Gorilla trekking is one of the most rewarding moments which you are not supposed to miss While on your safari in Uganda and East Africa at large. This 10 days best of Uganda gorilla safari will take you to the best places whereby you will explore the city of Kampala and see it’s geographical location and its attractions, you will visit national parks such as Murchison falls national Park, kibale, queen Elizabeth national Park, Bwindi impenetrable national Park and visit the Bigodi swamp.
Additionally, the above attractions will bring you to experiences such as city tour in Kampala, game drives in Murchison falls national Park and queen Elizabeth national Park, boat cruise on Albert nile and Kazinga channel, chimpanzee trekking, bird watching and tea experience in kibale and gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Transfer from Entebbe and city tour in Kampala.
As soon as you arrive at Entebbe international airport, you will be welcomed by your driver guide who will give you a short briefing of the Safari. The briefing will mainly consist of the rules and regulations to follow while on your safari and after you will drive heading to Kampala capital city where you will visit many places such as kabaka’s palace, the Queen’s clock, Nakasero central market which is the oldest market in Kampala and Uganda in particular. While in this tour, you will buy some drinks, snacks and souvenirs which will make you remember your safari. After drive to your booked hotel in Kampala for your dinner and night stay.
Day 2: Transfer to Murchison falls national Park and Rhino trekking
Wake up early in the morning and have your breakfast at the hotel and after drive heading to Murchison falls national Park a journey taking 5-6 hours. As you are driving to the park, you will have a stopover at Ziwa Rhino sanctuary where you will see one of the big five animals, rhino. At this place you will have an option of taking photos and then after you will proceed with the journey to your booked lodge late in the evening as you check in for your dinner and rest abit as you prepare for your next activity the following day.
Day 3: Morning game drive and evening boat cruise
Have your well served morning dish and head for a morning game drive in Murchison national Park. During this drive, there are high chances of spotting animals like giraffes, African elephants, hartebeest, buffalos and some bird species since the park is a home for over 400 birds. Return back to the lodge for lunch and then do the following activity in the evening.
In the evening, prepare yourself and head for a boat cruise which is mostly done on Albert Nile. During this experience, you will have a chance of seeing how the water forces it self out of the rocks and again you will have a look of animals such as hippos, crocodiles and cobras. Having done with the experience, drive back to the lodge and have your dinner and rest.
Day 4: Transfer to Kibale national Park and tea experience
Wake up early in morning and have your breakfast at your lodge and after drive to the primate capital of the world, Kibale national Park a journey taking 1-2 hours’ drive. On your way to the lodge, you will have a stopover in Hoima where you will buy some fruits from the markets and other things you may need during your safari Arriving at the lodge in the midday. Have your lunch and prepare for your next activity in the evening.
In the evening, a guide from Isunga cultural community will give you a quick briefing and then take you for a tea experience which normally takes 1-2 hours. During this experience, you get to know how tea is planted, pruned, harvested and all other practices done on tea. Drive back to the lodge and have rest and night stay
Day 5: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi swamp
Have your breakfast early in the morning and drive heading for one of the most interesting experiences ever. Drive to the park headquarters from where you will get permission to go for trekking and after head to the starting point where you will be given a ranger guide who will brief you about this experience. After briefing, you will enter the forest and start looking for these primates. Trekking normally takes 3-4 hours and when you reach on them you will be allowed a maximum of one hour in their presence seeing them jumping from one tree to another, grooming as you are also taking photos. Drive back to the lodge for lunch.
After having done with your lunch, you will drive to bigodi swamp where you will have high chances of spotting eight of the 13 primates of Kibale national Park. While here, you will also spot some bird species such as the great blue turacos, green breasted pitta, black and white casquet hornbills and many more. Drive back to your lodge for rest and dinner.
Day 6: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national Park and game drive
On this sixth day of your safari, you will have your breakfast at your lodge and immediately you will drive heading to Queen Elizabeth national Park taking 2 to 3 hour’s drive. You will have a stopover at equator for photographs on two parts of the world and particularly the north and south hemispheres at the same point. This national park is amazing hence being the most visited national park in Uganda. Thus, means that it will be crowded with different tourists from allover the world. Queen Elizabeth National Park is known for the homing the rare tree climbing lions. Have an evening game drive where you will spot wild animals like elephants, Uganda mobs, Buffalos, hyenas and many more others. Proceed to your booked lodge where you will have your dinner and night stay
Day 7: Morning game drive and evening boat cruise at Kazinga channel
Enjoy your well served morning breakfast at your lodge and then head for your morning game drive from where you will explore many things such as the rare tree climbing lions which are mostly spotted in Ishasha sector and other animals such African elephants, spotted hyenas, giraffes and other animals which will make your drive enjoyable. Drive back to your lodge and have your lunch.
In the evening, prepare yourself for an evening boat cruise. This activity is mostly done on Kazinga channel where you be with high chances of spotting crocodiles, hippos and some water birds around such as Kingfishers, doves and other interesting things which will make your safari colourful. After finishing your boat cruise, drive back to your lodge and have your dinner and rest.
Day 8: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national Park Via Ishasha sector
Have your well served morning dish at your lodge and then drive heading to Bwindi impenetrable national Park taking 5-6 hour’s drive. Pass via Ishasha sector since it’s the nearest point to Buhoma sector of Bwindi National Park. You will spot the rare tree climbing lions resting in the tree branches. You will have a short stopover at any of the points on the way to stretch your legs and arms and then proceed with the journey. The park is one of the few parks known to home the endangered mountain gorillas which calls you for trekking. Drive back to your lodge and rest.
Day 9: Half day Gorilla trekking
This is the day you have been waiting for a long time. You will wake up early in the morning to catch up with time and have your breakfast after your driver guide will drive you to the park headquarters where you will get permission to start trekking. After you drive to the starting point where you be given a ranger guide who will brief you shortly about the trek. This briefing will mainly consist of the dos and don’ts to follow on a trek and then the trek will start officially and it mostly take 2-8 hours depending on the movements of these animals.
This is so because they tend to move high in the mountains hence calling for you to carry enough drinking water, pack energy giving foods and come with your hiking/gumboots to help you when hiking high in mountains where these endengered mountain gorillas hide. After reaching on them, you are given an hour in their presence as you are taking photos and seeing their behaviors and after you go to the headquarters for your gorilla trekking certificate. Drive back to your lodge and have your dinner and night stay.
Day 10: Fly back home after a drive to Kampala and stopover at Igongo cultural center and equator point
Being your last day of your great safari, you will wake up early in the morning and have your breakfast at your lodge and drive to Kampala. You will have a stopover at Igongo cultural center where you will buy some local made crafts and proceed with your journey having your second stopover at the equator in kayabwe for photographs on two parts of the world and lunch. Proceed with the journey to Entebbe international airport and fly back home and this marks the end of the safari