10 Days Uganda Gorilla and Wildlife

Be up early, have breakfast and drive off to Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Once there, you will proceed for an hour of on-foot rhino tracking. From the rhino tracking, head to Masindi where you will have a lunch stop. After lunch, embark on the transfer to Murchison Falls NP. The highlights of this park include the roaring rapids of the Murchison, the rolling plains of Uganda’s largest National Park where you will have the chance of viewing lions, giraffes, hartebeest, buffalo, and elephants. Then surely, the concentration of hippos and the Nile crocodiles here will fascinate you. If interested and time allows, we can proceed for a late afternoon-evening game drive.

Have your breakfast, depart for an early morning game drive across the rolling plains of Uganda’s largest national park and be on the look for wildlife including lions and leopards (though hard to spot) among others. For any birders, there are quite a number of birds to sight too during the drive. Return to the accommodation for some rest time and lunch. After lunch, you will head out for the boat trip to the base of Murchison Falls where you will also be able to catch sight of more animals including pods of hippos, crocodiles and several water birds.

Optional activity (extra cost 15$): If interested, you can hike to the top of the falls. The hike may be a strenuous one but the thrill on reaching the top is unforgettable.

We will have breakfast and then drive to the top of Murchison Falls to truly appreciate the beauty and magnificence of the falls. From the top, we shall embark on a transfer that will see us overnight at the edge of Kibale Forest National Park. The drive is quite long but incredibly scenic – passing through villages, lush green countryside and hills dotted with tea plantations that characterize this part of Uganda. The beautiful scenery will amaze you all the way. Upon arrival at the accommodation, check in and just relax.

Optional (extra cost 15$): If interested, you can proceed for the crater lakes excursion. You will enjoy the beauty of the numerous small lakes, surrounded by gentle hills, and the stunning views all around.

Have breakfast and proceed for the Bigodi wetlands excursion. The Bigodi wetland boasts an array of biodiversity among which are several primate species including the black and white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkey, and baboons. Bigodi is also a paradise for bird watchers, species include the great blue turaco. From Bigodi, you transfer (about 2hrs) to Queen Elizabeth National Park, arriving early enough to have lunch, rest and then head out game viewing. During the game drive, look out for wild animals like reedbuck, bushbuck, kob, warthogs, elephants, lions and buffaloes to mention but a few. Alternatively, you could choose to go for the Queen’s breathtaking explosion crater drive instead. Return to the accommodation and take your rest.

Be up early, have breakfast and drive out to the nearby Kalinzu Forest Reserve. The forest is home to habituated chimpanzees plus other primates including baboons, monkeys as well as bird species. Today, you will spend the early part of the day tracking chimpanzees here. Thereafter, 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 proceed for a brief late afternoon game drive and later return to the lodge.

Be up early and proceed for an early morning game drive in the Kasenyi plains. Be on the look for Cape buffalos, herds of elephants, lions and leopards (though hard to spot) among others. Return to the lodge and check out then head to Ishasha sector in search of tree-climbing lions. The chance of spotting these lions is about 70% though sometimes they are hard to spot (most especially when they are down in the grassland looking for prey). Should you get to spot them, the sight is picturesque and memorable. From Ishasha, we shall continue to the accommodation at the edge of Bwindi National Park (Ruhija sector), arriving in the evening at 5 or 6pm.

Have breakfast and move to the rangers post. You will receive a briefing (from a ranger guide) on the dos and don’ts during trekking. Thereafter, you will enter the Bwindi Forest for your adventure. 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.

Have breakfast and set off to Lake Mburo National Park via Mbarara City. You will arrive at the accommodation in Lake Mburo in time for a rest before moving out for an afternoon-to-evening game drive. On the game drive, expect to see the gigantic eland antelopes, zebras, topi, impalas, Uganda kob and Cape buffalos among others. Later, relax at the accommodation where you will spend the night.

Optional (extra cost 30$): If interested, you may consider the night game drive to encounter nocturnal creatures which will be a rare sighting compared to the regular daytime sightings.

Enjoy your early breakfast and proceed for a Mburo morning 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 rangez ebras, giraffes, 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.