Safari overview
The 10 Days Uganda primate and wildlife safari adventure by Travel Gorge Tours takes you the best game parks in the country where you will enjoy a very large number of adventurous safari activities such as exploring the powerful Murchison falls, tracking Chimpanzee – man’s closest living relative, boat cruise on river Nile – the longest river in the world, catching sight of Africa’s big five animals that include rhinos, large elephant herds, buffaloes, lions (including the tree climbing lions of Ishasha – if lucky) and finally tracking the endangered mountain gorillas of Bwindi impenetrable Park.
Day 1: Transfer to Murchison Falls NP – Visit Zziwa Rhino sanctuary
Day 2: Morning game drive – Launch cruise on the Nile
Day 3: Full day drive to Kibale National Park
Day 4: Chimpanzee Tracking – Visit Bigodi wetland sanctuary
Day 5: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national Park – Launch cruise on the Kazinga Channel
Day 6: Morning Game drive – explore Ishasha Sector
Day 7: Transfer to Bwindi National Park – en route stops
Day 8: Mountain Gorilla Trekking – Cultural visit to Batwa Pygmies
Day 9: Drive to Lake Mburo national park
Day 10: Departure
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Transfer to Murchison Falls NP – Visit Zziwa Rhino sanctuary
Early pick up from your hotel by the driver-guide right after breakfast. You will drive north westwards to the Murchison falls national park. This is the largest game park in Uganda and prides in a very large number of different wild animals, birds as well as the elegant yet powerful Murchison falls found on River Nile which flows through this game park. Before arriving in the park you will stop by the Zziwa rhino sanctuary where you will get an opportunity to track the white rhinos, as well as make an en-route stopover for lunch in Masindi.
Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation Options: Paraa safari lodge (luxury), Pakuba lodge (Midrange) and Redchilli campsite (budget)
Day 2: Morning game drive and afternoon Launch cruise on the Nile
After an early breakfast, set out for an early game drive led by the driver guide. You will explore various tracks and get a chance to see different early risers, predators and grazers. Some of the animals you will encounter in the game driver include: buffaloes, elephants, lions, giraffes, several antelopes and a large variety of bird species. You will return for lunch at your accommodation and in the afternoon head out on a launch cruise on River Nile to the bottom of the Murchison Falls. You will see very many hippos, birds like the shoebill stork and giant Nile crocodiles before finally arriving at the bottoms of the falls. You will be stunned by the view of the waters of the river Nile squeezing through a small seven meter gorge and powerfully drop below over a 43 meter height. It is a breathtaking view!
Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation Options: Paraa safari lodge (luxury), Pakuba lodge (Midrange) and Redchilli campsite (budget)
Day 3: Transfer to Kibale National Park
following breakfast at the lodge, you checkout and then begin the long 8 to 9 hour drive to Kibale National Park found in southwestern Uganda. The drive will take you through the beautiful countryside with lunch en-route.
Meal plan Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation Options: Kyaninga lodge, or Crater Safari Lodge (luxury), Primates lodge (Midrange) and Chimpanzee guest house (budget)
Day 4: Chimpanzee Tracking – Visit Bigodi wetland sanctuary
The driver guide will transfer you to the park headquarters after an early morning game drive. There you will be briefed about the dos and don’ts of chimpanzee tracking before setting out in their habitats divided in groups of 8 people. The park guides will lead you on an expedition in the forest as search for the chimps during which you will encounter other primates like the red colobus, black & white colobus, grey checked mangabeys and the olive baboons. It may take 2 to 4 hours before finally meeting them. You will observe them and also take photographs before returning for lunch at your accommodations.
after lunch, transfer to the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary where you will and explore its rich variety of wildlife that includes various plant species, animals, butterflies such as the rare Sitatunga, primates like the red colobus monkeys and birds including the Great Blue Turaco. Later return to your accommodation for dinner and the overnight.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation Options: Kyaninga lodge, or Crater Safari Lodge (luxury), Primates lodge (Midrange) and Chimpanzee guest house (budget)
Day 5: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park – Launch cruise on the Kazinga Channel
In the morning you will have breakfast and then transfer at leisure to Queen Elizabeth national park found further south. You will visit the crater-salt lake where you will encounter large numbers of animals and birds which normally converge there to lick salt. On arrival in the park, you will check into your accommodation where you will have lunch, a short rest and in the afternoon have an amazing launch cruise on the Kazinga channel where you will watch the beautiful sunset, hippos, elephants and buffalos in addition to several birds and lizards.
Meal Plan: breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Accommodation options: Katara Lodge, or Mweya safari lodge (Luxury), or Park View Lodge, or Enganzi Lodge (Midrange)
Day 6: Morning Game drive – explore Ishasha Sector
After breakfast, go for a morning game drive to see some of the animals within the park. You will explore the kasenyi area and see various predators and herbivores including buffaloes, the Uganda kobs, lions, antelopes and elephants.
Have lunch back at the lodge and then proceed to the Ishasha area found in the southern area where you will search for the tree climbing lions in addition to the other wildlife. Later in the evening returning to your accommodation for dinner and the overnight
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation options: Katara Lodge, or Mweya safari lodge (Luxury), or Park View Lodge, or Enganzi Lodge (Midrange)
Day 7: Transfer to Bwindi National Park
This will be your final day in Queen Elizabeth national park. After breakfast, you will drive further south to Bwindi National Park, home of the mountain gorillas. Listed as one of the endangered species on the planet, there are less than 1000 gorillas remaining in the world today and these can only be seen in Uganda, Rwanda and D.R. Congo. Uganda has the largest number of gorillas in the whole world totaling to about six hundreds of them. Along the way, you will have a final game drive in the Ishasha area before finally arriving at your accommodation where you will have dinner and spend the night.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation Options: Buhoma Lodge, or Mahogany Springs Lodge, or Chameleon Hill Lodge, or Gorilla Forest Lodge (luxury), Bwindi jungle lodge, or Rushaga Gorilla Camp, or Silverback Lodge (Midrange)
Day 8: Mountain Gorilla Trekking – Cultural visit to Batwa Pygmies
Very early morning you will transfer to the headquarters of the park where you will be briefed by the ranger-guided about the guideline of the gorilla trekking activity. In groups of eight people you will begin the forest search for the gorillas led by the guides. The duration of the trek depending on the movement of the gorillas’ movements however the ranger guides will have an idea of where the gorillas will be. You will be allowed time to observe them feed, play, cater for the young and marvel at the huge dominant silverback who will most likely be seated alone observing you and his gorilla family. Photography is also allowed but please remember to keep you camera flash off.
Return to you accommodation for lunch and later in the afternoon visit the pygmy community of the Bata people who formerly shared the Bwindi as their home with the gorillas. You will be entertained by traditional songs, dances and drama and later return to your accommodation for dinner and the overnight.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation Options: Buhoma Lodge, or Mahogany Springs Lodge, or Chameleon Hill Lodge, or Gorilla Forest Lodge (luxury), Bwindi jungle lodge, or Rushaga Gorilla Camp, or Silverback Lodge (Midrange)
Day 9: Drive to Lake Mburo national park / Horseback riding
After breakfast, the driver guide will transfer you to Lake Mburo national park found in mbarara district. This is the smallest savannah national park in Uganda, and it has very old metamorphic rocks that date more than five hundred million years ago. There is also a variety of animals such as the hyenas, zebra, elands, topi, Defassa waterbucks, impalas, buffaloes, oribi and hippos, in addition to leopards and hyenas.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation Options: Mihingo Lodge or Mantana tented camp (luxury), Arcadia lake lodge, or Rwakobo Rock, or Mburo safari Lodge (Midrange), or Mpogo Lodge (budget)
Day 10: Morning Game drive and Departure, end of Safari
This will be the final day of our primate and wildlife safari – best of Uganda. After a nice breakfast at the lodge, you will have a game drive in Lake Mburo national park, have lunch and then begin the journey back to Kampala having lunch along the way and making stopovers at the Uganda equator. The driver guide will drop you either at your hotel in Kampala or to the airport for your departure flight.
Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch
Tour includes:
Full board accommodation as per itinerary
All meals indicated in the itinerary
Service of an English-speaking driver guide
Ground transport in a 4WD safari Vehicle
Bottled drinking water in the car
Game drives
Chimpanzee trekking permits
Gorilla trekking permits
Park entrance fees
Boat rides
Tour excludes
Personal expenses on drinks, telephone, laundry etc
Tips to porters and driver/ guide
Insurance
Airfares
All activities mentioned as optional