13 Days wildlife tour Uganda Gorilla & chimpanzee trekking safari / Uganda wildlife tour

Overview of the 13 Days wildlife tour Uganda Gorilla & chimpanzee trekking safari / Uganda wildlife tour

The 13 Days wildlife tour Uganda Gorilla & chimpanzee trekking safari is a Uganda wildlife tour chimpanzee tracking and Gorilla trekking safari tour to the prime Uganda safari destinations. With a glimpse of the big five wild animals, you tour Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for rhino tracking, Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park and Lake Mburo National Park for boat cruises and game drives. You also go chimpanzee trekking at Kibale Forest National Park and gorilla trekking at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

The amazing long road trip starts with a pick up from Entebbe international airport with a pick up by a safari guide for a transfer to a hotel in Kampala-Uganda’s capital where you spend the night. From the lodge the next morning, you are driven to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for rhino tracking then after continue to Murchison falls park arriving in the evening. The next day you take a game drive in the morning and a boat cruise in the evening then transfer to Kibale forest park the next day. You go chimpanzee trekking and take an evening bigodi wetland nature walk. The next day you are driven to Queen Elizabeth national park for a boat cruise and game drive the next day. You transfer to Bwindi forest park for gorilla trekking then after transfer to Lake Mburo National Park for a game drive and boat cruise. You then depart via Entebbe International Airport with a stop at the equator line.

Highlights of the 13 Days wildlife tour Uganda Gorilla & chimpanzee trekking safari / Uganda wildlife tour

Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe international airport and transfer to one of the hotels in Uganda Kampala where you rest and spend the night.

Day 2: Transfer from Kampala to Murchison Falls National Park with a tour to the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for rhino tracking on foot.

Day 3: A morning game drive, an afternoon boat cruise and hike to the top of the mighty Murchison Falls.

Day 4: Undertake another morning game drive then be driven to Lake Albert Lodge where you have a bush dinner and spend the night.

Day 5: After breakfast you are driven to Kibale national park with a tour to the crater field at Ndali Kasenda.

Day 6: You go for chimpanzee trekking in Kibale forest then an evening nature walk at Bigodi wetland.

Day 7: Visit the crater lakes in Fort Portal then transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park.

Day 8: A morning game drive and take a boat cruise in the evening on the Kazinga channel.

Day 9: In the morning, you are driven from Queen Elizabeth park via the ishasha sector to Bwindi impenetrable national park.

Day 10: By 8:00am, anticipate to be at Bwindi park for gorilla trekking at your allocated gorilla trekking sector.

Day 11: After gorilla trekking, you are driven to Lake Mburo National Park.

Day 12: At Lake Mburo you go for a morning game drive then have an evening boat cruise.

Day 13: Transfer back to Entebbe International Airport for departure.

Detailed itinerary of the 13 Days wildlife tour Uganda Gorilla & chimpanzee trekking safari / Uganda wildlife tour

Day 1 of the 13 Days wildlife tour Uganda Gorilla & chimpanzee trekking safari / Uganda wildlife tour

Upon arrival at Entebbe international airport, a knowledgeable Uganda safari driver guide will pick you up for a drive to a lodge or hotel in Kampala. Offering help on your transfer to a 4x4 safari vehicle, your guide gives a brief introduction to Uganda and briefing on your safari during the drive to the hotel. You arrive for check in, have a meal, refresh and relax from jet lag at the hotel.

Day 2 of the 13 Days wildlife tour Uganda Gorilla & chimpanzee trekking safari / Uganda wildlife tour

[ Rhino tracking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

From your accommodation facility in Kampala, your Uganda wildlife safari driver guide picks you up for the drive to Murchison Falls National Park. You stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary off the highway to Murchison falls park for Rhino tracking on foot for about 2 hours. After Rhino tracking you are driven for Lunch then continue with the drive to Murchison falls park. Arriving in the evening, you check into an accommodation in Murchison Falls national park where you relax as you prepare for a game drive and boat cruise the next day.

Accommodation options: Luxury / Up-market: Paraa Safari Lodge/ Chobe Safari Lodge Mid-range / Standard: Pakuba safari lodge/Murchison River Lodge

Day 3 of the 13 Days wildlife tour Uganda Gorilla & chimpanzee trekking safari / Uganda wildlife tour

A game drive at Murchison Falls National park

A morning game drive starts the day at Murchison Falls park starting at 8:00am within the vast plains of the park. The elephants, lions, leopards and buffaloes alongside many more wild species make the common sightings of the morning. This amazing drive in the vast savannah plains of northern Uganda lasts 2-4 hours then after return to your lodge for lunch or have packed lunch. In the afternoon at 2:00pm, you go for a boat cruise/launch trip to the bottom of the awe-inspiring Murchison falls where you look out for numerous schools of hippos, crocodiles and water birds at the bottom of the falls. The boat cruise to the bottom of the falls offers a start point for the hike to the top of the magnificent Murchison falls that lasts about 40mins to 1hour where you find your driver guide waiting for you at the top. Late evening after an amazing experience on your wildlife safari in Uganda, you are driven back to your lodging facility for dinner and an overnight.

Accommodation options: Luxury / Up-market: Paraa Safari Lodge/ Chobe Safari Lodge Mid-range / Standard: Pakuba safari lodge/Murchison River Lodge

Day 4 of the 13 Days wildlife tour Uganda Gorilla & chimpanzee trekking safari / Uganda wildlife tour

In the morning, you have a warm cup of tea and take another chance on a game drive to sight more wildlife species. After sighting several early risers, you return to your lodging facility where you check out and embark on a drive to Lake Albert lodge at Kabwoya wildlife reserve. Here after check in and refreshment, you go for a bush dinner, an experience filled with amazing wilderness touch within the Albertine rift escarpment. You spend the night here.

Accommodation: Mid-range/Standard: Lake Albert Lodge

Day 5 of the 13 Days wildlife tour Uganda Gorilla & chimpanzee trekking safari / Uganda wildlife tour

From lake Albert lodge, you have breakfast then embark on a drive towards Queen Elizabeth National Park. You have a moment to stop at the Ndali kasenda crater field for scenic views of the craters then after continue to Queen Elizabeth arriving in the evening and spending the night at an accommodation close to the park.

Accommodation options: Luxury/Up-market: Mweya safari lodge Mid-range/Standard: Enganzi Lodge

Day 6 of the 13 Days wildlife tour Uganda Gorilla & chimpanzee trekking safari / Uganda wildlife tour

Chimpanzees in Kibale Forest National Park

By dawn, you will be at Kibale forest park for chimpanzee trekking after having early morning breakfast. The chimpanzee trekking activity starts at 8:00am in kibale forest lasting 2-5 hours in the jungle though only 1 hour in the presence of the chimpanzees. You have an amazing moment with man’s closest relatives as you watch them at play, chunk fruit and interact as you take memorable pictures. You then have lunch and transfer to the adjacent Bigodi wetland 10.9km away on a 14minutes drive. For a nature walk in the pristine wetland marshes filled with bird species and fauna. In the evening, you return to your lodging facility where you spend the night.

Accommodation options: Luxury/Up-market: Mweya safari lodge Mid-range/Standard: Enganzi Lodge

Day 7 of the 13 Days wildlife tour Uganda Gorilla & chimpanzee trekking safari / Uganda wildlife tour

Amabere g’ Nyinamwiru cave exploration

After breakfast, you take a short tour to the Amabere g’ Nyinamwiru Caves for an exploration of the breast-like features connected to several myths. The caves are believed by the natives to be breasts of Nyinamwiru the mother of Ndahura-the famous Chwezi ruler who expanded the Chwezi Empire across the great Lakes region. After the cave exploration, you continue for a hike to the Fort Portal Crater lake field where you explore the beautiful small lakes that were formed as a result of the effects of explosive volcanicity. You then continue with the drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park arriving in the evening and spending the night at a booked accommodation.

Accommodation options: Luxury/Up-market: Mweya safari lodge Mid-range/Standard: Enganzi Lodge

Day 8 of the 13 Days wildlife tour Uganda Gorilla & chimpanzee trekking safari / Uganda wildlife tour

A game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park

From your lodging facility at Queen Elizabeth park after early breakfast, you are driven to the park for a morning game drive. This less tiring activity offers you about 2-4hours of wildlife sightings including lions, zebras, waterbucks and many more. After lunch in the afternoon you will embark on a boat cruise along the 45km long Kazinga channel. Here you will have the opportunity to view great numbers of wildlife like elephants monitor lizards, crocodiles, hippos, buffaloes and several bird species. On a return drive to your hotel/lodge you have an evening game drive towards the hotel/lodge.

Accommodation options: Luxury/Up-market: Mweya safari lodge Mid-range/Standard: Enganzi Lodge

Day 9 of the 13 Days wildlife tour Uganda Gorilla & chimpanzee trekking safari / Uganda wildlife tour

After breakfast, you are transferred to Bwindi impenetrable national park through the Ishasha sector popular for tree climbing lions for an en route game drive with possible sightings of the tree climbing lions, buffaloes, elephants, water bucks, bush bucks, Uganda Kobs and many more. You arrive in the evening for check in at an accommodation in Bwindi impenetrable national park.

Accommodation options: Luxury/ Up-market: Chameleon hill lodge Mid-range/Standard: Gorilla mist camp / Haven Lodge Buhoma

Day 10 of the 13 Days wildlife tour Uganda Gorilla & chimpanzee trekking safari / Uganda wildlife tour

The moment for a mountain gorilla encounter is finally here, expect to wake up early, have breakfast and then transfer to Bwindi park headquarters for gorilla trekking. Before you get into the gorilla homeland, you have a briefing by the park rangers on Uganda gorilla trekking safari etiquette at 8:00am for about 30 minutes. Potters who can help you carry any luggage such as packed lunch, water and any other items such as cameras are available and in case one fails to take on the trek of the steep mountains these potters do the pushing as well and when you totally a stretcher can be hired at a fee. About 2-8 hours are spent in the jungle and only 1 out of them in the presence of these gentle giants. A Uganda gorilla trekking certificate is received at the end of the trek at the park headquarters where you find your driver guide waiting to transfer you to your lodging facility for an overnight stay.

Accommodation options: Luxury/ Up-market: Chameleon hill lodge Mid-range/Standard: Gorilla mist camp / Haven Lodge Buhoma

Day 11 of the 13 Days wildlife tour Uganda Gorilla & chimpanzee trekking safari / Uganda wildlife tour

After breakfast-the last at the foothills of the gorilla home, you are drive to Lake Mburo National Park in kiruhura district. The drive takes you on a 272km journey about 6 hours drive driving past the beautiful Kigezi landscapes. Arriving in the afternoon, you check in, relax and spend the night at a booked accommodation in Lake Mburo National Park.

Accommodation options: Luxury / Up-market: Mihingo lodge Mid-range / standard: Rwakobo rock lodge/Arcadia lodge Mburo

Day 12 of the 13 Days wildlife tour Uganda Gorilla & chimpanzee trekking safari / Uganda wildlife tour

Animals in Lake Mburo National Park

 In the morning after breakfast, you go for a morning game drive in this beautiful and calm national park by 7:00am. Here you spend 2-4hours driving slowly through the park in a 4x4 open roof safari vehicle as you take wildlife pictures. Here you sight wild animals like the Zebras, Uganda Kobs, Impala’s and many more alongside several bird species and luckily the Red-faced barbet which is endemic to Lake Mburo National Park in Uganda. After the game drive, you have lunch and then go for an afternoon boat cruise on Lake Mburo whose formation is attached to a story of a rebellious brother who was destroyed by a flood that left behind the lake. In the evening, you return to your lodging facility where you spend the night.

Accommodation options: Luxury / Up-market: Mihingo lodge Mid-range / standard: Rwakobo rock lodge/Arcadia lodge Mburo

Day 13 of the 13 Days wildlife tour Uganda Gorilla & chimpanzee trekking safari / Uganda wildlife tour

You have breakfast early morning, then embark on the drive back to Entebbe international airport for a departure flight. You will have lunch en route at Igongo Cultural Centre in Mbarara where you can have an optional visit to the cultural museum that has a variety of antiquities and books about cultures of the west. After lunch, you proceed with the drive to Entebbe with a possible stop at a craft shop along the way for crafts shopping.  

End of the 13 Days wildlife tour Uganda Gorilla & chimpanzee trekking safari / Uganda wildlife tour

On long safaris, many tourists tailor their safaris in Uganda with a Kenya wildlife safari or wildlife safaris in Tanzania to Masai Mara Game Reserve and Serengeti National Park respectively to sight more wildlife.