Gorillas & Beyond – 12-Day Uganda Safari

Wake for an early breakfast, and head north, with a stopover at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, the only place in the country where you can see white Rhinos in the wild. Observe the extraordinary creatures and learn about the conservation of these animals which once roamed many parts of Uganda’s wild, especially the north. You will proceed to Pakwach where you can have a clear view of karuma falls and its rapids at the bottom of the karuma bridge. On this route you will encounter the baboons and the black and white colobus monkeys along the way and have a late lunch at Pakwach.

Bed and Breakfast                                                 Pakuba Safari Lodge

After breakfast, your guide will transfer you to Ajai wildlife reserve, a beauty where you can marvel at the swamp islands, once a home to the white rhinos, this reserve still homes a number of animals such as leopards, Uganda Kobs, Sitatunga, Hippos, Black and White colobus monkeys, Warthogs, Buffaloes, Dik-dik, Monitor Lizards, Olive Baboons, Zebras, Puff adders, Foxes, Pythons, Green Snakes,  all that you can have a chance to sight during a game drive or a nature walk.

It is also a great birding destination with a combination of swamp and woodland dwelling birds including, weaver birds, African Fish Eagles, Grey Crowned cranes. And the incredible shoebill. 

Here you will also have an experience of the Ajai community, listen to the tales  of how chief Ajai used to interact with his people. Drive back to Pakwach for dinner and overnight.

Bed and Breakfast                                              Satellite Hotel One

You will have breakfast and then drive to Nebbi, where you will visit the Biku hill, home to what is believed to be the world’s smallest church, which can accommodate only three people, founded in1996. While in Nebbi, you can also choose to visit the Kucwiny theater industry for an Alur people's cultural heritage experience. In the afternoon, visit the only existing kingdom in west nile in Zombo district, ’’the Alur kingdom palace and experience the Alur culture. Proceed to Arua for dinner and overnight.

Bed and Breakfast                                                        Hill Top Hotel

Enjoy the mesmerizing beauty of the sunrise as you have your breakfast at the top of Arua hill with a 360 degree view of the city. Explore more of the city by visiting the oldest spiritual buildings in the area, Emmanuel cathedral and Ediofe cathedral respectively. Drive to feel the cool breezes of Miriadua falls in Maracha before retiring to your accommodation for the night.

Bed and Breakfast                                                        Hill Top Hotel

As you leave Arua for Kibale national park, you can opt to visit Pakwach Art Association and the Wanglei site, Where Jipir and Labong split if time allows, reaching in kibale in time for dinner and overnight.

Bed and Breakfast                                                      Kibale Forest Camp

Wake up early and transfer to the briefing point, where you will be briefed about the morning’s activity - chimpanzee tracking. Kibale is the primate capital of the world therefore you have high chances of spotting some of the 13 primate species that call this forest home. When you meet the chimpanzees, you will marvel at man’s closest relative. 

In the afternoon, transfer to Queen Elizabeth in western Uganda, reaching in time for a relaxing evening or you could opt for a night game drive for a chance to sight nocturnal animals inducing lions, hyenas, jackals. You can even spot a leopard and hippos. Queen Elizabeth is home to various species of animals, birds and primates. Retire to your accommodation for dinner and overnight.

Bed and Breakfast                                                      Bush Lodge

Spend the whole day today exploring Queen Elizabeth. Start the day with a morning game drive, animals tend to be more active in the cooler parts of the day therefore your chances of spotting more animals are higher. You will be able to spot a number of antelopes, elephants, and buffaloes. Stay focused during your drive to spot lions and even bush pigs.

In the afternoon, sit back and enjoy a boat cruise on the Kazinga channel, which links lakes Gorge and Edward, and is home to hippos and crocodiles. You can see more animals on the shores as they come to drink. Don’t ignore the birds, especially the king fishers and as they strategically fish out their lunch. Return to your accommodation for dinner and overnight. 

Bed and Breakfast                                                      Bush Lodge

After an early breakfast, transfer to Bwindi via, the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth, and one of the few regions in Africa where you can see tree climbing lions, Explore Ishasha on a game drive to find the lions and proceed to Bwindi Impenetrable national park, home to the mountain gorillas! reaching in time for a relaxed evening, dinner and overnight.

Bed and Breakfast                                                      Gorilla Mist

Today will be a memorable experience, tracking the mountain gorillas. You will put on your tracking shoes and grab a sturdy walking stick to help you peruse through this thick and beautiful forest that survived the ice age.

Gorilla tracking is an opportunity of a lifetime, meeting these apes is thrilling and exciting but above all emotional, don’t hold back the joy or the tears, live within the moment as you watch these gentle apes eat, play and socialize. 

If time allows, you can go on an evening walk among the communities surrounding this beautiful forest, taste a locally processed coffee or interact with the Batwa as they tell the tales of living in the forest, which was once a home they shared with the gorillas, before transferring to Lake Bunyonyi.

Bed and Breakfast                                                      Bird Nest

As you leave this place, dubbed the Switzerland of Africa by many travelers,  lake Bunyonyi is also one of the most beautiful and safest lakes in Africa for a swim therefore before you transfer to Entebbe, you can go for a swim or try paddling a dugout canoe on this Bilharzia, crocodile  and hippo free lake. 

Bed and Breakfast                                                The Bomah

Depending on your flight time, you can decide to visit Kampala for a city tour, the Mabamba swamp for a shoe-bill stock or simply relax at your accommodation as you await your flight back home.

Breakfast                                                           Departure