6 Days Uganda Safari: Shoebill, Chimpanzee and Gorilla Safari
This short, sweet and relaxing 6 Day Uganda Safari journey takes you to the best Uganda safari destinations. This tour is packed with stunning road trips, amazing wildlife, and tracking the remarkable prehistoric shoebill in Mabamba Swamp, and the encounter of a lifetime in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park with mountain gorillas – the climax of the safari as well as encounter with chimpanzees in Kibale Forest.
Highlights of 6 Days Uganda Safari: Shoebill, Chimpanzee and Gorilla Safari
- Day 1: Pick up and stay in Entebbe
- Day 2: Shoe Bill Tracking – Mabamba Swamp
- Day 3: Transfer to Kibale Forest and Afternoon Bigodi Swamp Walk
- Day 4: Chimpanzee Trekking and Transfer to Bwindi Forest
- Day 5: Gorilla Trekking Experience
- Day 6: Departure
Detailed Itinerary of 6 Days Uganda Safari: Shoebill, Chimpanzee and Gorilla Safari
Day 1: Pick up and stay in Entebbe
On arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by our guide. He will help you with your luggage and transfer you to your hotel in Entebbe for an evening of rest.
Overnight stay at Best Western Hotel
Meal Plan: Dinner
Day 2: Shoe Bill Tracking – Mabamba Swamp
After breakfast, you will be picked up by your guide and drive to Mabamba Wetland for a shoebill tracking experience, the swamp is situated 50kms west of Kampala Capital City but much closer to Entebbe. The highlight of this experience the Shoebill Stork.
Mabamba Swamp is a haven for many other bird species including the White-winged warbler, yellow –barked weaver, papyrus gonolek, yellow-backed weaver, blue headed cuckoo, brown-throated weaver and other swamp specailities like the African jacana, Swamp flycatcher, African purple swamphen, lesser jacana, common moorhen, African pygmy goose among others. Shoebill tracking in Mambaba Swamp is done on a motorized canoe and productive sightings, particularly for the Shoebill Stork early in the morning which is the best time. Later return to the hotel for lunch and in the evening, you will take a walk around Entebbe or visit one of the beaches.
Overnight stay at Best Western Hotel
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 3: Transfer to Kibale Forest and Afternoon Bigodi Swamp Walk
Wake up early for breakfast, meet your guide and embark on a journey to Kibale Forest National Park with a stop at the Equator Crossing for pictures and a chance to stand both in Northern and Southern Hemisphere at the same time.
Continue to Kibale Forest while enjoying the beautiful sights of Uganda’s countryside including the Rwenzori Mountains range in Fort Portal. Arrive in time for lunch at your lodge after check-in, have a short rest and later in the afternoon go for a Bigodi Swamp Walk – a hidden gem for nature lovers.
The Bigodi Wetland swamp is home to over 200 bird species and 8 primate species including the black and white colobus monkey, blue monkey and the L’Hoest monkey. If you are lucky, you might also see other mammals including Sitatunga, bushbucks and otters. The trek takes approximately 3-4 hours on forest pathways and boardwalks to capture the stunning vegetation and learn about the species from your knowledgeable, local guides.
Overnight stay at Isunga Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 4: Chimpanzee Trekking and Transfer to Bwindi Forest
Wake up early and head to Kibale Forest National Park for chimpanzee trekking, join other visitors at the park headquarters for briefing about chimpanzees, what to expect and the right way to behave while in the presence of these playful primates.
With armed rangers and guides, you will head into the forest looking for chimpanzees, the trek lasts for about 2 to 4 hours or more depending on the movement of the chimpanzees. As you near where they are, you will hear their hoots and noises, you will be allowed to spend one hour in presence of the chimpanzees watching them play, feed, groom each other among others. Take as many photos and videos as possible.
Later trek back to the park headquarters to receive your chimpanzee trekking certificates, then embark on a journey to Bwindi Forest National Park with en-route lunch. Arrive in Bwindi Forest in the evening, check in at your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Overnight stay at Buhoma Haven Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5: Gorilla Trekking Experience
Today you will meet the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat, wake up early for breakfast, meet your guide and head to the park headquarters for briefing about gorilla trekking. A senior ranger guide will take you through what to expect and the right way to behave (dos and don’ts), in groups of 8 people you will assigned a gorilla family to trek, head into the forest looking for gorillas.
The trek takes about 1 to 4 hours or more depending on the movement of the gorillas and where they spent their previous night. When you locate the gorillas, you will spend one hour in the presence of the gorillas observing them go on with their life in the forest, watch them feed, play and babies being nursed by their female gorillas. You are allowed to take photos as long as your flashlight is off.
Later trek back to the park headquarters to receive your gorilla trekking certificates and return to your lodge for an evening of rest, dinner and overnight stay.
Overnight stay at Buhoma Haven Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 6: Departure
Enjoy a leisure breakfast, check out of the lodge and embark on a journey to Kampala arriving in time for your departure flight. After lunch, you will be dropped off at the airport for your flight back home, bringing your safari to an end.
End of 6 Days Uganda Safari: Shoebill, Chimpanzee and Gorilla Safari
Inclusions
- Airport transfers
- accommodation for 5 nights
- Park fees
- Gorilla Trekking
- Shoebill Tracking
- Chimpanzee Trekking
- Drinking Water
- Ground Transportation
- Meals on full boat basis
- Service of an English speaking guide
Exclusions
- Uganda Visa
- International flights
- Personal Expenses
- Travel Insurance