7-Day Uganda Safari with Murchison Falls Chimpanzees and Gorillas

Hopefully, your flight is scheduled for an early landing in Uganda, not later than noon. Your guide-driver will pick you up from Entebbe Airport, and you will hit the road to Murchison Falls. The highlights of this park include the roaring rapids of the Murchison and the rolling plains of Uganda's largest national park, where you will have the chance to view lions, giraffes, hartebeest, buffalo, and elephants. You will also be fascinated by the concentration of hippos and Nile crocodiles here. For birders, Murchison Falls boasts 450 bird species, including the elusive shoebill stork, dwarf kingfisher, white-thighed hornbill, and Goliath heron, among others.

En route, make a detour visit to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. You will have at least one hour of rhino tracking while here. Another stop will be in Masindi to enjoy your lunch. Continue to the park and check in to your accommodation to relax for the evening.

Destination: Murchison Falls National Park

Accommodation options:

Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge or Similar

Mid-Range: Parkside Safari Lodge or Similar

Budget: Hornbill Bush Lodge or Similar

Meals Plan:

• Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
• Drinking Water, Fruits and Wi-Fi throughout the journey

Wake up to an early morning breakfast and depart for your early morning game drive in the northern sector of the park, where you will have some of the best wildlife viewing opportunities in Uganda, with a high concentration of animals such as elephants, buffalo, lions, giraffes, and antelopes. You will have the opportunity to spot elephants, lions, buffalo, giraffes, and other big mammals.

After your splendid game drive, you will return to the lodge for lunch and prepare for an afternoon boat cruise to the bottom of Murchison Falls. The boat cruise offers a unique perspective of the park's wildlife and lets you see aquatic animals such as Nile crocodiles, hippos, and various bird species. The highlight of the boat trip is the chance to see the mighty Murchison Falls up close and witness the powerful force of the Nile River as it plunges into the pool below. After the boat trip, you will return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Destination: Murchison Falls National Park

Accommodation options:

Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge or Similar

Mid-Range: Parkside Safari Lodge or Similar

Budget: Hornbill Bush Lodge or Similar

Meals Plan:

• Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
• Drinking Water, Fruits and Wi-Fi throughout the journey

On this day, after breakfast, you will drive to Kibale Forest National Park, one of the largest and most biodiverse forests in Uganda. The park is known for its lush tropical rainforest and diverse primate population, including the highly endangered chimpanzees. Kibale National Park is a popular destination for primate lovers and offers excellent opportunities for chimpanzee tracking, as well as for observing other primates such as colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, and L'Hoest's monkeys.

In addition to primates, the park also provides a habitat for over 375 species of birds, elephants, buffalo, and other wildlife. After a full day of exploring the park and its diverse wildlife, you will drive to check in to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Destination: Kibale Forest National Park

Accommodation Options:

Luxury: Kyaninga Safari Lodge or Similar

Mid-Range: Chimpanzee Forest Lodge or Similar

Budget: Fort Motel or Similar

Meals Plan:

• Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
• Drinking Water, Fruits and Wi-Fi throughout the journey

After breakfast, you will start the day with a pre-trek briefing, after which you will embark on a guided chimpanzee trekking excursion to see the primates in their natural habitat. Chimpanzee trekking is a popular activity in the park, and it will allow you to get up close with these intelligent and social primates.

The trek will involve a guided walk through the lush rainforest, searching for the chimpanzees as they move around the forest in search of food. The excursion can be physically demanding, but the experience of observing these fascinating animals in their natural habitat is well worth the effort. After the chimpanzee trek, you will have a chance to relax and enjoy a delicious packed lunch before returning to your lodge for an overnight stay.

Destination: Kibale Forest National Park

Accommodation Options:

Luxury: Kyaninga Safari Lodge or Similar

Mid-Range: Chimpanzee Forest Lodge or Similar

Budget: Fort Motel or Similar

Meals Plan:

• Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
• Drinking Water, Fruits and Wi-Fi throughout the journey

After breakfast in the morning, you will transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site surrounded by communities that depend on its resources for their livelihoods and participate in conservation efforts through various initiatives. The park is located in southwestern Uganda and is home to critically endangered mountain gorillas. Bwindi is one of the few places in the world where visitors can go gorilla trekking and observe these magnificent primates up close.

The park is also known for its rich biodiversity, with over 160 species of mammals and over 400 species of birds, making it a popular destination for wildlife enthusiasts and nature lovers. After a long drive, you will arrive at your lodge in Bwindi for dinner and an overnight stay, ready for an exciting gorilla trek the next day.

Destination: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Accommodation Options:

Luxury: Buhoma Lodge or Similar

Mid-Range: Bakiga Lodge or Similar

Budget: Broadbill or Similar

Meals Plan:

• Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
• Drinking Water, Fruits and Wi-Fi throughout the journey

After breakfast at the lodge, you will embark on a gorilla trek in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. You will be guided by park rangers and trackers who will lead you through the dense forest in search of a gorilla family. The trek can be physically demanding, but the experience of seeing the gorillas in their natural habitat is truly unforgettable. You will spend the day trekking to find the gorillas in their natural habitat, an experience that is truly awe-inspiring.

The gorillas are habituated, which means they are used to the presence of humans, and you will have an opportunity to observe them as they go about their daily lives. After encountering the gorillas, you will have an opportunity to observe them for a limited amount of time, normally one hour, then return to the park headquarters for a trekking certificate. Your driver-guide shall then drive you back to your lodge for the night.

Destination: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Accommodation Options:

Luxury: Buhoma Lodge or Similar

Mid-Range: Bakiga Lodge or Similar

Budget: Broadbill or Similar

Meals Plan:

• Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
• Drinking Water, Fruits and Wi-Fi throughout the journey

After breakfast, you will depart from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and travel back to Kampala, the capital city of Uganda. The journey will take approximately 8-10 hours by road, depending on the route and traffic conditions. During the trip, you may have the opportunity to stop and visit local communities, sample local cuisine, or take in the scenic beauty of the countryside.

Upon arrival in Kampala, you will be transferred to your hotel or the airport for your onward travel arrangements. This incredible tour offers a unique and unforgettable wildlife experience, with the opportunity to see some of the most amazing primates and other wildlife in their natural habitat.

Destination: Kampala (Entebbe)

Accommodation Options: No (End of your safari)

Meals Plan:

• Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
• Drinking Water, Fruits and Wi-Fi throughout the journey.