14 Days Uganda’s Gorillas, Chimpanzees, & Birds

The Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is a large primeval forest located in south-western Uganda in the Kanungu District. The Bwindi forest is on the edge of the Albertine Rift, the western branch of the East African Rift, at elevations ranging from 1,160 to 2,607 metres. 

Day 1: Entebbe, Uganda

Entebbe, Uganda Uganda is a landlocked nation with a total area of 236 040 km2, borders with Kenya to the east and Tanzania to the south, Rwanda to the south west, the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and South Sudan to the north. It is astride the Equator because it is located between 10S and 40N Latitude and 300 and 350 East Longitude. 1 00 N, 32 00 E. But the land is fertile and well-watered. Despite being located at the Equator, the region experiences three rainy seasons annually. The climate is heavily influenced by the Rwenzori Mountains, Lake Victoria, the Nile, and the numerous forests. It frequently rains and the weather is variable in forest habitats. 36.330 sq km, or 15% of Uganda’s land area, are covered with water. Over 50 tribes live in this lovely, green country, which is rich in animals, game, birds, and cultural diversity. A tracker will locate half of the world’s gorillas in Uganda, and an explorer will have the chance to observe more than 7% of the world’s mammals. Birders will enjoy 13% of the world’s bird species there. The potential for ecotourism in this area is huge for the discriminating traveler, and the stealthy have tapped into it. Daily Schedule Get to the Entebbe airport. Upon arrival, you will be greeted and driven to your accommodation in Entebbe (BB)

Day 2: Kampala – Murchison

Plan for the day Before beginning a leisurely journey to the Murchison Falls Conservation Area, receive a briefing from your guide. traverse Luwero by car. After lunch, continue to the park. The exciting Murchison Falls, which thunder over a small gorge, can be viewed from the top. (Road time: approximately 6 hours)

Day 3: In Murchison

Plan for the day observing wildlife in the early morning north of the Nile. Launch excursion to the base of the impressive and thrilling Falls, where crocodiles and a wide variety of species, including the unique shoebill stork, can be seen relaxing on the banks of the Nile. Hippos are commonplace. nighttime game drive.

Day 4: Murchison – Budongo – Hoima

Plan for the day A morning start. On your journey to Kaniyo-Pabidi in Budongo Forest, embark on a game drive. Take a guided wildlife walk (chimpanzee monitoring is optional and costs an additional $95 per person). There are several plant and bird species in Budongo. View fishing villages, local communities, and local fisherman on the return journey to Hoima through the captivating Lake Albert. (Road trip duration: around 5 hours).

Day 5: Hoima – Fort Portal

Plan for the day Lunch is recommended while traveling south to Fort Portal past large tea plantations. travel to your accommodation in Kibale. Visit a neighbouring crater lake or unwind at your accommodation. (About 5 hours of driving time)

Day 6: In Kibale Forest

Plan for the day A guided nature tour in Kibale Forest, which is home to the largest population of primates in Africa, including many chimpanzees, blue monkeys, baboons, and red, black, and white colobus. A walk in the forest increases your chances of seeing and hearing several chimpanzees and other monkeys running around. With over 300 species of birds documented in the woodland, the birdlife is likewise remarkable. An afternoon stroll through the Bigodi Wetland offers the chance to spot the rare birds, baboons, chimpanzees, and other animals that call the area home.

Day 7: Kibale – Semuliki National Park

On the distant western side of the Rwenzori, the Semuliki National Park stretches across the Semliki Valley’s valley floor. The largest portion of the vast Ituri Forest of the Congo Basin dominates the park. One of the few woods to have survived the last ice age, which occurred between 12 and 18,000 years ago, this forest is among the oldest and most biodiverse in Africa. The park has remnants of processes that are much older than the over 25,000 years that Semuliki’s species have been accumulating. Hot springs erupt from the earth’s surface to show the strong underground forces that have shaped the rift valley over the past 14 million years. Plan for the day Visit Semliki Safari Lodge by car. journey by boat on one of the lakes. There are crocodiles, hippos, and a wide variety of birds can be observed. evening sport. (3 hours of travel, approximately)

Day 8: To Queen Elizabeth Park

Queen Elizabeth NP has the widest variety of wildlife of any Ugandan park. Elephant and buffalo are very common, and lions are surprisingly easy to spot. Hyena can be spotted occasionally, while Giraffe and zebra are absent. There are many interesting antelope species like Uganda kob, topi and sitatunga. Hipposand crocodiles are common in Kazinga channel. A troop of chimpanzees has been habituated for tracking. Nine more primate species are found, including the black-and-white colobus monkey. Plan for the day Leave for Queen Elizabeth Park, passing via the Rwenzoris, or Mountains of The Moon as they are sometimes called. Continue to QE. Evening game drive. (Approximate driving time: 4 hours)

Day 9: In Queen Elizabeth Park

Plan for the day To monitor chimpanzees, man’s closest relative, go to Kyambura Gorge. On the way out of the park in the afternoon, take a game drive. Birds, hippos, elephants, and a wide variety of other creatures enjoy boat rides on the Kazinga Channel.

Day 10: Queen Elizabeth Park – Bwindi

Plan for the day We take a game drive in the early morning. Begin your journey to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest after that. Depending on the weather, we might travel through farms to Bwindi or via Ishasha, where you might see lions that can climb trees. [About seven hours of driving]

Day 11: Gorilla Trekking

Go gorilla tracking while carrying a packed lunch (subject to gorilla permits being available at the time of booking). A guide and porters who will carry your shoulder bag for you will be with you at all times. After that, you’ll head into the dense jungle in search of gorillas. With steep slopes covered in lush foliage that give the park its name, the terrain can be challenging. Additionally, participants must be in good physical condition due to the altitude of 5200 feet and higher. The amount of time it takes to track the gorillas varies greatly; it could take as short as 30 minutes or as long as 7 hours before one is back at camp. However, overcoming difficulty and meeting the large primates are both possible.

Day 12: Bwindi – Lake Bunyonyi

Between Kisoro and Kabale, close to the Rwandan border, is where Lake Bunyonyi, also known as the “Place of Many Little Birds,” is located in south-western Uganda. Its altitude is 1,962 m (6,437 ft), and its length and width are roughly 25 km (15.5 mi) and 7 km (1.35 mi), respectively. The lake’s depth is said to range from 44 meters (144 feet) to 900 meters (2,952 feet), which, if true, would make it the second-deepest lake in Africa. The lake is shown as “Lake Bunyonyi and terraces” on the 5,000 Ugandan shilling Note. Plan for the day Drive to Kabale and then to Lake Bunyonyi after breakfast. Afternoon: unwind at Lake Bunyonyi’s sandy beaches, tour the lake, stop by numerous islands, and explore the surrounding areas, which include a pygmy community.

Day 13: Lake Bunyonyi – Lake Mburo Park

68 animals, including Impalas, Burchell’s Zebra, and Eland, as well as 350 bird species, including the Red-Faced Barbet, African Finfoot, and Shoe bill, can be found in the western region of Uganda’s Lake Mburo National Park. Plan for the day Set out for Mbarara while taking in the surrounding natural beauty. Journey to Lake Mburo National Park in search of some rare wildlife. (Road time: approximately 5 hours)

Day 14: Mburo Park – Entebbe airport for your flight

Daily Schedule leave for Kampala, arrive in the early afternoon, and then transfer to the airport in Entebbe for your trip (HB). (Road trip takes about six hours)