10 Days Uganda Primates & Wildlife Adventure
Destinations: Kibale Forest National Park, Semuliki National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Lake Bunyonyi.
Activities: Chimpanze Tracking, Gorilla Trekking, Game watching, Boat Ride, Bird watching, scenery viewing among others.
OVERVIEW
This Uganda primates and wildlife exploration trip ensures that remain with lifetime memories of the beauty of the country right from the fauna, flora to the spectacular nature of the land scape.
There is a lot to see/ discover on this trip such as the 13 primates species that reside in the Kibale Forest, the nocturnal animals during a night game drive in the Semuliki National Park, one of Africa’s largest population of hippos along the Kazinga Channel and some of the African Big Five in the Queen Elizabeth National Park. You will also explore a variety of bird species including the unique species such as the Shoebill stork and endemics, eye catching scenic views of lava dammed Lake Bunyonyi and more rewarding, the Mountain Gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable forest.
ITINERARY
Day 1: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
After breakfast at your Hotel in Kampala, you will set out to Kibale forest National Park via Mityana -Mubende.
En route you will have lunch in Fort portal town after which you will have a short town tour in Fort Portal, explore the crater lakes and cultural heritage of the Toro kingdom, one of the few in Uganda that have strongly preserved their norms and values. You will visit Toro King’s Palace the Karambi tombs where fallen kings of Toro are put to rest among others before continuing for dinner and overnight at;
- Kibale safari Lodge or Primates Lodge or Ndali Lodge for up market accommodation
- Chimps nest for mid-range
- And Chimpanzee guest house for budget
Day 2: Chimpanzee tracking and Bigodi swamp walk
After breakfast, you will set out for the short chimpanzee briefing where rangers will guide you on how to walk and behave while in the forest before starting on the search for these playful apes in the Forest.
Looking out in the trees for the chimpanzees, you will be rewarded with sightings of other primates such as white colobus monkeys, grey-checked mangabey, red colobus, black-and-white colobus, Baboons and different bird species like the great blue turacco, Africa pied king fisher , malkites and so on.
You will to then return to the lodge for lunch after which you will go for the Bigodi swamp walk to search for the water loving bird species including the Shoebill stork.
Return for dinner and overnight at the Lodge later in the evening.
Day 3: Transfer to Semliki National Park
Early in the morning, you will depart for Semuliki National park on the shores of Lake Albert located in the basin of the great western Rift valley. The Park is famous for its habitats such as the Riparian forests, rain forests and short/ high grass savannah.
There is a lot to do in this park besides the normal game drive. You can decide on either to go for a forest walk looking out for birds and primates such as chimpanzees and monkeys, or visit the Female and Male Hot springs at Sempaya.
The park also offers a night game drive where you can spot different nocturnal animals such as the white tailed mongoose and slender mongoose, winged nightjars, cats, hyenas, leopards and so on.
- Dinner and overnight at Semliki Safari Lodge or at the Campsite
Day 4: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National park
After a fully served breakfast, you will leave Semliki National Park and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National park. En route, the journey will provide with different scenic views of the great mountains of the moon/ Rwenzori.
You will reach the park with a game drive en route which will offer you with sights of different animals including Elephants, Leopards, Lions and Kobs among others. You will reach the park headquarters at Mweya in the late afternoon where you will have lunch. Relax while having a small tour around the area as you wait for dinner and overnight at;
- Mweya Safari Lodge – up market
- Hippo hill camp or Ihamba – mid-range
- Simba Safari camp – budget.
Day 5: Game drive and Launch cruise
After breakfast, you will go for the game drive in Kasenyi area with in the Park for a morning game drive. You will be rewarded with beautiful and a variety of wildlife in the park such as Elephants, Lions, leopards, buffaloes, Antelopes like bush bucks and water bucks, Kobs, warthogs and so on.
Later on, you will return to your lodge for lunch as you wait for the afternoon launch cruise along the Kazinga Channel. The launch cruise will reward you with views of the most famous water loving animals like crocodile along the river banks, elephants taking water, hippos and many bird species.
Return to your lodge in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Day 6: Optional Chimpanzee Tracking & transfer to Bwindi forest
You will set out for the early morning game drive with in the park to search for the early risers and animals you missed out in the previous game drives.
Alternatively, you can go for chimpanzee tracking in the Kyambura gorge. Later on have lunch and after transfer to Bwindi Park via the Ishasha sector commonly known for its rare tree climbing lions. Proceed and reach your accommodation in Buhoma in the evening to relax, have dinner and an overnight stay.
- Gorilla Forest Camp/Gorilla resort – up market
- Buhoma lodge or Lake Kitandara camp – mid range
- Buhoma community Bandas – budget.
Day 7: Gorilla trekking experience
After breakfast at the lodge, you will go to the park headquarters for briefing about Gorilla Trekking. The rangers will lead you into the thick impenetrable forest to start your search for the endangered rare species of Mountain Gorillas.
The gorilla search always continues from the place where they were last seen the previous day. Upon reaching the area where these famous species are, you will only be allowed to interact with them for only one hour and you should always keep maximum silence while with these Gorillas. You are allowed to take photographs and so one.
To find the Gorillas, it’s such a tiresome experience since it can take you almost 3-8 hours to find them. However, once you meet these gorillas, you will easily forget the hatches you have gone through to find them and instead save the good memories you will experience with them.
After the interaction, you will return late to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 8: Transfer to Kabale and Lake Bunyonyi
In the morning after breakfast, you will leave Bwindi and transfer to Kabale a district commonly known as the Switzerland of Africa because of its beautiful scenic areas and weather. You will have lunch in Kabale town after which you will transfer to Lake Bunyonyi for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay.
- Arcadia cottages for up Market
- Bushara Island camp for mid-range
- Bunyonyi overland camp for budget.
Day 9: Full day at Lake Bunyonyi
Breakfast will be served early morning and after you will go for the full day boat tour on the lake to different small islands. The lake has almost 38 small islands and each was named according to the bird species that reside on the island.
You will have lunch on one of the Islands and later visit the Pygmy villages for entertainment and cultural exploration before returning for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 10: Transfer back to Kampala
After an early breakfast at the lodge, you will drive back to Kampala with your lunch en route in Mbarara town at the Igongo Cultural Center if you want to have a taste of local dishes or at Agip Motel.
Reach Kampala late evening and drop off will be at your Hotel in Kampala or at the Airport in Entebbe to catch your flight back home.
END OF TRIP
This Trip Includes;
- Transfer Fees
- Full Board Accommodation
- Par Entrance Fees
- Boat trips
- Gorillas and Chimpanzee tracking Permits
- Entrance to Historical sites
- Services of the driver and Guide
It Excludes;
- Extra drinks at the Hotel
- Tip to Guides & Porters
- Air Ticket & Visa