10D/9N BIG GAME AND PRIMATE SAFARI
From SGD 5938
Known for its national parks and game drives, Uganda offers a diverse range of animals and bird species. You will be visiting 4 major national parks of Uganda – Murchison National Park, Kibble National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable forest. You will also be visiting a Rhino Sanctuary in Ziwa. In your different safaris you may spot Lions, Elephants, Buffalo, Rothschild’s Giraffes, Warthogs, Waterbucks, Baboons, Blue Monkey etc. You will also go on a Chimpanzee tracking adventure with rangers guiding you about their habitual behaviour as they play and fight in the wilderness. Butterfly lovers and Botanists will be in for a treat with sightings of endemic forest species. Another experience you cannot miss in Uganda is Gorilla Tracking – an unforgettable encounter up close with the Gorillas. A feast for all wildlife and nature lovers, your 10 trip will be one of the most memorable experiences of your life.
Day 01: Arrival
On your arrival at Entebbe International Airport you will be met by your driver/ Safaris guide who will greet you and transfer you to your guesthouse, taking between 15 minutes to 40 minutes, depending on traffic.
Overnight at The Boma/Karibu Guest House. (B)
Day 02: Murchison Falls National Park
Today at 7:00am, your safari guide will pick you from the hotel/Entebbe and drive you to Murchison Falls National Park, a protected area of over 4000 km². You will have a stopover at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, a
species reintroduction programme that has successfully bred over a dozen white rhino and the only place in Uganda where you can see rhino. These docile animals are best viewed on an early morning walking safari.
Murchison Falls National Park has 76 mammal species and 451 bird species. The River Nile runs through the park and attracts Nile crocodile, hippo and the rare semi-aquatic Sitatunga antelope. Lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, Rothschild’s giraffes, warthogs, giant forest hog, Uganda kob, topi and waterbuck are just a few of the big name mammals you may see. If time allows, visit the Top of the Falls and feel the force of the River Nile under your feet as the half a kilometer wide river narrows to just 7 m wide and cascades down through a 45 m drop.
Overnight at Murchison River Lodge/Fort Murchison (B,L,D)
Day 03: Game Drive – Murchison National Park
Your morning will start with an early morning game drive. You may choose to take a packed breakfast to eat mid-morning or eat a full breakfast upon your return to the Lodge. Admire the wildlife and birdlife of Murchison Falls National Park and ask your driver guide lots of questions along the way. After the game drive, you will return for lunch and an hour or to use relaxation by the pool.
Overnight at Murchison River Lodge/Fort Murchison (B,L,D)
Day 04: Kibale National Park
Today your guide will drive you from Murchison fall national park via Hoima to Kibale Forest, an incredibly diverse forest of 795 km² that is home to over 335 bird species (some rare or endemic) and 13 species of primates including chimpanzee, red colobus monkey, the rare L’Hoest monkey, blue monkey, grey mangabey, black faced vervet monkeys, baboons, pottos and bushbabies.
You will arrive at the lodge late afternoon.
Overnight at Kibble Forest Camp/Kibale Guest cottages (B,L,D)
Day 05: Chimpanzee tracking and Bigodi wetland community walk
After breakfast, it’s an early start to report to the ranger headquarters at 8 am in Kibale Forest National Park to track habituated Chimps. These engaging apes, our closest living relative, are great fun to watch as they play and fight in the fruit trees. Your experienced guides will introduce you to the different members of the chimp families, as well as the birds and plant life of the forest. The trails through the forest are generally easy to navigate and you will always be accompanied by Rangers who will explain the fascinating traditional uses of the forest plant species.
The elusive forest elephant, smaller and hairier that its savannah counterpart, moves seasonally into areas of Kibale Forest; Occasionally other large mammals such as buffalo, giant forest hog and numerous antelope species can also be seen. Birders will be on the look-out for an incredible list of 335 bird species. Also look out
for the Black and White Colobus Monkey, Red Tailed Monkey and Gray Cheeked Mangabey. Butterfly
lovers and botanists will be impressed by equally long lists of rare and endemic forest species.
In the afternoon visit the neighbouring Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary. Cleverly constructed boardwalks lead you through Papyrus that towers above your head in Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary. With over 130 bird species,
multi-colored butterflies, eight different types of primates and the rare, semi-aquatic Sitatunga (antelope),
this is community tourism at its best.
Overnight at Kibble Forest Camp/Kibale Guest cottages (B,L,D)
Day 06: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Your driver guide will take you via Kasese towards Queen Elizabeth National Park, set on the floor of the Rift Valley, with the (occasionally visible peaks of the) Rwenzori Mountains behind you. The landscape of northern Queen Elizabeth comprises dozens of ancient craters carved into gentle rolling hills. Queen Elizabeth National Park has over 600 bird species, more than any other national park in Uganda. En route to your lodge, you are likely to see a variety of game, particularly elephants and Uganda Kob. If you are very lucky, you may spot a Giant Forest Hog, Africa’s largest pig. Keep your eyes peeled to spot an elusive leopard. You will arrive at the lodge for lunch, In the afternoon, you will head out for an evening game drive around kaseny i area looking for the pride of lions that hang around the Kob mating ground, you will return to the lodge in time for dinner.
Overnight at Bush lodge/Marafiki lodge (B,L,D)
Day 07: Game drive and Boat Cruise on the Kazinga Channel
Start your day early with a 6 o’clock coffee or tea wake-up call, ready for your early morning game drive. Make sure to ask the hotel staff for a packed breakfast that morning. A popular route for the game drive is the Kasenyi sector, well-known for its lions that prey on Queen Elizabeth’s large population of Uganda Kob (antelope) that mate around this area. Wildlife to look out for includes elephants, antelope, warthogs, Baboons and occasionally a hyena. If you are very lucky, you may spot a Giant Forest Hog, Africa’s largest pig. Keep your eyes peeled to spot an elusive leopard!
After your Safari, you will head back to the lodge for a few hours relaxation by the pool and lunch. In the afternoon, you will take a boat for a water safari on the Kazinga Channel at Mweya that connects the two lakes of Edward and George. This is likely to be a big highlight of your trip! The Kazinga Channel lies in central Queen Elizabeth, its banks fertile with large mammals such as hippo, elephant and buffalo. The expert Uganda Wildlife Authority guides will identify many of the Channel’s 100 bird species and you’re likely to see African Skimmers,
Great White Pelicans, Spoonbill and a number of Bee eater species. Hippos wallow at the edge of the
water, huge Nile crocodiles bask in the sun and elephants come down to drink. The Kazinga Channel boat ride is a brilliant opportunity to take some close-up wildlife shots.
Overnight at Bush Lodge/Marafiki (B,L,D)
Day 08: Tree Climbing Lions – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Today we will depart for Bwindi Impenetrable Forest with an ‘en route game drive’ passing through Ishasha, the remote, southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. It is on the expansive plains of Ishasha that you will be on the lookout for its famous resident: the tree climbing lion. A sighting is not guaranteed but you have a better chance of seeing them here in the large low-limbed fig trees of Ishasha than anywhere else in Africa.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is a UNESCO Natural World Heritage site and one of the richest biological and botanical regions in the world. The forest covers an area of 331 km² at the south-western edge of the western Rift Valley. Bwindi’s most-revered species are the approximately 400 wild Mountain Gorillas (2011 census) that make up half of the world population of these gentle apes. After a few hours in the vehicle, you may enjoy an afternoon walk around the village of Buhoma (your home for two nights) and a chance to visit one of the handicraft shops or to meet the Batwa, the ancient forest-dwelling tribe.
Overnight at Haven/Siverback Lodge (B,L,D)
Day 09: Gorilla Tracking
You will be up early on the morning of your Gorilla Tracking for a good breakfast in preparation for the day physical activity. You will report for registration at the Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger station by 8 AM. After a briefing by the rangers, your gorilla trek will start.
The trek usually takes between three and six hours so a reasonable degree of fitness is required, as well as a strong pair of walking boots or shoes. The rangers will guide you through the village gardens and into the jungle-like forest. They will escort you through the sometimes thick bush, occasionally hacking the dense undergrowth with a machete as you search to locate the gorillas. The mountain gorillas are under 24 hour monitoring for their own safety, so you’re almost guaranteed to see them. The rangers monitor each gorilla family by keeping in close radio contact.
In part due to gorilla tourism, the population of gorillas is slowly increasing but the species remains critically endangered. Gorillas and humans share almost identical genetic material and their health must not be compromised by coming into contact with human diseases (via our food, for example). To reduce transmission of disease from humans to gorillas, you will also be advised to keep a distance of 7 metres from the gorillas.
Once you have located the gorilla family, you will be asked to leave all your belongings to one side, and approach the gentle giants, just with your camera. The guides will interpret the animal’s behaviour and advise on what you are watching. Females and their young, young males and even a dominant Silverback may be seen: feeding, playing, interacting with each other, or just sleeping! Youwill never forget your encounter with the gorillas. They will be quite curious to see you! You are allowed exactly one hour with the gorillas before returning to base.
Overnight at Haven/Siverback Lodge (B,L,D)
Day 10: Departure
After breakfast, depart to Entebbe international airport for you outbound flight.
PRICES INCLUDE:
- Accommodation with Breakfast
- Lunch and Dinner as indicated in Itinerary
- 1 Gorilla Permit per person
- Game Drive and walk
- Safari Vehicle and fuel
- Entrance fees to national parks
- All boat tours
- Mineral water during tour
- English speaking guide
- AMREF emergency evacuation insurance
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
- Price is valid till October 2017
- Price is per person on sharing basis
- Confirmation of package is subject to Hotel Availability
- All rates & tour itineraries are subject to change without notice
- All activities are subject to change relative to weather conditions
- Prices do not include any additional Airport charges or other charges