7 Days Uganda Safari, Gorillas, Wildlife & Chimps

Day-by-day itinerary

1. Day1
   

   Transfer to Kibale national park for a primate safari

   Early in the morning after breakfast, leave Kampala and proceed to Kibale National park. You will pass via the Lake Albert escarpments as you enjoy the good views of the lake. You will stopover in Hoima for your lunch and after proceed driving towards the park. You will also pass through the traditional villages and you enjoy the vegetation cover here which is ever green. Have a good time and also take some photos, approach fort portal and enjoy the foot hills of the Rwenzori mountains and then continue to Kibale National Park.

   This forest is 1100 -1600 m above sea level and it contains both montane and lowland forests with 13 primate species including the chimpanzees and monkeys including the red colobus monkeys as well as the rare L’Hoest’s monkeys. The park was gazetted in 1932 and established in 1993 to protect the then increasing number of animals and vegetation. The other species found in the park include; 250 tree species, 325 bird species, 13 primate species, 60 mammal species, and 14 wild fields.

   On your arrival at the park, you will visit the scenic crater lakes region and get chance to check out the terraced tea estates. Later on, proceed back to the lodge to relax for the evening and enjoy your dinner.

   Accommodation Options

   Luxury: Ndali Lodge

   Mid-range: Chimpanzee Forest Guest House

   Budget: Kibale Forest camp

   • Drive to Kibale
   • Ndali Lodge, Chimpanzee Forest Guest House or Kibale Forest Camp
   • Breakfast, lunch, dinner
2. Day2
   

   Chimpanzee trekking safari and Bigodi wetland visit

   Early in the morning after taking breakfast, you will go to the park headquarters where you will be briefed about chimpanzee trekking. By 8:00am, you will be starting your search for the chimpanzees within the park. These primates are the closest relatives to the human being and they share 98% of their DNA with that of the human beings. There are also many other primate species which will be seen along with the chimpanzees and these include; the L’Hoest’s monkeys, golden monkeys, Black and white colobus monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabey, red tailed monkeys, the bush babies, and many bird species which include; green breasted pitta, rumped tinker bird, yellow spotted nicator; this park is one of the great rain forest in Africa and it has the largest community of chimpanzees where by each community has 1 -100 individuals and each community has a complicated social structure.

   In the group, the adult males dominate the group and provide protection to the territory against the rest of the males from other territories. The chimps are located by simply listening for their pant hooting calls, and then head to the place from which they replied from. Here you can observe them as they feed, play as well as socializing with each other.

   Later in the afternoon, you will visit Bigodi swamp which is also good for watching primates and birds. It’s mainly maintained by the local people and they earn a living from there. You will enjoy many bird species here including; the great blue turaco, and many more, the other species to view here include; the baboons, mongoose, otters, bush pigs as well as the bush bucks.

   Accommodation Options

   Luxury: Ndali Lodge

   Mid-range: Chimpanzee Forest Guest House

   Budget: Kibale Forest camp

   • Chimps and Bigodi wetland
   • Ndali Lodge, Chimpanzee Forest Guest House or Kibale Forest Camp
   • Breakfast
3. Day3
   

   Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park

   Early in the morning after breakfast, you might opt for a nature walk in Kibale forest or decide to drive directly to Queen Elizabeth National park. The drive takes 3 hours and you will pass through fort portal and arrive at the park in the lunch hours, On your arrival, check in at the lodge and enjoy your lunch as you prepare to enjoy a game drive within the park, you will view many animal species including the birds, elephants, lions, buffalos, kobs, antelopes and many more.

   Queen Elizabeth is mainly famous for the many wildlife species and the kazinga channel which connects Lake George and Lake Edward. The park covers an area of 767 sq. miles and it’s a home to many bird species as well as crater lakes. After the game drive, return to your lodge for an overnight and dinner.

   Accommodation Options

   Luxury: Mweya safari lodge

   Mid-range: Kyambura Gorge

   Budget: Bush Lodge

   • Drive to Queen Elizabeth
   • Mweya Safari Lodge, Kyambura Gorge or Bush Lodge
   • Breakfast, lunch, dinner
4. Day4
   

   Morning game drive and a boat cruise

   We shall wake so early in the morning, proceed to the park to engage in an early morning game drive to view the early morning risers in kasenyi track, get chance to view many animals including; lions, elephants, solitary buffaloes, kobs, antelopes, etc. these animals can be viewed at a closer range. Return to the lodge for breakfast and lunch as you prepare to enjoy a boat cruise along the Kazinga channel, where your eyes will be fed with variety of water animals and birds. The wildlife species include; the crocodiles, hippos, buffaloes, pink backed pelicans, saddle billed stork, the malachite kingfishers. After, return to the lodge for your dinner and overnight.

   Accommodation options

   Luxury: Mweya safari Lodge

   Mid-range: Kyambura game lodge

   Budget: Bush Lodge

   • Game drive and boat cruise
   • Mweya Safari Lodge, Kyambura Game Lodge or Bush Lodge
   • Breakfast, lunch, dinner
5. Day5

   Transfer to bwindi for a gorilla safari

   Early in the morning after breakfast, drive towards the south of the park through the great shining Savannah vegetation and transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national Park via the Ishasha sector which is famous for the tree climbing lions. On your arrival at the park, check in at the lodge, enjoy lunch and after proceed for a late evening game drive within the park, get chance to view many animal species including; the antelopes, kobs, water buck, warthogs, elephants and many birds.

   Accommodation options

   Luxury: Mweya safari Lodge

   Mid-range: Kyambura game lodge

   Budget: Bush Lodge

   • Transfer to Bwindi
   • Breakfast, lunch
6. Day6
   

   Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Forest

   Have an early morning breakfast, and after proceed to the park headquarters to have a briefing about the dos and don’ts of gorilla trekking in Bwindi. The rangers will then accompany you to the rainforest to start your search for the gentle giants. This walk can sometimes be tough and it needs someone so strong. Trekkers are always advised to carry their rain coats and boots because the weather there is always unpredictable. There are also some porters who always help with the carrying of the luggage on behalf of the visitors but at a small cost. On sighting the gorillas, the rangers will guide you on how to handle them, especially by giving them a 6 meter distance as you enjoy them play around. It’s always not easy to predict how long gorilla tracking will take and this also depends on the location of some families since some of them are far from the park headquarters. However, it always takes 2 to 8 hours to come into contact with them and the rangers will always be there to guide you. Trackers are also advised to be physically fit before going for tracking. After your trek, return to the lodge for your lunch and in the afternoon, you may opt to visit the Batwa community to enjoy some cultural performances before retiring at your lodge.

   Accommodation options

   Luxury: Buhoma Lodge

   Mid-range: Silverback Lodge

   Budget: Buhoma Community Camp ground

   • Gorilla trekking
   • Buhoma Lodge, Silverback Lodge or Buhoma Community Camp
   • Breakfast, lunch
7. Day7

   Departure

   Breakfast in the morning and after start your journey back to Kampala, you will have a stopover at the equator for some photos and lunch at Igongo cultural center. You might also opt to visit the museum here and after proceed to Kampala reaching late afternoon.

   END OF SAFARI

   • Drive to Kampala
   • Breakfast, lunch