Transfer to Murchison Falls with a detour visit to Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary. From Murchison, proceed to the edge of Kibale Forest. Excursion in Bigodi wetlands and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park for more game drive/safari. Continue to Bwindi via Ishasha (well known for the tree-climbing lions). Enjoy the epic gorilla trekking then connect to Lake Mburo NP for more safari. Return to Entebbe.
Day 1: Arrive at Entebbe Airport, pick up and transfer to the booked Hotel
Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, our Driver-guide will receive and welcome you to Uganda – the Pearl of Africa. Thereafter, you will transfer to the booked accommodation. You will check in and take your rest – recovering from jet lag, adjusting to time difference.
#Optional (extra cost): Just in case you reached early and interested in some activity, you may consider;
- Excursion to the Entebbe Botanical Gardens to sight a few primates and birds.
- Excursion to Mabamba wetland in search of the prehistoric shoebill stork.
Otherwise, check in and just take your rest.
Day 2: Travel to Zziwa for an hour of rhino tracking and proceed to Murchison NP
Be up early, have breakfast 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. #If interested and time allows, we can proceed for a late afternoon-evening game drive.
Day 3: Morning game drive/safari and afternoon boat trip upstream to the falls
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 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. 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. #Optional (extra cost): If interested, continue with a hike to the top of the falls. The hike may be a strenuous one but the thrill on reaching the top is unforgettable. Return to your accommodation and relax.
Day 4: Drive to the top of the falls and transfer to the edge of Kibale Forest NP
We will have breakfast and then drive to the top of the falls to truly appreciate the beauty and magnificence of the Murchison Falls. From the top, we shall embark on a transfer that will see us overnight at edge of Kibale Forest National Park. 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 just relax. #Optional (extra cost 15$): If interested, you can proceed for the crater lakes excursion. You will enjoy the beauty of the numerous small lakes, surrounded by gentle hills, and the stunning views all over. Else, just enjoy your rest at the facility.
Day 5: Bigodi wetlands excursion and transfer to Queen Elizabeth NP, then game drive
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. From Bigodi, 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). Return to the accommodation and take your rest.
Day 6: Chimp tracking in Kalinzu Forest Reserve, afternoon boat trip – Kazinga Channel and some game drive
Be up early, have breakfast and drive out to the nearby Kalinzu Forest Reserve. The Forest 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.
Day 7: Sunrise game drive – Kasenyi plains and head to Ishasha sector, then connect to Bwindi
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).
Day 8: Gorilla trekking Bwindi Forest and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi for relaxation
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 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.
Day 9: Transfer to Lake Mburo NP and enjoy afternoon (evening) game drive
Have breakfast and set off to Lake Mburo NP via Mbarara City. You will arrive at the accommodation in Lake Mburo in time and rest before moving out for an afternoon-to-evening game drive. On the game drive, expect to see the gigantic eland antelopes, zebras, topi, impalas, Uganda kob and Cape buffalos among others. Later, relax at the accommodation where you will spend the night. #Optional (extra cost 30$): 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.
Day 10: Morning walking safari in the park and return to Entebbe to catch flight
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.
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 twelve lakes surrounding Lake Mburo NP. Thereafter, return to the accommodation for checkout and then hit the road to Entebbe airport to catch flight (1800hrs or later).