Day to Day Program

Day 1: Transfer from Kampala to Kibale Forest National Park

Leave Kampala or Entebbe after breakfast and drive to Kibale National Park through the fascinating country side and scenic views of Matiri Forest, vast plantations all the way to Fort Portal town, which lies in the shadow of the Ruwenzori Mountains. After your lunch, proceed to your lodge in Kibale Forest for check-in. Later in the Afternoon, go for a guided walk in the crater lakes area of Kibale Forest National Park. Visit to the “Top of the World” for sundowner and stunning view of the Ruwenzori and the Park. Later transfer back to the Lodge for Dinner and Overnight stay at:

• Midrange Accommodation: Turaco Treetops, Chimp’s Nest, Chimpundu Lodge.
• Budget Accommodation: Kibale Forest Camp, Chimpanzee Guesthouse.

Meal Plan:  Lunch, Dinner.

Day 2: Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale Forest & afternoon kihingami wetland walk.

After breakfast, proceed to Kanyanchu Visitor Centre for briefing. Before you assemble at briefing centre, you will get cleared by Uganda Wildlife Authority team. During briefing, you will have insight into guidelines for chimpanzee tracking and allocation. The actual trek with Kibale chimpanzees begins at 8:00am and the park guide and rangers will be present to lead you.

Kibale Forest National Park chimpanzee trekking allows you observe many other primates including colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, baboons, mangabeys, pottos, bush babies and also multiple bird species. Once you have come across chimpanzees, a maximum of an hour will be enjoyed face-to-face with these apes then you get back to your accommodation.

Enjoy the Kihingami wetland walk in the afternoon, and expect to come across plenty of primates including colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys, vervet monkeys and many other mammals. Later return to the lodge in the evening for dinner and overnight as above

Meal Plan: FB. 

Day 3: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park (Kasese District).

Leave Kibale Forest National Park for wildlife expedition in Queen Elizabeth National Park in Kasese District. Over 95 mammal species are distributed across Queen Elizabeth NP, inhabiting Uganda Kobs, Africa buffaloes, waterbuck, elephants, giant forest hogs, chimpanzees, lions, leopard, hippos, and more. These share the same habitat with more than 620 species of birds including the martial eagles, saddle billed stork, handsome francolins, grey crowned crane and others.

After lunch break, you will have the best of a launch or boat cruise through Kazinga channel. The Kazinga channel launch cruise excursion brings you the best of aquatic life sightings including hippos, crocodiles and birds. Enjoy your Dinner and overnight stay at;

• Midrange Accommodation: Buffalo Safari Lodge, Park view Lodge, King Fisher, Enganzi Game Lodge, Irungu Safari Lodge.
• Budget Accommodation: Simba Safari Camp, Kazinga Channel Resort, Hippo hill Camp.

Meal Plan: FB.

Day 4: Game drive Kasenyi Plains, Ishasha & drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Early in the morning, breakfast will be enjoyed at the lodge and you exit for the 6:00am guided game drive. With company of an experienced guide, drive through the Kasenyi Plains, a game track that will allow you to observe multiple mammal species including elephants, lions, buffaloes, leopards, Kobs, warthogs, and birds.

From the Kasenyi plain game drive, return to the lodge to check out and depart for Bwindi National Park. Through Ishasha region, you will have the best of a guided game drive that will let you explore the tree climbing lions and other species. Enjoy your lunch enroute and later proceed to Bwindi National Park to check in at the lodge.

Dinner and overnight stay at:

• Midrange Accommodation: Engagi Safari Lodge, Silverback Lodge.
• Budget Accommodation: Buhoma Community Rest Camp, Broadbill Forest Camp, Bwindi View Bandas.

Meal plan: FB.

Day 5: Gorilla Tracking and Afternoon Community Walk.

Begin the day with breakfast ready for Gorilla tracking, which begins at 8:00 am with a briefing from the briefing Point with a ranger guide. Ensure to carry along with you a rain jacket, drinking water, snacks or packed lunch, jungle boots etc. The guides will lead you inside the jungle to see the shy Primates, perhaps one of the most exciting wildlife experiences on earth. The tracking may take between 2 and 6 hours, depending on the group you booked, but it is well worth the effort. Depending on the time you return from tracking, you can spend the afternoon on a community walk around the local communities living around the park.

Dinner and overnight stay as above.

Meal plan: FB

Day 6: Visit Lake Bunyonyi Island

After a leisurely breakfast, you will be transferred to Lake Bunyonyi Island in Kabale and enjoy a relaxed afternoon at the cool shores of this beautiful lake with 29 islands. Take a morning canoe ride on Lake Bunyonyi up to one of the scenic islands. Dinner and Overnight stay

• Midrange Accommodation: Lake Bunyonyi Rock Resort, Heritage Lodge, Arcadia Cottages.
• Budget Accommodation: Bunyonyi overland

Day 7: Lake Mburo National Park road trip, embark on a boat cruise on the lake

After breakfast, drive to Mbarara and proceed to Lake Mburo National Park, Kiruhura district in Western Uganda. Enter the Park through the Western Gate at Sanga with a game drive. The Park is centred on a series of swamp-fringed lakes known for their rich birdlife, notably the secretive African finfoot. The green acacia woodland surrounding the lake harbours dense populations of Zebra, Warthog, Buffalo, Impala and various other grazers, including the last surviving Ugandan population of Eland, the largest of African antelope. Arrive at the Lodge on time for Lunch. In the evening, you will have a two-hour boat ride excursion along the lake where you will have great chances to see different animals like crocodiles, hippos, topis and birds like the African fish eagles and the rare African fin foot. Many animals, such as buffaloes and antelopes, gather here to drink water, so an opportunity to enjoy wildlife, especially marine animals. After your boat cruise, drive to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay at

• Midrange Accommodation: Lake Mburo Safari Lodge/ Rwakobo Rock
• Budget Accommodation: Leopard Camp

Meal Plan: FB

Day 8: Game drive & departure

After breakfast, set off for the morning game drive with an experienced park guide. Look out for Lake Mburo National Park’s diverse animal species, including zebras, giraffes, impalas, warthogs, elands, topis, leopards, buffaloes and many birds. From the game drive, proceed to Kampala/Entebbe with an en-route break at the equator crossing for photography. End of your 8-day best of Uganda safari – breakfast with Chimpanzees & Gorillas

Price per person

2 pax:$ 3720

4 pax:$ 3000

6 pax:$ 2600

The above 8-day best of Uganda safari vacation Includes:

• Gorilla permits
• Chimpanzee permits
• Bottled water
• Park entry fees
• Cultural experiences
• Game drives
• All activities as mentioned in the itinerary
• An English-speaking guide service
• Boat cruise excursions

The above 8-day best of Uganda safari  Excludes:

• Tips
• Insurance
• Alcoholic drinks
• Entry visas/passports, etc

Time & Dates of Travel:
This is a private tour, departure can be organised for any time throughout the year subject to availability of accommodation and transport.

Accommodation Booking: The Accommodations Mentioned in the Program depend on availability and Reservations are only made after your booking Confirmation. In case the mentioned accommodations are not available during the requested period, we will always do our best to book one for you in the same Class. This is done only after consulting you. While on a Safari always be sure to have all your belongings before checking out of the Accommodations to avoid losing things that may be important to you.

Transport: Our Safaris involve a lot of travelling on main Tarmac and Dirt Roads thus transport is provided in closed 4X4 Wheel drive Toyota Land Cruisers for all luxury Tours and the standard 4×4 Wheel drive Safari minivans for all Midrange Safaris. All Vehicles are provided with pop-top roofs for easy and excellent safari viewing. All passengers will have a dedicated window seat. Your professional English speaking and courteous driver/guide will be at your disposal for questions or translations.

For fly-in Tours/safaris / Private Charter flights: a combination of light aircraft and small plane Charters can fly you to all National Parks in Uganda Such as;

• Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Kisoro and Kihihi Airstrip) for your Gorilla Trekking Safari.
• Queen Elizabeth National Park (Mweya and Kasese Airstrip) to view the Park’s Big Five Game Safari.
• Murchison Falls National Park (Pakuba and Chobe Airstrip ) to view the Park’s Big Five Game Safari and the Murchison Falls.
• Lake Mburo National Park ( Mbarara Airstrip)
• Kibale Forest National Park ( Kasese Airstrip)
• Kidepo National Park (Apoka Airstrip).  These Flights decrease the miles on the ground needed to reach remote destinations. This is also Combined with the use of closed 4×4 Wheel Drive Vehicles with pop-top roofs that pick you up from the Airfields since they are located far away from the National Parks and Lodges that are usually in remote areas and this may involve some travelling on the main tarmac or dirt roads to reach the final destinations.

Gorilla trekking points to Note: Gorilla tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (Uganda) Trails are steeper and less accessible, hence high levels of Energy is needed. Treks are often 2 to 3 hours each way (but can be more Or Less) and involve hiking through dense forest and traversing steep ravines and mountainsides, often in damp conditions. However, all this adventure is worthwhile for a glimpse of one of nature’s finest spectacles. There is a minimum age of 15 years on gorilla treks.

What to wear and bring with you on your gorilla trek: With changeable weather conditions and dense forest vegetation, it is advisable to take layers of protective clothing. We recommend wearing the following:

• T-shirt
• long-sleeved top
• warm fleece/jumper
• thick trousers
• thick wool socks (and gaiters preferably)
• strong lightweight, waterproof walking boots
• hat with brim
• garden gloves to aid scrambling up banks

And carry a small rucksack with:

• water
• packed lunch and snacks
• binoculars
• camera/video camera with spare battery, memory cards or film
• light-weight rain Mac / poncho

Walking sticks are available at the Park headquarters and porters can be hired for approx. US$20. A sealed plastic bag around the camera/lenses will help keep them dry on the trek. Pockets are useful for valuables and spare camera batteries/lenses etc. as all other equipment must be left with porters approx. 200 meters away from the gorilla groups.

What to bring with you for a wildlife safari

• Rain Jacket is essential as it could unpredictably Rain
• Light Clothes as the sun does shine pretty bright in Murchison falls and Queen Elizabeth National Parks
• Torch is essential for safety purposes
• Sunglasses to protect you from direct sun rays
• A zoom lens Camera for photographs
• A good insect repellent to keep those persistent Insects and Mosquitoes away.

NB: It is not a Guarantee to see all the Various Animals in the Parks, especially Cats but there is a great chance that you might see them during an Evening or Early Morning Game drive because it is less hot around that time and therefore the animals are freely roaming around as opposed to typical afternoon hours when it gets too hot for the animals and they go undertaking cover from the sun.

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