10-Day Wildlife, Big 5, Chimpanzee, and Gorilla Safari
This tour will take you to Murchison Falls National Park, including a detour to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, followed by a game drive and a boat trip to the bottom of the falls. Afterward, transfer to Kibale National Park for a chimp trekking experience. From Kibale, proceed to Queen Elizabeth National Park for a game drive and a boat trip on the Kazinga Channel. Next, transfer to Bwindi for the ultimate gorilla experience. From Bwindi, visit Lake Mburo before concluding the tour in Entebbe.
DEPARTURE/RETURN LOCATION
Kampala City (Google Map)
DEPARTURE TIME
Set Off time is usually very early in the morning.
INCLUDED
ACTIVITIES AND TRANSPORTATION
Game drives: open-sided 4×4 vehicle, pop-up roof 4×4 vehicle & pop-up roof minivan
Depending on where you will will be traveling from, our professional drivers and tour guide shall pick you up from Entebbe International Airport, the largest airport in Uganda. From there, we will drive you to your hotel for the night, ensuring a comfortable stay before the safari adventure begins the next day. Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.
Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, our representative driver (guide) will receive and welcome you to Uganda – the Pearl of Africa. Thereafter, you will transfer to the booked accommodation in Entebbe.If you arrive early in Uganda, consider visiting the Entebbe Botanical Garden. It’s a haven for birdwatching, offering sightings of numerous bird species and a chance encounter with primates like black and white colobus monkeys and vervet monkeys. The garden offers serenity and natural beauty, a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle, where you can immerse yourself in the tranquil sounds of birdsong amidst lush surroundings.
Accommodation: (Reserved Hotel or lodge) | Meals: Breakfast, Dinner | Drive Time: Approx. 10-15 minutes.
Accommodation: Boma
Mid-range guest house located in Entebbe City
After breakfast, your designated driver (guide) will collect you from the hotel, and you’ll begin your journey to Murchison Falls National Park. Please be aware that we offer either a safari Land Cruiser or a safari van, depending on availability on your chosen date.
The park’s highlights include the thundering rapids of the Murchison, along with the vast plains of Uganda’s largest national park. You’ll have the opportunity to observe lions, giraffes, hartebeests, buffalos, and elephants. Additionally, the abundance of hippos and Nile crocodiles along the riverbanks is sure to captivate you. Along the way, we’ll make a stop at Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary for your first Big 5 experience, where you’ll enjoy an hour of rhino tracking. We’ll also pause in Masindi for a delightful lunch before continuing our journey to the park. Upon arrival, you’ll check in to your accommodation, allowing you to unwind and relax for the evening.
Accommodation: Pakuba Safari Lodge
Mid-range lodge located inside Murchison Falls NP
After enjoying your breakfast, embark on an early morning game drive across the expansive plains of Uganda’s largest national park. Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife sightings, including lions and leopards (although spotting them can be challenging). Birdwatchers will also delight in the numerous bird species present in the area.
Return to your accommodation for some well-deserved rest and lunch. For those interested, there’s an optional hot-air balloon safari available at an additional cost. After lunch, set out on a boat trip to the base of Murchison Falls, offering opportunities to spot more wildlife such as hippos, crocodiles, and various waterbirds. Optionally, you can embark on a hike to the top of the falls. While it may be strenuous, the exhilaration of reaching the summit is truly unforgettable. Only skip it if absolutely necessary. Conclude the day by returning to your accommodation for a relaxed evening.
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Accommodation: Pakuba Safari Lodge
Mid-range lodge located inside Murchison Falls NP
After breakfast at your accommodation, depart promptly for Kibale Forest National Park. Although the drive is long, it is incredibly scenic. You will pass through charming villages, lush green countryside, and hills adorned with tea plantations that define this region of Uganda. The breathtaking scenery will captivate you throughout the journey.
Kibale National Park is renowned for its diverse primate population, including chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys, and Uganda mangabeys (Lophocebus ugandae). On your chimpanzee trails, you will observe these primates swinging in the forest canopy and feeding on wild fruits. Upon arrival at your accommodation, you’ll simply check in, enjoy dinner, and rest overnight.
Accommodation: Isunga Lodge
Mid-range lodge located just outside Kibale NP (Chimps)
After breakfast, head to the rangers’ post for a briefing on the dos and don’ts during chimp trekking. Following the briefing, you’ll embark on a trek through Kibale Forest to track the chimpanzees. An experienced ranger guide will lead you, providing insights into the primates you encounter. Once you locate the chimpanzees, you will spend a full hour observing them in their natural habitat.Return to the lodge for lunch, and then depart for Queen Elizabeth National Park. You will arrive in the evening and check into your booked accommodation for an overnight stay.
Accommodation: Pumba Safari Cottages
Budget lodge located just outside Kyambura Gorge (Chimps)
Wake up early and have breakfast. Proceed for a morning game drive to the Kasenyi plains, keeping an eye out for Cape buffalos, herds of elephants, and the elusive big cats like lions and leopards. After the game drive, return to your accommodation for some rest and lunch.
In the afternoon, embark on a 2-hour boat trip along the Kazinga Channel, which connects Lakes George and Edward. The trip will offer fascinating views of wildlife, including giant hippos, elephants, and crocodiles, as well as a wide variety of bird species along the shores. Return to your accommodation for dinner and an overnight stay.
Accommodation: Pumba Safari Cottages
Budget lodge located just outside Kyambura Gorge (Chimps)
After breakfast, set off for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, passing through the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, which is famously known for its resident tree-climbing lions. There’s about a 70% chance of spotting these lions, although they can be elusive, especially when they are on the ground hunting for prey. If you do spot them, it will be a spectacular sight!
Continue to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a major habitat for mountain gorillas in Uganda, with an estimated 400 mountain gorillas (roughly half of the world’s population). The park includes several habituated groups that you will have the opportunity to trek. With a strenuous day ahead, you’ll do little upon arrival except check in at your accommodation and relax, preparing for the Bwindi gorilla-trekking experience the following day.
Accommodation: Rushaga Gorilla Lodge
Mid-range lodge located just outside Rushaga (Bwindi NP)
Have breakfast and proceed to the rangers’ post, where a ranger guide will brief you on the dos and don’ts during gorilla trekking. After the briefing, enter the gorilla sanctuary for your adventure. The beauty of this rain forest is spectacular, offering a dramatic, steeply forested landscape that is incredibly dense. The area is crisscrossed by numerous animal trails, allowing access to tourists. The time it takes and the terrain you cover will vary depending on the movements of these great primates. Once you locate 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.
After your trek, return for lunch before driving to Lake Bunyonyi. The lake is framed by lush, green-terraced hills that reach heights of 2,200 to 2,478 meters, but it’s the 29 islands of various shapes and sizes scattered across the water that make it truly magical. You could admire them all day.
Accommodation: Lake Bunyonyi Eco Resort
Mid-range resort located at Lake Bunyonyi
Have breakfast and set off for Lake Mburo National Park via Mbarara town. You will arrive in the early afternoon and take some rest before heading out for a late afternoon/evening game drive. During the game drive, you can expect to see the majestic eland, zebra, topi, impala, Uganda kob, and Cape buffalo, among other wildlife. Afterwards, relax at your accommodation for the night.
Optional: If you’re interested, you can opt for the breathtaking Mburo night game drive (at an additional cost). During the night game drive, you may see nocturnal creatures such as snakes, hyenas, owls, and, with some luck, elusive leopards.
Accommodation: Arcadia Lodge Lake Mburo
Mid-range lodge located just outside Rushaga (Bwindi NP)
Enjoy an early breakfast and proceed for the morning bush walk in Lake Mburo Park in the presence of an armed Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger/guide. On this early guided walk, you will have the opportunity to encounter, at close range, zebra, giraffe, eland, topi and other antelope, and Cape buffalo among others. Take the trail to the top of the hills and see Lake Mburo and beyond. From this vantage point, you will have a great view of 9 of the 12 lakes surrounding Lake Mburo National Park. Thereafter, return to the accommodation for checkout and then hit the road to Entebbe Airport for your flight out (recommended for 18h00 onward). We hope to see you (or any referral) on your next visit. Thanks for choosing Tafari Safaris Uganda!
NB : An African wildlife safari is a thrilling chance to see wild animals going about their daily lives in their natural habitat, which is why they’re one of the most popular activities on the continent. East Africa (specifically Uganda and Rwanda) has a huge variety of national parks that offer adventurous opportunities to see wildlife up close. For Inquiries, reach out to us at [email protected]
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