This 5 days safari takes you to Murchison falls National park, a vast wildlife park, home of the strongest falls in the world and for a Gorilla trek in Bwindi. A Gorilla trek coupled with a wildlife safari is an exciting combination. While at Murchison falls, expect to see many animals, like lions, leopards, elephants, warthogs, among others
Safari highlight
- Entebbe/ Kampala – Murchison Falls National park
- Morning game drive – Transfer to Fort Portal.
- Crater walk – Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Gorilla trek experience
- Departure for Kampala
Detailed safari Itinerary
Day 1: Drive to Murchison Falls National park
Rise for pick up by our driver/ guide representing Ancient Africa Safaris from your hotel/ Airport for transfer to Murchison Falls National Park. The day starts with briefing on what to anticipate during this exciting adventure. Start off your journey driving towards the northwestern part of Uganda to the top of the Falls, experiencing the most powerful falls in the world, with a thunderous pounding on the rocks as the water squeezes its way through a narrow 7m ridge. This is a spectacle to behold! Take a walk along this area with photographic moments and create memories on your first day. From a view on this wildlife safari, you may see some of the animals like Buffaloes, hippos and crocs on the river banks. Lunch will be served in Masindi.
Proceed to the park for the afternoon boat cruise on the Victoria Nile. Exciting moments as you see the top of the falls from below! The calm sail gives you a chance to see more mammals along the river banks including Crocodiles, hippos, more buffaloes, and birds including the rare Shoebills. Head to your Lodge for Dinner and overnight stay. However, if time allows, have a short evening game drive. This will also be dependent on the area of stay.
Accommodation
Budget: Heritage Safari Lodge/ Red-child Lodge
Mid-range: Pakuba Lodge
Luxury: Paraa Lodge
Day 2: Morning Game Drive – Transfer to Fort Portal
Rise to an early breakfast and prepare for a morning game drive with your driver/guide looking out for the early risers moving out for a hunt. The drive takes you through well marked tracks to the Northern part of the park where there are a variety of wildlife. Anticipate to see the big 5 in the Murchison falls National park, including the African elephants, Lions, Leopards, African Buffaloes. The park is home to the Jackson’s hartebeest, Waterbuck, the Rothschild’s giraffe, jobs and antelopes, among others. During this extensive game drive, birders will also be enriched in the variety of birds.
After the game drive, drive southwards through Hoima, and Buliisa, where you will marvel at the Albertine Rift Valley. Have a lunch break in Hoima City and proceed on to Fort Portal City. The Journey from Murchison falls National Park to Bwindi Impenetrable National park is a long one (about 510 km) and would take more than 9 hours driving there. Therefore, we advise that you have a night in Fort Portal City so as to shorten the journey. This is near Kibale Forest National Game park, which is home to Chimpanzees in Uganda. Drive to your lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation
Budget: Kibale Forest Camp/ Rwenzori View Guest House/ Kibale Forest Lodge
Mid-range: Kibale Forest Lodge/ Chimpanzee Guest House/ Turaco Treetops
Luxury: Primate Lodge/ Kyaninga Lodge/ Papaya Lake Lodge/ Chimpundu Lodge
Day 3: Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Wake up to the sounds of the wild for a hefty breakfast, check out of the lodge. Head out for a brief crater drive/walk along the many crater lakes in Fort Portal. These are very ideal for photography, as most are very uniquely shaped. Afterwards, set back on the road and head to the home of the Endangered Gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Drive through the Ishasha region, which is part of Queen Elizabeth National Park, which connects you to Bwindi Impenetrable forest. The Forest is divided up into Four gorilla Tracking sectors, namely Ruhija, Buhoma, Rushaga or Nkuringo. The Itinerary for Fort Portal may change depending on where you are to do your Gorilla trek from. Check in to your lodge for an overnight stay as you anticipate the morning Gorilla trek.
Accommodation
Budget: Ruhija Community Rest Camp
Mid-range: Bakiga Lodge/ Ichumbi Lodge/ Buhoma Gorilla Camp Lodge
Luxury: Buhoma Lodge/ Mahogany Springs Lodge/ Gorilla Forest Camp Lodge/ Silverback Lodge
Day 4: Gorilla Trek experience
On this day, wake up to a heavy breakfast, ready to leave a footprint in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest as you go Gorilla trekking. Afterwards, your driver will be ready to pick you up and drive you straight to the park headquarters for a briefing before you embark on the hike. Do not forget to carry your parked lunch and carry along with you some water bottles. Meet up with the day’s ranger, and hit the trails tracking the Gorillas in their families. Locating the Gorillas is an interesting adventure as it can take you 2 hours to 7 hours as you trek. However, the rangers will help you in locating these endangered primates in this impenetrable forest. You only get one hour of interacting with these gentle species as they are in their habitats.
Gorillas are very humble, gentle and can easily get friendly. Keep a 5 meters distance when observing the gorillas, and take some photos, without use of flashes. These are the memories of this exciting moment. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is home to a number of wildlife. Some of these include elephants and more primates like monkeys, uncountable butterfly species among others.
During the gorilla trekking, you can have your packed lunch served. Spend the afternoon on a Community village walk, visiting the people around blind impenetrable forest. This walk starts off at your accommodation, visiting the local community markets for different food tasting, and a visit to the Batwa Pygmies community, who are always excited and happy to see visitors. You may join them in their cultural dances and skills like hunting, fire making, among other activities. The walk takes you to waterfalls within the forest as you also look out for more bird species. You may also opt to visit the local NGOs around the forest like Ride for a Woman Foundation, local homesteads and learn the ways of the locals. Get yourself some souvenirs for the shops, churches. Retire to your accommodation for a night stay and dinner.
Day 5: Departure for Kampala
After the early morning hefty breakfast, check out of the lodge and depart Bwindi Impenetrable forest National park for Kampala. This drive takes approximately 9 hours with a lunch break, and an optional stopover at Igongo cultural center or the Equator for photography. Proceed to Kampala or Entebbe airport for your scheduled flight. END OF SAFARI
Safari Inclusions
– Experienced safari guide
– An open roof 4*4 safari van
– Gorilla trekking permits
– Rhino trek permits
– Community walks
– Full board meals
– Boat ride fees
– Lunch
– Fuel and transport
– Accommodation
– Water
Safari exclusions
– Tips
– Phone calls
– Drinks at lodge
– Laundry
