Overview
3 Weeks Uganda Gorillas & Wildlife Tour; Did you know Uganda hosts half the world’s mountain gorilla population? This wonderful country also has one of the highest numbers of chimpanzees, is home to the Big Five animals, and has a wide variety of wildlife and bird species. Not forgetting the fantastic untamed landscape that ranges from one region to another.
The Pearl of Africa hosts ten national parks that accommodate the gifts of nature and are thus popular tourist destinations. This tour consists of fascinating adventures such as; game drives, Crater Lake hikes, gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, horse riding, boat rides, and community visits.
In summary, you will travel from Kampala to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Murchison Falls National Park, Kibale Forest National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Lake Bunyonyi, and Lake Mburo National Park, then finally back to Kampala.
Each trip day will have breakfast, lunch and dinner for the meal plan. This trip suggestion is a luxury one and includes both inclusive and exclusive services, as mentioned below.
Trip Summary for your 3 Weeks Uganda Gorillas & Wildlife Tour
- Day 1: Arrival in Uganda, airport pick up and transfer to hotel
- Day 2: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
- Day 3: Game Drive and Boat Cruise
- Day 4: Sport Fishing and top of the falls experience
- Day 5: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
- Day 6: Chimpanzee Tracking
- Day 7: Bigodi Sanctuary and Bigodi Community Visit
- Day 8: Crater Lakes hike in Fort Portal
- Day 9: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park and visit Lake Katwe
- Day 10: Game Drive and Boat Cruise
- Day 11: Ishasha Game Drive for Tree Climbing Lions
- Day 12: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Day 13: Gorilla Trekking
- Day 14: Batwa community visit and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
- Day 15: Explore and enjoy a day at Lake Bunyonyi
- Day 16: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park
- Day 17: Game Drive and Boat Cruise
- Day 18: Horse Riding and Nature Walk
- Day 19: Transfer to Kampala with a stop-over at the Equator and Naggalabi
- Day 20: Kampala City Tour
- Day 21: Transfer to Entebbe International Airport for your flight back home
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Uganda
You will arrive in Uganda, the Pearl of Africa, through Entebbe International Airport on this day. Upon reaching, an Early Trails Expedition representative will warmly receive you and brief you about your entire safari. After that, you will be transferred to your hotel to check in for relaxation, dinner and an overnight stay.
Accommodation (Luxury): Protea Hotel by Marriott Kampala
Day 2: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
After breakfast and getting ready for the day, you will set off for Murchison Falls National Park. Along the way, you will stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to track the only white rhinos in Uganda. This sanctuary is in the Nakasongola district, three hours from Kampala along the Kampala-Gulu road.
Rhino tracking entails several other encounters, such as bird watching and nature walks. Tracking usually takes 2 hours; afterwards, you will continue your journey with another stop-over for lunch. You will then proceed to Murchison Falls National Park and check in at your lodge for dinner and overnight upon arrival.
Accommodation (Luxury): Nile Safari Lodge
Day 3: Game Drive and Boat Cruise
On this day, you will wake up early, have a delicious breakfast, and embark on your game drive experience in the Northern section of Murchison Falls National Park. This adventure will be among the most rewarding during your Uganda safari. On a good day, you may watch leopards and lions around the Pakuba tracks, elephants and buffalos. Expect many other animals like the Rothschild giraffes, Jackson hartebeests, Uganda Kobs, Hippos, bushbucks, waterbucks, duikers, warthogs, several bird species, etc.
Afterwards, you will return to your lodge for lunch and refreshments while waiting for the afternoon boat cruise. This cruise will lead you to the bottom of Murchison Falls, considered the world’s most powerful waterfalls. It will be fascinating to learn that the enormous rapids there force their way through a gorge 7m wide and pour 45 meters below, forming a thunderous roar.
Also, during the cruise, you will encounter incredible wildlife and aquatic species along the river banks, such as elephants, Nile crocodiles, monitor lizards and so on. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation (Luxury): Nile Safari Lodge
Day 4: Sport Fishing and top of the falls experience
Wake up early, prepare for the day’s adventure and pack your fishing gear. UWA staff can improvise for you through hiring if you have none. You will then set off with your fishing guide in a private speed boat to the base of the falls. The fishing session can take up to 3 hours, and it is a fun and exciting experience given that it is a catch-and-release adventure. Usually, the aim is to catch a Tilapia fish, but there are other species, such as the Nile Perch, that you may find in the waters.
Following your lunch and refreshments, you will be driven to the top of the falls, watching how the rapids force their way into the narrow gorge and pour below. If you are lucky, you may see a big beautiful rainbow hovering above the falls. Please take some photos to keep a piece of these exciting moments, then go to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Accommodation (Luxury): Nile Safari Lodge
Day 5: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
After getting ready for the day’s program, you will travel to Kibale Forest National Park in Western Uganda. This journey takes about 5 to 6 hours, with lunch en route. Upon arrival at your lodge, you will receive a warm welcome. Sit back and relax as you wait for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation (Luxury): Kyaninga Lodge
Day 6: Chimpanzee Tracking
Following your delicious breakfast, you will drive to Kanyanchu Center for a briefing about tracking etiquette. Afterwards, you will be placed in a group of eight people to track a single habituated chimpanzee community. An armed ranger guide will lead you into the forest to start a search for the apes. The track can last 30 minutes to 3 hours before finding the chimps. You will have only an hour in their presence when you finally do. This moment is like nowhere in the jungle, to find yourself amidst these creatures that are humans’ closest relatives. After an hour in their company, walk back to the starting point, find your driver and drive back to your lodge to relax and refresh for the rest of the day.
Accommodation (Luxury): Kyaninga Lodge
Day 7: Bigodi Sanctuary and Bigodi Community Visit
Succeed on this day with a visit to Bigodi sanctuary to track various primates. Kibale Forest National Park is known for hosting the highest number of primate species, about 13. This is almost the most extensive record in the world for one forest to host. This makes Kibale Forest the world’s primate capital.
Among the primates to track in the Kibale forest include; black and white colobus, red-tailed monkeys, Mangabeys, baboons, bush babies, L’Hoest, Vervet monkeys, Patas, and Pottos, among others. Several bird species, unique tree plantations, and mammals like bushbucks, among others, accompany the primate tracking.
En route to the Bigodi community, you will enjoy a special organic local dish for your lunch. Visiting Bigodi village makes you understand how the community conserves the protected areas around them. You can buy souvenirs made from local materials from the wetland—then return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation (Luxury): Kyaninga Safari Lodge
Day 8: Fort Portal Crater Lake Hiking
This is a more fantastic day of experiencing heights as you will visit one of the traditionally believed to be ancestral caves of the Bachwezi dynasty. Driving through Fort Portal, you can see the Amabere Caves and take a Crater Lake hike. During this cultural visit, you will learn about the ancient Bachwezi dynasty; this will take you to the cave under the waterfalls and for a walk. The hike gives more fantastic views of the Rwenzori ranges, and the trail lasts 4 to 5 hours before you go to Fort Portal for lunch. Lastly, you will return to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Accommodation (Luxury): Akira Alira Lodge
Day 9: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park and Visit Lake Katwe
You will transfer on a relaxed drive through Kasese to Queen Elizabeth National Park this morning. The journey takes about 3 hours. When you reach the park, check-in at your lodge and later visit Lake Katwe. This is the only salt lake that produces salt crystals used to make refined salt. Afterwards, please return to your lodge, refresh and relax for another day.
Accommodation (Luxury): Jacana Safari Lodge
Day 10: Morning Game Drive and Afternoon Boat Cruise
With your packed breakfast today, you will drive to the Kasenyi section of Queen Elizabeth National Park for an incredible game drive. Going with a packed breakfast means enjoying it while experiencing the refreshing morning breeze and sun rays and watching the wild animals around you. Some of the animals you will spot include; elephants, Uganda kobs, bushbucks, buffalos, lions, and warthogs, among so many species to watch, accompanied by several bird species.
In the afternoon hours, after having your lunch, your professional tour guide will drive you to the Mweya peninsular for a boat cruise on the Kazinga channel. This is undoubtedly an opening to watch more animals.
Several animals are usually seen coming to the channel banks to draw water, and the aquatic life is seen either soaked in water or lousily relaxed at the water banks. Some include elephants, Nile crocodiles, monitor lizards, hippos and others. Lastly, you will return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation (Luxury): Jacana Safari Lodge
Day 11: Ishasha Game Drive for Tree Climbing Lions
On this day, you will take a morning drive through the Ishasha sector and track the tree-climbing lions. Ishasha sector is located in the Southern section of Queen Elizabeth National Park and is a famous East African region hosting the fantastic tree-climbing lions. The lions’ track also accompanies many wildlife species you can watch during the drive. Among these include elephants, buffalos, and various antelope species. After your exciting adventure, return to your lodge for a relaxed afternoon, dinner and an overnight stay.
Accommodation (Luxury): Ishasha Wilderness Camp
Day 12: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Wake up to a relaxed breakfast, prepare for the day and embark on your journey to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This drive usually takes about 6 hours, and you will enter the park through the Buhoma gate. Check in at your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation (Luxury): Buhoma Lodge
Day 13: Gorilla Trekking
Today you will enjoy breakfast and head to the Buhoma starting point for the trekking briefing. A group of only eight trekkers accompanied by an armed ranger guide will search for the respective allocated family. This adventure is limited to the Central African jewel of Virunga Conservation Area and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The trek lasts for about 30 minutes to 6 hours before finding your assigned habituated gorilla family.
The experience also involves walking through the unmade paths, moist thick jungles, hikes and slopes through hills and valleys and seeing the gorillas. Setting your eyes on these extraordinary creatures will leave you with beautiful memories. You will be given only one hour in their presence and then return to the starting point. Lastly, you will return to your lodge for lunch and relaxed rest.
Accommodation (Luxury): Buhoma Lodge
Day 14: Batwa community visit and Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
This morning, you will visit The Batwa community around the Buhoma community to feel their natural life. The Batwa people will entertain you with dances and songs, and stories. Afterwards, you can board your safari vehicle for a drive to Lake Bunyonyi. Check in at your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation (Midrange): Acadia Hotel
Day 15: Explore and enjoy a moment at Lake Bunyonyi
Today, you will spend the rest of your day exploring and enjoying the beautiful scenery of Lake Bunyonyi. You will go for a boat ride to some of the islands. One of the most exciting islands is Punishment Island due to its story related to being an execution island for girls who got pregnant before marriage. Then you will enjoy the sweet melodies of many small birds singing from your lodge’s vicinity.
Accommodation (Midrange): Acadia Hotel
Day 16: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park
Today, you will transfer to Lake Mburo National Park with a stop-over in Mbarara city for lunch and a visit to the Igongo cultural centre for the rich history of Uganda’s Western culture. Upon arrival, you will check into your lunch and relaxation. Later in the evening, after having dinner, you will take a night game drive while using torches. This activity is unique at Lake Mburo National Park since the highest chance of watching predators actively hunting is during that time.
Accommodation (midrange): Mihingo Lodge
Day 17: Game Drive and Boat Cruise
Start your day with a morning game drive through various made tracks watching multiple wildlife species, including buffalos, impalas, bushbucks, warthogs, giraffes, and zebras, among many others. Then, you will have a boat ride on Lake Mburo in the afternoon. The ride is usually gratifying with various animal encounters, including buffalos, impalas, etc. Lastly, return to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Accommodation (midrange): Mihingo Lodge
Day 18: Horse Riding and Nature Walks
After having your breakfast, you will head out for a horse ride. This thrilling activity brings you close to nature and its treasures. The absence of elephants in Lake Mburo makes it easy to do these rides. The horse rides take various trails and rates according to the guest’s desires.
After lunch, consider doing an afternoon walk through the park. The nature walks bring you close to nature’s beauty and suggest various tastes of hiking, bird watching, and a lot that can be encountered. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation (midrange): Mihingo Lodge
Day 19: Transfer to Kampala with a stop-over at the Equator and Naggalabi
Prepare this morning to transfer to Kampala. Along the way, you will have two stopovers, one at the Equator and another at Naggalabi Buddo, Buganda’s coronation site. While at the Equator, we shall take photographs and have lunch. Then, at the site, we will learn about the rich culture and traditions of the Buganda Kingdom and its solid origin. Then, we shall proceed to Kampala, check in at your hotel, have dinner, and overnight there.
Accommodation (Luxury): Mestil Hotel
Day 20: Kampala City Tour
Kampala is the genesis and the end of any tour in Uganda. This trip will take this 2nd last day to explore the best of Kampala. Kampala’s capital has more tourist spots, but we will drive to the Uganda Museum, Kasubi tombs and Old Kampala Mosque for an aerial view of Kampala; visit Uganda Museum for the in-depth history of Uganda at large.
Accommodation (Luxury): Mestil Hotel
Day 21: Transfer to Entebbe International Airport and fly back home
On this day, you will have a relaxed breakfast and start your journey to Entebbe International Airport. Along the way, you will stop at UWEC (Entebbe Zoo) to watch various animals in their cages, such as the famous tigers. Afterwards, you will have lunch and proceed to the airport for your flight back.
Our driver guide will say goodbye to you on behalf of Early Trails Expedition Uganda. Then, you will take your flight back to your home. After this 3 Weeks Extreme Uganda Gorilla & Wildlife Tour, you will become the next Early Trails Expeditions Uganda ambassador in your country and area. Thank you!
End of your 3 Weeks Uganda Gorillas & Wildlife Tour
Inclusive;
- 4×4 safari vehicle
- All trip fuel
- All meals and soft drinks
- All Park entrances
- All planned trip activities
- Gorilla permits
- Chimpanzee habituation permit
- Community visit
- Volcano hiking
- Accommodation
- Driver guide
- Community visits
Exclusive;
- Visa and air ticket
- Laundry
- All hard drinks
- Souvenirs
- Tips
- All international flights
