Best summer gorilla trekking & river Nile wildlife vacations on 3 weeks/ 21 days Uganda safaris
Gorilla trekking & River Nile safaris overview
With 99% assurance of finding mountain gorillas in Uganda’s Mgahinga national park or Bwindi Impenetrable national park, the gorilla trekking & river Nile safaris will get you to the Pearl of Africa’s diversity through Africa’s wilderness to the birth of the river Nile from lake Victoria and also have a chance to engage in white water rafting sports at the falls of the river Nile. Summer vacations & winter holidays for families, groups, couples, solo travel packages on Africa safari experiences to white sand beaches, savannah grasslands and highland areas of Uganda- the Pearl of Africa.
Gorilla trekking & River Nile safaris highlights
Arrival and departure: Entebbe
Day 1- arrival and rest
Day 2- mabamba swamp shoebills & botanical birding tour
Day 3- rhino tracking at Ziwa rhino sanctuary
Day 4- Murchison game drives & falls boat cruise
Day 5- Murchison game drives & hike to the top of falls
Day 6- Nile delta boat cruise & game drive
Day 7- chimpanzee tracking & nature walks at Kibale N.P
Day 8- hot springs & forest species at Semuliki N.P
Day 9- scenery watch & game drives at Queen Elizabeth N.P
Day 10- game drives & boat cruise on Kazinga channel
Day 11- game drive at Ishasha sector to Bwindi
Day 12- gorilla trekking & Batwa experience at Bwindi Impenetrable
Day 13- golden monkey tracking & forest walks at Mgahinga
Day 14- crater lakes & scenery watch at Lake Bunyonyi
Day 15- transfer to Mburo & night safari drive
Day 16- walking safari at L. Mburo N.P
Day 17- Kampala city tour and night life
Day 18- Jinja city tour and Lake Victoria landing sites
Day 19- water sports & rafting at the source of the River Nile
Day 20- Bungee jumping at the source of the Nile & nature walk
Day 21- return to Kampala for departure
Detailed Gorilla trekking & River Nile safaris itinerary
Day 1 Lake Victoria shores
On arrival, you will be picked from the airport by our guide and taken to your booked accommodation at the shores of Lake Victoria; Africa’s largest lake for a rest as you chill in the cool lake breeze, scenic endless water horizons and numerous green islands that can also be visited by boat cruises, speed boats or canoes to overcome travel exhaustion as you prepare also to embark on a long awaited tour to Uganda’s game parks for a lot of exciting adventures.
Accommodation: Lake Victoria Serena hotel (or a similar one)
Meals: Breakfast| Lunch| Dinner
Day 2 Mabamba swamp & botanical gardens
Setting out to the Mabamba swamp which is also Ramsar site to see the endangered shoebill. This tour is carried out on boats that move from the Lake Victoria shoes into the narrow water stretches of the swamp; a tour lasting for 3 hours. This will come with an opportunity to watch shoebills along with many other swamp endemics and water birds. After the shoebill tracking, you will head to the botanical gardens still along the shores of the lake. This walking tour at the cool 40.7 hectare botanical gardens along the shore of Lake Victoria. The gardens are also common for biking/ cycling safari, monkey feeding, birding safari and 500 plant species including both exotic and indigenous. These plants are categorized into indigenous and exotic fruits, medicinal, beverage, spices, ornamentals, timber, oils and important crop wild relatives, several of these threatened in the wild and agro-ecosystems. Later in the evening, you will embark on a nightlife experience either in Entebbe at Lake Victoria shores or in Kampala that will take till late.
Accommodation: Lake Victoria Serena hotel (or a similar one)
Meals: Breakfast| Lunch| Dinner
On this day early in the morning, you will start off with a walking safaris watching out for rhinos and towards the swamp areas. Ziwa rhino sanctuary has more than 45 white southern rhinos, Rothschild’s giraffes, kobs, leopards, swamps with papyrus endemics like the shoebill, African wild cats, warthogs, reptiles among other species. the sanctuary not having big predators, allows you to easily make nature walks to come to nearby engagement with the park’s wild game. In the late afternoon you will continue with your trip to Murchison falls national park
Accommodation: Pakuba safari lodge (or a similar one)
Meals: Breakfast| Lunch| Dinner
Today you will head out to sections of the Murchison falls national park to continue exploring this vast grassland and its remarkable wild game. You will be amazed with many elephant families and their playful young ones, lion families, Rothschild’s giraffes, waterbucks, buffaloes, baboons, reptiles, numerous bird species among others. Also on this gorilla trekking & river Nile safaris, you will have a trek up to view the magnificent Murchison falls from above and watch the strongest falls on the planet, gashing 3,000 cubic litres of water per second through an eight-meter corridor cascading down a 43-meter height into the “the devil’s caldron” forming a white mist and a signature rainbow producing a loud sound from the powerful force of the water of the river Nile. The park has the strongest water falls in the world and the highest number of rothschild’s giraffes in the world, more than three- quarter of the total world population and numerous elephant and lion families, waterbucks, impalas, kobs, warthogs, hippos, buffaloes, crocodiles, leopards, hyenas, jackals among other mammals and more than 450 bird species recorded in the park. After lunch you will then head to the banks of the river Nile for a boat cruise towards the face of the Murchison falls. While on the boat cruise, you will have scene of various water birds like the shoebills, raptors, geese among others, hippos and a great number of huge nile crocodiles and many more mammals that approach the river banks to quench their thirst like buffaloes, elephants and the scenes are endless. You will also have a boat cruise to the Nile delta as it flows back to the albertine peninsular, an experience that obviously unmatchable as you watch the waters of the river Nile anchor the wild and its species.
Accommodation: Pakuba safari lodge (or a similar one)
Meals: Breakfast| Lunch| Dinner
Kibale national park is known for chimpanzee tracking and for having the highest population & concentration of chimpanzees in world numbering above 1,500 individuals in the park. The tracking session start at 08:00, 11:00 & 14:00 and takes 2-5 hours with a more than 90% chance of meeting the chimpanzees; a forest walk that will come along with numerous sceneries of more than 370 bird species of grassland, forest, swamp and Albertine rift region endemics, 350 tree species and 71 mammal species. other primates in the park include the L’hoest monkeys, colobus monkeys, blue monkey, olive baboon, red tailed monkey, vervet monkeys. Mammal species include leopards, lions, elephants, water bucks, warthogs, giant forest hog, sitatungas, hippos, buffaloes, hyenas, jackals, and other nocturnal species. after the evening tracking you will head out of the park.
Accommodation: Primates safari lodge (or a similar one)
Meals: Breakfast| Lunch| Dinner
The most gorgeous places in this East African region for its remarkable features and as a landmark position between East and Central Africa thus having vegetation and forests of characteristics of both regions. Semuliki national park has hot springs that were a result of geological actions dating thousands of years back; these produce water of over 100°C producing white mist and smoke in the forests. It’s a common for visitors to buy raw eggs and boil them at the hot water point. Locals in the area also believe that the hot springs are a blessing and of supernatural healing as this hot water comes up from the ground among different rock layers filled with various minerals such as sulphate, zinc among that heal fungal and many other skin diseases. The park is also an intersection of the east African grasslands and the central African tropical forests thus harboring numerous tree species of the west and central African forests and bird species. the park has 435 bird species, 11 primate species and 53 mammal species. some of these include Albertine Rift Endemics such as the dwarf honey guide and purple-breasted sunbirds; 35 Congo-Guinea biome species found nowhere else in East Africa, including black dwarf hornbill, Nkulengu rail, Congo serpent eagle, Gabon, woodpecker; and other species with very limited ranges such as white-tailed hornbill, capuchin babbler, blue-headed crested flycatcher and the orange weaver. Mammal and primate species include; chimpanzee, blue monkey, black and white colobus, red colobus, olive baboons, vervet monkey, de brazza’s monkey, Mangabeys, stripped jackal, leopards, elephants, hippos, cape buffaloes, Uganda kobs, sitatungas, warthogs, nile crocodiles.
Accommodation: Mweya safari lodge (or a similar one)
Meals: Breakfast| Lunch| Dinner
This day you will have morning and evening game drives to various parts of the park for a lot of wonderful scenic view of the Rwenzori mountains and its slopes, the African big 5; elephant herds, lion families, leopards, hippo herds, hyenas, wild dogs, Uganda kobs, water bucks, antelopes, baboons, monkeys, crocodiles, crater lakes, reptiles, raptors, sun birds and many more awaiting your memorable tour in this game park. You will head out to the Kazinga channel (a river connecting lakes Edward and George) for a morning boat cruise through queen Elizabeth national park. At this experience you will have a glance at the world’s largest concentration of hippos which are numbered above 5,000 at the Kazinga channel, Nile crocodiles, buffaloes, water birds and other land birds coming in to quench their thirst, elephants, lions and other land wild game like water bucks, giraffes, kobs, kudus among others also coming in onto the banks of the Kazinga channel to quench their thirst. After the boat cruise, you will embark on a game drive around this channel and beyond into the vast savannah grassland to enjoy more game viewing at more lion and elephant families, ostriches, cheetahs, leopards, raptors and vultures, reptiles, monkeys, wild dogs among other creatures, scenery views of the ice capped mountain Rwenzori and its slopes as you head to the Ishasha sector of the park that is famously known for tree climbing lions; a character of lions known for on 2 places in Africa particularly this park being one of them. The drive out of this sector will lead you to Bwindi impenetrable National park for another epic adventure on the gorilla trekking & river Nile safaris.
Accommodation: Buhoma safari lodge (or a similar one)
Meals: Breakfast| Lunch| Dinner
Very early in the morning you will embark on a four-hour journey to Bwindi impenetrable forest in Uganda for a morning gorilla trekking. On arrival you will have a briefing on the gorilla behaviors, livelihoods and how to handle their reactions to the human presence. The trek into the tropical montane forests will last between 30 to 1 hour before meeting the gorilla family you are assigned to and you will be allowed to follow and spend an hour with that gorilla family. Getting to find the mountain gorillas on a trek in Uganda is a 99% chance backed up by the gorilla population in this region. After the trek, you will have an experience with the Batwa people who have for all their life time co-existed with the forest and its species. During this nature walk you will experience numerous bird species with particularly 23 albertine endemics that are habitats to only the albertine region.
Accommodation: Buhoma lodge (or a similar one)
Meals: Breakfast| Lunch| Dinner
In the morning on this gorilla trekking & river Nile safaris, following a briefing, you will hike the volcanic mountains of the Mgahinga to a height of 2,500 meters above sea level in the bamboo forests of the montane region where these unique primates reside. These have orange-yellow like hair color that give them that distinguished golden look. When you reach their residence, you will be allowed to stay around them for one hour. These live in families of hundreds and have a very playful character, they will keep you so entertained. Looking at them critically, you will notice their facial appearance that the golden monkeys have a nose so different from that of many other primate species. along the hike, you will also observe other primates like the red tailed monkeys, white and black colobus monkeys, reptiles, Albertine rift endemics and many more bird species. later you will head to lake Bunyonyi; Africa’s deepest crater lake and one of the most gorgeous lakes on the continent.
Accommodation: Mgahinga lodge (or a similar one)
Meals: Breakfast| Lunch| Dinner
Day 14 Lake Bunyonyi
Waking up to the sound of birds and a glance at the mist over lake Bunyonyi, mountains & sharp valleys. Some of the most amazing attributes of the lake are being the deepest crater lake in Africa, the 29 islands located in its waters which toured by use of a boat/canoe and safe waters with no crocodiles and hippos. The lake harbors over 200 bird species with the gray crowned crane being one of the most remarkable birds, breathtaking sceneries of the volcano mountains ad slopes of Muhavura will leave you stunned at this beautiful lake and its surrounding.
Accommodation: Bird’s nest @ Bunyonyi resort (or a similar one)
Meals: Breakfast| Lunch| Dinner
Commonly known for its high zebra population, Lake Mburo national park offers a wide range of touring options from board rides, horseback riding safaris, walking safaris, game drives, biking/cycling safaris and community walks on this gorilla trekking & river Nile safaris. On the first day of arrival, you will have a game drive and a night wild safari which lasts 2-3 hours to exhaust both the days’ and nocturnal species of the park. On the second day you will have a walking safari that will also get you meet members the community; fishermen at lake Mburo, pastoralists and farmers. The park has 70 mammals and 332 recorded bird species and is richly gifted with various acacia and papyrus endemics such as the papyrus gonelek, papyrus yellow warbler, white-winged warbler and shoebill; as the acacia species are wide spread elsewhere in the park. Mammals include burchell’s zebras, Nubian giraffes, hippos, leopards, buffaloes, topi, elands, antelopes, warthogs, bushbucks, stripped jackals, reedbucks, olive baboons, sitatungas, bush pigs, hyenas, impalas, crocodiles, reptiles among others. Later you will embark on a 4-hour journey to Kampala.
Accommodation: Lake Victoria Serena hotel (or a similar one)
Meals: Breakfast| Lunch| Dinner
Embarking on a city tour around the hills of Kampala and its streets will get you to various historical administrative, economic and cultural sites and centers in the city have affected the development of Uganda as a country such as the Kasubi tombs where 3 ancient kings are buried, the Rubaga cathedral; headquarters of the Catholics’ faith, Namirembe cathedral; headquarters of the protestant faith, Kaddafi mosque; headquarters of the Muslim faith, Baha’i temple of the Baha’i faith, fort Laggard the first administrator of Kampala city, the parliament building of Uganda among others. Food and commodity markets around Kampala are so interesting and have a great reflection of how the county’s population survives; these will get you have some taste on fresh fruits, vegetables grown in the country and street food delicacies like the rolex (an egg omelet rolled in chapatti).
Accommodation: Grand Imperial hotel (or a similar one)
Meals: Breakfast| Lunch| Dinner
Day 18 Jinja city tour
Jinja city known as the “adventure capital” of East Africa, has many other interesting features within it beyond the source of the Nile and water falls. For long since days of colonialism, it’s been one of Uganda’s most industrialized and commercial centers harboring both production and transaction hubs and centers and thus has always attracted many traders, business men and holiday makers. This tour will also get you to know more about the Basoga people, their culture and traditions and also pay a visit to the Kyabazinga’s palace (king’s palace) where you will find a lot of art and crafts depicting the trend of this kingdom from ancient times. You will visit Masese landing site on the shores of Lake Victoria in Jinja, a major landing site and fish supplying center to the area. You will get to see different fish sizes and types that are caught from the lake, how they are preserved and various dishes made out of them. The most prominent type being the Nile perch which can be caught in sizes and weight more than even 50 kilograms. You will also have a night life experience either in town or at a camping resort.
Accommodation: Nile safari lodge (or a similar one)
Meals: Breakfast| Lunch| Dinner
This section of the river Nile has numerous water falls that have become common water sport points to tourists and adventurers from all corners of the world. Some of the falls include Owen falls, Bujagali falls, Ripon falls, Itanda falls, Busowoko falls among others. The clean and white waters of the River Nile at this point are the most entertaining of the river course throughout Africa offering the best bungee jumping point, water rafting, horse riding at the river banks, water surfing, swimming, canoeing, river boarding, quad biking around the river banks among others. The river banks also host numerous bird species that can be experienced on nature walks thus being some of the best birders’ destinations in the region. You will also take a boat to reach the source of the nile where 30% of the water emanates from underground streams and 70% from Lake Victoria. The green sparsely forested areas will provide a chilling breeze for nature walks and relaxations that will grant you a memorable time at the source of the river Nile.
Accommodation: Whispers of the Nile lodge (or a similar one)
Meals: Breakfast| Lunch| Dinner
Day 21 Entebbe for departure
On this day you will head to Entebbe on the shores of Lake Victoria resort or hotel for a chilling and relaxing from the long Gorilla trekking & River Nile safaris as you wait for the time of your departure flight
Accommodation: N/A
Meal: Breakfast| Lunch| Dinner
Inclusions
- Gorilla trekking permits
- Chimpanzee tracking permits
- Golden monkey tracking
- Park entry fees
- Airport transfers
- Government taxes
- Laundry
- Driver & guide
- Bottled drinking refreshments
- All activities on indicated itinerary
Exclusions
- Travel insurance
- International flights
- Visa fees & processing
- Extra activities, meals, alcohol/ liquor off the itinerary
- Tipping & gratitude
- Souvenirs & snacks
- Accommodation after end of the trip
- Any changes to the itinerary
- Anything not mentioned
Your safari route map
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