14 Days Uganda Gorillas, Birding and Wildlife Safari
The 14 days Uganda gorillas, birding, and wildlife safari is the ultimate combination of mountain gorilla trekking adventure, bird-watching, and big game viewing. This special 2-week expedition introduces you to Uganda’s finest parks and birding spots. You will be visiting Mabamba Wetland, home to a variety of aquatic birds, and continue to explore the country’s beautiful parks like Kibale National Park for chimpanzee trekking, Queen Elizabeth N/Park, and Lake Mburo National Park for game viewing, then Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for mountain gorilla encounter. Below is the detailed 14 Days Uganda Gorillas, Birding, and Wildlife Safari.
Day 1: Arrival in Uganda
On day one, you will be welcomed at Entebbe International Airport (EBB) and escorted to your comfortable lodge or hotel in Entebbe City, where you can unwind and prepare for the adventure ahead.
Day 2: Mabamba Wetland birds
Meet your safari leader for an exciting briefing about the upcoming 14-day tour in Uganda. Then, head to Mabamba Wetland for a thrilling birding expedition on a canoe ride, where you’ll have the chance to spot various birds. After this exhilarating experience, return to the lodge for a relaxing evening.
Day 3: Transfer to Kibale for chimp encounter
Enjoy a delicious breakfast at the hotel. Then, you will be transferred from Entebbe to Kibale Forest National Park, where 13 primate species live. From Entebbe to Kibale, you will take about 6 hours driving along the Mityana-Mubende-Fort Portal route, and a variety of meal options will be provided for lunch at a hotel in Fort Portal tourism city, catering to different dietary needs.
Day 4: Chimpanzee trek in Kibale & birding tour in Bigodi Wetland
A hot cup of tea/coffee will be enjoyed at the lodge in Kibale National Park, you will be expected at the Kanyanchu tourist center, where you will meet the park official for a briefing about chimpanzee tracking rules. An actual trek to interact with Kibale chimpanzees starts at 8:00 am with an experienced guide leading you through the forest. Kibale protects more than 1500 chimpanzees plus other primates like the red-tailed monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, olive baboons, l’hoest monkeys, blue monkeys, and black & white colobus monkeys. Birds, butterflies, and floral species will also be spotted along the way. Our experienced guides and rangers ensure your safety during the trek.
Get back, and lunch will be provided. Have some rest, and in the afternoon, connect to Bigodi Wetland for a rewarding nature walk. Expect to see a variety of birds, like the Great blue turacos, plus primates such as red-tailed monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, baboons, vervet monkeys, and black-and-white colobus monkeys.
Day 5: Travel to Queen Elizabeth NP for wildlife & birds
Leave Kibale after breakfast and check out of the lodge. Drive for 3-4 hours, and your road trip will allow you to enjoy magnificent views of the Crater Lakes and extensive banana plantations. Arrive at Queen Elizabeth NP early, and as you connect to the lodge, you will be able to see some wildlife and birds.
Day 6: Game drive & launch cruise tour
After breakfast, you can meet your driver guide ready to begin your Kasenyi Plains game viewing expedition. This is expected to start at 6:00 a.m. and take 2-3 hours. You will have a great chance to encounter cape buffaloes, elephants in their large herds, lions, leopards on a lucky day, antelopes, and birds. Lunch will be at the lodge, and the second activity today will be a boat cruise along the Kazinga channel. Hippos, crocodiles, and many aquatic birds will be spotted on the Kazinga channel.
Day 7: Drive to Ishasha to watch the tree-climbing lions & Bwindi
Early morning breakfast can be enjoyed at the lodge. Afterward, you will connect to the Southern sector, Ishasha, for a short game drive. Unlike Kasenyi, Ishasha is where the tree-climbing lions live. After your Ishasha game viewing experience, could you transfer to Bwindi to check in at the lodge?
Day 8: Trek Bwindi gorillas
After breakfast, transfer to the Bwindi Park offices to be briefed about gorilla trekking guidelines. You will begin an actual trek to see the Bwindi gorillas at 8:00 am. After allocating families, expect to spend 2-6 hours in the wild, including one hour for a close encounter and photography. After interacting with the Bwindi gorillas, return to the lodge to chill. There will be a visit to the Batwa pygmies in their community. If not, you may choose to stay at the lodge. This is one of the highlights of your 14 Days Uganda Gorillas, Birding and Wildlife Safari.
Day 9: Lake Bunyonyi exploration
A leisurely breakfast early in the morning is followed by a check-out of the lodge, and you drive to Lake Bunyonyi. This is the deepest lake in Uganda and also one of the world’s lakes that is free of hippos and crocodiles. This makes it a special recreation spot for swimmers. It also has 29 islands spread throughout it, making it a charming area of its own.
Day 10: Boat ride
Enjoy a hefty breakfast and start your canoe ride on Lake Bunyonyi, home to little birds. Today’s canoe ride expedition includes visiting one of the islands on Lake Bunyonyi and seeing some of the birds. Get back while enjoying the spectacular views of the lake and surrounding terraced farms. Have lunch and relax. You may visit the Batwa community or the Bakiga in the afternoon, or relax at the lake shores.
Day 11: Wildlife Trip to Lake Mburo National Park
Lake Mburo, located in the Kiruhura district of Western Uganda, will be your next wildlife destination. Expect to take 5 to 6 hours to drive, and lunch will be provided on arrival at the lodge.
Day 12: Game drive and launch trip experience
I hope you enjoy a hefty breakfast and begin the Lake Mburo NP game viewing excursion early before sunrise. You will take 2-3 hours while you explore wildlife such as zebras, giraffes, leopards, impalas, topis, birds, and others. Lunch will be served once you return to the lodge, and in the afternoon, catch up with a boat cruise on Lake Mburo. Lake Mburo launch trip comes with aquatic life sightings ranging from hippos, crocodiles, and birds.
Day 13: Cycling expeditions
Have breakfast at leisure, and then you will have a memorable cycling tour in the savannas of Lake Mburo. Cycling through this park lets you see zebras, antelopes, and birds. Spend the rest of the evening relaxing at the lodge or visiting the nearby local community at Lake Mburo NP for cultural interaction.
Day 14: Depart for Kampala/Entebbe
You will enjoy a delicious breakfast at the lodge. After that, you will check out and meet the driver guide. Your professional driver guide will drive you back to Kampala/Entebbe. En route, you will make a stopover at the Equator in Kayabwe Town crossing. This will mark the climax of your 14-day Uganda Gorillas, Birding, and Wildlife Safari.
