Uganda safari : Big 5, Chimps & Gorilla trekking in 10 Days

This Big 5 oriented safari includes rhino tracking in Zziwa, game drive in Murchison), a boat trip  and top of the falls’ experience in Murchison, the Bigodi wetlands excursion, chimpanzee tracking (Kyambura Gorge) and game drive Queen Elizabeth National Park,a  boat trip in Kazinga Channel, game viewing in Ishasha, gorilla trekking in Bwindi Forest, sightseeing and relaxation in Lake Bunyonyi and a game drive plus walking safari in Lake Mburo  National Park. Certainly an amazing safari experience.

10-Day Wildlife Sighting Uganda Safari – Including Chimp & Gorilla Trekking

Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, a Saunterland Africa Tours assigned professional driver-guide will receive and welcome you to Uganda – the Pearl of Africa. Thereafter, you will transfer to the booked accommodation (Entebbe). Optional (at extra cost): In case you have had an early landing in Uganda and interested, you can proceed to visit the Entebbe Botanical Garden. The Garden is one of the places around Entebbe where you can spot many species of birds and a few primates such as: the black and white colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys. It is also a place of tranquility and peace, a feast for the eyes with notable absence of people and you simply immerse in nature with the sounds of birds breaking the stillness of the moment.

Accommodation: (Via Via Entebbe-Budget Level)

Meals: Dinner

Transfer Time: Approx. 20 minutes

After breakfast, the assigned driver-guide will pick you up and  drive off to Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Once there, you will proceed for an hour of on-foot rhino tracking. From the rhino tracking, head to Masindi where you will have a lunch stop. After lunch, embark on the transfer to Murchison Falls NP.  The highlights of this park include the roaring rapids of the Murchison, the rolling plains of Uganda’s largest National Park where you will have the chance of viewing lions, giraffes, hartebeest, buffalo, and elephants. Then surely, the concentration of hippos and the Nile crocodiles here will fascinate you. There will be a stop for lunch en route. Continue to the park and check in to your accommodation to relax for the Evening. Optional: If interested and time allows, you can proceed for a late afternoon-evening game drive.

Accommodation: (Ikorom Safari Lodge-Budget Level)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Transfer Time: 7 hours exclude time in Zziwa.

 

 

Have your breakfast, depart for an early morning game drive across the rolling plains of Uganda’s largest National Park and be on the look for wildlife including: lions, leopards (though hard to spot) among others. For any birder, there are quite a number of birds to sight too during the drive. Return to the accommodation for some rest time and lunch. OPTIONAL: If interested, you may opt for the hot air balloon safari (instead) at an extra cost (on ground).

After lunch, you will head out for the boat trip to the base of Murchison Falls where you will also be able to catch sight of more animals including Hippos and Crocodiles and several water birds. Continue with a hike (if you like) to the top of the falls. The hike may be a strenuous one but the thrill on reaching the top is unforgettable. Miss it only if you must. Return to your accommodation and have a relaxed evening.

Accommodation: (Ikorom Safari Lodge-Budget Level)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Transfer Time: n/a

After breakfast at your accommodation, depart right away for Kibale Forest National Park – popular for its primates like the chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkey, Uganda mangabey (Lophocebus ugandae). The drive is quite long but incredibly scenic – passing through villages, lush green countryside and hills dotted with tea plantations that characterize this part of Uganda. The beautiful scenery will amaze you all the way. Upon arrival at the accommodation, check in and relax. Optional (at extra cost): If interested and time allows, you may go for; Bigodi swamp walk, crater lakes excursion, or visit The Amabere Ga Nyina Mwiru Caves for some cultural/historical insights.

Accommodation: (Chimpanzee Forest Lodge-Budget Level) |

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Transfer time: Approx. 7 hours.

Have breakfast and proceed for the Bigodi wetlands excursion. The Bigodi wetland boasts of extensive array of biodiversity among which are several primates’ species like the black and white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkey, and baboons. The Bigodi is also a paradise for bird watchers. Among the major bird species within the area is the Great Blue Turaco. Note: You can consider chimp tracking here (Kibale Forest) but will cost an extra USD 150 per person. If not comfortable with that rise in price, let’s maintain chimp tracking in Kyambura Gorge (Day 6). From Bigodi or Kibale Forest, we shall embark on a transfer (about 2hrs) to Queen Elizabeth National Park.  You will reach Queen early enough to have lunch, rest and then proceed out for game viewing. During the game drive, look out for wild animals like reedbuck, bushbuck, kob, warthogs, elephants, lions and buffaloes to mention but a few. Alternatively, you could choose to go for the Queen’s breathtaking explosion crater drive (instead). The drive is sightseeing with very spectacular view of the breathtaking scenery in and around Queen. Return to the accommodation and take your rest.

Accommodation: (Irungu Forest Safari Lodge-Budget Level)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Transfer Time: 2-3 hrs.

Be up early and have your breakfast. Proceed for a morning game drive in the Kasenyi plains and be on the look for Cape buffalos, herds of elephants plus lions, leopards (though hard to spot) among others. Return to the accommodation for some rest time and lunch.

We shall have breakfast and proceed for the Chimpanzee tracking in the Kyambura gorge. The gorge is home to habituated Chimpanzees plus other primates including baboons, monkeys and also bird species. Today, you will spend the early part of the day tracking chimpanzees here. Thereafter, return to the accommodation for some rest time and lunch. After lunch, you will go for a 2-hour boat trip on the Kazinga Channel that connects Lakes George and Edward. During the trip, the sight of wildlife including giant hippos, elephants and crocodiles among others will fascinate you. You will also see many varieties of birds at the water shores. After the boat trip, you can proceed for a brief late afternoon game drive and thereafter, return to the lodge.

Accommodation: (Irungu Forest Safari Lodge-Budget Level)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Transfer Time: Approx. n/a.

Be up early and proceed for an early morning game drive in the Kasenyi plains. Be on the look for Cape buffalos, herds of elephants, lions, leopards (though hard to spot) among others. Return to the lodge and check out then head to Ishasha sector in search of tree-climbing lions. The chance of spotting these lions is about 70% though sometimes they are hard to spot (most especially when they are down in the grassland looking for prey). Should you get to spot them, the sight is picturesque and memorable. From Ishasha, we shall continue to the accommodation at the edge of Bwindi National Park (Ruhija sector) – arriving in the evening (5 or 6pm).

Accommodation: (Broadbill Forest Camp-Budget Level)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Transfer Time: 6 hours.

Have breakfast and move to the rangers’ post. You will receive some briefing (from a ranger guide) on the dos and don’ts during trekking. Thereafter, you will enter the Bwindi Forest for your adventure. The beauty of this rain forest is spectacular! The area offers dramatic steeply forested landscape and is incredibly dense but crisscrossed by numerous animal trails allowing access to tourists. The time taken and the terrain vary with the movements of these great primates. Once you have located a gorilla group, you will be allowed an hour in their presence. The thrill of spending time observing these gentle but endangered giants is unforgettable. Return to the accommodation, check out and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi. Lake Bunyonyi is framed by lush, green-terraced hills that reach a height of (2,200 – 2,478m) but it’s the 29 islands of various shapes and sizes scattered across the water that make it most magical — you could admire them all day.

Accommodation: (Itambira Island-Tree House-Budget Level)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Transfer Time: Approx. 2-3 hours.

Enjoy a relaxed breakfast and then, set off to Lake Mburo NP. Mburo is a compact gem, located conveniently close to the highway that connects Entebbe/Kampala to the parks of western Uganda. It is the smallest of Uganda’s savannah National Parks but home to so many bird species as well as animals such as: Giraffes, Zebra, impala, eland, buffalo, and the elusive leopard among others. We shall arrive and check in for some rest before heading out for a late afternoon-to-evening game drive that will bring us up close with the Mburo inhabitants. Finally, return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay. #Optional (extra cost 30$ pp.): If interested, you may consider the night game drive to encounter nocturnal creatures which will be a rare sighting compared to the regular daytime sightings.

Accommodation: (Hyena Hill Lodge-Budget Level)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Transfer Time: Approx. 5 hrs.

Enjoy your early breakfast and proceed for the Mburo morning park (bush) walk in the presence of an armed Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger-guide. On this early morning guided walk, you will have the opportunity to encounter (at close range): Zebras, Giraffes and Eland, Topi and other antelope, Cape buffaloes among others.

After this up-close encounter with wildlife, return to the accommodation for checkout and then hit the road to Entebbe airport to catch flight (1800hrs or later). Expect a stop at the Equator crossing mark (in Kayabwe) where you will have a photo opportunity and also (if interested) buy some souvenirs.

Accommodation: Recommended on request | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch | Transfer Time: Approx. 4 hours.

Note: The above accommodations can be upgraded on request. However, that will lead to rise in safari cost.

Upgrade (Midrange Level): (2 Friends Beach Hotel) | (Twiga Safari Lodge) | (Kibale Guest Cottages) | (Elephant Hab Lodge) | (Bakiga Lodge) | (BirdNest Resort Bunyonyi) | (Kigarama Wilderness Lodge)

PRICE PER PERSON

1 pax
USD 4250

2 pax
USD 2980 pp

3 pax
USD 2780 pp

4 pax
USD 2590 pp

5 pax
USD 2530 pp

6 pax
USD 2430 pp

Price Includes
    • Meals specified and accommodation with en suite facilities [private toilet, bathroom].
    • Ground transportation in a comfortable 4×4 safari car.
    • Applicable park entrance, activity fees.
    • [1] Professional English-speaking Tour Driver-guide.
    • [1] Gorilla trekking permit per person participating.
    • [1] Chimp tracking permit per person participating.
    • Bottled water while on safari.
    • [1] Complimentary airport/hotel pick-up and drop off.
    • Activities as stipulated (except those stated as optional).
Price Excludes
  • Accommodation on the last day
  • International flights (from/to home)
  • Personal items (souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
  • Activities not mentioned in the itinerary.
  • Phone calls and bar bills.
  • Driver guide’s gratuity (recommended).
  • All Other Services of a personal nature (e.g. LAUNDRY, Flight ticket(s).
  • Entry visa into Uganda (Click à Here).
  • All kinds of drinks except water.
  • Any activity stated as “OPTIONAL”.

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