10 Days Best of Uganda Prime Safari
Price On Request
Tour Highlights
This is an amazing exploration adventure with Uganda’s wildlife in its diversity. Right from your arrival through the different communities the people are hospitable with unqic different cultural back grounds and setting. It gives you a start with Uganda’s rhinos in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary in Nakasongola in serenity of nature and beyond. The Big 5 safari if you would refer to it with a visit to Murchison Falls National Park which is the oldest park and with the most powerful water fall in the world the Nile divided the park to form the north and the south and of course not forgetting its diversity in wild life such as Kibale Forest National Park also known as the primate capital has a number of primates that you would love to see with over 9 species of primates and over 300 species of birds. We take you to the primate capital of the world in Kibale Forest National park with its diversity in flora and fauna, with a visit to Bigodi wetland for a swamp walk and community visit. Queen Elizabeth National Park is also unqic with its wildlife safaris, famous tree climbing lions of Ishasha, wildlife boat rides on the kazinga channel where lakes Edward and George form the channel and it’s a congregation of many wildlife. The park was named after Queen Elizabeth of England when she visited in 1952.
We cannot forget to talk about Bwindi Impenetrable National Park home to the giant mountain gorillas with more than half of the mountain gorillas left in the world and the Batwa community with their tradition and ways of living.
Lastly a visit to lake Mburo National Park in the whispers of the wild and most famously known for its zebras, antelopes, hippos, birds, walking safaris, horse riding, boat rides and so much more. Indeed, the visit to Uganda on the 10-day wildlife safari is worth it on your bucket list
With a diversity in wildlife that is flora and fauna, there is a lot one can do while on the safari such as Gorilla tracking which is the main Highlight road trips, photography, cultural encounters and exploration in game viewing, bird watching, chimpanzee trekking, boat trips. Before booking for the safari one can choose favourite eco-friendly accommodation in a range of budget, midrange and luxury accommodation.
Day 1 Transfer from Entebbe International Airport to your Hotel in Entebbe or Kampala
Travel time to Kampala is 45 – 60 min & a few minutes’ drive to Entebbe hotels.
Accommodation: Budget: Acacia Beach Hotel or Central Inn EBB, Midrange: 2 Friends beach hotel & Maries Royal Hotel, & Protea, luxury: Fairway or Protea Hotel
Meal Plan: Meals catered for depending on arrival plan
You will be welcomed by our guide at Entebbe International Airport with a transfer your hotel in either Entebbe or Kampala for an overnight.
Optional Activity: Visit Entebbe zoo also known as Uganda wild life education centre, it has a number of animals that are exhibited in line to the animals that we have in our national parks. It’s amazing to sight animals like lions, buffalos, giraffes, chimpanzees, snakes, crocodiles, bird species like the African fish eagle, shoebills, African grey parrots, harmer cops, ostrich which is the biggest and fastest bird on land and so much more not forgetting monkeys like the velvets, Black & white colobus monkeys seen in the trees, Patas monkeys, etc.
Behind the scenes at the zoo
You can also encounter the animals at the zoo in their enclosure depending on which animal that will be accepted by the zoo keepers such as feeding the elephant, giraffe, chimps, cats like the leopard, rhinos. All these options are possible on early arrival and the activity takes between 1 – 2 hours.
Day 2 Transfer from Kampala to Murchison Falls National Stopover at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary & an optional Game Drive
Travel Time from Kampala to Murchison falls is 6 – 7 hours
Accommodation: Mid-range and Budget: Murchison River Lodge or Fort Murchison, Luxury: Parra Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
You will be picked up at 7:00 am from either Kampala or Entebbe and set off to travel to Murchison Falls. Through the Kampala – Gulu road and will make a stopover at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary the rhinos home and seeing rhinos in their habitat and re-introduction sanctuary. Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is the only place in the wild where rhinos can be sighted. The rangers will guide you to the Rhinos after a short brief you walk to observe the rhinos from a distance and the experience is memorable watching the rhinos on foot. We shall drive back to the main road from the sanctuary and proceed towards the park. You shall stopover for lunch at Kabalega Dinner. We shall proceed to Murchison Falls National Park, reaching in the afternoon check in relax as wait for dinner at the lodge.
Day 3 Morning Game Drive, Afternoon Boat Cruise to the Bottom of the Falls & Hike to the Top of the Falls
Accommodation: Mid-range and Budget: Murchison River Lodge or Fort Murchison, Luxury: Parra Safari Lodge and Chobe Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
You will wake up at 6:00 am for your early morning breakfast then head for the morning game drive which may be a good chance for sighting cats such as Lions and Leopard early morning. Animals such as the Buffaloes, Elephants Giraffes and Antelopes will also be sighted. Murchison Falls National Park has the south and northern sides which are divided by the Nile River. The northern part that is covered by savannah and woodland with a number of animals as opposed to the southern region which is mainly covered by forest. After lunch drive out for a 2 – hour Launch Cruise on River Nile which sets off at Parra docking area, to the bottom of the Murchison Falls. You will sight wild animals such as hippos in a profusion of crocodiles. Land mammals such as giraffes, elephants, antelopes drinking and cooling off the heat by the banks of river Nile. After reaching the bottom of Murchison Falls, off the boat you will hike to the top of the falls for about 45 minutes with a scenic view of the falls along the trail. On reaching the top you will find your guide to drive you back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Note. If your accommodation is on the southern side of the park you will board a ferry to the northern side for the game drive and back on the side where your accommodation was booked after activities on the north.
Day 4 Drive from Murchison Falls National Park to Kibale Forest National Park
Travel Time from Murchison falls to Kibale Forest National park is 7 – 8 hours.
Accommodation: Budget Kibale Forest Camp or Chimpanzee Guesthouse, Mid-range: Isunga Lodge, Luxury: Papaya Lodge or Kyaninga Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After your morning breakfast you will check out and drive for an 8-hour road trip to Kibale National Park. The road trip trails along the Albertine Rift Valley with a scenic view of the rift valley escarpment and the surrounding environment. You will make a stopover for lunch after which you will proceed to Kibale Forest National Park, before reaching the park you go through Fort Portal town in Toro Kingdom with a sight view of the Mountains of the moon (Mountain Rwenzori ranges). After checking into the lodge, you will have dinner and overnight.
Day 5 Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale Forest in the Morning, Transfer from Kibale Forest National Park to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Travel Time from Kibale to Queen Elizabeth National Park is 2 hours
Accommodation: Budget & Midrange: Marafiki Safari Lodge or Tembo safari lodge, Luxury: Mweya safari lodge & Katara Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After breakfast early morning, you will transfer to the vistor information centre at 7:00 am for registration with the ranger guides of Kibale and briefing about the trek, dos and don’ts during chimpanzee trekking experience. You will be divided into groups and each group depending on the number of people available and you shall be given a ranger. You will then trek into Kibale forest to track the Chimpanzees in their community settings. The park has other primate species such as vervet monkeys, Red Colobus Monkey, Grey-cheeked Mangabey among others, Kibale forest national park has about 300 bird species hence being a good haven for bird. This trek can take about 3-4 hours and this also depends on chimp movements and our highlight are the chimps once you find them, you will spend one-hour sighting and following the chimpanzee through the Kibale forest. It is a thrilling but memorable experience. After the trek you will head back to the information centre where your certificates will be issued. Return to the lodge for lunch. Mid-afternoon will transfer to the Bigodi Wetlands on the eastern edge of the forest. Bigodi swamp is a good haven for birders. Since Kibale forest is the capital of primates in Africa, these primates are found in Bigodi; olive baboons, red-tailed, black-and-white colobus, blue monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabey and l’Hoest’s. we shall do the swamp walk and the community walk. You will walk into the wetlands to sight of wildlife such baboons and other creatures, birds such as the great blue turaco among others. We may come across the forest elephants and buffalos. After the swamp walk, you will have the community walk which is usually done by the local people or guides in the community. We shall encounter local coffee processing, craft making and be taught how to make local beers through brewing. You will transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park in the evening for dinner and overnight.
Day 6 Morning Game Drive, Boat Safari on Kazinga Channel & Scenic Crater Drive
Accommodation: Budget & Midrange: Marafiki Safari Lodge or Tembo safari lodge, Luxury: Mweya safari lodge & Katara Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After your early morning breakfast at about 6:00 am. Get ready for the drive to explore Kasenyi Plains sighting animals such as Buffaloes, Elephants, Antelopes, Lions, and Hyenas and a number of different bird species. After the wildlife drive that takes 3 hours you shall proceed to the lodge. After lunch you shall do a 2 – hour boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel, expect to see more animals such as Hippos in a profusion of Crocodiles, Elephants, Buffaloes, Antelopes at the river banks taking water to reduce the heat and bird species in their natural habitat. Pictures would be memorable on the entire safaris. As you head back to the lodge, you will go through the scenic craters with in the beaten routes of Queen Elizabeth national park and such spots are also memorable for pictures. Drive back to the lodge for dinner and overnight
Day 7 Drive from Queen Elizabeth National Park to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Stopover at Ishasha Sector for Tree-Climbing Lions
Travel time: 2 hours to Ishasha Sector
4 – 5 or less hours depending on the Sector and lodge in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Accommodation: Budget Buhoma Community Rest Camp, Midrange: Bwindi Lodge or Silver Back Lodge, Luxury: Buhoma Lodge or Bwindi Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After breakfast check out of your lodge and drive towards Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. We will have lunch en-route with a stopover in the Ishasha sector in Queen. This sector is famous for tree climbing lions which hang on the umbrella trees of the park. After the game drive through Ishasha, we will drive out of Queen Elizabeth National park and embark on the journey to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in south-western Uganda. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is home to more than half of the endangered giant mountain gorilla left in the world. On reaching the park you will drive to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 8 Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Accommodation: Budget Buhoma Community Rest Camp, Midrange: Bwindi Lodge or Silver Back Lodge, Luxury: Buhoma Lodge or Bwindi Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
You will wake up by 6:00 am for a quick hot morning breakfast and at 6.30 am, transfer to your tracking Sector of Bwindi National Park. We shall meet the ranger/guides at the Information Centre for registration and briefing. You will be briefed about the guidelines of the gorilla trekking activity (experience); you will be given a gorilla group to trek. At this point in time you meet the ranger guide and trekking sets in the tropical rain forest jungle tracking the gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable forest. The sounds and melodies of birds praising the creator are sighted while on the trek. Explore the jungle for other wildlife such as monkeys, plants and singing birds. The Bwindi ranger guide make the trek interesting as they pass on more information in diversity of Bwindi Impenetrable forest, after a while trekking (trekking can take 1 to 4 hours or less before facing the gorillas) and tracking you will finally face the gorillas. You will observe the giant gorillas for one hour as they feed, relax in their habitat. This is the best time for photography moments as you are advised to carry your cameras with you. After the trekking experience you will head back to the park information center to pick your gorilla certificates. You will then meet your driver guide and transfer back to the lodge enjoying and overnight after your dinner.
Brief about Bwindi
Bwindi National Park, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a home to more than half of the endangered giant mountain gorillas left in the world and it covers about 321 square km between 1,160 meters and 2,600 meters above sea level. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has 4 gorilla tracking sectors that is Buhoma in the North, Ruhija in the East; Rushaga in the South and lastly Nkuringo in the South West. And with about 19 habituated gorilla families.
Day 9 Drive from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to Lake Mburo National Park, Boat Cruise on Lake Mburo or Evening Game Drive depending on Arrival
Travel time from Bwindi forest to Lake Mburo is 4 – 5 hours
Accommodation: Budget: Eagle’s Nest, Midrange: Rwakobo Rock, Luxury: Mihingo Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After our morning breakfast, we shall drive towards Lake Mburo National Park with a stopover in Mbarara or Igongo centre (Also known as the land of milk & honey) for lunch and then proceed to the park. While in the park you will get the chance to see groups of zebras, Impalas, topis, giraffes, buffaloes, Elands (An eland is also known to be the largest Antelope) etc. After checking in at the lodge, with a bit of relaxation you will drive out to embark on a boat ride on Lake Mburo to sight of both land and water mammals such as Hippos, Buffaloes, birds in compliment of the scenic views with in the nature of Lake Mburo. We shall drive back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 10 Game Walk in the Park & Transfer from Lake Mburo National Park to Kampala or Entebbe
Travel time from Lake Mburo to Kampala is 4 hours
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch
Early morning you shall head for an early morning walk into the park to observe animals and wild nature on foot. After the experience you will return to the lodge for hot breakfast, you will check out of the lodge ready for the journey back to Kampala capital. A stopover will be made at the Equator line experience and not forgetting the nice art & craft. We shall proceed to Kampala in the mood for lunch with a later transfer to your accommodation for dinner and overnight or transfer to the Airport according to your flight schedule
Tour Costs
Tour Includes
- Airport transfers on arrival and departure or
- Meet & greet at Hotel or place of stay in Kampala or Entebbe
- Ground transport in a private well-maintained safari van or land cruiser
(Selection at time of inquiry) with a popup roof for game viewing with internet
- English speaking driver / guide
- Fuel costs as per your itinerary
- 9 nights’ Accommodation at your selected lodge or hotel
- Meals mentioned on the itinerary
- Visit Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
- Activities & Park entrance fees: 9 nights 10 days
- Game drives
- Boat trip to Murchison falls
- Top of the falls hike
- Kibale Forest National Park
- 1 Chimp Permit
- Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Ishasha sector (tree climbing lions)
- Bwindi National Park
- 1 Gorilla Permit
- Lake Mburo National Park
- Boat Cruise or Evening Game Drive
- Box of material water in your Safari Vehicle
- Drop off at your hotel or place of stay
Tour Excludes
- X International flights
- X Visa Fees and Requirements
- X Meals not listed in the itinerary
- X Optional activities during the trip
- X Medical & travel insurance
- X Tips to different service providers eg guides, helpers and hotel staff
- X All personal expenses (Beverages/ Soft Drinks on meals, alcohol, laundry services,
- X souvenirs
General Tips on your safari:
- Health is key all trekkers as its key to have your safari and trek the gorillas in a heath condition. Usually clients with infectious diseases like flu are not allowed to track reason being it can easily affect the endangered giant chimps or gorillas. Their DNA is 98.7% close to that of human beings
- The age limit for gorilla tracking and chimpanzee tracking is 15 years and above.
- Booking of your gorilla and chimpanzee permits is done in advance in order for you not to miss out on the experience when permits are fully booked.
- A porter can be hired in case you want to be carried for trekking, bags. For the trekking porter or helper, a fee of US$ 15 is charged
- Hot air Balloon safari can also be experienced in Murchison falls National Park and this includes bush breakfast
- Lion Experiential is an amazing experience you get to track the lions off the main tracks. On this track you are accompanied by a doctor from Uwa
- Your flash must be off during photography.
- The recommended distance between clients and gorillas is important for safety
What to bring on your safari:
- Rubber Boots, trousers and rain gears or rain coats and cloth gloves
- Mosquito repellant.
- Sun screen
- Drinking during the trekking experience
- Binoculars are also essential for birders or when one books a hot air balloon safari
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