This 10 day trip has it all! You’ll get to hang out with gorillas, trek with chimpanzees, go on safaris to see elephant, rhino, lions, leopard, hippos. You’ll get to see a vast variety of birds and also go in search of amazing reptile species!

Itinerary:

Day 1: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Mabama Swamp to look for Shoebills, & Visit the Top of the Falls.

After early morning breakfast, our driver guide will pick us up from your hotel, have you briefed about the itinerary and then get transferred to Mabamba Swamp. This is the best place to spot the rare shoebill at the Wetlands, which are also home to a variety of different bird species. Birding is done on traditional canoe; sailed through papyrus swamp, taking you to the best point of spotting the Shoebill bird among other rare African birds like the Malachite Kingfisher, African Jacana, and Saddle – billed Stork, among others. After shoebill watching, we will then get back to the shores and our safari guide will have us transferred to Murchison Falls National Park. Along the way, we will make a stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary where rhinos are being reintroduced to Uganda. Here you make a trek to see the rhinos close up. After rhino trekking, we will have lunch and continue on to the top of the falls and then to the lodge in Murchison Falls National Park. The top of the falls is the best spot to view how the Nile River showcases its true beauty as it penetrates through the 7m wide gorge, forming the most beautiful and strongest falls in the world. When you arrive at the site before setting the eyes on the falls, you will hear the roars of water as it hits the rocks and flows down a height of about 43m.

You’ll finally see these thrilling waterfalls like no other in the world

Accommodation: Ikorom Safari Lodge.

Day 2: Morning Game Drive and Afternoon Boat Cruise.

After an early cup of tea/coffee and your driver guide will pick you up from the lodge and set off for a game-drive in the park. You have a chance of seeing big cats hunting, Elephants, Giraffes, Buffalos, plus more as the checklist of mammals reaches 76. We continue browsing the Drive circuits to the Delta point for a cocktail of Birds and mammals. After, you will have a relaxed lunch and then in the afternoon, we have a 3-hours boat cruise to the base of the falls where you get to see the Hippos, Nile Crocodiles, Elephants and a variety of beautiful bird species along the banks. If you are a keen birder this might be your magnet to catch them. After the boat-cruise we head back to the lodge.

Accommodation: Ikorom Safari Lodge.

Day 3: Transfer to Kibale N/P (Night walk).

Early morning after breakfast, your driver guide will pick you up from the hotel and embark on a long drive to Kibale National Park. As you drive through the countryside, you will enjoy the remarkable landscapes, traditional homes and catch glimpses of the different striking bird species and primates. You will check-in to the hotel and then go for a night walk.

Accommodation: Guereza Canopy Lodge or Kibale Forest Lodge (depending on availability).

Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking and afternoon Bugodi Swamp.

Early in the morning after breakfast, your driver guide will transfer you to the briefing place. He will hand in your details and permits for registration and allocation of chimpanzee community to trek. You will then be allocated to a chimpanzee community and your ranger guide will lead you on the trek in search of this great ape. You will watch the chimpanzees in their natural habitat, as they swing from the branches in the canopy high above the forest floor where you will see them feed, play and rest. After lunch, you will relax and later go for an interesting nature walk in Bigodi swamp where you will be able to view different primate species, birds, mammals, view plant and tree species while enjoying the cool breeze. After this experience you will take a village walk that will lead you to the Coffee experience, banana beer making, basket making and traditional healer.

Accommodation: Guereza Canopy Lodge or Kibale Forest Lodge (depending on availability).

Day 5: Early Morning Transfer to Rwenzori Mountains, some herping (searching for reptiles and amphibians), then transfer to Queen (Afternoon game drive).

After your early morning breakfast, your driver guide will pick you up from your lodge and get transferred to Rwenzori Mountains also known as Mountains of the Moon. Upon reaching, we shall head for morning herping (looking for reptiles and amphibians), looking for different chameleon species and of course for great lakes bush vipers, which are very easy to find in the area. The common species found in this area are the Great lakes bush vipers, Johnstoni chameleons, side stripped chameleons, strange horned chameleons but not all are 100% guaranteed. After herping you will have lunch, and then get transferred to Queen Elizabeth National Park for an afternoon game drive. Upon reaching Queen Elizabeth NP and after checking into your lodge, your driver guide will pick you up from the lodge to go for an afternoon game drive which is commonly done in Kasenyi plains. During the game drive you will be able to view animals like buffaloes, elephants, Uganda kobs, warthogs, waterbucks, bushbucks among others which will be grazing in the open savannah plains. You will get the chance to view predators like lions and elephants if you are lucky and also view different bird species. After the game drive, you will drive back to the lodge for lunch.

Accommodation: Aardvark Safari Lodge.

Day 6: Morning Game Drive and Afternoon Boat Cruise in Queen Elizabeth NP.

Early morning after breakfast, your driver guide will pick you up from your lodge for an amazing game drive that may take about 4 – 5 hours. After the game drive, your driver guide will take you back to your lodge for lunch. After lunch, you will go for an amazing boat cruise on Kaziga channel – a water body that connects Lake Edward and Lake George. During the boat cruise you will be able to view large concentrations of hippos and Nile crocodiles in the water. You may also view elephants, buffaloes, warthogs (among others species), drinking water along the shores. You will also view water birds like hornbills, cormorants, kingfishers, bee-eaters, and fishing eagles. After the boat cruise which takes about 2 to 3 hours, you will return to the lodge for an evening relaxation and dinner.

Accommodation: Aardvark Safari Lodge.

Day 7: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.

Early morning after your breakfast, you will check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to get transferred to Bwindi impenetrable national park with en-route lunch. Upon arrival, you will check in to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Ride for a Woman Lodge.

Day 8: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi and Afternoon Nature / Community Walk or Ride 4 a Woman tour (NGO set up to empower women of Uganda).

After an early breakfast, you will carry packed lunch and meet up with your driver guide to go for a gorilla trekking briefing at the park headquarters. After the briefing you will be allocated a gorilla family to trek to with a park guide who is experienced with the trekking trails. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park takes about 30 minutes to 6 hours depending on where the gorillas are located. During trekking you will be able to view other primate species, different birds, plants and tree species among others. Once the gorillas are found, you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which gives you an opportunity to learn about their behaviours, watch them carry out their daily activities. You will have the opportunity to take photos and videos. After the one hour with the mountain gorillas, you will trek back to the starting point where you will be allocated a certificate for participating in gorilla trekking. You will then meet up with your driver guide and head for a nature walk / Community experience or go for a Ride 4 a Woman tour, which is an NGO set up to empower the women of Uganda. You will then return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Ride 4 a Woman Lodge.

Day 9: Transfer to Mityana for herping and forest walking.

Early in the morning, you will enjoy a relaxed breakfast, check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to get transferred to Mityana. It will be a long drive so you will have lunch along the way and a stopover at the Equator to take photos and buy souvenirs. From the equator we will head to Mityana for herping and forest walking.

Accommodation: Makanhill Resort Hotel.

Day 10: Herping in Mityana then Transfer to Entebbe.

After breakfast, we shall be leaving the hotel by at least 7:00am for the forest. Herping (searching for reptiles and amphibians) usually starts from 8:00am and ends depending on our targets met or not. We do not guarantee anything when it comes to snake excursions because we do not make appointment with these wonderful creatures. We work as a team, and of course we can't dictate nature. However, the target species during our herpetological expeditions in Mityana are the Gaboon vipers (B.Gabonica), Rhinoceros vipers (B. Arsicornis), Jameson's mambas (D. Jamesoni Kaimosae), Green bush vipers (A. squamigera), Rough scaled bush vipers (A. hispida), and many more. As a way of promoting community tourism, we do use some local guides who will be joining us to help in spotting.

Transfer to Entebbe.

Included:

Rhino tracking experience, park entrance fees/game drives in the two savannah parks, boat cruise fees in the two savannah parks, chimpanzee permits, gorilla trekking permits, local guides during snake expeditions, services of a Professional English-speaking driver guide, all accommodation (excluding accommodation if arriving early), pick up and drop off in Entebbe, vehicle and fuel, bottled drinking water and most meals.

Not Included:

Flights, visas, personal/ travel insurance, personal expenses like buying souvenirs, crafts, drinks, laundry services, tips, optional activities not included on the itinerary, hotel at Entebbe.

Price:

Retainer: (this will ensure your spot on the trip): USD $2225.00

Total Amount: USD $5200.00

Please note

This is Africa and you must be prepared for plans to change every now and again. We expect to do everything listed on this itinerary however, the itinerary is subject to change if circumstances like the weather compromises certain activities. If this happens, we will try our best to replace the activity with something equally as cool.