Wild Uganda Safari Tour

Tour Highlights:

• Chimp Trekking – Chimp trekking in Budongo and Karinzu Forests
• Gorilla Trekking – Search for Gorilla’s at the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
• Murchison Falls boat cruise – Game viewing and boat cruise
• Queen Elizabeth National Park – Game Drive and Kazinga Boat Cruise

Sample Uganda Tour Itinerary (Subject to Change)

Day 1: Arrive Entebbe, Uganda

Arrive in Entebbe where you will be met and transferred to your hotel.  This is the former seat of Uganda’s government, and a short drive from the current capital.  Visitors to Entebbe enjoy the beaches along the banks of Lake Victoria, walking around the fields and forests of the Botanical Gardens, or visiting the Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary.

Day 2: Entebbe – Murchison Falls

Travel to Murchison Falls, visiting the Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch along the way.  Here you can see the only remaining 19 wild rhinos in Uganda. Murchison Falls is located within one of Uganda’s oldest conservation areas. Murchison National Park is in the northern part of Albertine Rift Valley, where the huge Bunyoro escarpment amalgamates into the enormous plains of land traditionally inhabited by the Acholi people. Approximate driving time today is 8-9 hours (370km).

Day 3: Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda’s largest National Park. The Nile River flows through the middle of the park creating the impressive Murchison Falls. The park landscape features dense rainforest, undulating savannah and a diversity of abundant wildlife. The forests are home to numerous primates, including Chimpanzees and near the river, buffalo, elephants and Rothschild-Giraffes can be seen. Other commonly spotted wildlife include: lions, antelope, waterbucks, hippos and crocodiles. After an early breakfast, enjoy a morning game drive in Murchison Falls National Park in search of wildlife. Continue to the launch site for a boat ride combined with a cheese and wine cruise.

A highlight of any visit to Murchison Falls Conservation Area is the launch trip to view the magnificent Murchison Falls. The scheduled boat trip (approx 3-hours) normally departs in the morning and afternoon. Hippos and crocodiles are abundant and you will see plenty of game and bird life. Return to your lodge for lunch before an evening game drive.

Day 4: Murchison Falls – Kibale

After an early breakfast, depart for Kibale National Park via Fort Portal, passing through verdant countryside with traditional homesteads and farms. Kibale National Park contains one of the loveliest and most varied tracts of tropical forest in Uganda. Forest cover, interspersed with patches of grassland and swamp, dominates the northern and central parts of the park on an elevated plateau. Approximate driving time today is 6-7 hours (342 km).

Day 5: Kibale

Trek man’s closet genetic relative, the cheeky chimpanzee on a trekking excursion in the Budongo Forest. In the afternoon, take a guided walk in Bigodi Swamp to look for different bird species like the Shining Blue Kingfisher, Blue Throated Roller and other rare specifies and also find the fruiting trees, which attract Narina Trogon, Crowned Hornbill, Yellow Spotted, Hairy-Breasted and Yellow-Billed Barbets.

Day 6: Kibale to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Enjoy a beautiful morning drive through the dramatic landscape of the Crater Lakes. In the afternoon, transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda’s most popular tourist destination. Surrounded by other wonderful parks in the western region of Uganda, the Queen Elizabeth National Park is known for its diverse ecosystems which include sprawling savannah, shady, humid forests, sparkling lakes and fertile wetlands, wildlife and history. Approximate driving time today is 4-5 hours (219km).

Day 7: Queen Elizabeth National Park

Continue exploring the Queen Elizabeth N.P. today on a morning game drive followed by an afternoon boat excursion on the Kazinga Channel which has the world’s largest concentration of hippos and Nile crocodiles.

Day 8: Queen Elizabeth National Park – Bwindi

After breakfast, enjoy game viewing via Ishasha to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park (the drive is approximately 4-5 hours). Your afternoon is at leisure or enjoy one of the various optional activities available in the area (time permitting/additional cost).

Day 9: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Park & Gorilla Trek

After an early breakfast, you will be taken to the Park Headquarters for a short briefing after which you will enter the forest and start your Gorilla trek (please note that a drive may be required to your
trekking starting point). The trekking can be quite strenuous, so a good walking fitness is essential! You then will have the opportunity to interact and work with the women of the Buhoma
community to weave baskets from grass collected from Bwindi Impenetrable forest. These baskets serve as an income for the women of this community. Sit and relax in the gardens as the women
will get you started showing you the skills needed to weave. Enjoy lovely home-made doughnuts and cinnamon bread during a tea break.

Day 10: Bwindi – Lake Mburo National Park

After breakfast, you will depart Bwindi and drive to Lake Mburo National Park (approximately 4-5 hours’ drive). You will have the option to enjoy either a scenic boat cruise on Lake Mburo, where you may spot hippos, crocodiles, African fish eagles, and a variety of other bird species, or embark on an exciting game drive through the park in search of zebras, buffaloes, impalas, elands, and other wildlife while taking in the park’s tranquil landscapes.

Day 11: Lake Mburo – Entebbe/Kampala

After breakfast, you will do a morning game drive within the National Park. You will then depart from Lake Mburo to Kampala/Entebbe. Time permitting you can stop for curio shopping and a photo opportunity at the Equator (approximately a 5-6 hour drive).

Note: Your departure flight would need to be booked for late evening, alternatively you will need to add a nights accommodation to depart the following day (flight and extra night additional cost).

Important Information about visiting Gorillas in Uganda:

For conservation reasons, visits to the gorillas are tightly controlled and there are a number of rules that apply and must be strictly adhered to and respected by all visitors:

• No one with a communicable disease (e.g. flu, diarrhoea) is allowed to enter the park.
• Stay together in a tight group while with the gorillas, don’t surround them.
• Don’t get closer than 7 metres (21 feet) to the gorillas.
• Don’t eat or smoke when with the gorillas or within a distance of 200 metres from the gorillas.
• Turn away from the gorillas if you have to sneeze or cough. Cover your nose and mouth in the process.
• Burry all human faeces a minimum of one foot deep and ensure that the hole is properly covered.
• If a gorillas moves into your direction, please move out of his way slowly.
• While being close to the animals, please do not make any funny noises and try not to move quickly.
• Don’t leave litter. All litter must be carried out of the park and disposed of properly.
• No person under 15 years is allowed to track gorillas.
• Don’t spit on vegetation or soil when in the park – use a handkerchief.
• Your group must not be more than 8 tourists and must all be over 15 years old.

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