Classic Uganda Wildlife Safari Adventure Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival at the Entebbe International Airport
Our Guide will warmly welcome you on arrival at the Airport or at your hotel in Entebbe/Kampala. For the former, you will be transferred to your hotel where you will be briefed about the Uganda wildlife safari by the guide. Depending on the time of arrival you are advised to have your money changed on this day, and you may also have the chance to visit Kampala city, about one hour drive from Entebbe.
Day 2: Road Trip to Murchison Falls National Park Via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
We begin our Uganda wildlife safari with a panoramic drive northwest early morning through the famous Luwero Triangle, and visit the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for the first of the BIG 5, the Rhinos, then drive to Masindi Town for lunch. Thereafter, drive to Murchison Falls National Park. If time allows, we visit the top of the falls. Dinner and overnight at our accommodation.
Day 3: In Murchison Falls National Park
The Uganda Wildlife Safari today takes us for an early morning game drive on the northern bank of the River Nile. This is a beautiful drive across Borassus Palm Forest and grassland savanna down to Lake Albert where the Albert Nile heads north to the Sudan. Animals you may see include; Elephants, Lions, Cape buffalo, Rothschild’s Giraffe, Jackson’s Hartebeest, Waterbuck, Oribi, Bushbuck, Bohor reedbuck, Spotted Hyena and if you are lucky, the Leopard. After lunch, go for a boat cruise to the bottom of the falls, an experience not to be missed!! Here you will see the River Nile said to be the 2nd longest river in the world crush through a narrow gorge and forming the magnificent Murchison Falls. While on the cruise you may see Hippos, Crocodiles, Elephants, Waterbuck and Uganda Kobs among others. This is also the zone of many birds, with species like Goliath Heron, Egyptian Geese, Pelicans, Bee-eaters, Kingfishers, Hornbill, Cormorant and the rare Shoebill stork. We then return to our accommodation for dinner and overnight.
Day 4: To Kibale Forest National Park
After your very early morning breakfast drive south via Hoima to Fort Portal through verdant countryside and pass traditional homesteads and farms. Fort Portal rests in the shadow of the fabled Mountains of the Moon, and the town was named after a British Special Commissioner for Uganda Sir. Gerald Portal, whose statue graces the main road of the town. Kibale Forest National Park is one of Africa’s greatest tropical rain forests, and is home to a number of forest wildlife, most notably 13 species of primates including chimpanzees, and 375 species of birds. We traverse through Ugandan traditional Villages where you see people in gardens nurturing their traditional crops such as millet, sorghum, beans and maize. Keep eyes open for some bird species along the roads such as Long-Crested Eagles, Double-Toothed Barbet, Black-headed Gonolek, Fan-tailed Widowbird, sunbirds and weavers as we travel. We shall have a stopover at Fort portal town for late lunch, and after continue to our accommodation, check-in and have an evening off relaxing.
Day 5: Chimpanzee Habituation Experience In Kibale Forest National Park
After breakfast we visit Kibale Forest National Park, which is reputed to have the greatest variety and highest concentration of primates in East Africa. The most famous of its 13 species is the Chimpanzee, our closest relative. Kibale 1450 Chimpanzee represent Uganda’s largest population of this endangered primate. Kibale is also a home to the rare L’Hoest’s monkey. Other primates include the black and white Colobus, Blue monkey, Grey cheeked mangabey, Red tailed monkey, Olive baboon to mention but a few. So you will enjoy a guided nature walk in the tropical rainforest in search of the wild chimpanzees, red-tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys and many others. After lunch we explore the Crater Lake region, which has many crater lakes.
Day 6: To Queen Elizabeth National Park
After our morning breakfast, we embark on our Uganda wildlife safari adventure and proceed to Queen Elizabeth National Park following the mystical Rwenzori Mountain Range. Queen Elizabeth National Park is a savannah grassy plains, and volcanic craters and home to abundant wildlife. We will have a game drive enroute to the park headquarters. Watch out for the other African BIG 5 members lions, leopards, giant forest hog, Cape buffalo, elephants, Defassa waterbuck, Uganda Kob, bushbuck, and a variety of birds among other wildlife. After checking in and having lunch, we could enjoy the unique 2-hour drive through a fishing village and head to the biggest salt lake in the country (Lake Katwe).Overnight at our accommodation
Day 7: In Queen Elizabeth National Park
We start with an extensive early morning game drive in the Park, while pursuing the most Uganda wildlife congested tracks including the Kasenyi Track. Expect to see; Elephants, Buffalos, Lions, Bush bucks, Kobs, the rare Giant forest hogs, Hyenas and Waterbucks. Return and have breakfast at your accommodation. In the afternoon we’ll take a launch cruise along the amazing Kazinga channel, an experience not to miss!! You will appreciate the scores of Hippos, Buffalos, and Crocodiles close to the waterside as well as if lucky, the rare Leopard prowling. There is a variety of bird species for example Pelicans, Cormorants, egrets, herons and Jacana amongst others. We then return to our accommodation for dinner and overnight.
Day 8: To Ishasha sector Queen Elizabeth National Park
Today we will drive through the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth known as Ishasha, famous for its tree-climbing lions. Ishasha is a remote and beautiful extension of Queen Elizabeth National Park. There is an opportunity to view Buffaloes, Topi, Hippos and many more wildlife species. After checking in and having some time to relax, have an afternoon game drive which will provide opportunities to see Spotted Hyena, Buffalo, Uganda Kobs, Defassa Waterbuck, Elephant, Leopard (if lucky), antelopes, Lions and several bird species
Day 9: To Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
The second half of this exciting Uganda wildlife safari begins with an early breakfast, we do a second game drive before embarking on a journey to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. We drive through savannah grasslands seeing banana plantations and herds of Long-horned Ankole cattle with their incredibly long curving horns. We then ascend into the Kigezi highlands, famously known as the “Switzerland of Africa”, with terraced farming and mountain scenery. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Day 10: Gorilla Trekking In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
We will head to the briefing point at the park headquarters and from here you will be briefed about the do’s and don’ts while gorilla trekking in the jungle forest with the gentle Giants. You will be provided with walking sticks and you are also advised to have your lunch parked with enough drinking water. The Gorillas share with us humans 95% of their genes and starring into their pondering eyes is as overwhelming as it is awesome. After gorilla tracking we will travel back to our lodge, relax, dine and overnight.
Day 11: To Lake Mburo National Park
After breakfast we depart the impenetrable forest of Bwindi and head to Lake Mburo National Park. As we enter the park it is likely that we will spot some wildlife. After checking in we will go on an evening game drive where we expect to see Buffaloes, Impalas, Zebras, Elands, Bushbucks, warthogs, Hyenas amongst others. Overnight at the lodge
Day 12: In Lake Mburo National Park
Early start of the day as we will go for a nature walk guided by a ranger. Lake Mburo is the only national park where you can experience a walking safari. Return to the lodge for breakfast and lunch. In the afternoon go on a boat ride on the lake and enjoy the rich birdlife and the many hippos that are cooling off.
Day 13: End of the Classic Uganda wildlife safari – to Kampala and departure
After breakfast, Leisurely drive back to Kampala, have a stop-over at the Equator where you will have an opportunity to stand in 2 hemispheres at the same time. We have another stop-over at the Mpigi Royal Drum Makers where you will be able to watch the ceremonial drums being crafted using methods passed down through the generations. We arrive Kampala/Entebbe in the afternoon
