11 Days Uganda Gorillas, Chimps Trekking & Big Cats Tour

This 11 Days Uganda Gorillas, Chimps Trekking, Big 5 & Big Cats Tour trip will take you to Uganda's most spectacular highlights: safaris on the savanna, chimpanzees in a tropical forest, hippo viewing from the boat, and, of course, tracking the rare mountain gorillas. You will overnight in the best comfortable accommodations Uganda has to offer

Arrive in Uganda following the flight from your respective country of origin. You land at Entebbe International Airport which is the main gateway to Uganda where you will find a representative of your booked hotel and will offer you a courteous welcome.

The amazing weather and brightening atmosphere on the shores of Lake Victoria give you a remarkable first impression of Uganda. Connect to the respective hotel for  overnight stay.

Lodge: Karibu Guest House

Transfer from Entebbe to Murchison Falls National Park:

Early morning after breakfast, you will be picked from your hotel by our tour guide for a transfer to Murchison Falls National Park. Branch off at Ziwa Rhino sanctuary in Nakasongola to track the Rhinos and later continue to the park.

Arrive in Murchison falls with a visit to the top of the falls for a remarkable sight of the Nile crushing through a narrow gorge of 7m wide before plunging 43m deep into the devil’s cauldron. You will then drive to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay at your booked lodge.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Lodge: Fort Murchison

After a heavy breakfast, you will embark on an early morning game drive where you are likely to spot animals like Lions, buffaloes, waterbuck, Jackson’s hartebeest, Rothschild’s giraffe, oribi among others. 

After lunch set out for a 2-hour Launch Cruise (boat safari) on River Nile which sets off at Paraa, going upstream to the bottom of the Murchison Falls.

The boat ride offers an array of wildlife sightings - crocodiles, hippos, and lizards are a common sight throughout the cruise. Reaching the bottom of the Murchison Falls, you will leave the boat and set out for 45-minute hike rocks adjacent to the Murchison falls and thereby accessing great views of the falls at different spots along the trail.

Once reached the top you will find the tour guide waiting to drive you back to the lodge for dinner and overnight. You will have the opportunity to watch the sunset over the River Nile at dusk. 

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Lodge: Fort Murchison

After an early breakfast, you will depart for Kibale National Park. The drive goes through the Albertan Escarpment of the western arm of the East African Rift valley with dramatic views of Lake Albert, traditional homesteads and scenic views of the mountains of the moon. Reach Fort portal in the evening for dinner and overnight stay at your lodge.

Travel time: 6.5 hrs

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Lodge: Isunga Lodge

This morning go in search of chimpanzee near Kanyanchu. Chimps live in communities of about 100 individuals; learn about the physical and behavioral aspects we share in common. Check out more primates such the golden monkey, olive baboons, red Colobus, white and black Colobus monkeys, grey checked mangabey and blue monkeys. 

Later explore the atmospheric village of Bigodi accompanied by one of our professional English-speaking field-guides.

The walk will take up to 3 to 4 hours depending on the pace of the group. According to your interests, you will first visit a traditional healer who will happily share his knowledge about spirits, herbs, plants and local medicines. Secondly, the visitors will visit the homes of elderly men and women who tell interesting stories about birth, marriage, ceremonies, clans and their traditional life. Learn more about the history and issues that they face as a developing community of rural Uganda. Along the way, you will also be given the chance to experience the Ugandan school system, visit a local church and Bigodi’s trading centre, a hub of rural life and activity. The field-guides are ready to answer any questions during the walk.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Lodge: Isunga Lodge

Drive to Queen Elizabeth national park situated at the bottom of Mountain Rwenzori which is among the finest mountain ranges in the world.

On your way to the park you might see a number of wild animals plus birds since this park hosts approximately 100 species of mammals and an outstanding 606 species of birds.

Travel time: 3 hrs

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Lodge: Irungu Forest Safari Lodge

After early breakfast, depart to the beautiful Kyambura gorge for the chimpanzee trekking. The reserve is located on a 100m deep gorge, south of Queen Elizabeth Park and Lake Edward. 

Look out for the birds residing by the riverine swamps and forest such as herons, kingfishers, fish eagles, and much more. 

Return to the lodge for lunch and then go on the afternoon boat cruise on Kazinga channel. Drive back to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Lodge: Irungu Forest Safari Lodge

After a heavy breakfast, you will depart for Bwindi impenetrable national park- a home to half of the  endangered Mountain gorillas in the world. It is a scenic drive with an en route game drive in Ishasha sector that offers an opportunity of viewing the tree climbing lions at a closer range and later continue to Bwindi with lunch en route. Arriving in the evening for dinner and overnight stay at your booked lodge.

Travel time: 4 hrs

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Lodge: Engagi Lodge

Following the morning breakfast, depart to the starting point for briefing about your gorilla trekking adventure after which you will be led by experienced gorilla trackers on the slopes of the volcanoes. You will start from the site where the gorillas were encountered the day before and from here the gorilla tracking begins.

Although the hike can be physically demanding, the anticipation of the exciting experience ahead is amazing, and the beauty of the gorilla forest and its inhabitants are fascinating.

Later take walk around the lodge after lunch to visit the Batwa /Pygmy community to see how they live.

The batwa community walks in Bwindi take you to batwa local communities where you learn more about their forest life. It’s not just a conventional nature walk but an in-depth interaction which increase an understanding of who the batwa are. You may meet some small groups of batwa during gorilla trekking but a walk out to their homes is an amazing experience.

Dinner and overnight stay at your booked lodge.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Lodge: Engagi Lodge

After having breakfast, we shall take a scenic drive to Lake Bunyonyi taking you through the beautiful terrain of the rolling hills with terraced landscape. 

A short drive leads us to the beautiful Lake Bunyonyi where we can relax and enjoy some reflection time. With its fresh water, bilharzias-free and beautiful landscapes, Lake Bunyonyi is a small paradise for travelers.

After meeting our local guide for the day, we are led out for a canoe trek as well as bird watching on the beautiful Lake Bunyonyi, traversing to the gorgeous Kyabahinga peninsula. 

Here you will be gladly welcomed with songs plus dances by the resident school children. 

At a trading centre above the school you will be invited to a cup of the local brew, obushera. It will be unforgettable.

Our final stop on the ridge will be the home of Mrs Anna, a leader of a craft group. She will show us how local crafts are hand produced, and give you a chance to make some for yourselves. And, no, this is not for ladies only!

A descent down the hill and a short canoe ride will bring us back to our starting point  at 2 pm.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Lodge: Lake Bunyonyi Rock Resort

After an early breakfast, transfer to Entebbe for your flight back home. En route, we will stop at the Equator for photographs and ‘polar-water experiment', then local community crafts shops and fruit markets.

We will be in Entebbe in the evening before for your flight back home.

Meal plan: Breakfast & Lunch