Bwindi, Lake Bunyonyi, Queen Elizabeth, Kibale and Murchison Falls
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This 9 day Uganda Safari takes you to the misty Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, which is home to more than half the population of Mountain Gorillas. Later to Lake Bunyonyi for some relaxation, which is said to be one of the most beautiful lakes in Uganda. Also, you get to visit the Queen Elizabeth National Park for a great game viewing experience in the Ishasha sector and enjoy game drives and a boat cruise on the Kazinga channel. You will also enjoy a game drive and a boat cruise along the Nile River in the Murchison Falls National Park. With a visit to Kibale Forest National Park for the chimpanzee trekking activity, you will conclude your tour with some unforgettable memories.
Day 1 - Kampala to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
You will be picked up around 8:00 am from Kampala (or Entebbe) by our guide who will brief you about your tour. You will later be driven in a comfortable and secure touring vehicle to the extreme South-West in which will take around 8 hours of drive. Lunch will be provided en-route at Mbarara, arriving late in the evening for overnight and relax at the resort with stunning views of the lake with scattered Islands as you wait for the next day’s adventure.
Day 2 - Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Gorilla Trekking)
After breakfast, you will head to the park headquarters for briefing by park ranger guides, depart with picnic lunch boxes to start Gorilla trekking – the activity can last up to 4 hours trek or more to find the Mountain Gorillas as you hike up and down the slopes with dense mist covered vegetation. Hence you will have a packed lunch for this activity. This active quest will eventually bring you to the face of one of the most sought-after creatures-the mountain Gorillas. Upon reaching them, you will have a full hour with them while observing and learning their behavior as you take photos.
Day 3 - Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to Lake Bunyonyi to Ishasha
After breakfast, drive to the beautiful part of the country often referred to as ‘the Switzerland of Africa’ because of its unique cool weather despite being near the Equator. This lake is said to be one of the most beautiful places in western Uganda. It is the second deepest lake in Africa (900 meters deep) and also one of the few places in the country where it is considered safe to swim as it is bilharzia free.
At Lake Bunyonyi you can pay the extra amount for the activity (Community Walk, Canoe Ride, Boat Ride, Bicycle Ride, Bird Watching, and Cray Fishing...) directly at the location and do the activity of your choice.
You will later transfer the Ishasha sector in the Southern part of Queen Elizabeth national park, arriving in the evening. You may do an evening game drive in the Ishasha sector.
Day 4 - Ishasha to Kazinga Channel (Boat Ride)
After your breakfast, you will be taken to Ishasha Sector, famous for the tree-climbing lions lounging in the tree branches while keeping a close eye on herds of Uganda kob, their favorite prey. You could have a chance to spot some tree climbing lions after proceeding to your lodge.
In the afternoon you will take a Boat Cruise along the amazing Kazinga channel to see, at close range, the water animals to include Hippos, Buffalos, Crocodiles, and elephants bathing on the channel banks. There is also a variety of bird species on the water banks especially the famous Shoebill, pelican, and Jacana.
Day 5 - Game Drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park and transfer to Kibale National Park
After breakfast you will take a packed lunch and head for a game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park to see Africa’s highly famed “Big 5”, Bush Bucks, Giant Hogs, Antelopes, Waterbucks, and plenty of birds. . Later in the evening, you will be transferred to Kibale Forest National Park.
Day 6 - Kibale National Park (Chimp Tracking and Bigodi Swamp Walk)
The activity begins at 8.00 am with a briefing of the rule for trekking the chimpanzees after which you set off to search for them in the forest. Kibale Forest National Park boasts the highest number of primate species in the world, including chimpanzees. Approximately 5,000 chimpanzees live in the wild in Uganda, which makes it a perfect place to spot them! An experienced ranger will take you chimp tracking in the morning. Once you locate the chimpanzees, you will spend an hour with them and then head back to the accommodation for Lunch.
Post Lunch you will be taken for Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary walk This is a guided swamp walk that takes you closer to seeing primates mostly monkeys, birds, and butterflies. The wetland is a birder’s paradise with about 138 species and is best known for being home to the Great Blue Turaco.
This is a 2.5 - 3 hour walk and is a must for bird lovers. The walk is almost as popular as the Kibale Forest Walk. You will need good walking shoes since part of the walk is sometimes muddy. Hopefully, you will spot the elusive Sitatunga antelope and the Shoebill Stork. This is nothing to be missed. You will meet some of the primates here, even a chimpanzee at times. Other primate species include the black-and-white colobus, grey-cheeked mangabey, red-tailed, Holst's and blue monkeys, and olive baboons. Also, Bushbucks and mongooses, and many more can also be found here. There is also an abundance of butterflies. Bigodi Sanctuary is located outside the park in Magombe Swamp.
Day 7 - Kibale National Park to Murchison Falls National Park
After breakfast, you will be transferred to Murchison Falls National Park which will take around 7/8 hours of drive, Head straight to tour the top and bottom of majestic falls, where the Nile crashes through a 7 meters gorge to the falls 45 meters. Numerous scenic viewpoints are a photographers’ delight, The most impressive view of the foaming waters rushing into the gorge with a deafening roar.
Day 8 - Murchison Falls National Park (Game Drives and Boat Ride)
You will set off at 6:30 am cross to the northern bank of river Nile head for a sunrise game drive in the Nyamsika plateau to see the Cape buffaloes, Rothschild’s giraffes, Uganda kob, hartebeest, and waterbucks. You may also spot oribi, bushbuck, Bohor reedbuck, shy sitatunga, bush duiker, warthog, and bush pig plus large carnivores including lions, leopards, and spotted hyenas. Chimpanzees and olive baboons head the list of six species of primates found in the park. Crocodiles and hippos will be seen along the banks of the Nile. Some of the more common birds that can be seen include goliath heron, Egyptian geese, pelican, bee-eaters, kingfishers, hornbill, cormorant, saddle-bill stork, and the rare shoebill stork.
You will return to your lodge for a late breakfast and some relaxation before setting off in the afternoon for a boat cruise on the placid Victoria Nile, upstream, to the base of the falls. En route, you will see hippos, crocodiles, waterbuck, and a wide variety of birds including the unusual shoebill stork. The boat stops just tens of meters from the “Devil’s Cauldron” for pictures to be taken of the photogenic and majestic Murchison Falls.
Day 9 - Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary (Rhino Tracking) to Kampala
After early morning breakfast, depart with great memories of the moments spent at Murchison falls, You will be driven to the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, after a briefing from the ranger you trek the sanctuary for close to two hours. With Lunch en-route, you will be transferred back to Kampala (or Entebbe).
MEALS:
Day 1 - Lunch & Dinner
Day 2 - Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 3 - Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 4 - Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 5 - Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 6 - Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 7 - Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 8 - Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 9 - Breakfast & Lunch
DRIVING TIMES:
Day 1 - Kampala to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park takes about 8.5 to 10 hours (473 to 510 km)
Day 3 - Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to Lake Bunyonyi takes about 1.5 to 3 hours (65 to 100 km)
Day 3 - Lake Bunyonyi to Queen Elizabeth National Park (Ishasha) takes about 3.5 to 4 hours (195 km)
Day 4 - Queen Elizabeth National Park (Ishasha) to Queen Elizabeth National Park (North) takes about 1.5 to 2 hours (82 km)
Day 5 - Queen Elizabeth National Park (North) to Kibale National Park takes about 2 to 2.5 hours (110 km)
Day 7 - Kibale National Park to Murchison Falls National Park takes about 8 to 8.5 hours (389 km)
Day 9 - Murchison Falls National Park to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary takes about 2.5 to 3 hours (136 km)
Day 9 - Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to Kampala takes about 3.5 to 4 hours (169 km)
Note 1: These are estimated drive times. Because of the traffic, location of the accommodations, and several other factors, actual drive times may vary. Driving distances are approximate and do not account for exact places.
Note 2: Driving distance and drive time to and from Bwindi will vary depending upon the sector and location of the accommodation.
Park Fees (for Non-Residents).
Gorilla trekking permit in Bwindi.
Chimp tracking permit in Kibale.
All accommodations while on Safari.
Game drive as mentioned in the itinerary.
A professional driver/guide.
4x4 Land Cruiser or Safari Van.
All Taxes and VAT.
Meals as per itinerary.
Drinking water while on safari (2 liters per person per day).
Activities mentioned in the itinerary.
International flights.
Airport Transfers (Unless mentioned otherwise).
Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour (Unless mentioned otherwise).
Tips.
Personal Items (Souvenirs, Travel Insurance, Visa Fees, etc.).
The government imposed an increase in Taxes, Gorilla trekking permits, Chimp tracking permits, and or Park Fees.
Any activities not mentioned in the itinerary.
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