Compare Chimps & Gorillas of Uganda by Exodus Travels vs 14-Day Vacation to Uganda - Murchison Falls, Gorilla & Ssese Island by Home To Africa
Compare details and see what other travelers are saying.
| Trip |
5 | Excellent
|
5 | Excellent
|
| Duration | 11 days | 14 days |
| Price From | $ 6,915 | $ 3,776 |
| Price Per Day | $ 629 | $ 270 |
| Highlights |
|
|
| Trip Style | Small group tour | Private guided tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Standard |
| Physical Level |
|
|
| Travel Themes |
|
|
| Countries Visited | ||
| Cities and Attractions |
|
N/A |
| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Ground transport included |
| Activities |
|
|
| Meals Included | All breakfasts, 10 lunches and nine dinners included. The service can be either à la carte or buffet, depending on the lodge. For early game drives, and to maximise the time spent in the parks, a packed breakfast or lunch may be provided in some instances. The food provided is a mix of good local and international food throughout. It is possible to cater for vegetarians or those with special requirements; however, please make sure you advise your sales representative at time of booking. Please note: The availability of certain specialised products for restricted diets (eg gluten-free or dairy-free) is minimal or non-existent in Uganda and we strongly recommend you bring these specialised dietary items from home. |
|
| Description |
Uganda is renowned for its abundant wildlife. With landscapes ranging from savannah to lush forests, the animal count is high: more than 300 mammal species and more than 1,000 bird types. This trip is a true adventure into the heart of Africa. Kibale Forest is possibly the best place in the world to track chimpanzees while Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to hippos, elephants, buffalo, leopards and elusive tree-climbing lions, plus a huge variety of birds. Continuing on our journey, we reach Bwindi where we have the option of tracking the gentle giants of the forests, mountain gorillas. Aldo Kane Collection: A hand-selected range of adventures by our Brand Ambassador: "Having been lucky enough in my lifetime to catch glimpses of both chimps and gorillas in their natural habitats, I would highly recommend this extraordinary experience. There's nothing quite like spotting a signature species in the wild and spending an hour with these rare creatures in the misty peaks of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is nothing short of incredible."Discover the emblematic wildlife of Kibale Forest, Queen Elizabeth National Park and Bwindi |
Arrive Entebbe and overnight. Travel to head to Murchison Falls and experience the roaring rapids of the Murchison. Proceed to Kibale Forest for chimp tracking and then into Queen Elizabeth. Exit Queen via Ishasha sector (known for tree-climbing lions) into Bwindi for ultimate gorilla trekking. From Bwindi, head to Mbarara City then proceed to Ssese Island and finally fly out from Entebbe. |
Day 1 Arrive Entebbe
Our adventure begins in Entebbe, a city on the north shore of Lake Victoria, the largest lake in Africa. Today is all about settling in after your journey, so head to the hotel and relax for the evening. Accommodation: 2 Friends Beach Hotel, Papyrus Guest House or Boma Hotel (or similar)
Day 2 Drive to Kibale Forest
This morning, we have breakfast and your leader will run a welcome brief before we leave Entebbe. The drive time depends, in large part, on traffic in Kampala but should take approximately seven hours. Upon arrival, we can relax at our lakeside lodge. Kibale Forest National Park is home to 13 primate species: there are nine diurnal primates, including vervet, red-tailed, L’Hoest’s, red colobus, black-and-white colobus and blue monkeys, plus grey-cheeked mangabey, olive baboons and, the most famous of all, chimpanzees. Although chimp sightings are not guaranteed, the odds of encountering them are very good. Accommodation: Turaco Treetops (or similar)
Day 3 Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale; visit Bigodi wetlands
Today we explore the Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary in the Magombe wetland. The sanctuary is a major tourist attraction in the Kibale Forest area and is operated by the Kibale Association for Rural and Environmental Development (KAFRED), a local community-based organisation. We also go on a forest walk in search of primates. While trekking in the depths of the lush green forest, we are surrounded by bird song and can expect to see at least five or six types of primate, most probably grey-cheeked mangabeys, red-tailed monkeys and, of course, chimpanzees. The walking is fairly easy with well-maintained trails and reasonably flat terrain. The order in which we do these activities may vary. Accommodation: Turaco Treetops (or similar)
Day 4 Optional second chimpanzee trek; to Queen Elizabeth National Park
There is the option of doing a second chimp trek this morning to increase the probability of seeing them (due to limited permit availability, we recommend you prebook the second chimp trek). In the afternoon, we drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP). The drive goes south along the eastern length of the Rwenzori Mountains, where we can see the glaciated peaks, weather permitting. We gently descend into the Great Rift Valley and QENP. The park resides in a fertile, equatorial area and has beautiful scenery. It is the most popular and accessible savannah reserve in Uganda, with a total area of 764sqmi (1,978sqkm). It is primarily associated with grassy savannah plains, but this impressive park also includes leafy rainforests, dense papyrus swamps and natural volcanic crater lakes. As a result, it has one of the highest biodiversity ratings of any game reserve in the world, including 95 recorded mammal species and more than 610 bird species. Accommodation: Simba Safari Camp (or similar)
Day 5 Game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park; boat safari on the Kazinga Channel
This morning, we explore Queen Elizabeth National Park on a game drive in search of wildlife, including elephants, lions, buffalo, leopards, hyenas, jackals, topis, kobs and bush bucks. In the afternoon, we have a boat trip (about two hours) along the Kazinga Channel to view some of the largest concentration of hippos in the world (reported to be about 30,000) and other animals with excellent birding. Accommodation: Simba Safari Camp (or similar)
Day 6 Game drive in the Ishasha region of Queen Elizabeth National Park; to Buhoma
Today we drive through the park to the Ishasha region. We game drive in search of tree-climbing lions and other wildlife. This afternoon, we head to Bwindi Impenetrable National Forest, a World Heritage site, passing through the scenic area known as the Switzerland of East Africa. The driving today is about 5hr 30min (not including game drives). Accommodation: Haven Lodge Buhoma (or similar)
Day 7 Mountain gorilla tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
For many, observing a wild mountain gorilla is one of the most emotional wildlife experiences possible. Tracking these gentle giants can take anything from under an hour to more than six, depending on where the family is located. The number of permits allocated daily are limited so we recommend early booking. If the permits for gorilla families close to where we stay are unavailable, there are more permits for another area of the park, though this will mean a long drive to the trek start point. The trek itself can be along steep, slippery trails and through the bush so you should be in reasonable physical condition, but the rewards of spending an hour with our close cousins more than makes up for the effort of getting to them. Accommodation: Haven Lodge Buhoma (or similar)
Day 8 Optional second mountain gorilla trek
Today is a free day and there is the option of getting a second gorilla permit for this day, though due to the limited number of permits, this should be obtained at time of booking. For those who choose not to go on a second gorilla trek, there are other walks you can do nearby or you can relax at our lodge, reminiscing about the previous day’s encounters. On some departures, due to the availability of permits, we may have to swap these two days over with the free day (and optional second gorilla trek) on Day 6 and the included gorilla trek on Day 7 or we may have to split the group to trek with gorillas across both days. Accommodation: Haven Lodge Buhoma (or similar)
Day 9 To Lake Mburo National Park
Leaving the forests, we head towards Lake Mburo National Park. En route, we stop in Kabale near the Rwandan border for lunch. The drive should be about five hours (not including stops). Lake Mburo is the only place in southern Uganda where you can see zebras, giraffes and impala and is a great place to try to see leopards. It is also home to more than 300 bird species and offers the possibility of game walks and game drives. Accommodation: Rwakobo Rock (or similar)
Day 10 Game drive; optional game walk or boat safari
Today we go on a final game drive looking for plains wildlife. The park has a network of game tracks in the eastern part of the park passing a variety of landscapes: acacia woodland, wetlands, grassy hillsides, rocky outcrops and seasonally flooded valley floors. The early morning and late afternoon are the best times to roam the park in search of wildlife. There is also the option of tracking game on foot through the savannah and going on a boat excursion, particularly good for birdlife. You also have the option of going on an early morning game walk. Accompanied by a ranger guide, you walk to a salt lick where many animals are attracted to the salty rocks. At this time of day, you may encounter hyenas returning to their dens and hippos retreating to the lake. The lake itself is rich with a diversity of animals and plants, and these can be viewed clearly on a boat trip. These include crocodiles, hippos and birds, such as pelicans, black crakes, herons, cormorants and fish eagles, but you may also see the rare shoebill stork if you are lucky. Accommodation: Rwakobo Rock (or similar)
Day 11 Drive to Entebbe; trip ends
Today is our final day and we return to Entebbe and the shores of Lake Victoria. The driving time will depend on the amount of traffic in Kampala, but we make regular stops to break up the journey. En route back to Entebbe, we visit Mabamba Swamp (Mabamba Bay Wetland System), which lies about 25mi (40km) from Entebbe. The swamp, said to support more than 190,000 birds, is the perfect spot in Uganda for watching the globally threatened shoebill stork and the papyrus yellow warbler. We arrive into Entebbe in the early evening, if time permits, you guide will take you for dinner (own expense) before dropping you at the airport.
Day 1: Arrive Entebbe Airport, pick up and transfer to the booked hotel.
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: (Cassia Lodge-Moderate)
Drive Time: Approx. 45 minutes.
Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, a Home to Africa assigned English-speaking professional driver-guide will receive and welcome you to Uganda – the Pearl of Africa. Thereafter, you will transfer to the booked accommodation (Kampala). Optional: In case, you have had an early landing in Uganda, you may opt for an afternoon (evening) ride around the city. This excursion may include; a drive along the Buganda Royal Mile, a visit to the Gaddafi Mosque, the Bahai temple and time permitting, the Uganda National Museum.
Day 2: Pick up (7am) from the hotel and transfer to Murchison Falls NP.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: (Pakuba Safari Lodge -Moderate)
Drive Time: Approx. 6-7 hours
After breakfast, the assigned driver-guide will pick you and hit the road to Murchison Falls National Park. The highlights of this park include the roaring rapids of the Murchison, the rolling plains of Uganda’s largest National Park where you will have the chance of viewing lions, giraffes, hartebeest, buffalo, and elephants. Then surely, the concentration of hippos and the Nile crocodiles here will fascinate you. There will be a stop for lunch en route. Continue to the park and check in to your accommodation to relax for the Evening. Optional: If interested and time allows, you can proceed for a late afternoon-evening game drive.
Day 3: Morning game drive, afternoon boat trip and top of the falls’ hiking.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: (Pakuba Safari Lodge -Moderate)
Drive Time:
Have your breakfast, depart for an early morning game drive across the rolling plains of Uganda’s largest National Park and be on the look for wildlife including: lions, leopards (though hard to spot) among others. For any birder, there are quite a number of birds to sight too during the drive. Return to the accommodation for some rest time and lunch. Optional: If interested, you may opt for the hot air balloon safari (instead) at an extra cost (on ground).
After lunch, you will head out for the boat trip to the base of Murchison Falls where you will also be able to catch sight of more animals including Hippos and Crocodiles and several water birds. Continue with a hike (if you like) to the top of the falls. The hike may be a strenuous one but the thrill on reaching the top is unforgettable. Miss it only if you must. Return to your accommodation and have a relaxed evening.
Day 4: Exit Murchison Falls National Park and transfer to Kibale Forest National Park.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: (Isunga Lodge-Moderate)
Drive Time: Approx. 7 hours.
After breakfast at your accommodation, depart right away for Kibale Forest National Park – popular for its primates like the chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, L'Hoest's monkey, Uganda mangabey (Lophocebus ugandae). The drive is quite long but incredibly scenic – passing through villages, lush green countryside and hills dotted with tea plantations that characterize this part of Uganda. The beautiful scenery will amaze you all the way. Upon arrival at the accommodation, check in and relax. Optional (at extra cost): If interested and time allows, you may go for; Bigodi swamp walk, crater lakes excursion, or visit The Amabere Ga Nyina Mwiru Caves for some cultural/historical insights.
Day 5: Chimp tracking Kibale Forest and (afternoon) explore the Kibale crater lakes.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: (Isunga Lodge-Moderate)
Drive Time:
Have breakfast and head to the rangers’ post where you will receive some briefing on the dos and don’ts during chimp trekking. Thereafter, you will proceed to trek the chimps in the Kibale Forest. An experienced ranger guide will take you chimp tracking (Kibale Forest) and the presence of primates here will surely amaze you. Once you locate the chimpanzees, you will have a full hour in their presence. Later (after lunch), proceed to explore the crater lakes, crowned with a hike to the “top of the world”. You will enjoy the beauty of the numerous small lakes, surrounded by gentle hills, and the stunning views. Take a hike to Lake Nkuruba where you will encounter different species of primates and birds. Meet and interact with the local people as you walk through their villages and enjoy the panoramic views of the Kibale area.
Day 6: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth NP, relax and proceed for the afternoon (evening) game drive.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: (Parkview Safari Lodge-Moderate)
Drive Time: Approx. 2-3 hours.
Have a relaxed breakfast at the accommodation and drive off to Queen Elizabeth NP. You will reach Queen early enough to relax, have lunch and in the afternoon proceed out for game viewing. During the game drive, look out for wild animals like reedbuck, bushbuck, kob, warthogs, elephants, lions and buffaloes to mention but a few. Alternatively, you could choose to go for the Queen’s breathtaking explosion crater drive (instead). The drive is sightseeing with very spectacular view of the breathtaking scenery in and around Queen. There is also some wildlife to see along the drive although commonest are sights of Cape Buffaloes plus Elephants. Return to the accommodation for relaxation, dinner and the overnight stay.
Day 7: Queen’s Morning game drive and afternoon boat trip along the Kazinga Channel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: (Parkview Safari Lodge-Moderate)
Drive Time
Be up early and have your breakfast. Proceed for a morning game drive in the Kasenyi plains and be on the look for Cape buffalos, herds of elephants plus lions, leopards (though hard to spot) among others. Return to the accommodation for some rest time and lunch.
After lunch, you will go for a 2-hour boat trip on the Kazinga Channel that connects Lakes George and Edward. During the trip, the sight of wildlife including giant hippos, elephants and crocodiles among others will fascinate you. You will also see many varieties of birds at the water shores. You will have dinner and overnight at your accommodation. Optional (extra cost): If interested, you may go for twin lakes hike after the boat trip.
Day 8: Transfer to Bwindi via Ishasha sector in search of tree-climbing lions.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: (Bakiga Lodge-Moderate)
Drive Time: 5-6 hours.
Have breakfast then set off for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park through the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park – famously known for its resident tree-climbing lions. The chance of spotting these lions is about 70% though sometimes they are hard to spot (most especially when they are down in the grassland looking for prey). Hoping you get the chance to spot them, the sight will be spectacular!
Continue to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Bwindi is a big habitat for mountain gorillas in Uganda (harboring an estimated 400 mountain gorillas – roughly half of the world’s population) including several habituated groups, which you will trek. With a strenuous day ahead, you will do less on arrival but just check in your accommodation, relax as you prepare for the Bwindi gorilla trekking experience the following day.
Day 9: Gorilla trekking Bwindi Forest, return and transfer to the booked accommodation in Kisoro.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: (Travellers Rest-Moderate)
Drive Time: Approx. 2 hours.
Have breakfast and move to the rangers’ post. You will receive some briefing (from a ranger guide) on the dos and don’ts during trekking. Thereafter, you will enter the Bwindi Forest for your adventure. The beauty of this rain forest is spectacular! The area offers dramatic steeply forested landscape and is incredibly dense but crisscrossed by numerous animal trails allowing access to tourists. The time taken and the terrain vary with the movements of these great primates. Once you have located a gorilla group, you will be allowed an hour in their presence. The thrill of spending time observing these gentle but endangered giants is unforgettable. Return to the accommodation, check out and embark on a transfer to Kisoro.
Day 10: Hiking Mount Sabinyo to the summit and return for rest at the accommodation.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: (Travellers Rest-Moderate)
Drive Time:
Have breakfast then set off to hike Mount Sabinyo. At 3669m, Mt Sabinyo is one of the numerous rolling volcanoes that make up the magnificent Virunga mountain range that spans along the borders of Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. While the other volcanoes either lie in one of the countries or are shared between two countries, Mt. Sabinyo lies at the meeting point of all the three borders. It is more like the axis of the Virunga range and offers the best views across the Virunga, you could call it a 360-degree experience! It takes approximately eight hours to cover the 14km round trip, following a steep ridge up to the peak. You will get the rare opportunity to stand in three countries (Uganda, Rwanda, and DR Congo) at the same time. Return from the hiking and take your rest at the accommodation after a strenuous day.
Day 11: Exit Kisoro early. Drive to Bukakata and connect to Ssese Island.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: (Brovad Sands Lodge-Moderate) |
Drive Time: Approx. 6 hours.
Enjoy your breakfast and thereafter, embark on a drive (about 6hrs) to Bukakata Landing Site, Masaka. From there, you will catch a ferry headed for Ssese Islands, Kalangala District. From the ferry, you will be driven to the booked accommodation and begin enjoying the beauty of Ssese Island. You may move out and stroll along the sandy beach of Lake Victoria and then return for dinner.
Day 12: Full day at your disposal – chilling and enjoying the Ssese Island’s beauty.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: (Brovad Sands Lodge-Moderate/Mid-range)
Drive Time:
This day is at your disposal. You may choose to just relax at the comfort of your accommodation or go out for some activities. If intending to move out, you may consider any of the following activities (offered by the lodge); fishing, swimming, boat ride, forest walk, quad biking among others depending on interest. Enjoy Ssese Island and Brovad Sands Lodge.
Day 13: Another full day at your disposal – chilling and enjoying the Ssese Island.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: (Brovad Sands Lodge-Moderate/Mid-range)
Drive Time:
This is yet another day at your disposal. You may choose to just relax at the comfort of your accommodation or go out for some activities. If intending to move out, you may consider any of the following activities (offered by the lodge); fishing, swimming, boat ride, forest walk, quad biking among others depending on interest. Enjoy Ssese Island and Brovad Sands Lodge.
Day 14: Catch a ferry (8am) to Nakiwogo – Entebbe, and connect to the Airport.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Recommended on request |
Drive Time
Be up early, have breakfast and move out to catch a ferry destined for Nakiwogo – Entebbe. The ferry arrives at Nakiwogo between 11:30am and 12 noon. From there you will connect to the Entebbe Int’l Airport to catch flight out (16:00 onwards). Optional (extra cost): Just in case you have a late flight and you would like to do some activity before going to the airport, then you may consider any of the following; tour to Entebbe Botanical Gardens (if interested in birds and primates), excursion to Mabamba swamp in search of shoebill stork, the Lake Victoria sunset boat cruise.
