15 Day Wildlife, Primates And Cultural Safari In Uganda, The Pearl Of Africa

Itinerary

Highlights of this Tour

  • Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
  • Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale Forest National Park
  • Rhino Tracking in Ziwa Sanctuary
  • Tree climbing Lions in Ishasha

Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe Airport

After a long flight, you finally land at the pearl of Africa as declared by Churchill Winston. This is neither a myth nor fantasy but the real truth. In fact, one can evidently confirm it even from above during the flight before landing. Upon checking out, you will be welcomed by our friendly tour guide who will be with you for the rest of the holiday. After which, you will be transferred to the hotel which lies near the airport. (Overnight at Lakepoint Villa, 10 Minutes’ drive)

Crested Cranes, a national symbol of hospitality and gentility

Day 2: Entebbe – Rhinos and Murchison Falls National Park

After breakfast, you set off for a pretty long but rewarding journey. With regular breaks, you reach your first attraction, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary (70km2), a haven for white rhinos that became extinct due to extensive poaching during the civil wars in the 1970s. An organisation, Rhino Fund, was formed to re-establish Rhinos with extra protection for them so that they can later on, be sent back into the wilderness after attaining a certain minimum number. The view of rhinos is usually done on foot with the guidance of highly trained rangers who track their movements and can read their behaviours. After that, you will have a lunch break before continuing further to the day’s final destination, a rich national park of Uganda. It is not only known for its wealth in animal species but also most importantly, for its thunderous Murchison Falls of the great River Nile, after which the park is named. These falls flow through a thin 8m deep and 44m long gorge. The Nile divides the park into the southern and northern sections of the park. The southern predominantly forest and mainly harbours primates and birds while the northern is savannah grassland and its where all the game activities take place. (Overnight: Paraa Safari Lodge. Drive time 7-8 Hours)

Mother Rhino with baby at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

Day 3 (Game Drive, Boat Ride on the Nile and Hiking to the Top of the Falls)

The early morning bird catches the worm is the guideline today. You have another very early morning breakfast and set off to catch animals while it’s still cool before they hide in shades during the approaching afternoon heat. With fully charged cameras and watchful eyes, the park will offer animals ranging from big cats (Lions and shy Leopards), giraffes, elephants, buffalos, antelopes (Uganda Kobs, Hartebeests, Waterbucks, Bushbucks, Oribis etc. ), patas monkeys, about 450 bird species and many other mammals. The game drive lasts about 4 to 5 hours depending on the sighting and weather conditions. After which, we drive to a convenient place for lunch picnic before having an afternoon boot ride at 14hrs. The boot ride lasts 2 hours up to a view point of the thunderous falls. During the Nile boot ride, we expect to see hippos, crocodiles, water birds and several mammals that come to drink water due to the afternoon heat and thirst. After the boot ride, you will board off to the mainland where you will be received by a ranger to take you through the hiking to the top of the falls. The hiking is moderately demanding but the reward is the breath-taking view of the Murchison Falls. It lasts between 45 minutes and 1.5 hours depending on your fitness. At the end of the hiking, you will have the evening free at the hotel right in the middle of game activities in the wilderness. (Overnight: Paraa Safari Lodge B, L, D)

The thunderous Murchison Falls along the mighty Nile

Day 4: Murchison Falls – Kibale Forest National Park

You leave the northern part of the country drive towards the southern. The beauty of the journey is the varying landscapes and the different ways of life for the several tribes that you will be driven through. From the forest and savannah grasslands of the park to the escarpment with a beautiful view of the western arm of the Great Rift Valley and the oil rich Lake Albert. In the afternoon towards your destination, you will drive through the gorgeous undulating hills of Tooro which are covered with large tea plantations that add to their beauty. You will reach the Fort Portal town early enough to be treated to a mouth licking local lunch buffet. After lunch, you will have an optional visit to a nearby market with your guide to have a taste of Ugandan shopping before driving for the next 45 minutes through Kibale Forest to the lodge (Overnight at Kibale Guest Cottages B, D)

Day 5: Chimpanzee Tracking and Bigodi Swamp Walk

Brace yourself for an adventurous day. After an early morning breakfast, you head towards the information centre of Kibale Forest National Park for briefing. This forest prides itself of being the biggest primate harbour of the world. In addition to primates, it is also home to several bird species, forest elephants, buffalos, galagos, bush babies among other mammals. There are over 1300 chimpanzees in this forest, however, only a few of them are habituated for human viewing. This foot activity is moderately energy demanding, but usually easy to do since the forest is not thick with a gentle topography. After tracking, you will return to the lodge for lunch after which, you will make a second walk along the periphery of Bigodi Swamp for view of several monkey species, birds and plants which have local traditional importance. This activity is undertaken by a locally formed organisation with the main of conserving the environment (Bigodi Swamp) and for community development through the proceeds earned in tourism. This normally takes 2-3 hours depending on your pace and weather changes. In the late afternoon, you return to the lodge for relaxation. (Overnight at Kibale Guest Cottages. B, L D)

Day 6: Kibale Forest – Queen Elizabeth National Park (Afternoon Boat ride)

This another amazing journey through a region filled with crater lakes of unquestionable beauty. In addition, you will experience once again the way of life of the locals, the big very green cooking plantain plantations, the local households, ever waving children and many more await you on this journey towards Queen Elizabeth National Park. In the early afternoon, you will enter the park where you will be treated to the best activity in this animal sanctuary, the boat ride on the natural Kazinga channel. This channel connects two lakes, L. George to the west and L. Edward to the East. The afternoon sun makes this channel an inevitable attraction point for a variety of animals. Hippos, elephants, buffalos, crocodiles, several antelopes, thousands of birds, lizards and many more, depending on what Mother Nature provides at that particular moment. After the unforgettable ride on the channel, you will slowly proceed to the lodge while on the lookout for other animals. The lodge is located on a hill with a marvellous endless view of the park. (Albertine Safari Lodge. B, D)

Lonely Bulls along the life giving Kazinga Channel

Day 7: Kanzinga Channel – Tree Climbing Lions (Ishasha Sector)

In the early morning, you will take about a 3 hour drive to the southern sector of the park which is famous for the unique lions, the tree climbing lions. This sector of the park is spotted with fig trees, which are short to climb and flat enough for the lions to sleep on as they digest their dinner through the day. Lions, due to their heavy less flexible muscles, are usually poor climbers, but due to the nature of these trees, they have adopted to climbing them. (Enjojo Lodge B, L, D)

Lion on a fig tree in Ishasha sector of the park

 

Day 8: Tree Climbing Lions – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest NP

Today, you will continue to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, home to more than half of the world’s surviving mountain gorillas. This is a mountainous region with unbelievably splendid views. From this point on for the about 3 days, you will drive through possibly Africa’s most beautiful region, also known as the Switzerland of Africa. A region that is well packaged with hills, mountains, crater lakes, beautiful people, vegetation, the list cannot end, and all depends on what impresses you. (Bakiga Lodge. B, D)

Three horned Chameleon in Bwindi

Day 9: Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After breakfast, you will proceed to the park information centre where you will be briefed about the park and the conservation of the gorillas. At about 8:00am, you will be guided into the forest where you will enjoy its beauty and freshness before reaching these endangered huge but gentle giants. The gorillas you will visit are habituated and used to human visits. However, a respectful social distance is kept between them and humans to avoid human to animal transmission of diseases and to give them a sense of security in their habitat. Depending on where they built their nests the previous night and by following the destroyed grass and thickets during their movements, the trackers are able to locate them in advance before you go into the forest to view them. The duration of the activity therefore, depends on how far they have moved. This can last anywhere between 2-7 hours. This is an experience one can never forget. Return to the Lodge for relaxation and overnight. (Bakiga Lodge. B, L, D)

A family of the endangered gentle giants in Bwindi Forest

Day 10: Bwindi – Lake Mutanda – Lake Bunyonyi

Today, you can sleep a little longer. You depart at about 9:3am traveling through the spectacular Bwindi Mountains towards a region of 3 eye catching crater lakes, Lakes Bunyonyi, Mutanda and Mulekhe. These lakes are considered to be some of the most beautiful lakes of the world with their small curvy and hilly islands. Lake Mutanda has 19 islands while Bunyonyi has 29 of them, some of them with both interesting historical stories which you will hear from your guide. They are also well flourished with several bird species. A boat ride on L. Mutanda is an inevitable adventure to have a closer look at these fascinating places that cannot easily be seen anywhere else around the world. After an hour boat ride, you will continue for about 2 hours towards your day’s final destination, L. Bunyonyi. The only difference between L. Bunyonyi and Mutanda is that the former is bigger than the latter. Your lodge is located on an elevated point with the best view of the Crater Lake with its 29 islands. (Overnight at Acadia Cottages or Bird’s Nest Lodge B, D)

A family of the endangered gentle giants in Bwindi Forest

Day 11: Relaxation and Recovery at Lake Bunyonyi

You are most welcome to Lake Bunyonyi

After several days of strenuous activities, you take off time and enjoy the lodge with its immeasurable view of the beautiful lake. However, the lodge offers optional activities like a boat ride on the lake, community walk among others. (Overnight at Acadia Cottages or Bird’s Nest Lodge B, L, D)

 

Day 12: Lake Bunyonyi – Lake Mburo National Park

Just a little curious about the intentions of the visitors “Impala and Zebras”

Today, you transfer to Lake Mburo NP, the second smallest but one of the richest parks of Uganda. It is well known for its wealth in Zebras, Impalas, Bushbucks, Elands, about 550 bird species, Buffalos, Giraffes and many more. As you are driven towards the lodge, you will still be able to sight quiet a number of animals already. Your lodge today is also located on a hilltop with a marvellous view of the park. The entire evening is left free for you sit on the verandas of your comfortable cottages with a beer or cigar in the hand, or spend it in the swimming pool. (Mihingo Lodge or Rwakobo Rock B, D)

Day 13: Morning Nature Walk and afternoon Game Drive

You will have an awakening breakfast of a cup of coffee, tea or milk before setting out in nature on foot to get as close as possible to the wild animals, with the company of a well-trained armed ranger. After about 2 hours of this experience, you will return to the lodge where you will have a second breakfast and later, lunch. In the late afternoon, you will have a game drive which might last for an hour before returning to the lodge for your dinner. (Mihingo Lodge or Rwakobo Rock B, L, D)

The real queen of the skies in L. Mburo National Park

Day 14: Lake Mburo NP – Kampala (Evening Cultural Concert)

At about 9am, you depart from the lodge and head towards Kampala. You will make a stopover at the equator for a lunch and photo break before continuing. Depending on the traffic conditions, you might first check in the hotel and have a short rest before continuing to Ndere cultural centre for a thrilling evening packed with a cultural concert. This concert displays the rich cultures of the Ugandan people.

Signs of an upcoming true African woman [Source: Ndere Cultural Centre]

Depending on how your spirits could have been moved by the flexible traditional dancers, you are free to join in at the stage for a closing dance with the entire dance troupe. During the concert, you will have a dinner buffet so that after it, you just head to the hotel for refreshing night sleep. (Skyz Hotel B)

Day 15: City Tour and Airport Transfer

Have an insight of Kampala and its sighting. The Uganda Martyrs Grounds in Namungongo which has been visited by 3 Popes and a sign of Christian faith in Uganda, a drive through the chaotic Kampala city, visit the famous the Gaddafi Mosque for a bird’s eye’s view of the city, the Baha’i temple, a baby’s home and later on, you will be driven to the airport for your home flight. You also have the alternative of relaxing at the hotel a little longer but this reduces on the sites to be visited in the city tour. Depending on the time of flight, you will be transferred to the airport early enough for your home flight.

Holy Martyrs Grounds, Namugongo

 

This trip covers the following costs

  • All transport services within Uganda from the time of arrival to departure back home
  • A full time English speaking tour guide / driver
  • All meals, water and soft refreshments (like fruits) during the journeys
  • All activities described within the itinerary

This trip excludes the following items

  • Flight to and from Uganda
  • Hard drinks
  • Tips
  • Souvenirs
  • Any extra activity not included or those described as optional in the itinerary

Travel Dates

Please kindly understand that due to the fixed dates of the cultural concert on day 14, it is not possible to have flexibility in the travel dates of your own choice. Fortunately, there are many dates for you to choose from. We have also included a list of Recommended Airliners plus their arrival times in Entebbe airport, so that the arrival and departure of the flights fits in the flow of the itinerary.

Please take into consideration that for ease of reservations especially for gorilla and chimpanzee permits, we advise you to make a partial booking as early as a year to your planned travel date, if possible. This allows us to make an early purchase of the permits from the Uganda Wildlife Authority, a government body in charge of wildlife. This is because these permits are very limited in number due to the utmost need to conserve these animals yet there are so many tourists who want to view them. The rest of the payment can be made up to 5 months to the travel date so that we finalise with the hotel bookings. We highly appreciate your interest in visiting the Pearl of Africa along with us.

 

Available Travel Dates

 

Arrival in Uganda Departure from Uganda
31-Dec-20 14-Jan-21
14-Jan-21 28-Jan-21
28-Jan-21 11-Feb-21
11-Feb-21 25-Feb-21
25-Feb-21 11-Mar-21
11-Mar-21 25-Mar-21
25-Mar-21 08-Apr-21
08-Apr-21 22-Apr-21
22-Apr-21 06-May-21
06-May-21 20-May-21
20-May-21 03-Jun-21
03-Jun-21 17-Jun-21
17-Jun-21 01-Jul-21
01-Jul-21 15-Jul-21
15-Jul-21 29-Jul-21
29-Jul-21 12-Aug-21
12-Aug-21 26-Aug-21
26-Aug-21 09-Sep-21
09-Sep-21 23-Sep-21
23-Sep-21 07-Oct-21
07-Oct-21 21-Oct-21
21-Oct-21 04-Nov-21
04-Nov-21 18-Nov-21
18-Nov-21 02-Dec-21
02-Dec-21 16-Dec-21
16-Dec-21 30-Dec-21
30-Dec-21 13-Jan-22
13-Jan-22 27-Jan-22
27-Jan-22 10-Feb-22

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