Uganda Wildlife

Uganda Wildlife

This 10-day Best of Uganda wildlife safari offered by Vibrant Holiday Safaris will enable you to visit Murchison Falls National Park for an unforgettable wildlife experience with an en-route visit to ziwa rhino sanctuary for a white rhino encounter, proceed to Kibale forest national park for a chimpanzee tracking adventure. Leave Kibale Forest for Queen Elizabeth national park well-known for the Kazinga channel and harboring the tree climbing Lions, the drive will continue to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest national park to encounter the endangered mountain gorilla and later relax at Lake Bunyonyi and conclude your best of Uganda wildlife safari with a visit to Jinja for white rafting on the River Nile.

10 Uganda Wildlife

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Pick-up from Entebbe Airport – Transfer to Kampala City

On your arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be welcomed by our Vibrant Holiday Safaris English driver guide for your transfer to Kampala City to check-in at your reserved hotel, briefing about your tour, dinner and an overnight.

NB, if time allows after relaxing and briefings about your safari, you will go for Kampala evening city tour to explore the historical places of Uganda such as Kabaka’s palace, Uganda National Museum, Namugongo martyr’s shrines, Kasubi tombs (One of the UNESCO’S recognized site).

Accommodation; Fairway Hotel & Spa (Mid-range)

Meal Plan; Half board

Day 2: Depart Kampala city – To Murchison falls national park – Evening hiking to the top of the Falls

After your early morning bite, begin your panoramic road drive northwest of Uganda through the famous Luwero Triangle with an en-route stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is the only place in Uganda where you can find these peaceful members of the big five family in the wilderness. On your arrival at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, have a short break to relax, and some refreshments, and later go for a white rhino tracking adventure which will provide you with opportunities to explore them close to their feet. During your tracking, you have to keep your camera on standby such that you do not miss out on any moment. After tracking, have a short break and start your drive to Murchison falls national park with an en-route stop for lunch from Masindi Town. Murchison falls national park is one of Uganda’s ancient protected areas and is recognized for getting an immense number of international visitors. On your arrival at Murchison falls national park, go straight to encounter the world’s strongest falls to witness the whole Nile squeezing through a narrow gorge of about only 7 meters wide exploding into violent waterfalls into a whirlpool of about 43 meters below. Murchison Falls’s experience is breathtaking.

Accommodation: Pakuba Safari Lodge (Mid-range). Meal Plan; Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

 Day 3; Murchison Falls National Park – Morning game drive – Afternoon Boat cruise – Evening game drive

This day after your breakfast, go for your morning game drive in the park’s northern sector. During your early morning game drive, expect to spot various animals, birds, and other wildlife species such as Elephants, Lions, Giraffes, Spotted hyenas, cape buffaloes, leopards (on a very blessed day), Uganda Kobs, Jackson hartebeest, waterbucks and different species of bird such as Senegal thick-knee, Black-headed lapwing, Grey crowned crane, African Jacana, etc. After your morning game drive, have a short break to relax, have lunch and later go for your afternoon boat cruise up to the bottom of the falls which will expose you to a number of hippopotamuses, Nile crocodiles, different bird species such as shoebill stork and large numbers of other mammals as they come to drink water and swimming. Later in the evening, start your evening game drive and this will specifically be based on searching for the big predators of the park search as Lions, leopards, and hyenas. Then return to your lodge to relax, have dinner, and an overnight.

Accommodation: Pakuba Safari Lodge (Mid-range). Meal Plan; Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Day 4: Murchison Falls National park – Transfer to Kibale Forest national park – Evening Bigodi Sanctuary swamp walk

After having your breakfast, meet your Vibrant Holiday Safari guide at the reception to start your drive to Kibale Forest national park a primates’ capital. Kibale Forest national park provides a home to over 13 primate species such as chimpanzees our closest relatives with 98.8% DNA of humans, olive baboons, Red tailed monkeys, L’hoest’s monkey, Ugandan red colobus, Grey checked mangabey, De brazza’s monkey, Bush babies etc. Three (3) of these primates are nocturnal meaning are mostly active during night hours. Before reaching Kibale forest national park, you will have an en-route stop over for lunch in Fort port city and later go to Bigodi Sanctuary Swamp for an evening nature walk where you will be able to see numerous wildlife species such as; over 200 species of birds, different tree species, primates such as blue monkeys, baboons, etc. The walk will take you to Batooro and Bakiga which are the indigenous communities neighboring the park. Going through the local communities will offer you the whole knowledge of coffee making, and local herbs and give you a hint of how they locally treat themselves and live without modern technology. Later drive to check in at your reserved lodge to relax, have dinner, and overnight.

Accommodation: Isunga Safari Lodge (Mid-range). Meal Plan; Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Day 5: Kibale Forest national park – Morning Chimpanzee tracking – Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park

Rise up early in the morning for breakfast and transfer to the park information center for briefing and then enter the forest to start your main day activity. In the course of your chimpanzee tracking, expect to see a lot of primate species like chimpanzees, black and white Columbus monkeys, etc, and many bird species, reptiles as well as a colorful variety of butterflies, after meeting chimpanzees, you will spend an hour with them and return to the Lodge for lunch. Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park. Queen Elizabeth national park is one of the most popular national parks in Uganda because of its diverse ecosystems such as sparkling lakes, humid forest, sprawling savannah, and fertile wetlands which attract many wildlife species such as birds and mammals to it as their home. This park is also well-known for the Kazinga channel and for harboring the tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha sector. Then go for an evening Kasoga community tour which offers typically firsthand experience with immersing of both cultural and marine practices that will be presented to you in a unique style like escorting cattle to feed, local milking methods, local means of milk preservation to produce local yogurt and getting ghee. Later in the evening, visit the landing site to engage in the marine practices that will make you feel authentic about the African culture and the tranquility of Uganda’s virgin culture. Dinner and Overnight

 Accommodation: Elephant Hab Safari Lodge (Mid-range). Meal Plan; Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner 

Day 6: Queen Elizabeth National Park – Morning game drive – Afternoon boat cruise – Evening game drive

Today in the morning, enjoy your coffee and head to the park to start your morning game drive to search for wildlife on the Kasenyi track. The common sightings here are; Caped Buffaloes, Elephants, Warthog, Waterbuck, Uganda kob, Lions, Hyena, and so much more including a variety of bird species. Retire from your game drive to relax, have lunch and depart for your afternoon adventurous boat safari on the famous Kazinga Channel. The Kazinga Channel contains the highest concentration of hippopotamuses in Africa, and a big number of Nile crocodiles and it is a glorious place for birders to enjoy most to see hundreds and hundreds of birds on the shore of the channel. Also expect to see a number of other big and small mammals on the shores quenching their thirty and swimming such as Elephants, Buffaloes, and Antelopes. After enjoying your adventurous boat safari, have a short break to relax and depart for your evening game drive that will be focusing on searching for the big predators of the park such as Lions, Leopards, Spotted hyenas, and others. Dinner and overnight at your lodge

Accommodation: Elephant Hab Safari Lodge (Mid-range) .Meal Plan; breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

 Day 7:  Queen Elizabeth National Park – Morning game drive – Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

Have breakfast and leave Queen Elizabeth National Park for Bwindi Impenetrable forest national park via Ishasha sector for your mid-morning game drive to search for the tree climbing lions and other missed animals during your previous game drive. Then continue with your drive to Bwindi Impenetrable national park – home to the remaining half mountain gorillas in the world.

Accommodation: Silverback Lodge (Mid-range).Meal Plan; Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

 Day 8: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest national park – Morning mountain gorilla tracking – Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi

Without doubt, this day will be one of the most thrilling days of your Uganda wildlife safari. After your early morning breakfast, your driver guide will take you to the park briefing center for highlights of specific details about the way of life of the gorillas and how to behave during tracking. Morning mountain gorilla tracking can take 2-8 hours depending on the movements of the gorilla family that you have been given. Tracking will be through the steep, densely forested hills and muddy gorges and finally meeting mountain gorillas in their privileged home feeding and swinging in the branches of trees. After you have reached the gorillas, you will be allowed to spend one hour with them as you stand 6 meters away and you are free to take many memorial photos as you want. Upon completion of this magical encounter, return to the park information center to be awarded your gorilla tracking completion certificate, have lunch and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi for relaxation while canoeing on Lake Bunyonyi and bird watching. Dinner and an overnight 

Accommodation options: Arcadia Lodge Bunyonyi (Mid-range).Meal Plan; Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

 Day 9: Lake Bunyonyi – Transfer to Jinja city – Visit the Source of the River Nile

After having your breakfast, start your drive to Jinja city and the home to the source of the River Nile. The drive will take you through sugar and tea plantations. On your way to Jinja, you will have an en-route stop at Kayabwe Equator cross point. At this international landmark you will be thrilled to watch water experiment where the two hemispheres split and then have lunch and continue to Jinja city. Upon your arrival in Jinja, drive to the Source of the Nile with a boat ride from the shores of the Nile to the exact point where John Speke, the first European to see the source of the world’s longest river stood, enjoy the ride further into Lake Victoria and the beautiful landscapes. Then check in at your reserved hotel for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

 Accommodation options: 2 Friends Hotel Jinja (Mid-range), Meal Plan; Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

 Day 10: Jinja City – Half day white water rafting – Return to Entebbe International airport

After breakfast, go to the meeting yard for your half day white water rafting adventure safari on the River Nile, this is one of the most adventurous and trilling activities which you must not miss during your stay in Uganda. You will be exhilarated and trilled by the 5 grade rapids slowly from less water rapids to where it becomes crazy. After white water rafting adventure, have lunch and return to Entebbe International airport to meet your return flight OR you may decide to spend an extra day in Entebbe City.

Meal Plan; Breakfast/Lunch

 The price includes;

• White Rhino tracking at Ziwa
• Game drives at Murchison Falls national park
• Afternoon boat cruise on the Victoria Nile
• Hiking to the top of the falls
• Evening Bigodi nature walk
• 1 chimpanzee permit per person
• Game drive in Queen Elizabeth national park
• 2 hours afternoon boat cruise on the Kazinga channel
• 1 Evening game drive in Queen Elizabeth NP
• Kasoga community tour
• Game drive in Ishasha sector
• 1 gorilla permit per person
• Evening canoeing on Lake Bunyonyi
• A visit to equator crossing point
• Visit the source of the River Nile
• Half day white water rafting adventure
• Ground transport in 4*4WD and air-conditioned safari van for 10 days
• An English speaking driver/guide for 10 days
• Accommodation for 9 nights on full board meal plan
• All en-route meals and mineral water
• All park activities and entrance fees
• Return airport transfers

The price excluded;

• Entry visas and flights
• Items of personal nature/tips/laundry
• Personal insurance

10 Uganda Wildlife