9 Day Wildlife, Chimpanzee & Gorilla Uganda Safari

After breakfast, meet and greet our company driver who will take you to Murchison Fall National Park via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. To escape the hustle and bustle of Kampala you will travel very early in the morning reaching Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary in the early morning. It is the only place in Uganda where you will be able to see the Rhinos in the wild. You will be joined by well trained rangers to take you through the bush where the Rhinos are found. A journey that takes between 1-2hours will give you an opportunity to watch the endangered Rhinos. The sanctuary has become increasingly popular with tourists; for Rhino Trekking, Shoebill Trekking and Canoe Ride, Bird Watching.

Later on Enter Murchison Falls National Park through Chobe gate where you will get an opportunity to enjoy the stunning landscape and beautiful vegetation on the Northern bank of the Park. You will reach your accommodation in the afternoon.

Lunch: Amuka Safari Lodge
Accommodation: Fort Murchison Lodge / Murchison River Lodge / Paraa Safari Lodge

Wake up early in the morning to explore the buligi tracks. Morning game drives are always rewarding as you get a chance to see the animals start their day, seeing the early risers and the nocturnal creatures going back to their hideouts, watching the predators hunt their prey. You will be joined by a knowledgeable Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger who is well versed with all corners of the park. Look out for large herds of elephants in the savannah, Jackson's heartbeast, Lions, buffaloes, kobs, waterbucks and Leopards if luck is on your side. At the end of the game drive you will be able to stop over at the Hippo Pool on the Victoria Nile where you will see the hippos wallowing. After the game drive your driver will take you back to your accommodation where you can rest.

After lunch, embark on a boat cruise to the bottom of the falls. This water safari gives you a chance to watch different birds and animals. Watch out for animals like the elephants, Buffaloes, Hippos and the Nile crocodile along the River bank. You will have a chance to see the mighty Nile squeeze its way through a narrow gorge 7metres wide before plunging 43 meters deep.

Top of the Fall Hike
You will then get off the boat to hike to the top of the falls, a journey that takes about 45minutes from the bottom of the falls. Go through the early explorers footmarks where the route is full of water logged areas, spot flying bird species, butterflies among other wildlife offering you great imagination of the pearl of Africa. At the top of the falls you will have an opportunity to take pictures of the mighty falls and also get a chance to view the sister falls to Murchison falls which is known as Uhuru falls.

Your driver will pick you up from the top of the falls and drive you back to your accommodation.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Fort Murchison Lodge / Murchison River Lodge / Paraa Safari Lodge

The second game drive presents you with yet another opportunity to lookout for the animals you might have missed on the first game drive. You can as well look out for large herds of elephants in the savannah, Jackson's heartbeast, Lions, buffaloes, kobs, waterbucks and Leopards.

After the game drive you will go back to your accommodation for lunch and later transfer to Hoima Cultural Lodge. This is the best place to spend an overnight when coming from Murchison falls National Park before embarking on your journey to Kibale National Park for Chimpanzee Tracking. It is strategically located in front of the King’s palace of Bunyoro Kingdom which makes it an ideal place to experience African Culture. You will arrive at Hoima Cultural Lodge in the evening. You can choose to relax or participate in the different cultural activities visiting the palace, the Mparo Tombs, participating in cooking the local African cuisine, engaging in activities such as Cultural dancing, interacting with the local community and talking to them about the Bunyoro culture.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Hoima Cultural Lodge

This morning you will transfer from Hoima Cultural Lodge to Kibale Forest National Park. You will break off for lunch in Fort Portal City before reaching Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary in the afternoon.

In the afternoon, your driver will take you to Bigodi Swamp for the Magombe Swamp Walk. A 4.5km long walk will take you through this important wildlife corridor of Kibale Forest and will take upto 3hrs. Bigodi Swamp is home to over 200 species of birds including Hornbills, Turacos, Kingfishers among others. Lookout for the 8 species of primates including the Black and White Colobus, Red Colobus, Red Tailed Monkey, Grey Cheeked Mangabey, Olive Baboon, L'hoest Monkey, Vervet Monkey and the Blue Monkey. Knowledgeable guides will take you through the lush vegetation. This is the best opportunity to view the wildlife from the forest pathways and boardwalks.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Kibale Forest Camp / Isunga Lodge / Primate Lodge

Have early morning breakfast and proceed to the park headquarters for a briefing about the dos and don'ts of the activity. After the briefing you will be assigned well trained ranger guides to help you get access to the forest. The activity may last for 3-4hours depending on the movement of the group you are trekking. The chimps are searched down by the visitors and once found you are always given a maximum of 1hour with our closest relatives. Observe them swing from one tree to another, feed and play. The trek may also reward you with sightings of other primates such as white colobus, grey cheeked mangabey, red tailed monkey, bush babies, L'Hoest monkeys. After the memorable encounter with the chimpanzees, return to your hotel for lunch and then get ready to travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Accommodation: The Bush Lodge / Marafiki Safari Lodge / Mweya Safari Lodge

Wake up very early in the morning for a game drive through Kasenyi track in Queen Elizabeth National Park. The area has a wide biodiversity of habitats that contains almost 100types of mammals and over 600 different bird species. Look out for wildlife such as lions, elephants, buffaloes, warthogs, leopards, Uganda mob, and many others. After the game drive, return to the hotel/lodge for late morning breakfast. After having your lunch, embark on a water safari on Kazinga channel. The Kazinga channel is said to contain the world's largest concentration of hippos. Have sightings of aquatic sitatunga antelope, crocodiles, hippos and other animals that visit the channel in search for food and water. If lucky enough you may even have sightings of the solitary leopard.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: The Bush Lodge / Marafiki Safari Lodge / Mweya Safari Lodge

After breakfast in the morning, check out and head to Bwindi through the southern part of the Park. This route will also reward you with sightings of different animal species most notably the tree climbing lions commonly seen in the Ishasha sector. To escape from the heat during the day, the lions learned how to climb the fig trees. If you're lucky you might spot a few during your game drive. Proceed to Bwindi for gorilla tracking. You may reach Bwindi in the afternoon.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Haven Lodge / Bakiga Lodge / Buhoma Lodge

After breakfast in the morning, it's time to seek and meet the mountain gorillas. It starts with a briefing at the park headquarters which should last for about 30minutes. This is the same meeting where you will be told about the "dos" and "don'ts" of this exceptional safari activity. You will be accompanied by an armed ranger and guide who have knowledge to locate where the gorillas are. As you journey to have an encounter with the mountain gorillas, you will definitely have amazing sights of the rolling hills and views of the Virunga volcanoes. The trek might take up to 8hours depending on the movement of the gorillas inclusive of one full hour of an encounter with the endangered primates.

After trekking, come back to the lodge and relax. Should you have the energy this afternoon, go for a village walk and see how Ugandans live in their community homestead. See how the Batwa people live, prepare food, collect their medicine from plants, roots and bark.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Haven Lodge / Bakiga Lodge / Buhoma Lodge

After breakfast, get on board for a scenic journey through the beautiful terrain of the rolling hills with terraced landscape, an area referred to as the "Switzerland of Africa". Observe the systematic cultivation of the Bakiga along the mountain slopes. Proceed to Kampala reaching the capital in the late afternoon. Drop off at the hotel / Entebbe airport for your departure.

Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodation: N/A