18-Day Uganda Primate and Wildlife Safari with Gorilla Trekking

You will arrive at Entebbe International Airport, where Simba African Expeditions' driver and/or a company representative will welcome you and transfer you to your accommodation. You will be briefed about the tour and have the opportunity to ask all your questions. All meals and your overnight stay will be at the hotel.

After an early breakfast, the driver picks you up at 7:00 am to begin your long adventure, starting in eastern Uganda. You will drive through Kampala and head east along the Kampala-Jinja highway. The first turn-off is to Sezibwa Falls, a Buganda cultural heritage site with beautiful waterfalls. You will spend an hour here hiking the rocks, watching birds, and learning about the myths of the falls and the ancient traditional worship that is still practiced here.

Afterward, you will return to the road and make another stop at Mabira Rainforest, the largest forest in Central Uganda. You will head out for a 2-hour trek in search of the habituated grey-cheeked mangabeys, watch lots of birds, monkeys, and squirrels, and enjoy the jungle. You will then get back on the road and drive to Jinja. After checking in at your accommodation and having lunch, you will head out for an hour-long boat ride on Lake Victoria to the Source of the Nile and then transfer to your lodge.

After breakfast at 7:30 am, you will check out, leave Jinja, and continue further east through Mbale town to Sipi Falls in Kapchorwa District. Sipi Falls is a series of three stunning waterfalls situated in the foothills of Mount Elgon. You will check in at the accommodation and refresh.

Later, you will head out for a 3-4 hour trek up and down the foothills of Mount Elgon, visiting each of the three waterfalls and enjoying spectacular vistas from Mount Elgon to the flat plains of Karamoja in the distance. You will return to your lodge for lunch. Later, you may opt to walk through the local communities and coffee farmlands. Dinner and your overnight stay will be at the lodge.

After an early breakfast, you will embark on a long drive to northern Uganda and continue to Kidepo Valley National Park, arguably Africa's most spectacular wilderness. Lunch will be en route. You will arrive at the park in the evening and transfer to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

You will wake up for an early cup of tea and head out for the morning game drive. Kidepo Valley National Park is endowed with remarkable wilderness and abundant wildlife, including lions, buffalo, elephants, giraffes, zebras, hyenas, cheetahs, ostriches, jackals, dik-diks, and gazelles. You will return for lunch at the lodge before heading back into the wilderness for more adventure. Later, you will return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

After an early breakfast, you will check out and depart for Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda's largest game park. You will stop in Gulu town for lunch. You will arrive at Murchison Falls National Park in the evening and transfer to your booked lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

You will wake up for an early cup of tea or coffee and head out for the game drive by 6:30 am. Murchison Falls offers a variety of wildlife, including lions, hyenas, giraffes, hippos, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, oribi, waterbucks, bushbucks, and many savanna birds. The game drive lasts 3-4 hours. You will return to the lodge for breakfast and lunch.

Later, you will set out for the launch cruise on the Nile to the base of Murchison Falls, the world's strongest waterfalls. The cruise offers many wildlife sightings along the Nile, including hippos, crocodiles, buffaloes, and many water birds. The launch cruise lasts 3 hours. You will return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

After breakfast, you will check out of the lodge and leave for Hoima, driving through Murchison Falls. This gives you another chance to see more wildlife in the park. You will stop in Masindi for lunch before proceeding to Hoima and transferring to Lake Albert Safari Lodge, where you will relax for the evening and overnight stay.

After breakfast, you will check out and travel to Kibale Forest National Park, driving along the scenic Albertine Rift Valley escarpment and verdant countryside. You will have lunch in Fort Portal town before proceeding to Kibale Forest National Park. You will arrive in the late afternoon, check into your accommodation, and spend the rest of the day there before your overnight stay.

You will wake up to an early breakfast at 6:30 am. Afterward, you will transfer to the park offices for a briefing. Once the briefing is complete, the ranger will take the lead as you head into Kibale Forest to look for the chimpanzees and view lots of other wildlife, including primates, birds, and butterflies. Once you find the chimpanzees, you are allowed only one hour to observe them and follow them around. You will return to the lodge for lunch.

Later, you will head out for a walk in Bigodi Wetland, which is rich in primates and birds among an array of wildlife. You will return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

After breakfast, you will check out and transfer to Semuliki National Park, situated about a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Kibale Forest. Upon arrival, you will hike to the iconic Sempaya Hot Springs. You will then transfer to your accommodation for lunch.

Later, you will set out for a game drive for wildlife sightings, which may include Uganda kob, reedbuck, savanna elephant, duiker, waterbuck, warthog, giant forest hog, and birds. You will return to the booked lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

After breakfast, you will check out of the lodge and travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park. You will stop in Fort Portal town for lunch before continuing to the park. As you drive through Queen Elizabeth National Park to reach your booked accommodation, you will be treated to a scenic landscape dotted with beautiful crater lakes, lush grasslands, and occasional big game. You will retire to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

You will wake up to an early cup of tea or coffee and head out for an early morning game drive at 6:30 am. The park is wonderful, with lots of big game and beautiful scenery. Expect to see lions, elephants, topis, kobs, buffaloes, hyenas, and leopards. You will return to the lodge for breakfast and lunch.

Later, you will set out for the afternoon boat ride on the Kazinga Channel, a natural stream of water joining Lakes Edward and George. The channel is home to a variety of wildlife and attracts big game to drink water and cool off in the heat. Expect to see lots of hippos, buffalo, elephants, crocodiles, monitor lizards, and many birds. You will return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

After an early breakfast, you will check out and drive through the Ishasha area of Queen Elizabeth National Park for a chance to spot the tree-climbing lions as well as several other big game species. You will have lunch en route and then proceed to southwestern Uganda, to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, home of the mountain gorillas. Dinner and your overnight stay will be at your booked lodge.

You will wake up to an early breakfast, pick up a packed lunch, and transfer to the park offices at 7:30 am for a briefing by the rangers. You will be assigned the habituated gorilla group you shall track. By 8:00 am, you will set off into Bwindi Forest to find the gorillas. Once you find them, you will spend one hour with the gorillas. You will then return to meet your driver and refresh.

Later, you will visit the Batwa community. Dinner and your overnight stay will be at your lodge.

You will transfer to Lake Bunyonyi and spend the day enjoying the soothing atmosphere of the lake and the magnificent highland scenery all around. You will take a canoe ride on Lake Bunyonyi and explore its islands. You will return to the lodge for lunch.

Later, you will hike the highlands and visit local communities, which are very welcoming and eager for visitors. Dinner and your overnight stay will be at your booked lodge.

After breakfast, you will check out and travel to Lake Mburo National Park. Upon arrival, you will drive through the game trails and view several wildlife species, including zebras, impalas, buffaloes, elands, waterbucks, birds, and marvelous scenery. You will then continue to your accommodation, check in, refresh, and have lunch.

Later, you will set out for a relaxing evening boat ride on Lake Mburo and view more wildlife, including hippos and several birds. You will return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

You will wake up for an early morning nature walk in the park for a chance to encounter some nocturnal wildlife at close range. An armed ranger will lead you. Alternatively, you may opt for a horse ride for this experience. You will return for breakfast, check out, and travel back to Entebbe. Lunch will be en route. You will also make a stop at the equator point for some picture moments.