10 Days of Gorillas and the Big 5 Safari in Uganda

The 9 Nights, 10 Days of Gorillas and the Big 5 safari in Uganda will include Gorilla Trekking, Chimpanzee Tracking, Bigodi Swamp Walk, Cultural experiences, Rhino tracking, Boat Safaris, Visit to the top of the Falls, Shoebill tracking, Night and Day game drives.

Day 1

Activity: Arrival at Entebbe International Airport

Duration: 15 Minutes

On arrival at Entebbe International Airport, your Guide will be waiting while carrying a placard written your names. Onto noticing, approach him or her and head to your accommodation. It is 10-15 minutes’ drive.

Accommodation: Imperial Heights Hotel Entebbe

Day 2

Activity: Shoebill and Rhino Tracking

Duration: 3-4 hours

shoebill tracking. In the morning after breakfast, at the time as advised by your guide, shoebill tracking will resume. Seated in a local canoe, passing through narrow path ways within the swamp of Mabamba, a variety of bird species will be encountered. Such birds are the pied Kingfishers, Malachite Kingfishers, different weaver bird species, Eagles, Jacanas, unique water plants like the colorful water lilies and of course the highlight of the activity; a Shoebill Stork! Known for its unique lifestyle of inhabiting in less oxygenated areas covered by thick marshes, you may be lucky to watch it hunt and catch fish as they come up to breath. This Dinosaur look-alike is rare to encounter as it is listed among the critically endangered birds but with higher chances of sighting in Uganda.

Rhino Tracking. It is a 2-3 hours’ drive to your next destination, as you arrive at the right time for lunch. You may relax for an hour or two before embarking on Rhino tracking. The activity involves a nature guided walk to view rhinos in their natural habitat. other animals to encounter are Giraffes, Zebras, Oribis, Warthogs (Pumba), Waterbucks, Uganda Kobs and Bushbucks among others. At Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, you are guaranteed of seeing Rhinos and up close!

Accommodation: Amuka Safari Lodge

Day 3

Activity: Top of the Falls and Sunset Boat Safari

Duration: Full day

Top of the falls. The Journey to Murchison falls National Park from Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary will take an estimate of 2 hours. Along the way, through the tropical forest of Budongo, Olive Baboons, Black and white Colubus Monkeys and other primate species are likely to be encountered. On arrival at the falls, the violent roar of the water gnashing through a narrow gorge of 7 meters wide and plunging 43 feet beneath, shaking of the ground and ever existing rainbow, will definitely leave you mesmerized of how the falls came to existence!

Sunset Boat safari. After lunch, the wildlife experience continues as you go for a boat safari on the mighty River Nile. During the safari, animals are encountered up close at the comfort of your seat. Animals like Elephants, Giraffes, Hippos, Crocodiles and a variety of colorful bird species are some on the list. The cruise takes 3 hours.

Accommodation: Pakuba Safari Lodge

Day 4

Activity: Cultural experience, Morning and Night Safari

Duration: 4-5 hours

Morning Safari. It resumes early at the time advised by your guide. The timing is critical because it is when you have better chances of encountering nocturnal animals, still active. Such animals are Lions and Hyenas. Other animals to encounter are Giraffes, Buffalos, Warthogs and Leopards. Later in the day you will retire to the lodge for Lunch and relax.

Cultural experience. The local people of the Acholi and Alur tribes of Packwach community provide authentic culture inherited from their great grandparents, for which you get to participate. Some of the activities are grinding millet and casava to produce flour using a local grinding stone, visiting their grass thatched homesteads, digging and witnessing various crops in their farmlands, traditional dances and craft making. Be rest assured of experiencing totally a different lifestyle from what you are used to.

Night safari. As the sun sets, preparations for the night safari commences. Escorted by a game ranger, with flash lights, you will head out in the wilderness in search of nocturnal animals. The experience is different as you get to witness how animals behave during the night whether Nocturnals or diurnal. Animals expected to encounter are Lions, Hyenas, Snakes, Jackals, Leopards, Giraffes, Buffalos, Elephants and nocturnal bird species like Owls and Night Jars among others.

Accommodation: Pakuba Safari Lodge

Day 5

Activity: Driving to Kibale National Park and Visiting the local Markets.

Duration: 6 Hours

After breakfast, the journey to Kibale National Park resumes. Along the way, scenic landscapes of the great rift valley, tropical rainforests, Tea plantations and local people waving at you out of excitement are some of the expectations to look out for. Lunch will be en route in a local restaurant serving both local and intercontinental dishes.

Local Market experience. After lunch before continuing your journey to the park, a visit to Mpanga market in fort portal city is worth your time. Local merchandise like Ground nuts, different kinds of bananas, Avocadoes, Pineapples, different species of fish both smoked and fresh, traditional clothing and crowds of people selling while others buying will be at your exposure. The atmosphere within the market is one to look out for!

Accommodation: Chimpanzee forest Lodge

Day 6

Activity: Chimpanzee Tracking, Bigodi Swamp Walk and Community experience

Duration: Full day

Chimpanzee tracking resumes at exactly 8: 00 AM by the park officials before being allocated a group of eight tourists and a Ranger Guide accompanied by armed personnel. When in the forest, its only an hour permitted to view Chimpanzees after locating them. Without doubt it’s an experience of another level, viewing chimpanzees in their natural habitat for whom we share DNA of 98.7%.

Bigodi Swamp Walk and Community experience. During Chimpanzee tracking, other primate species are not given priority. The swamp walk offers an opportunity of viewing other primates like black and white colobus monkeys, Red tailed, Red headed, Grey cheeked-mangambeys, Olive Baboons and a variety of bird species. The activity is conducted in a wet land surrounded by Bigodi community. It is from the swamp walk that you connect to the community for a local experience, such as visiting homes that are known for banana brewing to make banana juice, beer, wine and Gin. Visiting coffee farmlands and learning how it is planted, harvested, roasted, grinded into powder and a cup of coffee made for you is also inclusive. The use of different herbs to treat different diseases by traditional doctors that inherited skills from their grand parents is not to miss out too. At the time for lunch, a buffet of local dishes will be served to conclude our day. Dishes that are normally prepared are smashed green bananas, beans, Groundnut sauce, beef, Goats meat, cowpeas, local chicken, corn bread, rice, sweet potatoes and local vegetables among others.

Accommodation: Chimpanzee forest Lodge

Day 7

Activity: Boat Safari and Evening game Safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Duration: Full day

Boat Safari. It is 3 hours’ drive from Kibale National Park to Queen Elizabeth National Park. On arrival, an early lunch will be served and embark on a boat safari at Kazinga Channel. The 40-kilometer-long channel joining 2 lakes, namely; Edward and George, is famously known for high populations of Hippos than any other waterbody in the world, Elephants, Buffaloes, Nile crocodiles, Nile Monitor Lizards, Giant Forest hogs and a high population of bird species like Kingfishers, Eagles, Egrets, Herons and Vultures among other cocktail of attractions! Animals are encountered up-close as they drink and swim in the water.

Evening safari. The fun will continue from the boat to the game safari in search of other land mammals that you may have not encountered. Animals to look out for are Lions, Leopards, Waterbucks, warthogs and of course more birds since the park boosts of the highest population of bird species than any other park in Africa.

Accommodation: Enganzi Game Lodge

Day 8

Activity: Game Safari in Ishasha and drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Duration: Full day

Ishasha sector in Queen Elizabeth National Park is famously known for the tree climbing lions which is a rare behavior that was adopted by lions as a survival instinct. It is 2 hours’ drive from the northern part of the kazinga plains that you will be driving from, through the park while viewing other wildlife like Hippos, Elephants, birds, Buffalos and scenic landscapes of various vegetation covers. On arrival at Ishasha, the search for the tree climbing lions will commence. The search takes place in areas covered by fig trees for which they always climb to find a shade away from the scorching sun, irritating bugs and better view of the far horizon that is hindered by long grass when on ground. It is as well the southern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park that boarders Virunga national Park of Congo separated by river Ishasha. No better place to have a picnic lunch than this while viewing the duo citizen Hippos! After the game drive, the journey will continue to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Accommodation: Buhoma Community Haven Lodge

 Day 9

Activity: Gorilla Tracking

Duration: 2-6 hours

 The day resumes with early breakfast before attending briefing from the Ranger guide. Your driver guide will have briefed you on the eve of the tracking day, requirements of the activity like the dressing code, carrying a passport copy with you, face musk, packed lunch, rain gear and enough drinking water. Depending on the location of the Gorilla group allocated, you may trek for an hour or four in the jungle with one hour of viewing after locating them. Hiring a porter is highly recommended so as to help in carrying your backpack to relieve you of extra weight and concentrate on walking fully through the dense jungle. It is as well one way of supporting the community surrounding the park to earn a living. It looks like hard work not until you encounter these adorable gentle giants that we share DNA of 98%. It is an experience that is almost indescribable due to the overwhelming joy! Viewing Gorillas is like visiting a cousin! This is because of how they Handle themselves just like humans. Depending on your wish, later in the afternoon, you could visit “Ride for a Woman,” an organization that empowers women through craft making, Tailoring and basket weaving.

Accommodation: Buhoma Community Haven Lodge

Day 10

Activity: Domestic flight to Entebbe International Airport

Duration: 1:30 hours

At a communicated check-in time by the domestic airline, your Guide will drive you to Kihihi airfield and bid farewell after taking your flight. Depending on the schedule of your international flight back home, either a day room will be organized in Entebbe city for your comfort or connect to your flight from the airport.

Thank you for Travelling with us!