9 Days Wilderness Camping Self Drive Safari in Uganda Detailed itinerary Safari

Day 1 of the 10 Days Uganda Gorillas Chimps Self Drive Safari Africa Gorilla trekking Self Drive safari: Transfer to the Uganda safari destination of Murchison Falls National Park. Make a stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for white Rhino tracking en route & visit the top of the falls on arrival

Very early in the morning your Uganda safari guide will pick you from the hotel and transfer you to Murchison Falls National Park 311km about 5 hours’ drive. On your way, you will pay a visit to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary – where white rhinos are kept in a natural environment. The next stop-over shall be at either Kabalega diner or Masindi town for your lunch and arrive in the evening at the top of the falls-where the world`s longest river -Nile River, is forced to flow through a 7 meters wide narrow rocky gauge before ferociously plunging down 43 meters. From here you will take a ferry across the river to the northern section for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Upmarket / Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge,Midrange / Standard: Pakuba Safari Lodge, Budget / Basic: Heritage Safari Lodge,Wild Camping

Day 2 of the 10 Days Uganda Gorillas Chimps Self Drive Safari Africa Gorilla trekking Self Drive safari: Undertake game viewing / game drive in Murchison Falls National Park & afternoon launch cruise along the Nile River

To further accelerate this Uganda safari, you will have an early morning game drive towards the northern river bank in search for Cape buffalo, elephants, bohor reed bucks, lions, Rothschild’s giraffes, hyenas, hartebeests, waterbucks, oribi, bushbucks, and if lucky, leopards. Return to the lodge for relaxation till you take your lunch. After lunch, go for a boat cruise to the bottom of Murchison Falls. This boat trip along the Nile is the highlight of a tour to Murchison Falls National Park and is so fascinating. It allows you to have a close and personal interaction with the animals. With over about 4,000 hippos reported to be along this stretch of the river and numerous Nile crocodiles and a birdlife stunning with brightly colored kingfishers and bee-eaters dwelling along the riverbanks you are assured of a great adventure. On your luck day, you may see the rare shoebill-a cross between the dodo and a dinosaur. The boat cruises you to the base of the falls to further your impression of the falls and the Nile at large. You settle for your overnight.

Accommodation: Upmarket / Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge,Midrange / Standard: Pakuba Safari Lodge, Budget / Basic: Heritage Safari Lodge,Wild Camping

Day 3 of the 10 Days Uganda Gorillas Chimps Self Drive Safari Africa Gorilla trekking Self Drive safari: Transfer from Murchison Falls to Fort Portal Area (Kibale National Park)

Early in the morning after breakfast embark on the transfer to Kibale National Park 441km about 9 hours’ drive driving through rural landscapes of Hoima and Kagadi before approaching Kyenjojo in the evening. The lunch stop is made in Hoima and you arrive in Fort Portal Area in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation (click on a particular accommodation to view more information about it):Upmarket / Luxury: Ndali Lodge,Midrange / Standard: Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse,Budget / Basic: Rwenzori View Guesthouse,Wild Camping at Primate Lodge Campsite / Kanyanchu River Camp

Day 4 of the 10 Days Uganda Gorillas Chimps Self Drive Safari Africa Gorilla trekking Self Drive safari: Undertake Chimpanzee Tracking Safari in Kibale Forest National Park & transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

After breakfast early in the morning go to the ranger station in Kibale National Park at 08.00am for a briefing before tracking the habituated chimps. These beautiful apes-more closely related to humans than to any other living creature, are a great adventure watching as they squabble and jump from tree to tree. This forest is home to over 13 primate species include the red Colobus monkey, bushbabies, the rare L’Hoest monkey, black-faced vervet monkeys, blue monkey, grey mangabey, pottos, plus baboons. Birders have close to 335 species recorded to watch including the endemic Prirogrines ground thrush. The shady forest trails offer much delight to botanists and butterfly lovers, the forest elephant, smaller and hairier than the savannah one, moves seasonally into the developed part of the park and other mammals including the giant forest hog, buffalo and antelope species like duiker are all that will spice your Uganda safari adventure. Right after the encounter, you will embark on the transfer to Queen Elizabeth National park driving past the Rwenzori Mountains with impressive magical sights before arriving in Queen Elizabeth NP in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Upmarket / Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge, Midrange / Standard: Enganzi Game Lodge, Budget / Basic: Pumba Safari Cottages, Wild Camping

Day 5 of the 10 Days Uganda Gorillas Chimps Self Drive Safari Africa Gorilla trekking Self Drive safari: Do wildlife tour / game drive / game viewing in Queen Elizabeth National Park & afternoon Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise

Have an early morning game drive so as to spot the early risers such as the elusive leopards and spotted hyenas. The game drive also offers you possible views of lions, Buffaloes, elephants, waterbucks, spotted hyenas, Uganda Kobs among others. After the game drive return to the lodge for relaxation and lunch after which you gather at Mweya jetty for afternoon boat trip along the Kazinga channel to have a likely close look at hippos and crocodiles. The banks of the channel are also home to many bird species that include the saddle billed stork, the pink-backed pelicans, the pied and malachite kingfishers among others. From the 2 hour activity, you can undertake a game drive along the channel track in the Mweya peninsular to spot more game before retiring for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Upmarket / Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge,Midrange / Standard: Enganzi Game Lodge,Budget / Basic: Pumba Safari Cottages,Wild Camping

Day 6 of the 10 Days Uganda Gorillas Chimps Self Drive Safari Africa Gorilla trekking Self Drive safari: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After an early morning breakfast, embark on your transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park via Ishasha Sector in the south of Queen Elizabeth National Park. In Ishasha, you search for tree climbing lions that tend to lie on the fig tree branches in the day time. Settle for lunch in Ishasha and continue in the drive to arriving in Bwindi in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Upmarket / Luxury: Chameleon Hill Lodge,Midrange / Standard: Gorilla Mist Camp,Budget / Basic: Broadbill Forest Camp,Wild Camping

Day 7 of the 10 Days Uganda Gorillas Chimps Self Drive Safari Africa Gorilla trekking Self Drive safari: Do gorilla trekking and relax at the lodge

After a heavy early breakfast but with packed lunch, you will transfer to the park headquarters in the respective region where your gorilla permit is located for a briefing before embarking on your gorilla trek at 8:30 am. Park guides will after take you through the thick buttress root tree forest plus undergrowth- tracking the gorillas. This 2 – 8 hour Gorilla trek requires a reasonable degree of fitness a pair of jungle shoes. Once tract, interaction with the gorillas as you listen to them grumble as well as taking photographs with them takes only 1hour. It’s important to note that there are only about 880 of these beautiful apes left in the world most of them over 400 are fortunately found in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. You retreat from the activity and connect to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Upmarket / Luxury: Chameleon Hill Lodge,Midrange / Standard: Gorilla Mist Camp,Budget / Basic: Broadbill Forest Camp,Wild Camping

Day 8 of the 10 Days Uganda Gorillas Chimps Self Drive Safari Africa Gorilla trekking Self Drive safari: Transfer from Bwindi to Lake Bunyonyi & have a whole day recreational encounter at the lake of a thousand Islands

After an early morning breakfast, drive to Bunyonyi traversing the Kigezi Highlands commonly referred to as the “Switzerland of Africa”. Upon arrival, you embark on the wooden engine boat cruise exploring the calm waters of Bunyonyi – the senc deepst in Africa intercepted by counts of 29 Islands some of which are inhabited. You disembark your boat to explore some of the Islands and their communities including the Batwa populations with their rich heritage not forgetting the Bakiga natives. The traditions including the food preparation, dances and performances and other stories make your encounter rewarding. Retreat to relax at the lodge for relaxation and overnight.

Accommodation: Upmarket / Luxury: Birdnest @Lake Bunyonyi Resort,Midrange / Standard: Lake Bunyonyi Eco Resort,Budget / Basic: Byoona Amagara Island Retreat,Resort Camping

Day 9 of the 10 Days Uganda Gorillas Chimps Self Drive Safari Africa Gorilla trekking Self Drive safari: Transfer from Lake Bunyonyi to Lake Mburo National Park and do an afternoon boat cruise on Lake Mburo

Early in the morning after breakfast transfer to Lake Mburo NP 199km about 4 hours drice making a lunch en route at Igongo Cultural Center 12km from Mbarara town. Proceed to Lake Mburo national park for an evening boat cruise on arrival or a game drive if preferred. Whichever you choose, you have an opportunity to encounter a range of wildlife including the Nile crocodiles and Hippos not forgetting birds like African fish eagle. Settle for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Upmarket / Luxury: Mihingo Safari Lodge,Midrange / Standard: Arcadia Cottages Mburo,Budget / Basic: Eagles Nest,Wild Camping

Day 10 of the 10 Days Uganda Gorillas Chimps Self Drive Safari Africa Gorilla trekking Self Drive safari: Do a morning game walk in Lake Mburo National Park and transfer to Kampala

After your early morning breakfast, you will undertake a nature walk-the most interesting game walks in the country that will expose you to various species of primates, birds, antelopes like elands, waterbucks, Impala, Topis, Bush buck, Klipspringer among others, buffaloes, Rothschild giraffe, Burchell’s Zebra , wart hogs among other species not forgetting the beautiful savannah landscape dotted with great acacia. Retreat from the activity an embark on the transfer to Kampala 240km about 3 – 4 hours’ drive making a stop at Uganda Equator crossing Kayabwe for magical photo shoots where one leg can be placed in north sphere and the other remains in the south. It also am impressive site for purchasing memorabilia to take back home as a remembrance for this safari in Uganda.

End of the 10 Days Uganda Gorillas Chimps Self Drive Safari Africa Gorilla trekking Self Drive safari