8-Day Uganda Vacation Including Chimps and Gorilla Trekking

Overview

Day by day itinerary

1. 1Start from Entebbe (before 2pm) or be picked from a Hotel. Transfer to the edge of Kibale Forest NP.⌄

   The pick-up will be from either; the Hotel or from the Airport upon arrival. The assigned Professional English-speaking Tour Driver-guide will pick/receive you and we shall embark on a transfer that will see us overnight at edge of Kibale Forest National Park. Upon arrival at the accommodation, check in and just relax.

   Meals: Lunch · Dinner

   Overnight: Chimpanzee Forest Lodge

2. 2Chimp tracking Kibale Forest. Lunch and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park⌄

   Have breakfast and head to the rangers’ post where you will receive some briefing on the dos and don’ts during chimp trekking. Thereafter, you will proceed to trek the chimps in the Kibale Forest. An experienced ranger-guide will take you chimp tracking (Kibale Forest) and you will be left amazed by the presence of primates here. Once you locate the chimpanzees, you will have a full hour in their presence. You will return to the lodge for lunch and thereafter you will head out for Queen Elizabeth National Park. *Optional (no cost): If interested and time allows, you may go for a brief afternoon-evening game drive/safari.

   Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner

   Overnight: Kazinga Wilderness Safari Camp

3. 3Sunrise to midmorning game drive and afternoon boat trip along the Kazinga Channel.⌄

   Be up early and have your breakfast. Proceed for a morning game drive in the Kasenyi plains and be on the look for Cape buffalos, herds of elephants plus lions, leopards (though hard to spot) among others. Return to the accommodation for some rest time and lunch. After lunch, you will go for a 2-hour boat trip on the Kazinga Channel that connects Lakes George and Edward. During the trip, the sight of wildlife including giant hippos, elephants and crocodiles among others will fascinate you. You will also see many varieties of birds at the water shores. *After the boat trip, you can decide either to return to the lodge to rest or first proceed for a brief late afternoon game drive and thereafter, return to the lodge.

   Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner

   Overnight: Kazinga Wilderness Safari Camp

4. 4Relaxed breakfast. Drive to Ishasha sector and then connect to Bwindi NP.⌄

   Enjoy a relaxed breakfast and then head to Ishasha sector (Southern Queen) in search of tree-climbing lions. The chance of spotting these lions stands at about 60-70% but sometimes they are hard to spot (most especially when they are down in the grassland looking for prey). Should you get to spot them up in the tree, the sight is picturesque and memorable. From Ishasha, we shall embark on the final leg of our journey taking us to the accommodation situated right at the edge of Bwindi National Park. Once at the lodge, check in and stay relaxed.

   Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner

   Overnight: Gorilla Mist Camp

5. 5Gorilla trekking Bwindi Forest and then, transfer to Lake Bunyonyi for relaxation⌄

   Have breakfast and move to the rangers’ post. You will receive some briefing (from a ranger guide) on the dos and don’ts during trekking. Thereafter, you will enter the Bwindi Forest for your adventure. The beauty of this rain forest is spectacular! The area offers dramatic steeply forested landscape and is incredibly dense but crisscrossed by numerous animal trails allowing access to tourists. The time taken and the terrain vary with the movements of these great primates. Once you have located a gorilla group, you will be allowed an hour in their presence. The thrill of spending time observing these gentle but endangered giants is unforgettable. Return to the accommodation, check out and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi. Lake Bunyonyi is framed by lush, green-terraced hills that reach a height of (2,200 – 2,478m) but it’s the 29 islands of various shapes and sizes scattered across the water that make it most magical — you could admire them all day.

   Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner

   Overnight: Lake Bunyonyi Eco Resort

6. 6Relaxation while enjoying the stunning beauty of Lake Bunyonyi⌄

   After days of long drives and of course the strenuous gorilla trekking (previous day) in Bwindi, this day is at your disposal for relaxation. All meals will be served at the accommodation. Should you wish to get active again, you can speak to your guide and he arranges something of interest (at a cost as may be specified onsite).

   Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner

   Overnight: Lake Bunyonyi Eco Resort

7. 7Transfer to Lake Mburo NP and enjoy afternoon (evening) game drive.⌄

   Enjoy a relaxed breakfast and then, set off to Lake Mburo NP. Mburo is a compact gem, located conveniently close to the highway that connects Entebbe/Kampala to the parks of western Uganda. It is the smallest of Uganda’s savannah National Parks but home to so many bird species as well as animals such as: Giraffes, Zebra, impala, eland, buffalo, and the elusive leopard among others. We shall arrive and check in for some rest before heading out for a late afternoon-to-evening game drive that will bring us up close with the Mburo inhabitants. Finally, return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

   Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner

   Overnight: Hyena Hill Lodge

8. 8Morning walking safari in the park. Return to Entebbe Airport to catch flight out.⌄

   Enjoy your early breakfast and proceed for the Mburo morning park (bush) walk in the presence of an armed Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger-guide. On this early morning guided walk, you will have the opportunity to encounter (at close range): Zebras, Giraffes and Eland, Topi and other antelope, Cape buffaloes among others. Take the Trail to the top of the hills and see Lake Mburo and beyond. From this vantage point, you will have a great view of 9 of the twelve lakes surrounding Lake Mburo NP. Thereafter, return to the accommodation for checkout and then hit the road to Entebbe airport to catch flight (1830hrs or later).

   Meals: Breakfast · Lunch