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

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

Enjoy game viewing travelling via Ishasha to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.  Your afternoon will be at leisure or enjoy one of the various optional activities available  (time permitting, additional expense). Approximate driving time today is 6-7 hours (220km).

Day 9: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Park & Gorilla Trek

The Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is where you have the best chance to spot a mountain gorilla family. Start by visiting park headquarters for a briefing and get your permit before starting your gorilla trek. Good walking fitness is required today as this trekking is strenuous, you will be guided across rugged terrain through the jungle. Aside from the potential gorilla sighting, there are numerous forest walks and 346 species of birds, many of which are amazingly coloured.

After your trek you can meet with the women of the Buhoma community to weave baskets from grass collected from Bwindi Impenetrable forest. These baskets serve as income for the women of this community, relax in the gardens for a teas break as the women show you the skills needed to weave. Help play your part in contributing to a sustainable cause and a local community.

Day 10: Bwindi – Lake Mburo National Park

Travel from Bwindi and drive to Lake Mburo. Renowned for its impressive biodiversity, Lake Mburo National Park shelters almost 70 mammal species and over 300 avian species in its forests, swamps and grasslands. Crocodiles, hippos and a myriad of waterbirds are found in and around the five lakes. Enjoy a late afternoon boat cruise. Approximate driving time today is 4.5-5.5 hours (250km).

Day 11: Lake Mburo – Entebbe/Kampala

After breakfast, you will do a morning game drive within Lake Mburo National Park.  You will then depart to return to Kampala/Entebbe. Time permitting you may stop for curio shopping and a photo opportunity at the Equator.

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). Approximate driving time today is 7-8 hours (260km).

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 person under 15 years is allowed to track gorillas.
• If you have a communicable disease (e.g. flu, diarrhoea) you will not be allowed to enter the park.
• Turn away from the gorillas if you sneeze or cough, covering your nose and mouth.
• Stay together in a tight group while with the gorillas, do not surround them.
• You cannot get closer than 7 metres (21 feet) to the gorillas.
• While close to the animals, do not make any funny noises or move quickly. If a gorilla moves into your direction,  you must move out of its way slowly.
• No eating or smoking is allowed when with the gorillas, or within a 200m of the gorillas.
• Don’t spit on vegetation or soil when in the park – use a handkerchief.
• Bury all human faeces a minimum of one foot deep and ensure that the hole is properly covered.
• Do not leave any litter, all litter must be carried out of the park and disposed of properly.

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