12 Days Uganda Gorilla – Chimp Trekking Tour | Gorilla safaris

DAY 1: CITY TOUR | KAMPALA

On arrival at Entebbe International Airport, our guide will welcome you and then transfer you to your accommodation in Kampala. In case you reach in the morning, you will enjoy a city tour to the various fascinating sites around Kampala. Basically Kampala is popularly known as a ‘city on the 7 hills” as the city initially covered only 7 hills which offered the major pointers of direction as well as distinctiveness; the majority of these hills are strongly connected to Uganda’s colonial history.   Among these is Rubaga hill – the catholic seat of the Rubaga Catholic Cathedral. Namirembe hill; seat of the Namirembe Anglican Cathedral and Makerere hill where the legendary Makerere University Kampala which is the oldest university in the country, Kololo hill a diplomatic area which offers administrative offices for various diplomatic missions, Mengo hill the seat of the Kabaka’s palace – king of the Buganda kingdom as well as Buganda’s Central government, Kibuli the Islamic seat and Mbuya hill which holds the largest army barracks.  You may opt to take on the Kabaka’s trail; which will take you to historical Nagalabi coronation site, the burial ground of the Buganda kings – the Kasubi tombs, Katereke prison ditch, the kabaka’s man-made lake as well as the Ssezibwa falls. Alternatively you may choose to visit the Uganda Museum, African markets within town, the National Theater, creative local art and craft markets, Namugongo Uganda Martyrs Shrine, the Bahai temple, Makerere University and the Ndere Center, as well as do some shopping within the city center. Dine and overnight at Cassia lodge, or Speke Hotel, or Sheraton Hotel or Hotel Africana

DAY 2: MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK

In the morning our guide will pick you up from your hotel and transfer to Murchison Falls National Park in northern Uganda. Prior to reaching you accommodation, you will visit the top of the falls to see the great Nile force its way through a narrow 7 meter gorge before thunderously plunging 43 meters below. From here you will cross the Nile by ferry to your accommodation – Paraa Safari Lodge. You will see various animals such as buffaloes, crocodiles and hippos as you cross on the river banks.
Other accommodation options: Sambiya River lodge, or Budget Red Chili Camp

DAY 3: LAUNCH CRUISE | RIVER NILE

Early in the morning you will set out for a game drive. Some of the animals you will see include: Giraffes, antelopes, bush bucks, water bucks as well as several others. Head back to the lodge for a late breakfast and later lunch. In the afternoon, you will set off for a launch cruise on the Nile up to the bottom of the falls. During this amazing voyage, you will see large schools of hippos, waterbucks and giant crocodiles plus various birds along the river banks. Return to either Paraa Safari Lodge, or Sambiya River lodge, or Budget Red Chili Camp for dinner and the overnight

DAY 4: FORT-PORTAL TOWN

After your breakfast, you will drive southwards to Fortportal town having lunch en route. Dine and slumber at Ndali Lodge, or Rwenzori View guest house, or Kanyankyu campsite (FB)

DAY 5:  KIBALE FOREST | CHIMPANZEE TRACKING

After breakfast early morning, you will head to Kanyankyu tourist centre where you will be briefed before Chimpanzee Tracking. Kibale forest has a large number of about 13 primate species including the grey mangabeys, uncommon L’Hoest, pottos, red Colobus monkey, baboons, blue monkey, bush babies and black faced vervet monkeys, among others. A series of shady trails offers great to delight to botanists as well as butterfly lovers, whereas birders will have a lot to enjoy of the 335 bird species. Other wildlife here includes buffaloes, giant forest hogs and various antelope species. Return to the lodge for lunch before going for a nature walk in Bigodi swamp.
Dinner and slumber at Ndali Lodge, or Rwenzori View guest house, or Kanyankyu campsite

DAY 6: QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK

Today morning you will be picked from your accommodation in Kampala by our guide and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park where you will arrive in the afternoon. There will be an optional walk in the Mweya Peninsula. In comparison to the different National Parks across the world, Queen Elizabeth prides as one of the leading greatly diversified natural areas with diverse habitats including the Crater lakes areas, open Savannah, thick Papyrus Swamps, Rain Forest and the beautiful Lake Edward.
There are nearly 100 species of mammals here including Buffaloes, Lions, the elusive Giant Forest Hog, Leopards, Bushbucks, Hippos, Mangoose, Spotted Hyena, Elephants in addition to more than 600 bird species such as the Swallow Tailed Bee Eaters, Black Chested Eagles, Lesser Flamingos, Black Bee-Eaters, Chappirs Fly Catchers as well as the Bustards in addition to the renowned Shoebill Stork. This park is among the leading birder’s paradise across East Africa. Queen Elizabeth national park is in addition home to various primate species including Chimpanzees, Black & White Colobus Monkeys, Black Faced Olive Baboons Red Colobus, Blue and Red Tailed monkeys among others.  Green Mambas, Puffadders, crocodiles, Rock-Python, Turtles, Gabon Rippers and Spitting Cobras, are among the reptiles here.
Dinner and overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge or Jacana safari Lodge, or Institute of Ecology

DAY 7: LAUNCH CRUISE | KAZINGA CHANNEL

Today early morning you will set out for an early game drive along the impressive Kasenyi track as look for lions, various hyenas, hyenas, water bucks and leopards. Later on you will head back to the lodge for a late breakfast plus lunch.  in the afternoon, you will  go on an exciting boat trip on the Kazinga Channel that offers you a chance to see different wild animals at close proximity including hippos huffing and spraying just a couple of feet from the boat and buffaloes moving in the shallows of the channel. Also at the channel’s shore is a great profusion of birds such as the beautiful pink backed pelicans, saddle billed stork, pied & malachite kingfishers among others. Later in the day you will head back to the lodge where you will dine and spend the night.

DAY 8: CHIMP TRACKING | KYAMBURA GORGE

Early morning set out chimpanzee tracking within the Kyambura gorge where you will encounter these amazing apes that are very closely related to man. Later on you will drive through the Ishasha area and enjoy a game drive in southern Queen Elizabeth as you transfer to Bwindi National park. This area is renowned for its population of tree climbing Lions which you are likely to see before continuing on to Bwindi, home to the mountain gorillas. Bwindi has a very impressive Bird life as well as variety of primates, in addition the rich plant life within its forest. It is considered a Bird watchers paradise, with various bird species including most of the Albertine Rift Endemics found in Uganda; plus seven red-data book species. Several years back, the Bwindi was continuous with the Virunga Volcanoes forests. Today Bwindi is an ecological island, encompassed by cultivation cultivated rich volcanic soils.
Dinner and overnight at Gorilla Resort Camp, or L. Kitandara Luxury Camp, or Buhoma Community Bandas

DAY 9: GORILLA TRACKING | BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST

Today you will set out in the early morning; you will assemble at the ranger station by 8.00 am where you will be briefed and also meet your ranger guides who will guide you through this amazing activity. There is no predictable time frame in which you will see the gorillas however the activity may take anything between 2- 8 hours of trekking. On finding them you will be stunned by the big size of the dominant male – the silver back, and you will observe them play feed and interact with one another and also take photos of them. If time allows, you will enjoy a guided walk in the afternoon to the nearby villages to observe the traditional lifestyle of the locals. Dine and overnight at Gorilla Resort Camp, or L. Kitandara Luxury Camp, or Buhoma Community Bandas

DAY 10: KAMPALA – ENTEBBE

After breakfast you will drive back to Kampala or connect to Entebbe where you will dine and spend the night.  Have lunch along the way

DAY 11: NGAMBA ISLAND | LAKE VICTORIA – ENTEBBE

Early in the morning the guide will pick you up from your Hotel and then transfer to the shore of Lake Victoria where You will transfer by boat to Ngamba island Chimpanzee Island (a one hours ride). This island is home to approximately 39 orphaned chimpanzees. On arrival you will be offered a brief introduction about this sanctuary plus its history. You will them observe the chimpanzees being fed and see how they interact with each other. Amazing to see are some of their unique characters which include whistling for food and clapping. This is a very amazing activity worth enjoying.
Later on you will head back to the mainland prior to transferring to the Entebbe Wildlife Education Centre (also known as the zoo). In this place they have replicated a number of the ecological zones in the country including their tropical forest, Savannah as well as wetlands. In this place you will actually be able to the rare shoe-bill plus the rhino. Dine and sleep at G and C camps at Ngamba Island.

DAY 12: JINJA – BUJAGALI FALLS | SITE TOUR

After breakfast you will begin the journey to Jinja, through Mukono and Mabira Forest which is the biggest in Central Uganda. Continue to Jinja drive past the Owen Falls Dam a major Hydro Electricity dam in Uganda. Visit the true Source of River Nile and complete your trip with a visit to the Bujagali Falls. You will then drive back to Kampala past the Sezibwa Falls; these falls derived their name from a vernacular word “sezibibwa kkubo” which means “no obstacle can stop one from going on”. The amazing site is located approximately 20 miles on Jinja Road on the drive from Kampala and it is a Buganda Heritage site having sharp pointed rocks plus a soothing sound of water flowing down the beautiful steep uneven stones. This site is frequented by several people who come looking for blessings because of the cultural belief that this river was given birth to by a woman. It’s believed that river Sezibwa and its brother river Bwanda were born by woman going to Kavuma Bukunja when she actually experienced her labor pains. This woman Nakkungu Tebatuusa and her husband Nsubuga Sebwato delivered Twins who came out in form of water, with Sezibwa flowing west and flowing past several obstacles thus deriving its name, whereas Bwanda flowed eastwards towards Nyenga to the homeland of the mother. The stunning green vegetation, the waterfalls which are seven meters high, as well as the harmonious songs of the Bird in the trees all create a breathtaking scenery for a relaxing environment.
End of your 12 days Uganda gorilla safari