7 Day Gorilla Trekking And Murchison Falls Game Safari In Uganda

The plan to do a 7 day gorilla trekking and Murchison Falls National Park safari in Uganda is characterized by acquiring the gorilla permit first, secure accommodation to use when on safari and more.

Choosing the appropriate season for this 7 day gorilla trekking and Murchison Falls Tour in Uganda is very helpful. The tourism season in Uganda has three seasons, peak season, shoulder season and low season.  

The peak season which is normally June to September is time expected to have many tourists on Uganda safari, the shoulder season that is February and October fewer tourists are expected in the country and low season March to May and November meager numbers of tourists expected on Uganda safari

Note that Uganda is open for tourists visits all year but consider the time you have on holiday when planning.

Highlights Of 7 Day Gorilla Trekking And Murchison Falls Game Safari In Uganda

Day 1 Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Day 2 Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi

Day 3 Transfer to Kibale National Park

Day 4 Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park

Day 5 Transfer to Murchison falls National Park

Day 6 Game Drive and Launch Trip in Murchison falls National park

Day 7 Departure

Detailed Itinerary for 7 Day Gorilla Trekking And Game Safari in Murchison falls National Park

Day 1 Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

 Get up early morning for breakfast and start on your voyage to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Along the way, you may take breaks to stretch or stop at some enroute charms like at the equator, Mpambire ancient drum village and more.

Carry on with the journey arriving late afternoon in Bwindi area. Bwindi forest is amazing with great views of descending endless forest cover. Bwindi forest is a biosphere reserve believed to have approximately 25000 years of existence and an eco-diverse destination.

Bwindi forest is home to the mountain gorillas some of the endangered primates in the world living in only three countries Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo. Bwindi forest in Uganda has almost half the total number of mountain gorillas as the world currently has a population of approximately 1062 mountain gorillas.

Check into your lodge

Bwindi Accommodation: Gorilla safari Lodge, Engage Lodge, Volcanoes Lodge, Nshongi Lodge Mahogany Springs

Meal Plan: full Board

Transport: Road transport

 Day 2 Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi

After breakfast, carry your gorilla trekking gears and personal identification documents to the briefing point for verification. You will be advised on details of the guidelines of gorilla trekking as these help you before, when with and on the way out of Bwindi forest.

Even though time of finding the mountain gorillas is not easy to determine, some level of patience gets you through. Do not keep your eyes fixed to spotting the mountain gorillas but look elsewhere for other inhabitants including black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, red tailed monkeys and more.

When you finally locate the mountain gorillas one hour is allowed with them but try to adhere to the rules of gorilla trekking. Take photos, film concurrently with taking your eyes off your lens as you look directly to the vulnerable yet mistaken mountain gorillas.

One hour is allowed with the mountain gorillas as they are habituated to be in front of humans for just that one hour of viewership. Get back to your lodge to wind and unwind from the moments held with the mountain gorillas.

Day 3 Transfer to Kibale National Park

 Take breakfast and drive to Kibale National Park the home to the biggest number of chimpanzees. Kibale is a rain forest in western Uganda hosting more than 13 primate species a list that is one of the longest in Africa.

An array of birds of over 325 species including Albertine rift endemics have been confirmed as residents of Kibale National park. Keen birders have a double opportunity of spotting a variety of birds that linger the forest amidst the search to find the chimpanzees. There are chances of spotting migrant animals that cross via the migration corridor from Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Check into your lodge

Kibale Accommodation: Primates Lodge, Kyaninga Lodge, Ndali Lodge, Chimps Nest

Day 4 Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park

Get up early morning for breakfast and head to the ranger station for briefing at Kanyanchu the head quarter of the park or Ssebitoli in Kibale forest. Together with other tourists the ranger guide leads the way by passing amazing undergrowth.

Finally, when you find the chimpanzees, enjoy their presence, take photos, but keep your time away from your lens so as to directly enjoy every moment as it unfolds. The life of the chimpanzees has a slight resemblance with that of humans.

After an hour of chimpanzee trekking, get away from their presence without causing any suspension and return to your lodge.

Day 5 Transfer to Murchison falls National Park

Take breakfast and start on your journey to Murchison Falls National Park by passing the Uganda oil city in Masindi. Do a stop at some of the interesting spots along the way to break the long journey.

When you arrive in Murchison Falls National Park check into your lodge.

Murchison Falls National Park is the largest Uganda National Park in Uganda covering over 3500 square kilometers. The highlight of the park is Murchison Falls where river Nile squeezes through a 6 meters wide gorge to furiously push out and create a thundering sound.

A multitude of wild animals walk through the Murchison Falls National Park daily and you can spot them from the comfort of your safari vehicle.

Murchison Falls Accommodation: Para safari Lodge, Nile safari Lodge, Sambiya Lodge, Red Chillis Camp

Day 6 Game Drive and Launch Trip in Murchison falls National park

Wake up for a game drive in Paraa area taking the amazing Buligi trail in a grassland area where chances of spotting lions are more open since herbivores are common to this area. While on a game drive in Murchison falls national park, you may spot leopards, lions, elephants, water bucks, bush bucks, giraffes, hartebeests, cape buffaloes, hyenas, oribi and more.

Keen birders can check out on the several birds that flock Murchison Falls National Park daily both on ground and off the ground long the river banks.

Later in the day, enjoy a launch trip from the comfort of your boat or launch. Along the way, you may spot a number of animals that visit the shores of River Nile to quench thirst, pick something from the marshes, hippos and crocodiles love splashing the water.

Get back to your lodge to relax

Day 7 Departure

After the gorilla trekking and game safari in Murchison Falls National Park depart for Entebbe airport to catch up with your flight back home.

How To Book A Uganda Gorilla Trekking And Murchison Falls National Park Safari

• Choose the number of days you wish to be on Uganda safari and time for your holiday.
• Select the date for your gorilla trekking safari in case you wish it to happen for a specific reason. Check gorilla trekking permit availability and purchase it as soon as you can. Gorilla trekking permits in Uganda sell like a hot cake because they are limited yet on high demand world over.
• Identify activities to do on Uganda safari including game drives, launch trip, birding and more depending on your interest and flow of your proposed itinerary.
• Choose accommodation to use while on this Uganda safari based on your budget. This will assist with calculating the cost of the gorilla trekking and game safari in Murchison Falls National Park.
• Book the transport means to use during this Uganda safari air or road transport. It is best to use a 4×4 wheel drive vehicle with a pop-up roof to especially during the Uganda game drive.  Book a professional and experienced driver guide earlier is a bonus to the final experience you get after this Uganda safari.
• In case you need extra assistance like airport pick up or airport drop off if you take extra days in Uganda, state this in advance so that arrangements can be made for you.
• Make both international and domestic flight arrangements in advance to avoid getting frustrated at the last minute. It is better to spend the night before starting this Uganda safari in Uganda or arrive in the country on a late night flight so that you can depart in time.

What Is The Best Time To Do The Gorilla Trekking And Game Safari In Murchison Falls National Park in Uganda

The dry season that is June to September and December to February serves as the best time to do a gorilla trekking and game safari in Murchison Falls National Park.

Generally, the jungle especially the grasslands provide better view of the wild animals that spend their day in the park during the dry season. Even though the temperature in the Murchison Falls national Park tend to be high in the dry season, the tracks are quite easier to navigate.

Even though Bwindi Forest is known for all year round low temperatures and untimely down pours, the dry season is normally characterized by less precipitation. More sunlight sips through the dense leaves providing a better ambiance when moving through the wilderness.

Gorilla trekking in the wet season that is March to May and November is interesting to embark on but note that you get to see the gorillas. When you take a game safari in the wet season in Murchison Falls national park, you have higher chances of witnessing a new birth.

Fewer safari vehicles drive on the tracks of Murchison Falls National park for a game drive so chances of getting disrupted while in search of game are minimal. The mountain gorillas in Bwindi keep most of their time in sheltered spots during gorilla trekking in Bwindi.

How Safe Is Uganda Gorilla Trekking And Game Safari In Murchison Falls National Park

Taking gorilla trekking in Uganda and game safari in Murchison Falls National Park is safe as the national parks where these activities happen are under the care and responsibility of well trained ranger guide. The Uganda Wildlife Authority is a body responsible for the security and care for the wildlife sanctuaries in Uganda.

All Uganda National Parks have guidelines which participants are required to follow as these have been proved over time to protect the wild animals, their habitants and visitors.

For gorilla trekking in Bwindi, tourists have to attend a compulsory briefing before embarking on the adventure in this pristine rain forest. The mountain gorillas are not violent primates despite the misconception many people have on their outlook.

 As a tourist try not to stick out your head in the windows of your vehicle while on a game in Murchison falls National Park. There are predators in Murchison Falls National Park that hid in secrete places and may pounce on you

Never go on a game drive without reporting to the ranger station for registration so that follow up can be made in case need arises. For gorilla trekking, tourists are recommended never to enter the forest without an escorting ranger guide.

Mountain gorillas and game safaris in Uganda are safe as long as you follow the recommended guidelines provided by the Uganda Wildlife Authority.

What To Pack For Gorilla Trekking In Uganda And Game Safari In Murchison Falls National Park

Garden gloves

Camera

Safari hat

Safari attire

Energy bites

Back pack

Warmers

Safari boots

Foldable water bottle

Extra cash

Rain proof gears

Why Choose To Do Uganda Gorilla Trekking And Game Safari In Murchison Falls National Park

A combination of gorilla trekking and game safari gives you an opportunity to see a variety of wild animals that are rarely seen in most National Parks in the world.

The mountain gorillas are living in only three countries in the world that is Uganda, Rwanda and D.R.Congo. By choosing to participate in gorillas trekking, you get the opportunity to be just meters away from these vulnerable primates.

A game safari in Murchison Falls national park takes you to find wild animals in their nature settings as may countries elsewhere in the world keep wild animals in cages and other confinements. These wild animals do not get to show their full potential. 

Support in the continued conservation of wild animals in Uganda is still needed so by buying a gorilla permit or paying park entrance fees you get to participate in supporting this noble cause. Even the communities close to the Uganda national Parks through profit sharing program get to appreciate the relevancy of conserving nature around them.

Book Now