What To Do During One Week Gorilla Tracking Safari In Uganda

A week of gorilla trekking and wildlife experience in Uganda is a moment to last a lifetime. Being close to the mountain gorillas, view herds of elephants, cape buffaloes, a launch cruise on mighty River Nile is absolutely unforgettable.

Day 1 Visit Ngamba Island

The driver guide will pick you from your overnight hotel and drive you to the pier. You will be briefed about Ngamba Island the home of the orphaned chimpanzees. These chimpanzees are rescued from snares, traffickers, abandoned and cannot be re-admitted into communities in the wilderness. Participate in feeding them from the feeding plate form and enjoy the cool breeze of Lake Victoria. Return to the land and visit Uganda Wildlife Education center former Entebbe Zoo where several animals are kept in exhibits. Get back to the hotel and relax.

Accommodation:  Serena Hotel/Lake Victoria Hotel/ Hotel Triangle/ Holiday Express Hotel

Bed And Breakfast Basis

Day 2 Drive To Bwindi Forest National Park

Have breakfast and drive to Bwindi Forest National park the home of the great mountain gorillas. Enjoy a stopover at the Equator to take pictures while standing on both sides of the earth at the same time. Proceed passing through the green lush hills of Kigezi enjoying the cool air of the countryside.

This drive to Bwindi forest National Park may last about eight to 9 hours including the stopovers. Arrive in the evening and check into your lodge.

Accommodation Gorilla Forest Camp/ Engagi Lodge/ Bwindi Community Bandas

Day 3 Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Forest National park

Carrying your gorilla trekking gears, move to the ranger station for briefing after breakfast. You will join other trekkers and the ranger guides will take you through the dos and don’ts of gorilla tracking like speak at low tone while in the jungle so that you do not scare other interesting animals and birds.

Enjoy the company of other primates like vervet monkeys, black and white colobus, grey cheeked mangabey, blue monkeys, golden monkeys and so much more that the forest has to offer. As for birders, this is haven and a double opportunity of identifying unique birds including Albertine endemics.

 Finally as you draw closer to the mountain gorillas, you may hear them murmuring as if sharing ideas about your presence. Finally when you get in front of them, stay at a distance of about 7 meters away so that as to prevent spreading any infections from humans to the mountain gorillas or from the mountain gorillas to the humans.

Enjoy the gorilla family and its activities like feeding the infants, the playing juveniles, the silverback may also move out to try and display his control over the other members of the family. Take some photographs for memories and watch the mountain gorillas feed on the bamboo which is there delicacy. Return to the lodge and relax.

Day 4: Drive to Kibale National Park the home of Chimpanzees

Rise up early in the morning for breakfast and drive to Kibale National park. Apart from chimpanzees, this forested national park hosts a rich birdlife and plenty of primate species. Feel the cool breeze of the forest and relax at your lodge.

Accommodation: Ndali lodge/ Primate lodge/ Kibale Forest Lodge/ Chimps Nest Camp

Day 5 Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park

After breakfast, carry your chimpanzee trekking gears and join other trekkers for briefing at the Kanyanchu ranger station. Begin searching for the chimpanzees however during the wet season they tend to feed from the tree branches while during dry season they spend most of there time on the ground. A number of other enchanting primates like black and white colobus, colobus monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, red tailed monkeys, blue monkeys to mention but a few. Finally when you get to meet them, watch them do there activities and take some photos for memories.

Return to the lodge and relax or you may take an optional walk to Bigodi Swamp. In this area several primates can evidently be seen like olive baboons, black and white colobus, red tailed monkeys, blue monkeys and you may spot the shoe bill they come into view sometimes. This swamp hosts lots of birds and colorful butterflies.

Return to the lodge and relax

Day 6 Drive To Murchison Falls National Park

Having enjoyed the primates, drive to Murchison Falls National Park. The drive may be long but very rewarding. Arrive late evening ready for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation Paara Safari Lodge/ Nile Safari lodge/ Red Chillis Lodge

Day 7 Game drive And Launch Cruise To Murchison Falls

As you get up early in the morning, head to the Northern part of the Park. The Paara area hosts the biggest number of Birds and animals. You may have the chance of seeing Lions, Hyenas, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, lingering around the park. The rich bird life is unbelievably amazing.

When you get back to the lodge enjoy lunch and get ready for a launch cruise to the Murchison Falls. The launch cruise is very amazing as you go passed schools of hippos, congregation of huge Nile crocodiles can be seen in the water or relaxed at the river banks with mouth wide open. As you draw closer to the falls, you will feel a change in the boat turbulence as the water begins to vibrate causing a foamy like appearance. As the falls come into view, you will see the Nile rush through a narrow gorge, bust out vigorously forming a cloudy appearance. This view is absolutely mesmerizing.  Sail back to the lodge and relax.

Day 8 Drive To Entebbe Airport

After breakfast, drive to Entebbe airport to catch up with your flight back home. This one week and one day holiday is absolutely unforgettable.

What Is the Best Gorilla Tracking Time

Gorilla trekking is done throughout the year but during the peak season, gorilla tracking is on high demand that is to say June-September, shoulder season is December – February and Low season October-November, March to May.

To fully enjoy your gorilla tracking tour, you require to have packed the right gorilla tracking gears.

Tracking boots

Garden gloves

Water proof light bag

Camera

Energy bites

Hard cash

Long trousers and shirt

Insect repellant Gorilla tracking permit tops the list of what you need to arrange before starting the trek.