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9-Day Uganda Safari and Gorilla Trek
From
US $2,488 Per Person
9-Day Uganda Safari and Gorilla Trek
From
USD $2488
Call A Safari Expert
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9-Day Uganda Safari and Gorilla Trek
Experience beautiful Uganda – rare wildlife, thrilling adventure and natural wonders. Book this affordable and unforgettable 9-day Uganda safari and gorilla trekking adventure.
With an expert local guide by your side, you will hike through the jungles in search of wild chimpanzees, go white-water rafting in the adrenaline-filled city of Jinja and spot zebras and buffalo in Lake Mburo National Park. Trek through the vivid greens of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in search of rare mountain gorillas and soak up the once-in-a-lifetime experience of seeing the gorilla family in their natural home.
See Uganda’s natural wonders, like the rolling hills of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, the source of the World’s longest river, and Africa’s largest lake.
Why book This Safari:
- Encounter the rare mountain gorillas in the forests of Uganda with the help of expert rangers and trackers.
- Hike in search of chimpanzees in Kibale Forest National Park and spend an hour observing how they play, feed and communicate with each other.
- Visit Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda’s smallest savannah park, where you can spot zebras, buffalo and impalas – this is the only place in Uganda where impalas are found!
- Admire the beauty of Uganda’s natural wonders – the rolling hills of Bwindi, the lakes and wetlands of Lake Mburo, and the green forests of Kibale.
- Spend a few days at leisure in Jinja, which can be a relaxing riverside retreat or an adrenaline-filled adventure capital – it’s up to you!
Your Itinerary Detail
Day 1: Entebbe
Ki kati! Welcome to Uganda. Your adventure begins as soon as you touch down at Entebbe International Airport. You will be met by your Choose Uganda Safaris guide who will help load the bags into our comfortable, airconditioned vehicle before set off for your guesthouse/hotel situated nearby.
Located near Kampala on the shores of Lake Victoria, Entebbe has a relaxed and local feel. If you arrive early, maybe stretch your legs with a stroll through Entebbe Botanical Garden, enjoy a sunset boat cruise on Lake Victoria, or go shopping for souvenirs at Entebbe Craft Village.
Accommodation Options:
Simple: Airport Guest House
Middle Class: The Boma Hotel
Semi Luxury: 2 Friends Beach Hotel (Lake View Room With AC)
Luxury: No5 Boutique Hotel
Meals: Dinner
Optional activities
- Entebbe – Craft Village Visit – Free
- Entebbe – Botanical Gardens – USD10
- Sunset boat cruise on Lake Victoria USD 180
Day 2: Jinja
After breakfast at around 8.00 am, begin your journey from Entebbe to Jinja. One of the highlights of any visit to Uganda, Jinja is a riverside retreat at the source of the Nile River, also known as the adventure capital of Uganda.
When you reach, settle into your accommodation or relax on the banks of the nearby Nile. If you are keen to start exploring right away, maybe visit the Jinja Farmer’s Market and try some fresh jackfruit or local snacks like Rorex. Your travel from Entebbe to Jinja time today will be approximately 3 hours.
Accommodation Options:
Simple: 2-Friends Guest House – Standard Room
Middle Class: 2-Friends Guest House – Deluxe Room
Semi-Luxury: The Haven Eco-River Lodge – Luxury Banda
Luxury: Wildwaters Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 3: Jinja
Jinja is the perfect destination for adventurers, adrenaline junkies and eco-travellers. Today, you will enjoy a full free day here to explore at your own pace. Maybe get active with some whitewater rafting on the Nile River, go bungee jumping into the Nile, enjoy a horseback safari along the banks of the Nile or hire a mountain bike to see Jinja on two-wheels.
You can also opt for a boat cruise to the source of the Nile, a place where the world’s longest river exist Africa’s largest lake to commence its epic 6,853 km journey north to the Mediterranean sea in Egypt.
Accommodation Options:
Simple: 2-Friends Guest House – Standard Room
Middle Class: 2-Friends Guest House – Deluxe Room
Semi-Luxury: The Haven Eco-River Lodge – Luxury Banda
Luxury: Wildwaters Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Optional activities
- Jinja – River Nile whitewater rafting (full day) – USD140
- Jinja – Nile Boat Cruise – USD40
- Jinja – Bungee Jumping – USD150
- Jinja – Quadbike (per hour) – USD60
- Jinja – Tubing – USD25
- Mabira Forest – Ziplining – USD60
- Jinja – Cycling – USD25
- Jinja – Source of River Nile Tour (min. 4 participants) – USD45
Day 4: Kibale Forest National Park
Today, you can head out in search of some rolex (chapati rolled around an egg omelette, usually with added vegetables) to start the day. This is a famous Uganda street food and is even more delicious than it sounds! After that, embark on a long drive to Kibale Forest National Park – a tropical rainforest in western Uganda. This forest is home 13 species of primates, which is more than any other forest in East Africa!
It is the best place in Africa to see wild chimpanzees. It is also a great place to see olive baboon, the blue monkeys, red tailed monkeys, red colobus monkeys, L’Hoest’s Monkeys, Vervet Monkeys, and over 370 species of birds!
If you are very lucky, you might even be able to spot one of the more elusive forest elephants and leopards while you are here. When you arrive, settle into your accommodation and relax or perhaps head out to explore your surroundings. Your travel time today will be approximately 8 hours.
Accommodation Options:
Budget: Kibale Forest Camp
Middle Class: Turaco Treetops Standard Cottage
Semi-Luxury: Turaco Treetops Luxury Cottage
Luxury: Crater Safari Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 5: Kibale Forest National Park - Chimpanzee Trek
After breakfast you will gather at the Kanyanchu Tourism Centre in Kibale National Park to do your Chimpanzee trekking activity which begins promptly at 8am. The encounter commences with a briefing from the excellent park rangers who will be your guides for the activity.
After the briefing, you head to the forest in search of man’s closest relative. The activity lasts about 3 to 4 hours and can be challenging at times, with muddy paths and thick vegetation, but the reward is well worth it – the chance to observe these amazing creatures in their natural habitat. Watch them for one hour as they play, feed and communicate with each other in the trees high above. Return to the lodge for relaxation and lunch.
In the afternoon, go for a guided nature walk through the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary – a community-run initiative rich in birdlife, monkeys and different butterfly species. If you are lucky, you might spot the great blue turaco, the bird this wetland is best known for. Later, return to your accommodation for a free evening. Maybe grab a drink or two with your friends and toast to the incredible day of adventure.
Accommodation Options:
Budget: Kibale Forest Camp
Middle Class: Turaco Treetops Standard Cottage
Semi-Luxury: Turaco Treetops Luxury Cottage
Luxury: Crater Safari Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Included Activities:
- Kibale Forest National Park – Chimpanzee Permit & Trek
- Kibale Forest National Park – Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary Walk
Optional Activities:
- Kibale National Park – Canoe Ride – USD25
- Kibale National Park – Community Forest Walk (including park fees) – USD70
- Kibale National Park – Crater Lake Walk – USD10
Special information
Since chimpanzees are usually spotted high in the trees, it might be worth bringing a pair of binoculars to make the most out of your day today.
Day 6: Queen Elizabeth National Park - Bwindi
After a good breakfast, travel south and begin your day with a game drive through Queen Elizabeth National Park, home to elephants, buffalo, antelope, tree-climbing lions, leopards, and so much more. Then, proceed your adventure to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.
Take in the scenery as you pass rolling green hills of southwestern Uganda, tea plantations and crater lakes, or simply relax with a book. You will also pass through a local village where you will have the opportunity to stop for lunch and coffee. Maybe get to know the Batooro and Bakiiga communities that live here with an optional local village visit, then carry on to Bwindi.
When you arrive, settle in and prepare for what will undoubtedly be the highlight of your 9-day Uganda safari tour tomorrow – mountain gorilla trekking! Your travel time today will be approximately 5-6 hours.
Accommodation Options:
Simple: Ride 4 A Woman Guest House
Middle Class: Gorilla Mist Camp
Semi-Luxury: Buhoma Community Haven Lodge
Luxury: Buhoma Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Included activities
- Queen Elizabeth National Park – Game Drive Enroute
Day 7: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park - Gorilla Trek
After breakfast this morning, join a local guide and experienced trackers as you climb through the rugged, mountainous terrain of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in search of the rare mountain gorillas.
Your first glimpse of these creatures will be a truly beautiful moment, and visits are strictly controlled to minimise disturbance. Gorilla trekking is not an easy feat (it’s called Bwindi Impenetrable Forest for a reason!). It can be wet, muddy, strenuous and uncomfortable, but the indescribable feeling of coming across a family of wild gorillas is worth the effort. Spend one mesmerising hour with the gorillas as they eat, sleep, groom and play as the male silverback watches over them.
Enjoy a picnic lunch in the lush wilderness of Bwindi, then, return to lodge where you can freshen up with a hot shower. In the afternoon, you will also have the chance to take an optional visit to the Batwa pygmy community to learn about their hunter-gatherer cultural heritage. Tonight, enjoy a hearty dinner by the crackling fireplace.
Accommodation Options:
Simple: Ride 4 A Woman Guest House
Middle Class: Gorilla Mist Camp
Semi-Luxury: Buhoma Community Haven Lodge
Luxury: Buhoma Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Included activities
- Bwindi National Park – Mountain Gorilla Permit & Trek
Optional activities
- Batwa Village Visit – USD35
Special information
Visits to the gorillas are strictly controlled to reduce possible negative impacts on gorilla health and behaviour. A surgical face mask must be worn while within proximity of the gorillas to minimise the risk of disease transmission.
You will be provided with a walking stick and the option to hire a porter who can carry your day pack and assist you on the trek. It costs 20 USD to hire a porter, plus an optional tip. Hiring a porter not only makes your trek easier but also encourages local communities to embrace gorilla conservation and tourism. Some porters are ex-poachers who now recognize the value in gorilla conservation practices.
Day 8: Lake Mburo
Say goodbye to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and begin the drive of about 5.5 hours to Lake Mburo National Park. This is the smallest savannah park in Uganda, but it packs a punch with the variety of landscapes, from woodlands and rolling hills to wetlands and lakes. This afternoon, you will have the option to join a game drive, where you will have the chance to spot zebras, hippos, buffaloes, topis, and even impalas. Tonight, enjoy a final dinner and as you prepare to end this amazing 9-day Uganda Safari trip!
Accommodation Options:
Simple: Eagle’s Nest Mburo
Middle Class: Rwakobo Rock
Semi-Luxury: Mihingo Lodge
Luxury: Mihingo Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Optional activities
- Lake Mburo – Cycling Tour – USD60
- Lake Mburo – Walking Safari – USD25
- Lake Mburo – Boat Ride – USD30
- Lake Mburo – Community Walk – USD35
- Lake Mburo – Game Drive – USD45
Day 9: Entebbe
Wake up early and begin the drive of about 5 hours back to Entebbe, enjoying a game drive in Lake Mburo along the way. You will also make a stop at the Ugandan Equator crossing at Kayabwe, where you can stand with one leg in the Northern hemisphere while the other remains in the Southern! It makes for great photographs and memories. It is also an impressive site for purchasing memorabilia to take back home as a memento of this incredible safari in Uganda. When you arrive, say goodbye as your journey will come to an end. If you would like to extend your stay, just get in touch with us ahead of time to arrange additional accommodation in Entebbe.
Meals: Breakfast
Included activities
- Lake Mburo – Game Drive Enroute
- Equator Line Experience at Kayabwe
Prices And Levels For This Trip
The selected comfort levels (see the bottom of the page for more information) give you a good indication of the type of accommodations and the total price. We’d be happy to discuss in person whether the accommodations meet your needs and combine different levels where appropriate.
* The prices below are starting prices and are shown in US Dollars per person .
Simple
- 1 Person = US$ 4981
- 2 Pax = US$ 3389
- 3 Pax = US$ 3042
- 4 Pax = US$ 2736
- 5 Pax = US$ 2655
- 6 Pax = US$ 2516
- 7 Pax = US$ 2488
Middle Class
- 1 Person = US$ 5403
- 2 Pax = US$ 3659
- 3 Pax = US$ 3315
- 4 Pax = US$ 2946
- 5 Pax = US$ 2891
- 6 Pax = US$ 2719
- 7 Pax = US$ 2712
Semi-Luxury
- 1 Person = US$ 6136
- 2 Pax = US$ 4217
- 3 Pax = US$ 3781
- 4 Pax = US$ 3410
- 5 Pax = US$ 3310
- 6 Pax = US$ 3142
- 7 Pax = US$ 3108
Luxury
- 1 Person = US$7348
- 2 Pax = US$ 5780
- 3 Pax = US$ 5194
- 4 Pax = US$ 4949
- 5 Pax = US$ 4763
- 6 Pax = US$ 4674
- 7 Pax = US$ 4579
Tour Inclusions
- 8 Nights Accommodation
- Transport in a 4WD Private Vehicle
- Professional English-Speaking Guide
- Meals: 7 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 8 dinners
- Kibale Forest National Park - Chimpanzee Permit & Trek
- Kibale - Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary Walk
- Queen Elizabeth National Park - Game Drive Enroute
- Bwindi National Park - Mountain Gorilla Permit & Trek
- Lake Mburo - Game Drive Enroute
Tour Exclusions
- International flight to and from Uganda
- Domestic flight transfers
- Optional Activities
- Travel insurance
- Visa
- Tips
Before you book you should know
- No two journeys in Uganda are identical. Prepare for travel times to be longer than advised. Weather and road conditions can change things significantly, so embrace the detours, shortcuts, and unforgettable moments along the way. There will be lots of time spent travelling in a private vehicle.
- Tracking gorillas in the dense forest can sometimes be wet, muddy and uncomfortable. The terrain is by no means easy either, so it can be strenuous and often humid. The sheer thrill of coming across a habituated group of gorillas, dominated by a great male silverback, more than outweighs any difficulty. You need to be prepared and fit enough to walk up to four hours – up and down hills.
- This trip is made for travellers who value their independence but also want the benefit of a local guide. The itinerary includes a mix of activities and free time, during which your guide will offer suggestions. Please budget accordingly.
- 4×4 vehicles are used on this trip. This trip is a great way to see a lot in a short period of time.
