Uganda, popularly known as the ‘The Pearl of Africa’ is located in East Africa and lies astride the equator. It is a land-locked country bordered by Kenya in the East, Tanzania in the South, Rwanda in the Southwest, Democratic Republic of Congo in the West and Sudan in the North. The southern part of the country includes a substantial portion of Lake Victoria, shared with Kenya and Tanzania, situating the country in the African Great Lakes region. Uganda also lies within the Nile basin, and has a varied but generally equatorial climate. Uganda takes its name from the Buganda kingdom, which encompasses a large portion of the south of the country including the capital Kampala.
Day 1 Arrive Entebbe/ Kibale Forest National Park
Your safari will start from the Entebbe International Airport where you will be received by an English-speaking professional tour driver-guide and depart for Kibale Forest National Park. The park is popular for its primates like the chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkey and Uganda mangabey (Lophocebus ugandae). You will arrive late in the afternoon or evening and check into your accommodation, relax and later enjoy your dinner plus the overnight stay.
Day 2 Chimpanzee Trekking at Kibale Forest/ Queen Elizabeth National Park
After breakfast depart to the rangers’ post where you will be briefed by the professional and experienced rangers on the do’s and donts during chimpanzee trekking. Thereafter, proceed to trek the chimps at the Kibale Forest. Once you locate the chimpanzees, you will have a full hour in their presence. You will return to the lodge for lunch and thereafter, you will head out for Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Day 3 Kasenyi Plains Boatride
After breakfast proceed for a morning game drive in the Kasenyi Plains and be on the look for Cape buffalos, herds of elephants plus lions, leopards (though hard to spot) among others. Return to the accommodation for some rest time and lunch. After lunch, you will go for a 2-hour boat trip on the Kazinga Channel that connects lakes; George and Edward. During the trip, the sight of wildlife including giant hippos, elephants and crocodiles among others will fascinate you. You will also see many varieties of birds at the water shores. You will have dinner and overnight at your accommodation.
Day 4 Ishasha/Queen Elizabeth National Park/ Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Enjoy a relaxed breakfast and then hit the road to the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park—famously known for its resident tree-climbing lions. The chance of spotting these lions is about 70% though sometimes they are hard to spot (most especially when they are down in the grassland looking for prey). Should you get to spot them up in the trees, the sight is picturesque and memorable. From Ishasha, you will continue to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. With a strenuous day ahead, you will do less on arrival but just check in your accommodation, relax as you prepare for the Bwindi gorilla trekking experience the following day.
Day 5 Gorilla Trekking Bwindi Forest/ Lake Mburo National Park
Enjoy breakfast and head to the rangers’ post. You will receive some briefing (from a ranger-guide) on the dos and don’ts during trekking. Thereafter, you will enter the Bwindi Forest for your adventure. The beauty of this rain forest is spectacular! The area offers dramatic steeply forested landscape and is incredibly dense but crisscrossed by numerous animal trails allowing access to tourists. The time taken and the terrain vary with the movements of these great primates. Once you have located a gorilla group, you will be allowed an hour in their presence. The thrill of spending time observing these gentle but endangered giants is unforgettable. Return to the accommodation, check out and transfer to Lake Mburo National Park for an overnight stay.
Day 6 Lake Mburo National Park
Enjoy your early breakfast and proceed for the Mburo morning (bush) walk in the presence of an armed Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger/guide. On this morning guided walk, you will have the opportunity to encounter (at close range): zebras, giraffes, elands, topis and other antelopes, Cape buffaloes among others.
Take the trail to the top of the hills to see Lake Mburo and beyond.
#Optional (extra cost): Instead of walking safari, you may consider cycling or horseback safari (all in the park). You will return to the lodge for some rest and lunch before going out on a boat trip/safari on the lake. Return and relax.
Day 7 Jinja and Kampala City
After enjoying a relaxed breakfast, you will check out and embark on a journey to Jinja—where the Nile begins its journey to the Mediterranean. Expect a stop at the Uganda Equator crossing mark where you can take some memorable photos or buy some art pieces of interest. There will be lunch at one of the spots within Kampala City. You may consider an excursion to some touristic sites in/around Kampala City before heading to Jinja. You will arrive at the booked lodge and rest.
Day 8 Water Rafting at The Source of River Nile
You will have breakfast and then proceed for white water rafting on the Nile. What better way to end your safari and to experience firsthand this most exciting, exhilarating adventure? Get wet! Get wild! Get rafting! In fact, no experience is required to undertake this unforgettable adventure on the Nile. Thereafter, you will hit the road for a return to Entebbe to catch your flight out!!
