6 Days Murchison Falls Chimpanzees and Gorillas Safari

You will be picked up by the Dav Safaris driver at the hotel or the airport to begin the trip to Murchison Falls National Park. Luwero, Nakasongola, and Masindi are just a few of the districts and towns that must be traveled through to get to the national park. The former combat zone in Luwero is well known. It is where the current administration started the guerilla conflict that ultimately resulted in Tito Okello’s government being overthrown. The terrain at Nakasongola is stunning, with several farms and long-horned Ankole cattle grazing by the side of the road. Ask the driver or guide to stop for you along the way if you haven’t had any of the native Ugandan fruits yet so you can sample some of the available fresh fruit. Due to increased sunlight exposure, fruits in Africa are highly flavorful.

You’ll make a stop at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. This sanctuary was created to provide protection for Uganda’s last few rhinos and to boost their population in preparation for their eventual reintroduction to the wild. In the majority of her national parks, Uganda possessed rhinos, but widespread poaching drove them out. It was nearly impossible to see rhinos in the wild by the late 1970s. But now there are many Rhinos in the sanctuary, you’ll be with knowledgeable Guides. The Guides will take you around and provide crucial knowledge regarding rhinos, including the reasons why it is crucial to protect them. The sanctuary is a sizable facility where visitors can go on nature hikes and see primates and birds.

You’ll head to the adjacent town of Masindi for lunch after touring the rhino sanctuary, and then you’ll continue to the national park. When you enter the park, a tour guide will take you to see the magnificent and well-known Murchison Falls. See as the Nile river winds through a little canyon before gushing its waters downstream with a deafening boom. The driver will then take you to a hotel or lodge where you may rest and refuel before dinner.

Accommodation options Includes; Luxury guests can stay at Paara Safari Lodge or Chobe Safari Lodge. Our mid-range lodges are Murchison River Lodge, Pakuba Lodge, and Fort Murchison River Lodge. Either Yebo Safari Camp or Red Chili Rest Camp will accommodate budget guests.

Get up early and eat breakfast as you wait for the guide to take you on a morning game drive to watch animals leaving for the day and others returning to their dens after a full night of hunting. The variety of fauna at Murchison Falls National Park is incredible. Expect to witness hyenas, giraffes, elephants, lions, buffaloes, water bucks, and many other animals. More Roskilde giraffes can be found here than in any other East African national park. The variety offered will astonish birders. The shoebill stork, ibis, marabou stork, egrets, and kingfishers can all be seen here. You might decide to enjoy a picnic next to the river while taking in the lovely sounds of the birds and other wildlife, such as hippos.

After the game drive is over, the driver/guide will return you to the lodge where you can eat before leaving for the afternoon boat trip on the Nile. The boat tour begins further downstream and comes to a close at the base of Murchison Falls. The area’s natural beauty, the wildlife, and the impressive waterfalls will astound you while you’re here. Crocodiles, hippos, buffaloes, water bucks, and elephants are frequently seen bathing and drinking along riverbanks. One of Uganda’s largest collections of bird species can be found here. King fishers, fish eagles, goliath herons, weaver birds, cattle egrets, beef eaters, and a wide variety of other water birds should be visible here. You might even see some migratory species that you are accustomed to from your native area. Seeing the cascades from the bottom is the highlight. This amazing sight must be documented on camera so that you display it to your relatives and friends back home.

Accommodation options Includes; Luxury guests can stay at Paara Safari Lodge or Chobe Safari Lodge. Our mid-range lodges are Murchison River Lodge, Pakuba Lodge, and Fort Murchison River Lodge. Either Yebo Safari Camp or Red Chili Rest Camp will accommodate budget guests.

You can get up whenever you like and go out on a protracted but intriguing tour through rural Uganda. You will have the opportunity to witness rural life in Uganda as the route passes through a number of towns and important commerce hubs. Be prepared to pass schools, rural homes, markets, large tea and banana plantations, cattle farms, rivers, lakes, and many other things as you drive. As soon as you get to your accommodation, check in and get ready for a guided tour of the Bigodi wetlands reserve. One of the best spots in Uganda to see primates is the refuge. Baboons, Red-tailed monkeys, Vervet monkeys, Mangabeys, and L’Hoest monkeys are among the primates you’ll see. In addition to monkeys, look for antelopes, bush backs, and bush pigs.

The guided stroll involves more than just seeing monkeys and other creatures. One of the best sites to see birds in Uganda is the Bigodi wetland. You must proceed to the Bigodi Swamp if you still require further evidence at this point. The marsh is home to around 374 different bird species, including water-thick-knees, hornbills, yellow-billed egrets, and Hamerkop. The tour continues to the nearby villages and homes after exploring the marsh. The major goal is to provide you the chance to talk to folks and learn how they survive. They can be seen in the gardens, some tending to their pets or preparing meals at home. Every detail and the connections between their lives and the marsh and Kibale National Park should be explained to you by your guide. The guide should take you to the nearby crater lakes after you’ve visited the hamlet.

Accommodation Options Included; Papaya Lake Lodge or Primate lodge for luxury travelers. The mid-range hotel is Kibale forest camp while the budget option is Chimpanzee forest guest house.

Get up early, eat breakfast, and then wait for the guide to drive you to the park office so you may get briefed. You will be given instructions on how to get ready for the activity and what to anticipate during the briefing. Groups are used to track chimpanzees. Only six people are allowed to follow a chimpanzee group. The Ranger will guide you at every turn. Gorilla trekking and chimpanzee tracking are very distinct from one another. Chimpanzees have a loud voice and might be unreliable. When compared to gorillas, they typically spend a lot of time on trees (they prefer to stay on the ground). Even if you locate a chimpanzee, you’ll need to follow it as it swings from tree to tree because they are quite mobile. They will eventually find peace.

Locating the chimpanzees depends on the time of year and takes around three hours when tracking them in Kibale. During the dry season, the chimps frequently roam around in quest of scarce fruits and water. The rainy season is a time of abundance, so the chimpanzees don’t need to venture far into the jungle. Without having to travel far, it is simpler to locate them. It’s crucial to remember that chimpanzees occasionally patrol their areas even in the wet season of plenty. You might have to pursue them for a further distance in this situation. There are many habituated chimpanzee groups, which is one of the best things about chimpanzee trekking in Kibale forest. You can always request to be placed in a community that is simpler to follow. Expect to see baboons, vervet monkeys, blue monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, elephants, bush pigs, butterflies, and birds while tracking the chimpanzees.

Only one hour with the chimpanzees is permitted. This hour might turn out to be much more thrilling. That is, if you can locate them on the ground and in a suitable clearing. You will see people in the neighborhood playing, fighting, nursing, and grooming. The rangers are familiar with each individual chimpanzee’s name, background, and place in the group. They will caution you to stay away from particular people. No flash photography is permitted. The Ranger will accompany you back to the park offices after an hour spent with the chimpanzees. Our Tour Guide should be waiting to return you to the hotel for lunch before setting out on your adventure to Bwindi.

Dinner and overnight accommodations are available at the Buhoma Community Rest Camp, Rushaga Gorilla Camp, and Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, depending on the level of luxury desired by the guest.

As you wait for the guide or driver to take you to the park headquarters for a briefing, start the new day with a hearty meal. The park warden brief guests to make sure they are ready for every element of gorilla trekking. The wardens and rangers will make sure you have everything you need, including drinking water, hiking boots, rain jackets, and hiking sticks, for a comfortable trip. Depending on where the gorilla group is located, tracking mountain gorillas in Bwindi might take anything from 30 minutes to 8 hours. You only get an hour with the primates after you locate the group. Gorillas are calm, well-behaved primates. Gorillas prefer the ground’s vegetation since they are too hefty to climb trees. Unlike chimps, gorillas do not consume meat. Individual members are fiercely devoted to the dominant man, and there is far less discord within the group. A gorilla family is structured similarly to a human family. To prevent the spread of diseases, keep a 5 meter distance from the gorillas and refrain from shooting flash shots. If the dominant silverback feels you pose a threat to the group, he may charge.

After spending time with these magnificent animals, return to your accommodation for some rest and leisure before visiting the Batwa in the afternoon. Mgahinga and Bwindi forests were first inhabited by the Batwa. For many years, they hunted and collected food from the jungle. Sadly, they were considered to be a danger to the gorillas and other forest animals. They were forcibly expelled from the forest by the government without being fully assimilated into society. Most Batwa have never, to this day, completely adjusted to life away from the jungle. Some Batwa have embraced the possibilities offered by tourism and will demonstrate their traditional hunting techniques while narrating tales of their former existence in the forest.

Dinner and overnight accommodations are available at the Buhoma Community Rest Camp, Rushaga Gorilla Camp, and Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, depending on the level of luxury desired by the guest.

On this day, rise at your own convenience, eat breakfast, and get ready to go. There won’t be a repeat of the previous itinerary or voyage to Kampala. Lunch will be served in the Mbarara Igongo Cultural Center. Before continuing on to Kampala or Entebbe, another stop will be made at the equator crossing for photos and refreshments.