Uganda Gorilla and Wildlife Safari, 9 days
9 DAY Uganda Gorilla and Wildlife Safari
This safari itinerary includes visits to Uganda’s most prominent wildlife parks namely queen Elizabeth National park, Murchison falls National Park and the to the habituated mountain Gorillas of Bwindi Forest National Park. Go on chimp and gorilla trekking adventures and savor the best of Uganda’s warm climate and friendly people. Uganda safaris have a lot to offer to its tourists and the encounter is memorable.
Day-1
Early arrivals at Entebbe airport will allow for Kampala city tours to the National theatre, Uganda museum, visits to the martyr’s shrine at Namugongo and visits to Buganda royal and cultural sites like the Kabaka’s Palace, the Kabaka’s Lake and Kasubi Royal Tombs.
Check into any of Kampala’s wide range of luxury, standard and budget hotels, lodges, guesthouses and inn. Standard and budget accommodation is available from Holiday inn, Holiday Express hotel, The Tourist Hotel and Speke hotel
Day 2- Transfers to Murchison falls on the Nile
Upon finishing breakfast, head for 350km journey to Murchison Falls national park in western Uganda. Visit Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary after 2 and half hours drive from Kampala on Murchison Falls Route for nature walks, on foot rhino tracking and birding. Continue on to Murchison Falls Park, Uganda’s largest wildlife park and stop by the narrow gorge at which the Victoria river flows to make thundering Murchison Falls.
Get diner and overnight from Paraa lodge, Sambiya river lodge, Chobe safari lodge shoebill campsite, Red Chilli hideaway and many other overnight facilities.
Day 3 – Murchison Falls Boat cruise
Wake up to an early morning game drive to the northern section of the park, view and take pictures of elephants, buffalos, hippos, hartebeests, waterbucks, hippos, giraffes, Uganda kobs, lions, leopards and different birds.
Lunch is ready at the lodge and then your 2 hours boat trip on the river to the foot of Murchison falls that is 43m high. The amazing sight is proceeded by some rapids and a boiling water caldron at the bottom. Down the river are schools of hippos, crocodiles on the shallow river banks and herds of animals are seen on regular visits to the river bank for water and some predators for an afternoon kill. Return to the camp or lodge for dinner and overnight accommodation.
Day 4 – Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Drive from the shadows of Fort Portal town, the towering Rwenzori ranges, the beautiful Albertine rift escarpment, visiting the Toro kingdom palace, and Lugard Portal monument at the heart of Fort Portal Town.
Arrive in Masindi town and find accommodation in town (at Masindi kolping hotel, Ataco Country resort) or near queen Elizabeth national park gate
Day 5: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Short transfer after breakfast to Queen Elizabeth national park and start on the safari game drive immediately after an early lunch. Queen Elizabeth national park borders the crater lakes of Lake Edward and George which are connected by Kazinga Channel. On the game drive are sights of Thornicroft and Rothschild giraffes, zebras, lions, leopards, warthogs, antelopes and so much more wildlife. For the evening is a 2 hour pre-booked launch cruise on the Kazinga Channel while the setting sun turns the water golden. Find schools of hippos, water birds and crocodiles that make Kazinga Channel a beautiful boating destination.
Accommodation and overnight is at Mweya peninsular camping, Mweya safari lodge, Ihamba safari lodge, Simba safari Lodge, Jacana Safari lodge, Institute of Ecology Hostel and Katara Lodge
Day 6: Kyambura Gorge nature walks
Kyambura gorge and the forest reserve are part of Queen Elizabeth national Park. An early game drive to Kasenyi track is filled with sights of lions, elephants, buffalos, and different birds. The gorge at Kyambura is beautiful at 16km ling and covered in lush forested slopes. Kyambura forest reserve is good for chimpanzee tracking and on the trail are other primates like vervet monkeys and colobus monkeys.
Accommodation and dining is available at Ishasha Ntungwe river camp and Ishasha wilderness camp.
Day 7: Queen Elizabeth Lion Safari
South of the park is Ishasha sector famous for the tree climbing lions visited on day 7 after breakfast. Drive out of Queen Elizabeth park towards Bwindi forest, further into the beautiful hills of south west Uganda, known as the Switzerland of Uganda. From Kabale to Bwindi via Buhoma park headquarters is 3-4 hours drive on 4WD. Get accommodation at Buhoma Lodge, Buhoma community bandas, Nkuringo gorilla camp site, Clouds Lodge, Gorilla forest camp, Silver Back lodge
Day 8: Bwindi Mountain Gorilla trekking
Bwindi is a renowned gorilla trekking zone on Uganda safari followed by Mgahinga mountain gorillas. Trekking through the dense rainforests of Bwindi is not an easy task, it requires determination and patience as tracking lasts more than 2 hours in some instances. Remember to get your packed lunch just in case.
Return to the lodge for late lunch meal and then take a trip in Kabale town visiting the Batwa communities and then drive off to Lake Bunyonyi. Drive through the mythical rolling hills that shelter the beautiful lake that is named after its vast bird population.
Dinner and overnight accommodation is available at Luxury Kyahugye Island Resort, Bunyonyi safari resort, Arcadia cottages or Budget Bushara Island with its incredible view of Lake Bunyonyi.
Day 9: Lake Bunyonyi Adventures
After breakfast, it is either a canoe ride or motorized boat safari on Lake Bunyonyi to Nyombwe swamp, via Akampene island( Bakiga Punishment Island), Sharp Island and Bucuranuka island. Birding is good on the lake with sights of hopping African jacana, yellow billed ducks, kingfishers, sun birds, herons, egrets and many other water birds.
Drive back to Kampala after lunch arriving in the late evening.
