7-Day Wildlife, Gorillas and Chimpanzee tracking Safari

Duration

7 Days | 6 Nights

Tour Type

Primates & Wildlife

Price

From $2300

Overview

This package will enable you to tour Uganda’s most spectacular national parks. This tour includes rhino trekking in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, and other African big game such as lions, elephants, buffalos, leopards, and hippos among various wildlife and birds on a game drive and a boat cruise in Murchison Falls which is also a home for the world’s most powerful waterfall. Chimpanzees tracking in Budongo Forest and finally, the mountain gorillas trek and end at the scenic Lake Bunyonyi.

Included

  • Park fees (For non-residents)
  • Gorilla permits (One per person, non-resident)
  • All activities (Unless labeled as optional)
  • All accommodation (Unless listed as upgrade)
  • A professional driver/guide
  • All transportation(Unless labeled as optional)
  • All Taxes/VAT
  • Roundtrip airport transfer
  • Meals(As specified in the day-by-day section)
  • Drinks (As specified in the day-by-day section)

Not Included

  • International flights (From/to home)
  • Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
  • Tips (Tipping guideline US$10.00 pp per day)
  • Personal items (Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
  • Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
  • Some meals(As specified in the day-by-day section)

Day by Day Activities.

Day 1: Transfer to Murchison Falls via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

Welcome to the day one of the gorilla and chimpanzee tracking in Uganda. Early in the morning, the driver will pick you up from your hotel or airport and brief you before heading out to Murchison Falls which is in the northern part of Uganda. Along the way, you will make a stop at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary in Nakasongola where rhinos are being reintroduced to the wild in Uganda. You’ll have a complete feel of the African Big Five mammals, as it is the rhinos, out of the Big Five that are missing in Murchison Falls National Park. Here you will go for a trek around the sanctuary on foot. You will have lunch at the sanctuary and some relaxation for an indefinitely short time and embark on an exciting road trip to Murchison Falls, arriving in the evening. After checking in at the lodge, your safari guide will lead you for the game drive in Murchison Falls National Park on the lookout for the like lions, hyenas, and leopards among others. Proceed back to the lodge for relaxation and dinner.
Meal plan: All meals are included.

Day 2. Morning Game Drive- Boat Cruise and Hike to the Top of the Falls

After an early morning warm-up tea/coffee, you will transfer for a game drive to the northern bank in search of animals like lions, giraffes, oribis, elephants, Jackson’s hartebeests, Uganda kobs, and buffaloes among other animals and bird species. You will then return to the lodge in time for lunch and relax preparing for yet an exciting activity in the afternoon. After lunch, transfer for a 3-hour boat ride on the Nile River to the bottom of the falls. Here you will have the opportunity to view animals such as crocodiles, and hippos, in the water and some on the river banks. Buffaloes, waterbucks, and elephants are often seen on the river bank grazing and drinking water. You will then have to hike to the top of the falls for a clear view of the falls. Return to your lodge for a relaxed evening, dinner, and overnight stay.
Meal plan: All meals are included.

Day 3. Chimpanzees Trekking in Budongo Forest

Wake up early and go for the briefing at the forest offices. You will be allocated a group and a ranger to be your leader. Chimpanzee tracking in Budongo Forest can take up to 5 hours. You are allowed only 4 days tour and one hour with the chimps. Chimpanzee trekking in Budongo is special because it has fewer crowds and there are higher chances of interacting with international researchers for more information about the primates. Budongo forest is also one of the best places for birding in Uganda. While tracking the chimpanzees, watch out for the birds, other smaller primates, and the ancient mahogany trees. Later, you will transfer back to your lodge for relaxation and an overnight stay.

Day 4. Transfer from Murchison Falls to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Enjoy an early morning breakfast at the lodge and embark on the drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park. You will appreciate the beautiful scenery of this countryside which makes your journey more exciting and lovely. We shall have a stopover at the Fort Portal town for lunch and proceed to the park as we will have great views of the Rwenzori Mountain Ranges.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 5. Gorilla Tracking And Transfer To Lake Bunyonyi

Have an early morning breakfast and have a short drive to the briefing point. Enjoy the biggest highlight of this tour. Gorilla trekking may last for about 3 to 6 hours depending on the gorilla family you’re assigned to visit. You will trek through the rainforest and bamboo-covered slopes, escorted by the ranger guide and other guest trackers, on the lookout for the mountain gorillas.

The trekking can sometimes be hard and long, but as soon as you catch a glimpse of the beautiful silverback, any discomforts will be forgotten. As a result of the nature of the activity, you will eat packed lunch in the forest. After mountain gorilla trekking, you will embark on the drive to the scenic Lake Bunyonyi. Alongside canoeing, there are a lot of optional activities like swimming, hiking highland trails along the lake shores, nature walks, and having a chance to associate with local people with small residents and exotic bird species singing. Your dinner and overnight stay is at the lodge.

Day 6. Tour Lake Bunyonyi

Wake up and take your breakfast as you prepare for a day full of fun. The first thing to do is enjoy the beautiful sounds of birds in the morning. There’s an amazing collection of birds including the African harrier, egrets, grey-crowned cranes, hawks, herons, and the white-tailed blue monad among many others.
Afterwards, proceed for a boat ride or canoeing. You will be taken to visit the beautiful islands where you will get even better views of the lake, surrounding areas, rolling hills, and terraces.

Most of the islands are named after the dominant bird species there. One particular island is known as the punishment island. The Bakiga tribe living in the area once had a cruel culture of abandoning all girls who got pregnant before marriage on this particular island.

They were left there to die since most couldn’t swim. Most of the girls were eventually rescued by the men who had impregnated them or bachelors who couldn’t pay the bride price required by parents of virgins.

Day 7.Transfer to Kampala City or Entebbe Airport via the Equator Line

After breakfast, check out of the lodge and embark on the boat ride to the mainland. You will later get set to Kampala with a stopover along the way for lunch and at the Equator to take photographs and purchase some souvenirs. After your lunch, you will continue to Kampala or Entebbe Airport.
Meal plan: Breakfast and lunch.

INQUIRIES