The 10 Days Uganda Safari involves heritage encounter in Kampala city, Chimpanzee trekking experience in Kibale National Park, wildlife encounters in Queen Elizabeth National Park with sights of tree climbing lions, elephants, buffaloes, Antelopes among others with recreational launch cruise on the 45m long Kazinga Channel amidst sights of Nile crocodiles and Hippos, gorilla trekking experience in Bwindi not forgetting a recreational encounter on Lake Bunyonyi.
Safari Highlight:
Day 1: Do Kampala city tour
Day 2: Transfer to Kibale National Park
Day 3: Do Chimpanzee trekking & Bigodi wetland sanctuary
Day 4: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park & visit the salt lake
Day 5: Do game drive & afternoon launch cruise
Day 6: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 7: Do gorilla trekking
Day 8: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi & have a boat cruise along with Island Hopping
Day 9: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park & do an evening game drive
Day 10: Do morning game walking safari & transfer to Kampala
Lake Bunyonyi
Description:
Day 1: Do Kampala city tour
You will be picked up by the company guide from your place of stay after breakfast to embark on the tour of Kampala city. You will enjoy the religious, cultural and historical attractions of Kampala city. The religious sites include; Namirembe and Rubaga cathedrals, Baha’i Temple, Namugongo Martyrs shrine, Gadhafi National Mosque and Hindu Mosque. The cultural attractions include; the Kabaka’s Lake, Kasubi royal tombs and Kabaka’s palace. You can also pay a visit to the historical monuments and Museums like the Uganda National Museum, Fort Lugard Museum and the Zoology Museum at Makerere University. The National buildings like the parliament and the Bank of Uganda are of interest to while educational institutions like Ivory tower – Makerere University. Retire for overnight.
Accommodation: Sheraton Hotel (Upmarket/Luxury), Cassia Lodge (Midrange/standard) or Buziga Country Resort (Budget/Basic)
Day 2: Transfer to Kibale National Park & hike the Crater Lake area
Wake for an early breakfast after which you will transfer to Kibale National Park 358km about 7 hours’ drive. You will traverse the lush country side dotted with varying geographical landscapes including inselbergs, deep valleys, and steep sided hills among others with settlements of the local people. You will have lunch en route and upon reaching Fort Portal, you will continue to visit the Amabere caves and do Crater Lake hike. The Kyeganywa hill gives an impressive all round view of the crater lakes and hollows in the area and the sights of Mount Rwenzori at a distance. Retire for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Primate Lodge (Upmarket/luxury), Chimpanzee guesthouse (Midrange/standard) or Rwenzori View Guesthouse (Budget/Basic).
Day 3: Do Chimpanzee trekking & Bigodi wetland sanctuary
You gather at Kanyanchu tourism center to start up with short briefing about the Chimpanzee trekking conduct at 08:00am after which you will head to the forest of Kibale full of birds, 13 species of primate, amazing flora and fauna including forest elephants. The search is for the common chimpanzees – one of man’s closest relatives. Upon encountering them, you will marvel at their physical make up particularly the facial structure that is much correlated with that of man, their pant hooting calls, their playful tactics and the way they swing from branch to branch and from tree to tree that will lure you to use up your camera space unknowingly. The full one hour encounter will allow you maximize this experience. Return from this 2 – 5 hour activity and transfer to Bigodi wetland for eco-tour encounter. The community of Bigodi is gifted by a natural wetland with birds like Rwenzori Turaco, animals like Sitatunga and amazing flora which is greatly used in craft making which makes the Bigodi encounter rewarding. The visit to the local healer and a local school gives you the taste of the societal setting. Return to the lodge for dinner & overnight.
Accommodation: Primate Lodge (Upmarket/luxury), Chimpanzee guesthouse (Midrange/standard) or Rwenzori View Guesthouse (Budget/Basic).
Day 4: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park & visit the salt lake
After breakfast, embark on the transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park 157km about 4 hours’ drive from Kibale. You will drive through the amazing scenic landscapes of Rwenzori Mountains rising above the snowline with Margarita peak standing at 5,109m above sea level. You will arrive in Queen Elizabeth early for lunch and short relaxation after which you will embark on the drive to the crater are to encounter the magical scenic offerings of the explosion craters that lie in form series surrounded by impressive terrain that is fancied by wildlife especially elephants. You can also use that evening to visit the salt lake (Katwe) to explore into the process of salt formation, extraction and processing. Retire for overnight.
Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge (Upmarket/luxury), Enganzi Lodge (Midrange/Standard) or Mama land Pumba Safari Camp (Budget/Basic).
Day 5: Do game drive & afternoon launch cruise
Wake up early enough to depart for a game drive at 06:00am to catch up with early risers and night hunters getting back to their hiding places including Hyenas, owls, side stripped jackals among others. You will drive through the Kasenyi tracks to enjoy the sights of wild game including elephants, lions, buffaloes, antelopes among others though they are not guaranteed. You will return from this 3 – 4 hour activity for relaxation and lunch after which you will gather at Mweya to catch up with the launch cruise on Kazinga Channel at 03:00pm. The 2 hour boat cruise will expose to a range of aquatic animals including Hippos and Nile Crocodiles which is the second largest reptile in the whole world. Wild game drinking on the channel side including elephants, Antelopes and buffaloes and abundant bird life will make your launch trip on the 45m long Kazinga channel memorable. Retire for relaxation and overnight.
Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge (Upmarket/luxury), Enganzi Lodge (Midrange/Standard) or Mama land Pumba Safari Camp (Budget/Basic).
Day 6: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After breakfast, embark on the transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. You will drive through Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth in search of tree climbing lions lying on short tree branches of Ishasha providing a perfect base to view these unique creatures other than any other wilderness. Continue on the drive to arrive in the south of Bwindi (Rushaga) 309km about 7hours in the evening for relaxation and overnight.
Accommodation: Chameleon Hill Lodge (Upmarket/luxury), Gorilla Mist Camp (Midrange/standard) or Broadbill Forest Camp (Budget/Basic).
Day 7: Do gorilla trekking
Wake up for an early breakfast before assembling at the park headquarters Rushaga for briefing about the gorilla trekking activity at 08:00am. The forest of Bwindi dates back from the prehistoric era and is one of the few remaining Afro montane forests in East Africa. Due to its surviving of the last ice age, it has a great bio-diversity concentration including the endangered mountain gorillas. Other great flora will give you company as you traverse the dense thicket famously known as impenetrable forest while wildlife crossings and bird songs will never leave you abandoned in this ancient forest. The trek is a bit strenuous due to rugged terrain that characterizes the area. One hour is availed to you upon encountering of these close to human apes that will leave you with real belief of human evolution theory. Return to the lodge for relaxation and overnight.
Accommodation: Chameleon Hill Lodge (Upmarket/luxury), Gorilla Mist Camp (Midrange/standard) or Broadbill Forest Camp (Budget/Basic).
Day 8: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi & have a boat cruise along with Island Hopping
After breakfast, embark on the transfer to Lake Bunyonyi – the lake if a thousand Islands passing through the fascinating Kigezi Highlands which have been dubbed the Switzerland of Africa. Upon reaching Lake Bunyonyi, you will embark on a recreational boat cruise exploring the main islands of Lake Bunyonyi and undertake short walks there exploring the island communities and their traditions. Retire in the evening for relaxation and overnight.
Accommodation: Bird nest @Lake Bunyonyi Resort (Upmarket/luxury), Lake Bunyonyi Eco-resort (Midrange/Standard) or Byoona Amagara Island Retreat (Budget/Basic).
Day 9: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park & do an evening game drive
After breakfast, embark on the drive to Lake Mburo National Park 199km about 5 hours’ drive. You will make a lunch stop at Igongo Cultural Center for a thrilling traditional lunch before proceeding to the park 33km. Upon arrival, you will do an evening game drive with in the designated tracks to encounter the impressive wil game which exist in Lake Mburo National Park including Impala, Topis, Zebras, warthogs, elands, water bucks among others.. Retire for relaxation dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Mihingo Safari Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury) / Arcadia Cottages Mburo (Mid-range/Standard) or Eagles Nest (Budget/Basic).
Day 10: Do a morning game walking safari & transfer to Kampala
After breakfast, embark on the game walk exploring the parks impressive savannah landscapes dotted with remarkable acacia vegetation and related fauna. The sights of zebras, topis, Impala, eland, warthogs, water buck among others might be encountered. Retreat from the activity and embark in the transfer to Kampala with a stop at Uganda Equator crossing – Kayabwe for amazing photo shots and water experiments.