9-Day Uganda Wildlife Safari with Gorilla and Chimp Trekking

In the morning, we will pick you up from Best Western Premier Entebbe and transfer from Kampala to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to view rhinos. Rhinos became extinct in Uganda in the early 1980s, and the Ziwa site is being used as a breeding site for the black and white rhino. Afterward, we will proceed to Murchison Falls National Park.

In the morning, you will go for a game drive in the park to spot elephants, lions, giraffes, and other wildlife. In the afternoon, you will take a relaxing boat trip on the River Nile, and here you will have a chance to see crocodiles, hippos, and a range of rare birds.

You will also see for yourself the point where River Nile joins Lake Albert, one of the "major highlights" of this trip. At the end of the boat trip, you will hike to the famous 'top of the falls,' where you will have spectacular views of Murchison Falls along the Nile River. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

After an early morning breakfast, you will depart Murchison Falls National Park and drive southwards to Kibale Forest National Park. The drive to Kibale will go through the major western towns of Hoima and Fort Portal. Arrival at Kibale Forest National Park is expected in the early evening.

Starting in the morning at Kibale Forest National Park, you will go into the jungle to encounter chimpanzees and different monkeys like the Red-Tailed Monkey, Olive baboon, and Black and White Columbus Monkey. If trekking is completed early, have a walk in the nearby Bigodi wetland in the afternoon.

In the morning, we will drive through the famed Fort Portal crater lakes, where you will get a glimpse of Uganda's tallest mountains - the Rwenzoris. After check-in at the lodge, prepare for lunch and drive to the Mweya peninsular to join the Kazinga channel boat cruise in the afternoon. You will spot crocodiles, buffaloes, elephants, and a wide range of bird species on the channel waters.

Kasenyi plains game drive:

You will start the day with an early morning breakfast at the lodge. Afterward, we proceed to the famed Kasenyi plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park to spot various species of wild animals. Kasenyi plains dwell in the vast savannahs of the Albertine rift in Queen Elizabeth National Park. It will be a morning full of adventure! Expect to encounter lions, herds of buffalos, elephants, Uganda kobs, topi, and bushbucks. While spotting the 'Big Five' in the park is not guaranteed, on a lucky day, you may sight leopards to make it the 'Big Four.'

After the Kasenyi plains game drive, continue to the Ishasha sector, popularly known for the tree-climbing lions. Unlike their counterparts at the Kasenyi plains, the lions at Ishasha have found a way to climb the fig trees to enjoy the warm temperatures available in the park. While the sighting of the tree-climbing lions is not 100% guaranteed, a stopover at Ishasha is worth a visit! Dinner and overnight at Bwindi NP.

You will head to the Bwindi National Park gate immediately after breakfast to get a briefing about the gorilla trek. The national park guide will conduct the presentation covering the basics of what to expect during the gorilla trek. The national guide will assign the gorilla trekking group during the pre-trekking briefing. Other visitors will likely join you.

The gorilla trek can take from a few to many hours, depending on how far the gorillas are inside the forest. After the gorilla trek, return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

After an early morning breakfast, drive from Bwindi National Park to the famous Lake Bunyonyi. The Lake Bunyonyi experience includes a wide range of canoeing, bird watching, ziplining, and community walks. If not interested in activities, Lake Bunyonyi offers ample space for relaxation after gorilla trekking. Dinner and overnight at Lake Bunyonyi.

Early in the morning, we will drive from Lake Bunyonyi to Kampala/Entebbe. The drive from Lake Bunyonyi to Kampala will take about 7-8 hours. We will have two stopovers on the way to Kampala: the first stop at the Igongo Cultural Center in Mbarara city for lunch, and the Equator crossing for a cup of coffee and handicraft shopping.