9 days Uganda Classic Safari

Day 1:  Rhino Tracking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

Have an early breakfast and depart for Murchison Falls National Park. The journey is a magical adventure with a stopover at Ziwa Rhino sanctuary route to track Rhinos. Your ranger guide will brief you after which you proceed to trek Rhinos in the sanctuary.

After this fulfilling experience and photo session, we proceed to the ‘top of the falls’ where River Nile is forced through a 7-meter gorge with a thunderous fall. Proceed to your lodge for overnight.

Journey time – 4 hours

Accommodation:

Murchison River Lodge– click here for more information about your accommodation

Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 2: Game drive and Boat Safari on River Nile

Murchison Falls National park is the biggest in Uganda and offers fulfilling game viewing. The game drives start early morning right after breakfast which increases the chances of sighting different animals especially the predators that tend to go into hiding during the heat of the day. The game drive happen in the northern bank of River Nile, where we look out for giraffes, elephants, hartebeest, Buffaloes, Leopards, Lions and different bird species.

In the after-noon, the safari will continue on River Nile – Nile boat safari towards the mighty Murchison falls. The relaxed boat safari provides more opportunities for spotting a variety of animals and birds and falls from. You have an opportunity to watch the falls from below.

Accommodation:

Murchison River Lodge– click here for more information about your accommodation

Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 3: Drive to the Chimpanzee in Kibale Forest National Park

Today we depart for the home of Chimpanzee in Kibale National Park. Kibale forest is home to 13 species of primates with the main attraction being chimpanzee tracking and bird watching. The journey to this tropical forest passes villages and colorful road markets. Lunch will en route or packed.

Journey time – 7 hours

Accommodation:

Turaco Treetop – click here for more information about your accommodation

Meal plan: Dinner and Breakfast

Day 4: Chimpanzee tracking in their natural habitat 

Chimpanzee tracking is a fulfilling adventure that takes you deep in the tropical forests with streams of water and abundant wildlife. You will start with a briefing from the ranger guide about your chimp trek. On your trek, you might have sightings of red-tailed monkeys, black-and white Columbus monkeys, butterflies, and birds calling from the canopies. With the help of your ranger guide, you will locate the chimps. Enjoy picture moments and watch them as they play, groom, and feed.

After lunch visit Bigodi swamp – a community project known for its rich diversity of birds and primates depending on the availability of time. This community project is involved in providing employment for youth through tour guiding, some of the proceeds go into establishment of schools and teachers pay.

Accommodation:

Turaco Treetop – click here for more information about your accommodation

Meal plan: Dinner and Breakfast

Day 5: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Today after breakfast, our wildlife tour continues to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Enjoy views of several crater lakes and the mystical Rwenzori Mountain ranges. On arrival in the park, have lunch and take a boat safari on Kazinga channel. The boat safari is a great way to enjoy water, animals, birds and photography. The Kazinga Channel in Uganda is a wide, 32-kilometre long natural channel that links Lake Edward and Lake George, and a dominant feature of Queen Elizabeth National Park. The channel attracts a varied range of animals and birds, with one of the world’s largest concentration of hippos and numerous Nile crocodiles.

Journey time – 2 hours

Accommodation:

Elephant Plains– click here for more information about your accommodation

Meal Plan: Lunch, dinner and Breakfast

Day 6: Proceed to Ishasha Sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park

After a relaxed breakfast depart for Ishasha Sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. The Ishasha sector is notably recognized for its resident Tree climbing lions that are an exceptional attraction and one among the highlights on all safaris taken within Queen Elizabeth National park. In the southern section of this park, the Lions are now and again spotted hanging on braches of huge fig trees whereas the Uganda Kob (which are the major food to these lions) graze in the plains of the Ishasha sector. Afternoon game viewing drive in Ishasha before culminating to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Journey time – 2 hours

Accommodation:

Budget: Ishasha Wilderness Lodge – click here for more information about your accommodation

Meal plan:  Breakfast, Lunch Dinner

Day 7: Drive to Bwindi

After a relaxed breakfast, you will have a game viewing drive in Ishasha sector en-route to Bwindi home of gorillas. Lunch will be served at your lodge followed by a relaxed afternoon.

Buhoma Lodge – click here for more information about your accommodation

Meal plan:  Breakfast, Lunch Dinner

Day 8: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Gorilla Trekking) to Lake Bunyonyi

The highlight of the Great Apes Safari starts when you wake early (06:00), have your breakfast, and be at the trailhead in time for the gorilla tracking briefing in the Southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Your guide will make sure that you have packed lunch and mineral drinking water. You will be briefed on the does and don’t while tracking Gorillas and then start the activity at 08h00.When you spot the Great Apes, you will be able to spend an hour with them. Your time in the forest cannot be pre-determined as every day is different from that previous, after this enticing experience you will be transfer to Lake Bunyonyi.

The drive will be in the beautiful part of the country often referred to as ‘the Switzerland of Africa’ because of its unique cool weather despite being near the Equator. This lake is said to be one of the most beautiful places in western Uganda and the second deepest lake in Africa (900 meters deep) and also one of the few places in the country where it is considered safe to swim as it is bilharzia free.

Note: Depending on your time of arrival at Lake Bunyonyi, you can pay the extra amount for the activity (Community Walk, Canoe Ride, Boat Ride, Bicycle Ride, Bird Watching, Cray Fishing or a visit to the batwa community.) directly at the accommodation and do the activity on this day or on the next day before departing back to Entebbe.

Accommodation:

Bird’s Nest – click here for more info about your accommodation

Day 9: Depart

After breakfast you will be transferred back to Entebbe for your outbound flight back home or to your next destination via Equator for lunch and for pictures in the northern and southern hemisphere.

Tour includes

  • Ground transport in a safari 4 x 4 or a safari minivan
  • Gorilla permit fees
  • Chimpanzee permit
  • Park entrance
  • Boat trips as mentioned in the itinerary
  • Bottled water in the safari vehicle
  • Full board accommodation for two nights
  • Service of an English-speaking driver guide
  • All mentioned activities except for the optional ones

Tour excludes

  • Extras at the accommodation i.e. drinks, telephone, laundry etc.
  • Tips to porters and driver/ guide
  • Insurance
  • Any item of personal nature
  • Any service mentioned as optional in the itinerary or not mentioned in inclusion list

Gorilla trekking tips

  1. Bwindi impenetrable national park requires hiking, you should pace yourself and drink plenty of water.
  2. Eating, drinking and smoking near the gorillas is forbidden. Your ranger guide will communicate designated time and place for such.
  3. We encourage you to carry a rain poncho
  4. Waterproof walking shoes or hiking boots are essential.
  5. Gardening gloves for protection against stinging plants
  6. Long trousers and long sleeved sweaters or shirts while in the forest to avoid insect stings.
  7. Photography is permitted, although you must not use flash
  8. Porters are available to help you carry your day pack for a minimum fee of $20 or UGX 50,000