9 Day Uganda Wildlife Holiday Adventure safari

Uganda Wildlife Holiday Adventure Safari 

Destinations:
Kibale Forest National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Source of the Nile

Overview

This 9 Day Uganda Wildlife Holiday Adventure safari takes you to Kibale Forest National Park, the primate capital of the world, to trek the wild but habituated chimpanzees and for a nature walk to see other primates, colorful birds, rare flora, and picturesque landscapes. The safari will take you to Queen Elizabeth National Park to see the abundant bio-diversity of wildlife in this magnificent park, the amazing picturesque scenery, and to enjoy a relaxing boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel with awesome opportunities to spot water birds and animals basking on the shores.

The Uganda Wildlife Holiday Adventure safari will also take you to the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, home to more than half the population of the World’s remaining 1004 Mountain Gorillas and former dwelling place for the Batwa, a forest people, who used to live in this forest before it was gazetted as a national park. You will trek the Gorillas and be mesmerized to watch these giant apes at close range as they communicate, feed, play, and bond with their young. The experience is humbling and one that will leave you with memories of a lifetime. You will interact with the Batwa who will tell amazing stories of their former lives as gatherers, hunters, blacksmiths, herbalists, and warriors and who will be eager to demonstrate some of their survival skills.

At the end of the Uganda Wildlife Holiday Adventure safari, we take you on the visit to Jinja to see the spot where the Mighty Nile River starts the 6,700 Km journey through Sudan and Egypt to the Mediterranean Sea. Jinja is also a hot spot for adventures that include white water rafting, bungee jumping and quad biking.

Safari Highlights

• Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale National park
• Game drives in Queen Elizabeth and Lake Mburo National Parks
• A boat safari on Kazinga Channel
• A nature walk in the Bigodi swamp
• Gorilla tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable forest
• Experience at the Equator
• Source of the Nile

Travel Schedule

Day 1: Arrival in Uganda and transfer to Kampala
Day 2: Travel to Kibale Forest National Park
Day 3: Chimpanzee trek, Swamp walk, and transfer to Queen Elizabeth NP
Day 4: Game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park and Boat cruise
Day 5: Game drive in Ishahsa sector and transfer to Bwindi
Day 6: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi forest and cultural tour
Day 7: Transfer to Jinja, Source of the Nile River
Day 8: Adventure on the Nile River
Day 9: Travel to Kampala

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DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1: Arrival in Uganda

Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be met by your assigned Uganda Wildlife Holiday Adventure safari guide who will transfer you to Kampala to a hotel booked for you. In case you have had an early flight to Uganda, you will be taken on a brief tour of the city of Kampala.

Luxury Lodge: Serena Hotel/ Imperial Hotel
Moderate:  Emin Pasha Hotel/ Speke Resort Hotel
Budget facility: Acardia Cottages/ Namirembe Guest House
Meal Plan: Full Board Basis

Day 2: Travel to Kibale Forest National Park

You will depart Kampala after breakfast and head westwards to Fort Portal town. The drive will take about 4 -5 hours. You will have lunch in Fort Portal and continue to Kibale Forest National Park where you will go for either a community walk or visit the beautiful Crater lakes region for a spectacular scenic view of the beautiful landscapes.

Dinner and overnight will be at your reserved Uganda Wildlife Holiday Adventure safari lodge.

Luxury: Ndali lodge/Primate Lodge/Kyaninga Lodge
Moderate: Mountains of the moon/Kibale Forest Camp/Crater Safari Lodge/ Primates Lodge
Budget: Rwenzori Travelers/Kibale Forest Camp/Chimpanzee Forest Guest House
Meal plan: Full Board Basis

Day 3: Chimpanzee tracking and nature walk in Kibale Forest

After breakfast you will report at the Kanyanchu Tourist Centre at 08.00 am for a briefing on the rules before tracking the chimpanzees. The trek for the chimpanzees takes 2-3 hours and it will provide you with the opportunity to also see a variety of other primates and animals as well as birds, and various species of butterflies and insects.  You will return to the Uganda Wildlife Holiday Adventure safari lodge for lunch and in the afternoon go for a nature walk in the Bigodi Wetland to see a variety of birds and monkey species.

Have dinner and overnight at your lodge.

Luxury: Ndali Lodge/Primate Lodge/Kyaninga Lodge
Moderate: Mountains of the moon/Kibale Forest Camp/Crater Safari Lodge/ Primates Lodge
Budget: Rwenzori Travelers/Kibale Forest Camp/Chimpanzee Forest Guest House
Meal plan: Full Board Basis 

Day 4: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park and Boat cruise on the Kazinga channel

After your morning breakfast, your Uganda Wildlife Holiday Adventure safari guide/driver will drive you to Queen Elizabeth National Park where you will arrive in the early afternoon hours. You will have lunch and later go for a 2-hour boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel. The 42km channel joins Lake Edward and Lake George. This trip passes through possibly the highest concentration of hippos and offers an excellent opportunity for photography, bird watching and game viewing. The prolific bird life is colorful, with well over 550 resident species. Dinner and overnight will be spent at your reserved lodge.

Luxury Lodge: Mweya Safari Lodge: Katara Lodge/ Jacana Lodge
Moderate:  Bush Lodge (in rooms) / Simba Safari Camp in rooms/ Buffalo Safari Resort/ Enganzi Lodge/ Ihamba Safari Lodge
Budget facility: Kazinga Channel View Lodge/ Simba Safari Camp in tents/ Bush Lodge in tents
Meal Plan: Full Board Basis

Day 5: Game Drive in the Ishasha sector

You will wake up early for a morning game drive in the park to see Lions, Elephants, Topis, Leopards, Bush bucks, Cape Buffaloes, Defassa Waterbucks, Giant Forest Hogs, Uganda Kobs, among others. You will later transfer to the Ishasha sector of the Queen Elizabeth National Park where you will go for another Uganda Wildlife Holiday Adventure safari game drive in the afternoon in search of tree climbing lions.

You will have dinner and overnight at a lodge booked for you in this Ishasha sector.

Luxury Lodge: Mweya Safari Lodge: Katara Lodge/ Jacana Lodge
Moderate:  Bush Lodge (in rooms) / Simba Safari Camp in rooms/ Buffalo Safari Resort/ Enganzi Lodge/ Ihamba Safari Lodge
Budget facility: Kazinga Channel View Lodge/ Simba Safari Camp in tents/ Bush Lodge in tents
Meal Plan: Full Board Basis

Day 6: Travel to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

Misty Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Jungles in Uganda

You will have breakfast and drive south to Bwindi Impenetrable forest National Park. En-route the Uganda Wildlife Holiday Adventure safari you will see the great countryside, and bamboo forest and have great views of the scenic landscape characteristic of the western rift valley. For lunch, you will stop at a local restaurant en-route and arrive in Bwindi in the afternoon. You will after some relaxation go for a guided community walk to experience the livelihoods of the local communities in these environments.

Budget: Buhoma community Rest camp / Ruhija Gorilla Friends Camp / Gorilla Valley Lodge
Moderate: Gorilla Resort Bwindi /Gorilla Safari Lodge / Lake Mutanda Resort/ Gorilla Mist Camp.
Up market: Mahogany Springs Lodge / Buhoma Lodge / Rushaga Gorilla Satari Lodge.
Meal plan: Full Board Basis

Day 7: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi and cultural tour

You will have an early morning breakfast and move to the Park headquarters to join other trackers in a briefing about the gorilla trekking rules at 7:45 am. You will trek through thick creepers and undergrowth with your guides to find the Gorillas, which can take you 1-8 hours. The steeply forested landscape is incredibly dense but crisscrossed by numerous animal trails allowing access by tourists. You will have one hour to stay with the Gorillas once sited before returning to your lodge. Time allows you will have another guided community visit to meet a traditional herbalist and see how he prepares native medicine to treat a wide array of human sicknesses.

A Uganda Wildlife Holiday Adventure safari alternative gives you a visit to a local blacksmith to see how he manufactures local tools for use in everyday life or see how local beer is brewed using local methods. You will also be entertained with songs and dances by the local people. Dinner and overnight will be at your lodge of booking.

Budget: Buhoma community Rest camp / Ruhija Gorilla Friends Camp / Gorilla Valley Lodge
Moderate: Gorilla Resort Bwindi /Gorilla Safari Lodge / Lake Mutanda Resort/ Gorilla Mist Camp.
Up market: Mahogany Springs Lodge / Buhoma Lodge / Rushaga Gorilla Satari Lodge.
Meal plan: Full Board Basis

Day 8: Transfer to Jinja, Source of the Nile

We leave early in the morning and head to Jinja to visit the source of the Nile River. En-route, you will have a stopover at the Equator where you will have an opportunity to stand in two hemispheres at the same time and take some photos. You will arrive in the late afternoon and relax at the hotel of your Uganda Wildlife Holiday Adventure safari booking till dinner and overnight.

Luxury: Jinja Nile Resort/ Signature Hotel Apartments
Mid-range: 2 Friends Guest House / Bilkon Hotel/ Brisk Hotel Triangle Jinja/ Gately on the Nile
Budget: Hotel Triangle/ Jinja Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: Full Board Basis

Day 9: Adventure on the Nile

You will after breakfast visit the source of the Nile River and take part in the popular adventurous activities in the nearby Bujagali falls. You will have the option to go whitewater rafting, jet boating, horse riding, mountain biking, quad biking, or bungee jumping.

Thereafter the Uganda Wildlife Holiday Adventure safari driver will drive you back to Kampala arriving in the evening in time for your late departure flight or retire to a hotel of your booking for a well-deserved rest.

END OF SAFARI

Requirements for this Safari:

• A Visa – you can apply for a visa online or very easily get one at the point of entry into the country (airport)
• Chimpanzee and Gorilla trekking permits – You can apply and secure these online but experience has shown that it is better coordinated when you send money to the tour firm to handle it for you at no extra cost to the standard fee (USD700)
• Travel &Health insurance – This should be arranged by you in your home country before you travel.
• Physical fitness

The Safari package includes:

• Accommodation as per the itinerary
• 4WD safari vehicle with popup roof
• Bottled drinking water
• Rhino trekking fees
• Game drives
• Boat trips
• Chimpanzee trekking permit in Kibale forest at $200
• Gorilla trekking permit at $700
• Services of an English Speaking Driver/guide.
• Community visit fees
• White water rafting fees
• Guided nature walks
• Pickup and Return airport transfers.

The Safari package excludes expenses of a personal nature such as:

• Other drinks
• Laundry
• Tips to local guides
• Telephone expenses
• Porter fees while trekking Gorillas and chimpanzees
• Personal insurance
• Cigarettes

Request a quote for this safari