9 days Uganda safari introduces you to the spectacular Murchison Falls, Kibale National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The long Uganda safari covers 2 primate trekking adventures- chimpanzee tracking in Kibale & gorilla trekking in Bwindi National Park, and game viewing in Murchison Falls National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park.
The 8 nights, 9 days of Uganda safari lets you enjoy a magical view of 2 great apes-chimpanzees and mountain gorillas while in their natural habitat and also, have excellent sight of the big game especially bush elephants, buffaloes, leopards, lions and hundreds of other amazing wildlife, birds etc. Your trip to Murchison Falls, Kibale National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park and Bwindi will begin and end in Kampala.
Detailed Itinerary
Day one of 9 days Uganda safari begins early with breakfast, then briefing from your safari leader and you hit the road to Murchison Falls National Park along Kampala-Luweero Triangle-Masindi route. A stop visit will be made at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary the only place rhinos in Uganda can be seen in the wild and you will engage in rhino trekking/tracking. After, get back and drive to Masindi for lunch before you drive to the Park to check into your accommodation.
Accommodation
Budget: Red Chili Camp
Midrange: Sambiya River Lodge/Fort Murchison
Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge/Nile Safari Lodge
Have breakfast early, after, undertake a 3-4 game drive via the Northern bank of Murchison Falls. In your 4WD with an experienced guide, enjoy amazing sight of hundreds of wildlife including the cape buffaloes, lions, rothschild giraffes, elephants, hyenas, antelopes such as bush bucks, hartebeest, oribis, waterbucks; birds and others. Retreat for a leisurely lunch at the lodge and after, transfer to a point where you will board a boat for your launch cruise along the Victoria Nile taking you up to the base of the falls.
On a boat cruise along the 17kms stretch Victoria Nile rewards you with lots of sights including crocodiles, hippos, waterbirds such as kingfishers, Egyptian goose, bee-eaters, cormorants etc. Once you have arrived at the base, leave the boat and set off for 45 minutes hike to the top of the falls to witness it as it explodes strongly while squeezing itself into 7m narrow gorge before falling 43m below. Take pictures and then pick up by your driver guide or walk back to return on a boat.
Accommodation
Budget: Red Chili Camp
Midrange: Sambiya River Lodge/Fort Murchison
Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge/Nile Safari Lodge
On day 3 of 9 days Uganda safari, breakfast will be offered to you and after, transfer to Kibale National Park, western Uganda about 7-8 hours’ drive. Drive Southwards taking the Hoima-Fort Portal route while viewing the breathtaking Albertine rift escarpments, traditional homesteads etc. In Fort Portal, have a warm welcome of picturesque Mountains of the Moon and settle for lunch in one of the hotels before you to check into your lodge in Kibale National Park.
Accommodation
Budget: Chimp Nest/Isunga Lodge
Midrange: Primate Lodge/Chimpanzee Guesthouse/Kibale Forest Camp
Luxury: Papaya Lake Lodge/Kyaninga/Ndali Lodge
Enjoy breakfast early and after, day 4 will be for chimpanzee tracking in Kibale National Park. You will settle at Kanyanchu Visitor Centre for briefing about rules to follow when tracking chimpanzees and you will be assigned to a park guide to lead you in your group of 6pax. At 8:00am, the actual primate adventure starts taking 2-4 hours including 1 hour of magical encounter with chimpanzees but there are hundreds of other primates to keep an eye on including l’hoest monkeys, baboons, colobus monkeys, grey cheeked mangabeys, bush babies, blue monkeys etc plus birds.
Lunch be enjoyed upon return from the forest and after, go to Bigodi Sanctuary for a nature walk in the afternoon. At Bigodi, expect to see a wide range of more primates, birds and other mammals, flora etc.
Accommodation
Budget: Chimp Nest/Isunga Lodge
Midrange: Primate Lodge/Chimpanzee Guesthouse/Kibale Forest Camp
Luxury: Papaya Lake Lodge/Kyaninga/Ndali Lodge
A cup of tea or coffee early morning and after, transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park a home to tree climbing lions, 620 bird species and variety of other mammal species. Settle for a leisurely lunch at the lodge, relax and after, embark on a boat cruise on Kazinga Channel which links Lake George and Edward. The Kazinga Channel cruise exposes you to hundreds of hippos, crocodiles, birds and others.
Accommodation
Budget: Bandas/tents in Bush Lodge/Mweya Hostels
Midrange: Bush Lodge/Ihamba Safari Lodge
Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge or Kyambura Gorge Lodge
Enjoy an early morning breakfast and after, set off for a game drive on Kasenyi sector to explore variety of wildlife including lions, elephants, hyenas, antelopes, jackals, birds etc. Kasenyi game drive tour takes 2-4 hours and after, return for lunch or go with packed lunch so that you continue to Maramagambo Forest Reserve for an afternoon exploration of its natural wonders. Here expect to see huge pythons, picturesque cave, primates, forest birds etc then return for relaxation and overnight stay at your accommodation.
Accommodation
Budget: Bandas/tents in Bush Lodge/Mweya Hostels
Midrange: Bush Lodge/Ihamba Safari Lodge
Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge or Kyambura Gorge Lodge
Enjoy your breakfast at leisure and after, drive to Ishasha in the Southern side of Queen Elizabeth National Park for a game drive which lets you encounter the tree climbing lions. Proceed to Bwindi 4 hrs but en-route, a stopover for lunch will be made at Savanna Resort.
Accommodation
Budget: Buhoma Community Bandas/Camp/Bwindi Backpackers
Midrange: Engagi Safari Lodge Bwindi/Ichumbi Lodge/Silverback Lodge-Bwindi
Luxury: Mahogany Springs Lodge/Buhoma Lodge
Settle at Buhoma or any of Bwindi’s regions for briefing about gorilla trekking rules after you have had breakfast. Today, make sure you are fully prepared with rain jacket, hiking boots, gardening gloves, bottled water and snacks etc. At 8:00am after you have been assigned to gorilla family and park guide, that is when you begin searching for mountain gorillas. This will take you 2-6 hours and it includes one hour to learn how they feed, groom, socialize, play etc then you get back. Where time allows, you will pay a visit to Batwa community for cultural experience and interaction with Batwa pygmies.
Accommodation
Budget: Buhoma Community Bandas/Camp/Bwindi Backpackers
Midrange: Engagi Safari Lodge Bwindi/Ichumbi Lodge/Silverback Lodge-Bwindi
Luxury: Mahogany Springs Lodge/Buhoma Lodge
Wake up for breakfast at your comfortable lodge, after, check out, meet your tour leader for return journey to Kampala. Stopover will be had at the Igongo Cultural Center and at Equator Crossing for photography then end your journey in Kampala