Detailed Itinerary

14 Days Uganda Safari - Gorilla Tour, Uganda Safaris

TOUR ITINERARY

Day 1: Upon your arrival at Entebbe International Airport, our company representative will welcome you and transfer you to Kampala. After checking in at the hotel, you will be taken for a city tour.  Overnight at Speke Hotel/Hotel Africana (BB)

Day 2: Lake Mburo wildlife tour
After breakfast, our tour guide will transfer you Lake Mburo National Park. The park offers excellent game viewing. You will be able to see as many different mammal species over the course of a day as would be the case in any other Ugandan national park. Lake Mburo harbours several specials not easily seen elsewhere in Uganda. The park is the best place to see big herds of impala, the handsome antelope for which the Uganda capital city Kampala is named; and one of the three protected areas countrywide where Burchells zebra occurs, the other two being Kidepo and Pian Upe. Other antelope species include oribi, Defassa waterbuck, common duiker, Bohor reedbuck, topi and the majestic eland. In the swamps you may see sitatunga antelope, and the klipspringer is occasionally seen in rocky places. Vervet and olive baboon are the only diurnal primates in Lake Mburo national park. Some of the predators in the park include leopards and side-striped jackal.

315 bird species have been recorded in Lake Mburo national park. It is perhaps the best area in Uganda where acacia-associated birds can be observed. At Rwonyo Camp you can easily see birds such as bare-faced go-away birds, black-bellied bustard, mosque swallow and Rupells long-tailed starling. Southern species include green-capped eremomela, black-throated barbet, and Ground hornbill; six papyrus endemics in Mburo include the striking blue-headed Coucal, brilliantly coloured papyrus Gonolek, and the highly localised white-winged and papyrus yellow warblers, the last recorded nowhere else in Uganda. So enjoy an afternoon game drive in Lake Mburo national Park. Overnight in Mantana Tented Camp (Luxury)/UWA Bandas (Basic) FB

Day 3: Nature Walk in Lake Mburo National Park
 Take a morning breakfast and embark on a guided nature walk to the Salt lick Area a strategically constructed wooden platform that attracts various mammal species to lick the salty soil. Return to the lodge for your lunch before proceeding to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest national park. Arrive in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, home to the mountain gorillas in the evening. Overnight at Gorilla Forest Camp / Lake Kitandara Tented Camp

Day 4: Gorilla Trekking
Take an early morning breakfast and move to the park headquarters for a briefing from the park ranger before commencing the gorilla trek at 8.30 am. With the help of game ranger and porters who should be able to carry you in case you get exhausted in the forest during the gorilla trek. Chances of encountering the mountain gorillas are over 90% in Bwindi impenetrable rainforest. It may take between 2 hours to a full day to encounter these awesome apes. The experience of encountering the mountain gorillas is the highlight of a Uganda safari. In case you are able to return from the forest in time you can enjoy your lunch and later visit the Pygmy (Batwa) community for traditional performance.Overnight at Gorilla Forest Camp / Lake Kitandara Tented Camp

Day 5   Ishasha Queen Elizabeth National Park
After breakfast drive to Ishasha the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park for viewing tree-climbing lions. Later proceed to Mweya Safari Lodge for your lunch. In the afternoon undertake a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel. Expect to see animals such as African buffalo, bushbuck, Bohor reedbuck, topi, Uganda kob, warthog, Giant Forest Hog, Bush pig, hippopotamus, Dwarf galago, Senegal galago, side-striped Jackal, civets, etc. Enjoy and pamper yourself to a sauna, massage, and steam at the Mweya Health Club. Dinner and overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge/Hippo Hill Camp

Day 6: QENP Game Viewing
Wake up as early as 5.30 am for a game drive in search of the early risers. You will be able to sight many of the nocturnal animals. Return to the lodge for your breakfast and later transfer to Kyambura Gorge for chimp trekking. After lunch take a nature walk in Maramagambo Forest for viewing pythons feasting on thousands of bats in the Bat Cave. Dinner and overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge/Hippo Hill Camp

Day 7: Birding & game drive in QENP
After breakfast undertake a morning game drive in the North Kazinga Plains. Expect animals such as buffaloes, lions, leopards, waterbucks, bushbuck, elephants, Giant forest hog, etc. In the afternoon enjoy a 2-hour boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel for viewing aquatic wildlife. For ornithologists, QENP is a birders haven with a birdlist of over 550 species, the largest of any protected area in Africa, if not in the whole world. Key specials in QENP include shoebill, Black-rumped Buttonquail, Martial Eagle, African Skimmer, Black bee-eater, Verreauxs Eagle-owl, White-tailed Lark, Papyrus Gonolek, and papyrus Canary. The Kazinga Channel is a natural magnet for waterbirds, the Mweya peninsula, acts as a migrant trap for birds moving along the Albertine Rift. Some of the waterbird species along the Kazinga Channel include Great and Long-tailed Cormorants, African open-billed stork, great white and pink-backed pelicans, Common Squacco Heron, White-faced whistling, African Fish Eagle, African Jacana, African Wattled plovers, Pied Kingfisher, Yellow-backed Weaver, Water Thick-Knee, Black Crake and Black-headed Gonolek among others.Dinner and overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge/Hippo Hill Camp

Day 8: QENP Kibale Forest National Park Safari
Take your breakfast and drive through the park game viewing and then proceed to Kibale Forest National Park. Make a stop-over in Fort Portal for your lunch. In the afternoon visit the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, 5 km south east of Kanyanchu Tourist Centre. The Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary a community based project, gives way to Magombe swamp. This is an excellent area for viewing special birds endemic to this habitat such as Papyrus Gonolek, Papyrus Canary and White-winged Warbler. Other distinct possibilities include White-spotted Flufftail, Blue-breasted kingfisher, the spectacular Yellow-billed Barbet, Blue-headed Coucal, Scaly-breasted and Brown Illadopsis, Black-faced Rufous Warbler and Grey-capped Warbler. An option for non-birders is either to visit the Royal Kings Palace in Fort Portal, crater lakes surrounding Ndali, or community walk for cultural entertainment. Overnight at Mountains of the Moon Hotel

Day 9: Chimpanzee Trekking
In the morning after breakfast transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing from the park ranger before chimpanzee trek at 9.00 am. Chances of encountering the chimpanzees in the wild are over 98%. This is the only park where the chances of tracking the habituated chimpanzees are incredibly the highest in the whole of East Africa. Kibale Forest is rich in primates with 13 species recorded, the highest total for any Ugandan national park. 9 diurnal primates found in the park include chimpanzees, red-tailed, vervet, blue and LHoests monkeys, Grey-cheeked mangabeys, red colobus, black-and-white colobus and olive baboons. For visitors who do both forest and swamp walks in Kibale Forest national park are assured of encountering at least five primate species. Roughly 335 bird species are recorded in Kibale Forest national park including four species nowhere else in Ugandan national parks: Nahans Francolin, blue-headed bee-eater, masked Apalis and Cassins spinetail. Return to the lodge for relaxation and lunch. In the evening visit the crater lakes region. Overnight at Mountains of the Moon Hotel

Day 10: Semuliki Wildlife Reserve;
After an early morning breakfast transfer to Semuliki Wildlife Reserve. Semliki is arguably more attractive for its diverse scenery and wild, untrammeled atmosphere than for its game viewing but highly alluring to birdwatchers, with about 400 bird species recoded. The open plains accommodate Abyssinian Ground hornbill, while in areas of rank vegetation are suitable for Tchargra and African Crake. Specialties of the savanna woodland here include Black-billed Barbet, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Red-necked Falcon, the diminutive Black-chinned Quail-Finch whereas the gallery forest is home to the noisy Leaflove. Near Semuliki Safari Lodge you will able to spot White-crested Turaco, Eastern Grey plantain-eater, red-throated Bee-eater, crowned Hornbill, Yellow-billed Hyliota, Bare-faced Go-away bird, Blue-naped Mousebird, Little Weaver and a variety of raptors such as Bateleur, African Harrier-Hawk and Martial Eagle. The spectacular shoebill is likely to be the highlight of a boat trip on Lake Albert. A spot-lit night drive for diminutive genet and several nocturnal cats is highly rewarding. Other activities in Semliki Wildlife Reserve include Chimpanzee trekking in the lush rainforest. However the chimpanzees in Semuliki are less habituated to human presence. Dinner and overnight at Semliki safari Lodge (FB)


Day 11: Semuliki Murchison Falls
Take a morning breakfast, and depart by road with a packed lunch to Murchison Falls National Park, a scenic drive that takes approximately 9 hours. Drive straight to the Top of the Falls the Murchison Falls, described as the most spectacular thing to happen to the Nile along its 6700 km length. The gorge through which the Nile passes is just 6m wide, making this possibly the most powerful natural surge of water found anywhere in the world. A variety of unique habitats and thousands of superb birds make a birding visit to Murchison Falls National Park a must. The packs habitats range from Iron Forest, riverine forest, dry and moist woodland with grassy understorey, Borassus palm savanna, grassland with termitaria, papyrus swamps to lakes and rivers. 450 bird species have been recorded in Murchison Falls National Park. Some of the key specials herein, include Secretary bird, Shoebill, African Skimmer, White-crested Turaco, Northern Red Bishop, Brown Twinspot, Black-rumped Waxbill, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Spotted Morning Thrush, Vinaceous Dove, Green-backed Eremomela, Lesser blue-eared and bronze-tailed starling, Black-backed Cisticola, White-fronted Black Chat, Silverbird, Chestnut-crowned sparrow-weaver, Paradise Whydah and Cabaniss Buntings among others. Among the mammals in this park are the giraffe, buffalo, lion, elephant, Nile crocodile, hippo, oribi, bush buck, waterbuck, elephants and many other animals.
Overnight at a Luxurious Paraa Safari Lodge/Mid range Sambiya River lodge/Budget Red Chili Camp (Full Board)

Day 12:Kaniyo Pabidi Chimpanzee Tracking
After breakfast, transfer to Kaniyo Pabidi Forest for chimp trekking. For birders, Kaniyo Pabidis avian attraction is the vocal Puvels illadopsis, a recent discovery in East Africa. The rare Green-breasted Pitta, African Wood and African Scoops Owls are also found here. A boat trip along the Nile River will enable you to encounter the spectacular shoebill. Overnight at a Luxurious Paraa Safari Lodge/Mid range Sambiya River lodge/Budget Red Chili Camp (Full Board)

Day 13: Take your breakfast and transfer back to Kampala. After breakfast, we will depart with our packed lunch to Kampala. Overnight at Golf Course Hotel / The Lodge
Day 14: Reserved for your transfer to the airport for your flight back to your home country.

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