This 11 Days Western Uganda Wildlife Adventure safari will take you to the Western part of Uganda taking you through the countryside and giving you Opportunities to track Rhinos in Zziwa Sanctuary, a Hike to the Top of the strongest Water Falls, big Game viewing, Wildlife Adventures, Launch Cruises, up-close with the Primates the Chimpanzees, Community Visits, Gorilla Tracking, Pygmy Visit and Relaxing by Lake Bunyonyi Island. You will go through Murchison Falls National Park, Kibale Forest National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Ishasha Sector, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, and Lake Bunyonyi Island.
Safari Highlights:
- Day 1: Pick up from the Airport and Transfer to Hotel
- Day 2: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park with a stop at the Rhino Sanctuary
- Day 3: Game drive and Launch Cruise on the Nile delta
- Day 4: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
- Day 5: Chimpanzee Trekking, Afternoon transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Day 6: Game drive, Afternoon Launch Cruise on the Kazinga Channel
- Day 7: Transfer to Ishasha Sector of Queen Elizabeth National park, Game drive in Ishasha
- Day 8: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, Community Walk
- Day 9: Gorilla Tracking, Afternoon transfer to Lake Bunyonyi Island
- Day 10: Boat Ride to the Pygmies, afternoon to Relax
- Day 11: Transfer back to Kampala / Entebbe for outbound flight Home.
DETAILED ITINERARY
DAY 1: Pick up from the Airport and Transfer to Your Hotel
Our professional Safari driver Guide will Pick you up from Entebbe Airport upon arrival, and Transfer you to your Hotel / Lodge in Kampala or Entebbe Town as per Arrival time.
- Luxury Accommodation: Protea Hotel by Marriot, Latitude 0 degrees, Sheraton Hotel, Hotel N0.5 Boutique Hotel
- Midrange Accommodation: Airport View Guest House, Booma Guest House, Fairway Hotel, Grand Imperial Hotel
- Budget Accommodation: Via via Hotel, ICU guest House, Namirembe Guest house
Meal Plan: BB
DAY 2: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park, Enroute stop at the Rhino Sanctuary at Zziwa.
After your morning breakfast, our guide will pick you up from your Hotel and you will depart by Road heading North for Murchison Falls National Park, with a stop at the Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Here you will be able to track the endangered southern White Rhinos on foot with an armed guide ranger and view them at a safe distance as well as enjoy your Lunch.
Uganda Wildlife Authority and Rhino Fund Uganda work to reintroduce black and white rhinos into Uganda and run a breeding programme, as well as work to educate communities on endangered rhinos, poaching and environmental conservation. Tracking the rhinos will take approximately 1-2 hours and you will have the opportunity to view them at a very close range. After enjoying your lunch, then continue for a further drive before reaching Murchison Falls National Park – Uganda’s largest national park. On arrival at the Park, you will drive / Hike to the Top of the Falls (approximately 45 minutes). The spectacular sight of the world’s longest river exploding through a narrow cleft in the rock into a frothing pool 43 metres below, is not to be missed! , Later Proceed to the Park arriving at the Lodge in the evening on time for Dinner and Overnight at:
- Luxury Accommodation: Nile Safari Lodge, Bakers Lodge, Paraa Safari Lodge
- Midrange Accommodation: Twiga Safari Lodge, Bamboo Village Safari Lodge, Sambiy River Lodge, Pakuba Game Lodge, Murchison River Lodge
- Budget Accommodation: Red chillie Rest Camp, Heritage Safari Lodge, Fort Murchison Lodge tents.
Meal Plan: Lunch, Dinner.
DAY 3: Game drive – Launch Cruise On the Nile Delta
A very early morning rise to go for your Game drive in search of predators and early risers on the Northern bank of the Nile. You may have a chance to see game like hyenas, giraffes, Lions, birds, Hartebeests, buffalos, elephants, primates and others as well as different species of Birds. After the game drive return to the Lodge for lunch. In the afternoon go for a launch cruise on the great Victoria Nile to the Bottom of the falls. The boat ride will reward you with water game like hippos, crocodiles, elephants and plenty of birds dashing and walking along the banks. Dinner and overnight as above.
Meal Plan: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
DAY 4: Murchison Falls National Park transfer to Kibale Forest National Park.
Today you will travel through Murchison Falls National Park to Fort Portal town, through the villages and beautiful scenery of Kagadi, Kyenjojo Towns Enroute. You will have lunch en route and you will arrive late afternoon. In the evening if time allows, you will have local guides for walks around the 1000-acre farm, to the Mahoma Water Fall, and the Walk will take you around crater rims, past alcohol brewing in oil drums, through banana plantations, coffee terraces, plots of cassava, groundnuts, sorghum and millet. Dinner and overnight at:
- Luxury Accommodation: Ndali Lodge, Primates Lodge, Crater Safari Lodge, Papaya Lake Lodge, Aramaga Rift Valley Lodge, Kyaninga Lodge, Chimpundu Lodge.
- Midrange Accommodation: Kibale Forest Camp, Chimpanzee Forest Guest House, Turaco Treetops Lodge.
- Budget Accommodation: Chimpanzee Guest House, Kibale River Camp, Rwenzori View Guest House.
Meal Plan: (FB)
DAY 5: Chimpanzee tracking transfer to Queen Elizabeth National with a Stop at the Katwe Salt Lake for a Community Tour.
An early morning report to the park Headquarters ranger station for a short briefing to go for your chimp trekking. You will be briefed about the whole process of tracking and then you will head along the tracks in the forest to search for chimpanzees. The walk through the park will be guided providing information about not only chimpanzees but also flora and fauna. You will then meet the chimpanzees and spend some time watching them feed and making their calls. If you are lucky to find them hunting this is the best time, as you watch them share the meal amongst themselves. After tracking you will have Lunch and later drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park enroute stop at the Katwe salt Lake to see Old Methods of Salt Mining. This tour gives visitors a unique insight into the fascinating yet tough process of salt mining, as well as provides an alternative income for Katwe. During the tour of the lake, you will see community members at work, cross the mud walkways and enter one of the traditional grass huts, used to shelter and store tools. Later in the Evening transfer to your Lodge / Camp for your Dinner and Overnight.
- Luxury Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge, Ishasha Wilderness, Kyambura Gorge Lodge, Elephant plains Lodge
- Midrange Accommodation: Parkview Safari Lodge, Ihamba Safari Lodge, Enganzi Lodge
- Budget Accommodation: Engiri Game Lodge and Campsite, Pumba Safari Cottages
Meal Plan: (FB)
Estimated Distance from Kibale: 120Km
DAY 6: Game Drive – Launch Cruise on Kazinga Channel
Wake up before sunrise to a cup of tea or a glass of water and then set off to the park tracks for a game drive to be able to see predators as they return to their hideouts and the early risers. During the drive watch out for game like Leopards, Lions, giant forest hogs, hyenas, Uganda kobs, warthogs and others. After the game drive you will drive back to the lodge for heavy breakfast, later have lunch and transfer for your afternoon Boat Cruise on the Kazinga Channel. The launch that takes you along the Kazinga channel that connects Lakes George and Edward will reward you with game like Hippos, elephants and buffaloes at the shores not forgetting plenty of birds. Later drive back to the Lodge for Dinner and overnight as above.
Meal Plan: (FB)
DAY 7: Transfer to the Ishasha Sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park
Breakfast and transfer to the Ishasha sector which lies close to the southwestern side of Queen Elizabeth National Park for your lunch. Ishasha is a vast low-lying savannah plain lying south of the equator in the Albertine Rift Valley. Famous for its tree climbing lions that are famed for tree climbing, a trait only shared with other lions in the Lake Manyara region in Southern Tanzania. They often spend the hottest parts of the day in the fig trees found throughout the area, The Ishasha River separates the larger Parc National des Virunga in DR Congo with which it shares an international boundary. Dinner and Overnight at:
- Luxury Accommodation: Ishasha Wilderness Camp, Topi Lodge Ishasha
- Midrange Accommodation: Ishasha Jungle Lodge, Savannah Resort Hotel
- Budget Accommodation: @the River Ishasha Camp
Meal Plan: (FB)
Estimated Distance to Ishasha Sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park: 87Km
DAY 8: Ishasha Sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.
After your morning Breakfast, transfer through Ishasha to Bwindi Impenetrable forest to prepare for your Gorilla tracking the Next Day. In the Evening take a guided village walk to nearby communities to see and experience the different aspects of Ugandan lives, cultures and lifestyles like the Batwa pygmies. Dinner and Overnight at
- Luxury Accommodation: Buhoma Lodge, Volcanoes Safari Lodge, Gorilla Safari Lodge, Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp, Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge
- Midrange Accommodation: Silverback Lodge, Engagi Lodge, Ruhija Gorilla Resort, Gorilla Mist Camp, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge
- Budget Accommodation: Buhoma Community Rest Camp, Bwindi View Bandas, Ruhija Community Rest Camp.
Estimated Distance from Ishasha to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest: 65KM
Day 9: Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi Island
After your early Morning breakfast, Report to the Park headquarters by exactly 8:00 am and be briefed on the Gorilla tracking Etiquette. After the briefing, penetrate the Forest in Search of the Gorillas under the guidance of a Knowledgeable Guide and Park Ranger. Time taken tracking highly depends on how fast you will locate a Gorilla Family. This can take from a few minutes to an entire day. After your encounter with those mysterious mountain gorillas.
After transfer to Lake Bunyonyi Island Proceeding southwards leaving for the Border town of Kabale Passing through many coffee and banana plantations en route, we arrive in Kabale – Lake Bunyonyi Island in the afternoon to transfer to your hotel / Resort. The word Bunyonyi means small birds in direct translation which means that the lake is a must-stopover for committed birders and besides that its serpentine shape and numerous islands are other highlights one must look out for. On arrival at the Lake, Take a canoe ride, and check out several islands.
- Luxury Accommodation: @Bird’s Nest Resort, Arcadia Cottages
- Midrange Accommodation: Craterbay Cottages, Bunyonyi Rock Resort, Bunyonyi Eco Resort
- Budget Accommodation: Bunyonyi Overland Resort, Bushara Island Camp.
Meal Plan: FB
Estimated Time from Bwindi to Lake Bunyonyi Island: 80KM
DAY 10: Boat to Visit the Pygmies – Visit other Islands
After breakfast, we visit a Pygmy community of the Batwa people. These people are the oldest recorded inhabitants of the Great Lakes region of central Africa. The current populations are also found in Rwanda, Burundi and the eastern Congo. Today there are approximately 80,000 Pygmies, making them a significant minority group. Originally they were hunters and gathers, but they have now been relocated from the Bwindi Impenetrable forest to make way to protect the gorillas in the park. Possessing a rich cultural heritage, today they are farmers and builders. Later return to the Lodge for Dinner and Overnight as above.
Meal Plan: (FB)
Day 11: Transfer from Lake Bunyonyi Island to Airport for a flight home
After an early morning breakfast, we Transfer by Road back to Kampala and with an Enroute stop for lunch and a stop at the Equator, On arrival in Kampala, proceed to Entebbe Airport for your Outbound Flight Home. End of your 11 Days Western Uganda Wildlife Adventure
Estimated Distance from Lake Bunyonyi Island to Entebbe: 475KM
The above 11 Days Western Uganda Wildlife Adventure safari is inclusive of:
- The cost of all ground transportation and Fuel in a 4x4Wheel Drive Vehicle,
- Full-time English speaking Driver guide and His Associated Expenses,
- 1 Chimpanzee tracking Permit Per Person,
- 1 Gorilla Permit Per Person,
- Community Tour
- Park entrance fees,
- Vehicle entrance fees,
- Full board Accommodation in the National Parks and Bed and Breakfast in Towns,
- All tour activities mentioned in the Itinerary such as Boat trips, Game drives, Top of the falls and other related activities,
- Bottled Drinking Water.
The above 11 Days Western Uganda Wildlife Adventure safari excludes;
- Items of personal nature like Laundry, Beverages, tips, Airfares, Personal, Insurance, and Visa Fees.