This 14 Days Best of Uganda Safari takes you to Ngamba Islands home of the rescued and orphaned chimpanzees found on Lake Victoria, to Murchison Falls National Park in northern Uganda to see Africa’s Big Five animals and the powerful Murchison falls on River Nile, before proceeding to Kibale Forest National Park – East Africa’s primates capital where you will track chimpanzees in their natural habitat. You will continue in Queen Elizabeth National Park for a Kazinga Channel Launch cruise and lastly visit The Bwindi Impenetrable National Park where you will get a once in a life opportunity to trek the endangered mountain gorillas.
Activities: game drive, launch cruises, rhino tracking, chimpanzee tracking, gorilla trekking
Optional Activities: Batwa Cultural Tour, Bigodi Wetland Nature Walk
Day 1: Arrival for Uganda Safari
Day 2: Transfer to Ngamba Islands
Day 3: Full day in Ngamba Islands
Day 4: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park
Day 5: Game drive and Boat Cruise Murchison Falls National Park
Day 6: Full day in Murchison Falls National Park
Day 7: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
Day 8: Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale Forest National Park
Day 9: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 10: Game drive and Boat Cruise Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 11: Transfer to Ishasha Area
Day 12: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Day 13: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi NP
Day 14: Departure to Kampala
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Kampala
On Arrival at the Entebbe International Airport, you will be received by the safari driver-guide who will transfer you to hotel as well as brief you about this 12 Day Safari adventure in Uganda. You will enjoy views of Lake Victoria the largest freshwater lake in Africa en-route.
On Arrival at the Entebbe International Airport, you will be received by the safari driver-guide who will transfer you to hotel in Entebbe as well as brief you about this 14 Day Best of Uganda Safari adventure. You will enjoy views of Lake Victoria the largest freshwater lake in Africa en-route.
Journey time: 1 hour
Meal plan: Lunch and Dinner (Depending on arrival time)
Accommodation
- Luxury:
- Mid-range:
- Budget facility:
Day 2: Transfer to Ngamba Island
After breakfast at your hotel, your driver-guide will transfer you to the sUganda Wildlife Education Center where you will transfer by boat to Ngamba Island. The 90 minutes boat ride will take you to the island where you will have lunch and spend the rest of the day at leisure.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Ngamba Island Tented Camp
Day 3: Full day adventure on Ngamba Island
Breakfast at your accommodation and then set out to the visitors’ viewing platform area where you will see the chimps feeding. There will be an optional guided forest walk led by highly trained staff where you will join infant chimps as they explore the forest. You will spend the day in the company of both old and young chimps with whom you will make direct contact as they will play around you, some will climb up your back, little ones play in your hair and even feed them. However you are highly advised to strictly follow the guidelines of how to behave while with them. Later in the evening return to your accommodation for dinner and the overnight rest.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Ngamba Island Tented Camp
Day 4: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park
Return to Entebbe mainland in the morning and begin the journey to Murchison Falls Park found in north-western driving through the well-known Luwero Triangle. You will stop over at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary where you will track rhinos. Lunch will be in Masindi Town and then proceed to Kaniyo Pabidi found in Budongo Forest where you will spend the night.
Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner
Day 5: Chimpanzee Tracking in Budongo Forest
Early morning you head-out for chimpanzee tracking during which you will get an opportunity to come face to face to face with man’s closest living relatives as they share 98% of their DNA with man. This will be a great chance to take photographs. After lunch, you will begin the drive to Murchison Falls Nation falls National Park where you will visit the top of the falls to see the water of the might river Nile force its way through a narrow 7 meter gorge and thunderous drop with a load roar. Later transfer to your accommodation for dinner and the overnight.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation
- Luxury: Nile Safari Lodge
- Mid-range: Pakuba Safari lodge
- Budget facility: Fort Murchison in tents
Day 6: Game drive and boat Cruise in Murchison Falls NP
Today early morning you will set out on an early morning game drive in Murchison Falls NP the largest national park in Uganda during which you will be rewarded with views of different animals such as buffaloes, giraffes, Lions, elephants, Leopards, hartebeest, among others and different types of birds. You will return to your accommodation for a late breakfast at around 11:00am, relax and lunch.
Later in the afternoon, go for a 2 hours Launch cruise on the river Nile to the ‘Devils Cauldron’ found at the bottom of the waterfalls where you will enjoy great views of the Murchison falls and also see several animals like the giant Nile crocodiles, hippos, buffaloes and birds on the river banks.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation
- Luxury: Nile Safari Lodge
- Mid-range: Pakuba Safari lodge
- Budget facility: Fort Murchison in tents
Day 7: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
After breakfast you will begin the long drive heading southwards to Kibale Forest National Park also known as the primate’s capital in East Africa. The park is home to 13 different primate species including the colobus monkeys, the red tailed and blue monkeys; however the main attraction here are the chimpanzees which share 98% of their DNA with man. On arrival, check into your accommodation for dinner and the night’s rest. Along this scenic country you will drive through several towns, village settlements, farms and plantations that cover the rolling hills.
Journey time: 8 – 9 hours
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and Dinner
Accommodation
- Luxury: Papaya Lake Lodge
- Mid-range: Turaco Treetops
- Budget: Chimpanzee guest house
Day 8: Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale Forest National Park
Begin the day early morning to enjoy Chimpanzee Tracking. By 8:00am you will arrive at the park headquarters where you will be briefed by the park guides about the activity. You will encounter several birds (335 species on record), butterflies, and small monkeys in the forest during the tracking which takes between 2 to 3 hours before finding the chimps. When you locate them you will you will take photographs and observe these very playful chimps.
After lunch, there will be an optional guided nature walk in the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary which is a community initiative to see several birds, primates, small animals and even interact with some of the locals. Proceeds from this nature walk are used by the locals for community development
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and Dinner
Accommodation
- Luxury: Papaya Lake Lodge
- Mid-range: Turaco Treetops
- Budget: Chimpanzee guest house
Day 9: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
You will have breakfast and then transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park driving through the beautiful countryside. Once in the park, drive to your accommodation
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and Dinner
Accommodation
- Luxury: Kyambura Gorge Lodge
- Mid-range: Twin Lakes Lodge
- Budget: Elephant Hab Lodge
Day 10: Chimp tracking in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Have an early morning adventure by transferring to the Kyambura Gorge which is a deep ravine, descend to the gorge floor for yet an adventure that is different from that in the savannah grasslands as you track chimpanzees. Drive back to the lodge for lunch.
After lunch, go for a 2 hours boat cruise on the Kazinga channel which connects Lake George and Lake Edward. You will see several birds and animals such as elephants, hippos and buffaloes; don’t forget your camera.
Day 11: Explore the Ishasha Area,
Early morning, a game drive to see the early risers such as lions, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, elephants, hyenas. Later in the afternoon head to the Ishasha Sector found in the southern part of Queen Elizabeth National park to see the unique tree climbing lions commonly seen resting in tree branches of the huge acacia trees. During your search for these lions you will see other animals in this area. Check into your accommodation in Ishasha area where you will spend the night.
Meal plan: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation
- Luxury: Ishasha Wilderness camp
- Mid-range: Ishasha Jungle lodge
- Budget: Enjojo Lodge
Day 12: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable NP
Have a final breakfast in Queen Elizabeth National Park and start the drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park home of the endangered mountain Gorillas. You will drive through the stunning kigezi highlands where you will see Uganda’s beautiful terraced hills. Have lunch en-route and later arrive in Bwindi where you will dine and spend the night.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and Dinner
Accommodation
- Luxury: Chameleon Hill Lodge, Buhoma Lodge, Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge
- Mid-range: Buhoma Haven Lodge, Trekkers Tavern Lodge
- Budget: Rushaga Gorilla Camp, Buhoma community rest camp
Day 13: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable NP
Transfer to the park headquarters By 8:00am for a briefing by the park guides about gorilla trekking. In groups of 8 led by the park guides and armed rangers you will hike through the dense forest as you search for these endangered forest giants. In the forest encounter birds, monkeys and butterflies before finally meeting the habituated gorilla family with which you will spend an hour observing and taking photos.
In the afternoon, there will be an optional Batwa pygmies cultural tour who will entertain you with songs and vibrant dances. Return for dinner and overnight at your accommodation.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and Dinner
Accommodation
- Luxury: Chameleon Hill Lodge, Buhoma Lodge, Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge
- Mid-range: Buhoma Haven Lodge, Trekkers Tavern Lodge
- Budget: Rushaga Gorilla Camp, Buhoma community rest camp
Day 14: Departure to Kampala
Today is the final day of our 14 Day Uganda Safari; the safari driver-guide will transfer you back to Kampala to a hotel of your choice or to Entebbe international airport for your departure flight, and bid you farewell. The drive is very scenery with sights of green rolling hills with large plantations, farmlands and dotted with village settlements. Lunch will be en-route in Mbarara City.
End of the 14 days best of Uganda Safari
Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch
Safari Includes:
Accommodation and meals as per itinerary
Transportation in a 4WD Safari vehicle
Full-time service of an English speaking Driver-guide
Meals as indicated in the itinerary
Chimp tracking permits
Bwindi Gorilla permit
Bottled drinking water
Park entrance fees
Game drives
Boat cruises
Safari excludes:
Personal expenses like on drinks, Laundry services, telephone and cigars
Tips
Personal insurance
Visa and air tickets
Activities listed as optional
