Safari Summary
Day 1: Kampala – Drive to Murchison Falls National Park
Day 2: Explore Murchison Falls National Park on Game drives & Boat Safari
Day 3: Murchison Falls – Drive to Kibale Forest National Park
Day 4: Kibale Forest Chimpanzee Tracking
Day 5: Kibale Forest – Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park (Enjoy Game drive and Boat Ride/ Cruise)
Day 6: Queen Elizabeth – Drive back to Kampala
Detailed Safari Itinerary
Day 1: Kampala – Drive to Murchison Falls National Park
Depart from your hotel after an early breakfast in Entebbe or Kampala. We will drive northwest through the famous Luwero triangle and have a stopover at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for rhino tracking.
Uganda used to have very many rhinos but due to heavy poaching in the late 1980s they became extinct. This led the government, with the help of some conservation organizations like Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), starting up this project that is aimed at reintroducing them back into protected areas where they can breed again.
Afterwards we shall continue with another stopover for lunch in Masindi town. The journey takes us through Hoima district and along Lake Albert before finally entering Murchison falls national park through its northern gate for a visit to the top of the falls. Here you will see how Nile River forces its way down through a narrow gorge bursting out producing a very powerful waterfall which later calms down forming what has been termed as “Victoria Nile” characterized by its wide peaceful flow with rainbow colors over it reflecting sunlight.
Thereafter we check-in at our overnight accommodations within this park area.
Driving time: About 6 Hours.
Accommodation Luxury Accommodation: Nile Safari Lodge, Paraa Safari Lodge, Baker’s Lodge, Chobe Safari Lodge
Mid-range Accommodation: Murchison River Lodge, Bwana Tembo Safari Camp, Fort Murchison, Sambiya River Lodge
Budget Accommodation: Red Chilli Rest Camp, Global Village Guest House, Budongo Eco Lodge
Meal Plan: {Lunch & Dinner}
Day 2: Explore Murchison Falls National Park on Game Drives & Boat Safari
After breakfast we will go to the northern part of this park which is an open savannah grassland in search for bird life and check out more animals on a game drive including leopards, hartebeests, lions, giraffes among others before returning back to our lodge for lunch. After having lunch then we shall take a 2 hour boat cruise downstream towards the bottom of Murchison falls.
This boat trip starts from Paraa jetty and it takes about 3 hours covering a distance of about 17km up to where the Nile river empties its waters into Lake Albert; as you sail along there are high chances of coming across several water loving animals such hippos and crocodiles basking along the shores plus different species of birds especially kingfishers and bee-eaters which feed on small fish found in these waters. Sometimes if lucky one can also see shoe bill stork which is an endangered prehistoric looking bird with a massive beak like that of dodo.
Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation Luxury Accommodation: Nile Safari Lodge, Paraa Safari Lodge, Baker’s Lodge, Chobe Safari Lodge
Mid-range Accommodation: Murchison River Lodge, Bwana Tembo Safari Camp, Fort Murchison, Sambiya River Lodge
Budget Accommodation: Red Chilli Rest Camp, Global Village Guest House, Budongo Eco Lodge
Meal Plan: {Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner}
Day 3: Murchison Falls – Drive to Kibale Forest National Park
After breakfast, we shall depart with packed lunch enroute to Kibale National Park. This scenic drive will take us about 8 hours going through Masindi and Hoima districts as we pass next to Lake Albert where the views are beautiful especially in the evening when fishermen return back home after a day’s work. The view from the top of Albert rift is magnificent on a clear day and you can even see the “Mountains of the Moon”. The safari passes through beautiful tea plantations to Fort Portal at the foot hills of the mountains for hot shower, dinner and an overnight at Rwenzori View Guest House or similar.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury Accommodation: Kyaninga Lodge, Ndali Lodge, Primate Lodge, Crater Safari Lodge
Midrange Accommodation: Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse, Chimps Nest, Kibale Forest Camp
Budget Accommodation: Ataco Country Resort, Rwenzori View Guesthouse, Lake Nkuruba Campsite
Meal Plan: {Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner}
Day 4: Kibale Forest Chimpanzee Tracking – Bigodi Birding – Nature Walk
After breakfast you will go into the forest for primate viewing. A briefing by a park ranger will take place before the activity starts. The activity begins very early in the morning at 0800 Hours. A half-day search for chimps and monkeys including phoestes, red colobuses, blues along with red-tailed monkeys and grey-cheeked mangabeys swinging through this impenetrable forest.
Varieties of birds like sunbirds and turacos plus other small insects will also be seen. The ranger will provide detailed explanations not only on primates but also all other forest’s fauna and flora ensuring that this walk is informative as well as enjoyable. After lunch visit to Bigodi wetland; an eco tourism site which is very impressive since you will encounter rare as well as beautiful aquatic life forms there.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury Accommodation: Kyaninga Lodge, Ndali Lodge, Primate Lodge, Crater Safari Lodge
Midrange Accommodation: Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse, Chimps Nest,Kibale Forest Camp
Budget Accommodation: Ataco Country Resort, Rwenzori View Guesthouse, Lake Nkuruba Campsite
Meal Plan: {Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner}
Day 5: Kibale Forest – Drive to Queen Elizabeth (Game drive and Boat Ride/ Cruise)
Proceed to Queen Elizabeth National Park (3 hours’ drive) following the mystical Ruwenzori Mountain range for much of the journey. The game drive may be rewarded with views of lions, elephants, leopards, buffaloes, hyenas and a variety of antelope species. After lunch enjoy the unique 2-hour boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel into Lake Edward. This trip passes through possibly the highest concentration of hippos. Many animals may be seen drinking at the water’s edge. This launch cruise offers an excellent platform for photography, bird watching and game viewing. The prolific birdlife is colorful and stupendous with well over 550 resident species.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury Accommodation: Kyaninga Lodge, Ndali Lodge, Primate Lodge, Crater Safari Lodge
Midrange Accommodation: Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse, Chimps Nest,Kibale Forest Camp
Budget Accommodation: Ataco Country Resort,Rwenzori View Guesthouse,Lake Nkuruba Campsite
Meal Plan: {Breakfast,Lunch and Dinner}
Day 6: Queen Elizabeth Return – Drive to Kampala
After early breakfast you will drive back through Great Rift Valley region which is scenic because it has got many crater lakes. Later proceed to Kampala having lunch en route.
Meal Plan: {Breakfast and Lunch}
