12 Day Ultimate Uganda Wildlife Safari Adventures
$8,592 pp (2pax)
Highlights:
- Discover the beauty of Uganda on a 8-day safari with gorilla and chimpanzee tracking
- Explore four national parks, including Lake Mburo and Queen Elizabeth NP
- See lions, elephants, leopards, and buffaloes on a morning game drive
- Enjoy a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel and see hippos, crocodiles, and birds
- Experience the thrill of tracking chimps in Kibale Forest and gorillas in Bwindi
Full description
Day One:
When you arrive at Entebbe International Airport, a representative will meet you and take you to Hotel No. 5 or a similar hotel.
Entebbe is a small, peaceful town on the banks of Lake Victoria. It’s easy to get around on foot, via boda boda (local motorbike), or by taxi. You can browse for goods in curio shops, visit the Botanical Gardens on Lake Victoria, or just enjoy the local markets full of clothes and crafts. There are a lot of different restaurants that provide a lot of various kinds of food, as well as a few bars and clubs where you can try the local beer, watch a football game, and talk to the friendly Ugandans.
Hotel No. 5 is a sophisticated boutique hotel in the green outskirts of Entebbe. This is an excellent choice for people who want a quiet place to stay with all of their rooms opening up to the garden and pool. Relax by the pool, indulge yourself to a spa treatment, or work out in the hotel gym.
Make yourself at home. Hotel No. 5 is known for its attention to detail, great food, and great service for guests.
Day 2:
After breakfast, a private car will pick you up from your accommodation in Entebbe and take you to Murchison Falls National Park. The trip will take about five to six hours. Have a picnic lunch on the way.
Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda’s biggest national park. You can view four of the “big five” animals there, especially in the north. The Nile pushes its way through a 7-meter (23-foot) wide fissure in the rocks at the top of Murchison Falls. It then falls 43 meters (141 feet) and flows into Lake Albert.
Bakers Lodge:
This small, upscale lodge located on the banks of the Nile River, which runs through Murchison Falls National Park. It has ten large thatched cabins on wooden decks, all of which are shaded by big trees. Baker’s is an eco-friendly lodge with solar-powered lighting and hot water. Enjoy the wonderful views of the river from your own deck, while hippos are just a few yards away.
Days 3 and 4:
Take two full days to enjoy this gorgeous area. The game in Murchison is great, and you can see four of the “big five,” especially in the north part of the park. You can take a cruise to the bottom of the falls and a Delta Cruise to see birds and animals.
Day 5:
You can travel to Kibale Forest in a full day (7–8 hours) and have a picnic lunch along the way.
Kibale is a beautiful old forest that is home to a huge variety of plants and animals. It has a lot of species, but its primate population, which includes red-tailed monkeys, diademed monkeys, olive baboons, chimpanzees, and black and white colobus, is what it’s best known for. You can go chimpanzee trekking in the jungle for two nights in the vicinity. You can also go on a guided walk in the forest, visit the Bigodi Swamps, or the Vanilla Farm near Ndali.
Day 6:
I can almost feel the adrenaline pumping! Trekking with chimpanzees is an exhilarating experience because these wild animals are always on the move among the treetops; you never know, you might even end up trailing a family through the jungle! As with any wild species, there is no certainty of a sighting, but the odds are high. Spend around half an hour following and watching the chimpanzees once you’re among them. Day off to relax.
Day 7:
It will take you around three or four hours to drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The Great Rift Valley is the habitat of a diverse array of animals, including baboons, elephants, hippos, buffalo, Uganda kob, and a plethora of bird species. Flamingos congregate in big numbers in the northern Mweya region, which is characterised by crater lakes and lies on the equator. One of the most unforgettable things to do in the park is to take a boat ride from Mweya down the Kazinga Channel, which connects Lakes Edward and George. Keep driving for another two or three hours until you reach the park’s southern sector.
At Ishasha Wilderness Camp, we will spend the following two nights. In the secluded southern area of Queen Elizabeth, this unique 10-tented camp offers the sole luxury lodging. An ideal getaway for those who genuinely appreciate secluded wilderness, the eco-friendly Ishasha Wilderness Camp is situated on the banks of the Ntungwe River. Although guests generally enjoy their meals “al fresco” beside the river, the thatched central living and dining area provides a cosy setting for nutritious dining. After a long day of thrilling game viewing, guests can unwind with sundowners by the outdoor fireplace.
Day 8:
Take a day off work and visit Queen Elizabeth National Park to see some wildlife. Famous tree-climbing lions can be seen in the Ishasha region. As you savour bush sundowers, you can watch the African sun set.
Day 9:
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is accessible by a drive of two to three hours. Along the way, stop see the Ishasha community project.
Situated on the outskirts of the Great Rift Valley in southwestern Uganda, Bwindi National Park is often regarded as the country’s most diversified forest. One of the most diverse ecosystems in East Africa, Bwindi is home to more than 160 tree species, 120 mammal species, 345 bird species, and 200 butterfly species. Almost half of the world’s Mountain Gorilla population resides in the park, making it a critically important conservation site.
Buhoma Lodge provides comfortable lodging in rustic wooden chalets with breathtaking views of the virgin rain forest canopy. The lodge is located within the National Park and is in close proximity to the Gorilla Trekking headquarters. Buhoma is a solar-powered lodge that uses sustainable local materials and is well-known for its pleasant staff and excellent service. The eleven rustic cottages are all made of wood and include verandas and large windows that look out over breathtaking scenery. Watch out for the rare mountain gorilla that decides to drop by the lodge while you wake up to the sound of birdsong in the jungle.
Day 10:
In the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, you can go gorilla trekking.
It is hard to put into words the excitement of today’s once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! An incredible, humbling, and captivating rare wildlife encounter is coming face to face with mountain gorillas. An early morning walk into the thick rain forest on the high mountain slopes will be accompanied by knowledgeable guides and trackers. Treks to find gorillas can be challenging, lasting anything from 45 minutes to eight hours in hot, humid African weather at high altitudes. It is well worth the effort to find these gentle giants for the exhilarating hour you will spend peacefully watching them once you do. Mountain gorillas are wild creatures, therefore seeing one is never certain. Nevertheless, the success rate of observing one is around 95%.
After your trek, return to Buhoma Lodge for a free massage or explore the nearby Bwindi village.
Day 11:
People who have bought extra permits in advance will embark on a second gorilla tracking expedition. Optional activities for guests not tracking include woodland treks, visiting a local school, orphanage, hospital, or Batwa pygmy settlement, and some local curio shopping. Guests will have the day free to explore the Bwindi area.
Overnight at Buhoma Lodge with all meals and local drinks included
Day 12:
After breakfast, you will be taken from Kihihi to Entebbe on a scheduled light aircraft journey.
Ultimate Uganda Wildlife Safari Adventures
Safari Inclusions
- Private air transfers between Entebbe and Kisoro
- All airport and road transfers as specified
- 4 nights’ accommodation in luxury lodges/resorts
- Full-board meals as per the itinerary
- Guided mountain gorilla trekking permit in Bwindi
- Services of professional, English-speaking safari guides
- Park and activity entrance fees
- Bottled water during transfers and activities
Safari Exclusions
- International flights to and from Uganda
- Uganda visa fees
- Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- Tips and gratuities for guides, drivers, and lodge staff
- Personal items and souvenirs
- Optional activities not listed in the itinerary
- Alcoholic beverages unless specified in lodge packages
Includes / Excludes
Park fees (For non-residents)
All activities (Unless labeled as optional)
Meals (As specified in the day-by-day section)
Drinking water (On all days)
All accommodation (Unless listed as upgrade)
Roundtrip airport transfer
A professional driver/guide
All transportation (Unless labeled as optional)
All Taxes/VAT
International flights (From/to home)
Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
Tips (Tipping guideline US$10.00 pp per day)
Personal items (Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
