15 Days Uganda Tour: Gorillas & Wildlife
15 Days Uganda Tour Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi is one of the most amazing and must-try safaris that take tourists through the major tourist sites of the country including Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth, Kibale Forest and Semliki Forest National Parks as well as Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to encounter the Zebras, giraffes, warthogs, big five animals (lions, leopards, rhinos, buffaloes and elephants, antelopes (elands, impalas, Topis, Defassa waterbucks and Uganda Kobs) and outstanding bird species including the elusive shoebill stork.
Activities to expect on a 15 Days Uganda Tour;
- Gorilla trekking in Bwindi
- Chimpanzee tracking.
- Rhino tracking.
- Game viewing.
- Boat cruises.
- Cultural visit.
- Visit Sempaya Hot springs.
- Relaxation at Lake Bunyonyi.
- City tour.
Itinerary highlights of this 15 Days Uganda Tour
- Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe International Airport.
- Day 2: Drive from Kampala to Murchison Falls National Park.
- Day 3: Game drive and launch cruise.
- Day 4: Transfer to Semliki Forest National Park.
- Day 5: Nature walks at Sempaya hot springs.
- Day 6: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park and a visit to Bigodi wetland sanctuary.
- Day 7: Chimpanzee habituation experience.
- Day 8: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
- Day 9: Game viewing and boat cruise.
- Day 10: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for gorilla trekking.
- Day 11: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi and cultural walk (optional).
- Day 12: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi.
- Day 13: Drive from Lake Bunyonyi to Lake Mburo National Park.
- Day 14: Transfer from Lake Mburo National Park to Kampala.
- Day 15: City tour and departure.
Detailed itinerary 15 Days Uganda Tour
Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe International Airport and transfer to Kampala.
Kampala is always the starting point of most of Uganda’s safaris and therefore on arrival, you will be picked from the Airport by our driver/guide and transferred to Kampala City. Meals and overnight will be at Kampala Forest cottages.
Day 2: Drive from Kampala to Murchison Falls National Park.
The visit to Murchison Falls National Park starts with an early morning breakfast followed by a 4-5 hours’ journey with a stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary (the home of Uganda’s only wild Rhino population). Continue until Masindi for lunch and arrive at the Park through the Kichombanyobo gate to continue to the top of the falls. The awe-inspiring view of the Murchison Falls as the waters of the Nile forces itself through 7 meters wide gorge is a sight to behold.
Dinner and overnight is at Chobe Safari Lodge (upmarket), Heritage Safari Lodge (mid-range) or Red Chilli Rest Camp (budget) while the meal plan is breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Day 3: Game drive and launch cruise.
Following an early morning breakfast, drive to the ferry where you will cross to the magnificent northern sector of the Park for the 3-4 hours’ game drive where you will have a chance to see numerous animals including elephants, oribis, buffaloes, hartebeests, Uganda kobs, bushbucks, waterbucks, elands, giraffes and warthogs among others.
Return to the Lodge for lunch before setting off for the second activity-the Nile boat cruise to spot huge Nile crocodiles, hippos and buffaloes along the banks of the Nile as well as unique bird species that will take your breath away. Also, the phenomenal appearance of the waterfalls will blow your mind and make you wish to spend more time in the Park.
Return to Chobe Safari Lodge (upmarket), Heritage Safari Lodge (mid-range) or Red Chilli Rest Camp (budget) for dinner and overnight while the meal plan is full board.
Day 4: Transfer to Semliki Forest National Park.
Leave Murchison Falls National Park after an early morning breakfast and continue to Semliki National park through the jaw-dropping traditional homesteads, countryside as well as the verdant tea plantations of Toro. Arrival is late afternoon and check in at Semliki Safari Lodge/Ntokoro Game Lodge (luxury) or Kirimia Guesthouse (budget) for dinner, overnight and relaxation.
Day 5: Nature walks at Sempaya hot springs.
Have breakfast and continue for a nature walk (3-4 hours) to the male hot springs (Bitente) sprouting at a height of 2 meters and female hot springs (Nyansimbi), with hot water capable of boiling eggs, Irish potatoes and plantains within 15 minutes. Head back to the Lodge for lunch and relaxation before continuing for a cultural walk to the nearby Bambuti pygmies at Ntandi to have an Insight of how they lived before eviction from Semliki Forest. Demonstrations will include how fire is made from sticks, use of herbal medicine and cultural dances.
Dinner and overnight is at Semliki Safari Lodge/Ntokoro Game Lodge (luxury) or Kirimia Guesthouse (budget) and the meal plan is breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Day 6: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park and tour of Bigodi wetland sanctuary.
Enjoy breakfast and drive to Kibale Forest National Park (the primate Capital of Uganda) for a chance to see more than 10 primate species, forest birds and butterflies among others. Have lunch in Fort portal Town (59 kilometers from Sempaya gate) and arrive in the afternoon for a chance to tour the lush Bigodi wetland sanctuary for aquatic and wetland bird species.
Dinner and overnight is at Kyaninga Lodge (upmarket), Chimps Nest Lodge (midrange) or Chimpanzee Guesthouse (budget) while the meal plan is full board.
Day 7: Chimpanzee habituation experience.
After breakfast, head straight to the Kanyanchu visitor center as early as 6:00 am for an all-day chimpanzee habituation Experience. Unlike the usual chimpanzee tracking where you are required to spend only one hour with the habituated chimpanzee community, you will be able to spend the whole day with a community that is still undergoing habituation. While here, you will be able to watch them wake up, forage, groom, play and finally nest in the evening before setting off.
Return for overnight and dinner at Kyaninga Lodge (luxury), Chimps Nest Lodge (midrange) or Chimpanzee Guesthouse (budget) and the meal plan in breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Day 8: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
After a hot cup of Uganda’s finest coffee/tea, prepare for a transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park in a journey that involves passing through the cool Fort Portal Town (will have lunch from the Town) as well as the magnificent landscapes of the Ruwenzori Mountains. You will arrive the Park in the afternoon and drive slowly to spot the wildlife species before checking in at Mweya Safari Lodge (luxury), Enganzi Game Lodge (midrange) or Kazinga Channel View Resort (budget) for dinner, relaxation and overnight.
Day 9: Game viewing and boat cruise.
After breakfast, there will be a (2-3 hours) game drive through the magnificent savannah landscapes of the Kasenyi Plains as well as Mweya Peninsular where numerous wildlife species including warthogs, elands, Lions, waterbucks, leopards, elephants, hyenas, and buffaloes will be spotted. After this activity, return to the Lodge for lunch and relaxation.
Have an afternoon boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel where an array of aquatic bird species including pelicans, African fish eagles and Kingfishers will be spotted. In addition to the birds, wildlife species such as elephants and buffaloes will be sighted at the banks of the Channel as well as hippos and crocodiles lazing in the water.
The meal plan is full board while overnight and dinner will be at Mweya Safari Lodge (upmarket), Enganzi Game Lodge (midrange) or Kazinga Channel View Resort (basic).
Day 10: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for gorilla trekking.
This is the day you will transfer to Bwindi, the home to almost half the World’s population of mountain gorillas. The day starts with breakfast, checking out and driving slowly through the Park while spotting several wildlife species including the Uganda Kobs, Topis, buffaloes, waterbucks, elephants, and warthogs. Head to Ishasha sector for an opportunity to spot the legendary tree-climbing lions and lunch will be at Savannah Resort Hotel in Kihihi and arriving Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Buhoma sector) in the evening.
Dinner and overnight will be at Buhoma Lodge for luxury, Engagi Lodge for midrange or Buhoma Community Rest Camp for budget.
Day 11: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi and cultural walk (optional).
Wake up early for breakfast and prepare for this life-changing activity before continuing to the Park Headquarters with your packed lunch, walking stick, drinking water and backpack for a pre-tracking briefing at 7:00 am. Start the trek in the jungles of Bwindi for the allocated gorilla family and this takes 2-6 hours to find them. Once sighted, you will have to spend only one hour with the gorilla family to study their behavior and take photos. Return to the Lodge to relax.
If time allows or still vibrant, you will continue for a cultural walk to Batwa villages to see how they lived in the forest before eviction and be entertained in their traditional dances.
Dinner and overnight is at Buhoma Lodge for luxury, Engagi Lodge for midrange or Buhoma Community Rest Camp for budget.
Day 12: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi.
After breakfast (at leisure), you will be transferred to Lake Bunyonyi, the place of many little birds and one of the Continent’s deepest freshwater Lakes. Explore the Lake and its surrounding through canoeing, birding, and swimming (it’s bilharzia free). Alternatively, you can instead choose to just relax around the shores of this Lake after a strenuous trek (the previous day).
Dinner and overnight Is at Arcadia cottages (because it rewards guests with phenomenal views).
Day 13: Drive from Lake Bunyonyi to Lake Mburo National Park.
Enjoy breakfast and be driven to Lake Mburo National Park (Uganda’s smallest savannah National Park) through the terraced and cultivated hills of Kigezi highlands (dubbed the Switzerland of Africa). Have an en-route lunch before proceeding to the Park for an evening game drive to spot the zebras, giraffes, buffaloes, elands and Defassa waterbucks among others.
Dinner and overnight will be at Mihingo Lodge (for luxury), Rwakobo Rock (for midrange) or Sky blue Motel (for budget).
Day 14: Transfer from Lake Mburo National Park to Kampala.
After breakfast, you will undertake a game drive before departing for Kampala. Dinner and overnight is at Kampala Forest Cottages.
Day 15: City tour and departure.
You will be picked from the Hotel in the morning (after breakfast) for a city tour targeting some of the City’s magnificent sites such as Kasubi Tombs, the King’s Palace in Mengo, Bahai Temple, African village along Buganda Road, Uganda Museum and Nakasero Fruits Market among others. Have Lunch at Le chateau brasserie belge for typical European meals or The Bistro, followed by transfer to Entebbe International Airport for departure flight.
End of 15 Days Uganda Tour.
The package includes;
- Gorilla permit.
- Chimpanzee permit (for CHEX).
- Ground transportation with 4WD Vehicle.
- Bottled water.
- Ferry crossing.
- Accommodation and meals including the en-route ones.
- Full-time English speaking guide/driver.
- Airport transfer (if only the flight is on the same day the safari ends).
- Park ranger and entrance fees.
- Relevant Government Taxes.
- All activities included on the itinerary.
The package excludes;
- Visa fees
- Personal expenses such as cigarettes, drinks, laundry fees, tips, meals and accommodation not included in the itinerary and telephone fees.
- Personal insurance.