15 Days Uganda Wildlife Safaris
This tour will take you on an epic adventure through the savannah of Lake Mburo National Park, the highland forest of Bwindi, the home of the mountain gorilla, and a unique collection of birds known as Albertine rift endemics. Then you’ll cross the grasslands of Queen Elizabeth National Park before heading north to the home of our closest cousins, the chimpanzees in Kibale National Park.
After that, you’ll go to Murchison Falls National Park before finishing at the rhino sanctuary, which is the only location in Uganda where you may see rhinos in their native environment.
STRONG POINTS
- Game Drive
- Gorilla Experience
- Chimpanzees
- Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe International Airport for the Uganda wildlife safari
- Our expert guide will meet you at the Entebbe International Airport for your first day of the Uganda safari
Until 1962, Uganda’s capital was situated in Entebbe, a city in central Uganda on the banks of Lake Victoria about 38 Kilometers from the capital city Kampala
There are a number of must-see tourist destinations in and around Entebbe that may be visited either immediately upon arrival or with some advance planning. Entebbe Botanical Gardens is one of the most well-known of them. Located in the heart of the city, this quiet garden is home to exotic tropical plants, flowers, and trees that are guaranteed to please nature lovers and city dwellers looking for a peaceful retreat.
The gardens have been well maintained so that guests may stroll around and enjoy the views, sounds, and smells of the many different kinds of plants on display.
Tourists that arrive early for this trip may spend some time at the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC), a refuge for a diverse range of wildlife. UWEC offers a safe haven and medical attention for rescued wild animals, many of whom are orphaned or wounded. Visitors and local residents alike may take advantage of the center’s educational programming focused on wildlife preservation and management.
We may also organise a trip to the Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary for those primatology buffs among you. Several chimpanzees who were freed from human captivity have found a new home on this island in Lake Victoria. The refuge is a great place to learn about chimpanzees and view them in their natural habitat. Visitors on one of the island’s guided excursions may see the chimpanzees at play, at mealtime, and interacting with one another, all from a respectful distance.
Stay at the Boma Hotel.
- Day 2: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park
- After breakfast, we proceed to Lake Mburo, arriving in the afternoon for a game drive that takes you for wildlife viewing. There is an excellent wetland and Acacia savanna refuge here. Birding here is a lovely experience, with stunning landscape and wildlife that is noticeably distinct from that seen in other protected areas in Uganda.
This is the finest area in the nation to view Eland, as well as Zebra, Topi, Impala, and acacia-related species. The park’s lakes host hippos, crocodiles, and a variety of waterbirds, while the surrounding marshes shelter secretive papyrus specialists like Sitatunga, as well as far rarer roans, leopards, hyenas, and jackals.
A boat cruise on Lake Mburo - The boat cruise on Lake Mburo lasts around two hours and offers tourists a unique vantage point from which to see the local fauna. The boat allows you to go considerably closer to wildlife like hippos and crocodiles that inhabit the lake.
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You may also enjoy the views of the lake and its banks, which are home to various species of water-dwelling birds, including the African fish eagle, Pied and Malachite Kingfishers, and the African Finfoot, a very secretive and difficult-to-spot bird that is often seen during the cruise around the shores of Lake Mburo. The cruise would be an exceptional and thrilling experience for bird watchers, in particular.
The Uganda wildlife ranger guide on board the boat provides an overview of the ecology of the lake and its environs, as well as the flora and fauna that inhabit the region.
Spend the night at Mantana Tented Camp.
- Day 3: A whole day in the park
- Today we’ll go on a game drive in the park. We have a boat excursion later in the day. Water Buck, Impala, Eland, Buffalo, Topi, Grant’s Plain’s Zebra, Bush Buck, Warthog, and Dwarf Mongoose are some of the species to look out for.
Spend the night at Mantana Tented Camp.
- Day 4: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- After breakfast, we’ll have another game drive out of the park, this time to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it is home to around half of the world’s 600 endangered mountain gorillas. This vast montane forest reserve is home to 23 of Uganda’s 24 unique Albertine Rift bird species, making it possibly the most prolific montane forest birding destination in Africa.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, formerly part of a much wider forest that encompassed the Virunga Volcanoes in neighbouring Rwanda, is today an ecological island among a sea of human agriculture and hence of enormous conservation value.
Buhoma is located at 5100 feet in the Munyaga River valley, surrounded by high, forested hills. The promise of several rare and localised Albertine Rift endemics, as well as excellent woodland birding, makes this a veritable birding Mecca.
The promise of several rare and localised Albertine Rift endemics, as well as excellent forest birding, makes this a veritable birding Mecca.
Dinner and overnight at Buhoma Haven Lodge
- Day 5: Mountain Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- We arrive at the park headquarters early morning, with a packed lunch, for a briefing before gorilla tracking. This is the most thrilling lifetime experience ever. The gorillas are wonderful creatures, and photographing them as they interact is an incredible experience.
A Uganda gorilla safari is a magical experience when you look into the eyes of these gentle giants and watch them play and go about their everyday routines. This is a “once in a lifetime” opportunity that you should not pass up.
The time needed to locate the mountain gorilla family may range from three to eight hours, depending on how far they had traveled since the previous night. The guides will look for telltale signs such as manure piles, footprints, and trees with fresh fruit and vegetables. They may sometimes hear them before they see them.
After finding the gorillas, you’ll get an hour to spend with them, during which time you may take pictures and observe their social behaviour. Keep at least 8 metres space between you and them to limit the transmission of disease. While on the lookout for gorillas, the guide will point out various plants and animals that the gorillas eat.
Each encounter is unique and has its own set of pleasures; you’re likely to have a close-up view of adults eating, grooming, and sleeping while the juveniles romp and swing from vines in a charmingly entertaining show.
- Day 6: Forest Nature Walk
- The rest of our time here will be spent searching for additional primates such as the L’Hoest Monkey, Black and White Colobus, Red-tailed, and Blue Monkeys. Rwenzori duikers, Yellow Back duikers, Caruther’s, Bohm’s, and Alexander squirrels, and many more species are mammals.
Rwenzori duikers, Yellow Back duikers, Caruther’s, Bohm’s, and Alexander squirrels, and many more species are mammals.
Return for dinner and overnight at Buhoma Haven Lodge.
- Day 7: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
- We take a drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park. If the weather permits, we will travel through the Ishasha area, which is famous for its tree climbing lions. If you’re fortunate, you could get a glimpse of these lovely animals as they laze in the tree branches.
We will arrive in the park this afternoon, and there is a possibility that we could go on a game drive this evening.
Check into Mweya Safari Lodge, our accommodation for the next two nights. Since Queen Elizabehnatiional Park encompasses a wide range of habitat types—from open savannah to rainforest, thick papyrus swamps to brooding crater lakes to the grandeur of Lake Edward—it is not surprising that it has one of the highest biodiversity ratings of any game reserve in the world.
This superb safari territory is home to nearly 100 mammal species and a remarkable 612 bird species, with elephants, a plethora of hippos, the elusive giant forest hog, and the handsome Uganda Kob all regularly sighted around the tourist village on the Mweya Peninsula, which also boasts a magnificent waterfront setting in the shadow of the Rwenzori Mountains.
- Day 8: Game viewing in the Park and Launch Cruise on the Kazinga Channel
We start early in the morning with a refreshing breakfast and proceed on a game drive in search of big game and gorgeous scenery. After lunch at the resort, we’ll take a boat cruise on the magnificent Kazinga Channel.
Day 9: Transfer to Kibale National Park
We’re heading to Kibale Forest today. For the journey, we have packed a lunch to eat as we travel.
Arrive at Ndali Lodge, our accommodation for the next two nights.
Kibale’s main draw, though, is the chance to track habituated chimpanzees—these endearing primates, more closely related to humans than any other living species, are a lot of fun to watch as they bicker and play in fruiting trees.
13 different species of primates, including chimpanzees, live there thus. The biggest number of chimpanzees in Uganda are in this park, it is estimated there are about 1500 individuals in Kibale forest. Additionally, it has the greatest population of the endangered Red Colobus Monkey in East Africa and the rare L’hoest’s Monkey.
Other primates you could encounter are the Black and White Colobus, Blue Monkey, Grey-cheeked Mangabey, Red-tailed Monkey, Olive Baboon, Bushbaby, and Potto. The northern and central regions of the park are mostly covered with Kibale forest. At a height of 1590 metres above sea level, Kibale is the highest point in the park.
A network of shaded forest paths will satisfy botanists and insect enthusiasts, while birders will be rewarded with 335 species.
Other terrestrial animals include buffalo, enormous forest hogs, and a half dozen antelope species, as well as the elusive forest elephant, which is smaller and hairier than its savannah cousin.
Day 10: Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park
After a light breakfast, we go to the forest to track chimps. Tracking chimps, which are thought to be human “cousins,” is a fascinating experience. It’s incredible how they eat, climb trees, react to people, and care for their young.
If time permits, a nature walk in the Bigodi wetland, which is managed by the community, will be possible in the afternoon. This is a compelling tale of how ecotourism development benefits the community.
Day 11: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park
With a packed lunch, we head north to Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s largest National Park. The park is part of the larger Murchison Falls Conservation Area (MFNP) which also comprises of Bugungu and Karuma Wildlife Reserves. It gets its name from the Murchison Falls, where the powerful Nile bursts through a tiny valley and drops down to become a calm river teeming with hippos, crocodiles, waterbucks, and buffaloes.
Savannah, Riverine Forest, and Woodland dominate the vegetation. Elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, hartebeests, oribis, Uganda Kobs, chimpanzees, Lions and leopards, and numerous species of birds, including the rare Shoebill, are among the wildlife.
Overnight at Pakuba Safari Lodge
Day 12: Wildlife viewing on a game drive in Murchison Falls National Park
After an early breakfast, we embark on a morning game drive in the delta region. The park has various wildlife species, including megafauna like the Nubian giraffe (formerly Rothschild giraffe) and elephant, Cape buffalo, Jackson’s hartebeest, Uganda kob, warthog, reedbuck, and the little Uganda oribi. Lion, leopard, and hyena are the carnivores that can be encountered in the delta area, where animals congregate for water.
Later in the afternoon, we take the launch cruise to the bottom of the falls.
This puts us within striking distance of the beautiful falls.
Option to hike to the top of the falls:
The hike to the top of the falls takes around three hours and spans 7.5km (4.7 miles). The hike begins at a little pier on the river’s banks and passes along the river Nile banks, deep forest and rugged terrain, offering hikers a breathtaking perspective of the river and the sole chance to see the two waterfalls, including Uhuru. The journey may at times be difficult owing to steep inclines and rough terrain, but the sights are well worth the difficulty.
Hikers will pass by the foot of the falls and be able to see the Nile River as it rushes through a small valley before plunging over the falls en route to the delta that empties into Lake Albert.
When hikers reach the top of the falls, they are greeted with a spectacular view of the Nile River flowing through the park. During the wet season, when water levels are high and the Nile is at its most forceful, the scenery is especially breathtaking.
The hike also provides an excellent chance for tourists to learn about the park’s history and geology. The guides will describe how the falls formed as well as the environment and flora and wildlife of the park.
Rangers from the Uganda Wildlife Authority will lead the expedition and protect you from encounters with wild animals. It is essential to bring sufficient amounts of water, food, and hiking boots. When the weather is chilly, the walk is conducted early in the morning or late in the evening. The usage of sunscreen and bug repellent is required.
Return to Pakuba Safari Lodge for Dinner and overnight
Day 13: Boat cruise to the Delta
After breakfast, we will go downstream to the Nile Delta in search of water species such as lapwings, cormorants, shoebills, saddle-billed storks, papyrus gonolek, and others. Another night game drive may provide an opportunity to see nocturnal creatures.
Return to Pakuba Safari Lodge for rest and dinner.
Day 14: Transfer to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
After breakfast, we will travel to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for rhino tracking before checking into Amuka Lodge.
The Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary in Nakasongola is the only area in Uganda where visitors can go rhino tracking on foot, making it a once-in-a-lifetime chance to observe these magnificent beasts in their native environment.
It was established specifically to protect the country’s endangered rhinoceros species. The sanctuary has provided a safe haven for Southern White Rhinoceros since its founding in 2005, and it now contains approximately 35 rhinos. There are plans in the works to move them to one of the bigger conservation zones.
We’ll be able to go birding by boat later in the afternoon, looking for the uncommon shoebill and other waders and forest rarities.
A nocturnal nature walk is an option.
During this walk on a full moon, there is the possibility of encountering various nocturnal animals and birds, including owls, porcupines, civets, and swamp mongoose.
Later in the afternoon, we’ll be able to go birding by boat, looking for the rare shoebill and other waders and woodland specialties.
Day 15: Transfer to Entebbe International Airport for departure
departure