9-Day Custom Tour Uganda – African Safari
On this 9-Day Custom Tour Uganda – African Safari, you’ll arrive in Entebbe and proceed to Murchison Falls National Park. You’ll see the Big Five, and also enjoy a boat trip to bottom of the falls. Thereafter, you’ll head to the edge of Kibale Forest. You’ll have a Bigodi Wetlands excursion and connect to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Enjoy a game drive and boat trip on Kazinga Channel. You’ll then head to Bwindi for the gorilla experience. Finally, you will relax at Lake Bunyonyi and then return to Entebbe Airport to catch your departure flight.
Day 1: Arrival and Transfer to your Hotel for your 9 Day Custom Tour Uganda
Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, our Vibrant Holiday Safaris professional driver-guide will greet and welcome you to the Pearl of Africa. Thereafter, you will transfer to your booked accommodation. You will check in and take a rest recovering from the tiresome flight and adjusting to the time difference.
Optional: Just in case you arrive early and are interested in some activity, you may consider
a) Excursion to Entebbe Botanical Gardens to see a few primates and birds.
b) Excursion to Mabamba wetland in search of the prehistoric shoebill stork.
Otherwise, you will check in and just take your rest.
Accommodation: (Airport Guesthouse-Budget Level) | Meals: Dinner | Transfer Time: Approx. 10-15 minutes.
Location: Entebbe (City)
Accommodation Option:
Luxury: Best Western Premier
Mid-Range: K Hotel
Budget: Airport Guest House
Meal Plan: Dinner
Day 2: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park with a stopover at Ziwa Rhino sanctuary – Drive to top of falls
After an early breakfast, you will drive off to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Once there, you will proceed for an hour of on-foot rhino tracking. From the rhino tracking, you will head to Masindi where you will have a lunch stop. Thereafter, you will embark on the transfer to Murchison Falls National Park. 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 to view lions, giraffes, hartebeests, buffalos, and elephants. The concentration of hippos and Nile crocodiles here will fascinate you.
Location: Murchison Falls National Park
Accommodation Option:
Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge
Mid-Range: Pakuba Safari Lodge
Budget: Fort Murchison (Tent)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 3: Morning Game Drive and Afternoon Boat Cruise to bottom of falls
After breakfast on day 3 of your 9 Day Custom Tour Uganda – African Safari, you will depart for an early morning game drive across the rolling plains of Uganda’s largest national park and be on the lookout for wildlife including lions, elephants, giraffes, leopards among others. For bird lovers, there are several birds to spot too during the drive. You’ll then return to your accommodation for some rest time and lunch. Later in the afternoon, you will head out for a boat trip to the bottom of Murchison Falls where you will be able to catch sights of more animals including hippos, crocodiles, and several water birds. You’ll return to your accommodation and relax for the night.
Location: Murchison Falls National Park
Accommodation Option:
Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge
Mid-Range: Pakuba Safari Lodge
Budget: Fort Murchison (Tent)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 4: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
After breakfast, you will drive Kibale Forest National Park. The drive is quite long but amazingly 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, you will check in and just relax.
If interested, you can proceed with the crater lakes excursion. You will enjoy the beauty of the numerous small lakes, surrounded by gentle hills, and stunning views all over. Otherwise, just enjoy your rest at the facility.
Location: Kibale Forest National Park
Accommodation Option:
Luxury: Chimpundu Lodge
Mid-Range: Chimpanzee Forest Lodge
Budget: Isunga Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5: Bigodi Wetlands Excursion and Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park with evening Game Drive
You’ll have breakfast and proceed for Bigodi Wetland excursion. Bigodi Wetland boasts of an extensive array of biodiversity among which there are several primate species like the black and white Colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys, and baboons. It is also a paradise for bird watchers. Among the major bird species within the area is the great blue turaco. Thereafter, you’ll embark on a transfer for about 2 hours to Queen Elizabeth National Park. You will reach Queen early enough to have lunch, rest, and then proceed out for game viewing.
About your Evening Game drive
During the game drive, you’ll look out for mammals such as reedbucks, bushbucks, kobs, warthogs, elephants, lions, and buffalos to mention but a few. Alternatively, you could choose to go for the Queen’s breathtaking explosion crater drive. You’ll later return to your accommodation for rest, dinner and overnight.
Location: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Accommodation Option:
Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge
Mid-Range: Twin Lake safari Lodge
Budget: The Bush Lodge (Tent)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 6: Morning Chimpanzee Tracking in Kyambura Gorge or Kalinzu forest and Afternoon Boat Cruise on Kazinga Channel
After breakfast, you’ll proceed for chimpanzee tracking in either Kyambura Gorge or Kalinzu forest. These are home to habituated chimpanzees plus other primates including baboons, monkeys, and also bird species. You will spend the early part of the day tracking chimpanzees here. Thereafter, you’ll return to the accommodation for some rest time and lunch. Later in the afternoon, you will go for a 2-hour boat cruise on Kazinga Channel that connects Lakes George and Edward. During the cruise, the sight of wildlife including giant hippos, elephants, and crocodiles among others will fascinate you. You will also see a variety of birds on the water shores. Then, you will return to your lodge for dinner and a relaxed overnight.
Location: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Accommodation Option:
Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge
Mid-Range: Twin Lake safari Lodge
Budget: The Bush Lodge (Tent)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 7: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable forest via Ishasha sector for Tree climbing lions
After breakfast, you will set off for an early morning game drive in Ishasha sector as you search for the tree climbing lions. Also, be on the lookout for Cape buffalos, herds of elephants, lions, and leopards on a lucky day among others. At Ishasha, the chance of spotting these lions is about 70% though sometimes they are hard to find (most especially when they are down in the grassland looking for prey). Should you get to spot them, the sight is exceptionally memorable. From Ishasha, you will continue to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for check in, dinner and overnight.
Location: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Accommodation Option:
Luxury: Gorilla Leisure Lodge
Mid-Range: Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge
Budget: Bakiga Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 8: Gorilla Trekking and Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi for Relaxation
After breakfast, you will head to the rangers’ post where you will be briefed on the do’s and don’ts during trekking. Thereafter, you will enter the impenetrable Forest for your gorilla trekking adventure. The time taken and the terrain vary with the movements of these great apes. Once you have located a gorilla group, you will be allowed an hour in their presence. Use this hour to engage with them so that they get used to human presence. Also, ask your ranger guide as many questions as possible about these gorillas. You’ll 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.
Location: Lake Bunyonyi
Accommodation Option:
Luxury: Arcadia Lodges Lake Bunyonyi
Mid-Range: Arcadia Lodges Lake Bunyonyi
Budget: Lake Bunyonyi Eco Resort
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 9: Transfer back to Entebbe International Airport for your Departure flight
On this final day of your 9-Day Custom Tour Uganda – African Safari, you will have a relaxed breakfast at the accommodation with a spectacular view of the Bunyonyi little islands just right in front of you. Thereafter, you’ll embark on your return journey to Entebbe Airport. You can expect en-route lunch and also a stopover at the Equator line at Kayabwe for some memorable photos. In addition, you can buy some art pieces of interest. Finally, you will proceed with the journey arriving in the evening for drop off at the airport to catch your departure flight.
Location: Entebbe
Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch
The Package Price Includes:
- Return airport transfers (pick up and drop off)
- Private transport for 9 days in a well-modified safari Extended land-cruiser (4WD,air-conditioned and pop-up roof)
- Fuel for 9 days
- English safari driver guide for 9 days
- Accommodation for 8 nights on Full board (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)
- All park entrance fees, activities and all applicable government taxes
- 1 Gorilla Trekking Permit per person in Bwindi Impenetrable forest National Park
- Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey
The Package Price Excludes:
- International and domestic flights
- Accommodation after the trip (Can be arranged on request)
- Travel Visa
- Travel insurance
- Tips
- Laundry service
- Telephone
- Souvenirs and gifts
- Alcoholic and other soft drinks (sodas, special juice orders at the lodge and wines)