17 Day Ultimate Uganda Wildlife & Primates SafariView Photos

17 Day Ultimate Uganda Wildlife & Primates Safari

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The 17-Day Uganda Wildlife & Primates Safari takes you eastern, and western Uganda. Spend 17-days exploring Entebbe, Source of the Nile at Jinja, Sipi Falls at Mount Elgon National Park , Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, Kibale Forest National Park for chimpanzee trekking, mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Itinerary

Day 1: Transfer to Sipi Falls via Jinja – Enroute Visit to SSezibwa Falls and The Source of the Nile

Early morning at 7:30am after your breakfast our guide will pick you up from your booked Hotel in Entebbe/Kampala to transfer to Sipi Falls via Jinja town with an enroute visit to Ssezibwa Falls and The Source of the Nile. We arrive at Sezibwa Falls after 1 hour’s drive from Kampala/Entebbe. Have 1 hour walk at these cultural grounds and enjoy the beautiful waterfalls  and  lush scenery

After the Sezibwa Falls tour get back on the road and continue to Jinja for you’re the visit to the Source of the Nile and have lunch. At the Source of the Nile we shall have a 1 hour boat ride on the Nile to Source of the Nile monument, enjoy nice views across Lake Victoria. Thereafter we shall have a lunch stop before we continue our journey to Sipi Falls. Upon arrival to Sipi, we check in our booked accommodation situated at a scenic point overlooking the magnificent falls.

This evening we can opt to head out for an optional Coffee Tour. This “life style of coffee” tour takes you through the local coffee garden to learn about how coffee is grown, harvested and then continue to see how it is locally processed. After this adventurous day we shall retire at our booked lodge for dinner and overnight night stay.

The accommodation options this Safari depend on your package type/comfort level preference, We are happy to recommend top-notch lodge/ Camp options upon inquiry

Day 2: Hike Sipi Falls – Transfer to Jinja

This morning after breakfast we shall gear up for the hike to Sipi Falls. The trek to each of the 3 waterfalls covers an approximately 7km trail and can be covered in 3 hours on average. Each of the waterfalls offers unique experience. Along the trail you access wonderful views of the Mt. Elgon slopes and panoramic views of the distant Karamoja plains.

Depending on your preference, there is a thrilling optional activity; abseiling at Sipi falls via the last waterfall which is also the biggest or longest falling 100 meters, this thrilling abseiling adventure drops just 5 meters from the falls giving you shall a typical adrenaline experience.
After this adventurous experience we descend Sipi Falls and have our lunch at Lodge then later embark on a drive to Jinja. Upon arrival we check in our booked accommodation for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay.

Day 3: Half Day Nile White Water Rafting – Visit Itanda Falls

Early morning after breakfast we will transfer to the white water rafting briefing point, here you will receive the pre-raft guidelines before being transferred to the Nile for the adventure. Make your choice between grade 3, grad 4 or grade 5 rapids and begin your adventure. The Rafting itself will last between 2 to 4 hours with served lunch. After this adventure we shall visit the neighboring Itanda falls for sightseeing shortly after which we shall transfer back to our Lodge for an evening relaxation, later dinner and overnight stay.

Day 4: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

Early morning after breakfast we embark on drive from Jinja to Murhison Falls National Park with an enroute Lunch and Visit to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. At Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary we shall have an opportunity to track these rhinos up close and in person to tick off our first Big Five game checklist. We then leave the sanctuary and proceed to Murchison Falls National Park with our first visit to the top of The Might Murchison Falls. We later continue into the park to check in our booked accommodation for relaxation and later Dinner and overnight stay.

Day 5: Full Day Game Drives in Murchison Falls National Park

You will awake to the strangely beautiful noise of the vibrant wildlife in the park; the chirping of crickets, the twittering of the birds and the sound of the waterfalls. After an early morning breakfast, you will set out for your first safari holidays adventure in the park – a game drive.

A game drive on the Northern bank around Buligi game tracks will allow you to spot elephants grazing, herds of buffalos , the graceful giraffes, duikers, warthogs, reedbucks, bushbucks, the strange-looking hartebeest and the cherished Uganda Kob. Lions maybe seen occasionally and leopards are usually spotted at dusk

Day 6: Morning Game Drive and Afternoon Boat Safari

Early morning, we head out for an early morning game drive in Murchison Falls National Park. We explore the game trails towards the Lake Albert delta where big game such as the Elephants, Buffaloes, Giraffes, and many Antelopes are seen. Murchison falls is the main stronghold in Africa for Rothschild Giraffes. The game drive will last for approximately 3 hours before return to the lodge for breakfast. Back at the lodge there is some time to relax and later enjoy your lunch.

After lunch, take a Launch trip to the bottom of the mighty exciting falls, an amazing 3 hours boat ride along the Nile that will be rewarding with sightings of various animals that include hippos, crocodiles, elephants and a vast array of birds including the rare shoebill stork, lounging on the banks of the Nile. Upon reaching the bottom of the falls, you will have a chance to take amazing photos of the mighty roaring falls from a distance then later cruise back to Paraa ferry point where our guide will be waiting for you to transfer you to our accommodation for dinner and overnight stay

Day 7: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park

Early morning after breakfast we check out our lodge in Murchison Falls National Park then embark on the drive to Kibale National Park with another enroute stop at the Top of Murchison Falls to have a last glimpse of the powerful Falls. This scenic drive with an en route lunch stop takes us along the Albertine Rift Valley which offers wonderful views of the rift valley as we travel past big tea plantations. We proceed to Fort Portal to our lodging in Kibale reaching our booked accommodation in the late afternoon for an evening relaxation at lodge.

Wake up so early and head to Kanyanchu by 8:00 am to start your chimpanzee trek in Kibale forest. Chimpanzees are considered to be the closest relatives of human beings since they share 98% of their DNA with that of the Humans.

As you proceed with your search of these beautiful chimps, you will as well view many other primate and animal species including; the LHoests Monkeys, black and White colobus monkeys, red tailed Monkey, grey cheeked Mangabey, pottos, bush babies and many bird species including; the little green bul, yellow spotted nictor, rumped tinker bird, crowed eagle, green breasted pitta, black bee spotted eater as well as the elephants which are the mammals. This National Park is on average 3,300 feet in Elevation and it’s a rain forest with many communities of Chimpanzees, each troop of these chimpanzees has over 100 individuals which a completed social structure. In their groups, the adult males dominate the group and always defend the whole community against any danger and incursions by the males from outside.

These primates are located by listening to their pant hooting calls, and then hurry to the place where they are calling from. You get a chance to observe them as the play, feed, socialize as well as jumping around the trees.
Immediately after , the long trek, return to the lodge for lunch as you prepare to visit Bigodi Wetland sanctuary were you will view more primates like the blue monkeys, baboons, otters, Bush bucks, mongoose , bush pigs and many more.

Day 9: Morning Kasenda Lakes Tour – Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Early morning after breakfast we head out for the Kasenda Crater Lakes Tour. The cater tour is walking tour that offers panoramic views and sceneries for perfect photography. We trail goes past the different craters of the region with our destination being the top of the world view point on the highest hill behind Lake Nyamirima where you can see up to 5 crater lakes. Here we shall take opportunity for great photography movements then travel south to Queen Elizabeth National Park passing via the Rwenzori Mountains. We reach Queen Elizabeth National and transfer to our booked accommodation to check in and have our lunch. In the afternoon, we head out for our first game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Day 10: Morning Game Drive – Afternoon Boat Safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park

We wake up early; take a quick cup of coffee or tea with a snack, then set out for the early morning game drive in the Kasenyi Plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park. We explore the game trails of Kasenyi popularly known for the highest count of antelopes, the big five among other animal species. We later return back to lodge for relaxation and Lunch. In the afternoon, we take a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel, a water getaway that connects Lake Edward and George. This afternoon 3 – hour boat trip passes through possibly the highest concentration of Hippos and many animals may be seen drinking at the water’s edge. This launch cruise offers an excellent platform for photography, bird watching and game viewing. The prolific bird life is colorful and stupendous with well over 550 resident species. Dinner and overnight stay at Lodge

Day 11: Morning Nature Walk in Kyambura Gorge – Evening Game Drive in Ishasha Sector

Early morning after your breakfast we check out our booked accommodation to transfer to Kyambuga Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park for a Nature Walk. Kyambura Gorge, within the reserve, is reminiscent of a lost world, somewhere intriguing and mysterious. This nature walk will be guided by a ranger while set foot into Kyambura Gorge, look out for the various tree species, birds and butterflies and the member of the 12 other primate species including the colobus, red tail, and vervet monkeys. After this thrilling experience we shall continue on a drive to Ishasha Sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park to check in our booked accommodation for lunch and relaxation. This evening we head out for a game drive in Ishaha sector famously known for tree climbing. At sundown we return to lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

On this day, you begin your journey to Bwindi the habitat of gentle giants Mountain gorillas. This journey will take you through Kigezi highlands and its various terraced hills. Have Lunch on your way or from the lodge; it will be dependent on your arrival time. Have dinner and take a rest at our booked lodge

Talk of gentle giants with a 98% DNA close to that of humans, its the Mountain gorillas which made Bwindi Forest their home. Also other species like butterflies, plants, primates, mammals, butterflies, frogs, among others are also found here. After briefing at the headquarters, you will be led by the rangers into the jungle to track gorillas. This experience usually takes 1 hour to about 8 hours since gorillas move differently also and only 1 hour is granted to capture your greatest moments with the gorillas. Later in the afternoon you shall transfer to the transfer to Mgahinga gorilla national park.

Day 14: Golden Monkey Trekking – Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi

After breakfast, your day’s golden monkey tracking will begin when you report at the park headquarters for a briefing on the golden monkey tracking etiquette. After the briefing, you will start trekking in the forest in search of the golden monkeys and once found, you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which gives you a chance to learn about their behaviors, watch them jump up in tree branches, take photos and record videos.

Later in the afternoon you shall transfer to the transfer to Lake Bunonyi for an evening relation on the Islands. You will sail to the various islands on the lake, the Lake is famous for over 29 islands among which is the famous Akampene (Punishment Island) and Bwama and Njuyeera (sharp’s island). A tour to the islands will give you a chance to see over 200 bird species.

After breakfast, you are free to admire the beauty of the lake and its surrounding hills. You will have a choice of either taking a canoe ride on the lake to explore the different Islands with exciting histories behind them. For example, you will visit the Punishment Island. The story about this Island, it is the place where girls who were known to have conceived babies out of legitimate traditional marriage would be dumped and left to die. This is a whole day activity and you will surely enjoy it. Alternatively, you can hike one of the hills around the Lake Bunyonyi. Encounter Africa Safaris supports some projects around this area, which is part of our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). So, for those who want to do something in the community while on their tour, this is another opportunity for you to go for volunteer work. Return to the Lodge for overnight

After breakfast, drive to Lake Mburo National Park via the Great Lakes Museum or Igongo Cultural center to learn more about the cultures of the ethnic groups in western Uganda. Lunch will be served en route. You will arrive at Lake Mburo National Park just in time for an evening game drive. Lake Mburo National Park is popular for animals such as Impalas, Giraffes, Zebras and so much more. Return to the Lodge for overnight.

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. Optionally you may take a 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, you then hit the road to Entebbe airport to catch journey back home(1800hrs or later) with an en-route at the Equtor Point at Kayabwe to take some photos and refreshments

 

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