Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safari Adventure- 8 Days

Day 1
The Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safari Adventure departs from Kampala setting off north-west on a scenic drive through the renowned Luwero Triangle. We travel to Masindi town via the Ziwa Rhino Project, stopping to visit the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. At the sanctuary we go rhino trekking to see the only rhinos in the country – a highlight on our Ugandan Safari. After lunch, we head to Murchison, set at the top of the Murchison Falls with panoramic views of the Victoria Nile section of the White Nile. At the Falls the river plummets 45 metres into the gorge below! We admire the Nile River as it passes through a seven meter canyon at the roaring falls, forming rainbows in the misty spray above. Overnight and dinner at an affordable lodge beside the river.

Day 2
Day two of our Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safari kicks off with a fresh cup of African produced coffee. We then cross the River Nile on a ferry, making our way onto the northern banks of the Murchison Falls National Park. Your guide takes you in search of Africa’s wildlife, including elephant, lion, buffalo, Rothschild’s giraffe, hyena and numerous crocodiles and hippos. The national park is also home to various antelopes, such as hartebeest, waterbuck, Oribi, bushbuck, and reedbuck. If we are lucky we may even spot the elusive leopard in the park. We return to the lodge for breakfast and a rest. After lunch we embark on a boat cruise on the calm waters of the Victoria Nile. Along the way we keep an eye out for wallowing hippos and crocodiles from our boat. We may also sight other wild animals as we go, including elephant, waterbuck and Uganda Kob found along this 17 km stretch of river. This riverine area also hosts numerous bird species, from the Goliath heron, Egyptian goose and pelican bee-eater, to the kingfisher, hornbill, cormorant and rare shoebill stork.
Our boat cruise takes us to the base of the Murchison Falls, stopping tens of meters away from the “Devil’s Cauldron”. We leave the boat at the base of the falls and hike to the top of the falls, which takes about an hour. We get to see the falls from a new perspective as we hike, admiring the world’s longest river as it courses through the narrow cleft in the Rift Valley escarpment. Your driver and guide takes you back to the lodge from the top of the falls.

Overnight and dinner at the same river lodge as the first night on safari.

Day 3
Today is spent driving south to the market town of Fort Portal via Hoima. We pass through the lush countryside of farms and traditional homesteads on the Albertine Rift escarpment. Fort-Portal is located in a lush, tea growing region at the base of the mystic Rwenzori Mountains, also called the Mountains of the Moon, in Uganda. Meals and overnight at a beautifully located lodge offering views of the dramatic Crater Lake and the scenic Mountains of the Moon.

Day 4
Our day starts early, with chimpanzee tracking in Kibale National Park, home to an impressive 500 chimpanzees. The dense jungles of Kibale Park are the best place to view chimpanzees in Africa. In the afternoon we travel south to the Queen Elizabeth National Park, taking in the sights and looking out for game as we drive.
Dinner and overnight stay at a comfortable budget lodge.

Day 5
After coffee we set off on an early morning game drive in Queen Elizabeth Park, exploring the area of Kasenyi Plains and Queens Mile, near Lake George. Wildlife sightings include plenty of Uganda Kobs, elephants, lions, buffalo, waterbuck, warthogs and various birds. After our game drive, we return to the lodge for breakfast and a rest.
After lunch at the lodge, we embark on a two-hour long boat trip on the Kazinga Channel, getting up close to hippos, buffalos and other wildlife.
The boat trip offers excellent bird watching opportunities. The banks of the channel are home to a rich variety of birds, including Pink-backed Pelicans, Pied and Malachite Kingfishers and Saddle-billed Stork.
Dinner and overnight stay at the affordable, yet comfortable safari lodge.

Day 6
Day six starts with breakfast before we take a guided primate walk in the Kyambura Gorge in search of chimpanzees and other primates. We make our way to Ishasha after our chimpanzee walk in the lush gorge. This journey takes us along the impressive craters of the western Rift Valley escarpment and the Ishasha section of Queen Elizabeth National Park. We take a game drive en route, looking out for wildlife, especially the tree-climbing lions found in this southern part of the game park.
The rewarding four-hour drive brings us to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in the evening. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge.

Day 7
Day seven starts with an early morning breakfast, before meeting up with our official guide from the Uganda Wildlife Authority, for the once-in-a-lifetime experience of trekking mountain gorillas in the wild. We head off into the dense vegetation of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, famous for endangered gorilla trekking. Trekking these endangered gorillas is the highlight of visiting Uganda, considered one of the most remarkable wildlife encounters on earth. This gorilla walk can take up to six hours, so a reasonable degree of fitness and a sturdy pair of walking shoes are required. The thrill of encountering these gentle primates in the wild is well worth the sometimes challenging trek through the thick undergrowth.
This rewarding trek through the jungle takes us in search of a group of gorillas. Once we find the African Mountain Gorillas we spend some time watching them feed and interact with each other. We get to hear the gorillas communicating with one another and marvel at the sheer size of the dominant adult male gorillas, called Silverbacks. Encountering these giant apes is one of Africa’s rarest and most poignant wildlife experiences.
In the afternoon we explore a local community on foot, if there is enough time. Our visit contributes to the well being of the community and gives us the chance to gain insight into the ways of the Ugandan people living near Bwindi Park. After our village walk we return to the camp and have a drink together, recounting our unforgettable adventures with the African Mountain Gorillas.
Dinner and overnight stay at lodge.

Day 8
We enjoy an early breakfast on day eight and then return to Kampala, visiting Igongo Cultural village en route. Here we learn about the Bahima and Ankole cultures of Uganda, glimpsing the history of these interesting people. We cross the Equator, stopping to take photographs and to have lunch along the way. We arrive back in Kampala and Entebbe in time to catch onward flights (airport transfer on request), bringing this Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safari Adventure to a close.