8-Day Uganda Safari with Gorilla Trekking and Big Five Wildlife

• Pick up from overnight accommodation in Kampala or Entebbe. You will be transferred to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.
• Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is a private, non-profit animal sanctuary in Uganda. It proudly harbours Uganda`s endangered Rhinos.
• On arrival, you will be briefed and begin your on-foot Rhino tracking.
• Depending on how long this activity takes, proceed with the drive and arrive at your lodge in Murchison Falls National Park.
• Murchison Falls National Park; Covering an area of 3,893 km² this particular park sits s on the shore of Lake Albert, in northwest Uganda. It’s known for Murchison Falls, where the Victoria Nile River surges through a narrow gap over a massive drop. On arrival, you will check into your lodge and relax.
• In the evening, you may go on a sunset game drive, during which you expect to encounter numerous wildlife, including Elephants, Rothschild giraffes, wild cats, birds, and so much more.
• Depending on how long this takes, return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation:

Budget: Parkside Safari Lodge

Driving time: 6-7 hrs.

• After a packed breakfast, you will go on an early morning game drive to explore the different tracks in the park. Expect to encounter numerous animals, including Elephants, Rothschild giraffes, wild cats, birds and hippos.
• You will return to the lodge for lunch, depending on what you see and how long this drive takes.
• After Lunch, you will take a boat cruise on the Nile. Expecting numerous wildlife, from birds to reptiles, you will be dropped at the bottom of the Falls. Here, you will meet your ranger, who will guide you during your hike to the top of Murchison Falls.
• At the top, you will meet your driver, who will transfer you back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Parkside Safari Lodge

Driving time: 5.5 hrs.

• After breakfast and with lunch enroute, you will embark on a journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
• Make a stopover in Fortportal, have lunch at Gardens Restaurant, and proceed to explore Crater Lake. In the afternoon, take a leisurely walk within the nearby crater lakes or hike to the “top of the world" and enjoy the amazing view of over 38 crater lakes in the Kabarole district.
• You will then proceed for a more than 1.5-hour drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park in the Kasese district, at the foot of the towering Rwenzori Mountains.
• Queen Elizabeth National Park covers an area of 1,978 km². It is located on the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains and is home to several savannah species of flora and fauna. Established in 1952, it was named after Queen Elizabeth II.

Accommodation: Pumba Safari Lodge

• Have breakfast and proceed for an adventurous chimpanzee trekking experience in Kyambura Gorge. Chimps are very vocal; their location can be identified by following their hoots and distant cries. In case they are quiet, their footprints (in mud) and poop can help you to locate them.
• Once you locate them, you can watch them play, breastfeed, mate, rest and even fight. The chimps in Kyambura Gorge have a remarkable habit of getting down the trees each time they see visitors. This allows for great photos from a close distance.  Apart from the chimpanzees, the forest exposes visitors to unique and amazing biodiversity.
• Visitors will have the opportunity to spot rare vegetation and tall tropical trees. The forest is also home to other primates, such as baboons, monkeys, forest elephants (occasionally) and numerous birds. The whole activity takes 2 to 3 hours.
• Have lunch, and in the afternoon, take a boat trip along the Kazinga channel to view large and small mammals, reptiles and several bird species.
• Kazinga Channel is a wide, 32-kilometer-long water channel that links Lake Edward and Lake George and is a dominant feature in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
• Depending on how long the cruise takes, you will return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Accommodation: Pumba Safari Lodge

• An early game drive starts at 6:30 am to be able to spot the early risers like lions, leopards, jackals, and spotted hyenas, among others. You can also spot elephants, buffaloes, antelopes, and beautiful birds like the African mourning dove, swamp nightjar, and grey-headed kingfisher.
• The game drive can take 2-3 hours as you explore the savannah plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park with its beautiful scenery.
• After this experience, immediately transfer southwards to Bwindi's impenetrable forest. The National Park is famous for having half of the remaining mountain gorillas and covering an area of 321 sq. km.
• It is also home to over 340 bird species, over 120 mammals, most of which are small forest creatures such as monkeys and over 900 plant species. Batwa and Bakiga are the communities that live near this park, and their culture is something not to be missed. Arrive at the park lodge in the evening for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation:

Budget: Rushaga Gorilla Havens Lodge

Driving time: Up to 6 hrs.

• Wake up at 6:00 am for a warm cup of African coffee, and prepare for your long-awaited trek. At 7:00 am, hike to the visitor's briefing area, a few minutes drive from your accommodation. Meet with the head ranger and other visitors for a general briefing on the dos and don’ts while conducting this memorable trek.
• During this briefing, you’ll be allocated a specific group of gorillas to track, along with a ranger, guide and porter in case you need one to carry your luggage.
• The trek starts at 8:30 a.m. with simple forest hikes through designated trails. Depending on the gorilla family, the experience can last for about 2-8 hours. The trek may become strenuous depending on the weather and how far the gorillas have moved, but the epic one-hour encounter with a habituated family is truly refreshing.
• Later, return to the starting point with fellow trekkers, meet your guide, have a quick picnic lunch, and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi immediately.
• This is one of Africa’s deepest lakes (2nd only to Lake Tanganyika in Tanzania). While here, you will admire the sweeping terraced hills on the backdrop of over 28 islands that make up Lake Bunyonyi, each island with a unique story that you will learn when you take a local dugout canoe under the guidance of a local tour guide.
• You might indulge in many activities while here, including a canoe experience, a boat cruise, hiking, island hopping and swimming (the lake is bilharzia-free).
•  End the day at the lodge with dinner and a peaceful

Accommodation:

Midrange: Lake Bunyonyi Rock resort

• After breakfast on the shores of Lake Bunyonyi, leave in the morning via the Mbarara-Kabale highway, and you’ll be dropped off at the airport later in the evening for your departure flight.

Accommodation:

Rwakobo Rock Lodge

• After an early morning breakfast,  go for a guided nature walk in the park in the morning, get face-to-face with the animals, and take time to take memorable pictures. There is also an option for riding bikes in the morning as you watch wild animals. After this two-hour memorable activity, return to the starting point and embark on a road transfer to Entebbe with a stop over the Ugandan equator for an Equator experience and memorable photographs. Also, visit the craft shops before embarking on a road transfer to Entebbe Airport for your late evening flight.

End of safari.