Safari Overview
The 11 Days Uganda Safari includes some of the top primate and wildlife experiences. Expect to begin with Ziwa rhino tracking, a game drive, & boat tour in Murchison Falls National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale & gorilla trekking in Bwindi. At Lake Bunyonyi, expect to experience the best boat ride and also visit one of the iconic islands.
The Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival and pick-up for your Safari –(Uganda)
This day is meant for you to take a flight to Entebbe International Airport (EBB), where you will find your Uganda safari driver guide. At Entebbe, you have multiple opportunities to usher you into your Uganda safari. Engaging in most of the activities or tours in Entebbe is ideal for early arrivals.
Places to visit while in Entebbe include Lake Victoria, perfect for sunset boat excursions; Entebbe Zoo; Mabamba wetland; crocodile village; Entebbe crafts village; Entebbe Golf Club; and more.
Day 2: Visit Murchison Falls with en route tour at Ziwa
After breakfast, start your journey to Murchison Falls National Park, about 6-7 hours. Navigate via the Kampala-Gulu highway, and upon reaching Nakasongola, you will branch off to Ziwa. At Ziwa, expect a short guided walk through the bush as you search for rhinos in the wild. After tracking rhinos, connect up to Masindi to enjoy some lunch and later reach Murchison Falls National Park via the Kichumbanyobo gate.
Day 3: Game drive & Boat excursion
Have an early morning breakfast and embark on the sunrise game drive. In the comfort of a 4×4 safari car, you will be exploring the Northern track of Murchison Falls National Park with an experienced guide. The Northern circuit is most popular for animal sightings such as bush bucks, Uganda Kobs, leopards, spotted hyenas, waterbucks, lions, buffalo, elephants, and more. Return to get some relaxation and a lunch break in your respective lodges.
At around 2:00 pm, expect to report to the Paraa Jetty and enjoy up to 2 hours along the Victoria Nile River. The incredible sightings awaiting you along the Nile stretch to the base of the falls include Nile crocodiles, hippos, and waterbird species. The likely aquatic bird sightings include Egyptian geese, African fish eagles, pied kingfishers, red bee-eaters, and malachite kingfishers.
Day 4: Visit the Top of the Falls & Drive to Kibale via Hoima
After breakfast, check out and expect to proceed to the top of the falls for photography. Your next visit will be to Kibale, and today, you will drive via Masindi-Hoima to Fort Portal city. Arrival at Fort Portal area early and expect to have a lunch break plus an opportunity to stretch your legs after the long journey. From Fort Portal city, you will be taken to check into the lodge for relaxation and overnight stay.
Day 5: Explore Chimpanzees & Tour Bigodi Sanctuary
Time to visit Kanyanchu Tourist Centre where you can meet the Kibale Game Park officials. Today’s morning will mainly involve exploring chimpanzees, but expect to start the day with orientation. A standard trek with Kibale chimpanzees can cover a duration of about 2 to 6 hours. It is upon finding the chimpanzee community that you get a chance to enjoy a maximum of one hour face-to-face with chimpanzees. After this magical interaction, you will be led back to Kanyanchu Visitor Centre to meet the driver guide.
After having a lunch break, continue up to Bigodi to enjoy a nature walk. The lush Bigodi wetland offers amazing sightings of primates and birds. The overall walking excursion along this wetland is likely to take about 2 hours, then you get back to the lodge.
Day 6: Drive to Queen Elizabeth Park
After having a heavy breakfast, check out and proceed to Queen Elizabeth Game Park via Kasese town. Before you reach Queen Elizabeth NP, you will have a stopover at the Equator crossing at Kikorongo, then have a final drive to your lodge. After lunch, you will be taken to the Kazinga Channel to begin your boat tour.
Day 7: Game drives via Kasenyi
Today will mainly involve exploring Kasenyi track on guided game drives. The anticipated animal sightings on this day through the Kasenyi game trail range from African lions, buffaloes, hyenas, Kobs, & others. After you have ended the morning game drive session, you will return and enjoy lunch, then resume in the afternoon.
Day 8: Visit Ishasha & Drive to Bwindi
Today, expect a short game drive through the Ishasha sector where you will get a chance to find the unique tree-climbing lions. This section of Queen Elizabeth National Park is also famous for other wildlife such as Defassa waterbucks, Uganda Kobs, topis, elephants, and more. After a game drive through the Ishasha landscape, continue to Bwindi and check into your lodge.
Day 9: Explore Bwindi gorillas & cultural tour
After breakfast, expect to gather at your respective tracking sector in Bwindi, and this is always guided by your Bwindi gorilla permit. Get first-hand information on the Bwindi gorilla trekking regulations, and it is during this session when the park official will also assign you a particular gorilla group to explore. The park ranger guides and porters will also be present at the briefing area.
At around 8:00 am, your group will exit the orientation centre for a 2-6 hour search for mountain gorillas. Once you have found the family of Bwindi gorillas, you will have up to 1 hour of just observing them and taking their photos. After this moment, you can begin trekking back to the lodge for relaxation. The Batwa community visit will be done later in the afternoon.
Day 10: Depart from Bwindi for Lake Bunyonyi
Have a tasty breakfast this morning, and expect to leave Bwindi for Lake Bunyonyi. The boat ride is the highlight of Lake Bunyonyi, and you will visit one of its beautiful islands. This lake is also popular for its numerous bird species, and your boat ride allows you to spot a diversity of them. After, you will get back and chill in your lodge.
Day 11: Lake Bunyonyi to Entebbe
Check out of your comfortable accommodation and start your journey back to Entebbe. En route to Entebbe, expect two key things: a stopover for lunch and photography at the Kayabwe Equator monument.
End of Safari.
