This 9 Days Uganda Gorillas and Wildlife Safari is one of the unforgettable holiday package in Uganda, this package is planned to offer you the best of Africa’s wilderness by taking you on a visit to Bwindi impenetrable national park where you will encounter the endangered mountain gorillas and Queen Elizabeth national park where you will encounter abundant wildlife.
This journey begins in Entebbe or Kampala and ends in Entebbe or Kampala.
Highlights of 9 Days Uganda Gorillas and Wildlife Safari
Day 1: Arrival and Shoebill tracking
Day 2: transfer to Bwindi
Day 3: gorilla trekking
Day 4: walking safari across Bwindi Forest
Day 5: Optional activities
Day 6: transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park
Day 7: full day game drive
Day 8: morning game drive and Kazinga boat cruise
Day 9: transfer back to Kampala
Detailed itinerary of 9 Days Uganda Gorillas and Wildlife Safari
Day 1: Arrival and Shoebill tracking
Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be picked up by our guide who will give you a short briefing about the safari and head to Mabamba Swamp a paradise of bird-lovers. In the swamp you will spot the elusive shoe bills on a boat ride, in the evening you will return to your hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation options
Luxury: Serena Hotel
Midrange: Fair way Hotel
Budget: Forest Cottages
Meal plan: Half Board
Day 2: transfer to Bwindi
On the 2nd day of your 9 Days Uganda Gorillas and Wildlife Safari, Enjoy breakfast and as early as 06:00 you will embark on a journey to Bwindi impenetrable national park, along the way you will have a stopover at the Equator in Kayabwe for pictures and a chance to stand in Northern and Southern Hemisphere. You will have another stopover in Mbarara for lunch then proceed to the park arriving in evening, check into your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation options
Luxury: Buhoma Lodge
Midrange: Buhoma Haven Lodge
Budget: Buhoma Community camp
Meal plan: Full Board
Day 3: gorilla trekking
Start the day with early breakfast and head the park’s headquarters for briefing about mountain gorilla trekking, be grouped into 8 people and with packed lunch, you will head into the forests of Bwindi looking for the group assigned to you.
The trek takes approximately 4-8 hours depending on the gorilla family you are trekking and where they spent their previous night, when you encounter the gorilla you will spend one hour of witnessing their amazing behavior as they go on with their daily lives and take pictures as long as your flashlight is off as it irritate the gorillas.
Return to the park’s headquarters to pick your gorilla certificates and head back to your lodge, you will spend the evening resting at the lodge or head to the Batwa community for a cultural experience. Have dinner and spend overnight stay.
Meal plan: Full Board
Day 4: walking safari across Bwindi Forest
Wake up early for breakfast and head to the park for a walking safari guide, this activity is done in the misty early mornings so that the intense afternoon sunrays find you under the jungle canopy. On this activity you will be escorted with a local guide and two – gun bearing rangers for security, the trail walk carries about 4-5 hours.
Two trails in Bwindi meet somewhere in the jungle and meanders down to Buhoma Town, as a traveler you will have to choose one. The longer trail takes about 6 plus meanders along the Kashasha River and over several ridges, the shorter trail starts at Kashasha River down Nteko Valley and meanders along Ivy River. During the walk, you will get closer to the untamed rainforest, meet several animals and primates such as black and white colobus monkeys among others. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Meal plan: Full Board
Day 5: Optional activities
On the 5th day 9 Days Uganda Gorillas and Wildlife Safari, Today, you will pick any optional activity that matches your physical ability and interest, the optional activities you can do on this day include, trekking another gorilla sector/family, visit the Batwa forest people on their time – lapse cultural trail on which you will visit the medicine man and be entertained by their ancient tunes.
Another option activity is visiting the Ride 4 A Woman Charity Organization established to support women struggling with poverty, HIV and domestic violence. Have a walk around the camps and learn a few creative skills like local basket weaving, sewing and pottery.
Day 6: transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park
Have a leisurely breakfast and head to Queen Elizabeth national park through the Ishasha Southern Sector of the park hosting the tree climbing lions, as you drive through the Ishasha you will see these lazy giants lounging in fig tree branches if you are fortunate.
As you drive your lodge, you will also spot savannah animals like antelope species, elephants, buffaloes and leopards.
Accommodation options
Luxury: Ishasha Wilderness Camp
Midrange: Elephant Hab
Budget: Park view lodge
Meal plan: Full Board
Day 7: full day game drive
Wake up for breakfast and head to the park for a full day in the savannah plains on morning and afternoon game drives with a lunch break at the lodge. Queen Elizabeth national park is a home to a variety of wildlife including giant forest hogs, leopards, lions and many birds. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Meal plan: Full Board
Day 8: morning game drive and Kazinga boat cruise
On the 8th day of your Uganda Safari , have early breakfast and head to the Kasenyi plains of Queen Elizabeth national park for an encounter with herds of elephants, lions, cape buffaloes and many antelopes.
In the afternoon you will head to the Kazinga Channel at 14:00, as you cruise on the natural channel connecting Lake Edward to Lake George, you will enjoy sighs of elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks, Uganda kobs, hippos, rhinos among others. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Meal plan: Full Board
Day 9: transfer back to Kampala
On the 9th day your 9 Days Uganda Gorillas and Wildlife Safari, Have early breakfast, exit the park and embark on a journey back to Kampala with a stopover in Mbarara for lunch and when arrive in Kampala you will be dropped off at the airport for your departure flight back home.
End of 9 Uganda Gorillas and Wildlife Safari
9 Days Uganda Gorillas and Wildlife Safari includes
- Local English-speaking guides/driver
- Accommodation & Meals as indicated in itinerary
- Trekking permits & park fees
- Land transport in 4×4 safari truck with fuel
- Activities & excursions as shown in itinerary
9 Days Uganda Gorillas and Wildlife Safari Exclusions
- Extra meals, snacks, gratuities, souvenirs, service tips
- AMREF evacuation cover, and government taxes
- Travel Insurance
- Flights (international and domestic flights)
- Tourist Visa (apply online at visas.immigration.go.ug)
