10 Days Ruhija Gorillas & Wildlife Tour: Long Trip to Ruhija
Tour overview
10 days Ruhija gorillas & wildlife tour is an amazing 9nights/10days Uganda safari taking you on unforgettable gorilla trekking in Ruhija, Eastern sector of Bwindi National Park. This long tour package takes you through magical wilderness game viewing experiences in Uganda’s top big game destinations and in particular, Murchison Falls National Park the only park set in Northwestern Uganda and also the largest in the country, Queen Elizabeth National Park the only tree climbing lion sighting area in Uganda & Lake Mburo a home to countless antelope families, zebras etc.
The 10 days Ruhija gorillas & wildlife tour also combines chimpanzee tracking tours, on-foot walk experience that you will enjoy in Kibale Forest National Park. Kibale is a stronghold of Africa’s unique primates, housing over 13 primate species and these include 1500 chimpanzees, majority of which are open for chimpanzee tracking. Your 10 days Ruhija gorillas & wildlife tour begins and ends in Kampala/Entebbe.
Brief itinerary
Day 1 of 10 days Ruhija gorillas & wildlife tour to Murchison Falls
Day 2: Game drive & Boat Cruise on the Nile
Day 3 of 10 days Ruhija gorillas & wildlife tour from Murchison to Kibale
Day 4: Chimpanzee tracking early morning & Queen Elizabeth NP
Day 5: Queen Elizabeth game drive, boat cruise Kazinga
Day 6: Forest walks & Chimp trek Kyambura Gorge
Day 7: Queen Elizabeth via Ishasha to Bwindi
Day 8: Gorilla trekking Ruhija & Batwa visit
Day 9: Bwindi to Lake Mburo, Western Uganda
Day 10: Departure
Detailed itinerary
Day 1 of 10 days Ruhija gorillas & wildlife tour to Murchison Falls
Have breakfast early at leisure and after, briefing about your 10 days Ruhija gorillas & wildlife tour upon meeting with your driver guide. After, leave Kampala for Murchison Falls National Park, 3840sq.kms savanna park and a home to 76 mammal species, 451 species of birds, 10 species of primates.
En-route to Murchison Falls NP on Kampala-Gulu highway, branch off 7kms to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for rhino tracking 2hours experience. After, drive to Masindi to make another stopover for lunch and continue to Kichumbanyobo gate then to your lodge for relaxation.
Accommodation
Paraa Safari Lodge/Bakers Lodge-Luxury options
Pakuba Safari Lodge/Fort Murchison-Midrange options
Red Chilli Rest Camp/Heritage Safari Lodge-Basic/Budget options
Day 2: Murchison Game drive, Boat Cruise on the Nile, the top of the falls
Day 1 of the 10 days Ruhija gorillas & wildlife tour, start with early breakfast, meet your guide and begin early morning game drive-2-3 hours. The northern track is magical to explore on a game drive and comes with animal sightings like Rothschild giraffes, Buffaloes, Antelopes-hartebeest, Kobs, Oribis; Lions, Elephants, Warthogs. Leisurely lunch after returning from a game drive, after, embark on Nile Launch cruise 2-3 hours view Hippos, Crocodiles, Birds like fish eagles, Kingfishers, Bee-eaters etc.
Accommodation
Paraa Safari Lodge/Bakers Lodge-Luxury options
Pakuba Safari Lodge/Fort Murchison-Midrange options
Red Chilli Rest Camp/Heritage Safari Lodge-Basic/Budget options
Day 3 of 10 days Ruhija gorillas & wildlife tour from Murchison to Kibale
Breakfast early and set off 7-8 hours to Kibale your next place to visit on 10 days Ruhija gorillas & wildlife tour. At Fort Portal, leisurely lunch stopover will be made before you go to visit Bigodi for a nature walk, then back to check into your lodge in Kibale.
Accommodation
Ndali Lodge/Kyaninga Lodge/Papaya Lake Lodge-Luxury options
Primate Lodge/Kibale Forest Camp/Chimpanzee Guesthouse Cottages-Midrange options
Chimpanzee Nest Lodge/Chimpanzee Guesthouse Main house-Budget options
Day 4: Chimpanzee tracking early morning & Queen Elizabeth NP
Have breakfast and after, briefing at Kanyanchu Tourism Centre Kibale then set out at 8:00am to track chimps. Chimpanzee trek activity take 2-4 hours inclusive of 1 hour of viewing chimpanzees as they socialize; take photos. You will be accompanied back to the lodge for lunch and then set off to Queen Elizabeth 3 hours.
Accommodation
Mweya Safari Lodge/Katara Lodge-Luxury options
Enganzi Game Lodge/Marafiki Safari Lodge/Buffalo Safari Lodge-Midrange options
Bush Lodge/Pumba Safari Lodge-Basic
Day 5: Queen Elizabeth game drive, boat cruise Kazinga
After breakfast, the 5th day of 10 days Ruhija gorillas & wildlife tour activities include game drive, boat cruise Kazinga but begin with a guided game drive 2-3 hours. Visit Kasenyi track and others to observe a range of important animal species especially Elephants, Buffaloes, Antelopes, Birds, view scenic lakes, forests, savanna grassland etc. Drive back for a leisurely lunch, chill, and complete the day with 2:00pm Kazinga Launch cruise experience 2-3 hours of observing Hippos, Crocodiles, Waterbirds.
Accommodation
Mweya Safari Lodge/Katara Lodge-Luxury options
Enganzi Game Lodge/Marafiki Safari Lodge/Buffalo Safari Lodge-Midrange options
Bush Lodge/Pumba Safari Lodge-Basic
Day 6: Forest walks & Chimp trek Kyambura Gorge
Morning breakfast and after, the activity to enjoy today will be guided forest walk Maramagambo Forest. For 2 hours on a nature walk enjoy view of Maramagambo Forest’s birds, primates, visit the bat caves then get back, relax before you get to Kyambura for briefing on chimp tracking rules. You will have a short game drive while heading back to the lodge from Kyambura Gorge.
Accommodation
Mweya Safari Lodge/Katara Lodge-Luxury options
Enganzi Game Lodge/Marafiki Safari Lodge/Buffalo Safari Lodge-Midrange options
Bush Lodge/Pumba Safari Lodge-Basic
Day 7: Queen Elizabeth via Ishasha to Bwindi
The 7th day of the 10 days Ruhija gorillas & wildlife tour starts with early breakfast, after, leave Queen Elizabeth for Bwindi Forest 3-4 hours’ drive. Go via Ishasha to see tree climbing lions, then get to Bwindi Park which houses 27 frog species, 120 mammal species, 360 bird species and other in its compact 331sq.kms forest area.
Accommodation
Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge-Luxury
Bakiga Lodge/Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge/Gorilla Mist Camp-Midrange
Broadbill Forest Camp/Ruhija Gorilla Friends Camp-Budget
Day 8: Gorilla trekking Ruhija & Batwa visit
Visit Ruhija sector in the East of Bwindi N/Park after breakfast, get briefed on Ruhija gorilla trekking regulations and also have a gorilla family allocated to you. Ruhija which lies East of Bwindi houses 4 habituated gorilla families; Mukiza, Bitukura, Kyaguriro and Oruzongo. Set off at 8:00am via Ruhija trail to search for any of the 4 groups for 2-6 hours and there will be absolute 1 hour to observe them closely then walk back the lodge. At the lodge, relax before an evening Batwa visit to have insight on how they lived in Bwindi forest for 500,000 years.
Accommodation
Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge-Luxury
Bakiga Lodge/Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge/Gorilla Mist Camp-Midrange
Broadbill Forest Camp/Ruhija Gorilla Friends Camp-Budget
Day 9: Bwindi to Lake Mburo, Western Uganda
Enjoy a cup of coffee/tea, meet your driver guide and leave for Lake Mburo your next destination on 10 days Ruhija gorillas & wildlife tour, 6-7 hours’ drive. Enjoy an afternoon boat cruise on lake Mburo 2-3 hours while keeping an eye on Hippos, basking Crocodiles, Aquatic birds etc.
Accommodation
Mihingo Lodge-Luxury options
Rwakobo Lodge-Midrange option
Rwonyo Rest Camp
Day 10: Departure
Breakfast, meet your driver guide afterwards, head out for a game drive to see impalas, warthogs, zebras, birds and after photography and exploration, return to check out. Drive for 4 hours but at Equator stop for photo taking, in Masaka for lunch then drop off at Kampala/Entebbe.
End of the 10 days Ruhija gorillas & wildlife tour
Tour inclusions
Valid Ruhija gorilla permits
Chimp permits
Rhino trek experience
Bottled water
Park entry fees
Launch cruises
English speaking driver guide
Cultural visits
4×4 drive vehicle
Tour exclusions
Tips
Alcoholic drinks
International flight fees
Entry visas
Shopping
Insurance
Telephone bills
Other Related Safaris to Ruhija Sector
3 Days Ruhija Gorilla Trekking from Kigali