The 20 day gorilla habituation experience, chimpanzee habituation and wildlife safari is destined to visit Bwindi impenetrable National park, Kibale National park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park and more.
It is safer to reserve the necessary Uganda gorilla and chimpanzee permits because their supply is limited. Planning this Uganda safari in advance saves you from getting frustrated at the last moment when your most desired safari amenities are still available. This also allows you to plan for your 20 days Uganda safari including booking the right accommodation, transport, driver guide and more.
Highlights of 20 day Uganda Gorilla, chimpanzee habituation and wildlife safari.
Day 1 Drive to Murchison Falls National Park
Day 2 Game Drive and launch trip in Murchison Falls National park
Day 3 Chimpanzee trekking in Kaniyo Pabidi Forest Murchison Falls National Park
Day 4 Transfer to Kibale National Park
Day 5 chimpanzee habituation in Kibale National park
Day 6 Community visit in Kibale National Park
Day 7 Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 8 Game drive and launch trip in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 9 Game drive and Forest Walk in Maramagambo forest in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 10 Chimpanzee trekking in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 11 transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 12 Gorilla habituation in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 13 Batwa community visit Bwindi area
Day 14 Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park
Day 15 game drive and boat trip in lake Mburo National Park
Day 16 Transfer to Jinja
Day 17 Visit source of River Nile
Day 18 Transfer to Entebbe or Kampala
Day 19 Visit chimpanzee in Ngamba Island and the Uganda Wildlife Education center
Day 20 Depart
Details of 20 day Uganda Gorilla habituation, Chimpanzee habituation and Wildlife Safari
Day 1 Drive to Murchison Falls National Park
Early morning, start your Uganda safari by driving to Murchison Falls National Park. The distance from Entebbe or Kampala to Murchison Falls National Park is about 340 kilometers via Masindi and 393 via Karuma and Pakwach. Drive time from Entebbe to Murchison Falls National Park is 5 hours to 6 hours.
Murchison Falls National Park is the largest National Park in Uganda covering approximately 3893 square kilometers which is the core of Uganda’s protected area. The Murchison Falls National Park vast wilderness covers 5072 square kilometers
Several animals are residents of Murchison Falls National Park including hartebeests, lions, leopards, waterbucks, bushbucks, hyenas, herds of elephants, buffaloes and more. River Nile the longest river in the world dissects Murchison Falls National Park flowing 120 kilometers and is the park’s life blood.
Check into your lodge.
Murchison Falls Accommodation: Murchison River Lodge, Paraa safari Lodge, Sambiya Lodge, Red Chillis Camp
Meal Plan: Full Board
Distance: 340 kilometers
Day 2 Game Drive And Launch Trip In Murchison Falls National Park
Start the day with an early morning game drive in Murchison Falls National park especially in the Paraa area. Drive through the different tracks in the park especially the Buligi track which is a dramatic grassland area.
Watch out for different resident wild animals in the park including lions, herds of elephants, waterbucks, bushbucks, hartebeests, buffaloes, giraffes and more. The stunning landscape of Murchison Falls National Park is amazing to watch.
Later, get on a relaxing launch trip from the pier in Paraa area to Murchison Falls which is the centerpiece of Murchison Falls National Park. Before forming the Murchison Falls, River Nile staggers over an 80 kilometers long bed of rocks, twists through the 6 meters wide gorge in the rift valley escarpment and furiously bursts through the narrow bend. River Nile cascades the 43 meters high cliff to continue with the rest of the course.
While relaxing at the deck of the launch in Murchison Falls National Park, you spot several wild animals that keep visiting the shoreline to quench thirst or enjoy the freebies from the lake. Hippos and crocodiles are common residents on the shoreline of this part of Victoria Nile.
Get back to your lodge.
Day 3 Chimpanzee trekking in Kaniyo Pabidi Forest Murchison Falls National Park
Wake up for a chimpanzee trekking in Kaniyo Pabidi National Park which is 8 kilometers from Murchison Falls National park gate at Kicumbanyobo Gate on Masindi road or 56 kilometers From Paraa. The trail taking you through the forest are decorated with some of the few left fully grown ironwood trees Mahogany trees.
Other primates can be spotted while in Kaniyo Pabidi forest including olive baboons, blue monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey and more. Birdlife abounds including white thighed Hornbill and more species that are found nowhere else in East Africa,
You hear the chimpanzees before approaching them as they try to alert each other about your presence. The ranger guide ushers you to where the chimpanzee community may be spending the day but do remember to adhere to the rules of chimpanzee trekking.
When with the chimpanzees, enjoy their presence and it is hard not to compare their life to that of humans. Chimpanzees live a life that is close to humans as they have about 96% human DNA. Get back to your lodge
Day 4 Transfer to Kibale National Park
Drive to Kibale National Park via Masindi. Kibale is a rain forest in western Uganda home to the largest number of chimpanzees that is about 1500 chimpanzees. More 12 primate species find home in Kibale Forest including pottos, L’Hoest, bush babies, olive baboons, grey cheeked mangabey and more.
Over 325 bird species including Albertine rift endemics can be spotted on the way while searching to find the chimpanzees. In Kibale National Park, you can choose to do chimpanzee trekking or chimpanzee habituation experience.
Check into your lodge:
Kibale Accommodation: Primates lodge, Ndali lodge, Kyaninga lodge, Chimps nest lodge and more.
Day 5 chimpanzee habituation in Kibale National Park
Get up early for breakfast and start the search for the semi habituated chimpanzee community. During chimpanzee habituation experience, the group is guided by researcher with prior information about this chimpanzee community.
Adhere to the rules of chimpanzee habituation experience as these chimpanzees are still very sensitive to human presence and timid too. Every step you take towards the chimpanzee community is calculated to avoid appearing suspicious.
The trails of Kibale forest are bound by thick undergrowth and luminous sunrays sip through the dense tree canopies to the ground creating a conducive environment to traverse the forest. By pass different trees with huge trunks and a number of other plants. Look out for the different birds that flock the forest.
Watch the chimpanzee community take on the day and keep the memories by taking photos or filming these gentle primates. It is possible to get a close resemblance of the chimpanzee actions to that of humans especially with the way they interact with each other, feed, use tools to solve their problems and more. Four hours of Chimpanzee Habituation Experience (CHEX) are allowed during this Uganda safari.
It is very easy for these chimpanzees to retreat into hiding if they notice something odd so try to respect the rules of chimpanzee habituation experience especially when with them. Get back to your lodge to recap.
Day 6 Community visit in Kibale National Park
After breakfast, move into the community around Kibale National Park to get to know how they live. You may be taken through local beer preparations, food, gardening, crafts making and more. The Bigodi community project close to Kibale National Park takes you through the life of the locals. You may purchase some locally made souvenirs and its one way to support the local projects.
Return to your lodge and relax.
Day 7 Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National park which is a wildlife gem in Uganda. Queen Elizabeth National Park sits on the floor of the rift valley and dotted by both wet and dry crater lakes. A number of wild animals live in the vast Queen Elizabeth National park including herds of elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks, bushbucks and more.
Check into your lodge
Queen Elizabeth National Park Accommodation: Bush Lodge, Mweya safari lodge, Jacana lodge, Simba Safari Camp,
Day 8 Game drive and launch trip in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Wake up for a game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park using the track network distributed around the park. When you take the Kasenyi track which bypasses a grassland, there are more chances of spotting lions in action.
While on game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park, you may spot herds of elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks, bushbucks, lions, leopards, hyenas, warthogs, mongoose, hippos and more.
The drive through the crater lakes area of Queen Elizabeth National Park has a stunning view of several crater lakes both wet and dry. You get to see several animals that gather at the shores of most wet craters to quench thirst or enjoy a bath.
Later in the day get on a relaxing launch trip on Kazinga channel which is the highlight of Queen Elizabeth National Park. A number of wild animals spend time at the shores of the Kazinga channel. Multitudes of birds flock the shoreline of Kazinga channel but hippos and crocodiles are common residents of this spot.
Take photos of the amazing wildlife that commonly visits the Kazinga channel and surrounding areas.
Retire back to your lodge
Day 9 Game drive and Forest Walk in Maramagambo forest in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Get up for another game drive via the tracks in Queen Elizabeth National Park. To see the different wild animals that roam the premises of the park. Take a forest walk in Maramagambo forest where you will walk in a tropical rain forest home to several primates. Some of the resident wild animals in Maramagambo forest include olive baboons, vervet monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, black and white colobus and more.
Watch out for several birds that fly in Maramagambo forest and take photos.
Day 10 Chimpanzee trekking in Queen Elizabeth National Park
After breakfast head to Kyambura Gorge for chimpanzee trekking. Chimpanzees are the closest human relatives so when around them you will notice a slight resemblance in their character to that of humans. Chimpanzees live in communities under the leadership of an alpha male who is democratically selected.
The chimpanzees in Queen Elizabeth National Park are habituated a process that helps then get used to human presence. Enjoy them as they groom, feed play, interact with each other and more.
Finally, return to your lodge
Day 11 Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Take breakfast and your driver guide will transfer you to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Bwindi forest is a biosphere reserve hosting several wild animals but the mountain gorillas are the foremost attraction.
As you get closer to Bwindi forest, you will watch an endless dense forest and feel the cool breeze that conditions the areas around the forest.
Check into your lodge
Bwindi Accommodation: Clouds lodge/ Gorilla forest camp/ Nshongi camp/ Engage Lodge/ Ruhija safari Lodge
Meal Plan: full board
Distance From Queen Elizabeth National Park to Bwindi: via Ishasha sector, the drive to Bwindi from Queen Elizabeth National Park is about 64 kilometers.
Distance from Queen Elizabeth National Park Mweya to Bwindi is about 160 kilometers.
Day 12 Gorilla Habituation Experience in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After breakfast, head to the ranger station in Bwindi forest for briefing. Do not forget to carry your gorilla habituation experience gears. Follow the ranger guide using the trail heads leading where the gorilla family was last seen the previous night.
Along the way, you may spot other primates, birds, several natural tree species that are rare to find outside the forests, sparkling water falls to mention but a few.
Finally, when you find the mountain gorillas, they may be shy to face you however, try to follow instruction from the researchers in your company as they have prior information about the characteristics of these primates.
Four hours are allowed with the mountain gorillas when around them but use it to the best of your desire. Do not forget that these mountain gorillas are still very timid towards humans. Gorillas live in families under the leadership of a dominant male whose autonomy is never contested but the males grip to power and control most activities in the family.
After four hours, return to your lodge to relax.
Day 13 Batwa community visit Bwindi area
Take a community visit to the Batwa who are an indigenous community that live with the mountain gorillas but were evicted from their ancestral home to give way to the conservation of these primates.
Majority of the Batwa were left landless and even the communities where they joined they are still marginalized and many have not got chance to have education.
By taking the Batwa community visit, you need a local guide and do not forget to carry some hard cash to tip or support their community projects.
The Batwa may request you to participate in some of the demos about the life they lived in the forest like fire making, collecting honey, dances and more. Be open minded when with the Batwa community so that they can freely interact with you and learn more about their life. Respect the norms of the Batwa when around them because they are very conservative with the way they live.
Get to your lodge to relax.
Day 14 Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park
Drive to Lake Mburo National park which is the closest Uganda National Park from Kampala the main capital or Entebbe Airport.
The premises of Lake Mburo National Park are amazing and herbivores are the main animals that roam the park. Lake Mburo from which the park gets its name is the largest freshwater lake to be in a Uganda National Park. A number of wild animals live in the park including impalas, giraffes, water bucks, bushbucks, grey cheeked mangabey, herds of elephants, buffaloes and more.
Check into the lodge
Accommodation Lake Mburo National Park: Mburo safari Lodge, Mihingo Lodge, Arcadia Cottage, UWA Bandas
Day 15 game drive and boat trip in lake Mburo National Park
Get up early morning for a game drive in Lake Mburo national park. By driving on the tracks around lake Mburo National Park, you may spot zebras, herds of elephants, buffaloes, water bucks, bush bucks, giraffes, impalas, reedbucks and more.
Enjoy a relaxing boat trip on Lake Mburo where you may several birds that roam the lake shores. Return to your lodge.
Day 16 Transfer to Jinja
After breakfast, transfer to Jinja the former Uganda industrial capital. Relax t your lodge
Day 17 Visit source of River Nile
Visit the source of River Nile in Jinja at the actual point where lake Victoria water separates from River Nile. It is a dramatic point but as water emerges from beneath with River Nile water seeming to be in a rush to start its journey and Lake Victoria water calmly adding to the water.
Optional safari activities to do in Jinja
Visit the Busoga King Palace in Bugembe
Enjoy Quad biking experience
Community Visit or Jinja town tour
Day 18 Transfer to Entebbe or Kampala
Rise up early morning for breakfast and drive to Kampala or Entebbe Check into your lodge to relax
Day 19 Visit chimpanzee in Ngamba Island and the Uganda Wildlife Education center
Take breakfast and visit the Ngamba chimpanzee Island where rescued, abandoned, orphaned and communities chimpanzees are given a secondo home. You may participate in feeding them from the pier, engage in chimpanzee up close, keeper for the day and more.
Drive back to the main land and take a guided tour in the Uganda Wildlife Education Center the former Entebbe zoo. Most of the animals living in different Uganda National Parks are found in Entebbe zoo including cheetahs, lions, elephants, waterbucks, bushbucks, zebras, hyenas, warthogs and more.
Return to your lodge
Day 20 Depart
Wake up for breakfast and your driver guide will transfer you to Entebbe Airport to catch up with your flight back home.
Requirements for 20 days gorilla habituation, chimpanzee habituation and wildlife safari in Uganda
Ample time on Uganda safari
Book Gorilla and chimpanzee permits in advance
Reserve necessary Safari Amenities
Be in good health to enable you move around the different Uganda safari destinations.
Pack the right Uganda safari gears Book the Uganda safari in advance for better planning and preparation.