14 Days Best of Uganda Wildlife & Primate safari Adventure

Day 1: Arrival, meet & greet, and transfer to your hotel in Kampala.

Day 2: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park via Ziwa

Day 3: Morning boat cruise and evening game drive in Murchison Falls NP

Day 4: Transfer to Kibale National Park

Day 5: Chimpanzee tracking

Day 6: Transfer to the Rwenzori Mountains and preparation for tomorrow's hike

Day 7: Whole day Rwenzori hiking

Day 8: Morning Game drive and boat cruise at Queen Elizabeth National Park

Day 9: Transfer to Bwindi Forest National Park

Day 10: Gorilla tracking and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi

Day 11: Lake Bunyonyi encounter

Day 12: Transfer to Lake Mburo and afternoon game drive.

Day 13: Full-day Lake Mburo exploration

Day 14: Transfer to Kampala and a flight back home.

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Welcome to Uganda, “Tusanyuse okukulaba” meaning we are happy to see you. Depending on your arrival time, our company representative will meet and pick you up and proceed to the desired activity. If you happen to have enough time after your arrival, you will proceed for a relaxing Kampala city tour to explore the famous Kampala 7 hills.

You have the option of visiting the famous Ghaddafi Mosque, Uganda martyrs' shrine, Ancient Uganda Museum, Kabaka’s Lake, and Makerere University among other fascinating sites. You shall enjoy Uganda’s finger-licking Rolex as you enjoy your day after which, you retire and proceed to your hotel lodge for dinner and relaxation.

Accommodation:

Budget: Forest Cottages Kampala.

Mid-range: Fairway hotel/Cassia Lodge Entebbe

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Breakfast will be served early in the morning, and by 8:30 a.m., our guide will come to pick you up from the hotel you will be in, then embark on your journey to Murchison Falls National Park.

This is a must-do safari because the journey is full of everlasting memories, like a chance to chat with people in the market centers where you will be buying raw food like oranges, mangos, pineapples, maize, yellow bananas extra.

You will proceed to Luwero district, where you may have a stopover and after proceeding to Masindi district, but before, you may have optional rhino trekking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, this is a must Rhino trekking, where you will see Rhinos grazing nearby.

After proceeding to over-waiting Murchison Falls National Park, where you will first go to the top of the falls, have a glance at the atmosphere, the wind blowing right and left, enjoy the scenery of the falls, take some selfies, the everlasting signature of memories would have been achieved. After hiking the falls, embark on a ferry crossing to your best lodge in the Murchison Falls National Park, where wild animals will be watched around your lodge.

Accommodation.

Budget: Red Chili Safari Lodge/Heritage Safari Lodge

Mid-range: Nile River Lodge or Pakuba Safari Lodge

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Morning boat cruise and evening game drive

This morning in Murchison Falls National Park starts differently compared to Kidepo days. This time, you are having a morning boat cruise along the Nile. The boat cruise is approximately 2hrs, just floating on the waters, watching various animals on the water banks including the elephants, buffaloes, warthogs, hippos, crocodiles, birds such as the sunbirds, African fish eagle, and most interesting the waterfalls. If you are fit enough, you can opt for a hike to the top of the falls and if not, sail back to the river shores.

Proceed for lunch, if it’s a hot day, take a deep in the pool and wait on your guide for an evening game drive. Many of the animals are winding their day and some of the night hunters are getting ready to run out of their dens, catch a glimpse of the giraffes, elephants, kobs, bushbucks, warthogs, buffaloes, lions, waterbucks and so many more. This is enough for the day, return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation:

Budget: Heritage Safari Lodge

Mid-range: Nile River Lodge or Pakuba Safari Lodge

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Today is yet another day for a longer drive. Driving from Murchison Falls to Kibale National Park is approximately 9-10 hours on the road. Most important of all, your guide will help you enjoy the trip, make stops to take photos, and have some fresh fruits and snacks as well; it is such an interesting drive.

Take a moment to see the Mahoma Falls, the crater lakes, and a lot more.

Accommodation:

Budget: Chimpanzee Guest house

Mid-range: Primates cottage or Chimpanzee Forest Guest house

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Chimpanzee tracking

Kibale forest is termed as the primate capital of the world with over 13 species of primates living in this forest. Today’s best highlight is the chimpanzee tracking which takes approximately 3-4 hours with the help of the guide.

Make sure you carry some drinking water and get your camera ready to capture these apes. Close to the chimps, you can view the colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, forest hogs, and thousands of birds.

Retire from the encounter and return to the lodge for lunch or have a packed meal in the forest. Enjoy the rest of the afternoon at either leisure or visiting the Bigodi wetland to capture a moment with the birds of Kibale forest and mostly the elusive shoebill before a transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Accommodation:

Budget: Chimpanzee Forest cottages

Mid-range: Chimpanzee Forest Guest House/Isunga Safari Lodge

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Transfer to the Rwenzori Mountains and prepare for tomorrow's hike.

Kibale forest is termed as the primate capital of the world with over 13 species of primates living in this forest. Today’s best highlight is the chimpanzee tracking which takes approximately 3-4 hours with the help of the guide. Make sure you carry some drinking water and get your camera ready to capture these apes.

Close to the chimps, you can view the colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, forest hogs, and thousands of birds. Retire from the encounter and return to the lodge for lunch or have a packed meal in the forest.

Enjoy the rest of the afternoon at either leisure or visiting the Bigodi wetland to capture a moment with the birds of Kibale forest and mostly the elusive shoebill before a transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Accommodation:

Budget: Mihunga Safari Lodge

Mid-range: Equator Snow Lodge

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Full-day Mountain Rwenzori hike

Start at Trekkers at 1,450 meters and sleep at Sine Hut at 2,596 meters being a height gain of 1,146 meters, or those who are fit and want to proceed to Kalalama Camp at 3,134 meters may do so and apart from the fantastic views of both the cliffs above and views across the lowlands and Lake Edward in Queen Elizabeth National Park. We start by walking up the valley floor through the tall forest trees of the Afro-Montane Forest Zone.

This is a steady climb for the first six kilometers then after crossing a river, it is a steep climb up to Sine Camp. The forest trees are tall with multitudes of birds and a chance of seeing blue monkeys scampering off through the forest. Enock’s Falls are just 200 meters from Sine Hut and offer a splendid opportunity to capture a great screensaver for your memories as brightly clouded green lichen grows on the many lives hanging from the trees with the waterfall as a background. At Sine Camp 2,596 meters, we have wooden huts set between tall forest trees on a narrow ridge where you may sit and enjoy the beautiful forest while you look down at a long set of rapids and waterfalls crashing over the rocks. Some clients prefer to sit outside enjoying the warmth of the campfire and chat with the guides about the mountains and life in their community. Sine is just below the bamboo zone and the area around has many different bird species. 150 meters from the camp is Enock Falls which is set in livid green vegetation and hanging vines. Truly beautiful. Retire and return to the starting point before you proceed to your lodge for relaxation and dinner.

Accommodation:

Budget: Mihunga Safari Lodge

Mid-range: Equator Snow Lodge

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Morning Game drive & Boat cruise at Queen Elizabeth National Park

You wake up for an early morning cup of coffee in the views of the moist savannah before heading to the park for the game drive at 7 a.m.

Undertake a game drive in the Kasenyi tracks and the Queen’s Mile in search of the amazing wild game including; cape Buffaloes, Leopards, Topi, Elephants, Kobs, Waterbucks, Warthogs, Hyena, lions, side striped jackals among other wildlife. Retreat from the activity for relaxation and lunch after which you gather at Mweya jetty for an afternoon Kazinga Channel boat cruise departing at 2 pm.

This cruise offers you an opportunity to see at close range the highest concentration of water submerged Hippos, surrounded by over 60 species of migrant and resident birds plus crocodiles drinking and resting at water edges. You retreat from the boat cruise and do an evening game drive along the Channel track to explore more wild game in their evening moments. Continue to the lodge overnight.

Accommodation

Budget: Pumba Safari cottages

Mid-range: Elephant Hab Lodge/Buffalo Safari Lodge

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Transfer to Bwindi Forest National Park

After breakfast, embark on the transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park driving through the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park named Ishasha well known for its tree-climbing lions.

The Ishasha sector presents a remarkable encounter with the unique tree-climbing lions which only exist in two spots in the whole world with the Ishasha sector having the best viewing opportunities.

You continue on the drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park arriving in the evening for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.

Accommodation

Budget: Broadbill Safari Lodge

Midrange: Gorilla Valley Lodge/Rushaga Gorilla Havens Lodge

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Gorilla tracking experience

This is a special day dedicated to the impressive mountain gorillas.

You gather at the respective park headquarters for briefing at 8 a.m. where you are also allocated the respective gorilla families to track. The encounter takes 6 – 8 hours depending on the gorilla movements and one hour is available to you to have a direct touch with the gorillas.

Upon approaching gorillas, their reaction is not predictable as it can include them giving you a courteous welcome, minding less about you, and charging against you. The habituation experience gives you more time learning about the life of gorillas in the forest and in total you are allowed to spend 4 hours in the presence of gorillas.

The idea is to get gorillas a little bit used to humans in their habitat to allow for gorilla trekking in the future.

Retreat from the activity and embark on the transfer to Lake Bunyonyi driving through fascinating Kigezi Highlands where locals apply terracing methods to cultivate their slopes deriving impressive scenic landscapes.

Accommodation

Budget: Lake Bunyonyi Eco Resort

Midrange: Lake Bunyonyi Eco Resort/Arcadia Cottages

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Today, you explore Lake Bunyonyi, also termed a great destination for birders because of the various numbers of birds that stay in the area.

Early in the morning, you will embark on a community (Batwa). In the afternoon you’ll go for a boat ride on the lake surrounded by hills and forests. During the boat ride, you will explore some of the 29 islands on the lake among which include the punishment island where pregnant unmarried girls were taken to starve and die. In the evening return to the lodge and have dinner.

Accommodation

Budget: Lake Bunyonyi Eco Resort

Midrange: Lake Bunyonyi Eco Resort/Arcadia Cottages

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After breakfast, check out of the lodge and start on your journey to Lake Mburo National Park. On your way to the park, you will have an en-route lunch in Mbarara after which proceed with your journey to the park, when you arrive at the park you will have a game drive through the park where you will get a closer look at some of the park animals such as zebras, buffalos' warthogs, warthogs, hyenas, leopards, impalas, topis among others. Later drive to your lodge, check in, have dinner, and an overnight stay.

Accommodation

Budget: Mpogo Lodge

Midrange: Mpogo Lodge/Arcadia Cottages

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The early morning lake tour by taking an early morning game drive to explore the further wildlife you missed the previous evening.

Retire and return to your lodge for relaxation as you prepare to take a two-hour boat cruise along the lake where you will see some of the wildlife species like the hippos and crocodiles in the waters then the buffaloes and antelopes on the lake shores bathing or drinking water. Drive back to the lodge,

Accommodation

Budget: Mpogo Lodge

Midrange: Mpogo Lodge/Arcadia Cottages

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Have an early morning breakfast and start the game drive through the park, it takes 3 hours. This will give you an amazing glimpse of the Savannah and the 5 lakes.

You will also see various animals such as buffaloes, antelopes, zebras, hyenas, topis, and hippos, not forgetting the different bird species on the acacia trees and near the lake making beautiful sounds.

After the game, drive check out and head to Kampala, having a stopover in Masaka for lunch and also at the Equator for photos as you proceed to Kampala reaching in the afternoon before you transfer to the airport for your departure back home.

End of safari!