18 Days Uganda Safari, Gorilla Trekking, Chimps Tracking, And Wildlife Tour

This comprehensive 18 Days Uganda Safari includes gorilla trekking in Bwindi, Chimp tracking in Kibale, Wildlife viewing, and more

The highlight of this 18 days Uganda Safari

• Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe international airport
• Day 2: depart to Jinja – the source of the Nile River
• Day 3: depart to Murchison Falls National Park
• Day 4: Game drive and launch cruise 
• Day 5: Top of the Murchison Falls and transfer to Hoima. 
• Day 6: Proceed to Fort Portal Area and then after transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
• Day 7: Chimp tracking and Bigodi nature walk 
• Day 8: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
• Day 9: Chimpanzee tracking and launch cruise
• Day 10: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park
• Day 11: Gorilla tracking and nature walk
• Day 12: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
• Day 13: Depart to Semuliki national park
• Day 14: Game drive and bird watching
• Day 15: Semuliki to Lake Mburo national park
• Day 16: Game drive and natural walk
• Day 17: cultural tour to the Banyankole community at Enyemebwa center
• Day 18: Departure.

Detailed 18 Days Uganda Safari, Gorilla Trekking, Chimps Tracking, And Wildlife Tour

Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe international airport

Ounce your arrival at the Entebbe international airport the main gateway to Uganda, you will meet and get greeted by our Maranatha tour and travel guide who will later drive you to Kampala for your dinner and overnight.

However, in case you arrive a bit in time, you will enjoy the Kampala city tour and visit places like Kasubi toms, Bahai temple, Namugongo shine among others if time allows. Dinner and an overnight

Recommended Accommodation:

• The Lodge (budget)
• Cassia Lodge
• Boma Guest House, (midrange)
• Hotel Africana
• Serena Hotel (luxury)
• Meal Plan: half board

Day 2: depart to Jinja – the source of the Nile River

After breakfast, our safari guide will meet you and brief you about the whole safari, and later he will drive you to the eastern side of Uganda to Jinja which is a drive of about 2 hours (80km) from Kampala Uganda’s capital and largest city.

You will pass via the Mabira forest Uganda’s largest forest, sugarcane plantation, and people’s home before you finally arrive in Jinja for a striking white water rafting at the source of the Nile the world’s longest river.

This experience will be guided by expert guides who are at your rescue in case the waters push you off the raft. This experience will go for an hour after coming back to the lodge for lunch and relax, then after, you will go for a boat cruise on the source Nile, at the boat cruise you will be gifted with chances of seeing various species of birds like beautiful kingfishers.

You will also have a chance to stop at the point where John Speke stood as the first European to discover the source of the River Nile. After the activity drive back to Kampala for dinner and overnight at Retreat from Jinja and settle in Kampala for overnight

Recommended Accommodation:

• The Lodge (budget)
• Cassia Lodge
• Boma Guest House, (midrange)
• Hotel Africana
• Serena Hotel (luxury)
• Meal Plan: Full board

Day 3 of the 18 Days Uganda Safari: depart to Murchison Falls National Park

This day early in the morning after breakfast, our safari guide will meet and drive you towards the northeastern part of Uganda passing through the Luweero Triangle and Nakasongola.

In case you are interested in tracking rhinos, you will branch off at Nakitoma and head to Ziwa rhino sanctuary and track these rare animals you will charge USD 50 per person. It marks the beginning of your moments with the big 5 of land animals.

After lunch at (Kolping Hotel Masindi), you will embark on a drive up to the top of the falls which offers a magnificent view. Here the Nile River, the longest river in the world, is forced through a narrow gap in the rock (only 7 meters wide) before brutally plunging down 43 meters.

After this wonderful site, you will be transferred to your booked accommodation. Dinner and an overnight

Recommended Accommodation:

• Paraa Safari Lodge,
• Pakuba Game Lodge(luxury),
• Nile Safari Lodge, Sambiya River Lodge,
• Bwana Temba Safari Lodge, (mid-range)
• Red Chill Rest Camp (budget)
• Red Chill Rest Camp.
• Meal Plan: full board

Day 4: Game drive and launch cruise 

Morning breakfast is followed by a transfer to the northern part of the park for a game drive to catch up with a wide variety of games that live at the park.

Games expected to see include elephants, buffaloes, bushbucks, lions, warthogs, giraffes, and a variety of bird species. After, take a slow drive back to the lodge for lunch.

After lunch, proceed for two hours launch cruise on the Nile River up to the substructure of the mighty Murchison falls for more opportunity to view various amazing species wildlife like schools of hippos, crocodiles, water birds along the river bank lucky visitors can spot the rare shoebills. After the activity drive back to the lodge for dinner and overnight

Recommended Accommodation:

• Paraa Safari Lodge,
• Pakuba Game Lodge(luxury),
• Nile Safari Lodge, Sambiya River Lodge,
• Bwana Temba Safari Lodge, (mid-range)
• Red Chill Rest Camp (budget)
• Meal Plan: full board

Day 5: Top of the Murchison Falls and transfer to Hoima. 

From here after breakfast, you will cross to the southern sector of the park to the top of the falls to explore the famous Murchison Falls.

Here the Nile, the longest river in the world is forced through a narrow gap in the rock only 7 meters wide, before ferociously plunging down 43 meters to the devil’s cauldron, take as many photos as you can.

Retire from the site and embark on the transfer to Hoima, with a stopover en route at Kabiro salt Gardens meet the heritage of this significant site. At the site, you will be feed with informative information from the guide at the site.

The Kibiro Salt Gardens has supported the livelihoods of the surrounding community dating far back to 900 years ago far before the coming of Europeans. The locals extract fine salt which they then exchange with the other communities for food and other items.

Continue with your journey to Hoima, you will arrive in the afternoon for relaxation as you wait for your dinner and overnight

Recommended Accommodation:

• Kontiki Hotel.
• Meal Plan: full board

Day 6 of the 18 Days Uganda Safari: Proceed to Fort Portal Area and then after transfer to Kibale National Park

This morning after breakfast, you will embark on the drive to the Fort Portal area; this will take you about 5 hours’ drive through the exciting countryside landscape of Kagadi and Kyenjojo with views of people’s homestead and farmland.

Have lunch in Fort portal, after go and visit the Amabere g’ Nyinamwiru Caves and hike the Fort Portal Crater Lake field. The guide at the place will give you a more informative and educative history about the place.

You visit the Amabere g’ Nnyinamwiru caves the breast-like features believed to have belonged to Nyinamwiru the daughter of Bukuku who was a self-enthroned King of the Bachwezi.

Retire back to the lodge if you still have time hike to the Fort Portal Crater Lake field where you traverse the challenging slopes of Kyeganywa hill surrounded by a range of crater lakes and crater caves presenting one of the beautiful scenic sites in Uganda. From here you will depart to Kibale Forest National Park for relaxation, dinner, and overnight

Recommended Accommodation:

• Kyaninga Lodge
• Primate Lodge Kibale
• Ndali Lodge
• Chimps Nest Lodge
• Chimpanzee Forest Guest House.
• Meal Plan: full board

Day 7: Chimp tracking and Bigodi nature walk 

After breakfast, report to the ranger station in Kibale forest national park before 8:00 am here you will first receive a short briefing about chimp tracking from the respective park rangers who will be your guides through the activity detailing the conduct of the exercise.

After heading to the forest following the ranger, guide to begin the most thought after activity at the park chimp tracking. The dense forests of Kibale comprise of lush flora with mature trees marked with huge buttress and climbers, impressive bird species including the African Pitta, Afep Pigeon, Green-breasted Pitta, however chimps are the most common dweller of the forest.

These delightful apes more closely related to humans than to any other living creature, are magnificent to watch as they squabble and play in fruitful trees or on tree branches.

Tracking time is unpredictable however it can from 1-6 hours as meeting them depends on where they spent their last night from, therefore some physical fitness is needed.

Once they are met you are strictly allowed only one hour with them taking photography as well as studying their behaviors.

While in the process of tracking chimps other primate species can be seen as the red colobus monkey, the rare L’Hoest, blue monkey, grey mangabey, pottos, black-faced vert money, baboons, many other species like butterflies, birds, buffaloes, giant forest hog among others are among the forest dwellers that are found in the forest.

After lunch, you will go for a guided walk in Bigodi wetland sanctuary to look for more species of primates and birds like the shining blue kingfisher, blue Throated Roller, see various species of trees among many other species plants. Dinner and an Overnight

Recommended Accommodation:

• Kyaninga Lodge
• Primate Lodge Kibale
• Ndali Lodge
• Chimps Nest Lodge
• Chimpanzee Forest Guest House.
• Meal Plan: full board

Day 8 of the 18 Days Uganda Safari: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

After breakfast, we will depart for Queen Elizabeth national park Uganda’s most diversified park with an incredible variety of wildlife species, from the open savannah to rain forest, dense swamps, and beautiful crater lakes to the immensity of Lake Edward.

The transfer to the QENP will take about 3-4 hours. We will enter the park via the northern crater area, which complies with beautiful lakes and rich grasslands which are set deep in the crater valley; this is one of the most breathtaking sceneries at the park.

You will arrive at the park in time for lunch. In the evening you will go for a game drive for an opportunity to spot various species of wildlife.

Games expected to see include lions, buffaloes, elephants, leopard, giant forest hog, Uganda kobs, spotted hyena, various species of birds’ kike the black-ramped buttonquail, Verreaux’s, African skimmer among many others, after taking a slow drive back to the lodge for dinner and an overnight

Recommended Accommodation:

• Mweya safari lodge
• Katara Lodge
• Jacana safari lodge
• Kyambura game lodge
• Ihamba lakeside lodge
• Simba safari lodge
• Engage lodge
• Meal Plan: full board

Day 9: Chimpanzee tracking and launch cruise

Wake up early for a morning breakfast, and then after you will have a short briefing from the park warden about the dos and don’ts while with the chimps. After, leave for 8:00 am chimp trek in the Kyambura George.

The ranger guide will take you deep into the forest to track our close relatives, chimps are tremendous fun to watch as they squabble and play in fruitful trees or tree branches.

Tracking may go from 1-6 hours since meeting them depends on where they spent their last night, once they are met only one hour is allowed to stay with them.

We will return back to the lodge for lunch. After lunch embarks on 2 hours launch cruise on the Kazinga channel that connects Lakes Edward and George, the launch cruise gives you the opportunity to view wildlife up close like schools of hippos, just feet away from the boat, buffaloes linger in the shallows as well as elephant.

The shores are also home to various species of birds including pink-backed pelicans, pied and malachite kingfishers, saddle-billed stork, and many others. Dinner and overnight

Recommended Accommodation:

• Mweya safari lodge
• Katara Lodge
• Jacana safari lodge
• Kyambura game lodge
• Ihamba lakeside lodge
• Simba safari lodge
• Engazi lodge
• Meal Plan: full board

Day 10: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park

This morning after breakfast, embark on 4 hours transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park a home to the endangered mountain gorillas, birdlife, and primate life, and it’s home to very many incredible varieties of flora.

Depending on the nature of the road, we will drive through the famous part of the park to the south known as the Ishasha sector; it’s known for its rare tree-climbing lions if lucky you can spot them sited on fig tree or tree branches.

Have lunch by the Ishasha river camp before continuing to Bwindi with a spectacular view throughout. Arrive in the evening for leisure as you’re waiting for tomorrow’s wonderful activity that’s gorilla tracking. Dinner and overnight

Recommended Accommodation:

• Buhoma Lodge,
• chameleon Hill lodge,
• mahogany lodge,
• Gorilla safari Lodge,
• Gorilla Mist Camp, Engazi Lodge,
• Ruhija Gorilla Friend Camp,
• Buhoma Community Camp Ground,
• Wagtail safari lodge.
• Meal Plan: full board

Day 11 of the 18 Days Uganda Safari: Gorilla tracking and nature walk

Wake up relatively early for a hearty breakfast to give you the energy needed for gorilla tracking. The guide will drive you to the park headquarters for registration and also receive short briefings about the dos and don’ts while with these giants.

After, set deep into the forest following the ranger guide to begin the gorilla tracking experience. This trek can take from half an hour to 8 hours so a reasonable degree of fitness is needs as well as tracking gears like a sturdy pair of walking shoes, long-sleeved shirts, and blouses.

Sit in the forest among the gorillas, listening to them grumble to each other, it’s really a breathtaking moment sitting in the dense rainforest knowing you are with the few remaining mountain gorillas in the world.

You are strictly allowed only one hour with ounce you meet these giants while taking photography as well as studying their behaviors.

After this delightful activity, get back to the lodge for late lunch. If you still have the energy this evening, go for a guided village walk to see how Ugandans live.

Recommended Accommodation:

• Buhoma Lodge,
• chameleon Hill lodge,
• mahogany lodge,
• Gorilla safari Lodge,
• Gorilla Mist Camp, Engazi Lodge,
• Ruhija Gorilla Friend Camp,
• Buhoma Community Camp Ground,
• Wagtail safari lodge.
• Meal Plan: full board

Day 12 of the 18 Days Uganda Safari: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi

This morning after breakfast, embark on the transfer to Lake Bunyonyi, the drive will go for about 4 hours. Lake Bunyonyi is one of the deepest lakes in Africa and it’s known as a home to very many small birds which feed and leave on the lake.

We will arrive in time at the lodge for lunch, in the afternoon we will take a boat ride around the lake, the canoe ride offers a fantastic view to various species of birds like the egrets, kingfisher among many others, spend the evening at leisure at the lodge. Meals and overnight

Recommended Accommodation:

• Luxury: Bird nest at Lake Bunyonyi Resort
• Midrange/midrange: Lake Bunyonyi Eco-resort
• Budget: Byoona Amagara Island Retreat or Wild Camping
• Meal Plan: full board

Day 13: Depart to Semuliki national park

From Lake Bunyonyi, we will make a transfer to Semuliki national park, the drive to the park will take about 5-6 hours drive with a fantastic view throughout, and we will arrive in time at the lodge for a late lunch.

In the evening we will visit the hot springs during the Sempaya nature walk one of the most interesting activities done at the park. Explore the hot springs both the female and the male hot springs.

The male hot spring is also known as Bitente has a wider pool while the female hot spring Nyansimbi features a hot boiling geyser that sprouts up to 2m high and boiling to more than 100 degrees Celsius.

Eggs and matooke (green plantation) can be cooked in this boiling water and enjoyed by hungry hikers. Dinner and overnight

Recommended Accommodation:

• Semuliki lodge
• Meal Plan: full board

Day 14 of the 18 Days Uganda Safari: Game drive and bird watching

Early morning breakfast after, we will drive to the Toro Semuliki wildlife reserve for a chance to catch up with early species that rush from their hideouts, games to see include the smaller and larger savannah elephants, buffaloes, waterbuck, crocodiles, warthogs, and Uganda kob just to mention but a few, with luck you may even see pygmy hippopotami, leopard, and elusive bushbabies.

After, we will get back to the lodge for lunch. In the late afternoon, we will visit the Sempaya and Ntandi the rewarding places for birders. Here you will spot various species of birds including the white-crested hornbill, Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill, Piping Hornbill, Yellow-throated Nicator among many others.

The shoebill stork is regularly seen at the close-quarter on Lake Albert and primate species can be seen including the Black and white colobus monkeys, if you still have energy still you can connect to Ntandi and visit the Batwa pygmies who are initially forest dwellers that were evicted to pave way for conservation.

They will entertain you through their cultural music and dance and they also narrate to you their history of existence. Dinner and overnight at Semulik lodge

Recommended Accommodation:

• Semuliki lodge
• Meal Plan: full board

Day 15: Semuliki to Lake Mburo national park

After breakfast at the lodge embark on a drive of about 3-4 hours up to Lake Mburo national park with good sights along the way. Arrive at the park in time for lunch and then after lunch, go for a boat trip on Lake Mburo.

The boat trip provides a good chance to spot hippos, crocodiles, just meters from the boat, many bird species that live and feed on the lake, buffaloes, and elephants can also be spotted along the shoreline. Dinner and an overnight

Recommended Accommodation:

• Lake View Hotel
• Rwenyo Tented Camp
• Arcadia Cottages
• Montana Mihingo safari lodge
• Meal Plan: full board

Day 16 of the 18 Days Uganda Safari: Game drive and natural walk

Wake up for breakfast after, we will go for a game drive at the Savannah part of the park to catch up with various species of animals, games expected to see include zebra, elephant, warthogs, eland, impala, Uganda kobs, waterbuck, buffaloes just to mention but a few.

Come back to the lodge for lunch, after lunch, we will enjoy the natural walk-through flora and fauna culminating into a ‘’Salt Lake’’ where you will be fortunate to see a minimum of 4 different species of animals while they lick the salty soil. Dinner and an overnight

Recommended Accommodation:

• Lake View Hotel
• Rwenyo Tented Camp
• Arcadia Cottages
• Montana Mihingo safari lodge
• Meal Plan: full board

Day 17: cultural tour to the Banyankole community at Enyemebwa centre

This morning after breakfast, do a morning game drive for more opportunity to view various species of animals, after taking a slow drive back to the lodge for lunch, after embark on another cultural tour to the Banyankole to see the Ankole long-horned cattle, participate in some of the local activities like milking of the Ankole long-horned cattle, participate in treating a sick animal, caring for cows like brushing their body using the locally made fiber after set back to the lodge and later depart back to Kampala with stopovers at the Equator Crossing in Kayabwe for informative talks and snacks. Continue to arrive in Kampala in the evening for relaxation, dinner, and overnight

Recommended Accommodation:

• The Lodge (budget),
• Cassia Lodge, Boma Guest House, (midrange)
• Hotel Africana, Serena Hotel (luxury)
• Meal Plan: full board

Day 18 of the 18 Days Uganda Safari: Departure.

After breakfast, do last-minute shopping and later transfer to Entebbe International Airport to meet your departure flight back home if scheduled on this day.

End of 18 Days Uganda Safari

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