Safari Brief
- Stopover at the Uganda Equator on the Kampala-Masaka Road
- Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Boat cruise on Lake Bunyonyi
- Game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Game drive in Semuliki National Park
- Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park
According to the Uganda Wildlife Authority, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park contains almost 400 species of plants more famously, this “impenetrable forest” also protects an estimated 400 mountain gorillas – roughly half of the world’s population, including several habituated groups, which can be trekked. This biologically diverse region also provides shelter to a further 120 mammals, including several primate species such as baboons and chimpanzees, as well as elephants and antelopes. There are around 350 species of birds hosted in this forest, including 23 Albertine Rift endemics.
Lake Bunyonyi is the second deepest lake in Africa after Lake Tanganyika in Tanzania. With a depth of 900 meters Lake Bunyonyi is the fourth deepest lake in the world. It offers a great variety of East African bird species.
According to UWA, Queen Elizabeth National Park is understandably Uganda’s most popular tourist destination. The park’s diverse ecosystems, which include sprawling savanna, shady, humid forests, sparkling lakes and fertile wetlands, make it the ideal habitat for classic big game, ten primate species including chimpanzees and over 600 species of birds.
According to UWA, Semuliki National Park hosts 441 recorded bird species and 53 mammals. It sprawls across the floor of the Semliki Valley on the remote, western side of the Rwenzori. Birdlife is especially spectacular in Semuliki with 441 recorded species, representing 40 per cent of Uganda’s total bird species and 66 per cent (216) of the country’s forest bird species. The list is expanded by the riverine habitat and a fringe of grassland in the east of the park.
According to UWA, Kibale National Park contains one of the loveliest and most varied tracts of tropical forest in Uganda. Kibale is famously known for Chimpanzee trekking. The park is home to a total of 70 mammal species, most famously 13 species of primate including the chimpanzee. It also contains over 375 species of birds. 351 tree species have been recorded in the park. Kibale is one of Africa’s foremost research sites for primatologists, among other researchers.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe International Airport
On your arrival at Entebbe International Airport you will be welcomed and transferred to the hotel in Entebbe for a night.
Meals: Dinner
Day 2: Kampala to Kabale
After breakfast at your hotel you will depart Kampala for Kabale district through Masaka and Mbarara in the southwest. You will have a stopover at the Uganda Equator for a water experiment at Kayabwe. You will have lunch at a restaurant along the journey.
Accommodation
- Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge – high-end
- Bakiga Lodge – mid-range
- Gorilla Friends Resort – budget
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 3: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After an early morning breakfast, you will carry your packed lunch and bottled water to the trekking start point on the Eastern sector of Ruhija where you will be registered and briefed by the park rangers on your trekking safari. You will be required to carry a photocopy of your passport to verify the correct names and address as they appear on your Gorilla Trekking Permit.
Guided by park rangers the actual trekking experience will take you one hour in cold, steeply and muddy conditions. The highlight of this safari is that you will closely watch these endangered species as they go about their daily life in their habitat. After trekking the gorillas, you will enjoy your packed lunch in the forest, and thereafter return to your lodge. Trekking endangered mountain gorillas remains as one of the undisputed highlights of an Africa safari. Encountering these enormous creatures is an experience that will stay with you for life.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 4: Boat Cruise on Lake Bunyonyi – Travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park
After your breakfast you will be headed for an early morning boat cruise on Lake Bunyonyi to watch several bird species on the many islands on the lake. You will then be driven to Queen Elizabeth National Park via the Ntungamo-Kagamba-Ishaka-Kyambura Road. You will enjoy lunch at any of the restaurants on this journey.
Accommodation
- Mweya Safari Lodge – high-end
- Jacana Safari Lodge – mid-range
- Bush Lodge – budget
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 5: Boat Cruise and Game Drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park
You will experience the tree-climbing lions, herds of buffaloes, elephants, Uganda kobs, leopards and water bucks, among others, in their natural habitat in the savannah plains in an early morning game drive. Thereafter, you will drive back to the lodge for breakfast.
After lunch you take a boat cruise along the famous Kazinga Channel that runs between Lake Edward and Lake George. At close range you will see buffalos, hippos, elephants and bird species during the panoramic cruise, which will be one of the major experiences of your safari.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 6: Queen Elizabeth NP to Semuliki National Park
After breakfast, you will tour the salt mines at Lake Katwe and thereafter leave for Semuliki National Park via the Kasese-Kabarole-Bundibugyo Road.
Accommodation
- Semuliki Luxury Lodge – high-end
- Ntoroko Game Lodge – high-end/mid-range
- Bumuga Campsite – budget
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 7: Nature Walk and Game Drive – Semuliki National Park
After enjoying your breakfast, you will go for a nature walk through the vast savannah woodland and forest. You will have the opportunity to get to the boiling and gushing Sempaya Hot Springs where you may boil eggs and matooke (green bananas) for a quick snack. You will view primates like vervet monkeys, baboons, red-tailed, black and white colobus, Uganda kobs, warthogs and birds like the ground-hornbills, shoebills, black-billed barbets and red-necked falcons, among others. You will return to the lodge or camp for lunch.
You will go for a night game drive you will have a chance to see rare nocturnal species like the potto and bushbaby primates, white tailed mongoose, leopards and nightjar birds, among others. You will return to lodge or camp for the night.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 8: Semuliki National Park to Kibale National Park
After enjoying your breakfast, you will leave for Kibale National Park through the Toro-Semliki Wildlife Reserve where you will have the opportunity to view forest buffaloes and elephants, waterbucks, giant forest hogs, warthogs, Uganda Kobs, antelopes, the two flying squirrel species and a variety of primates. In addition, you will enjoy site seeing that includes the beautiful savannah woodland landscape and the magnificent Mountain Rwenzori ranges.
Accommodation
- Kyaninga Lodge – high-end
- Kibale Forest Lodge – mid-range
- Isunga Lodge – budget
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 9: Chimpanzee Trekking
After breakfast you will trek the chimpanzee parties in the park under the guidance of the guides. You will return to the lodge for lunch. You will go for a nature walk in the afternoon.
For the gorilla and chimpanzee trekking excursions you must have:
- Long trousers and long sleeved shirts for protection against insect stings
- Leather gloves for protection against stinging plants
- A rain coat
- Hiking boats or waterproof walking shoes
- Packed lunch and bottled water for gorilla trekking
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 10: Kibale to Kampala and Transfer to Entebbe Airport for Departure
After breakfast you leave for Entebbe. You will have lunch at a selected restaurant along the route. Thereafter you will be transferred to Entebbe International Airport to board your departure flight.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
