10 Days Uganda Big 5 Chimps & Gorilla

After breakfast at your hotel (or direct pick-up from airport), we will head north to Ziwa rhino sanctuary arriving at you lodge in time for lunch.  In the evening you will go on your rhino trek, seeing these wonderful animals on foot.  The trek usually takes one to two hours and at all times you will be accompanied by an armed ranger for both your and the animals safety.

Accommodation:

Amuka Lodge, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

After breakfast we’ll continue our journey north entering Murchison Falls National Park and stopping at the top of the thundering Murchison Falls for a packed lunch. After lunch you’ll take the 45 minute hike down to the foot of the falls and your boat waiting to take you downstream on the mighty White Nile. Along the way where you may see buffalo, elephants, warthog, and giraffe and of course vast numbers of different bird species as well as hippos and crocs. At the end of your boat trip you will be met by your driver guide and then transferred deep into the park to your lodge for the night, overlooking Lake Albert.

Accommodation:

Pakuba Safari Lodge, Murchison Falls NP

Your lodge is ideally situated for an early morning game drive as it sits close to the main wildlife areas.  This morning we’ll be on the lookout for giraffe, elephant, various antelope as well as lions, leopards and hyena. You’ll return to you lodge for lunch and in the afternoon have the chance to relax by the pool, cool off in your air-conditioned room or simply just take in the stunning views of the savannah and Lake Albert from the veranda.  An evening game drive is also available for any who wish.

Accommodation:

Pakuba Safari Lodge, Murchison Falls NP

An early start and a long but scenic drive south through forests and farmland.  You will stop for lunch en route and finally arrive at your lodge near Kibale NP in the late afternoon.

Accommodation:

Kibale Forest Camp

After breakfast you’ll take the short journey to Kibale NP where you will go on your Chimpanzee trek (minimum age 12 yrs.).  The trek usually takes around 2 to 4 hours but can be longer as we try to get close to man’s closest cousins.  If you find them you will spend an hour in their enthralling company.  You will return to you lodge for lunch and in the afternoon, if you still have the energy you walk (or drive) to the “top of the world” viewpoint with its views of crater lakes and the lovely Rwenzori mountains in the distance.

Accommodation:

Kibale Forest Camp

An early start to make the most of the swamp walk which offers spectacular forest canopy views and a huge variety of bird and primate life.  After the walk you’ll head down to the plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park, reaching your lodge in time for lunch.  After lunch you will venture out on your boat trip on the Kazinga Channel where you’ll find hippos, crocodiles, elephant buffalo and more on the shores, as well as learning a little of the life of local people who share this area with the animals.

Accommodation:

Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge

After an early breakfast you’ll depart for the Kasenyi Savannah, Queen Elizabeth National Park, for an early morning game drive. The savannah offers a great safari experience, with the opportunity to see lions, Uganda kob, hyena, elephant, warthog, waterbuck and possibly even the elusive leopard all with the stunning Rwenzori Mountains as a backdrop. You will then take your packed lunch on the Crater Explosion drive enjoying beautiful views of the enormous craters, the Rift Valley Escarpment and Lakes Edward and George and the Kazinga Channel below. After lunch you will head further west through the conservation area to the Ishasha sector of the park.

Accommodation:

Enjojo Lodge – Thatched Cottage

After an early start we’ll go for a game drive in the Ishasha sector of the park. While enjoying the African Adventure wilderness, we’ll be on the lookout for the famed tree climbing lions and healthy population of hyena as well as elephant, topi, hippos and many antelopes. After lunch at the lodge we’ll take the winding road travelling through the lakes, forests and mountains of western Uganda.  We reach our destination overlooking Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in the late afternoon.

Accommodation:  Bakiga Lodge- Cabin

Today’s the day!  Your guide will already have booked you in so after a briefing from your ranger you head on foot to find your gorilla group. Your Gorilla trek will be an exciting journey along forested slopes that can be slippers, entwined vines, bushes and bamboo vegetation before you reach the Gorilla family. The time taken can be as few as 30 minutes to as many as 7 hours but coming face to face with the Gorilla is a truly humbling and emotional experience. Each group is allowed a maximum of 1 hour with the gentle giants observing and learning about their behaviors while taking best shots of photos 

Accommodation:

Bird Nest Resort-Lake Bunyonyi

An early start before the long drive back to Kampala/Drop-off at Kigali Airport. Thus end of Uganda Big 5 Chimps & Gorilla.