- Home
- Gorilla safaris
- Uganda safaris
- Uganda safari packages
- 1-2 Days Trips
- 3 Days Trips
- 4 -6 Days Trips
- 4 Days Chimpanzee and wildlife safari
- 4 Days Kidepo Valley Park Safari
- 4 Days Uganda gorilla and chimpanzee safari
- 5 Days Uganda gorilla and wildlife safari
- 6 Days Uganda gorilla and wildlife safari
- 6 days Uganda gorilla rwanda safari
- 6 Days Queen-Bwindi & Lake Mburo safari
- 6 Days Rwanda gorilla and wildlife safari
- 7 – 10 Days Trips
- 7 Days Pearl of Africa safari
- 7 Days Uganda chimpanzee and wildlife safari
- 7 Days Uganda holiday adventure
- 7 Days Uganda primates and wildlife safari
- 8 Days gorilla-chimpanzee & wildlife safari
- 8 Days Uganda Amazing Safari
- 9 Days chimpanzee-gorillas & adventure safari
- 10 Days Rwenzori hiking Adventure
- 10 Days Uganda Safari
- 10 Days Best uganda kenya safari
- 11 – 21 Days Trips
- 11 Days gorillas-chimpanzee & wildlife safari
- 12 Days Uganda gorilla and wildlife safari
- 14 Days Uganda wildlife safari
- 15 Days Uganda Adventure and Wildlife Safari
- 16 Days Uganda primates & wildlife safari
- 17 Days Uganda gorillas and wildlife safari
- 18 Days gorilla-chimpanzee & adventure safari
- 19 Days Uganda safari
- 21 Days Uganda safari
- Uganda birding safaris
- Uganda National parks
- Uganda safari packages
- Rwanda Tours
- Rwanda Safari packages
- 1 Day Kigali city tour safari
- 2 Days Akagera National Park Safari
- 2 Days Rwanda chimpanzee tracking safari
- 2 Days Rwanda gorilla trekking safari
- 3 Days Rwanda gorilla trekking safari
- 3 Days Nyungwe Rwanda Experience
- 3 Days Akagera wildlife safari Rwanda
- 4 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Safari
- 6 Days Rwanda gorilla and wildlife safari
- Rwanda National parks
- Rwanda Safari packages
- Kenya safaris
- Travel Blog
- Accommodation
- About Us
- Contact Us
17 Days Uganda Gorillas and Wildlife Safari
This 17 Days Uganda gorillas and wildlife safari: will take you to some of the best attractive places in Uganda the Pearl of Africa. Murchison Falls National Park also referred to as Kaberaga Falls is Uganda’s largest protected area and one of the most exciting to track animals, bird watching such as the shoebill, Giant Kingfisher, Giant Heron and more. Kibale Forest National Park is particularly rich in primates with at least 60 mammal species with 13 species recorded. The park is the most important stronghold of Ugandan red colobus but it supports eight other diurnal primate species; vervet, red-tailed, L’Hoest’s and blue monkeys; Uganda mangabey; black-and-white colobus; olive baboon and chimpanzee. Semuliki National Park for your game drive and primate sighting, Sempaya hot springs, springs have a geyser that shoots up from the 8 meters hole, and the water is at a high temperature. Queen Elizabeth National Park is a home to various mammals like the tree climbing lions in the Ishasha sector, crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes and much more. The park also holds different activities like bird watching whereby the park contains 600 bird species making it a must visit destination for birders and here Migratory birds are seen from November to April, boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel and Chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura Gorge. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park which is among the oldest forests. Besides the Gorillas, you will also have an opportunity to see other primates such as the baboons, red-tailed monkeys, chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys among others. The park also offers some of the best montane-forest (mountain-forest) bird watching in Africa with an estimation of over 350 bird species, 14 not recorded anywhere else in Uganda and migratory birds are present from November to April. Lake Bunyonyi “Place of many little birds” is in South-western Uganda between Kisoro and Kabale and it is close to the border with Rwanda. It is also well known as a deepest Lake thou some study insists that it is much deeper about 900m (3,000ft) leading it to its being the second deepest Lake in Africa. Lake Mburo National Park harbours several mammal species not easily observed elsewhere in the country. The park supports Uganda’s only remaining population of impala and is one of only two national parks where Burchell’s zebra occurs. Sipi Falls Adventure will take you to the Eastern region of Uganda in Kapchorwa where you will visit the beautiful sceneries of 3 waterfalls.
Detailed Itinerary
Activities
No. of Days
Inclusions & Exclusions
Required
Transport
Detailed Itinerary
SUMMARY
Day 1: Arrival – Transfer to the Hotel
Day 2: Travel to Murchison Falls National Park
Day 3: Game drive – Boat cruise
Day 4: Transfer to Kibale National Park
Day 5: Chimpanzee trekking – Bigodi wetland visit
Day 6: Transfer to Semuliki National Park
Day 7: Travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 8: Nature walk – Afternoon game drive
Day 9: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 10: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Day 11: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
Day 12: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park
Day 13: Nature walk – Transfer to Kampala
Day 14: Transfer to Jinja
Day 15: Transfer to Sipi falls in Mbale – Nature walks
Day 16: Visit the 3 falls water falls – Local Encounters
Day 17: Departure Entebbe/Kampala
DETAILED ITINERARY
Day 1: Arrival – Transfer to the Hotel
On your arrival, you will be picked by one of our representatives from Great Nest Image Safari and thereafter, you will be transferred to your booked hotel in Entebbe/Kampala for your accommodation. Depending on your arrival time, you can proceed to visit some of the places around Entebbe/Kampala like the busy big markets, African craft shops, gardens (for the bird lovers) or one of the biggest shopping malls around town.
Accommodation
- Innophine Hotel (Entebbe)/Prestige Hotel (Kampala)
- (Mid-range accommodation)
Meals & Drinks
- Breakfast
- Bottled Drinking water
Day 2: Travel to Murchison Falls National Park
After breakfast, you will start on your journey to Murchison Falls National Park. En route, make a visit to Ziwa Rhino sanctuary for your first Big 5 experience where you will have an hour of rhino tracking and another stop will be in Masindi in order to enjoy your lunch. We shall then proceed with our journey to Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s largest National Park where you will have the chance of viewing lions, giraffes, hartebeest, buffalo, and elephants. Reaching in the park late afternoon, you will visit the falls at the top where you will see the magnificent falls passing through the 7 m gap with rocks and form the Victoria Nile. Later you will check in your lodge and relax for the evening.
Accommodation
- Red Chili Rest Camp
- (Budget lodge located inside Murchison Falls National Park)
Meals & Drinks
- Breakfast
- Bottled drinking water
Day 3: Game drive – Boat cruise
You will have your breakfast early in the morning and go for an early morning game drive across the rolling plains of Uganda’s largest National Park and be on the lookout for wildlife including: lions, giraffe, elephants among others. For any birder, there are quite a number of birds to sight too during the drive like the kingfishers, standard night jar, herons and more. Later return to the lodge for some rest and lunch .After lunch, you will head out for a 2-3hr boat trip/launch cruise to the base of Murchison Falls where you will also be able to catch sight of more animals including Hippos and Crocodiles and several water birds like the kingfishers, wagtails, herons, shoebill and many more. Continue with a hike (if you like) to the top of the falls as you enjoy the thunderous roars of the magnificent falls as they make their way through an 8m gorge and falling at 43m to meet again the Victoria Nile. The hike may be a strenuous one but the thrill on reaching the top is unforgettable. Return to your accommodation and have a relaxed evening.
Accommodation
- Red Chili Rest Camp
- (Budget lodge located inside Murchison Falls National Park)
Meals & Drinks
- Breakfast
- Bottled drinking water
Day 4: Transfer to Kibale National Park
After breakfast, you will depart right away for Kibale Forest National Park and this drive is quite long but incredibly scenic, passing through villages, lush green countryside and hills dotted with tea plantations that characterize this part of Uganda. You will have a stopover in Hoima at any hotel to have your lunch and after drive pass Lake Nkusi joining along Lake Kyoga. You will as well enjoy fort portal which is in the foot hills of Rwenzori Mountains filled with tea plantations, you will have a chance to take to some photos then you will continue to Kibale National Park which is one of the great rain forest in Africa. Kibale National Park is popular for its primates like the chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys and L’Hoest’s monkey and while on your chimpanzee trails, you will see them swinging in the forest trees and others feeding on the wild fruits. You will reach and do little but check into your lodge where you will have dinner and the overnight rest.
Accommodation
- Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse
- (Mid-range guest house located just outside Kibale Forest National Park)
Meals & Drinks
- Breakfast
- Bottled Drinking water
Day 5: Chimpanzee trekking – Bigodi wetland visit
After an early morning breakfast, you will go to the park headquarters where you will be briefed about the do’s and don’ts while doing chimpanzee trekking. After, you will start your search for the chimpanzees within the park and this can take you half a day depending on the movements of these primates. These primates are the closest relatives to the human being and they share 98% of their DNA with that of the human beings. There are other primates in the area like the golden monkeys, baboons, L’Hoest monkey, white and black Colobus monkeys, red Colobus and blue monkeys. Other animals to watch include; forest elephants unique from the common type and giant forest hogs. This park is one of the great rain forests in Africa and has the largest community of chimpanzees consisting of 1-100 individuals. Later after lunch, you will take a guided nature walk to Bigodi swamp sanctuary, a good site for birders and here watch out for the Great Blue Turaco, Papyrus Gonolek, herons and kingfishers among others. Other primate species to view include; the bush pigs, baboons, bush bucks and more. Dinner and overnight stay at your lodge.
Accommodation
- Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse
- (Mid-range guest house located just outside Kibale Forest National Park)
Meals & Drinks
- Breakfast
- Bottled Drinking water
Day 6: Transfer to Semuliki National Park
After breakfast you will checkout and drive to Semuliki National Park western Uganda. Arrive and check in, enjoy your lunch and get ready for an evening game drive with chances of sighting the antelopes. The forest is home to 53 mammals of which 27 are large mammals and 11 species are endemic to the park including the pygmy antelope and two flying squirrel species. The park is home to forest elephant and buffalo which are smaller versions of their savannah-dwelling relatives. You will explore hot-springs like Mumbuga that resembles a geyser, it’s a source of salt to many wild animals and also attracts numerous shorebirds. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Accommodation
- Kirumia Guesthouse
Meals & Drinks
- Breakfast
- Bottled Drinking water
Day 7: Travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park
After an early morning breakfast, you will enjoy a walk along the foot hills of the Rwenzori Mountains were you will have a glance at the great peak of this mountains of the moon. After, you will transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park which is 3 hour’s drive away from Kibale National Park. You will drive Southwest through Fort portal and the Albertine Escarpment of the Western Rift Valley and you will have lunch on the way. From here you will continue to Mweya peninsula found in the Queen Elizabeth national park. This park was named after Queen Elizabeth the second and it has variety of wildlife species including; the impalas, kobs, forest hogs, elephants, buffaloes, tree climbing lions, and the cape buffaloes. The park also contains 600 bird species making it a must visit destination for birders to Uganda. You will arrive the Park in the evening, have dinner and overnight stay at the lodge.
Accommodation
- Engiri Game Lodge and Campsite
- (Budget lodge located just outside Queen Elizabeth National Park)
Meals & Drinks
- Breakfast
- Bottled Drinking water
Day 8: Nature walk – Afternoon game drive
After breakfast, you will go for a walk through the Maramagambo forest which is one of the second largest forests in Uganda. This forest is a habitat to a number of primates and harbors many wildlife species including; the butterflies, birds, bats and the chimpanzees which are found in Kyambura Gorge with in the forest. This walk will also take you to the volcanic caves which is a home to thousands of bat species as well as the predator pythons which prey on the bats that leave within the cave. Later in the afternoon after lunch, you will go for the game drive through the Ishasha sector where you will be able to view the tree climbing lions and other animal species including the birds, elephants, buffalos, kobs, monkeys and many more.
Accommodation
- Engiri game lodge and campsite
- (Budget lodge located just outside Queen Elizabeth National Park)
Meals & Drinks
- Breakfast
- Bottled Drinking water
Day 9: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Have breakfast in the morning then set off for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park through the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park famously known for its resident tree-climbing lions. The chance of spotting these lions is about 80% though sometimes are hard to spot most especially when they are down in the grassland looking for prey. You will continue to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park which is a big habitat for mountain gorillas in Uganda harboring an estimated 459 mountain gorillas, including several habituated groups, which you will trek. With a strenuous day ahead, you will do less on arrival but just check in your accommodation, relax as you prepare for the Bwindi gorilla trekking experience early in the morning the following day.
Accommodation
- Gorilla closeup lodge
- (Mid-range lodge outside Bwindi National Park)
Meals & Drinks
- Breakfast
- Bottled Drinking water
Day 10: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
You will have breakfast and then move to the rangers’ post and here you will receive some briefing on the dos and don’ts during the trekking. Thereafter, you will enter the gorilla sanctuary for your adventure. The area offers dramatic steeply forested landscape and is incredibly dense but crisscrossed by numerous animal trails allowing access to tourists. The time taken and the terrain vary with the movements of these great primates and once you have located a gorilla group, you will be allowed an hour in their presence. The experience of coming face to face with these peaceful giants is very overwhelming. Later you will head back to your lodge, freshen up, have lunch and in the after you can decided to visit the Batwa community, they will tell you their forest stories, learn about their culture, learn their dances as you join them in dancing and much more. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Accommodation
- Gorilla closeup lodge
- (Mid-range lodge outside Bwindi National Park)
Meals & Drinks
- Breakfast
- Bottled Drinking water
Day 11: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
You will have your breakfast and later depart for Lake Bunyonyi well known as the second deepest Lake in Africa and here you are in the base that was named by British’s great diplomat Winston Churchill as the Switzerland of Africa. The word Bunyonyi means “small birds” in direct translation which means that the lake is a must stopover for committed birders and besides that; its serpentine shape and numerous islands are other highlights one must look out for. Later in the afternoon, you will head out for a canoe/boat cruise ride on the lake, here you will be able to visit most of the Islands on the Lake that harbors 29 islands and almost every island with its own interesting history.
Day 12: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park
After breakfast, embark to the 4hours drive to Lake Mburo national park, a small but rich National park seated on an area of 371 sq km. Lake Mburo National Park is home to a big number of antelopes, Zebras, warthogs, reed bucks and a number of bird species. On your way, you will go through the rolling terraced hills of Kabale and have a stop in Mbarara for lunch. After, you will continue to park reaching late afternoon. Later you will have a 2 hour boat cruise on the lake and later have dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Accommodation:
- Mihingo Lodge
- (Budget lodge outside Lake Mburo National Park)
Meals & Drinks:
- Breakfast
- Bottle Drinking water
Day 13: Nature walk – Transfer to Kampala
After your early morning breakfast, you will enjoy a nature walk in Rubanga forest and while here; spot out different bird species, trees species and some primates. You will check out, have lunch and drive back to Kampala option for a stopover at the Equator. You will reach late in the evening, dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Accommodation
- Prestige Hotel
- (Mid-range accommodation)
Meals & Drinks
- Breakfast
- Bottled Drinking water
Day 14: Transfer to Jinja
After an early morning breakfast, you will start on your journey to Jinja City, Uganda’s former industrial town during the colonial times in Eastern Uganda. You will have a stopover at Ssezibwa falls for birding and nature trails then also at Mabira Forest for a short forest walk in search of forest birds and colobus monkeys. You will have lunch in Jinja and have an evening city tour. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Accommodation
- Hotel Paradise
- (Mid-range accommodation)
Meals & Drinks
- Breakfast
- Bottled Drinking water
Day 15: Transfer to Sipi falls in Mbale – Nature walks
After breakfast you will visit the source of the Nile, take pictures then continue to Sipi falls through Mbale. You will have lunch in Mbale town then continue to your with your journey and here you will just check in your lodge. Sipi falls forms a tranquility of beautifully landscape vegetation pillowed by a series of three waterfalls in Eastern Uganda, this magical point is the main starting point for most of the Mountain Elgon hiking Safari.
Accommodation
- Sipi River Lodge
- (Mid-range accommodation)
Meals & Drinks
- Breakfast
- Bottled Drinking water
Day 16: Visit the 3 falls water falls – Local Encounters
After your morning breakfast, you will have a guided walk visit to the 3 local waterfalls and here the hiking takes 7km nearly 4 hours to the falls. You will enjoy the water breeze, feel the cool weather after your long hike, you will sight see the Karamoja plains with your eyes stretching beyond the smoky native plains. You will also have a chance to interact with the locals, learn and participate in daily life activities like cooking and much more.
- Sipi River Lodge
- (Mid-range accommodation)
Meals & Drinks
- Breakfast
- Bottled Drinking water
Day 17: Departure Entebbe/Kampala
After your early morning breakfast we depart to Entebbe/Kampala, you will have a stopover in Jinja for lunch then proceed with your journey.
END OF SAFARI TOUR
BEST TIME TO VISIT
All the above parks can be visited throughout the year and all the activities can be enjoyed any time of the year.
Activities
- Game drives
- Boat cruise
- Zziwa rhino tracking
- Chimpanzee tracking
- Gorilla trekking
- Batwa cultural experience
- Nature walks
- Visit the top of the falls
- Visit the 3 water falls
No. of Days
Number of Days
17 Days / 16 Nights
Inclusions & Exclusions
Included
- All Park entry fees
- Gorilla permits
- Chimpanzee permits
- A professional driver/guide
- All transportation including fuel
- Launch cruise on Kazinga channel and Game drives
- All activities (included in the itinerary)
- All accommodation (included in the itinerary)
- All Taxes/VAT
- Roundtrip/Airport transfer
- Drinking water
Excluded
- International flights
- Personal items
- Meals
- Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
- Tips
- Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
Required
PERMITS
In Uganda chimpanzee and Gorilla tracking is done throughout the year. Chimpanzee permit goes for $50 per person while a Gorilla trekking permit goes for $700 per person and all these are payable through the Uganda Wildlife Authority or through our Company.
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SAFARI
- Gorilla and Chimpanzee trekking permits should be paid in advance through our Company or Uganda Wildlife Authority.
- Proof of Yellow fever vaccination.
- Good physical, fit health and mental condition.
- Uganda Visa which can be got on arrival at the Airport.
- Travelers must be at least 15 years old on the day of the trekking.
- Travel & Health insurance arranged from your home Country.
- Hiking shoes.
- Water proof Jacket.
- Long Sleeves shirt & Waterproof Pants.
- Warm Jacket.
Transport
Standard 4X4 Safari Vans/Land cruisers
Our standard mode of transport is by road and we use 4×4 Safari van and Land cruisers with open roof tops customized for game viewing and photography. Each Safari van/Land cruiser comes with a professionally trained driver/guide with fuel for the whole safari. Each client is entitled to a window seat and can take up to 8-10 people. We also have very comfortable super customs which can carry up 6 people with their luggage also have small vehicles like Alphads, Harrier and much more that can carry 4-5 people.
Our Special Safaris
