Entebbe * Murchison Falls * Kibale Forest (Chimpanzees) * Queen Elizabeth National Park* Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (Gorillas)
This Luxury Uganda safari combines the best of primate encounters and classic game-viewing, with a mix of flying and driving to maximize comfort and time in the wild.
You’ll first explore Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s largest and most diverse reserve, where the River Nile crashes through a narrow gorge before flowing into a vast delta teeming with hippos, elephants, and the prehistoric shoebill stork. (It’s the only place in Uganda to see large herds of both elephant and buffalo.) Continue to Kibale Forest, home to the country’s most famous chimpanzee trekking, before heading south into Queen Elizabeth National Park for sweeping savannahs, tree-climbing lions, and varied wildlife. Finally, the journey culminates in the misty rainforest of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, where you’ll come face-to-face with endangered mountain gorillas.
Gorilla and chimp trekking permits are included, ensuring the highlights of Uganda are fully experienced. This private safari is flexible, with two pricing levels (Luxury and Paired Back) and the option to tailor lodges, pace, and activities even more to your preferences.
Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda’s largest park. So it is many visitors’ favourite. Not only does it shelter elephant, buffalo and, lion. But the River Nile, an attraction in itself, is also home to hippo and the huge Nile crocodile. Plus the Budongo Forest, part of Murchison Falls National Park, has chimpanzees which are habituated to visiting trekkers. And the river delta offers you the chance to see the weird and rare prehistoric-looking Shoebill stork. Chimp tracking in nearby Budongo Forest is also available (as an optional extra).
Included: One Gorilla permit and one Chimpanzee tracking permit is INCLUDED on this sample safari. This itinerary can be adapted to add another night if you wish to do a 2nd gorilla trek.
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On arrival in Entebbe, you are met and transferred to your hotel. Depending on the time you arrive, you may choose to go for a sunset cruise on Lake Victoria, watch the sun set with refreshing views of the lake.
Pared Back option: The Boma Hotel (B&B)
Private transfer to the airport for your flight to Murchison Falls National Park. There is a 15 kg baggage allowance, per person.
Depart early and visit the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary en route. Here you have a walking Safari to the Southern Park to trek White Rhinos that have been re-introduced in Uganda
Later in the day, take a game drive to the top of the Murchison Falls and enjoy a walk around the top.
Paired Back Option: Twiga Safari Lodge, Full Board & Activities
Spend the day exploring Murchison Falls National Park. After an early breakfast, you will go for game drive. This is a beautiful drive across savannah, Borassus Palm Forest and grassland down to Lake Albert where the Albert Nile heads north. Drive in the open African savannah in search for Lions, Leopard, Hyena, Buffalo, Elephant, Jackson Hartebeest. Oribi, Waterbucks, Uganda Kobs,
and enjoy spotting various Bird species such as the Secretary Bird, Black Chested Snake Eagle, Tawny and Marshal Eagles Carmine and Swallow-Tailed Bee-Eaters, and many more.
In the afternoon, go for a scheduled boat ride up the Nile, to Murchison falls, whence the park derives its name. Enjoy these spectacular falls by hiking to the top of the falls where the Nile squeezes through a 7meter gap and at the bottom you will see Huge Nile Crocodiles bask.
Today you will choose to fly to Kasese and drive to Fort Portal Kibale National Park.
In the afternoon you will arrive at your accommodation. You may from choose alternative activities available at the Lodge. Like visiting
one of the local communities and getting to learn about their different lifestyles, take a crater lake walk or visit one
of the Tea farms.
Paired Back Option: Chimpundu Lodge
Rainy Season (or if only 2 people)
Alternatively you can drive to Kibale National Park. Along the way you will pass many tea plantations. On the way you stop in Fort Portal.
Today you will experience Chimpanzee Habituation in Kibale Forest National Park. You will arrive at the park Headquarters at 6:30 am for briefing. Led by an experienced Ranger Guide, you will start off into the forest to find the Chimps as they awake from their Nests. Thereafter you will follow a Chimpanzee family, observing how they hunt, feed, Mate, play with the young, interact and rest. You will get to learn to identify them as individuals by their markings, scars and other unique features that make them stand apart from rest. There are 4950 chimpanzees within Uganda; Kibale Forest alone has the most with almost 1500 Chimpanzees.
In the afternoon after tracking, you have the opportunity to take a guided walk through the swamps of Bigodi or in a nearby village.
After breakfast you will drive today to the world-famous Queen Elizabeth National Park, crossing the equator along the way. Named after her Majesty the Queen of England, it is Uganda’s most popular and most scenic game reserves. It stretches from the crater-dotted foothills of the Rwenzori range in the north, along the shores of Lake Edward to the remote Ishasha River in the south, incorporating a wide variety of habitats that range from savanna and wetlands and lowland forest. You shall have an evening game drive in the park.
Pared Back Option: Elephant Plains Lodge
Enjoy an early morning game drive. There are over 100 mammal species that include Lions, Hippos, Buffaloes, Leopard, Spotted Hyena, Elephants and the elusive Giant Forest Hog in this park. The Primates include Chimps, Black and White Colobus Monkeys, Blue, Black faced Red Colobus, and Red-tailed monkeys and Olive Baboons. In the afternoon, you shall have a scheduled boat ride on Kazinga Channel. Queen Elizabeth boasts one of the highest biodiversity ratings of any game park, from the open Savannah to Rain Forest, dense Papyrus Swamps and Crater Lakes to the vastness of Lake Edward.
In the Morning you will have a chance to have a game drive in Ishasha sector where the tree climbing lions are found, then continue to the home of the Mountain Gorillas, the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
The park is home to the endangered mountain gorillas. This fascinating mountain forest hosts chimpanzees and spectacular birds. There are 23 of the 24 Albertine Rift endemic bird species including blue-throated broadbill, bar-tailed trogon and other beautiful forest species.
Head to bed early this evening so that you are ready for gorilla trekking the next day.
Paired Back Option: Buhoma Lodge, Fully Inclusive
This morning you will get up very early for gorilla trekking. Trekking the Mountain Gorilla is one of the most exciting wildlife experiences on earth. The trek will take between 2 and 6 hours, but is well worth the effort. You will be led by an experienced ranger who will tell you interesting facts about flora and fauna and the lifestyle of the Gorillas.
Depending on the time you return from the Gorilla trek, and your energy levels, you may choose to visit the Ride for a Woman Project in Buhoma sector an organization that has helped to equip widows and orphans with skills such as craft making sewing etc, which they sell in turn to earn a living and look after their families. Additional cost of $30 per person.
After breakfast, you will transfer to Kihihi Airstrip and fly back to Entebbe enjoying the beautiful aerial view of south western Uganda, the hills and thick vegetation as well as the farming practiced by the locals.
This is a set tour using specific camps. However many tours can be adapted. Chat to us about your options. It excludes international flights but includes an estimate for all domestic or regional flights within the tour.
Meals as specified, BB in Entebbe, Fully Inclusive on safari, transfers and tours with all entrance fees included, conservation levies and park fees. One Gorilla Permit and One Chimpanzee tracking permit is included. Two flights are included in peak season months. ONLY One flight is included (Bwindi back to Entebbe) in Rainy Season (March to May and November, as Murchison to Kibale flight does not operate)
EXCLUDES2nd Gorilla permit if you wish to ADD another night, Meals not specified above, Items of a personal nature (eg gratuities, curio purchases).
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