10 Day Uganda Highlights Safari

Arrival

You’ll be collected from the airport. Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Day 1

Welcome to Uganda — Transfer to Hotel

You will be picked up from the airport by a Uganda Highlights Safari representative. He will transfer you to your hotel. You will meet your driver/guide tomorrow morning when he picks you up from your hotel. Depending on your time of arrival you can explore Entebbe at your own cost.

You will stay in a nice and cosy guesthouse called Via Via. You will stay in the pond view rooms.

Main Destination: Entebbe
Accommodation: Zika Forest Cottages (Budget guest house)
Meals & Drinks: Meals at own expense and drinks not included

Day 2

To Murchison Falls National Park

The Uganda Highlights Safari journey today goes from Kampala – across Uganda – 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.

Your accommodation for the coming two nights is at Pakuba Safari Lodge.

Main Destination: Murchison Falls National Park
Best Time to Visit: December to February (Easier to spot animals)
High Season: June to September (Peak time for Uganda)
Best Weather: June and July (Less rain and lower temperatures)
Accommodation: Murchison River Lodge (Mid-range Lodge)
Meals & Drinks: Breakfast & dinner (Lunch not included) and drinks not included

Day 3

Game Drive and Boat Safari

Get ready for an early wake-up today! In the early morning hours animals are the most active, the sun is not yet so bright and temperatures are cooler. It offers the best time to spot wild animals. After an early breakfast, you will go out on a game drive to explore the northern part of the park. Come eye-to-eye with the African animal kingdom: elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, lions, leopards, different species of antelopes and many tropical birds may all be spotted during the game drive.

In the afternoon you will take a 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. After the boat safari, you will hike to the top of the falls. From here you have a wonderful view and fantastic photo opportunities!

Optional activities
* Ziwa Rhino sanctuary US$ 40 pp
* Chimpanzee tracking in Budongo forest US$ 85 pp
* Hot air balloon US$ 380 pp.

Main Destination: Murchison Falls National Park
Accommodation: Pakuba Safari Lodge (Mid-range lodge)
Meals & Drinks: All meals included and drinks not included

Day 4

Transfer To Kibale Forest National Park

Today you will begin your journey to Kibale Forest N.P. The long drive is incredibly scenic, passing through tea plantations and the lush green countryside which characterizes so much of Uganda.

A packed lunch is included, which you can join on the way. Spend the late afternoon relaxing and enjoy a lovely view of the forest and its wildlife.

Main Destination: Kibale National Park
Best Time to Visit: December to February and June to July
High Season: June to September (Peak time for Uganda)
Best Weather: June to July and December to February (Least rain)
Accommodation: Kibale Guest Cottages (Mid-range lodge)
Meals & Drinks: Breakfast & dinner (Lunch not included) and drinks not included

Day 5

Chimpanzee Tracking and Swamp Nature Walk

Today you will experience some real monkey business! Kibale Forest National Park boasts the highest number of primate species in the world, including chimpanzees. Approximately 5,000 chimpanzees live in the wild in Uganda, which makes it a perfect place to spot them! An experienced ranger will take you chimp tracking in the morning or afternoon. Once you locate the chimpanzees, you will have a full hour with them.

Take a swamp walk that 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!

Main Destination: Kibale National Park
Accommodation: Kibale Forest Cottages
Meals & Drinks: Breakfast & dinner (Lunch not included) and drinks not included

Day 6

Transfer To Queen Elizabeth NP

In the morning, you can relax at your lodge. You will then continue your journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Queen Elizabeth N.P. is Uganda’s second-largest park, located at the base of the majestic Rwenzori Mountain range, adjacent to Lake Edward and Lake George. The park has a prolific game, including gazelle, Uganda kob, warthog and waterbuck. Lions are often sighted both in and at the entrance to the park. Be prepared for large numbers of hippos and elephants, and keep your eyes peeled for a leopard lazing in the sunshine.

In the late afternoon, you will go for a game-drive into the park.

Marafiki Safari Lodge is located on a unique location and has been designed and handcrafted using local materials, fitted by artisans from the local community.

Main Destination: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Best Time to Visit: January to February and June to July (Dry seasons)
High Season: June to September (Peak time for Uganda)
Best Weather: June to July and January to February (Less rainfall)
Accommodation: PArkview Safari Lodge (Mid-range lodge)
Meals & Drinks: Breakfast & dinner (Lunch not included) and drinks not included

Day 7

Game Drive and Boat safari Kazinga channel

Today you wake up early. A little before sunrise coffee, tea and doughnuts 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 elephants, buffaloes, lions, waterbucks, leopards, Ugandan kobs, and many warthogs.

In the afternoon you will take a 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 waterhole to drink or bathe. You can expect to see buffaloes, crocodiles, bathing elephants, and a wide range of beautiful birds. This will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of your tour. After the boat safari, you drive back to the lodge through the park.

Optional Activities
* Hot air Balloon safari US$ 380 pp
* Chimp tracking Kyambura gorge US$ 50 pp
* Lion Predator tracking US$ 85 pp.

Main Destination: Kazinga Channel (Queen Elizabeth NP)
Accommodation: Parkview Safari Lodge
Meals & Drinks: Breakfast & dinner (Lunch not included) and drinks not included
included)

Day 8

Transfer To Lake Mutanda

Today you drive to Lake Mutanda in the south-western part of Uganda, close to the borders with Rwanda and Congo. You cross a beautiful part of the country often referred to as ‘the Switzerland of Africa’. You will pass the countryside and bamboo forest and have great views over the Virunga Mountains. For lunch, you will stop at a local restaurant on the road (lunch is not inclusive).

Perched on a peninsula in Lake Mutanda in the shadow of the Virunga Mountain Range, Mutanda Lake Resort offers comfortable accommodation combined with the most beautiful views on planet earth. Situated between Kisoro town, Mgahinga and Bwindi National Parks, the resort serves as a perfect base for gorilla trackers, volcano hikers, bird lovers, as well as for those looking for a secluded place in nature.

Main Destination: Lake Mutanda
Accommodation: Mutanda Lake Resort (Mid-range lodge)
Meals & Drinks: Breakfast & dinner (Lunch not included) and drinks not included

Day 9

Gorilla Tracking Experience in Bwindi forest

Prepare yourself for an encounter with Bwindi’s gentle giants: the endangered mountain gorilla. For most people this is the absolute Uganda Highlights Safari trip entry.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest boasts both mountain gorillas and chimpanzees – the only forest in Africa that can make this claim. It also hosts five other species of primates, 113 species of mammals, over 200 species of butterflies and 360 species of 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.

The time taken to track the gorillas can be as few as two hours to as many as seven 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’.

Main Destination: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Best Time to Visit: June to August and December to February
High Season: June to September (Gorilla permits are scarce)
Best Weather: June to July and December to February (Less rainfall)
Accommodation: Mutanda Lake Resort (Mid-range lodge)
Meals & Drinks: All meals included and drinks not included

Day 10

Return to Entebbe and Departure

After breakfast at the lodge, you will drive back to Kampala or Entebbe (Airport). As you pass through the equator, there will be a stop 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.

This is the end of a wonderful tour in Uganda!

Main Destination: Entebbe International Airport
Accommodation: No accommodation (End of tour)
Meals & Drinks: Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included) and drinks not included

End of tour

You’ll be dropped off at the airport. Additional accommodation can be arranged at an extra cost.