A Unique Uganda Safari

A Unique Uganda Safari itinerary:

Day 1: DRIVE TO MURCHISON FALLS PARK, ZIWA RHINO TRACKING

Your driver guide for the safari will pick you up from your accommodation either in Kampala or Entebbe in the morning please be ready to depart by 7:00 am. You will then start your start your journey northwards to Murchison Falls National Park passing through the famous Luwero Triangle and a stopover for Rhino trekking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary the home to white Rhinos and en-route lunch at the Kabalega Diner or in Masindi.

Later enter the game park and visit the most impressive falls in East Africa, Murchison Falls where the mighty River Nile thunders through at a 7 metres wide rock roaring about 45metres below as it goes down the rift valley escapade. We continue with a game drive en-route and check into Pakuba Safari Lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Pakuba Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: Lunch and dinner

Day 2: GAME DRIVE / BOAT CRUISE

After an early breakfast, we drive to the ferry and cross to the Northern sector of the park where we do the game drive to the delta in search for wildlife which includes Buffaloes, Giraffes, Elephants, Kobs, Waterbucks, hertebeasts, Oribis, etc plus a variety of bird life and possibly lions and leopards.

We come back to the lodge, relax around, have lunch and later at 2:00pm go for a boat trip on the Nile to the bottom of the falls for yet another but different view of wildlife at close range as they come to drink and cool at the shores of the river. You will spot wildlife like plenty of hippos, crocodiles, water birds such as the African fish eagle.
When the boat ride ends, and if time allows you can go for another game drive before returning to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Pakuba Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 3: DRIVE TO KIBALE FOREST

After breakfast, you will check out of the Pakuba Lodge and then embark on a long drive of approximately 8 – 9 hours to the western side of the country, to Kibale Forest National Park. This is a beautiful, forested area, which links into the QENP eco system.
Your drive will be through villages and several tea plantations. You will arrive late in the afternoon. Check into the Chimpanzee Forest Camp.
Accommodation: Chimpundu Lodge
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 4: CHIMP TRACKING / BIGODI WETLANDS

After an early breakfast, you will be driven down to the Kibale Forest National Parks’ headquarters to meet your guides for who will accompany you to trek chimpanzees. You will find the forest alive with noise and you should be lucky enough to see the habituated chimps during your trek.
Kibale Forest is about 5,000 feet in altitude, so it has a pleasant climate. It is an extremely beautiful forest, mostly pretty open on the ground beneath the forest canopy. It is not hilly, but it is cut by small streams so there can be some ups and downs while walking. We follow a network of trails to find the chimps.Our main interest is the chimps, but in this forest there are 8 species of monkeys: black and white colobus, red-tailed monkey, red colobus, L’Hoest’s monkey, grey-cheeked mangabey, blue monkey, olive baboon, and vervet monkey.

There is also a great collection of forest birds, and the forest is alive with bird song and the calls of primates. Elephants too are occasionally encountered. The trek generally takes most of the morning, and then return to the lodge for lunch.

Come back to the lodge relax around, have lunch and later at 2:00pm go for a nature walk in the Bigodi wetland which is very rewarding ESPECIALLY FOR BIRDS. This takes about 3 hours. We come back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Chimpundu Lodge
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 5: DRIVE TO QUEEN ELIZABETH PARK

After a relaxed breakfast, we transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park, driving through the crater regions and along the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains.
Queen Elizabeth has diverse Eco-systems of grassy plains, tropical forest, rivers and swamps, lakes and volcanic craters is home to incredible abundance of wildlife. Lion, leopard, elephants, Cape buffalo, warthog, Uganda kob, giant forest hog, bushbuck, waterbuck, can be seen on game drives.

We enter the park and to our lodge arriving in time for lunch. Have sometime to relax at the lodge, later in the evening we will go for a game drive in the Kasenyi area.
Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Queen Elizabeth Bush Camp
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 6: GAME DRIVES.BOAT CRUISE ON KAZINGA

Wake up very early in the morning and head out for a game drive on the Kasenyi track. This is the best place for lions, which like to feed on the large herds of buffalo and Uganda kob in the area. During the drive you may spot animals such as lion, leopard, Uganda kob, elephant, Cape buffalo, waterbuck and many other species. We’ll visit a “lek” where the kob go to breed and should see lots of interesting behavior. There are often large groups of beautiful crowned cranes on the Kasenyi Flats.

In the afternoon we will go for a launch cruise on the celebrated Kazinga Channel that connects lakes Edward and George. On this cruise you will see a high concentration of hippos and buffalo and many other animals such as elephant, bushbuck, or monitor lizards that can be seen drinking at the water's edge. There is a fantastic and amazingly abundant collection of colorful water birds, and a few crocodiles. After the cruise we continue with a game drive to our camp through the thickets of the Mweya Peninsula, to our accommodation.
Accommodation: Queen Elizabeth Bush Camp
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 7: DRIVE TO BWINDI FOREST

After breakfast, we drive southwards to Bwindi impenetrable National Park - Kisoro side close to the borders with Rwanda and Congo through the famous Ishasha sector where the climbing lions can be seen with en-route lunch. You cross a beautiful part of the country often referred to as ‘the Switzerland of Africa’. You will see a great country-side, bamboo forest and have great views over the Virunga Mountains. Later check into Mutanda Lake Resort for overnight stay.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 8: GORILLA TREKKING DAY!

Today you will wake up early for breakfast. Your guide will then take you to the park headquarters for briefing where you will meet with other trekkers before you start trekking at 8:00am. After briefing from the park rangers on the dos and don’ts of gorilla trekking, you will then be transferred to the starting point where you will enter the forest in search of the gorillas led by the Park rangers.
Trackers head out early in the morning in the direction of where the gorillas were last seen the day prior. Sometimes, they can be as close as 30 minutes away from your starting point. If the gorillas are feeling active, they can be as far as six, or even eight hours away. You won’t know until the trackers find them, which is then radioed down to the ranger that accompanies you on the trek.

Once the gorillas have been located you will allowed 1 hour of regulated time to observe and take photographs.

Tips for the gorilla trek:
• Have a small day bag (rucksack) and make sure it’s waterproof. Pack water (minimum one litre), picnic lunch, waterproof clothing and camera.
• Take a walking stick. It will help steady you when climbing over rocks and slippery slopes.
• Hire a porter to help you carry your rucksack and camera
• Ideally you should wear walking boots that cover and support your ankle as you climb over rocks and tree roots. Trainers may be okay – if you don’t mind getting your feet wet! There are occasional boggy patches and the ground everywhere can be wet and muddy.
• Take your camera but be aware that photography is difficult as the forest is quite dark and flash light is not allowed.
• Wear gaiters to keep the ants and other insects out of your boots / trousers or if you don’t wear gaiters, tuck long trousers into long socks.

After your gorilla trek you will return to your accommodation.
Overnight: Mutanda Lake Resort
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Picnic lunch and dinner

Day 9: CANOE RIDE ON LAKE MUTANDA

This morning after a leisurely breakfast you will take a canoe ride on Lake Mutanda. Return to the lodge for lunch, later transfer to Kisoro town to overnight at Kisoro Travelers Rest Hotel
Accommodation: Kisoro Travelers Rest Hotel
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 10: GOLDEN MONKEY TREKKING MGAHINGA

After breakfast, you will transfer to Mgahinga National Park headquarters for half day of golden monkey trekking. You will be briefed about the dos and don’ts while with golden monkeys and then proceed to the mountain/forest for your trek.
Just like the gorillas after encountering the golden monkeys you will allowed only one hour of regulated time to view the golden monkeys. Return to your lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Kisoro Travellers Rest Hotel
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 11: MUHABURA OR SABINYO HIKE

After breakfast, transfer to the foot of the Mt. Sabinyo ‘old man’s teeth’; like an old man, time has eroded Mt. Sabinyo’s Crown. Hike through the ridge along the eastern side of the climb to peak. It takes about eight hours to cover the 14km round trip following a steep ridge up to the peak. You will go past spectacular drops into gorges of Rwanda and Uganda and achieve a dual experience; finally you are guaranteed to get your hands dirty en-route to peak 111. Once on top, you will be in Rwanda, DRC and Uganda at the same time. Return for dinner.
Accommodation: Kisoro Travelers’ Hotel
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 12: RELAX AT LAKE BUNYONYI

Relaxed breakfast and departure for lake Bunyonyi for time to just relax
Accommodation: Bird's Nest Lodge
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 13: Lake Mburo National Park

After breakfast, continue to Lake Mburo National Park. Numerous rocks and hills alternate with small valleys. Arrived at the park you go on a game drive. Here you will find zebra and antelope along with the imposing Ankole cattle.
Accommodation: Mantana Tented Camp
Meals included: Breakfasr, lunch and dinner

Day 14: Lake Mburo National Park, Walking Safari – Entebbe

In Lake Mburo National Park it is possible to go on a walking safari. Set out with an armed ranger and observe the animals up close. Your guide will show you the tracks of the animals and explain their way of life. After 2-3 hours you come back to the lodge and after lunch you start the drive back to Entebbe. At the equator you have the opportunity to take a few souvenir photos before you reach your guesthouse in Entebbe in the evening.
Accommodation: Karibu Guest House Entebbe
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch

Day 15: Departure from Entebbe

Today is the day of departure, depending on the flight time you still have the opportunity to visit the botanical garden in Entebbe or to take a canoe trip to the Mabamba Swamp, where you can observe the prehistoric shoebill stork and many other bird species. The driver will take you to the airport in time for your return flight.

Meals included: Breakfast

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