12 days uganda gorilla trekking wildlife safari with white water rafting

Day by day itinerary

Day 1: Transfer from Entebbe to Murchison falls National Park Via Ziwa Rhino sanctuary.

Your 12 days uganda gorilla trekking and wildlife safari with white water rafting experience will begin with our guide picking you up from the Airport or your hotel in Entebbe and transfer to Murchison falls national park via Kampala-Luwero-Masindi route with a stop at Ziwa Rhino sanctuary to track Rhinos.

There after proceed to Murchison falls national park for an evening game drive depending on time of arrival in Murchison falls national park.

Travel time: 4-5 hours

Dinner and Over night:

Budget: Red Chilli Rest camp, Vilikazi safari camp

Mid range: Ikorom safari lodge,

Luxury: Murchison River Lodge

Meal plan: Lunch, Dinner.

 Day 2: Early morning game drive, afternoon boat cruise on the Nile and top of the falls hike.

Have breakfast by 6am and thereafter proceed to the wilderness in search of the early morning raisers, the morning game drive starts at about 6:30am,   look out for animals such as; the giraffes, lions, hyenas, water bucks, elephants, buffalos, antelopes- many species of birds such as; egrets, ibis, shoebill stock, marabou stock, king fisher, egrets to mention but a few.

As you have your game drive, you may relax and have a picnic on the river bank as you listen to the groans of the Hippos.

After the game drive, you will transfer to the lodge and enjoy your lunch either way you may take packed lunch with as you prepare to have an afternoon boat cruise on the Nile River.

This cruise is spectacular as it allows you to get up close to the aquatic animals such as; the hippos, crocodiles, water bucks, buffalos, elephants etc.

Among the birds commonly sited on the boat cruise include the goliath heron, king fisher, weaver birds, bee eater, cattle egrets and the beautiful scenery along the bank.

At the bottom of the falls, you will trek to the top of the falls or choose to take photos at the rocks below the falls.

Dinner and Over night:

Budget: Red Chilli Rest camp, Vilikazi safari camp

Mid range: Ikorom safari lodge,

Luxury: Murchison River Lodge

 Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

 Day 3: Transfer to Kibale forest national park for chimpanzee tracking

Check out of your accommodation in Murchison falls national park and transfer to Kibale forest national park

The drive from Murchison falls national park to Kibale forest national park takes 7-9 hours

Accommodation Options:

Budget: Mwamba Kelele lodge, Little Monkey camp, Kibale forest camp, Nyamirima cottages

Mid range: Chimpanzee forest lodge, Turaco tree tops, Isunga Lodge, Guereza canopy lodge

Luxury: Primate lodge Kibale, Bweza Lodge Kibale

 Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Day 4:  Chimpanzee trekking, community walk and transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park

After an early breakfast, report to the park headquarters with your packed lunch for a briefing by the senior park guide. Proceed to track man’s closest relative of all the apes in this vast forest.

Encounter other primates like olive baboons, bonobos, red colobus monkeys, black-and-white colobus monkeys, red and blue monkeys, and grey-cheeked mangabeys.

You will also see a wide variety of birds.

Have an afternoon rest before heading out to explore the beautiful Kasenda crater lakes, hike to the top of the world and to the Mahoma falls.

Proceed to Queen Elizabeth national park in Kasese for an overnight

 Accommodation Options:

Budget: Enshama lodge, Pumba Safari cottages, Kazinga wilderness, Bush Lodge, Simba Safari camp

Mid range: Acacia Wilderness Mweya, Ihamba Lakeside safari Lodge,

Luxury: Elephant Hab lodge, Buffalo safari Lodge, Mweya Safari Lodge

 Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

 Day 5:  Game Drive and the Kazinga Channel boat cruise.

You will wake up at 5:30 and have breakfast at 6:00am. You will be transferred to Kasenyi sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park for a morning game drive.

During the game drive, you will drive via the various channel tracks in search of Lions, Elephants, Buffaloes, Leopards, antelopes and several bird life.

 You shall also have a view of the salt mining lakes within Queen Elizabeth as you relax and stretch. You will then be transferred to your Lodge for your Lunch.

In the afternoon you will go on a boat cruise on the Kazinga channel where you will spot various bird life and wild life.

You will later return to the lodge for the evening relaxation, dinner and an overnight.

 Accommodation Options:

Budget: Enshama lodge, Pumba Safari cottages, Kazinga wilderness, Bush Lodge, Simba Safari camp

Mid range: Acacia Wilderness Mweya, Ihamba Lakeside safari Lodge,

Luxury: Elephant Hab lodge, Buffalo safari Lodge, Mweya Safari Lodge

 Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

 Day 6: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park

Early morning, your drive guide will pick you and drive you through Queen Elizabeth national park to the country side down to the south in Kisoro.

Arrive in the late afternoon and check in your accommodation.

 Accommodation Options (full board):

 Budget: Ruhija Gorilla Friends Camp / Nshongi camp/ Buhoma community Rest camp/ Ride for a Woman Bwindi /

Mid range: Rushaga gorilla lodge/Bweza gorilla lodge/Lake Mulehe safari Lodge/Bakiga Lodge

Luxury: Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge/Gorilla Safari Lodge/Engagi Lodge/

 Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

DAY 7: GORILLA TRACKING IN BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST AND BATWA COMMUNITY VISIT

You will have an early morning breakfast and thereafter be transferred by your driver guide to the park headquarters where park rangers will brief you about the regulations for gorilla trekking in Bwindi national park and also you will be divided into a group of 8 visitors.

You will be led by a ranger to start trekking of these gentle giants. After you encounter these gentle giants, you are allowed to spend an hour with these magnificent mountain gorillas close up in their natural habitat.

Principally hikers will love the trek in the beautiful ecosystem of the park.

But overall, this will be a unique and unforgettable experience! After the gorilla trek, you will be given a certificate for succeeding a gorilla trek in Uganda/bwindi then transfer back to your lodge.

You will have an afternoon Batwa community visit to experience the forest life of the Batwa (Pygmy people).

 Accommodation Options (full board):

 Budget: Ruhija Gorilla Friends Camp / Nshongi camp/ Buhoma community Rest camp/ Ride for a Woman Bwindi /

Mid range: Rushaga gorilla lodge/Bweza gorilla lodge/Lake Mulehe safari Lodge/Bakiga Lodge

Luxury: Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge/Gorilla Safari Lodge/Engagi Lodge/

 Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

 Day 8: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi

Check out of your accommodation in Bwindi and get ready to transfer through the misty hills of southern Uganda to Lake Bunyonyi.

Have a boat or canoe island visit on Lake Bunyonyi to enjoy the stunning views as you explore some of the 28 islands of Lake Bunyonyi.

Lake Bunyonyi offers an opportunity to connect with nature and a home of many bird species.

Accommodation Options:

 

Budget: Bunyonyi Overland resort, Bunyonyi safaris resort

Mid range: Rock resort Lake Bunyonyi

Luxury: Arcadia lodges Lake Bunyonyi

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Day 9: Transfer from Lake Bunyonyi to Lake Mburo National park

Check out from Lake Bunyonyi for transfer to Lake Mburo national park. The transfer to Lake Bunyonyi takes 4-5 hours.

Arrive in time for lunch and have an evening game drive in Lake Mburo Mburo national park.

Accommodation Options:

 Budget: Leopard Rest camp, Rwonyo guesthouse

Mid range: Lake Mburo safari lodge,

Luxury: Mihingo lodge, Arcadia lodge Mburo,

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

 Day 10: Walking safari in Lake Mburo national park and transfer to Jinja

Have an early morning breakfast before going out for a walking safari.

With an armed park ranger for safety, walk closely with giraffes and zebras in Lake Mburo national park to have a magic experience of getting close to nature.

Accommodation Options (full board):

Budget: Living waters Jinja, Home on the Nile

Moderate: 2 Friends Hotel Jinja, Hotel paradise on the Nile

Luxury: Nile Village hotel

 Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Day 11: White water rafting on the Nile and a boat cruise to the source of the Nile

 You will head out by 7am driving from your hotel in Jinja to the starting point for whitewater rafting after breakfast to join your crew.

The 1 day trip covers roughly 19km of the Nile. We start on the flat water just a couple of kilometres downstream of the Bujagali Dam where you will be run through a comprehensive safety training.

The day starts with Jaws, Pyramid and Giggitty Giggitty, a great easy section of grade 2 whitewater to train you up and raise your appetite before the big stuff.

By the time you get to your first major rapid of the day – Overtime (grade 5) you’ll be feeling like a professional!

You will later have lunch and get ready for an evening boat cruise to the source of the Nile in Jinja.

Enjoy the 2 hours evening boat cruise on the calm Nile river with views of the Jinja Nile bridge and the surrounding islands.

Dinner and overnight in Jinja

Accommodation Options (full board):

Budget: Living waters Jinja, Home on the Nile

Moderate: 2 Friends Hotel Jinja, Hotel paradise on the Nile

Luxury: Nile Village hotel

 DAY 12: TRANSFER TO ENTEBBE FOR DEPARTURE

Check out from your hotel in Jinja and transfer to Entebbe via Mabira forest and Kampala connecting to the Entebbe expressway.

The drive from Jinja to Entebbe takes 3-4 hours depending on the traffic.

 

END OF SAFARI