14 Days Uganda Gorillas And Adventure Safari

Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe & Transfer to Jinja

Arrive at Entebbe Airport early, meet the driver guide for a warm welcome into the Pearl of Africa. After, set off for 2-3 hours’ drive journey to Jinja city, Eastern Uganda and navigate via Mabira Forest. Get to the lodge early, have a leisurely lunch and enjoy great views of the surrounding areas. Late in the evening, you will set off for a sunset Nile boat ride on the River Nile in Jinja.

Day 2: Enjoy white water rafting & back to Kampala

Wake up early, after, meet the rafting experts for briefing about your adrenaline adventure, the dos and don’ts. Later, set off for action and you will be conquering the tough rapids till you get to the Source of Nile River. This will be done for half day, then you return for lunch and meet the driver guide to be transferred to Kampala for overnight stay at a classic accommodation.

Day 3: Walk with Rhinos in the wild & Murchison Falls N/Park

After breakfast, drive from Kampala via Luwero to Nakasongola for rhino tracking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. At Ziwa, you will spend 2 hours and you will be transferred to Masindi for lunch then have the last stop at Murchison Falls National Park. This is Uganda’s biggest park, a home to myriad of wildlife including the big game, primates, 451 bird species and powerful waterfalls. Driving from Kampala via Gulu highway to Murchison Falls National Park takes about 6 to 7 hours and today, you will access it via the Southern gate- Kichumbanyobo.

Day 4: Day game drive, launch trip & the top of the falls

Enjoy an early breakfast, after, leave for an exciting guided game drive 2-3 hours via the park’s Northern circuit. The game tracks here will reward you with astonishing sightings ranging from bush elephants, Rothschild giraffes, lions, warthogs, antelopes, leopards, hyenas, birds, buffaloes, etc.

When you return, get lunch and refreshments, then proceed for an afternoon boat cruise on the Victoria Nile afterwards. The 2-3 hours’ launch cruise expedition exposes you to hundreds of hippos, crocodiles, aquatic birds such as kingfishers, saddle billed storks, Egyptian geese, goliath heron, bee-eaters and more. An addition of 45 minutes’ trek to the top of Murchison Falls will be part of your today’s remarkable experiences, and you will observe how this powerful waterfall forces itself into a narrow gorge of 8m.

Day 5: 7-8 hours’ drive to Kibale via Hoima

After a hefty breakfast, you will leave Murchison Falls National Park and today, expect to spend long hours driving. But you will have view of the breathtaking rift valley escarpment, the homesteads, lush vegetation and more, then settle at Fort Portal for lunch and lastly, check in at the lodge at Kibale National Park.

Day 6: Trekking with Kibale chimpanzees, Bigodi swamp walk

Today is the D-day to encounter our closest relatives in the wild whose DNA is about 98% similar to ours. Chimpanzee trekking adventure begins with breakfast, then briefing at Kanyanchu visitor center and allocation of park guides. All this will be done within 30 minutes-1 hour and actual visit to see chimpanzees begins at 8:00am taking 2-4 hours.

When you come across Kibale chimp community, you will have 1 hour to observe some of the unique features of chimpanzees, their body gestures and taking pictures. Bigodi swamp walk will be done after lunch and you will have 2 hours of exploring birds like the Great blue turacos, primates, plus other mammal species.

Day 7: Drive to destination Queen Elizabeth National Park

Wake up early, breakfast be provided to you and after, check out and connect to Uganda’s second biggest park -Queen Elizabeth National Park. Evening relaxation, refreshment at your respective wilderness lodges.

Day 8: Day game drive Kasenyi & Kazinga channel boat trip

Breakfast early, after, set off before the sunrises to catch up with big game at Queen Elizabeth National Park; lions, leopards, buffaloes and elephants. Plentiful of antelopes, birds will be sighted, plus spotted hyenas, warthogs etc. Kasenyi game drive today will take 2-3 hours and you will return to enjoy lunch back in the lodge. In the evening, there will be a boat cruise along Kazinga channel, a long channel that links Lake George and Lake Edward. For 2-3 hours on a boat cruise, expect to see hippos, crocodiles, birds and other wildlife species.

Day 9: Destination to visit – Bwindi National Park

Leave the lodge early and drive through Ishasha where a short game drive will be done to let you enjoy view of the tree climbing lions and other species. From Ishasha, continue to the lodge at Bwindi for evening relaxation, dinner and a night stay.

Day 10: Gorilla trekking to see mountain gorillas

Set off from the lodge for briefing about gorilla trekking rules, but fully prepared for the long day trek to see mountain gorillas. Expected time to spend in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest varies from 2-6 hours and it covers one hour that is always given for a close encounter, photography. Once you get back, have lunch, relax and in the evening, visit the Batwa community for cultural encounter, entertainment, learning etc.

Day 10: Lake Bunyonyi

Enjoy a hefty breakfast, after, exit Bwindi and proceed to Lake Bunyonyi for a day excursion. Arrive early, check in at the lodge, relax and expect to go for an afternoon canoe ride taking you to one of the mysterious islands on Lake Bunyonyi. This is the deepest lake in the whole of Uganda and it is free of hippos, crocodiles meaning you will even freely swim.

Day 11: Lake Mburo

Enjoy breakfast early and after, head out to Lake Mburo National Park, a splendid Uganda National Park with lots of zebras, large number of antelopes such as elands, topis, impalas, etc. Expected activities to take part while at Mburo N/Park include a game drive, launch trip on Lake Mburo, horseback riding or cycling.

Day 12: Lake Mburo N/P Game drive & launch trip

Rise up early for breakfast and after, board a 4x4 drive car for a guided game drive in Lake Mburo N/Park. You will take 2-3 hours and expect to see a large population of animals such as elands, impalas, giraffes, lion, leopards, topis, birds, etc. A boat on Lake Mburo will be done in the afternoon, 2-3 hours and lots of hippos, crocodiles, aquatic birds will be at your exposure.

Day 13: Horseback riding/cycling & cultural encounter

After a cup of tea/coffee, head out and ride in the wild while seeing Lake Mburo National Park wildlife. Encounter zebras, elands, impalas, and more while on a horseback or cycling tour. In the evening, you will have the best of Ankole cultures, traditions, entertainment during the cultural tour/visit in the nearby local community.

Day 14: Get back to Kampala, en-route stopover at Equator

A hefty breakfast, after check out of the lodge and drive through the park while sighting some wildlife. Exit and drive back to Kampala/Entebbe and at Equator, you will have time to take pictures while standing on the Northern & Southern hemispheres.