10 Days Shoebill Gorillas and Chimpanzee Safari
Explore the pearl of Africa on this 10 days shoebill gorillas and chimpanzee safari which will take you to several destinations around the country. You will visit Murchison Falls, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Queen Elizabeth, Kibale National Park, and Mabamba Wetland.
On this safari, you will track gorillas, chimpanzees other wildlife like lions, leopards, crocodiles, and elephants.
Summary of the safari
- Day 1: Pick and transfer to Mabamba Wetland for Shoebill Tracking
- Day 2: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park.
- Day 3: Gorilla trekking and Batwa community visit
- Day 4: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park through Ishasha
- Day 5: Safari Game Drive and Boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel
- Day 6: Transfer to Kibale National Park with a community visit to Bigodi
- Day 7: Chimpanzee trekking and transfer to Murchison Falls National Park
- Day 8: Game Drive in Murchison Falls National Park and Afternoon Boat Trip on the Nile
- Day 9: Second Chimpanzee tracking in Budongo Forest
- Day 10: Rhino Tracking at Ziwa and Transfer back to Kampala or Entebbe
Details of the safari.
Day 1: Pick and transfer to Mabamba Wetland for Shoebill Tracking
Our safari guide will pick you up from the airport and drive you to your hotel around Entebbe. You will get refreshed and take on a transfer boat to Mabamba Swamp. While at Mabamba Swamp, you will meet local bird guides to take you through your Birding Trip.
This birding trip goes for about 2 to 4 hours while you search for the shoebill. After a successful encounter with the shoebill stork, your guide will then transfer you back to your booked accommodation. You will spend the rest of the afternoon relaxed at your accommodation.
Day 2: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park
On day 2 of your 10 days shoebill gorilla and chimpanzee safari, you will drive to southwestern Uganda. The drive time is about 8 to 9 hours with a picture break at the Equator Monument in Kayabwe. You will arrive at your lodge in Bwindi late in the evening for Dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Gorilla trekking and Batwa community visit
Have breakfast at the lodge and drive to Bwindi Forest Park headquarters for your gorilla trekking experience. Gorilla Trekking goes for about 2 to 8 hours of hiking in the forest. Once you find the gorillas, the park rangers will allow you to view them for one full hour. You will return to the park headquarters and that will mark the end of your Gorilla experience in Bwindi.
Have lunch and visit Batwa community that lives around Bwindi Forest National Park. These people lived in this forest before it was gazette for tourism and conservation Projects. The Batwa people will demonstrate to you how they lived in the forest. This is a 2-hour activity and later on, you will be transferred back to your lodge.
Day 4: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park through Ishasha
Start your day with your sunrise breakfast at the lodge and start your journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park. This Drive will take you through the southern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park also known as the Ishasha Sector. This area is famous for Elephants and Tree Climbing Lions. Take on a 2 hours short game drive in Ishasha to search for the lions. After a successful drive, your guide will transfer you to the northern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Day 5: Safari Game Drive and Boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel
You will have breakfast as early as 6 am and then drive to Kasenyi Plains for your game drive. This is located in the Northern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. The game drive in Kasenyi gives you a chance to spot lots of wildlife like lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, kobs, warthogs, and Hippos.
The safari in Kasenyi goes for about 4 hours and later you’re driven back to the lodge for lunch.
At 2 P.m., your Guide will drive you to Mweya for your Boat Trip on the Kazinga Channel. The Boat trip on the Kazinga offers you an opportunity to spot animals that you might have missed on the safari drive. The most sighted animals while on this Boat Trip are Elephants, Hippos, Buffaloes, Crocodiles, and lots of birds.
At the end of your Boat safari, you will be driven back to your lodge for dinner.
Day 6: Transfer to Kibale National Park with a community visit to Bigodi
Have breakfast at the lodge and drive to Kibale Forest National Park with a stopover at the Equator Monument in Kikorongo. The drive to Kibale goes through multiple Banana plantations and Crater lakes. You will stop at many scenic points to take pictures of the crater lakes.
On arrival at the lodge, you will have lunch and go for a walk in the Bigodi community. This community lives adjacent to the Kibale Forest National Park.
Day 7: Chimpanzee trekking and transfer to Murchison Falls National Park
Wake up to another amazing day on this Uganda safari adventure. Your guide will transfer you to the park headquarters at Kanyanchu. You will be briefed by the park rangers and embark on a search for chimpanzees. This activity goes for about 2 to 5 hours of trekking in the forest.
After the chimpanzee experience, you will start your 6-hour drive to Murchison Falls National Park.
Day 8: Game Drive in Murchison Falls National Park and Afternoon Boat Trip on the Nile
Start your day as early as 6 am with your car roof raised up high as you search for the cats in Murchison Falls National Park. The game drive in Murchison is so impressive with numerous sights of giraffes, kobs, lions, elephants, and Buffaloes. The safari Game Drive usually takes 4 hours with a small break at the Hippo pool inside the park.
Return to your lodge for lunch and later embark on an afternoon Boat cruise on the River Nile. The boat trip goes for 2 hours as you search for some of the animals you didn’t spot on safari. Guests on this Trip are likely to spot many groups of Hippos, and basking Crocodiles as well as view the Murchison Waterfalls from the Bottom. You will return to your booked accommodation for dinner and overnight.
Day 9: Second Chimpanzee tracking in Budongo Forest
You transfer to the Budongo forest for your second chimpanzee trekking experience. On arrival at the briefing point, you will be assigned a guide to help you search for these primates. The Chimpanzee trek in Budongo goes for 3 to 5 hours and as soon as you spot the first chimpanzee, you’re allowed to spend 1 hour with these primates.
Once this safari activity is finished, your Safari Guide will transfer you back to the lodge. You will spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing at your safari lodge.
Day 10: Rhino Tracking at Ziwa and Transfer back to Kampala or Entebbe
Have breakfast at the lodge and then drive south to exit the park. You will visit Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary in Nakasongola for your Rhino Tracking Experience. This activity goes for 2 hours as you search for them on foot while guarded by an armed ranger.
As soon as you get out of this Rhino experience, your Guide will transfer you to the Airport with a lunch break in Nakasongola. This will mark the end of your 10 days shoebill gorillas and chimpanzee safari with us.
