18 Days (Uganda) Wildlife, Chimps & Bwindi Gorillas Trek 2023

18 Days (Uganda) Wildlife, Chimps & Bwindi Gorillas Trek, go Uganda Wildlife Safari, Chimpanzee Tracking at Kibale Forest National Park & Gorilla Trek at Bwindi Forest National Park. 18 Days (Uganda) Wildlife, Chimps & Bwindi Gorillas Trek is the ultimate Uganda Safari to do in Uganda.

Detailed Itinerary of the 18 Days (Uganda) Wildlife, Chimps & Bwindi Gorillas Trek

Day 1: Arrival and Pick Up         

Upon your arrival, you will warmly be welcomed into the country at Entebbe International Airport by the Uganda Safari driver guide. You will transfer to your lodge/ hotel in Kampala for relaxation, Dinner and Overnight. Cassia Lodge Buziga.

Day 2:  Chimpanzee Tracking in Budongo Forest-Murchison Falls National Park

After our breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel after an early breakfast and head to Murchison Falls National Park. Upon your arrival in the park, you will proceed directly to the park headquarters where you will be briefed about the chimpanzee trackers’ code of conduct by a UWA official.

Set off for Kaniyo Pabidi thereafter under the guidance of an armed ranger for Chimpanzee Tracking. Possible other sightings on this trail may include other primates like the Black and white colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys among others. After your lunch, you will drive to the magnificent top of the falls and marvel around the robust Nile for a wondrous lifetime experience. Transfer for dinner and overnight at Paraa Safari Lodge.

Day 3: Game Drive in Murchison Falls National Park

Wake up have breakfast then transfer to experience a remarkable Game Drive along the various tracks of Murchison Falls National Park where you will spot many wildlife animals wandering from one point to another i.e the Rothschild Giraffe, Elephant, Jackson Hartebeest, Lions, Waterbuck and bird species.

You will break off for lunch and then afterwards, transfer to the banks of Victoria Nile to experience a boat cruise to the bottom of the falls spotting crocodiles, and hippos beneath the water. After, transfer to your lodge/ hotel for Dinner and Overnight. Paraa Safari Lodge.

Day 4: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park 

Wake up have breakfast then transfer to Kibale Forest National Park en route, you will view the majestic Mountain Rwenzori at a distance as well as have lunch. After, you will proceed with your transfer and when you reach the park, you will transfer to your lodge/ hotel for relaxation, Dinner and Overnight. Primates lodge Kibale.

Day 5: Nature Walks in Kibale Forest National Park

Wake up have breakfast then later embark on a guided nature walk in the misty tropical forest where you will trace various primates like the L’hoests’ monkeys, red colobus monkey, blue monkeys, black and white colobus monkey, red-tailed monkeys and the grey-cheeked mangabeys etc.
After your lunch, you will take a scenic drive to the Crater Lake region where you will get a chance of enjoying the scenery of various Crater Lakes. Dinner and Overnight. Primates lodge Kibale.

Day 6:  Game Drive & Boat Cruise at Kazinga Channel

Wake up have breakfast then embark on your transfer to experience a game drive along the various tracks in Queen Elizabeth National Park watching various Wildlife animals like elephants, Kobs, buffalos, lions, hyenas, antelopes etc.

You will break off for lunch and later transfer for an exciting Boat Cruise along the Kazinga Channel where you will watch numerous Hippos and crocodiles beneath the waters and birds. After the cruise, transfer to your lodge/ hotel for Dinner and Overnight. Jacana lodge.

Day 7 of the 18 Days (Uganda) Wildlife, Chimps & Bwindi Gorillas Trek: Transfer to Bwindi Forest National Park

Wake up have breakfast then transfer via the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park towards Bwindi Forest National Park for a period of 4-6 hours with sightings of Mountain Rwenzori in the distance. You will reach the park in the evening and transfer to your lodge/ hotel for relaxation, Dinner and Overnight. Engagi Lodge.

Day 8: Gorilla Tracking to Bwindi Forest National Park

After your breakfast, you look forward to the awaited highlight activities of this tour. Well prepared with your packed lunch, proceed to the park headquarters for a briefing session on the gorilla tracking code of conduct.

Thereafter penetrate through the misty impenetrable forest for a hilarious and adventurous experience of tracking the gorillas with the guidance of an armed game ranger. The time taken to encounter these peaceful primates is unpredictable. Nevertheless, at the end of the day, it is very appealing. Return to your lodge for Dinner and Overnight. Engagi Lodge.

Day 10: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park

Wake up have breakfast then transfer to Lake Mburo National Park en route you will have beautiful views of the scenery and lunch for a period of 4-6 hours. When you reach the park, you will transfer to experience a boat cruise along Lake Mburo which will offer you remarkable sightings of birds, terrain vegetation, Hippos and crocodiles. After the cruise, you will transfer to your lodge/ Hotel for Dinner and Overnight. Mihingo lodge.

Day 11 of the 18 Days (Uganda) Wildlife Chimps & Bwindi Gorillas Trek: Transfer to Kampala

This morning you will leave the park after your breakfast for a transfer back to Uganda’s capital Kampala. Embark on a city tour upon your arrival.

The visit will expose you to some of the historical religious and cultural archaeologists in places like the Uganda museum, Namugongo shrine, Bahai temple, and Kabaka’s lake among others. Retire for dinner and overnight at Cassia Lodge Buziga.

Day 12: Transfer to Mabira Forest then to Jinja

This morning you will be picked up from your hotel in Kampala after your breakfast and drive to the beautiful Jinja Town. Take a detour for an exciting experience of birding in the largest standing indigenous forest in central Uganda the bird haven of Mabira Forest. Expect to see birds like the yellow whiskered Greenbul, White-spotted Fluff tail, Toro Greenbul, Forest Robin, Buff spotted Woodpecker, Grey spotted Woodpecker, Leaf love, Red-headed Blue Bill, Yellow-spotted Barbet, Grey-throated Barbet, Yellow-Rumped Tinkerbird, Red-headed Malimbe, Yellow Throated Tinkerbird, Blue Breasted Kingfisher, African Pygmy, Shining blue, etc. After a while, you will transfer to Jinja at your hotel/lodge for relaxation, Dinner and Overnight. Wild waters lodge.

Day 13: White Water Rafting Adventure on River Nile

After your breakfast drive to the Nile River for a hilarious whole-day life experience. You will receive a briefing before heading off 15 km downriver to the start point of the days rafting experience. Rafting is a physical activity so make sure you eat up big to help keep your energy levels up throughout the day. Once down at the river’s edge, you will receive a detailed safety briefing, before launching into the river for a last bit of practical instruction as you float down the pool.

Overtime kicks off with a bang, as we manoeuvre through the rocks and negotiate the 12ft drop. Enjoy the ride on the Nile with the rewards of spectacular scenic views. At the end of the day take pleasure in the delicious BBQ buffet at the end of the rafting. Transfer for dinner and overnight at Wild waters lodge.

Day 14: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park

Today you will drive off to Murchison falls National Park through the famous Luwero Triangle and Budongo forest on the western arm of the Great Rift Valley after your breakfast. The drive will reward you with spectacular scenic views.

Upon your arrival in the park, you will drive to the magnificent top of the falls where the Nile perfects its splendour with views of the thunderous roar of the white water as the calm Nile forces its way through the narrow gorge. Transfer for dinner and overnight at Paraa Safari Lodge.

Day 15:  Game Drive & Boat Cruise in Murchison Falls National Park

After your cup of tea, you will embark on a morning game drive in the park and catch up with the habitant early risers besides other predators. Possible sightings may include the side striped jackals, Rothschild’s giraffes, Jackson’s hartebeest, Uganda Kob, warthog, and oribi among others, especially in the delta circuit.

After your lunch, you will get on board for further a game viewing adventure on the Launch cruise along the Nile River that will reward you with sights of the hippos, crocodiles, Defassa water bucks, bush bucks, black and white colobus and also small herds of buffalos. The cruise may further reward you with views of bird life that may include; the shoebill, African fish eagle, Goliath Heron, saddle-billed stork, African jacana and the malachite kingfisher, rock pratincole, black-headed gonolek, black-winged red bishop, yellow-mantled window bird and the colourful red-throated bee-eater and the rare Egyptian plover. Return for dinner and overnight stay at Paraa Safari Lodge.

Day 16: Game Drive in Murchison Falls National Park to Ngamba Island

Today you will have another adventurous experience in the morning game drive through a different trail immediately after your breakfast. This will be a chance of spotting the game you might have missed the previous day. Thereafter leave the park and transfer to Entebbe and you will have an en-route lunch.

Get on a cruise along Lake Victoria and proceed to the home of 40 orphaned chimpanzees in Ngamba Island sanctuary and catch up with the interactive unique experience of viewing the chimpanzees in their natural environment. You may engage in the optional infant integration experience of the chimpanzees on the island or take a forest walk and have an encounter with the interactive primates on the island. Transfer for dinner and overnight at Ngamba Island Tented Camp.     

Day 17: Chimpanzee Viewing at Ngamba Island              

After your breakfast, be part of the memorable interactive experience of caregiving given to the chimpanzees during their morning feeding time. After your lunch return to the mainland landing site for your transfer back to Entebbe. Take pleasure in visiting the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre where you will further be exposed to the rescued wildlife. Transfer for dinner and overnight at Imperial Golf View Hotel.

Day 18: Departure to Kampala

After you breakfast have an optional souvenir shopping in the Entebbe craft shops before your transfer to the Airport to catch up with your flight back home. It all depends on your departure flight details.