How To Navigate River Nile During A Gorilla Trekking Africa Safari

The beauty of exploring River Nile right from its source is an Africa safari adventure worth adding on your bucket list. Travelers who have met the Nile delta in Egypt while on an African safari have seen its beauty combined with dessert experience but have you ever wondered what its source looks like.

A Combo of an African holiday on River Nile with gorilla trekking adventure brings you closer to the heart of the African jungle. River Nile feeds about 5 African countries but its impact is felt by the home of the mountain gorillas too which is Bwindi Forest. There is even a concocted theory that Rwanda is the true source of River Nile. Uganda is the source of River Nile with Jinja as the actual point where River Nile Water departs from Lake Victoria.

 7 day River Nile Tour With Gorilla Trekking Safari

Day 1 Drive To Murchison National Park

Walking in the shoes of the explorer gives you chance to face River Nile beauties. Get up early for a 4 to 5 hours road trip to Murchison Falls National Park where River Nile lays out its fancy tactics.

 Enjoy a game drive while entering the park where you may have the chance of spotting giraffes, buffaloes, water bucks, bush bucks, Uganda Kobs, Warthogs and so much more.

Check into your room and relax.

Day 2 Game Drive And Launch trip on River Nile

Rise up for early morning game drive where you may have chances of spotting lions, leopards, herds of elephants and buffaloes, oribi, warthogs, hartebeests to mention but a few.

After lunch, get to the pier and sail to the Great Murchison Falls. This ride is scenic too as you have lots of wild animal entertainment along the way on the banks. Thousands of animals grace the banks to quench thirst while thousands of birds construct nests on the plateau that overlooks the river.

As you approach the falls, you hear roaring sounds as River Nile squeezes its way through a 6 meters wide cliff to flow over a 44 meters high cliff and touch the bottom. A cloudy appearance is formed too. On a bright sunny day, a rainbow may form right before your eyes. It’s a beautiful moment to share with loved ones too.

A visit to the top of the falls also gives you more of the violent River Nile. This short hike is a chance to see how River Nile stumbling upon a range of rocks embedded below its bottom.

Day 3  Drive To Kibale Forest National Park

A safari break to Kibale National Park gives you the chance to interact with the chimpanzees. These have about 98% human genes which brings them closer to human beings. Enjoy the scenic road trip through the Uganda Oli city and arrive late evening. Check in to your lodge and wait for dinner.

Day 4 Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park

In case you are scheduled for early morning chimpanzee trekking, take breakfast and head to Kanyanchu station for briefing. Do not forget your masks and hand sanitizer. Follow the guide ranger into the forest and stay close to the rest of the group.

Walk through the forest listening and paying attention to other primates too like black and white colobus, red tailed monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, blue monkeys, pottos monkeys and others. Do not forget to spot several birds that spend the day in the forest.

 Finally when you get closer to the chimpanzees, follow the instructions from the ranger, take photos, watch the family go on with its day activities and after an hour return to the lodge.

In case you are not so tired, visit the Bigodi swamp where most other primates spend the big part of the day, thousands of birds spend there time, beautiful butterflies and so much more.

Day 5 Road Trip To Bwindi Forest National park

Having enjoyed one of the big primates in the world, head to Bwindi Impenetrable forest for gorilla trekking. The drive may take about 6 hours before arriving the thick tropical forest of Bwindi. Check into your lodge

Day 6 Gorilla trekking In Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National park

Wear your gorilla trekking gears, carry your packed lunch and head to the ranger station. Listen carefully to the gorilla trekking jungle instructions. Later your ranger guide leads you into the forest to start search for the chimpanzees.

Follow the trail where the gorillas were last seen the previous day because rarely do they feed far away from there previous site. Watch out for monkeys like blue monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, vervet monkeys, red tailed monkeys, black and white colobus to mention but a few.

Keen birders have this double chance of spotting the rare Albertine endemics that enjoy the generosity of prehistoric Bwindi Forest.

Finally when you meet the mountain gorillas, keep a distance of about 8 meters away from them so that you reduce on the chances of spreading any infections. Watch out for the majestic silver back that watches over all the family activities. Try not to touch infants because the entire family looks out for there wellbeing.

 Return to the lodge to relax and catch up with the day’s gorilla trekking memories.

Day 7 Road Trip To Entebbe Airport For Departure Flight

Having navigated the beauties of river Nile with gorilla trekking experience, drive to Entebbe Airport to catch up with your flight back home. It is best to book a late evening return flight so that you do not rush to catch up with check in time.

Important Note to Take For Gorilla trekking Safari

Carry the right wardrobe for gorilla trekking and chimpanzee trekking as the jungle has some rough surfaces that may not be friendly to your skin. Gorilla trekking gears to pack

Book accommodation in the area close or with in the area where your gorilla trekking permit was booked.

Carry sanitizers and masks so that you do not create any chance for spreading any infectious disease to the primates.

Stay closer to the rest of the group when you are in the jungle. This is to prevent getting lost in the thick rain forest.

Book your gorilla trekking permit in advance so that you confirm your trip.