12 Days Uganda Safari & Gorilla tracking trip highlights the beauty of Uganda and the amazing wildlife viewing opportunities. Enjoy a boat cruise on the world famous River Nile to the mighty Murchison Falls, chimp trekking in Kibale, game viewing, and tree climbing lions watching you from their comfort zone at Queen Elizabeth National Park, ending with the magical thrill of gorilla trekking in Bwindi forest. All this is happening while driving from park to park with the lead of our skilled and knowledgeable guide. Accommodations are in stylish luxury lodges and tented camps
Day 01: Arrival at Entebbe Airport
On arrival in Entebbe you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel. Overnight at No. 5 Boutique or The Boma.
Day 02: Drive to Murchison Falls National Park
After breakfast you will depart for Murchison falls National park by road with your private guide and vehicle. Stop en-route for lunch and sightseeing. Arrive late afternoon at your lodge.
Day 03: Game drive and Nile River boat cruise
Early morning breakfast, then head for a game drive on the northern bank. In this section of the park, you will be able to spot lions, elephants, cape buffalos, Rothschild’s giraffes, Uganda kobs, Jackson hartebeests and many more antelope species. There is also a possibility of sighting a leopard. Lunch is at the lodge. In the afternoon take a private boat cruise to the base of the falls. Here you will see the River Nile, said to be the longest river in the world, crashing through the narrow gorge and forming the magnificent Murchison Falls. While on the boat cruise you will be able to see lots of hippopotamus, crocodiles, elephants, and other animals coming to quench their thirst at the Nile waters. There is also great bird life, including goliath herons, shoebill storks, kingfishers, cormorants, fish eagles and many more.
Day 04: Morning game drive in Murchison Falls
After breakfast, take a private boat cruise to the delta in search of the majestic shoebill stork, other birds, and more wildlife. Lunch will be at the lodge, and then in the afternoon we will drive to the top of the falls. Three nights’ accommodation will be at Baker’s Lodge or Murchison River Lodge.
Day 05: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
After breakfast, you will be picked by your driver guide and head to Fort Portal via Butiaba Escarpment and Hoima the Oil City, traveling through verdant countryside and passing traditional homesteads and farms. Fort Portal rests in the shadow of the fabled Mountains of the Moon. You will have a stopover at one of the biggest Tea Estates in Uganda. This is roughly a seven-hour drive. Packed lunch en route. Arrive later in the afternoon. This part of the country is also excellent for bird watching.
Day 06: Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale National Park
On this morning you will meet your guide, who will take you to the briefing/starting point. You will then be led by a ranger guide into the forest in search of chimpanzees and other primate species including red colobus monkeys, blue or Shykes monkeys, red-tail monkeys and grey-cheeked mangabeys. Olive baboons will be on the road, waiting to welcome you into their territory. Afternoon: second chimpanzee walk or at leisure.
Day 07: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park (3-4 hours) following the Ruwenzori Mountain Range. You will do a game drive on the way through the park to your lodge.
Day 08: Game drive and launch cruise on Kazinga Channel
On this morning you will be picked up by your guide to head to Kasenyi plains for a game drive in search of big cats, the herbivores and birds. After lunch you will go for a boat cruise on the Kazinga channel.
Day 09: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Depart the lodge this morning and continue game viewing through the Ishasha area, which is famous for tree climbing lions. Arrive at your camp in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (approximately a five to six hour drive that includes game viewing through an unremitting a vast belt of montane forest that is home to mountain gorillas and other rare primates.
Day 10: Gorilla tracking in Bwindi National Park
On this morning you will depart on your first gorilla trek, taking a picnic lunch with you. The hike usually begins at 8:00 am, where you depart with six or eight trekkers total plus your guides, armed rangers and any porters that you hire to carry your backpacks. Enjoy the remainder of the afternoon with birding in the forest.
Day 11: Second day of gorilla trekking
Today you can participate in an additional gorilla trek. In the afternoon you can enjoy one of the activities at the park, if time permits.
Day 12: Transfer from Bwindi to airstrip
This morning you will have breakfast in camp/lodge, and then transfer to the airstrip for your scheduled flight to Entebbe. Transfer to the Boma Hotel, where a dayroom has been reserved for you. Enjoy lunch at the hotel, a swim in the pool, and a chance to freshen up before transferring to the airport for your onward travel (to be determined).