On our 10 days Uganda Safari package, we shall take you through the best that Uganda has to offer from game drives along vast savannah plains as well as riveting boat cruises to the breathtaking Murchison Falls, chimpanzee treks in Kibale Forest National Park, wildlife viewing safaris on the savannah plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park, to the intimate encounters with the endangered mountain gorilla encounters in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This long safari is totally magical and starts/ends in Kampala (Uganda).
Detailed Itinerary.
Day 1: Welcome to Uganda.
Visiting a new and most importantly foreign destination can be exciting yet overwhelming. All your senses are intense you take in the peculiar sounds, sights as well as smells of your new surroundings. This is not different from your first visit in Uganda but if you are not a first-time visitor, you are obviously familiar with the phrase “Pearl of Africa” as Uganda is usually known.
You will be received and welcomed at the airport by our Company representative who will transfer you to your place of stay in Kampala or Entebbe.
Day 2: Journey to Murchison falls National Park.
Your safari begins with a visit to the oldest and largest Conservation Area in the country-Murchison Falls National Park. The drive to North-western Uganda is long but worthwhile while traversing through the beautiful and ever-changing landscapes, busy roadside markets where you will make stops for fruits and quiet rural villages.
Break the journey to have Lunch at Kabalega Diners and continue to the Safari Lodge in the Park. Be certain that the Safari Lodge chosen will add-on to your safari experience as you will be spending your nights in en-suite furnished safari Lodge overlooking the Nile.
Day 3: Full day exploring Murchison Falls National Park.
Have breakfast and head-out for the morning game drive in the company of a professional ranger with comprehensive knowledge of the park and its residents. Murchison falls National Park is known for its big elephant population, Uganda Kobs, Rothschild giraffes, bushbucks, Jackson’s hartebeests, large prides of lions, Cape buffaloes, leopards, Defassa waterbucks and prolific bird species. Retire from the game drive after 3-4 hours of wildlife and avifauna discover, have Lunch and wait for the next activity.
In the afternoon take on a boat safari towards the bottom of Murchison Falls and this is the special highlight of the day. On this 2 hour boat ride upstream on the Victoria Nile to the bottom of the falls, you will be treated to awe-inspiring scenery in addition to large schools of Hippos and basks of crocodiles, not leaving out the numerous wetland and water birds. Retire to the same accommodation facility as the previous day for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 4: Drive from Murchison falls National Park to Kibale Forest National Park.
Have breakfast and check-out of the Lodge to begin the longest journey of this safari, from Murchison falls National Park to Kibale Forest National Park. The scenic drive will take you through verdant banana and tea plantations, rolling hills, lively roadside village markets and lush green countryside, which are typical of western Uganda.
Kibale Forest National Park is a vast tract of thick tropical rainforest with over 13 species of primates that include chimpanzee, grey-cheeked mangabeys, red colobus monkey, L’Hoests monkeys, patas, black and white colobus monkeys and plethora of bird species that will definitely be encountered during your forest walks here. The highlight of your visit to Kibale Forest National Park is of course to spend some time observing the wonderfully entertaining chimpanzees. Lunch will be en-route and make sure to be at your place of stay in the evening for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 5: Tracking Chimpanzees in Kibale Forest and afternoon Swamp Walk
Start the day with breakfast and converge at Kanyanchu Visitor Center for briefing on the Chimpanzees, guidelines of trekking them and many more important details. No animals remind us so much of ourselves as the chimpanzees and during your visit, you will be amazed by their behavior.
Chimpanzee tracking experiences in Kibale Forest National Park take 1-3 hours and involve following an experienced UWA Ranger guide into the jungle to observe these beautiful creatures up-close. Taking photos and observing them interact with each other and go about their daily routine of foraging, playing, nursing babies and grooming is a priceless experience. Chances of seeing chimpanzees are high during chimpanzee treks in this forest but it is never 100% guaranteed. After the one hour of interacting with the chimpanzees, you will retreat to the Lodge to engage in the human custom of a hot meal.
In the afternoon you will be driven to the forest edge for a Swamp Walk through the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary where over 200 bird species, primates, butterflies and Amphibians will be seen.
Day 6: Transfer to the magnificent Queen Elizabeth National Park
After breakfast, check-out of the Lodge and be transferred to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda’s most visited National Park and the medley of wonders. Arrive the Park on-time for Lunch and head for your first game drive through any of the 200 kilometer network of well-maintained game viewing tracks. Also capture sunset views of the Park before returning back to the Lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 7: Sunrise Game Drive through Kasenyi area & afternoon Boat safari through Kazinga Channel.
Breakfast will be served before day break so that you can begin your morning game drive as the sun comes up. A high concentration of savannah elephants, lions, Uganda Kobs, Cape buffalos, Oribis, Topis, leopards, warthogs and several species of birds will be encountered. After 3-4 hours, you will drive back to the accommodation facility for a hot lunch and relaxation.
Later in the afternoon when the sun is high in the sky and the animals make their way to the shores to cool-off their bodies and quench their thirst, you will set-off for a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel. While here, you will spot the highest Hippo and Crocodile population than you can possibly imagine. Also, pockets of Uganda Kobs, elephants, bushbucks, Cape buffalo and Defassa waterbucks will be seen moving to the shoreline to bathe in the cooling waters. Besides waling safaris, boat safari is another wonderful way to get up-close to wildlife and for many travelers, the boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel is the highlight of their tour of Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Day 8: Road Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park via Ishasha sector
Your journey today will continue to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a popular gorilla trekking destination with over 20 habituated gorilla families living in four gorilla trekking regions/sectors (Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo). Be driven southwards of Queen Elizabeth National Park, make a stop at Ishasha sector for the tree climbing lions and other wildlife species. Have an en-route Lunch at Savannah Resort and continue tour booked Lodge for refreshments, dinner, overnight and relaxation.
Day 9: Encounter with Mountain Gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Trekking and spending time with the rare and endangered Mountain Gorillas of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a life-changing and lifetime experience. Start your day with breakfast at the Lodge, followed by briefing at the Park Headquarters on the dos and don’ts of trekking these endangered creatures. In the company of an experienced Park Ranger you will start the trek for the whereabouts of one of the 20 habituated gorilla groups that call Bwindi Forest home.
The 1-5 hours’ trek will be challenging yet interesting and rewarding walk through the heavily forested slopes, tangled thickets, dense vegetation and bamboo stands before you reach the range of these gentle giants. En-route, your guide will identify the telltale signs of previous gorilla activity like broken Bamboo stands, fecal matter and nests. Once the allocated gorilla family is located, settle in to your surroundings and enjoy the allotted one hour taking photos and observing their jaw-dropping behavior.
Day 10: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to Entebbe/Kigali and departure
This day concludes your 10 days Uganda Safari and begins with breakfast and transfer to Entebbe or Kigali International Airport.
