10 Days Uganda Safari lets you explore some of Uganda’s wildernesses. It takes you through the savannah parks of Murchison Falls National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park where you do savannah park activities like game drive, boat trips and you expect to spot animals like lions, leopards, giraffes, kobs, impalas, among others. It also takes you through the forest parks of Kibale National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park which are home to large African primates like Chimpanzees and Mountain Gorillas. All the parks offer great Uganda birding opportunities.
Day 1: Transfer from Kampala-Murchison Falls National park – stopover at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Our company safari guide will pick you from your residence in Kampala around 7 am setting off for your 10 days Uganda Safari, start the drive to Murchison Falls National Park. Murchison Falls National Park lies in Masindi district in north-western Uganda. It is named after Murchison waterfall where the waters of the majestic Nile River squeeze through a 7m wide gorge, and plunge 43 metres below. Animals like Buffalos, Elephants, Lions, Giraffes, Kobs, Crocodiles, Hippos, Waterbucks and many more are found in this park as well as about 425 bird species including Hornbills, Bee-Eaters, Kingfishers and Storks, Egyptian Plover among others.
Along the way to the way, make a stopover at Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Sanctuary and track the White Rhinos, and then proceed to the park. You will arrive in time for lunch, have lunch and later go for an afternoon game drive where the driver/guide will help you spot various species of wildlife.
Dinner and overnight stay at Fort Murchison Lodge
Day 2: Game drive and Launch cruise to the bottom of Murchison falls
After an early breakfast, go for game drive. The activity starts at 6am such that you are able to spot the animals and other wildlife as they start their day and it takes around 4 hours. Expect to spot animals like Buffalos, Elephants, Lions, Leopards, Giraffes, Kobs, Impalas among others. Return to the lodge for relaxation and lunch.
In the afternoon, take a boat trip on the Victoria Nile to the bottom of the falls. This activity takes 3 hours and as you move, you might spot wildlife like crocodiles, Hippos, elephants and many others. You can hike to the top of the falls, which is about 30-40minutes. Various water birds can be spotted like the African Fish Eagle, Pied Kingfisher, African Jacana, Pink Backed Pelican, Cormorants, Hadada and Sacred Ibis, Marabou Stork, Yellow-Billed Stork among others.
Dinner and overnight at the Fort Murchison Lodge
Day 3: Transfer to Kibale National Park
After breakfast at the lodge, check out and start the journey to Kibale National Park. The park is about 766 km2 in size with primarily a tropical forest and is located in the Southern western region of Uganda. It inhabits approximately 325 species of birds which include the olive long-tailed cuckoo, Western Green tinker bird, African and Green-breasted and African Grey Parrot. It is also a home to 13 species of primates, at least 60 other species of mammals. The visits to the park are mainly paid to the endangered Chimpanzees. While visiting the Chimps you can get to see other primates including the red colobus monkey, the rare L’Hoest’s monkey and Uganda Mangabey.
Lunch will be along the way or at the lodge (if possible). Relax at the lodge and you might consider doing a community walk to the surrounding villages.
Dinner and overnight at Kibale Forest Camp
Day 4: Chimp trekking in Kibale forest
After breakfast, drive to the park headquarters at Kanyanchu where you will be briefed by the park ranger guide about the do’s and don’ts while in the park. Start the trek through the tropical forest to look for the common chimpanzee. As you move, you might spot other primates like Uganda Mangabey, Red Colobus monkey, olive baboon. You will also spot several forest birds. Expect to spot the chimpanzees in trees or on ground as the play, feed, rest and as they generally do their daily activities. You are allowed to take photos.
Return to the lodge for lunch, later visit Bigodi wetland. The wetland is home to several bird species especially swamp species. Lucky tourists might spot the rare shoebill stork.
Dinner and overnight at Kibale Forest Camp
Day 5: Kibale- Queen Elizabeth National park
On this day, after breakfast, you might consider visiting the Amabere ga Nyinamwiru caves which have a rich history attached before you continue to Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP). Queen Elizabeth National Park was named after Queen Elizabeth II and it was established in 1954. The park is located in western Uganda and covers an area of about 1,978 square kilometers. Within this park there is Lake Edward and Lake George and the Kazinga channel. All the way, you will have distance views of the Rwenzori highlands.
On arrival you will have lunch, and either relax at the lodge or go for an afternoon game drive. You might spot wildlife like elephants, Buffaloes, Impalas, Uganda Kobs and lions as well as several savannah bird species.
Dinner and overnight at Bush Lodge
Day 6: Game drive and boat ride
After an early breakfast, do a morning game drive in Kasenyi area of the park and expect to spot wildlife like elephants, Buffaloes, Impalas, Uganda Kobs and lions. After the game drive, drive to Mweya peninsula. You will have lunch at the peninsula where you will have beautiful views of the Kazinga channel and Lake Edward.
In the afternoon do a boat trip on the Kazinga channel where you will spot several wildlife. Expect to spot water birds like the Pink-backed pelicans, Papyrus canary, African fish eagle, African jacana among others. Crocodiles, hippos can be seen and sometimes a herd of elephants that come to quench their thirst and cool off. The trip will go up to the start of Lake Edward before you head back.
Dinner and overnight at Bush Lodge
Day 7: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park through Ishasha
After breakfast, you will be picked from the lodge and drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This National Park is located in the south-western part of Uganda next to the Virunga National Park and on the edge of the Albertine Rift. Bwindi national park is a home to various animal and bird species. This includes over 214 species of birds and 120 species of mammals. Bwindi national park is well known for its endangered mountain Gorillas. Apart from the gorillas there are other animals like the L’Hoest’s monkey, African elephant, African green broadbill, Grauer’s rush warbler, Chaplin’s flycatcher, African giant swallowtail among others.
Ride through Ishasha sector of QENP with a stopover game drive to search for the tree climbing lions.
Dinner and overnight al Buhoma Haven Lodge
Day 8: Gorilla tracking
After breakfast, drive to Buhoma park headquarters for briefing. In the company of a park guide and rangers, start the trek through the thick forest to look for the world’s largest primate. Gorilla tracking activity takes 2-10 hours depending on the movements of these gorillas. Other animals and birds might be spotted too and these include the l’Hoest’s monkey, African elephant, birds like the African green broadbill, Grauer’s rush warbler, Chaplin’s flycatcher, African giant swallowtail among others can be spotted as you move through the forests. The activity is a bit tiring since it involves long walks and moving through raised land, ensure u are fit for it.
When you find the gorillas, you will be given an hour to watch them interact with each other, play, feed and groom. It is okay to take photos of the gorillas but make sure the flashlight is off.
Dinner and overnight al Buhoma Haven Lodge
Day 9: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park
Today you will visit Lake Mburo National Park. Lake Mburo National Park is in the western part of Uganda. Have lunch on arrival and later go for a boat ride, and get to see hippos and crocodiles and various water birds like the rare shoebill stock, Pelicans, Black crake, Heron, cormorant, fish eagle and many others. Dinner and overnight at the lodge
Dinner and overnight at Rwakobo Rock Lodge
Day 10: Game drive-Kampala
Have breakfast and later go for a morning game drive. While on the game drive, you will spot animals like Zebras, Impala, Buffaloes, Buffalo, Topi, and Eland among others. In the afternoon you will drive back to Kampala. You may briefly stop at the equator for photography. Drop off will be at your residence in Kampala or at the airport.
End of trip