8 day Best of Uganda Gorillas & Chimpanzees Safari

Day 1: Entebbe, Uganda

Arrive in Entebbe, Uganda for your exciting gorilla and chimpanzee Uganda safari. On arrival you will be met by your representative and transferred to the Lake Victoria Hotel in Entebbe. Overnight here for one night on a bed and breakfast basis.

Lake Victoria Hotel:

This is an old colonial-style hotel with lovely views over Lake Victoria. It has good facilities including a formal dining area with an outside terrace, 2 bars, breakfast room and pool with its own bar and restaurant area. The meals include European style food, plus an Indian menu. Entebbe has a Wildlife Education Centre and a golf course.

Day 2: Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda

From here you will continue on good tarmac roads to Lake Mburo National Park (approx. 4 - 5 hour drive). This small park offers a great variety of game including Zebra, Leopard, various antelope and Hippo – as well as prolific birdlife.

Here you may go on a walk with a local guide, or on game drives exploring this park. Arrive before lunch. Overnight here for one night inclusive of lunch, dinner, bed and breakfast at Lake Mburo Tented Camp. Game drives and walks are included.

Lake Mburo Tented Camp:

Situated high up on a hillside off the main route to the park headquarters is this tented camp with views stretching far and wide. Each tent caters for 2 persons and has its own bathroom area with hot showers provided, eco friendly toilet systems and a private dressing area. A central area provides dining and bar facilities. Meals are generally of a high standard with several courses for most.

Day 3: Uganda Highlands, Uganda

Today you will travel along from Mburo towards the Kabale region, and then into the mountainous area of the lush Uganda Highlands - the 'Switzerland of Africa' - with great views and vistas of this beautiful green area.

From here you will continue to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, or to Kisoro and on to Ruhengeri, Parc National des Volcans, for your Gorilla Safari tracking base - depending on where pre-purchased permits are held.

Overnight in en-suite chalet / lodge accommodation, all meals included. Please note that it will be a fairly long day in the vehicle, passing some interesting scenery, farmland and lush green hillsides. Lunch en route.

Buhoma Homestead (Gorilla Valley Lodge) - or Gorilla Nest , or similar (Bwindaor Rwanda)

Gorilla Valley Lodge, Buhoma is one of the original camps at Bwindi, which has been upgraded over the years. Very conveniently situated inside the park opposite the park entrance with views over the forest canopy.

Currently they have individual cottages with their own private veranda, a bedroom and bathroom area and some rooms with shared bathroom facilities. Lighting is by solar in all the rooms. Meals are taken in a central dining area where a fireplace provides warmth in the cool evenings.

Or, if trekking in Rwanda - accommodation that is normally used:
Mountain Gorilla’s Nest

This quality lodge is located close to the Parc National des Volcans. It is nestled under a grove of trees, with all the rooms surrounding a large courtyard. The rooms are quite spacious, en-suite chalets with modern bathrooms.

The lodge has a spacious restaurant with large bar and reception area and friendly service. On a clear day the views across to the volcanoes and surrounding hills are spectacular. There is a newly completed golf course at the lodge, and a limited number of sets of clubs are available for hire.

Just outside the lodge are a number of curio stands and you may like to take a walk through the nearby village to see what they have for sale! Alternatively, the lodge / your guide can organise a taxi to go down into Ruhengeri or even to Lake Kivu to take a look around. This would be an additional cost for your own expense.

Day 4: Gorilla Tracking

An early morning trek into the forest on the slopes of the volcanoes, led by experienced trackers will bring you amongst a family of Mountain Gorillas. These massive primates are extremely rare, only approximately 650 remaining.

You will get within metres of the Gorilla family, and be privileged to spend time amongst them. Returning to the camp for a late lunch, you will have an opportunity for forest walks with the guides, or just to relax. Overnight at a lodge or tented camp.

Please note that the Gorilla Safari trekking may be fairly strenuous; up to 6 hours or longer is not uncommon - at relatively high altitude. Mountain Gorillas are wild animals, as such sightings cannot be guaranteed, however the success rate is well over 90%.

Day 5: Gorilla Tracking, Queen Elizabeth National Park

A second opportunity for Gorilla Safari tracking, with pre-purchased permits subject to availability. For those not trekking, you will have the opportunity to go on a forest walk with a local guide, or on a community walk at the local village which has been included in the tour cost, or perhaps visit the local orphanage.

After lunch at your lodge, you will head in a northerly direction to the Ishasha area of Queen Elizabeth National Park, from Bwindi approximately 3 hours drive, to be welcomed to the newly established luxury tented camp nestled under trees alongside a river.

Ishasha Wilderness Camp, Queen Elizabeth National Park:

This camp is newly established and located on a river within the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. With the backdrop of the Ruwenzori Mountains to the north, and the Virunga volcanoes to the south, there are few places on earth to rival the scenery in this park.

Large herds of Elephant, Buffalo, Uganda kob and Topi are often seen, as well as 'tree-climbing' Lions, who favour the big Fig trees.

The camp boasts East African 'Meru' Tents, en-suite shower, toilet and basin. Tents are spaced under shady trees, overlooking the river. The camp currently accommodates up to 12 persons, with facility for 4 more in the near future.

The dining area is under canvas, on the banks of the river. Activities that can be enjoyed here are game drives, walking with ranger / guide (on request) and birdwatching.

Day 6: Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda

Game drives this morning in the Ishasha area of the park, will be spent looking for the tree-climbing Lion, as well as some of the large herds of Buffalo and Topi in the region. Enjoy lunch at the camp, before transferring to Mweya Lodge or Jacana Lodge. Two nights will be spent here game viewing, with an opportunity to go on a Chimp walk at Chamburu Gorge.

Mweya Lodge:

Located on a peninsula overlooking the Kazinga Channel on one side and with spectacular views towards the Ruwenzori Mountians on the other, this recently upgraded and renovated lodge now provides some of the best accommodation and service facilities in Uganda.

Amenities include a swimming pool, the Tembo bar and an elegant air-conditioned restaurant with a global cuisine. Breakfast is taken on the alfresco terrace adjacent to the Kazinga Channel.

Or
Jacana Lodge:

Set on the edge of a crater lake the lodge blends in perfectly with the wooded surroundings of the Maramagambo forest. Built with sensitive use of rock, wood, rope and other natural materials it combines to form a unique style.

Each log cabin is beautifully and uniquely furnished to high standards and all rooms are en-suite. A floating dining area on the crater lake provides a tranquil and different option for sundowners and dinner in the evenings.

Within these 2 days you will go on a boat cruise on the Kasinga Channel, famous for Hippos and bird life, and trek Chimps in the Chamburu gorge (subject to permits being available and group size, this is an optional extra).

Early morning and late afternoon game viewing drives will also be conducted in search of Uganda's unique wildlife such as the Giant Forest Hog, Red Forest Buffalo and Ugandan Kob, and Lion, Elephant and Leopard are often seen.

Day 7: Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda

Queen Elizabeth National Park as above.

Day 8: Entebbe, Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Reserve

Morning game drive out of the park, returning to Entebbe late afternoon (4 - 5pm, approx. 7 hours drive). A half-day trip to Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Reserve on Lake Victoria has been arranged. Ngamba is where orphaned Chimpanzees have been relocated under the management of a group of dedicated conservationists including the Jane Goodall Institute.

Ngamba Island is part of the Koome group of islands located on Lake Victoria 23km south of Entebbe, Uganda. It consists of approximately 100 acres, 98 of which are forested and separated from the visitor'’ area by an electric fence.

Ngamba Island was officially opened to visitors in October 1999 and is currently home to 35-orphaned Chimpanzees, 15 of which have been confiscated and brought to the island since it’s opening.

It provides these orphaned Chimpanzees with a secure home to live out their lives, since a return to their natural habitat is not possible, while educating visitors and local communities about their remarkable species and the importance of conserving their fragile forest habitat.

Entebbe is a small town, located on the edge of Lake Victoria. Depending on your time of arrival, you may like to spend some time exploring the town on foot, or you can take a taxi in to Kampala and visit the craft and curio markets there, the Kasubi Tombs and Museum.

In Entebbe there is the Wildlife Education Centre, and you can see close up the large slow-moving Shoebill Stork, or you can try your hand at golf on the local 9 hole course.

Transfer to the airport for your onward flight, or optional add-ons. If you have a couple of spare days after your Uganda Gorilla and Chimpanzee Safari (either before or after your safari), it is recommended you consider one of the following activities or short safaris.

Included:

• Return airport transfers
• meet & greet service
• accommodation as stated in good quality hotels / lodges
• meals as above (bb first night, on safari meals are included)
•  services of driver/guide
• all park entry fees
• excursion to Ngamba Chimpanzee Island by boat & entrance fees (day excursion, the overnight is an optional extra),
• comprehensive passenger and public liability insurance
• game drives in QENP & boat cruise on Kazinga Channel in QENP (8 day option only)
• game drives in Lake Mburo National park
• forest walk at Bwindi x 1 or community walk (Rwanda or Bwindi),

Not Included:

• Visas if required
• personal travel insurance
• drinks & tips
• gorilla trekking permits
• chimp tracking permits in QENP (8 day option only)
• laundry
• flight from Entebbe - Bwindi one way
• walk in Lake Mburo National park
• walk to Dian Fossey Grave, or Golden Monkeys (Rwanda only) respectively

Please Note:

Due to the popularity of Gorilla Tracking, it is important to secure your dates as soon as possible to avoid disappointment, particularly during the peak seasons of June - October, and December - February.