa Community Experience
After breakfast, we shall head for the highlight of this trip. Drive to the park headquarters briefing about the dos and don’ts of gorilla trekking. You will be allocated a gorilla trekking group and ranger guides then you start your trek in the forest. When you finally meet a gorilla family, you will be allowed to spend one hour with them learning and creating memories with them while also taking photos and videos.
In the afternoon, we shall go for a Batwa cultural encounter for a chance to learn about the cultural and traditions of the locals. Enjoy their music, dance and stories.
Overnight:
Buhoma Lodge
Day 10: Transfer To Lake Bunyonyi, Afternoon At Leisure
After a relaxed breakfast, we prepare to check out, leave the misty mountains behind and transfer to the beautiful Lake Bunyonyi driving through cultivated hills of Kigezi highlands. Lake Bunyonyi offers stunning views and a bit of relaxation while we remise on our safari. Enjoy a free afternoon as you relax at the resort with a great number of optional adventurous activities to engage like canoeing along the lake with chances to spot exotic bird species.
Overnight:
Arcadia Lodges
Day 11: Transfer To Lake Mburo, Afternoon Game Drive
After a hot cup of tea or coffee, we shall leave the scenic Lake Bunyonyi behind and start our journey towards Lake Mburo National Park. We shall reach the lodge in time for lunch, check in and prepare to go for an afternoon game drive for a chance to view Zebras, Topis, Warthogs, cape buffaloes and Impalas.
Overnight:
Mihingo Lodge
Day 12: Morning Safari Walk, Transfer To Entebbe
On this day, we shall enjoy a unique safari walk getting you close encounters with wildlife. We shall visit the hyenas den, with a possibility to see Leopards, zebras, waterbucks, birds and buffaloes in there morning routine jungle life. After the safari walk, we shall have breakfast at the lodge ahead of our journey to Entebbe as we have reached the end of the 12 Days Gorillas & Big Five Uganda safari. Along the journey, we shall stop by the Equator for some photo moment and souvenir shopping, we shall then continue with our drive to Entebbe in a hotel or to the airport for flights back home.
