Safari Overview
Experience the best of Uganda on this memorable 10-day safari. On this all-inclusive itinerary, expect myriad of experiences from the savanna grassland and tropical rainforest protected areas. The outstanding experiences to enjoy on this enchanting trip include game drives, boat cruise excursion, rhino tracking, chimpanzee and mountain gorilla trekking.
It focuses on Uganda’s key destinations including Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth, Kyambura Gorge, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Lake Bunyonyi and Lake Mburo NP.
Day by Day Program
Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Murchison Falls NP, trek rhinos en-route
Early in the morning, you will have the best of your breakfast and after, meet your professional driver guide in Uganda. You will have a comprehensive briefing about the entire trip and today marks the start of your road trip. You will be visiting Uganda’s biggest National Park –Murchison Falls NP which is found in the Northwestern part of the country, about 6 hours’ drive from the heart of Kampala city.
En-route to the picturesque Murchison Falls NP, expect to have a stopover at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for you embark on active walk in search for rhinos. The rhino trekking excursion will last for a short time and you will observe the rhinos in the wild. After, you will be taken to Masindi for lunch break and later, access Murchison Falls Game Park via its Southern gate –Kichumbanyobo.
Day 2: Enjoy the best of game drive and boat cruise
A hearty breakfast be enjoyed at the lodge and after, catch up with your experienced guide for an early morning guided game drive through the Northern game tracks. This will be a 2-3 hour game viewing in a 4WD with pop up roof. As you navigate at a slow speed, keep eyes on the park’s diverse fauna, especially the giraffes, warthogs, lions, buffaloes, elephants, leopards –on lucky day, birds, abundant antelope families and more.
Return by car and settle for lunch, relax till your driver guide picks you again. The afternoon session will include a launch/boat cruise on the Victoria Nile perfectly taking you up to the base of the falls. It will be 2-3 round cruise experience where you will be amazed by incredible sights of aquatic species –hippos, crocodiles and water birds.
Day 3: From Murchison Falls NP to Queen Elizabeth NP via Fort Portal
At leisure, enjoy your hearty breakfast and later, check out. Today expect to embark on a long road trip from Murchison Falls National Park to Queen Elizabeth National Park. En-route, you will be left mesmerized by the countryside breathtaking rift valley escarpment, homesteads, and the cool weather as you arrive at Fort Portal tourism city. Settle for a delicious lunch at one of the best restaurants within Fort Portal city before you make it to Queen Elizabeth National Park via Kasese.
Day 4: Full day game drive and launch cruise
The full day excursion in Queen Elizabeth Park begins with an exciting game drive in the morning through Kasenyi plains. While in Kasenyi, several wildlife species will be encountered including elephants, buffaloes, antelopes, and birds. After the game drive, get back and have a leisurely launch cruise on Kazinga channel.
Day 5: Morning chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura Gorge & Ishasha evening game drive
Leave your lodge early enough for briefing in Kyambura Gorge where you will have insight into chimpanzee tracking guidelines. Today’s chimp trekking will be done in the morning with the lead of an experienced guide.
Once you have found chimp community, enjoy a maximum of 1 hour on a face-to-face encounter and photography then walk back. Relax a little then you will be transferred to Ishasha sector to have an evening game drive and relaxation at the lodge.
Day 6: Morning game drive at Ishasha & drive to Bwindi for relaxation
Have a hearty breakfast and after, you will have a proper morning game drive through the Ishasha sector in the Southern side of Queen Elizabeth National Park. This sector is popular for a number of unique faunal species, and you may catch a glimpse of most of them –they include the tree climbing lions, topis, buffaloes and others. After the game drive, you will have a transfer to Bwindi National Park.
Day 7: Enjoy your gorilla trekking adventure
Get up early to enjoy your delicious cup of tea/coffee and after, proceed to your respective regions in Bwindi for briefing on gorilla trekking guidelines. This also includes allocation of gorilla families and park guides then by 8:00am, you will start your trek in search for the massive mountain gorillas. It will be 2-6 hours trek depending on your walking speed and this is inclusive of an hour for up close and personal encounter with a family of these rare apes.
In the evening after you have had enough time relaxing, you will pay a visit to nearby Batwa community. Meet the Batwa pygmies, and you will have insight on how they lived in the forest for years, get demonstration on their ancient ways of life and entertainment from their unique dances.
Day 8: Drive to Lake Bunyonyi, boat ride & relaxation
At leisure, get your cup of tea/coffee and after, your next visit will be Lake Bunyonyi, the deepest lake in Uganda. This spectacular natural lake features 29 islands and you will have the best of boat ride to one of them. In the evening, you will have a leisurely time at your lodge.
Day 9: Lake Bunyonyi –Lake Mburo, late afternoon boat cruise
Embark on a 6-7 hours’ drive to Lake Mburo National Park, a unique park where abundant zebra collection can be found plus impalas, elands, topis, and more. Arrive early and check in at your respective lodges. Have lunch and relaxation then followed by afternoon boat cruise on Lake Mburo.
Day 10: Normal game drive & departure
After breakfast, there will be many options to choose from to sum up your day in Lake Mburo NP. But today, expect the best of guided game drive through Lake Mburo National Park game tracks as you search for impalas, zebras, giraffes, huge herds of buffaloes, and depending on your luck, find leopards. After the game drive, proceed to Kampala with en-route stopover to be made at the Equator crossing.
End of safari.
