Day 1: Track wild rhinos at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary and Transfer to Murchison

Have early breakfast at your hotel in Kampala or Entebbe, meet your guide and embark on a journey to Nakasongola for a visit to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for rhino tracking. The drive approximately 4 hours and when arrive at the sanctuary, you will join other visitors and the center briefing by a ranger guide. Then head on foot looking for the rhinos which you will see from a distance while grazing.

Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is the only place in Uganda where you can track and see rhinos in their natural habitat, the experience lasts for two hours and visitors are accompanied by an expert local ranger guide.

Proceed on your journey to Murchison Falls National Park with lunch in Masindi, on arrival you will head to the top of the Murchison Falls – the world most powerful waterfall. You will see the longest river in the world busting through a tiny rocky gap to create Murchison Falls.

Accommodation Options:

• Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge / Bakers Lodge / Nile Safari Lodge
• Mid-range: Pakuba Safari Lodge / Murchison River Lodge
• Budget: Hornbill Safari Lodge

Meal Plan: Lunch & Dinner

Day 2: Game Drives & Boat Cruise

Wake up early for breakfast and head to the park for a four to five hour morning game drive, you will explore the scenic grasslands of Murchison Falls National Park’s northern sector and enjoy seeing many animals including Rothschild’s Giraffe, Cape Buffaloes, African Elephants, lions, leopards, Hyenas, warthogs, hippos, antelopes, patas monkeys, baboons and more.

Return to the lodge for lunch and in the afternoon, you will go for a leisurely three hour boat tour on the historic Nile River. As you cruise, you will see gigantic Nile crocodiles and hippos in the waters, countless water birds such as shoebill stork and elephants and buffaloes quenching thirsty along the shores of the river.

Your boat makes a pause a short distance from the bottom of the Murchison Falls, here you will marvel at the 50m wide Nile River thundering through a rock gap less than 8 meters wide before falling 45 m to the devil’s cauldron below, forming a plume of spray marked by a thunderous roar and a permanent rainbow.

Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 3: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park

Have a leisurely breakfast and depart for Kibale Forest National Park with a drive through the local villages, you will have lunch in Fort Portal – another scenic area in the country, situated in the shadow of the snow-capped Rwenzori Mountains aka Mountains of the Moon and is famous for its many tea plantations.

Proceed to Kibale Forest arriving in the afternoon, check in at your camp or lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation Options:

• Luxury: Crater Safari Lodge / Kyaninga Lodge / Primate Lodge Kibale
• Midrange: Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse-Cottage / Kibale Forest Camp
• Budget: Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse – Main house

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 4: Chimpanzee Tracking & Transfer To Queen Elizabeth National Park

Wake up early for breakfast and head to the park’s visitor center at Kanyanchu for your chimpanzee tracking encounter which beings at 8:00 am after briefing at 07:00 am, heading to the starting point and enter into the forests of Kibale looking in search for chimpanzees on foot.

The trek through the forest takes approximately 2 to 6 hours depending on the movement of chimpanzees – our closest relatives, when you locate the chimpanzees you will spend one hour with the chimpanzee watching them play on trees, pick fruits and groom each other among others.

Then you will trek back to the visitor’s center, meet your guide and head back to your lodge for lunch. Later check out and embark on a journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park, arrive in the park in the evening, check in at your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation Options:

• Luxury: Kyambura Gorge Lodge / Mweya Safari Lodge
• Midrange: Enganzi Game Lodge / Bush Lodge
• Budget: Pumba Safari Cottages

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 5: Game Drive & Boat Cruise

Enjoy an early breakfast and go for a thrilling morning game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park, you will explore the Kasenyi plains from the comfort of your vehicle and spot various animals including leopards, hyenas, waterbucks, bushbucks, jackals, warthogs, herds of Uganda Kobs, elephants, forest hogs among others.

Return to the lodge for lunch and in the afternoon, you will go for a boat cruise on Kazinga Channel. The cruise takes approximately 3 hours and as you sail on the channel, you will see some of the world’s largest concentrations of hippos, huge Nile crocodiles, elephants and a variety of water birds.

After the boat cruise, you will return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 6: Track Tree-Climbing Lions & Travel To Bwindi

Enjoy breakfast at your lodge, meet your guide and head to the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park – Ishasha Sector for a game drive in search of rare tree climbing lions who are normally seen resting on the branches of the fig trees.

After the game drive, exit the park and drive south through rolling hills and traditional homesteads and enjoy panoramic views. Enjoy lunch along the way and when you arrive in the park, you will be welcomed by the views of the misty trees. Check in at your lodge and spend the evening at relaxation, have dinner and overnight as you prepare yourself for the gorilla trek next day.

Accommodation:

• Luxury: Haven Lodge Buhoma / Gorilla Forest Camp / Buhoma Lodge
• Mid-range: Gorilla Mist Camp / Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge
• Budget: Trekkers Tavern Ruhija

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Drive Distance & Time: Approx. 130–220 km or 4–7 hours

Day 7: Mountain Gorilla Trekking

After an early breakfast at around 6.30 am, you will transfer to the park headquarters where you will register for gorilla trek and be briefed about gorillas by the local ranger guides. At exactly 08:00 am, you will head to the starting point in groups of 8 people looking for a gorilla family assigned to you, the trek takes relatively 2 to 7 hours depending on the movement of the gorillas.

The trek can be strenuous, wet and uncomfortable at times but when you meet the gorillas, it will be worth it. You will be allowed to spend one hour with the gorillas watching them play on tree branches, groom each other among others. You are allowed to take pictures as long as your flashlight is off.

Then trek back to the park headquarters to pick your gorilla permits, meet your guide and return to the lodge. In the afternoon, you will head to the Batwa people for a cultural encounter on which you will be entertained by local dances and drama, witness their high skills of hunting and taste some of the local food among others. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation:

• Luxury: Haven Lodge Buhoma / Gorilla Forest Camp / Buhoma Lodge
• Mid-range: Gorilla Mist Camp / Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge
• Budget: Trekkers Tavern Ruhija

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 8: Drive Back To Entebbe Via The Equator

Wake up at your own leisure, meet your guide and embark on a journey back to Kampala or Entebbe which is a drive of about 8 hours. This scenic drive takes you through the small rural villages, coffee and banana plantations and rolling hills.

You will have a stop at Igongo Cultural Center in Mbarara for lunch and proceed to Kampala. Have another stopover at the Equator Crossing at Kayabwe, here you can stand in the middle of the world that is one leg in the North hemisphere and another in the south hemisphere and take amazing monumental photos.

When you reach Kampala or Entebbe, you will be dropped off at your post tour accommodation in Entebbe / Kampala or transfer you to the Entebbe International Airport for your onward flight. Safe Travels.

Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch

End of The Safari