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11 Day Gorilla Tracking Safari

Overview

Embark on this 11 Day Gorilla Tracking Safari taking you through Uganda’s most renowned national parks. This journey includes a game drive and boat cruise at Lake Mburo National Park, an awe-inspiring gorilla trekking experience in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, an exploration of Queen Elizabeth National Park with its thrilling game drives and Kazinga Channel boat cruise, chimpanzee trekking and a serene Bigodi wetland walk in Kibale National Park, culminating in the breathtaking landscapes and wildlife of Murchison Falls National Park, complete with a game drive and a boat cruise to the base of the majestic falls.

Highlights

Day One: Arrive and transfer to your hotel in either Entebbe or Kampala.
Day Two: Journey to Lake Mburo National Park and enjoy an evening boat cruise on the lake.
Day Three: Travel to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.
Day Four: Experience the unforgettable adventure of gorilla trekking.
Day Five: Depart for Queen Elizabeth National Park, followed by an evening game drive.
Day Six: Delight in a morning game drive and an afternoon boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel.
Day Seven: Head to Kibale National Park.
Day Eight: Engage in a morning chimpanzee trekking expedition and a walk through Bigodi Wetland.
Day Nine: Drive to Murchison Falls National Park.
Day Ten: Enjoy a morning game drive and an afternoon boat cruise to the base of the stunning Murchison Falls.
Day Eleven: Return to Entebbe International Airport for your departure flight.

Important Information

Accommodation: All accommodations are included throughout the safari.
Group Size: This intimate safari accommodates a maximum of 6 people per group.
Flexibility: The tour can commence on any day and can be customized to suit individual preferences.
Solo Travelers: Individuals traveling alone are welcome to join this tour.
Age Requirement: Participants must be 15 years or older.

TRIP ITINERARY

Tour Plan

Day 1

Arrival and Transfer to Entebbe

Upon your arrival, our Trek Africa Expeditions guide will meet you and transfer you to your guest house or hotel for an overnight stay. Depending on your arrival time, you may opt for an additional activity such as a boat excursion to Ngamba Island, a visit to the Entebbe Botanic Gardens, or a tour of the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre. These activities are optional and not included in the main itinerary.

Meal Plan: Bed and breakfast
Accommodation: Secrets Guest House

Day 2

Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park

After a hearty breakfast, you will set off for Lake Mburo National Park. En route, you will make a stop at the Equator crossing in Kayabwe. This stop provides an excellent opportunity for photographs, a chance to stretch, and to conduct simple equator-related experiments. Upon arrival at Lake Mburo National Park, you will embark on a game drive as you enter the park, followed by an exciting boat cruise on the lake.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Accommodation: Lake Mburo Safari Lodge or Rwakobo Rock
Travel Time: Approximately 5-6 hours

Day 3

Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After a hearty breakfast, embark on a scenic drive through Lake Mburo National Park, continuing your journey to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in southwestern Uganda. Along the way, you'll enjoy breathtaking views of Uganda's rolling green hills adorned with banana and tea plantations. A stop for lunch will be made en route. You will arrive at Bwindi in the evening, ready for the adventures that await.

Drive Time: Approximately 6-7 hours
Accommodation: Rushaga Gorilla Havens Lodge or Trekkers Tervan Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 4

Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Start your day early with breakfast before heading to the Park Headquarters around 7:45 am for registration and a briefing on the dos and don'ts of gorilla trekking. With a packed lunch in hand, you'll join other trackers and set off with your guides through the dense, misty forest. The trek to find the gorillas can last from half an hour to most of the day, depending on their movements. The terrain is steep and heavily forested, but numerous animal trails make it accessible. The experience of encountering these magnificent, endangered creatures in their natural habitat is nothing short of extraordinary.

Accommodation: Rushaga Gorilla Havens Lodge or Trekkers Tervan Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 5

Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Depart Bwindi in the morning, heading towards Queen Elizabeth National Park. The journey is filled with stunning scenery, and you'll arrive in time for lunch at your lodge. In the afternoon, embark on a game drive in the Kasenyi plains, where you might spot savannah wildlife such as herds of buffalo, antelope, elephants, and possibly even lions and leopards.

Drive Time: Approximately 4-5 hours
Accommodation: Elephant Hab or Pumba Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 6

Morning Game Drive and Afternoon Boat Cruise on Kazinga Channel

Start your day with another game drive in the Kasenyi plains, giving you a second chance to see any wildlife you may have missed. After lunch at the lodge, head to the Kazinga Channel for an afternoon boat cruise. This cruise offers excellent opportunities to view a variety of animals, including hippos, elephants, buffalo, crocodiles, and numerous water birds that flock to the channel for water.

Accommodation: Elephant Hab or Pumba Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 7

Morning Game Drive and Transfer to Kibale National Park

Start your day with an early breakfast before embarking on a morning game drive in the northern section of Queen Elizabeth National Park, specifically the Kasenyi area. This region is teeming with wildlife, offering you the chance to see elephants, buffalo, various species of antelopes such as waterbucks and Uganda kobs, as well as savannah birds. Keep an eye out for the elusive wild cats that inhabit this area. After your thrilling morning safari, enjoy lunch and then set off for Kibale National Park. The drive offers scenic views and a glimpse into the rural life of Uganda as you pass through various landscapes and communities. You will arrive at your lodge in the evening, where you can relax and prepare for the next day's adventure.

Drive Time: Approximately 5-6 hours
Accommodation: Chimpanzee Forest Guest House or Isunga Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 8

Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale Forest National Park

After enjoying breakfast, you will head to the Kibale National Park Headquarters at Kanyanchu. There, you'll join other trekkers for a briefing before embarking on your chimpanzee trekking adventure. A well-trained and experienced ranger/guide will lead you through the lush Kibale Forest National Park. This forest is home to a habituated community of chimpanzees, allowing you the unique opportunity to spend an hour observing these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat. Don't forget to keep your camera handy for some incredible photo opportunities. In addition to chimpanzees, the park is home to 13 other primate species and numerous forest birds, making it a paradise for wildlife enthusiasts. After lunch, you'll head to the Bigodi Wetland for a guided walk. This walk offers a chance to see more primates and various bird species while learning about the local community's efforts in conserving the wetland. You have the option to support these conservation efforts through voluntary donations.

Accommodation: Chimpanzee Forest Guest House or Isunga Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 9

Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park

Today, you will embark on a journey to Murchison Falls National Park. As you travel through small towns, villages, and scenic landscapes, you'll enjoy breathtaking views of the escarpment. You'll arrive at your destination in the late evening, ready for the adventures that await in this iconic park.

Drive Time: Approximately 8-9 hours
Accommodation: Pakuba Safari Lodge or Murchison River Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 10

Morning Game Drive and Afternoon Boat Cruise to the Bottom of the Falls

Start your day early with a cup of coffee before transferring to the northern section of the park, known as Paraa, which translates to "the place of hippos" in the local Luo dialect. During the morning game drive, you'll have the chance to see a variety of wildlife, including giraffes, buffaloes, antelopes, hippos, and possibly lions and leopards. After the game drive, return to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, proceed to the pier for a two-hour boat cruise to the bottom of the magnificent Murchison Falls. Along the way, you'll see several schools of hippos and witness the Nile River squeezing through a narrow gorge before exploding out in a spectacular display, providing an unforgettable experience.

Accommodation: Pakuba Safari Lodge or Murchison River Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 11

Return to Entebbe International Airport

After breakfast, you'll begin your journey back to Entebbe International Airport. Depending on your flight schedule, you may opt to visit the Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary, though this is optional and not included in the main itinerary.

Meal Plan: Breakfast

INCLUDES & EXCLUDES

Includes

Airport transfers on the first and last day
Gorilla Permits
Kibale Chimpanzee Permit
Transport in a 4×4 safari vehicle
Services of an English-speaking driver/guide
Fuel for the entire trip
Accommodation and meal plan as per the itinerary
All Park entrance fees
Drinking water while in the vehicle

Excludes

Pre and post tour accommodation in Entebbe or Kampala
International airfares
Uganda Visa (USD50.00 which can be paid on arrival at the Airport

TOUR MAP

GENERAL FAQs

General FAQs

Can I reschedule or cancel this trip?

Rescheduling: You can reschedule this trip as a private tour to any date within 12 months at no additional cost.
Booking Deposit: A 30% deposit of the total tour price is required to secure your booking. The remaining balance is due 45 days before the tour departure date. Bookings not secured with the appropriate deposit will be released.
Cancellation Policy:
- Cancel between 90 and 45 days before departure: 20% penalty of the tour price.
- Cancel within 45 days of departure or no show: 100% penalty of the tour price.

Availability and Accommodations

Reservations: Accommodation and activity availability is not guaranteed until reservations are confirmed with the final itinerary and deposit payment. If any quoted accommodations are unavailable, we reserve the right to substitute them with suitable alternatives, which may affect the final quoted price.

Insurance

Requirement: All clients must have medical and travel insurance to cover unforeseen circumstances.

Rates

Subject to Change: Tour rates are subject to change without notice. We will make every effort to maintain rates, but changes in government taxes or operating conditions may be passed on to clients.

Permit Cancellation Policy

Uganda Gorilla Permit Cancellation Policy

Guarantee: A Gorilla Permit is guaranteed only upon receipt of the deposit ($800 per person per trek) as it must be paid immediately to the Uganda Wildlife Authority.

Cancellation Fees

More than 90 days before tracking: 25% cancellation fee.
89 to 46 days before tracking: 50% cancellation fee.
45 to 9 days before tracking: 75% cancellation fee.
8 to 0 days before tracking: 100% cancellation fee.

Important Information

Age Requirement: The minimum age for gorilla tracking is 15 years.
Health: Visitors with flu or other airborne diseases will not be allowed into the rainforest jungle to see the gorillas.
Safety Protocols: Masks must be worn at all times, and a distance of 10 meters must be maintained between you and the gorillas.

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