9 Days Uganda Gorilla Safari

9 Days Uganda Gorilla Safari

Day one: Arrival at Entebbe

On arrival at the airport, you will be welcomed by a professional guide from Situka African Safaris who will then take you to the Hotel in Kampala. Overnight at Hilton Hotel ,Serena Hotel or Sheraton Hotel (High end), Hotel Africana (medium end), Ivy Hotel (basic accommodation)
Day one: Arrival at Entebbe
Day Two: Kampala – Kibale. (Approx. 7 – 8 hours)

After breakfast, depart Kampala to Kibale Forest National Park. This park is known for the highest number of primate species in Africa. The activity starts in the morning hours, and there is also another lot for the afternoon depending on the time of your booking and itinerary. When tracking chimpanzees, you may come across other primates including phoestes, Red-Colobuses, Blues, Red-tailed and grey cheeked Mangabey in the canopies of the dense forest and birds, butterflies and many small insects. The guides provide explanations about primates and other forest’s fauna and flora, ensuring that your walk is both informative and enjoyable. Dinner and overnight at Cyaniga Lodge or Ndali Lodge (High end) or Chimpanzee Forest Lodge.(Medium range) Full Board.
Day Three: Kibale National Park.

This morning you will go for the morning Chimpanzee tracking in the forest, When tracking chimpanzees, you may come across other primates including phoestes, Red-Colobuse, Blues, Red-tailed and grey cheeked Mangabey in the canopies of the dense forest and birds, butterflies and many small insects. The guides provide explanations about primates and other forest’s fauna and flora, ensuring that your walk is both informative and enjoyable. Later in the afternoon, you will go for a guided walk through Bigodi Swamp. This Wetland is managed by the Kibale Association for Rural and Environmental organization formed in 1992 with the aim of achieving social and economic development for local communities. This swamp is a home to about 137 bird species. Dinner and overnight at Cyaniga Lodge or Ndali Lodge (High end) or Chimpanzee Forest Lodge. (Medium range) Full Board
Alternatively

You can decide to go for chimp habituation and be part of the habituation team that goes to study the behavior of the Chimps in order to make them get used to human beings. Being part of the team that observe the way Chimps nest, feed, climb trees, react to human presence, caring for the young ones is unforgettable experience. This activity starts very early at 6:00am to 6:00pm. You spend the whole day in the forest observing Chimps.
Day Four: Kibale – Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. (Approx. 6 – 7 hours)

After breakfast, you will depart Kibale National Park and head for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park passing via Ishasha which is fame for the tree climbing lions arriving in the afternoon. Best known for its Mountain Gorillas, the Montane Forest also attracts spectacular birds. There are 23 of the 24 Albertine Rift endemics including the African Green Broadbill, Bar Tailed Trogon and other beautiful forest species. You may decide to relax in the afternoon or take a nature walk if desired (at an extra cost of $20 Per head) which will lead you to the Munyaga Waterfall and a chance to see primates such as the Grey Cheeked Mangabey Blue Monkeys and others species. Spend the night in Northern Section at Volcano Lodge, Gorilla Forest Camp (High end) or Mahogany Spring, Buhoma Lodge, Sylva Back Lodge (Medium range) Buhoma Bandas (low budget). Full Board.

You have to get enough rest to get ready for the following day’s gorilla tracking because it is quite challenging because of the terrain depending on the group you track.

In the Southern Section, Dinner and overnight at Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Volcanoes Safaris (High end) or Nkuringo Gorilla campsite, Kimbla-Mantana, Buhoma Lodge (Medium range) or Bwindi view Rest camp, Wagtail Eco Safari Camp (Basic accommodation)
Day Five: Gorilla Tracking – Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

This morning you will have to wake up very early to get ready for Gorilla tracking. The guide will drive you to the headquarters for briefing before you set off in the interior of the forest. Do not forget to take your lunch boxes and all the necessary gear to track the rare Mountain Gorilla, perhaps one of the most exciting wildlife experiences on this Planet. There are now only 650 left in the world. The tracking may take between 3 and 8 hours but it’s well worth the effort. There are always park guides with you who interpret the flora and fauna and the lifestyle of the Gorillas. The rainforest is spectacular as it offers a dramatic, heavily forested and dense landscape crisscrossed by numerous animal trails, allowing access for tourists. Recorded mammals here include the endangered mountain gorilla, the rare golden monkey, buffalo, elephants, black-fronted duikers, bushbucks, leopards, giant forest hogs as well as other animals. Spend the night at Volcano Lodge, Gorilla Forest Camp (High end) or Mahogany Spring, Buhoma Lodge, Sylva Back Lodge (Medium range) Buhoma Bandas (low budget). Full Board.

In the Southern Section, Dinner and overnight at Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Volcanoes Safaris (High end) or Nkuringo Gorilla campsite, Kimbla-Mantana, Buhoma Lodge (Medium range) or Bwindi view Rest camp, Wagtail Eco Safari Camp (Basic accommodation)
Day Six: Bwindi – Rwanda (6 – 7 hours)

After breakfast, drive to Rwanda via Kisoro and cross at Cyanika Border to Rwanda and then proceed to Ruhengeri or Kinigi. Dinner and overnight at Mountain Gorilla View, Sylva Back Lodge, Virunga Volcanoes Lodges (High end) or La Palme, (Medium range) or Kinigi guest House (Basic accommodation).
Day Seven: Gorilla Tracking in Parc National des Volcanoes

The guide will drive you to the Park headquarters where a group will be allocated and then briefed by the ranger-guide at Ruhengeri Park headquarters before you set off in the forest of Pac de volcanoes. The tracking is between 3 – 6 hours and the time spent trekking depends on the movement of these Gorillas. After tracking, you will head back to the Lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, relax or visit Kinigi Cultural Village and experience banana and sorghum beer production or visit the traditional healers (ethno botany experience) or bio mimicry experience in Musanze. Dinner and overnight at Mountain Gorilla View, Sylva Back Lodge, Virunga Volcanoes Lodges (High end) or La Palme, (Medium range) or Kinigi guest House (Basic accommodation
Day Eight: Rwanda – Lake Mburo National Park

After an early breakfast, you will drive to Lake Mburo National Park and enter the Park through the Sanga Gate arriving in the afternoon. Go for the evening game drive or for the boat trip on Lake Mburo. Lake Mburo is an extension of the north-western Tanzanian Plains and eastern Rwanda with big herds of Zebra, Impala, Eland and other savannah mammals. For birders, this is one of the best places to find African Fin foot, Papyrus yellow warbler, papyrus gonolek, Bush Shrike, Brown-chested plover, Southern ground hornbill, Spot-flanked and many others. Overnight at Mihingo Lodge, Rwakobo Rock ( High end) or Arcadia Cottages, Kimbla Mantana, Mburo Safari Lodge (Medium range) or UWA tents and Bandas (Low budget). Full Board.
Day Nine: Lake Mburo – Entebbe (5-6 hours)

After morning breakfast, you will go for morning game drive and later proceed to Entebbe having a stop at the Equator where you can stand on both hemispheres, then proceed to Entebbe to catch your flight back home.
NB:

The group of Gorilla tracking in Uganda depends on the permits available at the time of your booking. These Gorilla permits in all National parks of Uganda and Rwanda are on a very high demand and they are sold on first come first serve basis. So we strongly advise that you book them as early as possible.