12-Day Safari & Gorilla Trekking Package
Fly into Entebbe for your 12-Day Safari & Gorilla Trekking Package. On the next day, transfer to Murchison Falls NP with en-route rhino tracking in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Proceed to the edge of Kibale Forest. Bigodi wetlands excursion and connect to Queen Elizabeth NP. Afterward, transfer to Bwindi via the Ishasha area – known for its tree-climbing lions’ population. Enjoy gorilla trekking in Bwindi before relaxing at Lake Bunyonyi and visiting Lake Mburo NP. Lastly, you’ll return to Entebbe Airport.
Day 1: Pick up from Entebbe International Airport and then Transfer to your Hotel
Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, our Vibrant Holiday Safaris Professional Driver guide will receive and welcome you to the Pearl of Africa. He will brief you about your 12-Day Safari & Gorilla Trekking Package and thereafter, he will transfer you to your Hotel. You will check in and take your rest – recovering from the long flight and adjusting to time difference. In case you reached early and are interested in some activity, you may consider an excursion to the Entebbe Botanical Gardens to sight a few primates and birds. Otherwise, check in for rest and relaxation.
Location: Kampala
Accommodation Option:
Luxury: Latitude 0 Degrees
Mid-Range: Fairway Boutique Hotel
Budget: Via Via Entebbe
Meal Plan: Dinner
Day 2: Travel to Ziwa for rhino tracking and proceed to Murchison NP
After an early breakfast, you will set off to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Once there, you will proceed for an hour of on-foot rhino tracking. From the rhino tracking, head to Masindi where you will have a lunch stop. After lunch, embark on the transfer to Murchison Falls NP. The highlights of this park include the roaring rapids of the Murchison, the rolling plains of Uganda’s largest National Park where you will have the chance of viewing lions, giraffes, hartebeest, buffalo, and elephants. Then surely, the concentration of hippos and the Nile crocodiles here will fascinate you. If interested and time allows, you can proceed for a late afternoon-evening game drive.
Accommodation: (Fort Murchison-TENT-Budget Level) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Transfer Time: 6-7 hours exclude time in Zziwa.
Main Destination:
Murchison Falls National Park
Accommodation:
Fort Murchison (Tent)
- Budget tented camp located just outside Murchison Falls NP
Meals & Drinks:
- All meals included
- Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Day 3: Morning game drive and afternoon boat trip upstream to the falls
After breakfast, you will depart for an early morning game drive across the rolling plains of Uganda’s largest National Park and be on the look for wildlife including: lions, leopards (though hard to spot) among others. For any birder, there are quite a number of birds to sight too during the drive. Return to the accommodation for some rest time and lunch. After lunch, you will head out for the boat trip to the base of Murchison Falls where you will also be able to catch sight of more animals including Hippos and Crocodiles and several water birds. #Optional (extra cost): If interested, continue with a hike to the top of the falls. The hike may be a strenuous one but the thrill on reaching the top is unforgettable. Return to your accommodation and relax.
Accommodation: (Fort Murchison-TENT-Budget Level) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Transfer Time: n/a.
Main Destination:
Murchison Falls National Park
Accommodation:
Fort Murchison (Tent)
- Budget tented camp located just outside Murchison Falls NP
Meals & Drinks:
- Meals at own expense
- Drinks not included
Day 4: Drive to the top of the falls and transfer to the edge of Kibale Forest NP
After breakfast, you will drive to the top of the falls to truly appreciate the beauty and magnificence of the Murchison Falls. From the top, we shall embark on a transfer that will see us overnight at edge of Kibale Forest National Park. The drive is quite long but incredibly scenic – passing through villages, lush green countryside and hills dotted with tea plantations that characterize this part of Uganda. The beautiful scenery will amaze you all the way. Upon arrival at the accommodation, check in and just relax. Optional (extra cost 15$): If interested, you can proceed for the crater lakes excursion. You will enjoy the beauty of the numerous small lakes, surrounded by gentle hills, and the stunning views all over. Else, just enjoy your rest at the facility.
Accommodation: (Kibale Forest Camp-Budget| Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Transfer time: Approx. 7-8 hours.
Main Destination:
Kibale National Park (Chimps)
Accommodation:
Kibale Forest Camp (Camping)
- Just outside Kibale NP (Chimps)
Meals & Drinks:
- All meals included
- Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Day 5: Bigodi wetlands excursion and transfer to Queen Elizabeth NP, then game drive
After breakfast, you will proceed for the Bigodi wetlands excursion. The Bigodi wetland boasts of extensive array of biodiversity among which are several primates’ species like the black and white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkey, and baboons. The Bigodi is also a paradise for bird watchers. Among the major bird species within the area is the Great Blue Turaco. From Bigodi, we shall embark on a transfer (about 2hrs) to Queen Elizabeth National Park. You will reach Queen early enough to have lunch, rest and then proceed out for game viewing. During the game drive, look out for wild animals like reedbuck, bushbuck, kobs, warthogs, elephants, lions and buffaloes to mention but a few. Alternatively, you could choose to go for the Queen’s breathtaking explosion crater drive (instead). Return to the accommodation and take your rest.
Accommodation: (Irungu Safari Lodge-Budget Level) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Transfer Time: 2-3 hrs.
Main Destination:
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Accommodation:
Irungu Forest Safari Lodge
- Mid-range lodge located just outside Queen Elizabeth NP
Meals & Drinks:
- All meals included
- Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Day 6: Chimp tracking in Kalinzu Forest Reserve, afternoon boat trip – Kazinga Channel, and some game drive
After an early morning breakfast on day 6 of this 12-Day Safari & Gorilla Trekking Package you drive out to the nearby Kalinzu Forest Reserve. The Forest is home to habituated Chimpanzees plus other primates including baboons, monkeys and also bird species. Today, you will spend the early part of the day tracking chimpanzees here. Thereafter, return to the accommodation for some rest time and lunch. After lunch, you will go for a 2-hour boat trip on the Kazinga Channel that connects Lakes George and Edward. During the trip, the sight of wildlife including giant hippos, elephants and crocodiles among others will fascinate you. You will also see many varieties of birds at the water shores. After the boat trip, you can proceed for a brief late afternoon game drive and thereafter, return to the lodge.
Accommodation: (Irungu Safari Lodge-Budget Level) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Transfer Time: Approx. 1hr to/from Kalinzu.
Main Destination:
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Accommodation:
Irungu Forest Safari Lodge
- Mid-range lodge located just outside Queen Elizabeth NP
Meals & Drinks:
- All meals included
- Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Day 7: Sunrise game drive – Kasenyi plains and head to Ishasha sector, then connect to Bwindi
Be up early and proceed for an early morning game drive in the Kasenyi plains. Be on the look for Cape buffalos, herds of elephants, lions, leopards (though hard to spot) among others. Return to the lodge and check out then head to Ishasha sector in search of tree-climbing lions. The chance of spotting these lions is about 70% though sometimes they are hard to spot (most especially when they are down in the grassland looking for prey). Should you get to spot them, the sight is undeniably memorable. From Ishasha, we shall continue to the accommodation at the edge of Bwindi National Park (Buhoma sector). Once at the lodge, we can choose to just relax OR (at extra cost 15$) move out for the late afternoon-to-evening local community and cultural encounter.
Accommodation: (Ride 4 a Woman-Budget Level) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Transfer Time: 4-5 hours.
Main Destination:
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Gorillas)
Ride 4 a Woman Guesthouse
- Budget guest house located just outside Bwindi NP (Gorillas)
Meals & Drinks:
- All meals included
- Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Day 8: Bwindi Forest walk/hike – waterfalls trail and transfer to the Ruhija sector of Bwindi
After breakfast, you will move out for the Forest Walk along the waterfall trail. This is the perfect way to experience the depth of this “impenetrable” forest. Starting from Buhoma – at the north gate, Munyaga river trail gets you to some beautiful pristine waterfalls – a truly rewarding experience. Along the way you will encounter some flora and fauna, black and white colobus monkeys, sometimes blue monkeys among others. Return to the accommodation, check out and transfer to the Ruhija sector of Bwindi where we will have the gorilla trekking tomorrow. With a strenuous day ahead, we recommend that we take this afternoon relaxing.
Accommodation: (Broadbill Forest Camp-Budget Level) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Transfer Time: 2 hours.
Main Destination:
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Gorillas)
Accommodation:
Broadbill Forest Camp
- Budget tented camp located just outside Bwindi NP (Gorillas)
Meals & Drinks:
- All meals included
- Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Day 9: Gorilla trekking Bwindi Forest and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi for relaxation
After breakfast on day 9 of your 12-Day Safari & Gorilla Trekking Package, you will go to the rangers post for briefing (from a ranger guide) on the dos and don’ts during trekking. Thereafter, you will enter the Bwindi Forest for your adventure. The time taken and the terrain vary with the movements of these great primates. Once you have located a gorilla group, you will be allowed an hour in their presence. The thrill of spending time observing these gentle but endangered giants is unforgettable. Return to the accommodation, check out and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi. Lake Bunyonyi is framed by lush, green-terraced hills that reach a height of (2,200 – 2,478m) but it’s the 29 islands of various shapes and sizes scattered across the water that make it most magical — you could admire them all day.
Accommodation: (Lake Bunyonyi Eco Resort-Budget Level) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Transfer Time: Approx. 2-3 hours.
Main Destination:
Lake Bunyonyi
Accommodation:
Lake Bunyonyi Eco Resort
- Mid-range resort located at Lake Bunyonyi
Meals & Drinks:
- All meals included
- Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Day 10: Relaxation while enjoying the stunning beauty of Lake Bunyonyi
After days of long drives and of course the strenuous gorilla trekking (previous day) in Bwindi, this day is at your disposal for relaxation. All meals will be served at the accommodation. Optional (at extra cost): Should you wish to go out for an activity, you may consider the following; Historical Islands’ tour, visit to the Batwa/pygmies’ community, Nyombe swamp excursion, Mountain Bike cycling, Zip lining, canoeing or kayaking on the lake. The activity can be arranged onsite with the help of your driver-guide. Enjoy your stay.
Accommodation: (Lake Bunyonyi Eco Resort-Budget Level) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Transfer Time: Approx. n/a.
Main Destination:
Lake Bunyonyi
Accommodation:
Lake Bunyonyi Eco Resort
- Mid-range resort located at Lake Bunyonyi
Meals & Drinks:
- All meals included
- Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Day 11: Transfer to Lake Mburo NP and enjoy afternoon (evening) game drive
After breakfast, you will set off to Lake Mburo NP via Mbarara City. You will arrive at the accommodation in Lake Mburo in time and rest before moving for an afternoon-to-evening game drive. On the game drive, expect to see the gigantic eland antelopes, zebras, topi, impalas, Uganda kob and Cape buffalos among others. Later, relax at the accommodation where you will spend the night. #Optional (extra cost 30$): If interested, you may consider the night game drive to encounter nocturnal creatures which will be a rare sighting compared to the regular daytime sightings.
Accommodation: (Hyena Hill Lodge-Budget Level) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Transfer Time: Approx. 4-5 hrs.
Main Destination:
Lake Mburo National Park
Accommodation:
Mburo Safari Lodge
- Mid-range lodge located inside Lake Mburo NP
Meals & Drinks:
- All meals included
- Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Day 12: Morning walking safari in the park and return to Entebbe to catch flight
On the final day of the 12-Day Safari & Gorilla Trekking Package, you will enjoy your early breakfast and proceed for the Mburo morning park (bush) walk in the presence of an armed Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger-guide. On this early morning guided walk, you will have the opportunity to encounter (at close range): Zebras, Giraffes and Eland, Topi and other antelope, Cape buffaloes among others.
Take the Trail to the top of the hills and see Lake Mburo and beyond. From this vantage point, you will have a great view of 9 of the twelve lakes surrounding Lake Mburo NP. Thereafter, return to the accommodation for checkout and then hit the road to Entebbe airport to catch flight.
Accommodation: Recommended on request | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch | Drive Time: Approx. 4 hours.
Main Destination:
Entebbe (City)
Accommodation:
No accommodation (End of tour)
Meals & Drinks:
- All meals included
- Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
End of tour