Day 1 – Kampala to Kibale National Park (Bigodi Swamp Walk)
Your Uganda safari adventure begins with a 7:00 am pickup from your Kampala (or Entebbe) hotel. Our guide will provide a briefing about your Uganda tour before departing for Kibale Forest National Park, a journey of approximately five and a half hours.
After lunch, you’ll enjoy a Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary walk, a key highlight of many Uganda tours. This guided swamp excursion brings you close to primates, primarily monkeys, as well as birds and butterflies. The wetland, a bird lover’s paradise, boasts about 138 species and is renowned for hosting the Great Blue Turaco.
This 2.5 – 3 hour walk is essential for bird enthusiasts and rivals the popularity of the Kibale Forest Walk. Wear sturdy walking shoes as parts of the trail can be muddy. With luck, you might spot the elusive Sitatunga antelope and Shoebill Stork. Primate sightings are common, including occasional chimpanzees. Other species include black-and-white colobus, grey-cheeked mangabey, red-tailed, l’Hoest’s and blue monkeys, and olive baboons. Bushbucks, mongooses, and a plethora of butterflies also inhabit the area. Bigodi Sanctuary lies outside the park in Magombe Swamp.
Day 2 – Kibale National Park (Chimp Tracking) to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Kibale Forest National Park, a highlight of many Uganda safaris, boasts the world’s highest primate species concentration, including chimpanzees. Uganda hosts approximately 5,000 wild chimpanzees, making it an ideal location for sightings!
The park is celebrated for its primate population, including chimpanzees, colobus monkeys, red-cheeked monkeys, and red-tailed monkeys. During your chimpanzee trails, you’ll frequently observe these primates swinging through forest canopies and feasting on wild fruits.
An experienced ranger will lead your chimp tracking expedition, starting around 6:30 am. Once you locate the chimpanzees, you’ll have a full hour with them. After lunch at the lodge, you’ll journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park, a drive of about two and a half hours, arriving in the evening.
Day 3 – Game Drives and Boat Cruise at Kazinga and transfer to Ishasha
Your Uganda wildlife safari day begins early at 6:30 AM, the optimal time for spotting animals in their natural habitats. The dawn game drive offers opportunities to see Africa’s renowned “Big 4”, Bush Bucks, Giant Hogs, Antelopes, Waterbucks, and numerous bird species.
Following your game drive and lunch, you’ll embark on a two-hour boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel, connecting Lakes George and Edward. This Uganda tour highlight showcases impressive concentrations of hippos, elephants, crocodiles, and various water birds.
Day 4 – Game Drives in Ishasha and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Start with an early morning game drive in the Ishasha sector, hoping to spot the famous tree-climbing lions. After lunch, transfer to Bwindi National Park.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a cornerstone of gorilla trekking Uganda experiences, is home to approximately 400 mountain gorillas – nearly half the global population, including several habituated groups available for tracking. Its misty slopes are cloaked in one of Uganda’s oldest and most biodiverse rainforests, dating back over 25,000 years and hosting almost 400 plant species.
Prepare for the next day’s strenuous activity by checking into your accommodation and relaxing.
Day 5 – Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Gorilla Trekking) to Lake Bunyonyi
Begin your day with a 6:30 am breakfast before heading to the Park headquarters for a 7:30 am briefing on gorilla trekking rules. The trek through dense vegetation to find the gorillas can take 1-8 hours. Despite the forest’s thickness, numerous animal trails provide access. Once you locate the gorillas, you’ll spend some time observing them before transferring to Lake Bunyonyi.
The drive takes you through a beautiful region often called ‘the Switzerland of Africa’ due to its unique cool climate near the Equator. Lake Bunyonyi is considered one of western Uganda’s most picturesque locations. As Africa’s second deepest lake (900 meters) and one of the few bilharzia-free water bodies in the country, it’s deemed safe for swimming.
Note: Depending on your arrival time at Lake Bunyonyi, you can pay extra for activities like Community Walks, Canoe Rides, Boat Rides, Bicycle Rides, Bird Watching, and Cray Fishing, either on this day or before departing for Kampala (or Entebbe) the next day.
Day 6 – Lake Bunyonyi to Kampala
On the final day of your Uganda vacation, enjoy a quick breakfast before driving towards Kampala (or Entebbe). You’ll stop for lunch en route before reaching your destination.
Locations
Day 1 – Kibale
Day 2 – Queen Elizabeth (North)
Day 3 – Queen Elizabeth (Ishasha)
Day 4 – Bwindi (Ruhija) or Bwindi (Rushaga) or Bwindi (Buhoma) or Bwindi (Nkuringo)
Day 5 – Lake Bunyonyi
