9 Days-8 Nights Gorilla-Chimpanzee Tracking-Murchison Falls -Lake Bunyonyi-Wildlife Safari

Safari Highlights

Our fascinating 9- day safari takes you to one of the most beautiful places on earth- Lake

Bunyonyi (picture above) as well as a face to face encounter with the giants of the wild- the Mountain Gorilla and the chimpanzee. You will glide past crater Lakes and a tranquil countryside while Africa’s third highest and most rugged mountain- the Rwenzori imposes itself in the background. But it all begins with a visit to the world’s most powerful waterfalls at the Murchison Falls National Park.

You may also spot some big game, and then immerse yourself into some amazing natural habitats through nature walks along the way. Enjoy!

Day 1 Departure for 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 Road 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.

Dinner and accommodation at Paraa/ Murchison River Lodge

Day 2: Big Game Day & the Mighty Falls

Commence the day with an early morning breakfast against the backdrop of the glorious African sun!

Then 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.

Return to the lodge for lunch and some relaxation. After lunch, you will embark on a boat cruise that will take you down to the base of the Murchison falls where you will then trek to the top of the falls for the spectacular view of this incredible falls. It is at this point that you will have great opportunity to take memorable photos as well. Along the cruise on the Nile, you will encounter Hippos, crocodiles, antelopes, and several bird species.Return to the Lodge for Dinner and overnight:

Accommodation and Dinner- Murchison River Lodge/ Paraa Lodge

Day 3: Depart Murchison Falls enroute to Kampala.

After a leisurely breakfast, depart for Kampala by 8 AM. Check-in at Golf Course Hotel/ Golden Tulip for a restful night in preparation of the detour to Gorilla land. 

Day 4: Departure and Bigodi Nature Walk in Kibale NP.

Depart Kampala at 6.00 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 onto Fort Portal town also known as Uganda’s tourism town. Stopover for lunch.  In the afternoon, depart for a nature walk at Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary.

Day 5 - Visit to community and Hotspring

Start the day with a relaxing breakfast and suck up the cool refreshing breeze of south western Uganda as you gaze at the neat lush green tea estates and rolling hills.

(Optional) Depart for a nearby mystical Hot spring site and try out preparing a fresh egg or fresh cassava in the hot boiling water that emerges out of the ground in a science defying phenomenon. Also see local community take turns in bathing in this water they believe has supernatural healing powers.

Return to the lodge for lunch and a relaxing afternoon.Lunch and Dinner at Chimpanzee Forest Guest House. (Meals FB)

 

Day 6: Chimpanzee Tracking

In the morning, begin the chimp tracking at Kibale National Park- the primates capital of the world. Kibale is famously known for Chimpanzee tracking. The park is also home to a total of 70 mammal species, most famously 13 species of primate 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.

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 7: Bwindi and Body treatment

At Queen Elizabeth NP, we want to treat you to a different experience 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. Next drive to Kyambura Gorge and explore this ‘underground forest’ before a quick lunch. 

End your drive with a visit to the Kazinga Channel which is a wide 32-kilometre long natural channel connecting the two Lakes; Lake Gorge and Lake Edward.

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.

After about two hours, arrive at Bwindi at Rushaga Gate.

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 and dinner in Bwindi. (Meals- FB)

Day 8- Encounter 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 how to capture your lifetime memorable photos while in their presence. You are restricted to only one hour with the gorillas because of safety and habituation reasons. But again, it is all worth it.

You may also see other primates as well as monkeys, butterflies, birds and the incredible mist covered terrain. 

After tracking the gorillas, depart Bwindi for Lake Bunyonyi after enjoying your packed lunch

Arrive at Lake Bunyonyi in Kabale District, a place that some travelers have with tears described 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 which should leave you breathless! 

Lake Bunyonyi is also Africa’s second deepest Lake.

In Bunyonyi, there is also the optional sightseeing through the village walk/swim in the Lake if you fancy it.

A relaxing overnight at Acadia Lodges in Lake Bunyonyi (Meals HB- Dinner and Breakfast)

Day 9

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 (optional detour of the Igongo cultural museum)

Transfer to Kampala and onwards to Entebbe depending on your flight schedule.

End of safari !

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