8-Day Gorilla-Chimp-Tracking-Explosive Wildlife-Culture
Safari Highlights
Our fascinating 8- day safari takes you to one of the most beautiful places on earth- Lake Bunyonyi as well as a face to face encounter with the Giants of the wild- the Mountain Gorilla and the Chimpanzee. See Crater Lakes and big game in Queen Elizabeth, cruise the River Nile and traverse the tranquil savannah countryside. Also sight Africa’s third highest and most rugged Mountain Rwenzori. But it all begins with a visit to the world’s most powerful waterfalls in Murchison Falls National Park!
Day 1: Departure & Cruise in Murchison Falls National Park
Murchison Falls N.P. is Uganda’s largest national park famous for the incredible savannah landscape and the breathtaking water falls where visitors marvel at how the world’s longest River, the Nile forces itself through a seven meter crack and thunders 45 metres downwards in a series of cascade creating an incomparable powerful sight.
7 AM: Depart Kampala and drive northwards along the Kampala- Gulu highway through the undulating and sometimes flat landscape of Luwero and Nakasongola Districts. Continue to Murchison Falls National Park for lunch and check-in.
After a mid-afternoon relaxation, proceed to a sunset cruise on the Nile (optional). Enjoy the glorious African sun set away in the open savannah.
Day 2: Scaling to the top of Murchison Falls
Commence the day with an early morning breakfast against the backdrop of the glorious African sun!
Embark on a memorable game drive where you will see, Rothschild’s giraffe, buffaloes, hartebeest, Uganda Kob and warthogs among others in the open savannah plains.
After lunch, embark on a boat cruise down to the base of the Murchison Falls where you will trek to the top of the falls. This is the highlight of your visit to Murchison which comes with the most dramatic view of the waterfalls at Top of Falls where the sight and sound of the Nile crashing down the falls makes an everlasting impression. Enroute you will encounter wildlife (hippos, crocodiles etc and other bird species) coming down to drink and bathe.
You can opt for leaving the boat at Fajao Gorge, climb to the top of the falls and ask your driver to pick you up. It is at this point that you will have great opportunity to take memorable photos as well.
Return to the Lodge for Dinner and overnight at Red Chilli- Full Board.
Day 3: Depart Murchison Falls enroute to Kibale NP
Depart Murchison Falls NP at 6.30 AM for the 6 to 7- hour drive and head to Kibale National Park- home of the Chimpanzee. The journey takes you through the cool undulating tea plantations along Kabarole District and later onto Fort Portal town also known as Uganda’s tourism town. In the afternoon, option of taking a nature walk at Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary or just stay, relax and enjoy the fascinating countryside terrain.
Lunch and Dinner at Chimpanzee Forest Guest House. (Meals FB).
Day 4: Chimpanzee tracking
In the morning, begin the chimp tracking at Kibale National Park- the primates capital of the world. Search through the forested area as move towards your prized target. Enjoy the sometimes tough adventure of the African rainforest Kibale is famously known for Chimpanzee tracking. The park is also home to a total of 70 mammal species, most famously 13 species of primates including the famous chimpanzee. It also contains over 375 species of birds. Return to lodge for Lunch.
In the afternoon, depart for Queen Elizabeth National Park through Fort Portal town. Drive past the imposing Rwenzori Mountains in the distance.
Arrive at the park and use the opportunity for a boat cruise and viewing some big water beasts like hippos and crocodiles.
Dinner and overnight at Mazike Valley Lodge (HB- Dinner and Breakfast).
Day 5: Game Safari & beyond- Crater Lakes
At Queen Elizabeth NP, we want to treat you to a different experience with and beyond the traditional safari.
Start the morning with a cool wild breakfast and head off to any of the dozens enormous craters carved dramatically into rolling green hills. This segment of the safari is a powerful combination of both game and the unique Crater Lakes that straddle along the great East African Rift Valley. End your drive with a visit to the Kazinga Channel which is a wide 32-kilometer long natural channel connecting the two Lakes; Lake Gorge and Lake Edward.
Return to Mazike lodge for dinner and overnight as you enjoy this beautiful lodge in the wilderness.
Day 6: Ishasha and Tree Climbing lions.
Today you will drive south to Ishasha, home of the tree climbing lions which requires early morning departure. Start your day with an early morning breakfast.
Arrive at Ishasha. If you are lucky, you will see the lion having made an early morning kill.
Catch glimpses of the mighty snow-capped Rwenzori Mountain in the distance through Kasese town as you depart for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in the late afternoon and arrive at Bwindi in early afternoon. It is here that the combination of the towering Bwindi impenetrable forest welcomes you as you prepare for the great ape tracking the next day. Sit by the imposing forest and enjoy the tranquil sounds of nature from forest insects to animals which give you the relaxing chance to reconnect with nature peacefully.
Accommodation at Gorilla Closeup Lodge. (Meals- FB).
Day 7: Face to Face with the Mountain Gorillas
It is D-day!
Preparations begin quite early with a quick breakfast to enable you catch up with the tracking groups. The hiking and tracking is both beautiful, tiresome and adventurous. The terrain can be treacherous and muddy while the tracking can take anywhere from two hours to eight hours. But it is all worth it as you come face to face with these dinosaurs of the wild described as the amazing “Gentle Giants.”
The gentle habits of these incredible creatures defy their size. You will be guided on how to behave in their presence as well as capture your lifetime memorable photos. You are restricted to only one hour because of safety and habituation reasons. But, it is all worth it. After tracking, depart for Lake Bunyonyi, described by some as the most beautiful on earth. After a short rest in the afternoon, hike the hilly landscape to spot the over 30 islands connected like dots in the Garden of Eden!
Lake Bunyonyi is also Africa’s second deepest Lake.
Day 8: Bunyonyi and Departure
After a relaxed morning breakfast still savouring the scenery, depart Lake Bunyonyi and head off towards Kampala. This is a 6-7 hour journey through the cool and beautiful Western Uganda. Stopover in Mbarara/ Igongo for lunch (for an optional detour of the Igongo cultural museum). Transfer to Kampala and onwards to Entebbe depending on your departure schedule.
End of safari!
We hope you do enjoy your holiday in this very gifted country that you are about to experience