Gorilla Safari Uganda and Rwanda, Africa Gorilla Trip
DAY 1 AIRPORT PICK UPS
A guide from Adventure Africa safaris will pick you up from the airport and transfer you to your Hotel in Kampala . As he drives you, he will brief you on how your tour will be and depending on your time of arrival, he will take you to various forex burueals so that you can change your money to Uganda shillings. After , he will take you around for a city tour for visits to various historical and cultural sites of Kampala Uganda’s Capital renown for its seven Hills. Among the places you will visit includes,
The Uganda Museum; this is a display of Uganda’s cultural heritage where on can see ethnological and natural-historical exhibitions. It is a clear reminder of the country’s gaudy past, The Bahai Temple; it’s called ‘MashriquI-Adhkar’, the Persian translation of the drawning place of the praise of God. It is also known as a mother temple of Africa.
The Kasubi Tombs; this is a burial place for the Buganda Kings. Overnight at
Speke Hotel/Hotel Africana/
Holiday Express Hotel (BB)
Day 2 TO MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK
Having taken breakfast, you will depart for Murchison Falls National Park arriving in the afternoon. The drive will take approximately 5-6 hours and will give you a good insight on the Ugandan way of life. You will stop at Masindi for Lunch and then proceed to the top of the falls. You will driven to the brim of the water and see it plunging in the gorge from a 50 meters wide gorge down to a 7 meters gorge This is a fantastic site. Here the From here we will continue on, taking a ferry across the river to Paraa Safari Lodge if you took the luxury package . Those staying in Nile safari camp and any othetr lodges will not cross the ferry today . Dinner and over night at
Paraa safari Lodge or Nile safari camps High end
Sambiya River lodge Mid range
Red Chillis camp basic ( DB)
Day 3 CHIMP TRACKING IN KANIYO PABIDI AND THE LAUNCH CRUISE ON THE VICTORIA NILE
After breakfast, we will go for a morning Chimpanzee tracking in Kaniyo Pabidi Forest. This is an undisturbed area of natural forest within Budongo Forest Reserve where you can walk beneath mature mahogany and iron wood trees. Chimpanzee tracking is the most famous activity. You will definitely see many forest birds, including the chocolates-backed Kingfisher, the white-thigh hornbill, the chocolates-backed Kingfisher and puvel’s illadopsis found nowhere else in East Africa. Have Lunch and transfer to the Nile River banks for an after noon launch cruise. Overnight at a Luxurious
Paraa safari Lodge or Nile safari camps High end
Mid range Sambiya River lodge Mid range
Basic Red Chillis camp basic ( DB)
Day 4 WILDLIFE SAFARI IN MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK
After a cup of coffee to gain warmth, you will be transferred to the northern part of Murchison falls National Park for a game drive. The guide will explain more about each encounters like Giraffes, Elephants, Buffaloes, Bushbucks, Lions, and a variety of bird species. Retrun to the lodge for a nap and a mid morning breakfast before you proceed for an afternoon launch cruise to the bottom of the falls of the mighty Murchison falls where menacing water escapes from the narrow gorge, an opportunity to see the amazing hippos, crocodiles, water birds along the river banks enabling a wonderful birding safari. Overnight at your lodge.
Day 5 KIBALE NATIONAL PARK
Have breakfast then depart with our packed lunch to Kibale National Park. This scenic drive takes 8- 9 hours. We will pass via the Albertine escarpment. On a clear day, the view on the top of the Albert rift is fantastic. Have lunch en route and arrive Fortpoartal in the late Afternoon. Dinner and overnight at a
Luxurious Ndali Lodge/ Primates Lodge /
Mid range Rwenzori View Guest House/
Budget Kanyankyu Ecological Bandas (FB)
Day 6 CHIMPANZEE TRACKING
We will wake up early and depart to Kanyankyu tourists centre for clearance and briefing from the Ranger guides before we head to the forest for our next activity Chimpanzee tracking. This is the most popular walk of Kibale’s walks and it starts at 0800 hours and lasts for 2-3 hours depending on the time you take to encounter chimpanzees. Though you will be searching for these habituated chimpanzees, you will encounter other primates like the Black and white Colobus Monkeys’ Chimpanzees are more closely related to humans than to any other living creature, are tremendous fun to watch as they squabble and play in fruiting trees while they hunt for monkeys to prey on. The incredibly diverse forest is home to over 13 species of primates including red Colobus monkey, the rare L’Hoest, blue monkey, grey mangabey, pottos, black faced vervet monkeys, baboons and also bush babies. A system of shady forest trails offers much to pleasure botanists and butterfly lovers, while birders are in for a treat with 335 species recorded including the endemic Prirogrine’s ground thrush. The elusive forest elephant, smaller and hairier than her savannah counterpart, moves seasonally into the developed part of the park to search for a Elephants food that grows in the swampy area of this forest , while other terrestrial mammals include giant forest hog, buffalo among others Overnight at a luxurious at your lodge
Day 7 TO SEMLIKI WILDLIFE RESERVE
Wake up very early in the morning and leave for Semliki Wildlife Reserve; this scenic drive will take you down the eastern side of Lake Albert. Semliki reserve is situated in the basin of the Western Rift Valley. It is one of the most diverse habitats in Africa with wonderful examples of borassus palm forest, Riparian forest , gallery rain forest and short and high grass savannas. Semliki is one of Africa’s most biodiverse forest. It is particularly well known for its varied bird population. It is one of Africa’s most ancient Forests popular because of having survived the dry conditions of the last ice age 12-18000 years ago with Bwindi when most of the forests shrank and that is how it managed to protect some species that like the arid apocalypse until they eventually managed to emerge to re colonize a better wetter world. Chimps exist next to elephant, lion and buffalo as well as the usual western Uganda species. Following dinner we will go on a night drive. This is the only place in Uganda where you can do a spot lit night drive. You never know what you may see. Often the big cats are sighted as well as the diminutive genet and serval cats. Unusual nocturnal dwellers also show themselves, such as the white tailed mongoose and slender mongoose, standard and pennant winged nightjars depending on the time of year. There are always surprises on the night drives. Overnight at
Semliki safari Lodge (FB)
Day 8 Chimpanzee tracking
An early morning rise, tea at your camp, and then you will go down into the gorgeous gallery rainforest to track wild chimpanzees. Chimps are tracked by researchers in Semliki at dawn and dusk, as they tend to disappear in the middle of the day. There are also a number of bird species which are found in this picturesque forest. You will return to the lodge for lunch and the chance to relax by the pool and enjoy the tranquility of the Lodge. In the late afternoon you will go for a game drive, stopping along the way to watch the African sun dip below the horizon. Overnight at Semliki Safari Lodge (FB)
Day 9 TO QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK
Depart to Queen Elizabeth National Park. You will pass thrpugh the crater Valley with beautiful lakes and rich grasslands which are set deep. This is truly the most magnificent scenery in the park. Queen Elizabeth hosts a large variety and volume of wildlife. It boasts one of the highest bio diversity ranging from the open Savannah to Rain forest, dense swamps and beautiful crater lakes to the vastness of Lake Edward. Almost 100 species that include Hippos, Buffaloes, Lions, Leopard, Spotted Hyena and the elusive giant forest hog. There are over 606 species of birds found here including the martial eagle, Verreaux’s eagle owl, black-rumped buttonquail and African skimmer among others. The primates include Chimps, Blue Magabeys, Black and white Colobus Monkeys, Black Faced Red Colobus, and Red Tailed monkeys and Olive Baboons. After checking in and having lunch, you will head for an evening game drive. We often spot Elephants, warthogs, waterbucks, hippos and others. You might want to head to the Kasenyi area of the park where lions are frequently spotted. Overnight at
Lux Mweya Safari Lodge/Jacana safari Lodge/
Budget Institute of Ecology (FB).
Day 10 CHIMP TRACKING IN THE KYAMBURA GORGE.
After a cup of coffee, this morning we will leave for the 08.00am chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge. Expect to see various primates most especially Chimpanzee, Black and white Colobus monkeys primates like the rd colobus monkeys, blue Mangebeys, black and white colobus monkeys among others. This gorge is a home of very many bird species. Proceed to Jacana Lodge where we will have our lunch. This is a small intimate lodge situated in Maramagambo forest on a gorgeous crater lake. After lunch, you will go for a nature walk in Maramagambo Forest for a nature walk .nd visit the bat Expect encounters like the great Blue Lake Kimeranjojo . Guides will tell you the myths attached to its name then proceed to the Bats cave a home to the Python that preys on bats. Overnight at
Lux Mweya Safari Lodge/Jacana safari Lodge/
Budget Institute of Ecology (FB).
DAY 11 THE LAUNCH CRUISE ALONG THE KAZINGA CHANNEL
Take a cup of coffee and go for an early morning game drive in this park, provide excellent opportunities to see Lions, Cape Buffaloes, Giant Forest Hogs, Leopards, Elephants, Defassa Waterbucks, Uganda Kobs, Topi and Bush bucks and many more. After lunch, enjoy the unique 2-hour boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel and into Lake Edward. This trip passes through possibly the highest concentration of Hippos and many animals may be seen drinking at the water’s edge. This launch cruise offers an excellent platform for photography, bird watching and game viewing, ideal for the Uganda safari .The prolific bird life is colorful and stupendous with well over 550 resident species. Over night at
Lux Mweya Safari Lodge/Jacana safari Lodge/
Budget Institute of Ecology (FB).
Day 12 TO BWINDI NATIONAL PARK
This morning, we will leave for Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. We will drive through the Ishasha Sector in the southern part of Queen Elizabeth. Here we will take lunch by the Ishasha River and try to find the famed Ishasha tree-climbing lions before continuing on to Bwindi, home to the endangered mountain gorillas. Bird life and primate life in Bwindi is quite superb, and there is an incredible variety of flora. Bwindi is the Bird watchers haven! It holds 348 species of birds and supports 24 of 26 Albertine Rift Endemics that occur in Uganda; and seven red data book species. Once continuous with the forests of the Virunga Volcanoes (Dian Fossey’s stomping ground), Bwindi is now an ecological island, surrounded by cultivation on the rich volcanic soils.
Overnight at
Gorilla Resort Camp
L. Kitandara Luxury Camp
Buhoma Community Bandas (Full Board)
Day 13 Gorilla Tracking
You will rise relatively early for a jovial breakfast to give you the energy needed for gorilla tracking. Report to the ranger station at 08.00 am where the guides will take you through the forest, slashing at the undergrowth, parting thick creepers, to track gorillas. This trek can take from half an hour to five hours therefore a reasonable degree of fitness is required as well as a sturdy pair of walking shoes. You sit in the forest among the gorillas listening to them grumble at each other and marvel at the sheer size of the dominant male, the silverback. It is amazing to think that there are only 650 or so of these creatures left in the world! If you have the afternoon free, you will take a guided village walk to see how the Ugandans live. Overnight at
Gorilla Resort Camp /
L. Kitandara Luxury Camp
Buhoma Community Bandas (Full Board)
Day 14 TO Rwanda
After breakfast leave for Rwanda. The clock goes and hour backwards Time permitting; tour the city of Rwanda Kigali . Tour The genocide memorial sites or lively markets in Kigali’s suburbs, handicraft shops, a pottery project, the Franco-Rwandan cultural centre and the genocide memorial. Dinner and over night
at
Gorilla Nest Lodge/
Kinigi Guest house / Muhavura lodge(FB)
Day 15 GORILLA TRACKING AGAIN
Take breakfast to energize you for another morning you entry into the gorilla sanctuary of Parc National des Volcano. This is occupied by a tropical rain forest covering the hills surrounding Virunga Volcanoes. Different people tracking gorillas get different experiences before encounters and the time taken to encounter these apes is unpredictable However, it is a worthwhile on encounter . Ensure you bring with you enough water and the packed lunch. The time spent in the forest depends on the movements of the primates in their natural environment. After the activity you return at leisure for dinner and overnight.
Overnight at
Gorilla Nest Lodge/
Kinigi Guest house / Muhavura lodge(FB)
Day 16 TO L. BUNYONYI
After breakfast, leave for Lake Bunyonyi. This large and inconsistently shaped lake lies at an altitude of approximately 2000m, where it follows the curves of the hilly terrain that detaches the towns of Kabale and Kisoro. It is a very lovely spot, dotted with small islands and banded by steeped terraced hills. The Lake gets its name Bunyonyi from the fact that it harbors diversity of birds. Dinner and over night at
Habuharo Island camps / High End
Arcadia cottages/ mid range
Bushara Island Camp. Basic (FB)
Day 17 AT KABALE
Explore the area; maybe visit the bright and colorful local market at Kabale or the Museum. You may choose to visit the Pygmies or take a canoe ride on lake Bunyonyi it self.
Overnight at
Habuharo Island camps / High End
Arcadia cottages/ mid range
Bushara Island Camp. Basic (FB)
Day 18 TO L. MBURO
Take break fast and depart for Lake Mburo National Park. We will drive through some of Uganda’s premium scenery. Lake Mburo National Park is an extension of the Tanzanian plains with big herds of zebra, impala, eland and other ungulates (clove hoofed animals). For birders, this is one of the best places to find African fin foot, papyrus bush shrike and the legendary Shoe bill. We will check in at the camp and relax for a little while before going in a dug out canoe on the lake or an evening Wildlife drive. Dinner and
Overnight at
Mantana Camp/
Rwonyo Banda s(FB)
Day 19 NATURE WALK TO THE SALT LICK
Explore Lake Mburo in an early morning game drive in search for animals and birds . This home of zebras in Uganda has over 310 bird species have been recorded in Lake Mburo National Park. It is probably the best place in Uganda to see Acacia associated birds and also of special interest to birders, are the swamps. The swamps are home to the highly localized Papyrus Yellow Warbler recorded nowhere else in Uganda.. have lunch and then in the evening, you will take a guided nature walk to the salt lick area where most animals in this park go to lick salt. Dinner and overnight at
Mantana Camp/
Rwonyo Banda s(FB)
Day 20 TO JINJA THE FORMER INDUSTRIAL TOWN OF UGANDA
After morning breakfast, take a brief game drive and then we will leave for Jinja the re-known source of the Longest River in Africa. Before Kampala we will take a stop over at the Equator for a pictorial opportunity as well as an informative talk from guides illustrating proofs that that is the Equator. On arrival in Kampala, we will have lunch then head East passing coffee, Tea and Sugar plantations and the colorful roadside fruit/vegetable markets. The first stop is the Mabira Forest; here you will be able to see the primates, birds and butterflies in a brief nature walk . Then continue to the source of the Nile. This is a spot where John Speke first discovered the source of the Nile River. You will continue to Jinja Nile Resort/Sunset hotel where you will be staying. In the early evening, you will relax by the side of the swimming should you wish or go to Bujagali Falls where different cultural activities take place like Acrobatic, Dances, waterfalls. Dinner and overnight at
Jinja Nile Resort/
Gately on the Nile/
King fisher (FB)
Day 21 TO SIPPI FALLS
Take break fast then leave Jinja for a full day excursion at Mountain Elgon National Park. Mountain Elgon has been an extinct volcano that first erupted more than 24 million years ago. With the largest surface area of any extinct Volcano in the World (50Km by 80Km), the mountain ranks fourth amongst the highest mountains of East Africa. A day hike area will allow you to explore Mount Elgon’s diverse mountane forest. The popular forest exploration center trail loop site (Sipi trailhead) can make one enjoy the cool mist at Chebonet falls, Kapkwai cave, the talking tree as well as a spectacular view point, which lies just beyond. Overnight at Lucum Lodge or similar
Day 22 TO KAMPALA
Take break fast and drive to Kampala. On arrival in Kampala, your safari guide will transfer you to your hotel. You will check in your lodges. Freshen up and relax after a long safari. If you are interested, the guide will help you around some craft centre like the gallery at the National theatre among others so that you can shop souvenirs. Dinner and overnight at
Serena Hotel/ Hotel African / Holiday Express Hotel
Day 23 NGAMBA ISLAND
Having taken breakfast, you will be Visit UWEC ( Uganda Wildlife Education Centre) the former Zoo and then after briefing and checking from Ngamba Island staff, walk to the shores of Lake Victoria to meet your 9.00am launch. The boat takes about 45 minutes across to Ngamba Island, crossing the Equator en-route. On arrival at the island, home to 39 chimpanzees, you will be given a short introduction about the history of the site . Then after , you will go to the feeding stand of where you will view while chimpanzee will be Fed. The characters as they struggle to get food are totally similar to man! In the relatively short amount of time you are there you will be able to see such different personalities amongst the group, with some whistling for food and others clapping, others collecting food for their children, while others will be scrambling to get food that they will keep . These apes feed twice in a day. Obviously the ideal option would be to re-introduce these orphaned chimpanzees to the wild however this is not possible for a number of different reasons and the sanctuary is not bad for second best. Overnight at G and C camp (FB)
Day 24 THE FOREST
Take breakfast and if you had medical inoculations have been approved to render you fit for the Forest walk, together with the guide , you will walk into the forest for a another rare experience with the chimps. The playful chimps climb on you, pull your hair, or just walk along holding your hand! (Clients must have specific up to date vaccinations for this activity, which is restricted to three people at any one time, and should ask for further details before booking with us).
Overnight ion Ngamba Island Camp (FB)
Day 25 BACK TO ENTEBBE.
After breakfast, you will return to the main land where you will meet your safari guide who will transfer you to Entebbe International Airport to meet your flight back home.