12 Days Gorilla and Chimpanzee Safari-Uganda Safari Tour
This safari starts and ends in Kampala. On this pristine wildlife explorer safari in Uganda, a 4WD comfortable safari vehicle will be used to allow for a first-hand view of Uganda’s spectacular and varied landscapes with awesome wildlife thrown in to the mix. Major tour activities include Gorilla Trekking, primates tracking, game viewing drives, excellent birding, cultural excursions, launch cruise and nature walks among others.
Safari Overview
The 12 Days Uganda Gorilla Trek Tour gives you an opportunity to Ngamba Island to view the beautiful species of Chimpanzees, Bwindi Forest National park to track the majestic Mountain Gorillas, Queen Elizabeth National Park to view Wildlife animals enjoying their natural vegetation habitat as well as Kibale Forest National Park to tack the Chimpanzees in Uganda.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival-Ngamba Island
You will arrive at the airport to meet our guide who will transfer you to your lodge for an overnight. Depending on the time of arrival optional activity, Chimps at Ngamba Island visit Entebbe wild life sanctuary, Botanical garden, a city tour to visit some of the nice places in Kampala/markets . Dinner and overnight at Entebbe botanical beach / holiday express
Day 2: Transfer-Kibale Forest
Early in the morning have breakfast to drive to Kibale National Park. The drive will take you about 5 Hours to reach Fort Portal in the afternoon and have lunch en-route, connect to the lodge. In the afternoon you will go for a guided walk in Bigodi Swamp to look for the different bird species, fauna and flora which are rare. For birders expect birds like the Shining Blue Kingfisher and pied king fisher , the rare shoe bill, Blue Throated Roller , the great blue turracos, malkites fish eagle, and other rare species such as Hornbill, Narina Trogon, Yellow Spotted, Hairy Breasted and Yellow-Billed Barbets. Dinner and overnight at Attaco /Primates lodge. (FB)
Day 3: Chimpanzee Tracking-Kibale Forest
Morning breakfast depart for the chimp trek along the walks you may sport chimps, white colobus monkeys, , grey-checked mangabey, red colobus, black-and-white colobus, Baboons and chimpanzees bird species such as the great blu turacco, Africa pied king fisher , malkites. Can all be sported during the walk return for lunch, as you relax at the lodge, over night as a above
Day 4: Transfer to Queen-Launch cruise
Have breakfast to drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The drive will take you about 2 and a half hours following the mystical Rwenzori Mountain ranges most of the journey. You will have a game drive enroute as you transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park. You will reach in time for lunch to have lunch and then later in the afternoon go for a Launch cruise on the Kazinga channel that connects lakes Edward and George. The boat ride will reward you with game like hippos, buffaloes, elephants and plenty of birds on shores. For birders the park is known for its record of 210 birds’ a day.
Day 5: Game drive-Chimpanzees in Kyambura Gorge
Before sun rise have breakfast or a glass of juice and go for a game drive in the Kasenyi sector and the queens’ mile. The drive will reward you besides the chimpanzees with game like the Buffaloes, elephants, lions, leopards, white striped jackals, antelopes, Uganda Kobs, warthogs, bush bucks and others. You will retire from the game drive for late breakfast at the lodge. After the late breakfast you will have lunch and then transfer to the Kyambura gorge for chimpanzee tracking. Dinner and overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge / Mweya Institute of ecology.
Day 6: Transfer-Bwindi Forest National Park
In the morning have breakfast and then have a game drive en-route to through the Ishasha sector as you transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. You will reach in the afternoon and then go for a community walk or be entertained in some of the cultural dances of the Batwa /pigmies once the remaining shortest people in the world the country. These are offered on request. Dinner and Overnight at Gorilla Resort / Buhoma community Bandas.
Day 7: Gorilla Tracking
Following breakfast you will transfer to the park headquarters for the briefing before you set off at 9:00 am through the tracks to search for the humble giants. You will go with packed lunch because it’s hard to determine how long it will take you to meet these great apes. However the time ranges between 2-9 hours depending on the movement of the giant primates. The activity is tiresome, it involves walking along steep hilly tracks however encountering these great relatives of man erases all the poor memories/ hardships you went through in trying to find them. They are awe-inspiring! Dinner and overnight at Gorilla forest Camp / Buhoma community Bandas.
Day 8: Transfer to Rwanda
Proceeding breakfast you will be transferred to Rwanda to reach in the afternoon and have lunch at the Lodge and then visit the Dian Fossey tombs or the Rwanda genocide site or go for a city tour in Kigali town. Dinner and overnight at Gorilla Nest Lodge / Kinigi Guest House.
Day 9: Gorilla tracking- Volcanoes National park
In the morning have breakfast to go for spend some time with some of the few remaining Mountain gorillas. You will first go to the park headquarters for briefing and then and then set off trekking into the tropical rain forest searching for these great apes. The time taken before meeting these giants varies and it depends on their movement. However it ranges between 2-8 Hours therefore you must carry packed lunch. After tracking you will then drive to Kisoro. Dinner and overnight at Arcadia Cottages / Lake Bunyonyi overland Camp.
Day 10: Transfer-Kampala
Have breakfast and then drive back to Kampala to reach late in the afternoon. You will have lunch en-route and stop at the equator for photographs. Dinner and overnight at Holiday Express/ Air port view guest house
Day 11: Ngamba Island
Have breakfast and then transfer to Ngamba Island the Chimpanzee sanctuary .It is a home of 49 orphaned chimps. You will have a 45 minutes on speed boat ride or 1hr 30 minutes on the local engine boat to reach in time for feeding of the chimps such that you can view them well on a raised platform. Take phographys, snaps or videos you will have lunch at the Island and then later in the afternoon you may go for a nature/ forest walk along with chimpanzees. Later in the evening you will transfer to the main land. Dinner and overnight at at Holiday Express/ Air port view guest house
Day 12: Departure
After breakfast the guide will collect you from the hotel and transfer you to the air port for your departure flight
The quoted price includes
- A comfortable 4x4 safari vehicle, excellent for game viewing & photographing.
- Full time English speaking professional driver guide
- Agreed upon accommodation and meals stated
- All activities mentioned
- Chimps and Gorilla Permits
- Airport Transfers
Prices excludes
- Airfares
- Entry visas and airport taxes
- All personal expenditure such as laundry and drinks are excluded.