There are so many reasons why Uganda is called the Pearl of Africa. From the mountain gorillas to wildlife, culture and other natural resources. Therefore, gorilla safaris tours offer 09-day safari throughout Uganda with many highlights combining wildlife and gorilla experiences.
Uganda’s attractions for the natural history enthusiasts are almost legendary. This trip features the places to see mountain gorillas and other primates, and the best reserves for catching glimpses of the country’s 1,000 species of bird, which should keep even the most ardent birdwatchers happy.
It is an essential companion for backpackers who will relish Uganda’s compact travel circuit, including hiking opportunities in the Ruwenzori Mountains and exploration of Uganda’s largest national park, the Murchison Falls. Uganda offers a chance to enjoy natural history away from the hordes visiting southern African safari destinations, and is a country readily accessible for travelers of all budgets.
The 09-day trip visiting Murchison Falls National Park, Kibale National Park, Queen Elisabeth National Park and Bwindi Forest among other places. Trip was organized by gorilla safaris tours mixing game drives, trekking and boat trips. Perfect planning to enjoy many different regions, landscapes and activities in a short time. Sometimes long journeys between regions but it totally was worthy
Uganda has some of the most breathtaking scenery we have ever seen and the wildlife encounters and game drives were indescribable. I can’t recommend Uganda enough to anyone with a desire to see some of nature’s amazing creatures in their natural habitats. Wow! We had an amazing trip and our decision to go for a longer safari in Uganda instead the short 4 days to see gorillas was justified at the end.
We initially wanted to do a short 4-day trip to trek gorillas in Bwindi but later opted to see more of what Uganda had to offer in the 09 – days we spent in Uganda. We decided to book with gorilla safaris tours after they were quick to respond to our inquiry as well as their good pricing. I have got to say they did a fantastic job and the properties they chose were really nice for a mid-range package. The lodges more than met our expectations and actually exceeded them.
Our driver/guide was very knowledgeable and Emma. He met us at the airport in Entebbe. Our flight was delayed by more than an hour but he waited for us for more than two hours until we cleared immigration which was great. It was just my husband and I on the trip which made it that much more special. We came in during the rainy season but what is incredible is the sun will be out just after a heavy downpour. Generally, the weather was incredible.
Despite the heavy rains especially in the mornings, we saw a lot of animals in Murchison Falls National Park and Queen Elizabeth Park. Hippos and crocodiles along the Nile, buffalo and elephants taking a drink of the Nile. The falls themselves are magical and the trek to the top was one of the highlights for me.
While Kibale is usually considered the best place for chimp tracking in Uganda, we had a far superior experience in Budongo. We were the only ones booked that day and while the tracking involved getting off the man-made trail, it was not terribly demanding. The chimp family was very active, but high up in the trees, so binoculars and telephoto lenses were required. We had a wonderful time, especially compared to the crowded and noisy scrum at Kibale
Queen Elizabeth National Park is very scenic for those that love landscape but the highlight was the encounter with the tree-climbing lions. Who knew that lions do climb trees? I would recommend that if you go on safari, rent a long photo lens as the opportunity to take photos cannot be missed!
On we went to Bwindi for our face to face with the mountain gorillas. Wow, what an experience! I cannot put it in as many words but what I can say is if you love nature, go on a gorilla trekking tour it will be worth your time and money. Coming face to face with mountain gorillas in their natural habitat, seeing the sheer might yet gentleness of the silver backs and the playful nature of the juveniles and infants is an unforgettable experience.
Gorilla safari treks begin at 8 AM every day with a briefing after which groups of a maximum of eight tourists trek into the mysterious jungle that protects close to half of the world’s surviving mountain gorillas. Led by our expert rangers and an experienced team of advance trackers, the trek can last anywhere from 1 hour to 8 hours depending on where the gorillas will be on a specific day.
Bwindi has another activity called the Gorilla Habituation Experience. The habituation experience also means that a maximum of 4 tourists will spend more time with the family of gorillas (a total of 4 hours is allowed) and a team of team of rangers and researchers perform their daily tasks of grooming the family.
With over 351 bird species, Bwindi Forest is a good spot for birders and boasts at least 23 Albertine rift endemics. Birding in Bwindi is not only exciting for the unique bird species present but is also rewarding in the form of diversity that can be identified on a single day’s escapade. Birding trips are led by one of our expert ranger guides along the trails through this ancient forest. We were lucky to spot some of the park’s other wildlife and this is what makes Bwindi and Uganda’s birding safaris even more interesting.
Our itinerary included a day-tour to a magical lake (Bunyonyi) where you can relax (if you come back early from your gorilla trek like we did) and continuously admire your pictures and videos from your trip. This was a lifetime trip and if you are thinking of using a local tour company or going to any other country, I highly encourage you to come to Uganda and use Gorilla Safaris Tours.
