Uganda Gorilla Tour 15 days:Marvelous Safari
Day 1: ARRIVAL
You will be met by our tour guide or representative who will transfer you to your hotel in Kampala. If you arrive in the morning, you will be taken around Kampala for a city tour to introduce to you the beautiful hills of Kampala not leaving out historical sites. Visit some interesting and historical sites, including the Uganda Museum, the Namugongo Martyrs Shrine, Kasubi Tombs, and certainly the African Craft Village.
Dinner and overnight at Tourist Hotel or Holiday express/ Serena hotel for high end.
Day 2: KAMPALA - MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK
Depart to the most beautiful and largest protected area in Uganda; Murchison Falls National Park! Have lunch en route probably at Masindi then proceed. On arrival you will visit the top of the falls, visit the magnificent falls where you will enjoy and marvel at the mighty Nile. Here you will encounter the Murchison falls as the water is being plunged into a seven meter The famous waterfall is being forced into a seven meter fissure to thunder 45 meters below in a series of falls. This scenery can be spectacle from different points up at the baler's high point. Dinner and overnight at Red Chilli Rest Camp. For upgrade you can stay at Nile Safari Lodge or Paraa Safari Lodge.
Day 3: MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK
Take breakfast and go for an early morning game drive on the northern bank of the Nile. You will encounter Rothschild giraffe, oribis, waterbucks, elephant, lions, Jackson hartebeest and a variety of savannah woodland birds. After lunch we will go for a Nile cruise watch how hippos take a bath, elephants come to drink and crocodiles lying lazy at the shores.
Return to your lodge or camp for dinner and overnight.
Day 4: MURCHISON FALLS - FORT PORTAL
We leave Murchison Falls and head towards Fort Portal. The drive is almost eight hours but will provide you with some marvelous views as you pass small African villages and banana plantations. This beautiful town of Fort Portal rests in the shadow of the fabled Mountains of the Moon. Dinner and overnight at Rwenzori View Guesthouse, excellent accommodation with view over the Rwenzori Mountains/Primate lodge or Luxury Ndali Lodge.
Day 5: SEMLIKI NATIONAL PARK
We take break fast and proceed to Semliki National Park. The picturesque, snaky road will lead us through the green mountains and offers you a superlative outlook at the River Semliki and Congo. On arrival in confined area, a ranger will accompany us on a stunning nature walk through the Ituri Rainforest. Take pleasure in the passivity of the forest, search for the bird species at the swamp and don’t forget to move with a row egg that will boil in the hot springs for illustration that proves how hot the water from these hot springs is . This has become an interesting natural charm. A picnic lunch provided by the guide, while you delve into the real Africa is enjoyable. Later in the afternoon we return to the service of Rwenzori View Guesthouse for dinner and overnight.
For upgrade you can stay at Ndali Lodge.
Day 6: KIBALE NATIONAL PARK & BIGODI SWAMP
This day begins with a sensational chimp tracking. Kibale Forest is the most reliable park if you wanted 100% chances of watching the greatest diversity and highest concentration of primates in East Africa. Indulge in the nature guided walks in this tropical rainforest in search for the wild chimpanzee, black-and-white colobus monkey, red-tailed monkey, and many others. After a hearty lunch we transfer to the Bigodi Swamp for another, totally different nature walk. The Bigodi Swamp Walk is an initiative of the local community and takes approximately two hours. The swamp is known for its rich diversity of birds and primates. Dinner and overnight at Rwenzori View Guesthouse.
For upgrade you can stay at Ndali Lodge.
Day 7: KIBALE - QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK
We transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park. It is a beautiful route via Kasese, with the Rwenzori Mountains on your right side and the green valley on the left. A game drive on our way to the accommodation in the middle of the national park gives us the chance to spot waterbucks, warthogs and other wildlife. After lunch we take on a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, a natural channel between Lake Edward and Lake George. Thanks to the elephants, buffaloes and hundreds of hippos, this cruise will definitely be one of the highlights of your safari. Dinner and overnight at Institute of Ecology Hostel.
For upgrade you can stay at Jacana Safari Lodge or Mweya Safari Lodge.
Day 8: QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK
Wake up very early in the morning and head to the mating ground of the Uganda kobs along the kasenyi track. We look for for buffaloes, lions, elephants, and other wild animals in their natural habitat, before returning for lunch. In the afternoon you will have the chance to indulge in a nature walks in the Maramagambo tropical forest. Here you will find the blue lake which got its name Kimera Njojo (meaning the shallower of the Elephant) after it had drowned an elephant. This is a small lake and you may be not believe that it might have drowned a big elephant. The Hunters Cave is another interesting scene which will expose you to bats and the Rock python that preys on them. You will get the chance to have a close look at the bats and maybe even the rock python and forest cobras, that feed on the bats. The same walk will provide you with views of primates, different bird species and beautiful fauna. Dinner and overnight at Institute of Ecology Hostel.
For upgrade you can stay at Jacana Safari Lodge or Mweya Safari Lodge.
Day 9: QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK - BWINDI
After breakfast you may choose for the optional activity of exploring Kyambura Wildlife Reserve (not included). Driving through a grassland area, all of a sudden we come across an amazing gorge of one hundred meters deep, covered with tropical rainforest. You will hike into the gorge of the Kyambura River in search of the wild chimpanzees. It is a beautiful walk through the river valley, home to many birds and butterfly species.
Later we will leave Queen Elizabeth National Park and head towards Bwindi. The scenic route runs through a verdant countryside while you pass traditional homesteads and farms. In Bwindi dinner and overnight at Buhoma Community Bandas.
For upgrade you can stay at Lake Kitandara Luxury Tented Camp.
Day 10: BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST NATIONAL PARK
Another highlight of your safari: a meeting with the gentle giants of Bwindi! Especially hikers will love the tracking in the beautiful ecosystem of the park. It is difficult to foresee how many hours you will hike, it may take two to eight hours. Expect to walk a long distance in steep and muddy conditions, sometimes with rain overhead, before you encounter any gorillas. But it will definitely be worthwhile as you observe them closely while they eat, play and rest. A unique and unforgettable experience! For conservation purposes, time spent with the gorillas is limited to one hour. The ranger guide always briefs you on how to behave with these giant apes. Dinner and overnight at Buhoma Community Bandas.
For upgrade you can stay at Lake Kitandara Luxury Tented Camp.
Day 11: BWINDI - LAKE BUNYONYI
After breakfast you can choose to have a guided village walk for a closer meeting with the local community. Learn about their way of living as you walk through coffee, tea and banana plantations. Afterwards we depart to Lake Bunyonyi, the deepest lake in Uganda. This area is often called "Little Switzerland of Uganda" and boosts one of the most beautiful parts of the country. Relax or go for a canoe trip while you watch the beautiful sunset.
Dinner and overnight at Bunyonyi Overland Camp.
For upgrade you can stay at Arcadia Cottages.
Day 12: LAKE BUNYONYI
After the challenging and strenuous hike in Bwindi, some relaxing moments on the shores of this peaceful lake are most welcome. The options here are birding, nature walks, swimming or canoeing (not included).
Dinner and overnight at Bunyonyi Overland Camp.
For upgrade you can stay at Arcadia Cottages.
Day 13: LAKE BUNYONYI - LAKE MBURO NATIONAL PARK
After breakfast we drive to Lake Mburo National Park which takes us about four hours with lunch en route. As we enter the park and head towards the accommodation it is likely that you will see some wildlife, like impalas, topis, warthogs, zebras and buffaloes. After checking in you will go on a boat ride on the lake and enjoy the rich birdlife and the hippos that are cooling off.
Dinner and overnight at Rwonyo Camp.
For upgrade you can stay at Mantana Tented Camp.
Day 14: LAKE MBURO NATIONAL PARK - KAMPALA
Early start of the day as we will go for a nature walk guided by a ranger. Lake Mburo is the only national park where you can experience a safari on foot. After breakfast we transfer to Kampala with a stop at the equator for photos or shopping. Arrival late in the afternoon in Kampala. Dinner and overnight at Olympia Hotel.
For upgrade you can stay at Speke Hotel Kampala.
Day 15: DEPARTURE
Enriched with an experience of a lifetime and unforgettable memories you will say goodbye to the Pearl of Africa. Depending on the time of departure you will be transferred to the airport for your flight back home. We are looking forward to seeing you again!
