12-DAY ALL-INCLUSIVE UGANDA GORILLAS & WILDLIFE SAFARI

TRANSFER TO MURCHISON FALLS VIA ZIWA RHINO SANCTUARY

Start your All-inclusive Uganda Gorillas & Wildlife Safari with a road trip up north through the vast flat plains to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, the last stronghold for the almost extinct White Rhino in Uganda. At Ziwa you’ll walk on the plains to track the White Rhinos and spend at least an hour observing them.

After your encounter with the first of the Big Five, you’ll have your lunch break and drive onto the Murchison Falls National Park tracks to the top of the mighty falls for a quintessential view. Here the Nile River squeezes 300 cubic meters of water per second (11,000 ft³/s) through a less than 10 m (33 ft) narrow gouge to later plunge 43 m (141 ft) back onto the northern bound Nile flow. The misty cloud and rainbow plus irresistible animal and bird scene down the calm Nile stream is a spectacle to steal an hour of stillness and awe.

You’ll check into your lodge on the Nile banks for a hot meal, hot shower, and quaint night.

Accommodation: Murchison River Lodge (Mid-range)

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

MORNING GAME DRIVE AND AFTERNOON BOAT SAFARI

The second day of this adventurous All-inclusive Uganda Gorillas & Wildlife Safari will get onto the muddy and dusty game tracks of Murchison Falls National Park in the back of a 4×4 safari truck by sunrise. You’ll have an early breakfast and pack some or bring your energy bites; we have to catch the big cats at their most impressive games. And most savannah game are very active in the early morning hours, avoiding the late morning heat.

Herds of Buffalos and elephants are particularly a common sight on the game drive. You’ll drive close to large herds of the localized Rothschild’s giraffe and an occasional leopard, though far from numerous on morning drives. The park has multiple antelope species, but the oribi, defassa waterbuck, Jackson’s hartebeest, grey duiker, and bushbuck will be common sightings. The cheeky Patas monkey troops can be spotted on the grassy plains, paranoid of suspicious movements.

In the afternoon, after your lunch, you’ll catch the 3-hour scheduled boat launch upstream to the base of the thunderous Murchison Falls. This part of the All-inclusive Uganda Gorillas & Wildlife Safari is the most revered experience in the savannah parks because it brings you the closest you can get to massively tasked elephants, pods of hippos, sun-busking Nile crocodiles, and many more riverbank dwellers.

Accommodation: Murchison River Lodge (mid-range)

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

TRANSFER FROM MURCHISON TO KIBALE NATIONAL PARK, EVENING NATURE WALK IN BIGODI TRAIL (A 5-7-HR DRIVE)

You’ll be up early on this third day to hit the game tracks by 7:00 am and be in Kibale by 2:00 pm. Your safari driver will drive slowly through the park for the first few hours to allow you to catch sight of the early risers on the plains. Expect elephant, buffalo, antelope, and maybe lion sightings before you exit the Murchison protected area onto the Fort Portal drive.

It’s no secret that Fort Portal is home to some truly spectacular landscapes – and many come to this region just for its beauty. When thinking of this part of Uganda, most will picture rolling hills, endless countryside, and pine trees, but you’re likely to find that it has plenty more to offer. It is after all the primate capital of Africa, a country of the most beautiful women, wide verdant hills dotted with more than 100 crater lakes and vibrant colours are all things that make this region so incredible!

Get lost in this addictive beauty as we gracefully drive into the rainforest jungle and check-in at Primate Lodge just before lunch. Have your meal and relax for an hour or two; you’ll join your guide on a nature walk at the Bigodi trail if you’re up to it.

Accommodation: Primate Lodge (Mid-range)

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

CHIMPANZEE TREKKING ($200) OR CHIMPANZEE HABITUATION EXPERIENCE ($250 FOR A FULL DAY)

Your jungle breakfast will be ready at 6:00 am, and your trip leader will make sure you are at the Kanyanchu Visitor Center by 7:30 am for the trekking briefing. Let's assume that you are joining the researchers for the chimpanzee habituation experiment. In this case, you will need to be at the visitor center at 5:00 am to catch the chimpanzees when they wake up from their nightly nests and follow them on their foraging expeditions.

There is no doubt that the all-inclusive "Gorillas and Wildlife in Uganda" safari takes you to the most primate-rich rainforest in Africa. You will certainly be magically swept away into the coolness of the jungle like a Disney character. With over 1,500 chimpanzees in this jungle, chimpanzee viewing in Kibale is guaranteed 98% of the time.

During this jungle adventure, it is common for other primates to cross your path, such as the red colobus monkey and the rare L'Hoest's monkey. Even if your primary goal is to find the chimpanzees, you are more likely to see the black and white colobus, red-tailed monkey, blue monkey, olive baboon, and gray-cheeked mangabey swinging under the canopy of

Accommodation: Primate Lodge (mid-range)

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

TRANSFER FROM KIBALE, EXPLORE NDALI-KASENDA, TO QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK (DRIVETIME 4-5 HRS)

You’re in no hurry to wake up early for today. But the earlier, the better to avoid driving under the scorching sun to East Africa’s most famous National Parks, Queen Elizabeth National Park. As we exit the Kibale’s rainforest jungle, you’ll explore the Ndali-Kasenda Craters west of the park.

The west of Kibale Forest steams in the shadows of the Rwenzori Mountains and is sprinkled with one of the world’s densest concentrations of volcanic craters. Over 50 crater lakes pockmark the Ndali-Kasenda region, making for a dreamy drive-through on your way to QENP. If you’re moving at an agreeable time, your driver will organize a walk in the shadows of the Rwenzoris for an intimate experience.

As you make your way into the savannah park, you’ll explore the spectacular field of explosion craters a few miles north of Mweya. Highspots are Lake Nyamunuka, a stronghold of buffalo and elephant herds, Lake Kitagata, fed by salty hot-springs, and Kyemengo Crater en route to the Baboon Cliffs view. The magnificent Rift Valley views like the imposing Rwenzori range, Lakes Kirongo, George and Edward, the hippo-infested Kazinga Chanel, and the Rift Valley escarpments will capture your gaze as you drive through this area.

Accommodation: Katara Lodge (Mid-range)

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

MORNING GAME DRIVE AND AFTERNOON BOAT LAUNCH ON KAZINGA CHANNEL

Kasenyi Plains are quite famous for their many lions that prey on the abundant Uganda Kobs, especially around the Kob breeding grounds. Of course, the best time to catch the lions’ hunting expeditions on the plains is at sunrise. Come with some extra batteries for your camera to capture wildlife photography action.

Expect the catch sight of the Elephant, Buffalo, Waterbuck, and Warthog. You may also sight the Giant Forest Hog, Hyena, and perhaps even a Leopard with luck. Your driver will take you back to the lodge in time for lunch and a short break before you embark on another wildlife safari adventure on Kazinga Channel.

At the Mweya jetty, you’ll board the Kazinga Channel boat launch that will bring you the closest to the park’s famous game while floating in the comfort of the viewing deck. Hippos huff and spray a few feet away, elephant dip and buffalo linger in the elephant shallows. The channel’s shores are spotted with riparian birds like pink-backed pelicans, yellow-billed stork, malachite kingfisher, pied kingfisher, saddle-billed stork, fish eagle, martial eagle, and many others.

Accommodation: Katara Lodge (Mid-range)

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

NATURE WALK IN MARAMAGAMBO FOREST & TREE-CLIMBING LIONS IN ISHASHA

Start another adventurous day with a nature walk in the dark Maramagambo Forest that sprawls across central Queen Elizabeth National Park from the bottom of the Kichwamba escarpment to Lake Edward shores. Shady forest trails are a different tranquil environment from the sunny park plains, harbour primates, and rare forest birds. Gaze away at the diversity of colourful butterflies that decorate the forest air.

You’ll have your packed lunch en-route through Ishasha Sector, driving along the deep and wide dry craters now covered with savanna grasses and acacia. Stare at the extraordinary Rift Valley escarpment landscapes as you go into Ishasha Sector, where you will take on yet another adventure searching for famous tree-climbing lions in the late afternoon hours.

You’ll observe these obliging felines draped over the branches of acacia trees and looking incredibly comfortable watching the dying golden sun. Ishasha is exceptionally endowed with a superb variety of animals. You’ll effortlessly spot hippos lounging in the Ishasha River while Buffalo, Kob, and Topi roam the plains.

You’ll check-in at your camp as the sun dies down for a long shower, hot meal, and fluffy warm linen.

Accommodation: Enjojo Lodge (Mid-range)

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

ISHASHA TO BWINDI, NATURE TRAIL CROSSING BWINDI FROM BUHOMA TO NKURINGO

Check-out of your camp for another All-inclusive Uganda Gorillas & Wildlife Safari 2-3-hr road transfer through Ishasha Sector to Buhoma, the northern section of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. At Buhoma visitor centre, you’ll join one of our local walking safari guides, who will guide you on another walking adventure across the misty impenetrable jungle to the southern sector.

For 4-5 hours, your local expert will furnish you with ancient tales of the forest’s inhabitants, bringing you close to being one with woods. With luck on your side, some of the backwood dwellers like chimps, forest elephants, duikers, forest buffalo, and various primates will cross your path. Otherwise, look out for the unique overgrown plant species and dazzling colourful butterflies of over 300 species. Birds such as African green broadbill, great blue turaco, Grauer’s swamp warbler, Turner’s Eremomela, Shelley’s crimson wing, and Chapin’s flycatcher flying under the canopy will definitely capture your eye.

You’ll cross rivers, streams, shaky bridges, climb fallen stumps and walk through damp forest floors connecting you to sapiens’ origins.

Accommodation: Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge (Mid-range)

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

THE GORILLA TREKKING ADVENTURE EXPERIENCE

Eat an early energy-giving breakfast, preferably fruits and cereal; you’ll need the energy during your trek. You’ll get a lunch pack at the lodge, and your driver will have you at the Nkuringo visitor centre by 7:30 am for the briefing session. After the briefing, the warden selects travellers in groups of eight people and assigns a gorilla group based on their physical ability.

You will then join two armed rangers and an expert guide on the trekking trail. The trek can be quite challenging and can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 4 hours to locate the habituated gorillas. Duration depends on the location of gorillas, how fast trekkers are moving, and the ability of the lead guide to locating the bearing rangers on-site are sending; it’s not cutout! Nevertheless, almost all trekkers manage the challenge to find the gorillas and back.

You’ll be allowed to spend 60 minutes with the gorillas when you find them. That is for the regular gorilla trekking permit of $700. But to spend more time of up to 4 hours with the gorillas, you’ll pay $1500 on Gorilla Habituation Experience Permit and start the trek a little earlier.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

CANOEING ON LAKE BUNYONYI & A RELAXING EVENING

Nothing compares to pushing off in a canoe and experiencing the backcountry from the water. Lake Bunyonyi has a unique character and spirit, with a charming adventurer for a relaxing getaway.

After your breakfast, you’ll meet your driver and set off on a short drive over beautifully terraced landscapes and stunningly rugged landscapes to Lake Bunyonyi. Your driver will deliver your luggage at the lake resort, and you’ll set off in a canoe on the clear freshwaters. You’ll be doing much more than just paddling a canoe but relax, explore, and spend quality time viewing nature’s creation. Keep an eye out for eagles, rare bird species, and unbelievable plants.

Dock off at the Kyabahinga peninsula, where local folk will gladly welcome you with song, dance, and brew. Ascend the Kyabahinga slopes to enjoy the exquisite views over the gorgeous Lake, meet a local herbalist, and listen to historical tales about the Lake’s many islands.

Hope back onto the boat and head to your Lake Resort for a relaxing evening.

Accommodation: Bird’s Nest (mid-range)

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

TRANSFER TO LAKE MBURO, WALKING OR HORSEBACK SAFARI

After a relaxed night at Lake Bunyonyi, you’ll drive east through Kisoro, Kabale, and Mbarara to break your Entebbe-bound journey at Uganda’s smallest game park, Lake Mburo National Park.

This tiny park throws a serious game-viewing punch for its size with exclusive animal species like Zebra, impalas, giant bush rats, and slender mongoose. Apart from the northern parks, it’s only here that you’ll find giraffes. The Lake dominates the park’s landscape, but the forest-fringed shores hemmed by rugged green hills scenically stand out.

Due to the absence of dangerous predators and big game like elephants, Lake Mburo National Park is excellent for walking safari experiences horseback rides among ungulates. You’ll take one of these activities as soon as you check into your lodge and are ready for an evening stroll in the wilderness.

Accommodation: Rwakobo Rock Lodge (mid-range)

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

TAKE YOUR LAST GAME VIEWING DRIVE AS YOU EXIT THE PARK TO ENTEBBE

Wake up early for your last game-viewing experience on the All-inclusive Uganda Gorillas & Wildlife Safari expedition. You might catch sight of the elusive leopard, side-striped jackal, and other small predators like the white-tailed mongoose, who mostly show up at dusk or dawn.

Casual sightings may include topi, bushbuck, common duiker, oribi, Defassa waterbuck, and Bohor reedbuck. At the same time, the lake and lush fringing vegetation support healthy populations of buffalo, warthog, bushpig, and hippopotamus.

You could have checked-out of the camp, and we head straight for Entebbe to end the adventure-filled All-inclusive Uganda Gorillas & Wildlife Safari.

If you expect to spend another night in Entebbe, make sure your trip planner knows so we can book you a night at our very own Papyrus Guesthouse.

Accommodation: Relative

Meal Plan: Breakfast, and Lunch