Wildlife Encounters

Our 14 day safari trip takes you through the most interesting places and popular national parks of Uganda and these include; Murchison Falls National Park, Kibale Forest National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi National Park, Lake Bunyonyi and Lake Mburo National Park.

Trip Highlights:

  • Game drives on the sprawling savannahs of Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth National Park and Lake Mburo National Park with fascinating views of wildlife
  • Launch Cruise on the River Nile to the beautiful Murchison Falls
  • Set your eyes on chimpanzees as well as other monkey species in Kibale Forest National Park
  • Launch Cruise on the Kazinga Channel that connects lakes Edward and George.
  • Experience the tree climbing lions in the Ishasha sector, South of the Queen Elizabeth National Park – on a lucky day!
  • Meet the rare Mountain Gorillas in Bwindi National Park, an experience you live to remember!
  • Enjoy scenic views and serenity at the beautiful Lake Bunyonyi, the second deepest lake in Africa
  • Night game drive in Lake Mburo National Park with a high chance of seeing the Leopard
  • Experience the Pygmies’ local way of living by visiting one of their communities.
  • Itinerary

14 Days /13 Nights

Day 1: Entebbe Airport – Entebbe

Arrival at Entebbe airport. Our representative will welcome and transfer you to your accommodation in Entebbe for overnight.

Accommodation: Medium Budget: Papyrus Guest House (BB) High Budget: Hotel No.5


Day 2: Entebbe – Murchison Falls National Park

After breakfast, we drive to Murchison Falls National Park. On our way we make a stopover at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary where we have Bush walk to track Rhinos and later have lunch before proceeding to the park. Ziwa is the only place in Uganda where you can see the white Rhinoceros in the wild. We shall check in the park through the famous Murchison falls Kichumbanyobo gate and if time allows we visit the top of the falls on our way to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Medium Budget: Pakuba Lodge (FB) High Budget: Paraa Safari Lodge (FB)

Murchison Falls is Uganda’s largest protected area and one of the most beautiful parks in Uganda with the finest wildlife spectacles. One of the famous attractions here are the magnificent Murchison Falls, where the whole Nile literally thunders out into a narrow gorge and drops nearly 60 metres. You will encounter lots of animals in this park such as giraffes, elephants, lions, crocodiles, buffaloes, hippos and leopard on a lucky day. For bird lovers, expect to see a number of bird species including the iconic shoebill stock.

Day 3: Full day Murchison Falls. Game drives and Launch Cruise

Enjoy a morning game drive in this beautiful national park for a great game viewing experience. Return to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, embark on the boat cruise to the bottom of Murchison falls. The boat ride is an essential part of visiting this park and offers a wonderful opportunity to have captivating views of wildlife including buffaloes, hippos and crocodiles and other bird species along the riverbanks. The boat takes a total of three hours going and returning. In the evening if time allows go for another short game drive or relax at the lodge.

Accommodation: Medium Budget: Pakuba Lodge (FB) High Budget: Paraa Safari Lodge (FB).

Day 4: Murchison Falls – Kibale Forest National Park

After breakfast we drive to Kibale Forest National Park while enjoying the breathtaking view of the east African rift valley escarpments and the low land stretches of papyrus grass touching the shores of Lake Albert, the lowest point we have in Uganda less than 650m above the sea level. Have lunch along the way and proceed to Kabarole region with cool welcome breeze of the Rwenzori Mountains and tea estates that keep this region ever green. Arrive at the lodge for dinner and overnight.

 Kibale Forest is a unique jungle with the highest population of Chimpanzees in Uganda and 12 other primate species including baboons, red colobus, black and white colobus, L’Hoest monkeys and grey cheeked mangabey.

Accommodation: Medium Budget: Kibale Guest Cottages (FB) High Budget: Primate Lodge (FB)

Day 5: Kibale Forest National Park – Chimpanzee Tracking

Breakfast and transfer to the park offices at Kanyanchu for briefing and allocating of the Chimpanzee community to visit. Trekking requires some level of fitness, and it is a walk-through a complete jungle. You will be escorted by a ranger guide who will follow the chimpanzee feeding pattern until they are found.  You will only be allowed one hour to be with these interesting creatures. Thereafter, walk back to office for certificate awarding and later drive to the lodge for hot lunch. Spend the rest of the afternoon and evening at leisure at the Lodge or Optional visit to the Bigodi wetland Sanctuary where we encounter other primates and a variety of bird species along the trail, including a visit to the local community.

Accommodation: Medium Budget: Kibale Guest Cottages (FB) High Budget: Primate Lodge (FB)


Day 6: Kibale Forest – Queen Elizabeth National Park

After breakfast we drive through the crater lakes with stops for photos or optional crater lakes walk before we proceed to Queen Elizabeth National Park. This is one of the most famous National Parks in Uganda that was named after Queen Elizabeth II. The park boasts a rich biodiversity including; lakes, forests, savannah grasslands and world Ramsar site wetland which covers the shores of lake George.  Enjoy lunch at the lodge and in the afternoon we go for a game drive in the Kasenyi plains. This section of the park is home to lions, cape buffalos, elephants, warthogs, waterbucks, spotted hyenas, mangoose, Uganda Kob and over 600 bird species.  In the evening , return to your accommodation for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Medium Budget: Kasenyi Safari Camp (FB) High Budget: Mweya Safari Lodge/ Deluxe (FB)


Day 7: Full day Queen Elizabeth National Park. Game drive and Launch Cruise

After an early breakfast, we head out for a game drive along the different tracks of Kasenyi in search for wildlife, we conclude this game drive with a visit to the Kasenyi Salt Lake.  Return to lodge for early lunch and afterwards embark on a two hours’ boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel that connects Lake Edward and Lake George. The launch cruise gives a great opportunity for photography, animal viewing and bird watching at close range.

 Accommodation: Medium Budget: Kasenyi Safari Camp (FB) High Budget: Mweya Safari Lodge/ Deluxe (FB)


Day 8: Queen Elizabeth – Ishasha Sector. Search for Tree Climbing lions

After breakfast, we drive from the northern sector of Queen Elizabeth to the southern sector (Ishasha) with a drive through the park for a mid-morning game drive and game viewing enroute to the lodge arriving in time for lunch. Afternoon relaxation at the lodge and later embark on an evening game drive in search for tree climbing lions, you will encounter other animals such as antelopes including the Topi which can only be seen here in the whole park and herds of Uganda Kobs as well as Pumba (warthog). Return to the lodge for donner and overnight.

 Accommodation: Medium Budget: Ishasha Jungle Lodge (FB) High Budget: Ishasha Wilderness Camp (FB)

Day 9: Ishasha – Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After our morning breakfast we drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, arriving in time for lunch. It is possible to go for a community walk, visiting the indigenous people such as Batwa / Pygmies and experiencing their local way of living. More places to visit include the local missionary hospital and a group of local women that are improving their lives through basket weaving and local craft making.  In the evening relax at your accommodation as you look forward to a great experience tomorrow.

 Bwindi National Park is undoubtedly a unique jungle and one of the world’s remarkable wildlife experiences is a thrill of a close encounter with the rare, endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. The forest is also a key destination for birders as it offers some of the finest montane forest birding in Africa with over 400 bird species.

Accommodation: Medium Budget: Buhoma Haven Lodge (FB) High Budget: Mahogany Springs Lodge (FB)

Day 10: Bwindi Impenetrable – Gorilla trekking

Morning breakfast, collect your lunch boxes and transfer to the park office for registration, cultural presentation and briefing on the do’s and don’ts while in the jungle.  You will be assigned a ranger guide who will lead you into the dense Bwindi Forest in a group of up to eight persons for a lifetime adventure! Gorilla trekking is quite challenging as you hike high and low through the impenetrable forest searching for the endangered Mountain Gorillas!! This activity may take 2-8 hours depending on the movements of these interesting creatures who are presumed to be our close relatives. You will be allowed 1-hour maximum to be with these gentle giants, watching them associate, eat and play in their natural habitat. Picnic lunch time will be determined by your ranger guide later return to your accommodation for dinner and overnight.

 

Accommodation: Medium Budget: Buhoma Haven Lodge (FB) High Budget: Mahogany Springs Lodge (FB)


Day 11: Bwindi – Lake Bunyonyi

After breakfast, we drive to Uganda’s most beautiful Lake Bunyonyi, an incredible place to be for nature lovers who want to enjoy breathtaking scenic views and serenity at the lake arriving in time for your lunch.  You can choose to relax at the lodge or go for a boat excursion to visit the Lake’s islands including the famous “Punishment Islandthe smallest of the 29 islands that make this spectacular lake.  Return to the lodge for diner and overnight.

Lake Bunyonyi is the second deepest lake in Africa and the deepest in Uganda. This beautiful lake is habitat to various little birds from which the lake derives its local name ‘Bunyonyi.

Accommodation: Medium Budget: Bunyonyi Eco Lodge (FB) High Budget: Birdnest Lodge (FB)

Day 12: Lake Bunyonyi – Lake Mburo National Park

After breakfast we drive to Lake Mburo National Park. We can make a stopover in Mbarara for a lunch break before we proceed to the park. In the late afternoon, enjoy a boat ride on the Lake Mburo. Check in at the lodge for early dinner and later go for a night game drive where we have high chances of seeing nocturnal animals like bush babies and leopards.

Lake Mburo is Uganda’s jewel, popularly known for its great numbers of Zebras, Impalas, buffaloes and eland.

Accommodation: Medium Budget: Rwakobo Rock Lodge (FB) High Budget: Mihingo Lodge (FB

Day 13: Lake Mburo

Enjoy a morning and afternoon game drives in Lake Mburo National Park. Meals and overnight at your accommodation.

Other optional activities include boat cruise, nature walk, birding, mountain biking, horseback riding depending on your accommodation.

Accommodation: Medium Budget: Rwakobo Rock Lodge (FB) High Budget: Mihingo Lodge (FB)


Day 14: Lake Mburo – Kampala / Entebbe Airport

Early morning nature walk (optional) or game drive before we embark on our journey back to Kampala / Entebbe. We make a stopover at the Equator for photos or visit some curio shops for souvenirs.

Drop off in Kampala or proceed to Entebbe airport for your outbound flight.

End of safari

Includes:

  • Airport transfers
  • Accommodations and meals as per itinerary
  • Bottled drinking water
  • Game drives in 4×4 Land cruiser
  • Knowledgeable English-Speaking driver/guide
  • Park entry fees where applicable
  • Activities mentioned as included.

 

Excludes:

  • International and domestic flights
  • Visas, airport taxes
  • Beverages and meals not mentioned
  • Tips, porterage
  • Items of personal nature such insurance, laundry, communication, etc
  • All optional activities / excursions
  • Any other item not mentioned on the itinerary.

 

 

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