21 Days Uganda gorillas, chimpanzees & wildlife safari

bufallo and hippos in a pool of water

Overview

Explore the pearl of Africa while taking this 21 Days Uganda Gorillas, Chimpanzees & Wildlife safari where you will visit different national parks, neighboring communities, city based attractions and wildlife sanctuaries. Trek chimpanzees in Kibale national park, gorillas in Bwindi and golden monkeys in Mgahinga National Park.

Wildlife viewing will be in the savannah parks of Lake Mburo, Queen Elizabeth, Murchison falls and Kidepo valley National Parks. Visit the local communities like the IK in Kidepo Valley National Park, Isunga Community in Kibale and Batwa community in Bwindi national Park to have a taste of African culture. Another amazing experience will be in Jinja where you will take part in different adventures like a boat cruise to source of the Nile, quad bikes, bungee jumping and many others.

Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and check-in a hotel in Entebbe

Arrive and be welcomed by the assigned driver guide, well experienced about Uganda who will quickly take you through a briefing about this great tour and Uganda at large. Acquire some necessary requirements you might not have brought and you need to use on this safari and then transfer to a hotel in Entebbe where you will spend a night.

Day 2: Visit Ngamba Island chimpanzee sanctuary

Wake up for your breakfast and take a boat cruise on the second fresh water body in the world and the largest in Africa and this is Lake Victoria. The boat cruise will take you to Ngamba Island for the best chimpanzee experience. This island holds over 50 chimpanzees that are orphans, they are treated, fed and taken care by a non-profit organization. You will feed these primates with the fruits on your arrival, learn and know more about the chimpanzees.

The distance to this island is 45km from Uganda wildlife education Centre and this will be of an added advantage where you will spot different animals in captive. Among others are the rhinos, giraffes, hippos, elephants, Chimps, crocodiles, lions and many more others. You will after head back to the hotel in Entebbe for your second night.

Day 3: Travel to Lake Mburo national park and game drive

Head to the smallest savannah national park in the pearl of African and also known to be the nearest to Kampala capital city. This journey will offer you the best of Uganda as you pass through different agricultural farms like coffee plantations, banana plantations, and different gardens.

Have stopover at the Uganda equator in Kayabwe which will create another memory of photography and experiment. Arrive and take an evening game drive where you will be able to spot animals like warthogs, impalas, zebras, buffalos, eland and many more.

Day 4: Game drive and boat cruise

Take part in another exciting moment after breakfast to meet more of the wildlife and these will include elands, impalas, zebras, warthogs, buffalos, hyenas and many more which will take 2 hours.

Take an afternoon boat cruise on one the lakes in the park where you will encounter the hippos, crocodiles and different bird sp3ieces luth the kingfishers, fish eagles, black crake, pelicans, cormorants and many more. This will take about 2 hours and it will be of great experience.

Day 5: Transfer to Mgahinga national park with a stopover in Mbarara - Igongo Cultural Centre

Leave early in the morning and head to Mgahinga national park, the smallest but rewarding national park in Uganda. Have a stopover in Mbarara where you will visit Igongo Cultural center with unique African culture of Banyankole. Have a short tour around the Kigezi-Ankole museum and around the premises of this cultural center.

Later, proceed with the journey as you enjoy the country side of this beautiful Kigezi region covered with terraced landscape, escarpments and the road located in the foothills. Arrive and check in the accommodation booked.

Day 6: Golden monkey trekking and transfer to Bwindi national park

Head for briefing after a heavy breakfast at the park office where the dos and don'ts will be stupilat3s such as use of flash light cameras is highly recommended since these primates enjoys the light, don’t feed wild animals, don't litter the park and much more. Trek into the forest and have a good time while watching over different eye-catching moments like the unique bird species and much more but on locating the golden monkeys, you will spend an hour with them and this will create an everlasting experience.

After head back to the lodge and be served with a lunch which will be followed by transferring to Bwindi impenetrable national park. This is famous to host almost half of the gorilla population in the world. Arrive and check in the booked lodge.

Day 7: Gorilla trekking and Batwa community experience

Head to the offices of the park after breakfast to attend briefing with fellow trekkers. This will take about 15 to 20 minutes as the park Warden crosschecks the trekking permits, later on, head into the forest to start the search and this will take about 3 to 5 hours while in the forest. The experience includes an hour while in the presence of these gentle giants and take kin watch over them to create memorable moments.

After lunch, you will encounter the Batwa pygmies in their community who will take you through the cultural entertainment in music and dances plus short experience of making fire using natural means. Head back to the lodge in the late evening for your dinner

Day 8: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park via Ishasha sector and boat cruise

Have a leisure breakfast and head to Queen Elizabeth national Park the most famous conservation area in Uganda and known for its diverse wildlife. Immediately on your arrival start the search of the rare tree climbing lions in Ishasha sector and find them resting in the tree branches. Proceed into the interior of the park in the afternoon and this will offer you a chance to explore more wildlife such as the elephants, buffalos, antelopes, warthogs and find your way to Kazinga Channel for a boat cruise.

This boat cruise will offer you a chance to spot animals like hippos, crocodiles as the elephants graze on the banks of the Channel. After a 2 hours experience, head to the booked lodge for checking in.

Day 9: Morning game drive and transfer to Kibale national park

Have a morning game drive in the savannahs of this park where you will be able to spot animals like buffalos, lion, hyenas, jackals, Uganda kobs, water-bucks, and many more. These will take about two hours which will be followed by late breakfast.

Head to Kibale national park with a stopovers in the Ndali-Kasenda crater lakes for photography and viewing. Arrive in the home of 23 primates in the evening and relax for the beast experience the next day.

Day 10: Chimpanzee tracking and Bigodi swamp walk

Head to Kanyanchu tourist information center where you will be able to engage in the briefing with fellow trekkers. This briefing is so important since it’s among the essential tools you require to have a great time while in the forest. The park ranger guide will guide you through the forest while searching for these primates and an hour will be granted or allocated to you while in the presence of these chimpanzees.

You will listen to them as they make different sounds but you are not allowed to repeat their voices since you don't know what they are communicating. After, head to Bigodi swamp where you will be able to take spot different primates and bird species like the great blue turacos, Papyrus gonolek, Vervet monkeys red tailed monkeys and much more. Head back to the lodge for dinner

Day 11: Full day in Fortportal at the edge of Kibale national park

Wake up on a leisure breakfast and after the driver guide will take you to Isunga Community. This is an amazing community at the edge of Kibale national park which has different attractions like the Isunga healing cold springs. These present a great significance to the people and believed to have healing elements that were left behind by their traditional healers.

Take part in different ceremonies like empaako naming and feast, entertainment will be all day and this will be for both Bakiga and Batooro the two tribes that live in this community. All this will start with a nature walk in the tea and coffee gardens hence offering a great view of Kibale forest.

Day 12: Visit Sempaya hot springs and Amabere Ganyinamwiru caves

Head to Semuliki National park for a great nature walk that will take you into the female and male hot springs. This will offer you a chance to explore the difference between the cold and hot springs but remember the journey to this park is amazing since it’s located on the foot hills of Rwenzori mountain ranges covered by the rift valley escarpments.

You will there after head back to Fortportal where you will visit Amabere caves and Nyakasura falls at the same point. Have a great day and a after check in the hotel in Fortportal to prepare for the next departure.

Day 13: Head to Murchison falls national park

Head to Murchison falls national park and amazing destination with two vegetation divided into two by the river Nile. The southern part is covered by woodland forest and the Northern part is covered by savannahs. The road trip will be on a slow pace as you pass through the tea plantations, forests, road side markets and small towns known as trading centers. You will arrive and head straight to the lodge for your dinner.

Day 14: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise

Engage in the morning game drive in the northern part where you will be able to spot different wildlife such as the lions, buffalos, hyenas, jackals, eland, bush bucks, water backs, elephants, leopards, olive baboons, Vervet monkeys and many more.

You will also take an afternoon boat cruise where you be able to spot hippos, crocodiles and much more. Each activity will take 2 hours but very rewarding and amazing.

Day 15: Transfer to Kidepo valley National Park

Head to Kidepo valley National Park early in the morning and this will take about 9 hours’ drive with a stopover to enjoy packed lunch. Kidepo national park is a true African wilderness, located in the most isolated and remote area in the north-east of Uganda. This park is known for beautiful scenery, large herds of buffalos in Africa and hot during day time and cold during the night.

Day 16-17: Explore Kidepo valley National Park

Within these two days, you will explore to the fullest the beauty of Kidepo valley National Park through game drives and cultural experiences. Visit the IK people who are located at the corner of Uganda and South Sudan. This amazing culture will entertain you through cultural music and dances, have a taste on their meals and explore real African lifestyle.

During the game drives, you will encounter different animals such as elephants, buffalos, jackals, zebras, giraffes, Jackson hartebeests, bushbucks, lions, leopards, baboons, and many more. This will create memorable experiences on this safari.

Day 18: Head to Soroti Town

Leave Kidepo early in the morning and embark on this day drive to Soroti Town. This town is amazing and in its midst, there is a big rock that’s amazing to hike. Arrive in the evening and take a shower after checking in at the hotel.

Day 19: Soroti Rock climbing and transfer to Jinja town

Hike Soroti rock and go to the viewing point to enjoy the surrounding scenic places. You will then transfer to Jinja town where you will have another night as you wind up to finish your 21 Days Uganda Gorillas, Chimps & Wildlife safari.

Day 20: Full day adventure in Jinja

Spend this day discovering the beauty of this famous city known for its adventurous experiences. You will start with a boat cruise to the source of R. Nile and this will offer you a chance to see where the longest river starts its journey to Mediterranean Sea. After here, you will head out for bungee jumping, quad biking, horseback riding and much more depending on your choice.

Day 21: Transfer back to Kampala

Head to Kampala on this day after a long tour and this will be of great experience. You will be dropped at the airport to mark the end of 21 Days Uganda gorillas, chimpanzees & wildlife safari.

Affiliations

UWA AUTO USAGA UTB