18 DAYS UGANDA PRIMATES & WILDLIFE SAFARI
Itinerary
Overview
Have a great time with the world’s unique primates and wildlife only on our exceptionally crafted 18 days Uganda Primates & Wildlife Safari. This is a long Uganda safari covering a number of interesting primate adventures and wildlife viewing experiences. The primate experiences covered on this tour package include gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking while game safaris include guided game drives, launch trips, rhino tracking and bird sightings.
The main destinations in Uganda to be visited on this primate and wildlife safari include Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Kidepo Valley National Park, Kibale National Park, Semuliki National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi, Murchison Falls National Park, Lake Mburo NP and Lake Bunyonyi.
Detailed
Itinerary
Day 1: Pick Up At Entebbe, Drive To A Hotel In Kampala
Upon landing Entebbe airport, you will be warmly welcomed to Uganda- the Pearl of Africa by the company driver guide, followed by a short briefing and then transfer to a hotel in Kampala city . Have the rest of the evening relaxing at your hotel in Kampala capital city.
Overnight:
Speke Hotel (Budget)
Protea Hotel (Midrange)
Sheraton Hotel ( Luxury)
Day 2: Transfer To Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary & Proceed To Gulu
Enjoy a delicious breakfast and leave Kampala for 3-4 hours’ drive to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to enjoy rhino tracking on foot. The sanctuary is the only place in Uganda with rhinos in the natural habitat. Besides rhinos, you have higher chances to watch other wildlife such as antelopes, warthogs, plus birds like shoebills. After, leave Ziwa for Gulu city, the biggest city in the Northern side of Uganda.
Overnight:
African Roots Hotel
Day 3: Transfer To Kidepo, Evening Game Drive
Enjoy an early breakfast then drive to Kidepo Valley NP located in the Karamoja semi-arid area of Northeastern Uganda. Arrive early for lunch, relax and later, go for guided game drive to watch wildlife such as elephants, zebras, giraffes, buffaloes, alongside singing birds.
Overnight:
Apoka Bandas (Budget)
Kidepo Savannah Lodge (Midrange)
Apoka Lodge (Luxury)
Day 4: Full Day Game Drives Exploring Savannas Of Kidepo, Evening Visit To Manyatta Village
After an early breakfast, we srive to the park for guided game drives along Narus Valley of Kidepo that lasts for about 2-4 hours. Enjoy uninterrupted view of wildlife ranging from hyenas, cheetahs, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, lions, birds to leopards, antelopes, etc. After the game drive, we shall return to the lodge for lunch, refreshments and in the evening, be part of the cultural walk to Karamojong community for great learning about their traditions, cultures, and entertainment from their dances.
Overnight:
Apoka Bandas (Budget)
Kidepo Savannah Lodge (Midrange)
Apoka Lodge (Luxury)
Day 5: Transfer To Murchison Falls NP
After breakfast, we shall leave Kidepo Valley N/Park after check out of the lodge and drive to Gulu to have en-route lunch. We shall continue driving to Murchison Falls NP the biggest park in Uganda and where the world’s strongest falls is found. The 3840sq.kms Murchison Falls NP lies on Albertine Rift Valley area, Northwestern Uganda and has 4 of the big 5 game members
Overnight:
Fort Murchison Lodge (Budget)
Pakuba Safari Lodge (Midrange)
Paraa Safari Lodge (Luxury)
Day 6: Game Drive, Launch Trip Excursion, Trek To The Top
Of Falls (Full Day Activities)
Begin your day with a hot cup of tea or coffee and drive to the park for guided game drives in Murchison taking you to the Northern savanna plains rich with wildlife encounters such as giraffes, buffaloes, warthogs, leopards, lions, elephants, antelopes, plus birds.
After a rewarding safari, we shall drive back to the lodge for lunch and in the afternoon we shall go for a launch cruise on Victoria Nile to the base of Murchison Falls. The extensive Victoria Nile on a boat cruise offers clear view of hippos, Nile crocodiles, aquatic birds and other species. Reach at the base, then begin trekking to the top of the falls.
Overnight:
Fort Murchison Lodge (Budget)
Pakuba Safari Lodge (Midrange)
Para Safari Lodge (Luxury)
Day 7: Transfer To Kibale Forest NP Via Hoima With Lunch EnRoute In Fort Portal
Enjoy a delicious breakfast, check out and embark on your journey to Kibale National Park- the primate capital of Uganda and enjoy en-route view of breathtaking landscape, the rift valley escarpment and get to Fort Portal for lunch. After lunch, leave the beautiful tourism city and continue to our final destination in Kibale with en-route view of spectacular Crater Lakes, tea plantations.
Overnight:
Nkuruba Lodge (Budget)
Isunga Lodge (Midrange
Chimpundu Lodge (Luxury)
Day 8: Chimpanzee Trekking, Bigodo Swamp Walk & Transfer To Semuliki NP
After breakfast, we drive to the park headquarters for a briefing about the rules of chimpanzee trekking. After the briefing and getting allocated a gorilla family, start the trek into the jungle to search for human closest relatives. The forest is endowed with a range of other primates to be sighted besides chimpanzees, and over 375 bird species that you will encounter.
After meeting the chimps, you will be allowed one hour of face to face interaction with chimpanzees, taking pictures. Return to the lodge for lunch, and then go for a short swamp walk to sight birds like the great blue turacos and other primates while at Bigodi Wetland then proceed to Semuliki National Park; a home to one of the powerful hot springs in the world. Check in for an evening relaxation at the lodge.
Overnight:
Semuliki safari lodge
Day 9: Tour Sempaya Hot Springs, Boat Excursion On Lake Albert, Night Game Drive
Wake up to a hot cup of tea or coffee and drive out to Sempaya hot springs during the day nature walk with some eggs and bananas to boil – this is the experiment awaiting you and after. After the experiment, we shall return to the lodge for lunch and a relaxation. In the afternoon, explore Lake Albert on a boat excursion and at night we shall go out for a game drive to see lots of nocturnal species like leopards, hyenas, plus nocturnal birds.
Overnight:
Semuliki Safari Lodge
Day 10: Transfer To Queen Elizabeth National Park With Stopover At Equator, Evening Crater Safari
Enjoy a relaxed breakfast in Semuliki before we embark on a journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park – the second largest park in Uganda (1978sq.kms) and a home to a good number of wildlife including the famous tree climbing lions in Ishasha sector. Along the journey, we shall make a stopover at the Equator for photography moments followed by lunch then embark on Crater Lake safari.
Overnight:
Bush Lodge (Budget)
Elephant Hab Lodge (Midrange)
Mweya Safari Lodge (Luxury)
Day 11: Game Drive Kasenyi & Kazinga Channel For Boat Cruise
After a sunrise breakfast, we shall drive to the park to experience Queen Elizabeth at sunrise via Kasenyi enjoying stunning views of diverse wildlife such as buffaloes, elephants, Kobs, lions, leopards, warthogs etc will be sighted plus birds. In the afternoon, experience the best boat cruise on the famous Kazinga channel which links Lake Edward to L George with sightings such as large population of basking crocodiles, hippos bathing and water birds.
Overnight:
Bush Lodge (Budget)
Elephant Hab Lodge (Midrange)
Mweya Safari Lodge (Luxury)
Day 12: Transfer To Bwindi Forest NP Via Ishasha Sector Game Drive
After breakfast, we drive to Bwindi National park with an enroute safari in the South of Queen Elizabeth NP in search for tree climbing lions. The park is also home to other wildlife like elephants, Uganda kobs, Topis among other wildlife and bird species. After the game drive, we shall go for lunch before we proceed with our journey to Bwindi for an afternoon relaxation by the lodge and retire for the night.
Overnight:
Buhoma Community Rest Camp (Budget)
Mahogany Springs Lodge (Midrange)
Buhoma Lodge (Luxury)
Day 13: Gorilla Trekking Day, Batwa Cultural Experience
After breakfast, we shall leave for a briefing about gorilla trekking rules and also to be allocated habituated gorilla families to visit. The park is also home to other wildlife that you will encounter as you search for the gorilla family for example colobus monkeys, bird species, butterflies, and floral species among others.
When you have finally met a gorilla family, you will be given one hour for a face to face encounter and should be fully utilized for photography and learning more about the behaviors of more. We shall then return to the lodge for lunch and after lunch, we will visit the Batwa pygmies – the original dwellers of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The Batwa cultural visit to Batwa Pygmies’ community means a great chance of learning about their ancient way of living, norms, practices, traditions, cultures and others.
Overnight:
Buhoma Community Rest Camp (Budget)
Mahogany Springs Lodge (Midrange)
Buhoma Lodge (Luxury)
Day 14: Transfer To Lake Bunyonyi, Relaxation & Excursion
After a relaxed breakfast, we shall leave the misty forest behind and drive to Lake Bunyonyi for a relaxation. At the resort, you can take part in a number of optional activities like swimming, zip lining, canoeing and birding among others. 29 islands make Lake Bunyonyi spectacularly stunning and you will have a boat ride excursion exploring one of the islands. In the evening, visit the Batwa – the original forest keepers or go interact with Bakiga.
Overnight:
Bunyonyi Eco Resort (Budget)
Bird Nest Resort (Midrange)
Acardia Lodges (Luxury)
Day 15: Transfer To Lake Mburo NP, Afternoon Launch Cruise
Exit accommodation at Lake Bunyonyi for Lake Mburo NP with lunch served at the lodge when you arrive. A boat cruise excursion on Lake Mburo follows for you to see lots of hippos, crocodiles, plus many aquatic birds.
Overnight:
Eagles Nest Lodge (Budget)
Rwakobo Rock (Midrange)
Mihingo Lodge (Luxury)
Day 16: Morning Safari Walk & Afternoon Relaxation
You will have your breakfast after which your driver will take you to the park gate where you will have a ranger to lead you into the park for an exciting wildlife walk; getting very close to animals such as impalas, giraffes, zebras, buffaloes and much more. After, return to the lodge for lunch and have a relaxed afternoon as you enjoy the views from the lodge.
Overnight:
Eagles Nest Lodge (Budget)
Rwakobo Rock Lodge (Midrange)
Mihingo Lodge (Luxury)
Day 17: Transfer To Entebbe, Shoebill Tracking
After a morning breakfast, we begin the journey towards Entebbe, we shall be having a stop over by the equator monument for a picture moment before we continue to Mabamba swamp for the special bird shoebill excursion. After, we set off for the lodge for our lunch and then evening relaxation as we prepare for tomorrows flight back home.
Overnight:
Tilapia Lodge (Budget)
Karibu Guesthouse(Midrange)
Hotel no.5 (Luxury)
Day 18: Flight Day
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel as we mark the end of our 18 days Uganda trip, we say see you again Uganda; the pearl of Africa as we head to the airport for our flight back home. If you have an afternoon flight, we could organize some activities in Entebbe
