8 Days of gorilla trekking and wildlife safari
This 8 days gorilla trekking and wildlife safari is an interesting safari that will take you to four different national parks in Uganda, including Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Lake Mburo National Park, where you will be able to view different animals like elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, waterbucks, hippos, warthogs, bushbucks, giraffes, Jackson’s hartebeest, oribi, lions, leopards, Nile crocodiles, zebras, impalas, elands and different bird species during the game drive and boat cruise.
The Uganda gorillas & wildlife safari will also take you to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, where you will be able to spend one hour with the endangered gorillas in their natural habitat.
Highlights
Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Murchison Falls National Park—rhino tracking
Day 2: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise
Day 3: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park
Day 4: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise
Day 5: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park
Day 6: Uganda Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park
Day 7: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park—afternoon game drive
Day 8: Morning game drive and departure to Kampala
Detailed itineraries
Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Murchison falls national park via Ziwa rhino sanctuary
Depending on your location, you will be welcomed by our driver guide, who will brief you about the safari and then start the journey to Murchison Falls National Park. The journey takes about a 5- to 6-hour drive, and on the way, you will have a stopover at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for rhino tracking, after which you will continue the journey with another stopover for en route lunch.
After lunch, you will proceed to Murchison Falls National Park, and upon arrival, you will drive directly to the top of the falls, where you will enjoy great views of the waterfall, water splashes, beautiful scenery, and more. From the top of the falls, you will drive to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 2: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise
After an early breakfast, you will meet up with your driver guide to go for a morning game drive in the park, where you will be able to view animals like buffaloes, Jackson’s hartebeest, elephants, waterbucks, giraffes, Uganda kobs, oribi, warthogs, and others. After the game drive, you will return to the lodge for lunch.
Boat cruise
After lunch you will go for an afternoon boat cruise to the bottom of the falls, where you will be able to view hippos and crocodiles in water and view other animals along the shores, water birds among others. After the boat cruise, you will drive back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park
After breakfast, check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to start the journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park. On the way you will have en route lunch and enjoy stunning views of the crater lakes, Rwenzori mountain peaks, tea and banana plantations, among others.
Upon arrival in the park, you will continue to check into the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Morning game drive/lion tracking experience and afternoon boat cruise
Morning game drive/lion tracking experience
After an early breakfast, your driver guide will pick you up from the lodge to go for an exciting game drive in the Kasenyi plains, where you will be able to spot animals like elephants, waterbucks, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, warthogs, and bushbucks and view predators like lions and leopards, among others.
After the game drive you will drive back to the lodge for lunch.
Afternoon boat cruise
After lunch you will go for an amazing boat cruise on the Uganda Kazinga Channel, a water channel that connects Lake Edward and Lake George.
During the boat cruise you will be able to view large concentrations of hippos and Nile crocodiles in water; view elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks, warthogs, and others drinking water along the shores; and view water birds like cormorants, hornbills, kingfishers, fish eagles, and others.
After the boat cruise, which takes about a 2- to 3-hour drive, you will return to the lodge for evening relaxation, dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 5: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park
After having breakfast, check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park via the Ishasha sector, where you will be able to view the tree-climbing lions lying up in tree branches during the game drive.
After the game drive, you will have lunch and then proceed to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Upon arrival in the park, you will check into the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 6: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park
Gorilla trekking
Take breakfast and carry a packed lunch and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing about the rules and regulations of gorilla trekking.
After the briefing, you will be allocated a gorilla family to trek and start trekking in the jungle with an experienced park guide. Uganda gorilla trekking safaris in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park take about 30 minutes to 7 hours depending on where the gorillas are located because they like to move from one place to another in search of food.
During the Uganda gorilla trekking safari you will be able to view other primate species, birds, and plants, and once the mountain gorillas are located, you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat, which gives you an opportunity to learn about their behaviors and habits, watch them feed, breastfeed, groom young ones, take photos and record the moments to show people back home after the safari.
After the one hour with the gorillas, you will trek back to the starting point where you will be awarded a certificate for participating in the Uganda gorilla trekking safari and later meet up with your driver guide to transfer to the lodge for an evening of relaxation, dinner and overnight stay.
Day 7: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park—afternoon game drive
After breakfast, check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Lake Mburo National Park. On the way, you will enjoy great views of the landscape and Kigezi hills, and upon arrival, you will check into the lodge for lunch, after which you will relax and later go for an afternoon game drive where you will be able to view animals like buffaloes, waterbucks, bushbucks, impalas, oribi, giraffes, warthogs, zebras, and elands, among others.
After the game drive, you will return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 8: Morning game drive and departure to Kampala
This is the last day. Have breakfast, check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to go for a short morning game drive in the park, where you will be able to view some of the animals that you might have missed the previous day. After the game drive, you will drive out of the park and start the journey back to Kampala.
On the way you will have en route lunch and another stopover at the Equator where you will take photos and buy souvenirs. From the Equator you will proceed to Kampala arriving early evening and upon arrival your driver guide will drop you off at Entebbe International Airport for your departure flight.
End of 8 days of gorilla trekking and wildlife safari
The tour includes
- Gorilla trekking permit
- Park entrance fees/game drives
- Boat cruise fees
- Rhino tracking
- Top of the falls
- Lion tracking experience
- Professional English-speaking driver guide
- Full board accommodation
- Ground transfers (in a 4WD vehicle)
- Vehicle and fuel
- Bottled drinking water
The tour excludes
- International air flight tickets
- Visas
- Optional activities not included on the itinerary
- Life insurance
- Personal expenses like buying souvenirs, crafts, drinks, laundry services, hiring a porter, and tips, among others.
