Compare Chimps & Gorillas of Uganda by Exodus Travels vs 18 Days Wildlife And Nature Adventure Safari by Simba Africa Expeditions

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: Pick up from the airport - transfer to hotel

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Cassia lodge

Upon your arrival at Entebbe international airport, you will be warmly welcomed by your safari guide/ driver who will help you with your luggage and give you a short briefing into the safari before transferring you to your booked hotel in Entebbe or Kampala.

Day 2: Kampala – Sezibwa falls – Mabira forest walk – Source of the Nile Jinja

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Source of the smile hotel

Your driver/safari guide will be there to pick you up after your breakfast so you can begin your long 18 days adventure that will start off in the adventure capital of Uganda. First stop will be at Sezibwa Falls, a Buganda cultural heritage site, with beautiful waterfalls. Spend an hour here hiking, bird watching and learning about the different myths told about these falls and the ancient traditional worship that is still practiced here. Get back on the road and drive to Mabira Rainforest. Head out for a 2-hour nature walk that will give you an opportunity of viewing the habituated Grey-cheeked Mangabeys. Get to explore the different bird species in this forest as well as trees. Continue to your booked accommodation and check in for dinner and overnight.

Day 3: Transfer to Sipi falls- hike up to view the Sipi falls

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Sipi River lodge.

After breakfast, check out of your lodge and begin your journey to Sipi Falls in Kapchorwa District. The Sipi Falls are a series of three stunning waterfalls situated in the foothills of Mountain Elgon. Upon your arrival, check into your booked safari lodge and have lunch, refresh, and head out for a 3 - 4 hour hike to the beautiful waterfalls going through local community homes and coffee plantation while enjoying spectacular views from up Mountain Elgon. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 4: Transfer to Kidepo valley national Park

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Kidepo savannah lodge

After a heavy breakfast, you will embark on a long drive to Africa’s true wilderness, Kidepo valley national park. The drive is pretty long but rewarding as it offers some interesting sights along the way. You will have a stop for lunch and some time to stretch your feet before resuming with your journey to Kidepo Valley National Park where you will check into your safari lodge for dinner and overnight. Meal plan: F/B

Day 5:  Morning Game drive- cultural encounter- evening game drive.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Kidepo savannah lodge

Wake up to an early morning breakfast or you can pack your breakfast and have it later during the game drive. Expect to see lots of wildlife including the largest herds of buffaloes. Return to the lodge for lunch and after set out for cultural encounter with the Karamajongs, a people that has kept their culture despite the influence of other cultures from the outside world. Learn about their way of life and get to support their economic activities. Return to an evening game drive to give you a chance to see the animals you might have missed in the morning game drive. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 6: Transfer to Murchison falls National Park.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Pakuba safari lodge

After early breakfast, check out and depart for Murchison Falls National Park - Uganda's largest game park. You will have a lunch stop in Gulu and proceed with your drive to Murchison falls. Check into your safari lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 7: Early morning game drive - afternoon boat ride

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Pakuba safari lodge

Wake up to an early morning breakfast or you can decide to have a packed breakfast to have during the game drive. The early morning game drive gives opportunity for great game viewings. Return to the lodge for lunch and later set out for the afternoon launch Cruise along the Victoria Nile to the bottom of the falls with great viewings of the aquatic wild including hippos, Nile crocodiles and aquatic birds. At bottom of falls, you will take pictures and get off the boat to begin your hike to the top, giving you a full view of the mighty Murchison falls together with Uhuru falls. You will meet the driver at the top of the falls who will transfer you back to the lodge for dinner and overnight after viewing and taking plenty of pictures of the world’s most powerful falls.

Day 8: Transfer to Lake Albert

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Pakuba safari lodge

After breakfast, check out of your safari lodge around 9:00am to begin your journey to Hoima. You will drive along the Rift Valley escarpments and enjoy lovely views of the volcanic landscape and verdant countryside. Lunch En-route. Upon your arrival in Hoima, you will check into your booked lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 9: Transfer to Kibale forest national Park

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Kibale forest camp

Check out of the lodge after breakfast and leave for Kibale National Park, home to man’s closest relative. You will have a stop in Fort Portal town for lunch before proceeding to Kibale Forest National Park. Upon your arrival, you will check into your booked safari lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 10: Chimpanzee tracking – Bigodi walk.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Kibale forest camp

Wake up to an early morning breakfast and transfer to the park offices for briefing into your chimpanzee tracking experience. Return from your adventure with man’s closest relative for lunch at your lodge. After lunch you will set out to Bigodi for an awesome nature walk. Return to lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 11: Transfer to Semliki national park- Sempaya hot spring.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Ntoroko game lodge

After breakfast check out of your safari lodge to begin your journey to Semliki national park, situated about two and half hours drive from Kibale Forest national park. Upon your arrival, you will check into your safari lodge and set out to the Sempaya hot springs for an awesome viewing of the male and female hot springs that attract a lot of colorful bird life here to create the most beautiful sight. Return to your lodge for lunch and an evening of relaxation. Dinner and overnight.

Day 12: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Bush lodge

After breakfast, you will check out of the safari lodge and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park. You will have a lunch stop in Fort Portal. After lunch, proceed to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Check into your booked safari lodge for dinner and overnight upon arrival.

Day 13: Early morning Game drive – Afternoon boat ride on Kazinga channel

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Bush lodge

Wake up to an early morning breakfast or you can decide to pack yours and have it during the game drive. This time of the day gives one opportunity for a great game viewing as animals tend to be more active during this time, the cats normally hunting and the other animals get up to graze. After your 2-3 hours game viewing, return to the lodge for some time of relaxation and later have lunch. Set out for an exciting boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel that joins Lake Edward and Lake George. The channel attracts a plethora of wildlife including: Hippos, Buffaloes, Elephant, Crocodiles and lots of water birds that align the shores of Kazinga channel with the most breathtaking sight. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 14: Ishasha– Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable forest

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Rushaga gorilla camp

After breakfast, you will check out of the safari lodge and transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park, driving through the Ishasha sector for a chance to see the tree climbing lions. After Lunch, continue with your drive to Bwindi and upon arrival, you will check into your booked safari lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 15: Gorilla trekking – Batwa community

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Rushaga gorilla camp

After your breakfast, you will transfer to the park offices for briefing into what to expect during your Gorilla tracking/trekking activity. With your packed lunch you will set out into the forest to look for the gentle giants, you will be allowed one hour of viewing and taking pictures and your great achievement of trekking/tracking Mountain Gorillas will be rewarded by a signed Gorilla tracking/trekking certificate with your name on it to show to family and friends. Return to the lodge for refreshments and a few minutes of relaxation before you get into the Batwa community walk, a people indigenous to the Ituri forest of Congo. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 16: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi – canoe ride and community walk

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Bunyonyi Overland resort.

Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi after breakfast for an evening of relaxation. You will check into your booked safari lodge and have lunch. Later after lunch, set out for a canoeing adventure on Uganda’s deepest lake. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 17:  Transfer to Lake Mburo national Park- evening game drive.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Rwakobo rock

We will set off to Lake Mburo, Uganda’s smallest savannah park after your breakfast and checking out of the lodge. Upon your arrival in Lake Mburo, you will check into the lodge, have lunch and later head out for an evening game drive. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 18: Nature walk – transfer to Kampala /Entebbe for drop off

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, set out for an early morning nature walk in the park for a chance to view some nocturnal wildlife at close encounter. Return to the lodge to refresh and check out to begin your journey back to Kampala/Entebbe with one stop at the Equator for lunch and a chance for you to get some souvenirs from the craft markets. Proceed to your drop off location in Kampala/Entebbe.