8-Day Gorillas, Murchison Falls and Kibale Chimp Trek

Our adventure begins at 8 am when we will transfer from Entebbe Old Town or downtown Kampala to the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, home to the only wild rhinos in Uganda. Rhinos became extinct in Uganda in the early 1980s and the Ziwa site is being used as a breeding site for black and white rhinos. During our 2 hours at the sanctuary, we will see these creatures roaming around the 7,000 hectares of land and see their daily interactions.

As we leave the rhinos behind, we will proceed to Murchison Falls National Park, on the shore of Lake Albert where the River Nile roars through a narrow gap creating the Murchison Falls. We will enjoy dinner and an overnight stay at the lodge.

Wake up to an exhilarating start to the day as we embark on a game drive in the park to spot elephants, lions, giraffe, and other wildlife. This Murchison Falls safari does not stop on the land because, in the afternoon, we will take a relaxing boat trip on the iconic River Nile where, if we’re lucky, we’ll have a chance to see crocodiles, hippos, and an array of rare birds. We will see for ourselves the point where the River Nile joins Lake Albert, which is one of the major highlights of this trip. Feel the immense power and force of the falls as the spray hits your face and you listen to the deafening roar of the water.  We will return to our lodge for dinner and a good night’s sleep.

Day 3 is a day of driving, but fear not, you will still be entertained! On our journey, we will pass the time by marvelling at the scenic views of the Ugandan countryside. We will start with a stopover at the famous ‘Top of the Falls’ where we have spectacular views of the Murchison Falls along the Nile River, a perfect photo opportunity for the budding photographers. Leaving Murchison Falls National Park behind and driving southwards to Kibale National Park.  The drive to Kibale National Park will go through major western towns of Hoima, Kyenjojo, and Fort Portal. We will arrive in the early evening.

Day 4 starts with us heading to the Kibale forest immediately after breakfast to track the chimpanzees in their forest home. If we are lucky on the trek, we may encounter other different species of monkeys in the Kibale forest. These include colobus monkeys, olive baboons, and red-tailed monkeys.

In the afternoon, we will drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park via Fort Portal Crater Lakes, perhaps Uganda’s most iconic sight. These volcanic craters formed some 8,000 to 10,000 years ago and they provide an idyllic backdrop to the extensive hiking trail network in the area. Here, you will be able to enjoy the amazing views of western Uganda’s tea farmlands and plantations. If the weather is good, we’ll get a chance to spot the Rwenzori Mountain Escarpment in the distance. After a day full of spectacular views, we will join the Kazinga channel boat trip and after we’ll check in to the lodge and relax in preparation for the following day’s game drives.

We will start the day with an early morning breakfast at the lodge. Afterward, we proceed to the famed Kasenyi Queen Elizabeth National Park plains for a short game drive to spot wild animals. Kasenyi plains dwell in the vast savannahs of the Albertine rift in Queen Elizabeth National Park. It will be a morning full of adventure! Expect to encounter lions, herds of buffalos, elephants, Uganda kobs, topi, and bushbucks. While spotting the “Big Five” in the park is not guaranteed, on a lucky day, you may see site leopards to make it to the “Big Five.”

On the way to Bwindi National Park, we will drive through the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, popularly known for its tree-climbing lions. Unlike their counterparts at the Kasenyi plains, the lions at Ishasha have found a way to climb the fig trees to enjoy the warm temperatures in the park. While the sighting of the tree-climbing lions is not 100% guaranteed, a stopover at Ishasha is worth a visit! Dinner and overnight at Bwindi National Park.

Today is the day that many of you will have been waiting for. We will embark on a full-day adventure to track the mountain gorillas in Bwindi Forest National Park. The trek will commence with a short briefing on gorillas trekking rules to ensure the safety of both the guests and the gorillas. We will then start the trek into the Impenetrable Forest to encounter the gentle giants of Bwindi National Park.​ We will follow the expert guides, looking for signs of the gorillas and changing direction accordingly until we find them. After this rare and memorable experience is over, we will spend the rest of the day and night in Bwindi National Park.

Transfer from Bwindi National Park to Lake Mburo National Park on this day. In the evening, a night game drive is planned at Lake Mburo National Park to spot leopards (not 100% guaranteed) and other wildlife in Uganda’s smallest savannah park. After the night game drive, we will return to the lodge for a rest.

Start the day with an early breakfast followed by a game drive at Lake Mburo National Park to spot additional wildlife. And then start a drive to Entebbe International Airport. If interested, a stopover is scheduled at the Equator crossing to grab coffee and shop for handicrafts. After the stopover, continue with the drive to Entebbe. The estimated drive time to Entebbe is 5hrs. The estimated arrival time should be sufficient to check in for the flight if you have a flight departing Entebbe in the evening.