Visit some of Uganda’s most spectacular places in a comfortable way. Your accommodation for this private luxury 13 Day Exclusive Safari Tour is provided in some of Uganda’s very best lodges. Gorilla and chimpanzee tracking permits are included!
Safari Overview:
Wonderful luxury lodges!
Safari’s by boat and by road
Gorilla & chimp permit included.
Day 1: Start the 13 Day Exclusive Safari Tour.
You will be picked up from the airport by a representative of your hotel. He will transfer you to your hotel. You will meet your driver/ guide tomorrow morning when he picks you up from your hotel.
Day 2: To Murchison Falls National Park.
Today’s journey will take you north from Kampala to Murchison Falls National Park.
Covering an area of over 3,840 km², Murchison Falls National Park is the largest conservation area in Uganda. The park’s name derives from its famous waterfall: the mighty Murchison Falls. The Nile River divides the park into its north and south sections. At the spectacular Murchison Falls the world’s longest river explodes violently through a narrow cleft in the Rift Valley escarpment to plunge into a frothing pool 43m below. A game drive in the park allows you to be eye-to-eye with the African animal kingdom featuring elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, lions, leopards, different species of antelope and many bird species.
After lunch, you will drive three more hours to the southern side of Uganda’s largest national park, Murchison Falls National Park.
You will stay at your preferred hotel.
Day 3: Murchison Falls National Park
You will need to rise for breakfast and an early start on your game drive while the animals are the most active.
A drive through the park brings you eye-to-eye with the African animal kingdom: elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, lions, leopards, different species of antelope and many tropical birds. They are all there!
Covering an area of 3,840 km², Murchison Falls National Park is the largest conservation area in Uganda. The park’s name derives from its famous waterfall; the mighty Murchison Falls!
In the afternoon you will make a private boat safari up the Nile River to Murchison Falls. Carefully watched by crocodiles, hundreds of hippos, buffaloes, water birds, monkeys and all the other thirsty wildlife that the Nile attracts, you will reach the base of the 43-meter high Falls which approaches you with a thunderous sound.
Upon arriving at the base of the falls you will have the option (not inclusive) of taking a tough hike (about 50 minutes) to the top, from where you have a perfect view of the impressive falls.
Day 4: Murchison Falls National Park
The Nile Delta is the area where the Victoria Nile flows into Lake Albert. A boat safari down the river towards Lake Albert is a “must do” for every birdwatcher as the banks of the delta are home to hundreds of bird species including the rare and prehistoric-looking shoebill stork. As well you will see hundreds of hippo and maybe even bathing elephant and huge crocs!
* The delta Boat safari will be in a exclusive boat with a maximum of 12 persons
In The afternoon you will make another game drive in the park. You can as well choose to relax from your lodge.
Optional activity for 13 Day Exclusive Safari: Rhino Tracking – Possible on day 2
At the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary you will go – together with an experienced ranger for a safari hike to the rhinos. You will see the rhinos in a very close range!
Kidepo Valley and Murchison Falls National Parks once had both black and white rhinos; however widespread poaching during the Idi Amin era resulted in the disappearance of these majestic animals from the wild. Founded in 1998, Rhino Fund Uganda works to reintroduce black and white rhinos into Uganda and runs a breeding program, as well as work to educate communities on endangered rhinos.
Optional activity for 13 Day Exclusive Safari: Chimp tracking Budongo forest
Budongo Forest is located in the southern part of Murchison Falls NP., and has the highest number of wild chimpanzees of Uganda. The habituated groups are located in Kaniyo Padibi, where you can go for chimpanzee tracking. Budongo Forest has an incredible biodiversity that – beside the chimpanzee – includes several other species like the Blue monkeys, Red-tailed monkeys, Vervet monkeys and Olive baboons.
Optional activity for 13 Day Exclusive Safari: Hot air balloon safari – Possible on day 3 or 4
Discover Murchison Falls from the air! Sign up for this optional activity and enjoy to unique experience of flying over Murchison Falls NP in a hot air balloon. You will have the most amazing views over the river Nile, Lake Albert, the great Murchison Falls and of course this is thé best way to spot lots and lots of animals. You will start early morning, so you will see the sun rise over the park. After your balloon safari you will have a bush breakfast in the park (inclusive).
Day 5: To Fort Portal & Kibale Forest
After an early breakfast, you will pick up your packed lunch and exit the park to the south. The drive is long, but incredibly scenic, passing through villages, lush green forests and hills dotted with tea plantations which characterize this part of Uganda.
You will stay at a wonderful lodge of your choice, just outside the town of Fort Portal.
Day 6: Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale Forest
Kibale Forest National Park boasts the highest number of primate species in the world, including our delightful cousins, the chimpanzees. Today, in Uganda, there are approximately 5,000 chimpanzees in the wild, which makes it a perfect place to spot them!
An experienced forest ranger will take you chimp tracking in the morning or afternoon. En route you might also see other monkey species that live in this forest. Once located, you will spend a full hour with the chimps. Since they are wild animals we can never guarantee that you will see them. You might have to settle with hearing their hoots and hollers.
Your swamp walk (2-3 hours) will take you through grassland, small communities and some beautiful scenery, where the locals are likely to greet you with enthusiastic waves. It is usual to spot three to four different primate species during this walk, though the highlight is catching a glimpse of the great blue turaco!
Optional for 13 Day Exclusive Safari: Chimpanzee Habituation tracking:
At an additional fee of only $70 us dollar pp you do the chimpanzee habituation tracking instead of the regular chimpanzee tracking. This will take all day and you will be 100% sure to have a very close enounter with your closest relatives. Book this in time because only 6 persons per day are allowed to go. Your swamp walk can be postponed to the next morning.
Day 7: Queen Elizabeth National Park.
After breakfast you will continue your journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Queen Elizabeth is Uganda’s second largest park, located at the base of the majestic Rwenzori Mountain range, adjacent to Lake Edward and Lake George.
You will stay at your preferred hotel.
In the afternoon, you will take a private boat safari along the Kazinga Channel which joins Lake George and Lake Albert.
Here, you will see a lot of hippos (more than you can possibly imagine!), as well as a variety of other animals which come to the water to drink or bathe. You can expect to see buffalo, crocodile, bathing elephant, and a range of beautiful birds. This will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of your tour.
Day 8: Game drive – To Ishasha (Tree climbing lions)
This morning you wake up early. A little before sunrise coffee, tea and donuts will be served in the lounge before we head out for a long game drive in time to see the first rays of light. You will search for all the wildlife in the park and are likely to come across Elephant, Buffalo, Lion, Waterbuck, Leopard, Uganda Kob, and many Warthogs.
Instead of this activity you can as well choose to do one of the optional activities listed below.
After breakfast you will proceed to the southern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park, to an area called Ishasha. If you are lucky you might spot a few during your game drive.
You will stay at your preferred hotel.
Optional activity for 13 Day Exclusive Safari: Lion Tracking
For visitors who yearn to get up close to wild African fauna, a research trip is a rewarding adventure. This new and unique experience allows visitors to actively participate in monitoring some of lions in the park, using locator devices and learn habituation calls, as well as monitoring weather, surroundings and behavior. The results are added to researchers’ databases, contributing valuable information to the overall understanding of wildlife ecology – and helping to conserve this wonderful ecosystem. This will as well gives you a 95% chance to see the lions!
The number of people on each outing is limited in order to reduce stress on the animals and to increase the quality of the experience for visitors.
For visitors who yearn to get up close to wild African fauna, a research trip is a rewarding adventure. This new and unique experience allows visitors to actively participate in monitoring some of the exotic birds and mammals that fill the park, using locator devices and learn habituation calls, as well as monitoring weather, surroundings and behavior. The results are added to researchers’ databases, contributing valuable information to the overall understanding of wildlife ecology – and helping to conserve this wonderful ecosystem.
The experiential tourism activities currently available are Mongoose Tracking, Lion Tracking, Hippo Census, and Bird Counts. The number of people on each outing is limited in order to reduce stress on the animals and to increase the quality of the experience for visitors.
Experiential tours lasts between one and three hours. They usually take place in the early morning or evening, or occasionally at night. All activities must be booked through the Visitor Information Centre in Mweya at least 24 hours in advance.
For visitors who yearn to get up close to wild African fauna, a research trip is a rewarding adventure. This new and unique experience allows visitors to actively participate in monitoring some of the exotic birds and mammals that fill the park, using locator devices and learn habituation calls, as well as monitoring weather, surroundings and behavior. The results are added to researchers’ databases, contributing valuable information to the overall understanding of wildlife ecology – and helping to conserve this wonderful ecosystem.
The experiential tourism activities currently available are Mongoose Tracking, Lion Tracking, Hippo Census, and Bird Counts. The number of people on each outing is limited in order to reduce stress on the animals and to increase the quality of the experience for visitors.
Experiential tours lasts between one and three hours. They usually take place in the early morning or evening, or occasionally at night. All activities must be booked through the Visitor Information Centre in Mweya at least 24 hours in advance.
Optional activity for 13 Day Exclusive Safari: Chimp tracking Kyambura Gorge
The spectacular Kyambura Gorge, also called the “Valley of Apes”, is located in the eastern corner of Queen Elizabeth. The landscape is among the most impressive you will find in Uganda. Enter into the Gorge and you will be marveled by the verdant, rich Tropical Rain-forest right close to the Equator crossing. You can make a wonderful hike here looking for chimpanzees. Chances of seeing chimps are 50% and that is why we rather call it a nature walk. Don’t miss it; the gorge is simply amazing!
Day 9: Tree climbing lions Ishasha
To escape from the heat during the day, the lions here have learned how to climb the fig trees. If you are lucky you might spot a few during your game drive, so keep your eyes open and look up! Besides these famous lions, there is other interesting wildlife to be seen, like buffalo and the Uganda kob.
Today, you can discuss with your guide how many game drives you wish to make
Day 10: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
After breakfast you will game drive on your way out of the park for a last chance at spotting those tree climbing lions.
Lunch will be provided at the lodge in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest; home of the Mountain Gorillas.
Get a good night’s sleep at the hotel of your choice, because tomorrow you have to be fresh for the Gorilla trekking.
Day 11: Gorilla Tracking
Today is the big day… prepare yourself for an encounter with one of Bwindi’s gentle giants: the endangered mountain gorilla. For most people this is the absolute highlight of their tour in Uganda.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest boosts both mountain gorillas and chimpanzees – the only forest in Africa which can make this claim. It also hosts five other species of primate, 113 species of mammal, over 200 butterflies and 360 birds. The gorillas you track belong to one of nine habituated family groups who can tolerate the presence of humans for a brief period every day.
Face-to-face with a Mountain Gorilla
Your track will be an exciting journey along forested slopes, entwined vines, bushes and bamboo before you eventually reach the gorilla family.
The time taken to track the Gorillas can be as few as 2 hours to as many as 7 hours. Once the Gorillas have been located, your group will be allowed a maximum of one hour with them. Coming face-to-face with a mountain gorilla is a truly humbling and emotional experience. This is a fantastic and privileged opportunity to get up close and personal with Uganda’s very own ‘Gorillas in the Mist’.
Day 12: Lake Mburo National Park
After breakfast, you will travel to Lake Mburo National Park, one of Uganda’s smallest parks, but certainly not to be underestimated. It is the only Ugandan national park (besides to Kidepo Valley NP) which is home to zebra, eland and impala, as well as an abundance of other wildlife – not to mention the lake itself, which is teeming with hippos and crocodiles! Last but not least: The Uganda Wildlife Authority recently brought 15 giraffes from Murchison falls to lake Mburo (1st July 2015)!
You can choose a hotel near Lake Mburo N.P where you will rest.
Optional activity for 13 Day Exclusive Safari: Night game drive
A night game drive in Lake Mburo national park is absolutely great! You have chances of seeing Hyena, different nocturnal animals and it’s probaply your best chance to spot a leopard. Your night safari is either just before dinner or just after dinner and takes about 2 hours.
Day 13: Bush walk – Airport Transfer
This morning you will go for a bush walk.
Lake Mburo N.P. is one of two parks in Uganda where bush walks with an experienced ranger are permitted. This opportunity should not be missed. From footprints and animal droppings the ranger will be able to tell you which animal has left it and how long ago. It is exciting to approach wildlife at such close range.
Optional activity for 13 Day Exclusive Safari: Mountain bike Safari
It’s very exciting to make a safari by mountain bike. Get active and get close to zebra, gazelle, Eland and sometimes even giraffe!
After brunch, you will drive back to Kampala or Entebbe (Airport) stopping at the equator for the requisite snapshot and a bit of souvenir shopping.
Accommodation for tonight is not inclusive in the program. If you wish to depart tonight from Entebbe Airport, make sure your flight is at 10 pm or later. If you want us to book one (or more) nights in Kampala and/or Entebbe, please let us know.
End of the 13 Day Exclusive Safari Tour.
Transport
4wd a Full-Sized Toyota Landcruiser
Depending on the amount of travellers you travel in a regular size landcruiser (2-5 persons) or Extended landcruiser (6-7 persons).
The Toyota Landcruiser is the most used safari vehicle in Africa, It’s strong, it’s high up and spacious. Of course it looks good, too!
The car suits a maximum of 5 persons and has a pop-up roof for a perfect safari view!
4wd Extended Toyota Landcruiser
The extended Landcruiser is for some the ultimate safari vehicle in Africa. It’s 4wd, spacious, high up and strong. The extended land cruiser has even a coolerbox on board and an open roof for an excellent safari view. The extended landcruiser is suitable for a maximum of 7 persons.