Day 1: Transfer from Kampala -Murchison Falls Park via Ziwa rhino sanctuary
After breakfast at your accommodation in Kampala, embark on the trip to Murchison Falls National Park in the north of Uganda, a journey of 311 km about 5 hours’ drive. You traverse through the undulating hill slopes of Nakasongola before branching off at Nakitoma for 7 km to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary just 176 km north of Kampala. Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch is the proud home of the only wild rhinos in Uganda following their extinction and thus offers an unforgettable Rhino tracking experience. The sanctuary is the only place where you will be able to see rhinos in the wild.
Presently the sanctuary is home to fifteen (15) southern white rhinos and has become increasingly popular with tourists flocking it for rhino trekking, bird watching, nature walks and an experiential canoe ride. After this experience, continue on the drive to Masindi town for lunch and later proceed to Uganda’s largest park -Murchison Falls National Park for relaxation. Check in at the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation:
Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge
Mid range: Pakuba Safari Lodge
Budget:Heritage Safari Lodge
Day 2. Early morning Game Drive & an afternoon boat Cruise on Nile
You will wake up very early in the morning to go for a morning game drive where you will have a chance to spot early risers and nocturnal species before they return to their hideouts. This is the most beautiful national park in Uganda and this is because it hosts 4/5 of the big 5 animals and also it also home to one of the most beautiful and powerful falls in the world so far.
Traverse the rolling plains of Uganda’s largest National Park before returning later to the lodge for breakfast. The 3,893 sq. km park is home to a range of animals, and you will have a chance of viewing some of the Park’s residents including lions, giraffes, Jackson’s hartebeests, antelopes, buffalo, and elephants. For the birders, you will enjoy a cock tail of them as these areas support the secretary bird and the black chested snake eagle, to name a few.
In the afternoon, go for a boat trip to the base of Murchison Falls, where the Nile thunders through a small 7 meter gorge plunging 43 meters into the Nile on the way to Lake Albert. Lots of bird diversity can be spotted and numerous animals resting and drinking water along the banks of the Nile. The most common ones being hippos, buffaloes, Nile crocodiles and birds include, the African fish eagle, Yellow billed stork, Egyptian goose, Egrets, Malachite kingfisher among others. The launch cruise will take you close to the falls’ base where you will be shown the spot where Ernest Hemingway’s plane crashed during sightseeing tour to Murchison falls in 1954.
You can then get off the boat and go hiking up the side of the falls to the top.
After the cruise, you will drive back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation:
Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge
Mid range: Pakuba Safari Lodge
Budget: Heritage safari Lodge
Day 3: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
After breakfast, pass through the Albertine Escarpments and the verdant countryside, traditional farms and homesteads for an arrival and late lunch in Fort Portal in the afternoon.
Retire for dinner and overnight at your lodge.
Accommodation:
Luxury: Primate Lodge
Midrange: Kibale Forest Camp
Budget: Rwenzori View Guest House
Day 4: Bigodi bird sanctuary wetland walk. Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National park
A visit to Bigodi swamp ecotourism site, given its astounding flora and fauna, will be worth it too. The swamp has numerous populations of birds, a wide range of over 138 different species of birds including the Great Blue Turaco, and swamp animals like Sitatunga antelope, and a visit to the local communities
Later in the afternoon, you will embark on your journey towards the south western part of the country to explore the famous queen Elizabeth national park. This national is the second largest savannah park in Uganda and the popular due to its history with the Queen of England – Queen Elizabeth II. The park also boasts of being a shelter to Uganda’s BIG FOUR mammals (Buffalo, Leopard, Lion, and Elephant).
Arrive early evening for a relaxed game drive through the Kasenyi plains; the game drive will offer you a lifetime opportunity to encounter numerous families of wild game in a single glance including elephants, buffaloes, water bucks and Kobs along with predators like lions, leopards and jackals. The game drive takes 2 – 3 hours and you retreat back to the lodge for overnight.
Accommodation:
Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge
Mid range: Ihamba Lakeside safari Lodge
Budget: Simba Safari camp
Day 5: Do chimp trekking in Kyambura Gorge. Afternoon Boat cruise at Kazinga channel
After a hearty breakfast, embark on an amazing experience in Kyambura gorge for chimpanzee tracking and nature walks. Meet the man’s closest relatives – the chimpanzees as they roll themselves in their natural habitat gathering fruits, socializing and making pant hooting calls combine to make your chimp tracking experience memorable.
The Chimpanzee trekking experience tends to last 2 – 5 hours and including one hour of direct encounter with them.
Return to the lodge for relaxation and lunch before proceeding for a launch cruise along theKazinga Channel. This boasts to be home to one of the largest concentrations of hippos, as well as herds of elephants, buffaloes, and other wildlife that come to drink from the river. The Kazinga channel also attracts a tremendous variety of bird species including the African Eagle, Open-Billed Stork, and Pied Kingfishers.
Accommodation:
Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge
Mid range: Ihamba Lakeside safari Lodge
Budget: Simba Safari camp
Day 6: Morning game drive and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable national park.
After a morning cup of African coffee at the Lodge, engage in an early game drive in the undulating savannah plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park and the extensive Kasenyi tracks to explore the park’s unique scenery marked with numerous herds of wildlife including lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, water bucks, jackals and flocks of unfamiliar bird species. The activity normally lasts for 3 – 4 hours after which you will transfer to the park exit as you continue to Bwindi national park.
Accommodation:
Luxury: Gorilla Safari Lodge
Midrange: Bakiga Lodge
Budget: Broad bill Forest Camp
Day 7: Gorilla trekking and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi.
After an early breakfast, you will take a packed lunch, have a briefing by the game guides at the park headquarters and start your gorilla trail. Hiking through the thick, verdant, rainforest to eventually come across the gorillas in their natural habitat, is an amazing and unforgettable experience.
This encounter takes between 2 to 9 hours and is the highlight of an Africa exploration safari. You will only have 1 hour of close contact with these calm gentle apes, take pictures and get acquainted to them.
After the tracking, you will transfer to Bunyonyi to visit the 29 islands. Dinner and overnight at the lodge
Accommodation:
Luxury: Arcadia cottages
Midrange: Bunyonyi Safaris resort
Budget: Supreme Adventure Park
Day 8: Transfer to Rwanda and visit Volcanoes National park.
After an early morning exploration on the lake; cross to Rwanda via Chanika border, enjoy a half day scenic drive south wards to the Volcanoes national park in Ruhengeri, home to over 360 Mountain Gorillas.
Volcanoes national park is also an ecologically diverse destination and it is no surprise that tracking mountain gorillas remains the most popular activity.
In the evening, visit the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village; this experience gives visitors a rare chance to meet local people, in their environment, with a taste of unique culture and traditions. Located just outside the national park, this living museum highlights aspects of traditional Rwanda society. Visitors can expect to be greeted by thunderous drumming, joyful dancing, and the kind of hospitality that has permeated Rwandan society for centuries. The village features hands-on activities related to the rituals and ways of life in the ancient Rwandan kingdom.
You return to the lodge and spend the rest of the day relaxed, enjoying dinner and overnight.
Accommodation:
Luxury: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Midrange: Le’ Bambou GorillaLodge
Budget: Hotel Muhabura
Day 9: Visit the twin lakes. Transfer to Kigali. Departure
These twin lakes of Bulera and Ruhondo were named so because they are situated in the same area and their physical connection. They are located within Musanze district; a walk away from the Volcanoes national park. The lakes offer tourists a beautiful view of landscape, wetland habitat and water birds.
You will return shortly after this exploration and embark on a journey to Kigali city.
The journey will take you through the scenic views of Rwanda – the land of a thousand hills and magnificent panorama in the heart of Africa.
Arrive in the evening to catch up with your night flight or overnight at your Lodge.
End of trip with Love Uganda Safaris.
