Country: Uganda
Destinations: Entebbe, Lake Victoria, Jinja, Kampala, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Murchison Falls National Park, Kibale National Park, Bigodi wetland, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Lake Bunyonyi and Lake Mburo National Park
Itinerary at Glance
Day 1: Arrive in Entebbe
Day 2: Shoebill watching at Mabamba and visit to Entebbe Botanical garden
Day 3: Fishing on Lake Victoria and visit to Ngamba Island
Day 4: Visit Jinja
Day 5: Kampala city tour
Day 6: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park with an en route Rhino trekking
Day 7: Game drives and boat cruise at Murchison Falls National Park
Day 8: Transfer to Kibale National Park
Day 9: Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale National Park and Bigodi Wetland Walk
Day 10: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 11: Game drive and boat cruise at Kazinga channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 12: Game drive in Ishasha in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 13: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 14: Gorilla Trekking Experience in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 15: Canoe ride on Lake Bunyonyi
Day 16: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park for cycling/ walking safari
Day 17: Game drive, boat trip and community experience in Lake Mburo National Park
Day 18: Return to Entebbe for departure (Evening flight)
Trip Overview.
The 18 days best of Uganda Primates and Wildlife experience safari, will greatly immerse you to the jungles of Uganda with a visit to the famous Uganda’s national parks known for their unique primates and wildlife adventures, plus the scenic boat cruises. You will encounter a great wildlife experience that you will live to remember with great thrilling moment action packed with great wildlife and primate experience. You will get to meet the number of birds and primates from numerous monkeys, chimpanzees and gorillas in their habitat, with lovely adventurous moments not forgetting strolling the Kampala city. You will go for thrilling hikes. Nothing will reward your stay at Entebbe, than trying out dishing and bird watching and fishing in the shower of Lake Victoria. You also visit and meet the local community. Community encounter, coming into contact with the local African natives, will give you a local taste. Eat and dine as you have a taste of the local African food which is mouthwatering, with great favor prepared from fresh ingredients. Your local guide knows the route better than anyone else. There is no rush, all flows as the programme, all you need is to have it all to yourselves.
Days are as action-packed or as gentle as you prefer.
Trip Highlights
- Gorilla Trekking Experience
- Chimpanzee Trekking Experience
- Countryside experience
- Fishing experience
- Visit to Ngamba Island chimpanzee sanctuary
- Visit to Jinja
- Kampala city tour
- Shoebill bird watching
- Cultural experiences
- Canoe ride on Lake Bunyonyi
- Wildlife safari experience
- Game drives in Murchison Falls National Park
- Boat cruise in Murchison Falls National Park
- Game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Boat cruise at Kazinga channel
- Community experience
- Rhino trekking at Ziwa Rhino sanctuary
- Bigodi wetland walk
- Road drive experience
- Primate sighting experience
- Nature walk
- Bird watching experience
Day 1: Welcome to Uganda!
Day Itinerary
Upon landing at Entebbe International Airport, you will go through the immigration protocol and on getting done, as you exit the tunnel, your driver/guide, will warmly welcome you to Uganda, and he will pick you up from Entebbe airport and transfers you to your booked accommodation for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay. You will have the opportunity to rest and prepare for your safari adventure the following day. Our driver will ensure that you are comfortable and ready for an exciting and unforgettable experience exploring the beautiful landscapes and wildlife of Uganda.
Overnight stay at: Protea Hotel by Marriott Hotel (Luxury) or Karibu Guest House (Mid – range)
Meal Plan: Dinner
Day 2: Shoebill stork bird watching at Mabamba Swamp Bay and Entebbe Botanical Garden
Day Itinerary
Your guide will pick you up from your hotel early in the morning after breakfast, at your hotel in Kampala/ Entebbe at 6:00 am and be transferred to Mabamba Swamp for bird watching. You will drive to Entebbe at Kasenyi landing site, where you will board a motorized boat that will transfer you to Mabamba swamp, catching up with the sunrise experience over Lake Victoria. Transfer takes roughly 20 – 30 minutes, rewarding you with a great opportunity to catch up with the sunrise experience. This is the best place to spot the rare shoebill. You will head for a half day, private boat excursion, with picnic lunch; the wetlands are home to a variety of different bird species.
A canoe ride through papyrus swamp will take you at the best spot of spotting the Shoebill bird among other rare Africa birds like the Malachite Kingfisher, Swamp Flycatchers, African Purple Swamphen, African Water Rail, Common Moorhen, Lesser Jacana, African Jacana, African Pygmy Goose, White faced whistling duck, Squacco heron, Blue breasted Bee eater, African Jacana, and Saddle – billed Stork, among others. You will spend the day bird watching and searching for the shoebills, on a lucky day, you will finally land on them, watch them as they hunt, for food. After watching the shoebills, you will get back to your motorized boat and transfer back to Entebbe, meet your guide, and head for hot lunch. After lunch, you will visit Entebbe Botanical garden, a well-known birding area, with a cool environment for relaxing. Some monkeys can as well as be sighted here. Later, head to your hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Overnight stay at: Protea Hotel by Marriott Hotel (Luxury) or Karibu Guest House (Mid – range)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 3: Fishing on Lake Victoria and visiting Ngamba Island chimpanzee sanctuary.
Day Itinerary
Begin your day, with a great breakfast at your hotel and our guide will pick you up at 07:00am, and later head off for your Lake Victoria half – day spot fishing excursion with a half day being approximately 4 hours on the water. Fishing is done around local islands about a 45 minute boat trip from Entebbe. The areas fished will depend upon the weather and how the fish are biting. At certain times of the year the lake can be very rough with large swells and so then we tend to utilize the sheltered bays for fishing. Anglers are free to bring along additional drinks required. Later return for lunch and head back, for a boat ride to Ngamba Island, where you will visit the Ngamba Island chimpanzee sanctuary, learn more about the sanctuary, as you watch over the rescued chimpanzees. You will later return and drive to your hotel in Kampala in the evening for dinner and overnight stay.
Overnight stay at: Latitude 0 (Luxury) or Fairway Hotel (Mid – range)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 4: Visit Jinja (Source of the Nile). Journey time +2 hrs
Day Itinerary
Have a deluxe morning breakfast, and shortly be joined by your guide at 5.30 am, who will brief you shortly as you enjoy a cap of coffee, later get your bags packed, and jump into your 4D safari jeep, to get the safari started, through the city of Kampala, with is burning city life and find your way to Jinja.
Jinja lies on the shore of Lake Victoria, about 2 hours East from Kampala. This town is famous as the historic source of the river Nile and at the same time the adrenaline capital of East Africa. Besides enjoying peaceful sunsets, birdlife and tranquility, this is also where visitors get their adventurous fix. Enjoy optional activities such as white-water rafting, kayaking, white water tubing, quad biking, bungee jumping, boat ride on the source of the Nile and mountain biking and horse riding. Jinja has a gorgeous natural setting with crumbling colonial architecture. With the arrival of British colonial rule in 1906 the town began to grow as a trading canter and important river crossing. These days Jinja has a vibrant downtown and broad leafy residential streets set next to the Nile River.
Shortly you will be in Jinja, and catch up with one of the activities of your choice.
You will later return in the evening to Kampala to your booked accommodation for dinner and overnight stay.
Overnight stay at: Latitude 0 (Luxury) or Fairway Hotel (Mid – range)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 5: Kampala City Tour
Day Itinerary
Have a relaxed breakfast at your hotel, have a drive through Kampala then visit then visit Kabaka Royal Palace at Lubiri, learn more about the Buganda Kingdom and culture, before heading to Visit Ghadafi mosque, later visit Baha’i Temple, the only Buddha temple in Africa, after visit Namugongo shrine, to know more about missionaries and their influence on the Buganda kingdom. You will wind your city tour, with afternoon dinner at Ndere cultural center, with a great electrical cultural performance, to wrap up your day.
Overnight stay at: Latitude 0 (Luxury) or Fairway Hotel (Mid – range)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 6: To Murchison Falls National Park. Journey Time +5 hours.
Day Itinerary
Today, wake up and have an early morning breakfast, meet your guide, who will shortly take you through a short briefing about your trip, and later you continue your journey to Murchison Falls National Park, one of the oldest conservation areas in Uganda. This is a long but rewarding journey through various landscapes of Northern Uganda, as you explore the beautiful countryside setting, with a flat topography, as we drive past the rural area, enjoying the homestead settings.
Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda’s best-known and biggest nature reserve. With the impressive and powerful Murchison waterfall and its remarkable animal populations, this is a must visit in the Pearl of Africa. There are superb activities on offer such as a boat safari or Delta safari on the Nile. The river divides the park between a Northern and Southern section as it makes its way through multiple rapids and waterfalls to Lake Albert. Unfortunately, during the war years poachers and troops wiped out the majority of wildlife. Except for the park’s rhino population, fortunately all other wildlife has recovered fast since. A game drive in the park allows you to be eye-to-eye with the African animal kingdom and you will be amazed by the amount of elephants. Also giraffes, lions, antelope, waterbucks, buffaloes, hippos and crocodiles can all be spotted. Game drives take place on the tracks in the northern section which you reach by taking a ferry across the river. This park guarantees adventure!
You will pass by Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, for on foot Rhino tracking, this takes roughly 3 hour’s.
Later, have lunch and proceed with the drive to the park, reach and approach the park with a slow en route game drive, and spend the afternoon at leisure swimming or dining.
Overnight stay at: Para Safari Lodge (luxury) or Pakuba Safari Lodge (Mid – range)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 7: Game drive and Boat cruise at Murchison Falls National Park
Day Itinerary
After an early breakfast, it is time to explore the park. On your Game Drives you of course need a fair share of luck and very good eyes to try and spot as many animals as possible. While driving through the park you can come eye-to-eye with the African animal kingdom. Hopefully you see them all; elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, lions, leopards, different species of antelope and many tropical birds. They are all there! Lost in nature, stretching your neck, to spot the best out of the drive. The park is especially known for its massive elephant population, huge array of bird species and big herds of buffalo. You will discover some of the park’s ecosystems and different scenery with dense woodland, extensive savannahs and rolling grasslands. As this is a private game drive you can ask your guide to tailor your trip towards specific birdlife and/or wildlife if you like. You will later have your picnic lunch served, take some relaxation, as you have a break.
The afternoon boat safari towards the Murchison Falls is a very special activity, it takes approximately 3 hours and goes along the Victoria Nile to the base of the fall. You can imagine; this boat safari will show you breathtaking scenery. Cold drinks are for sale on board for when you get thirsty for a local beer or a soda. Carefully watched by crocodiles, hundreds of hippos, buffaloes, water birds, monkeys and all the other (also thirsty) wildlife that the Nile attracts you go to the bottom of the powerful Murchison Falls. If you like hiking, the boat can drop you near the waterfalls and you can hike up to the top (this takes around 1 or 1, 3 hours). The views are amazing! You will later return back to your lodge, with a slow en route game drive, and spend the afternoon at leisure swimming or dinning.
Overnight stay at: Para Safari Lodge (luxury) or Pakuba Safari Lodge (Mid – range)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 8: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park. Travel time +5 hours
Day Itinerary
Today after your early morning breakfast, have an en route game drive and you head to visit the Top of the falls, the Nile most powerful fall, with thunder sound as the water oases out of the narrow gorge. You will hike to the bottom of the falls, later return and drive off heading to Kibale Forest National Park; you will drive through a scenic lush green countryside. On arrival at Kibale forest; you will enter a completely different world… some serious monkey business. The forest is home to at least 12 Primate Species including: The Red-Tailed Monkey, Olive Baboon, Black and White Colobus plus Blue Monkeys. The bird life in the forest is also prolific and includes the beautiful Great Blue Turaco. If you are very lucky, you may even catch a glimpse of the meandering herd of Forest Elephants.
In the late afternoon, transfer to your accommodation for relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Overnight stay at: Crater Safari Lodge (luxury) or Turaco Treetop Lodge (Mid – range)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 9: Chimpanzee Trekking Experience at Kibale National Park and Bigodi Nature Walk
Day Itinerary
In the morning, you will set off to the park headquarters for briefing before going for Chimpanzee tracking, where you may encounter other primates like Vervet Monkeys, Blue Hoest Monkeys, Black and white colobus Monkeys among others. The park is known as home of primates with 13 primate’s species including the famous chimpanzees. The trek takes roughly 2 – 4 hours, depending on the chimpanzee movement. One hour will be allocated to you, to have a wonderful interaction with the chimpanzees, as you take pictures and short videos, as your local guide explains to you all the biological background of the chimpanzee as you interact. You will later return from trek and head for lunch.
In the afternoon; go for a Bigodi nature walk at Bigodi wetland sanctuary for primate and bird viewing, the walk can take roughly 2 hours, to explore the hidden treasure of this swamp, with a great chance to see a number of bird species and monkeys. Later drive to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Overnight stay at: Crater Safari Lodge (luxury) or Turaco Treetop Lodge (Mid – range)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 10: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Travel time +2 hours
Day Itinerary
Have early morning breakfast, and drive to Queen Elizabeth with the beautiful view of the crater lakes, you will do a brief crater lakes tour around and later drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park, with a stopover at Equator for photography.
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Queen Elizabeth National Park is a wildlife reserve located in Uganda. It spans over 1,978 square km and is home to a diverse range of wildlife including elephants, lions, leopards, buffalos, and over 600 bird species. The park offers various activities for visitors including game drives, boat rides, nature walks, and chimpanzee trekking. Its stunning scenery and diverse wildlife make it a popular tourist destination for those seeking an immersive wildlife experience
You will reach and have lunch at the lodge, and later head for a brief evening game drive and later return for dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Overnight stay at: Elephant Plain Lodge (luxury) or Enganzi Safari Lodge (Mid – range)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 11: Game drive & boat cruise at Kazinga channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day Itinerary
After an early morning breakfast at 6:00 am, you will head for game drive in search for the morning hunters and grazers such as the buffalos, elephants, waterbucks, bushbucks, Uganda kobs, lions and variety of bird species that you will encounter on your game ride and later head for lunch.
After lunch you will proceed for a boat cruise along the Kazinga channel to view the water dwelling birds and animals such as the pied kingfisher, African fish eagle, herons, darters to mention but a few and see animals such as buffalos, crocodiles, monitor lizards, elephants wallowing at the mad and much more. After a boat cruise, you will proceed for a short game drive as you find your way back to the lodge for dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Overnight stay at: Elephant Plain Lodge (luxury) or Enganzi Safari Lodge (Mid – range)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 12: Game drive in Ishasha sector in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day Itinerary
After having a relaxed breakfast at your lodge, you will checkout and drive to Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, which is well known for encountering the rare tree climbing lions. This is the best spot in the world where you can encounter the tree climbing lions on the fig tree, as well as in Lake Manyara in Tanzania. On a lucky day, you will land on them, resting aimlessly on the fig tree branches. You will continue trying your luck with both morning and afternoon game drives. Other wildlife that can be spotted includes, hyenas, Topi, elephants, buffaloes, bushbucks, and much more including the leopards. Lunch, dinner and overnight shall be served at your booked lodge.
Overnight stay at: Ishasha Wilderness Camp (luxury) or Enjojo Lodge (Mid – range)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
NB: In case you wish to enjoy Bush breakfast at 50$ per person
Day 13: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Travel time +5hrs
Day Itinerary
Following having breakfast at your lodge, we shall proceed to Ishasha sector, for another game drive in this beautiful sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, with a short game drive and later drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park through the magnificent route to your booked accommodation with an en route lunch and later reach at your lodge, spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing and preparing for the next day’s Gorilla trekking exercise.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site located in Uganda. It’s known for its diverse flora and fauna, with over 350 bird species and over 400 gorillas. Bwindi offers a unique birding experience for bird enthusiasts, as well as gorilla trekking for wildlife enthusiasts. The park’s thick forest makes for an exciting and immersive adventure, attracting tourists from all over the world. It’s best to visit during the dry season for optimal bird watching and gorilla trekking experiences.
Overnight stay at: Buhoma Lodge (Luxury) or Ihamba Residence (mid – range)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 14: Gorilla Trekking Experience in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day Itinerary
Early morning cup of coffee by 0630hrs, then prepare for the gorilla trekking briefing from the park headquarters and thereafter, you will enter the jungle with your packed lunch to search for the shy mountain gorillas and enjoy their lifestyle in their real home. After meeting the gorillas, you can sit around these great apes for an hour watching their social life as you take pictures. On a gorilla safari, a reasonable degree of fitness is required as well as walking shoes, packed snacks and mineral water, insect repellent, sunscreen and hut. The gorilla trekking experience takes almost 2 – 6 depending on the movements of these primates and pace of your trekking group. After this gorilla tracking experience you will return to your lodge for hot lunch. You will spend the evening relaxing and going through your great shots during your trekking as you wait for overnight stay at the lodge or you may opt for batwa cultural experience, to kill your evening stay.
Overnight stay at: Buhoma Lodge (Luxury) or Ihamba Residence (mid – range)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 15: Leisure and Boat ride on Lake Bunyonyi
Day Itinerary
After your relaxed morning breakfast, you will head for a canoe ride adventure, to explore some of the great hot spots of Lake Bunyonyi, a beautiful lake hidden within the great valleys of Kisoro. The lake has a number of beautiful islands that have become home to numerous bird species. You will later transfer to your lodge, have lunch and retire in the afternoon at leisure.
Overnight stay at: Bird Nest Resort Bunyonyi (Luxury) or Arcadia Lodge Bunyonyi (Mid – range)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 16: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park and discover the park. Travel time + 4hrs
Day Itinerary
Have your breakfast, jump into your jeep and drive to Lake Mburo National Park, with a great beautiful en route view of the rolling landscape, pull over and take some pictures as you proceed. Lunch in Mbarara, and proceed to the park. Upon reaching the park, you will go for either bush walking safari or cycling safari as you pedal around to explore the park. This is the only park where bush walking safaris are done. The evening walk will reward you with a great feel of getting close to nature. Return for dinner and overnight stay at the lodge.
Overnight stay at: Mihingo Lodge (Luxury) or Rwaboko Rock Camp (Mid – range)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 17: Explore Lake Mburo and the surrounding
Day Itinerary
Have an early morning breakfast, and head for a morning game drive in search of wildlife in this great park. You will do a game drive in the park in search of the little and big ones, before heading for a boat ride on Lake Mburo, which rewards you with great aquatic wildlife sightings such as hippos and crocodiles, and a number of bird species. Later, I returned to the lodge for lunch. Later relax and enjoy the pool. In the cool afternoon, you will head for the community experience, to visit the local community, and learn more about them and their relation with the park, and get to know about their cattle life. You will return in the evening and retire at the lodge.
NB: In case you wish to enjoy Bush breakfast at 50$ per person
Overnight stay at: Mihingo Lodge (Luxury) or Rwaboko Rock Camp (Mid – range)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 18: Game drive and departure
Day Itinerary
Following an early morning breakfast, you will head for a game drive to discover other part of the park, as you increase on your wildlife count experience, later find your way out of the park and drive off with an en route lunch, to Entebbe airport to catch up with your flight to your home country. This will be one of the best safaris you would have ever taken in your lifetime, patched with a great experience, from city center, to rural setting, patched with a lot of cultural and adventurous experience, with lots of wildlife sights. We look forward to your next visit or recommendations to families and friends. End of service!
Meal Plan: Breakfast, and lunch.
The day safari includes.
- Transportation on a 4 x 4 safari vehicle with pop up roof for game view
- Accommodation and meals as listed on the itinerary
- Service of an English speaking driver guide
- 1 Chimpanzee permit per person.
- 1 Gorilla ($800) permit per person
- Rhino trekking at Ziwa Rhino sanctuary
- Visit to the top of falls
- En route lunches
- Boat cruises as mentioned in the itinerary
- Park entrance fees
- Bigodi swamp walk
- Visit to Ngamba Island
- Fishing experience on Lake Victoria
- Bird watching experience
- Visit to Entebbe Botanical garden
- Shoebill bird watching at Mabamba
- Optional activities in Jinja
- Kampala city tour
- Adere cultural experience
- Walking / cycling safari
- Community encounter
- Unlimited bottles of mineral water
- Game drives as mentioned in the itinerary
- And other day excursions as described in the itinerary
- Lot of fun on African soil
The package excludes expenses of personal nature like:
- Visa Fees & flights
- Optional activities
- Tips for guides
- Laundry
- Alcoholic drinks
- International vaccinations & tests
- Health test requirements
- Personal travel Insurance
- Personal shopping bills
- Phone call bills
- Extras while at the hotel
- Items of personal nature
Please contact us for a free detailed quote on the option of your choice. We can tailor a request that suits your interests, and budget, as well as we can change or upgrade the lodge options. Write to us with more details about your safari.