12 Days Uganda Big-Five & Chimpanzee Tracking Safari
This 12 Days Uganda Big-Five & Chimpanzee Tracking Safari will lead you through northern Uganda to western Uganda and experience some of the notable parks. Will start from Entebbe drive via Kampala to Murchison Falls National Park with an en-route to Ziwa, drive to Kibale National Park, include Queen Elizabeth National Park and transfer back to Kampala. This trip will include adventures like rhino tracking, boat and game drives, sport fishing, and top of the falls hike, chimpanzee tracking and community visits, and watching the incredible tree climbing lions. This trip is aimed at counting the full list of Big five mammals and combine them with chimpanzee. This is an exclusive midrange safari trip considering the choice of accommodation and transportation mode.
Trip Summary
- Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe International Airport and transfer to Kampala
- Day 2: Transfer from Kampala to Murchison Fall National Park with en-route to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
- Day 3: Game drive and Boat cruise
- Day 4: Spot Fishing and Hiking the top of the falls
- Day 5: Transfer to Kibale National Park
- Day 6: Chimpanzee Tracking and Community Visit
- Day 7: Hiking Crater Lakes and Fort Portal city tour
- Day 8: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Day 9: Game and Boat cruise
- Day 10: Visiting Katwe Salt Lake and transfer to Ishasha
- Day 11: Transfer to Kampala with an en-route to Igongo cultural center
- Day 12: Visit Kasubi tombs and Mengo Palace the transfer to Entebbe
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe International Airport and transfer to Kampala
This day will arrive in Uganda, the Pearl of African through Entebbe International Airport. Upon reaching, Early Trail Expeditions representative will be ready to receive you, just that this person will handle the rest of your day on trip in Uganda. The will brief you, and then will transfer to your hotel. When time allows, can choose to visit some of interesting places in Kampala among which include cultural village on Buganda road. Then will drive to your lodge and check-in for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation (midrange): Protea Hotel
Day 2: Transfer from Kampala to Murchison Fall National Park with en-route to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Today following the well served breakfast, then will board for a drive northwards of Kampala to Murchison Falls National Park. It’s about 4 hours’ drive when used the Kichumbanyobo gate from Masindi. But you will en-route to Ziwa Rhino sanctuary to track the only wild rhinos in Uganda. The sanctuary is located in Nakasongola about 2 hour’s drive from Kampala. The rhino track can last for about 2 to 3 hours alongside several antelopes, birds, warthogs among other wild animals. Then you will return to the starting point refresh and drive to Kabalega dinner for lunch refreshment. Then will continue to Murchison Falls National Park and its evening hours, then will visit the top of the falls and drive to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation (midrange): Paara Safari Lodge
Day 3: Game drive and Boat cruise
Following your tailored generosity served breakfast, will take a bright daybreak game drive on the northern section of Murchison Falls National Park. The Murchison game drive is among the adventure rewards of Uganda with a lot of expectations being full filled. On a good day you watch both leopards and lions around the Pakuba tracks, elephants, buffalos and rhinos which were watched previously will mark it a Big-Five game drive. Expect more other animals like towers of giraffes, Jackson hartebeest, Uganda Kobs, Hippos, bushbuck, waterbucks, duikers and many more of the species, many bird species can be encountered up to the animals centers the Delta point. After for about 3 hours of driving through the park, the will have to return and refresh with lunch.
In the afternoon hours will take a boat cruise on the Victoria Nile leading to the bottom of the Murchison Falls. The Murchison Falls are arguably the world’s most powerful waterfalls. Imagine how huge rapid do force into a gorge of 7m wider and pour at 45m down to form a thunderous roar. A drive is amazing with a lot of sights among which include; cliff, varies of vegetation, several animals seen at the bank of the river among others The boat cruise lasts for about three hours and return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation (midrange): Paara Safari Lodge
Day 4: Sport Fishing and Hiking the top of the falls
Today after your morning refreshments, get out your fishing gears. If you don’t have any, UWA staff having fishing gears for hire. The with a fishing guide will take a ride in a private speed boat to either along the Victoria Nile or around the delta and hook out Nile perch. The fishing session takes some hours and here it’s fun as it’s catch and realize adventure. The fishing can last for about 3 hours, then will return to your lodge, and of-course today it’s a tiresome day. Relax at your lodge and if interested will take an evening game drive and enjoy the delta sunset view. Then will return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation (midrange): Pakuba Lodge
Day 5: Transfer to Kibale National Park
Today, after enjoying your Nile Viewing and roaring breakfast, will take a relaxed drive to transfer to Kibale National Park in western Uganda via Hoima and Fort Portal. This journey covers about 5 hours, with lunch en-route will take a simple Fort Portal city round drive and will drive direct to Kibale forest for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation (midrange): Primate Lodge
Day 6: Chimpanzee Tracking and Community Visit
This morning following the morning breakfast will drive to Kanyachu center to briefing about tracking etiquette. Get grouped 8 people to track a single habituated chimpanzee community, then with an armed ranger guide will roll into the forest to start a search for the apes. The track can last between 30 minutes to 3 hours to find the tracked community. Finding the apes, you are limited for an hour in their presence. This moment is like nowhere in the jungle, to find yourself in the midst of these human closest relatives. After an hour in their presence, will walk back to the starting point, find your driver and drive back to your lodge to relax and refresh.
Have your lunch. In the late afternoon hours will take drive to visit the Bigodi community and see how people around the chimpanzees are benefiting from the tracing initiatives, they have variety of souvenirs among which you can also buy. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation (midrange): Primate Lodge
Day 7: Hiking Crater Lakes and Fort Portal city tour
Today is a relaxed day to explore the amazing landscapes of Fort Portal. Will take a drive to Amabere caves, these are enclosed waterfalls with a rich history about the bachwezi dynasty. On this trip, your driver will transfer you to the private cultural site and enjoy the Nyamwiru King’s daughters then take a slope and hike to the caves. Afterwards will forgo using your 4×4 comfortable safari vehicle and take a hike of about 5km through hills and craters. This is one of the amazing encounters when in Fort Portal. The will return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation (midrange): Primate Lodge
Day 8: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
This morning will take a relaxed morning drive to transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Along your journey will en-route to Kasese town and visit the famous Kilembe copper mining site. It’s an amazing places with tales on the mining industry and railway program of Uganda. Afterwards will take a drive with lunch en-route to Queen Elizabeth National Park. It’s about an hour from Kasese, and reaching the park will drive to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation (Midrange): Mweya Safari Lodge
Day 9: Game and Boat cruise
Today early morning with your packed breakfast will drive to Kasenyi section of Queen Elizabeth National Park for an incredible game drive. The meaning of driving with packed breakfast is to enjoy morning bloody sunrise with a bit, it’s very amazing. One of the rewarding game drive with variety of wildlife species including; elephants, Uganda kobs, bushbucks, buffalos, lions, warthogs among so many species to watch accompanied by several bird species.
In the afternoon hours with lunch en-route will drive to the Mweya peninsular, for a boat cruise on Kazinga channel. The wild boat cruise is an opening of watching more animals. Several animals are seen coming to the channel banks to draw water and the aquatic life seen either socked in water or lousily relaxed at water banks. Then, after will drive back to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation (Midrange): Mweya Safari Lodge
Day 10: Visiting Katwe Salt Lake and transfer to Ishasha
Today will take a drive to Katwe town and visit the East African famous Katwe salt lake. This visit will disclose you to how the salt mining activities are done around the Lake, how people are benefiting both in your visit as well mining. Then will return with a bird watching slower drive, and take a drive to the famous Ishasha sector. With lunch en-route will take a game drive through the Ishasha savannahs decorated with acacia woods which have attracted prides of lions to climb. Tree climbing lions are special wild offer of Ishasha and it’s the finest spot in the East African region to watch the prides under tree branches. The tree climbing lion tracking comes alongside many wildlife species. Then will return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation (Midrange): Ishasha Wilderness Camp
Day 11: Transfer to Kampala with an en-route to Igongo cultural center
Today will take a long day drive from Ishasha Queen Elizabeth National Park to Kampala. Along your exciting drive will en-route at Igongo cultural site in Mbarara the capital of western Uganda. Igongo is a tourist food hub, so you will enjoy your lunch here, then take a visit to the cultural museum that narrates all about western Uganda culture and history. Then will take a direct drive with a stopover for relaxing and refreshing and photographs at the Equator. Then after that drive to Kampala reaching by late evening hours and check-in for your dinner and overnight.
Accommodation (midrange): Protea Hotel
Day 12: Visit Kasubi tombs and Mengo Palace the transfer to Entebbe
This morning initiates the end of your safari. So, after the morning breakfast will take a drive to Kasubi tombs where the last three Kings of Buganda are lied. The Tombs is the world biggest thatched and a UNESCO heritage site, afterwards will drive to Mengo palace for the rich history about Kampala, Buganda and Uganda at large. This is the center where you listen to the awkward history of Uganda. Then with lunch en-route will drive to Entebbe International airport for your next flight back home.
On behalf of Early Trial Expedition Uganda, our driver guide will say goodbye to you. Then, take your flight back to your home. We believed after this trip you become our next ambassador for Early Trail Expeditions Uganda in your country and area. Thank you!
Trip inclusive;
- 4×4 safari vehicle
- All trip fuel
- All meals and soft drinks
- All Park entrances
- All trip activities
- Chimpanzee permits
- Accommodation
- Driver guide
- Community visits
Exclusive;
- Visa and air ticket
- Laundry
- All hard drinks
- Souvenirs
- Tips
- All international flights
