10 Day Uganda Safari Wildlife, Gorillas and Chimpanzees
Description
This thrilling 10-day Uganda safari is an expedition that will take you through the most captivating national parks in the country. Starting at the majestic Murchison Falls National Park, prepare to be mesmerized by the power and beauty of the world-renowned Murchison Falls. As you cruise down the Nile River, be sure to keep an eye out for the diverse wildlife that inhabit the park, including elephants, giraffes, hippos, and crocodiles.
Next, venture into the lush greenery of Kibale Forest National Park, famous for its population of chimpanzees. Trek through the dense jungle and witness these intelligent creatures in their natural habitat, swinging effortlessly from tree to tree. The park is also home to an array of other primates such as the red colobus monkey and the L’Hoest’s monkey, ensuring a truly immersive experience.
Continue your journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park, known for its extraordinary biodiversity. Take a safari through the vast savannah landscapes and encounter the famous tree-climbing lions as well as herds of buffalos, antelopes, and zebras. A boat trip along the Kazinga Channel will grant you the opportunity to spot numerous bird species, hippos, and even crocodiles.
Delve further into the heart of Uganda and discover the majestic Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Here lies one of the world’s most endangered species – the mountain gorilla. Trek through dense vegetation and get up close and personal with these magnificent creatures, observing their habits and interactions within their family groups.
Concluding your safari, enjoy the picturesque beauty of Lake Mburo National Park. As the only park in Uganda where zebras can be spotted, this is a unique opportunity to witness these animals in their natural environment. Take a boat ride on Lake Mburo, surrounded by lush greenery and wildlife such as hippos, crocodiles, and a variety of bird species.
Itinerary
Day 1: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park
Drive from Kampala in the morning with your guide to Murchison Falls, Uganda’s largest park and home to 451 bird species and 76 mammal species. Your eyes will be fed with lots of sightings along the way as you will enjoy a bottle of drinking water. Have a number of stops in Masindi for lunch and also at the top of the waterfalls.
There is nothing as thrilling as watching the River Nile make its way a 8 m crevice and dropping nearly 45 meters below as it continues with its course. Due to the great power of the falls, you will realize that the ground here is actually shaking; this is very impressive as a rainbow is also found. There after continue to your lodge and check in, have dinner and have an overnight stay.
Our accommodation options for this safari depend on your package type preference, We are happy to recommend top-notch lodge/ Camp options upon inquiry
Day 2: Murchison Game Drive and the Nile Boat Cruise
On this day, you will have a tasty breakfast and set out for a game drive. The tour guide will lead you to the finest places to easily see the animals. You will certainly enjoy Uganda’s true wilderness as you will be taking the best pictures that will be unforgettable on this safari. The thrill will be seeing lions, lioness plus their cubs together with other wild animals such as elephants plus giraffes moving, buffaloes and antelopes grazing in the savannah.
Head back to your lodge for a delicious lunch and some rest as you prepare for the afternoon Nile boat cruise. On the boat you will have a great time on the Victoria Nile, the boat takes you to the bottom of the falls. You will observe various animals like elephants, crocodiles, large numbers of hippos, buffaloes, water bucks and also birds such as storks, and fish eagle among others. While at the bottom of the falls you will have a great time watching the magnificent waterfalls. Return to the lodge for dinner and Overnight.
Day 3: Transfer from Murchison Falls to Kibale Forest
Enjoy an early breakfast at the lodge and drive to Kibale Forest; you will take pleasure in the gorgeous scenery of this countryside which makes the journey more exciting. Have your lunch en route in Fortportal town and continue as you will have great vies of the Rwenzori ranges. Check in at your lodge.
You could go for a guided nature walk in Bigodi wetland which is home to various birds and primate species. Later have dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Day 4: Kibale Forest- Morning Chimpanzee trekking
Get up so early for breakfast and head to the park, where you will be brief and later start off with Chimpanzee trekking in the forest. Kibale forest is among the charming places well-known for different primates and several crater lakes within Uganda.
In the morning you will see the chimps in their natural environment. These chimps are also exciting and this very close encounter will reward you with a memorable experience on your trip. After lunch you will drive to the Mweya peninsula in Queen Elizabeth National Park where you will arrive in the late afternoon. Have a delicious dinner and night rest.
Day 5: Game Drive & Launch Cruise -Queen Elizabeth
Enjoy your breakfast and set out for a game drive through the Kasenyi track and other tracks where you have a chance to observe different wildlife species like lions, elephants, antelopes, buffaloes, waterbucks, giraffes and if lucky enough leopards together with amazing beautiful bird species. Queen Elizabeth has a diversity of Uganda’s ecosystems such as the Savannah, wetlands, lakes, forests and over 600 bird species which live in the park.
With this, its scenery is spectacular with crater lakes like Nyamunuka and various shrubs and forests. Later head back to the lodge for lunch and relax. In the afternoon go for a launch cruise on Kazinga channel; this is one of the most memorable experiences from the park. Take pleasure in observing different water birds together with their echoing sweet sounds and animals such as hippos, African crocodiles, waterbucks, buffaloes among others. After experiencing the true wilderness, drive back to the lodge for a night rest and dinner.
Day 6: Forest Walk and Chimpanzee Tracking
Breakfast in the morning and head for a guided forest walk in Maramagambo forest with the hope to see diverse birds species, python and bat caves. You will also track chimpanzees in the Kyambura gorge. Head back to the lodge have lunch as you prepare for an evening game drive through the park.
Day 7: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
After breakfast transfer Bwindi via the Ishasha sector as you will have a chance to observe tree-climbing lions in the wild. Bwindi National Park is home to over 346 bird species, 120 mammal species, 400 plant species, 27 frog species among others and covering an area of 331 sq km. Have lunch en route and continue with your journey combined with amazing and spectacular views of banana, tea plantations and the overall green vegetation of the area. On reaching the park check in at lodge of preference. Have dinner and overnight stay as you wait n the big day for gorilla tracking.
Day 8: Gorilla Tracking and Community walk -Bwindi
After a cup of tea, head to the park head offices with your guide, have a briefing about the dos and donts while in the park with gorillas.
After head for gorilla trekking through the mist rain forest, trekking can take 2 hours or up to 6 hours and this is based on the location of the gentle giants. Only 1 hour is permitted to trekkers while with the gorillas. Make sure you carry packed lunch, enough water, sturdy shoes, non-flash cameras, rain jackets, walking sticks for those who are not so fit.
Later return to the lodge and relax. In the evening, go for a community walk where you will visit the Batwa, which is an indigenous group of people that has lived in the forest for many years, enjoy traditional dances from them. Head back to the lodge for Dinner and overnight.
Day 9: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park
Breakfast and transfer to Lake Mburo National Park, which is approximately a 6 to 7 hours drive. You will go through the outstanding scenery in Kabale which is a combination of terraced hills, forests, banana plantations among others. Have lunch in Mbarara and continue to Lake Mburo which is home to over 332 bird species, sitting on an area of 371 sq km.
A number of animals made it their home such as Zebras, impalas, warthogs, topis, waterbucks, buffaloes, and reedbucks among others. Upon arrival, you will have a boat cruise on the lake where your eyes will be fed with lots of wonders like the birds, crocodiles, hippos, zebras among others. Have dinner and a night rest.
Day 10: Return to Kampala
As you come to the end of this adventurous safari, you will have breakfast and leave for an early game drive. There you will see numerous zebras, Impalas, warthogs and antelopes living in their many natural habitats.
A good camera is a must have which in this instance offers you better pictures of Ugandas true wilderness.Proceed with your journey to Kampala, with a stopover for lunch in Masaka and another at the Equator to take photos hence arriving in Kampala in the evening or if your flight is on the same day, you will be transferred to Entebbe for your flight back home.
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