13 Days Gorilla Safari Tour Wildlife Safari in Uganda – Overview

This 13 days Gorilla Tour Uganda is a wildlife safari in Uganda featuring Gorilla trekking, Chimpanzee tracking, amazing wildlife game drives, Culture encounters, community and cultural encounters, mountain hiking & scenic landscape viewing.

The 13 Days Gorilla Safari Tour Wildlife Safari in Uganda, 13 Days Gorilla Safari Tour Wildlife Safari in Uganda features a range of beautiful destination that fall within in the famous Albertine rift valley.

The safari involves wild game viewing in Murchison Falls National Park where the Big five of land animals can be encountered including elephant, lions, Buffaloes, leopards and Rhinos in the neighboring Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary not forgetting the aquatics of the Nile like Nile crocodile and hippos.

The safari also features chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park, Mount Rwenzori hiking, tour to the Kibiro Salt Gardens, Mpanga tea estate cycling, mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi, Island hopping on Lake Bunyonyi and Banyankole Cultural encounter on the boundary of Lake Mburo National Park.

13 Days Gorilla Safari Tour Wildlife Safari in Uganda – Highlights

Day 1: Arrive in Uganda

Day 2: Visit the Christ Our Vision Child Care and transfer to Murchison Falls National Park & visit the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

Day 3: Do morning game drive and afternoon Nile Launch cruise

Day 4: Encounter the top of the Murchison Falls & have an encounter with Boomu Community exploring the general setting of the local community

Day 5: Transfer to Hoima. Visit Kibiro Salt Gardens en route

Day 6: Transfer to Fort Portal & do either Mpanga Tea Estate Cycling or Visit the Amabere g’ Nnyinamwiru caves and Fort Portal Crater Lake hike or participate in Batooro naming ceremony and then transfer to Kibale National Park

Day 7: Do Chimpanzee trekking and transfer to Kasese. Visit the Rwenzori Art Foundation – the only bronze casting center in Africa, participate in Sculpture making and visit the Ruboni Craft village

Day 8: Do whole day Mount Rwenzori Hiking

Day 9: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Do a game drive in Ishasha in search of tree climbing lions

Day 10: Do gorilla trekking and have Bakiga / Batwa Cultural Performance at the lodge

Day 11: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi & do Island hopping

Day 12: Transfer to Nshaara along the boundaries of Lake Mburo National Park. Visit the Igongo Cultural Museum en route & upon arrival, visit the Banyankole community.

Day 13: Early morning transfer to Kampala for an afternoon flight departure

13 Days Gorilla Safari Tour Wildlife Safari in Uganda Itinerary – Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Uganda

Arrive in Uganda following your flight from the country of origin landing at Entebbe International Airport.

You will find our company representative waiting for you to offer a courteous welcome and briefing about the destination and various safari aspects after which you will transfer to the hotel for relaxation, diner and overnight

Main Destination: Entebbe International Airport and Kampala City

Main Activity: Arrival in Uganda

Accommodation: Sheraton Kampala Hotel (Upmarket / Luxury), Cassia Lodge (Midrange / Standard) or Buziga Country Resort (Budget / Basic)

Day 2: Visit the Christ Our Vision Child Care And Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park & Visit The Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

After breakfast, embark on the visit the Christ Our Vision Child Day Care Orphanage where Prime Safaris supports a count of disadvantaged children by offering them education and other basic necessities.

You attend their plays and chat with them to restore hope in their future. From there, you embark on the transfer to Murchison Falls National Park 311km about 5 hours’ drive.

Branch off at Nakitooma 115km from Kampala for 7km further reaching the Headquarters for Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.

You track white Rhinos thriving in a natural Savannah thicket marked with tall grass. The gigantic species are among the big five of Land animals and would definitely make your encounter rewarding.

After trekking Rhinos in Ziwa, settle for lunch and then continue on the drive to Murchison Falls NP arriving in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight

Main Destination: Murchison Falls National Park

Places to Visit: Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

Accommodation: Paraa Safari Lodge (Upmarket / Luxury), Pakuba Safari Lodge (Midrange / Standard) or Heritage Safari Lodge (Budget / Basic)

Day 3: Do Morning Game Drive And Afternoon Nile Launch Cruise

Connect to the park after breakfast to start the game drive at 7am in the northern section where the animals are known to thrive with better viewing possibilities.

The park has open Savannah rolling combretum with patches of borassus palms supporting counts of wild game including Rothschild giraffes, Elephants, Buffaloes, Jackson’s Hartebeest, Kobs, lions, leopards, and water bucks among others.

The range of tracks has been specially designed to allow you explore the park in detail. Retreat from the 3 hour activity and relax at the lodge up to lunch time after which you gather at Paraa Jetty for a thrilling boat cruise.

Congregate at Paraa jetty in the afternoon 2pm to embark on the boat cruise to the bottom of the falls. The boat cruise lasts 3 hours and offers you possibilities of encountering Nile crocodiles and Hippos.

Birds like the most sought after Shoebill Stork might also be seen on the river banks enjoying the cool waters of the Nile River.

Upon reaching the bottom of the falls, you encounter the roaring sounds of the Nile River with magical sightseeing encounters. Retreat from the activity and connect to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Main Destination: Murchison Falls National Park

Main Activity: Nile Boat Launch Cruise

Accommodation: Paraa Safari Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Pakuba Safari Lodge (Midrange / Standard) or Heritage Safari Lodge (Budget / Basic)

Day 4: Encounter The Top Of The Murchison Falls & Have An Encounter With Boomu Community Exploring The General Setting of The Local Community

After breakfast, connect to the southern section of the park to visit the top of the falls. You visit the top of Murchison Falls which is the powerful waterfall in the world with magical scenery.

You marvel at the Nile River as it squeezes itself to pass through a less than 8m ravine before falling 43m below to what has been termed as the Devil’s Cauldron forming a plume of spray surrounded by thunderous roar marked by a trade mark rainbow.

It is the greatest natural feature to ever happen on the Nile course. You retreat from the activity and undertake a walk in the village of Kigaragara, participate in craft making, encounter village black smith, the crops grown in the village, the traditional food preparation, experience with story tellers & a visit to the local nursery school.

You can also spend an overnight in the village bandas made up of mud and thatched by grass. If not, connect back to Murchison for relaxation and overnight

Main Destination: Murchison Falls National Park

Main Activity: Encounter Murchison Falls and Visit Boomu Community

Accommodation: Paraa Safari Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Pakuba Safari Lodge (Midrange / Standard) or Heritage Safari Lodge (Budget / Basic)

Day 5: Transfer to Hoima. Visit Kibiro Salt Gardens En-route

After breakfast, embark on the transfer to Hoima. You make a stop en route to visit the Kibiro Salt Gardens which dates back to over 900 years ago supporting the generations and generations of the area’s inhabitants.

The people depend on this salt as they exchange it with the neighboring community for food and get income by selling it.

The salt is extracted traditionally and exclusively by the local expert women. The footpath connecting to the site presents a challenging hiking encounter.

Retreat from the activity and embark on the transfer to Hoima arriving in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight

Main Destination: Hoima

Main Activity: Kibiro Salt Gardens

Accommodation: Kontiki Hotel

Day 6: Transfer to Fort Portal

After breakfast, embark on the transfer to Fort Portal Area about five hours drive. You drive through impressive rural landscapes of Kagadi and Kyenjonjo marked by lush green, local homesteads, livestock including local goats grazing along the way; banana and crop plantations.

You will arrive in the beautifully Fort Portal town welcomed by the towering Karuzika palace – the home of the King of Tooro.

You settle for lunch after which you continue to visit the Amabere g’ Nnyinamwiru caves which a site of cultural and geographical significance.

The caves are believed to be breasts of Nyinamwiru, a name that dates back to the Bachwezi dynasty. You listen to the traditional story behind their formation.

From the caves, you embark on the hike to the Fort Portal Crater lake field where you hike the famous Kyeganywa hill and its summit offers rewarding scenic views of the crater lakes and crater hollows below including Lake Kigere, Saaka and Lake Bikere.

Alternatively, you undertake an adventure cycling activity in the Mpanga tea estates. Connect to Mpanga Tea Estate Cycling exploring the impressive landscapes that are soaked with tea plants forming a lush green landscape with amazing scenery.

The undulating terrain makes it ideal for cycling encounter. However, this goes beyond cycling and you have chances of participating in the tea plucking exercise along with the estate staff.

Another option is participating in the Batooro name giving ceremony. The Batooro have the traditional function of giving pet names to their people and these include Amooti, Apuuli, Abwooli, Akiiki among others. It is a celebration event with a series of practices that are observed.

You are glad to be part of this cultural tradition and you have yourself crowned a mutooro pet name. You retreat from the activity and then embark on the transfer to Kibale National Park for relaxation, dinner and overnight

Main Destination: Kibale Forest National Park

Main Activity: Fort Portal Crater Lake hike or Batooro naming ceremony

Accommodation: Ndali Lodge (Upmarket / Luxury), Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse (Midrange / Standard) or Rwenzori View Guesthouse (Budget / Basic)

Day 7: Do Chimpanzee Trekking And Transfer to Kasese.

After breakfast, gather at Kanyanchu tourism center for briefing at 08:00am from the park rangers about the Chimp trekking conduct. Set off to this forest of Kibale after the short briefing in quest of Chimpanzees.

The 2 – 5 hour trek will expose you amazing tree species and wildlife including other 12 species of primates like Colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, Red tailed monkeys and olive baboons.

The sights of Birds cannot be avoided while their songs will offer you natural entertainment through the jungle.

You will marvel at the Chimpanzees as the roll themselves on tree branches, munch fruits and make their pant – hooting calls.

After utilizing your one hour, you will have a picnic lunch and return to the starting point for short relaxation and then transfer to Kasese.

The drive will reward you with the views of the towering Rwenzori Mountains and the rural landscapes not forgetting the magical sights of Ndali Kasenda crater field.

Arrive in Kasese in the afternoon and visit the Rwenzori Art Foundation which is the only bronze casting center in the whole of Africa with a wide range of sculptures that are exhibited in the gallery.

The site also offers you an opportunity to participate in the casting process. From the art foundation, you visit the Ruboni Community Craft village to encounter the local women as they put together different natural materials to produce very fine craft items that have earned themselves market on a world scale. Retreat from this encounter and connect to your lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight

Main Destination: Kibale Forest National Park

Main Activity: Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale Forest Park

Accommodation: Equator Snow Lodge (Upmarket / Luxury), Ihamba Safari Lodge (Midrange / Standard) or Ruboni Community Camp (Budget / Basic)

Day 8: Do Whole Day Mount Rwenzori Hiking

After breakfast at your lodge, gather at the Rwenzori National Park Headquarters to embark on a whole day adventurous hike to the legendary mountains of the moon – the Rwenzoris.

The Rwenzori Mountains being the 3^rd tallest in the African continent towers up to 5,109m, above sea level with snow-capped peaks despite its close rang to the world’s latitude and the sun’s way – the Equator.

The whole day hike enables you to explore its foothills offering magical views of the some peaks at distant ranges, the panoramic views of Kasese town, rolling Savannah plains of Queen Elizabeth and the patches of Rift Valley lakes below.

It’s an adventurous encounter of a life time on its short setting. Retreat from the activity and connect to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Main Destination: Mount Rwenzori National Park

Main Activity: Mount Rwenzori Hiking

Accommodation: Equator Snow Lodge (Upmarket / Luxury), Ihamba Safari Lodge (Midrange / Standard) or Ruboni Community Camp (Budget / Basic)

Day 9: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Do a Game Drive in Ishasha in Search of Tree Climbing Lions

After breakfast, embark on the transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. You undertake a game drive in Ishasha sector in the south of Queen Elizabeth National Park in search of tree climbing lions and other wild game.

The Ishasha is one of the only two places in the world where tree climbing lions can be encountered. They tend to lie in fig tree branches in the day time.

Continue on the drive to arrive in Bwindi in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight

Main Destination: Bwindi Impenetrable Park

Main Activity: Gorilla Trekking in the Park

Accommodation: Chameleon Hill Lodge (Upmarket / Luxury), Gorilla Mist Camp (Midrange / Standard) or Broadbill Forest Camp (Budget /Basic)

Day 10: Do Gorilla Trekking And Have Bakiga / Batwa Cultural Performance At The Lodge

After breakfast, gather at the respective park headquarters for briefing at 8am and eventual start of the gorilla trekking encounter.

You follow the trails of your respective gorilla family traversing the forest with is hilly forested landscapes and deep saddles.

The hills are forested with mature trees and dense undergrowth that have earned it the name Impenetrable. The gorilla trekking encounter tends to last 2 – 8 hours inclusive of one (1) hour direct encounter with them.

Seeing the critically endangered apes as they forage, socialize, the young gorillas rolling themselves on tree branches and the Silverback demonstrating his authority is a moment of wonder that derives remarkable excitement. Retreat from the activity and return to the lodge for relaxation.

In the evening, you attend to the Batwa / Bakiga Performance with their impressive energetic dance where the best dancer is the one who shakes the ground. The performance demonstrate their history, traditions and heritage. Retire for dinner and overnight

Main Activity Gorilla Trekking

Accommodation: Chameleon Hill Lodge (Upmarket / Luxury), Gorilla Mist Camp (Midrange / Standard) or Broadbill Forest Camp (Budget /Basic)

Day 11: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi & Do Island Hopping

After breakfast, connect to Lake Bunyonyi also known as the lake of a thousand Islands driving through the impressive Kigezi Highlands that have been inhabited for centuries past and cultivated using terracing method deriving one of the magical scenery that you can ever have in Africa.

Upon arriving at Bunyonyi, you embark on an adventurous Island Hopping exploring the main Islands of Lake Bunyonyi including the Njuyera Sharps which is known as the leprosy treatment center, the Bucuranuka also known as Upside down known for turning upside down and burying its inhabitants as a result of curses from an old woman, the Kyahugye and Bushara Island.

The Islands have a range of tribal communities that have got impressive traditions including the local brewing process, the traditional meal preparation and the general lifestyle of the Islanders.

You also visit the local schools and hospitals and attend to the traditional performance of the local communities. Retreat in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Main Destination: Lake Bunyonyi

Main Activity: Boat Cruise

Accommodation: Birdnest @Lake Bunyonyi Resort (Upmarket / Luxury), Lake Bunyonyi Eco-resort (Midrange / Standard) or Byoona Amagara Island Retreat (Budget / Basic)

Day 12 : Transfer to Nshaara Along The Boundaries of Lake Mburo National Park.

After breakfast, transfer to Nshaara area on the boarder of Lake Mburo National Park. You make a stop at Igongo Cultural Museum to visit the cultural museum which features a wide range of artifacts of the tribes of south western Uganda including the Banyankole and the Bakiga.

There are impressive sculptures, fetishes, drawings, writings, tools and other collections that date back the ancient era thus talking you back to the old days of these people.

You settle for lunch after which you will transfer to the Enyemebwa center to immerse yourself in the Banyankole culture.

Arriving in the afternoon, you find the women making lids for the milk pots seated on cow hides just close to the milk pot platform.

They give you a themed interpretation of their entire setting of the homestead and the inside of their impressive architectural huts.

You can participate in the craft making. After this encounter, you slope to the traditional range-lands of Ankole to catch up with the herd’s men rearing their beautiful long horned cattle while playing impressive grazing instruments like flutes.

You can participate in the watering of the animals as they drink for the second time on their soil made water troughs.

An evening grazing is very calm and you are treated to the breaths and mows of the cows as they graze towards the homestead for an evening milking encounter.

You participate in traditional hand milking, preparing of smoke for the cattle while for women, it would be impressive to encounter the washing of milk pots and calabashes, smoking them and eventually using them for milking and storing milk.

Also participate in traditional food preparation which you can have for dinner with the locals. Settle for traditional performances in the evening including the traditional citations, singing and dancing. Retire for overnight.

Main Destination: Lake Mburo National Park

Main Activity: Igongo Cultural Museum and wildlife

Accommodation: Mihingo Safari Lodge (Upmarket / Luxury), Rwakobo Rock (Midrange / Standard) or Eagles Nest (Budget / Basic)

Day 13: Early Morning Transfer to Kampala For An Afternoon Flight Departure

After breakfast, embark on the transfer to Kampala 240km about 3 – 4 hours’ drive. You make a stop at Uganda Equator crossing Kayabwe for amazing photo shoots and water experiments that justifies divide between the north and south hemispheres. Continue in the drive to arrive in Kampala and Entebbe for flight departure

End of The 13 Days Gorilla Safari Tour Wildlife Safari in Uganda.