uganda safaris

DAY TO DAY SAFARI PROGRAM

15 days Western Uganda Safari is an amazing 15 days /14 nights tour to three of Uganda’s mighty National Parks, this safari offers you a site of the iconic Big Five viewing during game drives, bird watching & cultural adventure! in the western part of Uganda.

Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison falls National park and Bwindi Impenetrable national park are Uganda’s most popular parks.  This impressive parks features a fabulously diverse landscape, grassy savannah plains, tropical rainforests, moist acacia woodlands, natural volcanic crater lakes, freshwater lakes, water falls, chimpazee, gorillas, tree climbing lions and a variety of wetland habitats. Queen Elizabeth National park has one of the highest biodiversity ratings of any nature reserve in the world, including 95 mammal species and over 610 bird species.

This park is famous for its tree-climbing lions but also hosts savannah Lions, Elephants, Buffalos, Leopards, Hippos, Crocodiles, Giant forest hogs, and plenty of antelope species.

The 15 days western Uganda safari incorporates magical wildlife viewing and the recreational boat cruise along with the 45km long Kazinga Chanel to view some of the highest concentrations of hippos in the world. This safari trip also offers a margical activity of Gorilla and Chimpanzee tracking safari in Bwindi. 

Day 1: pick up from Entebbe International Airport & transfer to the hotel

Day 2: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park en route Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.

Day 3: Morning game drive, afternoon Nile boat cruise & hike to the top of the falls

Day 4: Transfer to Fort Portal in the shadows of the mystical Mountains of the moon

Day 5: Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park.

Day 6: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Day 7: Morning game drive & afternoon boat cruise on Kazinga Channel

Day 8: Game drive in Ishasha in search of tree-climbing lions en route to Bwindi Ntaional Park.

Day 9: Gorilla trekking encounter in Bwindi.

Day 10: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi, do boat cruise & visit the Island Communities

Day 11: Transfer to Lake Mburo National park

Day 12: Enjoy a morning game walking safari.

Day 13: Transfer to Kampala with a stop at Uganda Equator Crossing.

Day 14: Kampala city and Entebbe beach tour

Day 15: Transfer to Entebbe airport for departure

15 Days Wesrtern Uganda Safari in details 

Day 1: Arrive In Uganda Via Entebbe International Airport And Transfer To The Hotel.

Arrive in Uganda following the flight from your respective country of origin. You land at Entebbe International Airport which is the main gateway to Uganda where you will find the company representative dedicated to offer you a courteous welcome. The amazing weather and brightening atmosphere on the shores of Lake Victoria (the continent’s largest fresh water lake) give you a remarkable first impression of Uganda. After briefing about Uganda and your 14 days Uganda safari, you will connect to the hotel in Kampala for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation:-

Luxury/Upmarket: – Speke Resort Munyonyo/Sheraton Kampala Hotel

Budget/Basic: – Eastern Route Hotel/Nexus Resorts

Meal Plan: – Lunch & Dinner

Day 2: Transfer To Murchison Falls National Park en route Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.

You have breakfast at your place of stay in Kampala at around 6.30 am. We then embark on a 311km (6-5 hours) drive northwest of Uganda to Murchison Falls National Park. We drive through impressive flat landscapes of Central Uganda including the district of Nakasongola with scattered human settlement, towns and markets where you will see people going on with their daily life. We branch off at Nakitooma for 7km to connect to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, the proud home of Uganda’s only wild rhinos.

Upon arriving in Ziwa, we embark on a thrilling 2 hours White Rhino tracking encounter on foot in the company of an expert ranger guide. Rhinos are part of the Big Five of land animals and by exploring them on foot; you’ll get to appreciate what a 2-ton animal really looks like while your adrenaline is pumping. Ziwa Sanctuary is home to 22 white rhinos. After this exciting activity, we continue on the drive to Murchison Falls Park, arriving in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation:-

Luxury/Upmarket: – Paraa Safari Lodge/Bakers Lodge

Midrange/Standard: – Murchison River Lodge/Pakuba Safari Lodge

Budget/Basic: – Hornbill Bush Lodge/Red Chilli Rest Camp

Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 3: Morning Game Drive, Afternoon Nile Boat Cruise & Hike To The Top Of The Falls.

We will have breakfast at the lodge at around 6.30 am and then embark on a scenic game drive through the classic savannah plains of Murchison Falls Park’s northern sector. We have opportunity to see African bush elephants, Cape buffalos, Rothschild’s giraffes, Jackson’s hartebeests, Defassa waterbucks, Oribis, Hippos and Uganda Kobs as well as predators such as Lions, Leopards, Hyenas and many others. We will also see many of the park’s 451 bird species including Palm-nut vultures, Grey-crowned cranes and Abyssinian ground hornbills.

The game drive takes about 3-4 hours after which we return to the lodge for relaxation and lunch. In the afternoon, we connect to Paraa Jetty for an afternoon boat cruise along the Nile River to the bottom of Murchison Falls which starts at 2 pm. Gliding on this world’s longest river is an unforgettable experience: giant Nile crocodiles lurk menacingly from the sandbars, hippos snorting everywhere, elephants playing in the water and lots of water birds including the pre-historic Shoebills are often seen.

On reaching the bottom of the falls, we will disembark from the boat and undertake a hike to the top of the falls from where you will truly appreciate the staggering power with which the Nile River bursts through the 7 meter wide gap in the escarpment, gorge before dropping down 45 meters and then continues its epic 6,650km journey to the Mediterranean Sea. The hike may be a strenuous one but the thrill on reaching the top of the world’s most powerful waterfall is unforgettable. Miss it only if you must.

Accommodation:-

Luxury/Upmarket: – Paraa Safari Lodge/Bakers Lodge

Midrange/Standard: – Murchison River Lodge/Pakuba Safari Lodge

Budget/Basic: – Hornbill Bush Lodge/Red Chilli Rest Camp

Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 4: Transfer To Fort Portal In The Shadows Of The Mystical Mountains Of The Moon.

After breakfast at around 7.00am, embark on a 441km (8-9 hours) drive southwest via the Albertine Escarpment of the Great Western Rift Valley, lush countryside, traditional farms and homesteads to Fort Portal Area. We have a lunch break in Hoima which is undergoing rapid growth due to oil discovery in the Albertine graben.

Then we proceed to arrive in Fort Portal for relaxation, dinner and overnight. Fort Portal, the seat of the ancient Kingdom of Toro is one of the most attractive towns in Uganda, situated amid lush rolling hillsides, swathed in neat tea plantations in the shadow of the legendary ‘Mountains of the Moon’ (The Rwenzoris- Africa’s tallest mountain range).

Accommodation:-

Upmarket/Luxury: – Kyaninga Lodge

Midrange/Standard: – Mountains of the Moon Hotel

Budget / Basic: – Rwenzori View Guesthouse

Meal Plan: – Dinner

Day 5: Chimpanzee Trekking In Kibale National Park & Afternoon Bigodi Wetland Walk.

We will have an early morning breakfast at around 6.30am and then transfer to Kibale’s Kanyanchu Visitor Centre to catch up with briefing before embarking on the chimpanzee tracking expedition foot which starts at 8.00am. Kibale is a natural habitat for an amazing 13 primate species, and contains the highest primate density of any area on earth including over 1500 chimpanzee, our closest non-human relatives.

The park’s chimps have been tracked since 1993 and the chances of locating them are excellent. They are accustomed to human presence – some have been observed for over 25 years – and the chance of locating them is over 95%. Walks last between 2-5 hours. Contact time with chimpanzees is limited to one hour; group size is limited to 6 visitors; participants must be aged 12 or over. Kibale’s incredible biodiversity also include a total 60 other mammal species, 375 bird species and 250 species of butterflies.

After the one hour chimpanzee encounter, we connect to the starting point where you meet with your company guide, settle for your packed lunch after which you connect to Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary for an afternoon swamp walk. Bigodi is the most successful community environmental conservation initiative in Uganda. Your swamp walk here 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! Retreat from the 2 hours walk back to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation:-

Luxury/Upmarket: – Crater Safari Lodge/Kyaninga Lodge/Primate Lodge Kibale

Midrange/Standard: – Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse/Kibale Forest Camp/Turaco Tree Tops

Budget/Basic: – Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse/Kibale Forest Camp

Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 6: Transfer To Queen Elizabeth National Park & Do An Evening Game Drive.

After early morning breakfast around 7.00am, we will transfer to Queen Elizabeth N.P- a trip that may take you approximately 2-3 hours driving along remarkable scenic views of Rwenzori Mountains – the legendary Mountain of the moon towering to 5,109m above sea level with snowcapped peaks. You make stops en route to visit the Rwenzori Art Foundation – the only bronze Casting Center in Africa to encounter a range of items displayed in the gallery and you also have the chance to participate in the sculpture making itself.

You also visit the Ruboni Community craft village to explore the craft making process and you can also participate in the craft making process and learn a skill. Continue on the drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park, check in at your lodge and after connect to the park for an evening game drive where you have possibilities of exploring Elephants, Buffaloes, Waterbucks, Kobs, among others. Retire for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation:-

Luxury/Upmarket: – Mweya Safari Lodge/Mazike Valley Lodge/Katara Lodge

Midrange/Standard: – Enganzi Game Lodge/ Bush Lodge/Kasenyi Safari Camp

Budget/Basic: – Pumba Safari Cottages/ Park View Safari Lodge

Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 7: Morning Game Drive & Afternoon Boat Cruise Along The Kazinga Channel.

After breakfast at around 6.30am, embark on a 3- 4 hours  morning game drive exploring the Queen Elizabeth National Park’s rolling savannah landscapes dotted with counts of wild game  including Elephant, Buffalo, Lion, Waterbuck, Leopard, Uganda kob, Warthog and do not forget about the birds and the primates. The morning is the best time for a game drive as the African animal kingdom tends to be most active when during the golden hours of the first sunlight touching the savannah.

Retreat from the activity and settle for lunch at the lodge after which you gather at the Mweya jetty to embark on a thrilling 2 hours boat cruise on the 45km long Kazinga Channel to view some of the largest concentration of hippo in the world and other game with excellent birding. Retreat from the activity and do a game drive along the channel track as you head to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation:-

Luxury/Upmarket: – Mweya Safari Lodge/Mazike Valley Lodge/Katara Lodge

Midrange/Standard: – Enganzi Game Lodge/ Bush Lodge/Kasenyi Safari Camp

Budget/Basic: – Pumba Safari Cottages/ Park View Safari Lodge

Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 8: Do A Game Drive In Ishasha In Search Of Tree Climbing Lions As You Transfer To Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

We have breakfast at around 7.00 am. We then set off for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park with an en route game drive Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park in search of the uncommon tree-climbing lions that reside here. The chance of spotting these lions is about 70% though sometimes they are really hard to spot (most especially when they’re down in the grassland looking for prey).

Hoping you get the chance to spot them, the sight will be spectacular! Continue on the drive to make another stop in the local communities of Kanungu for a coffee plantation tour to explore the traditional coffee growing practices, its cultural attachment to the local people and its significance to the local community. Arrive in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

As befits one of the most biologically diverse places on Earth, Bwindi has been designated a Natural World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Alongside over 459 mountain gorillas that live here, Bwindi protects numerous mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and plants, many of them endemic to this part of Africa.

Accommodation:-

Luxury/Upmarket: – Gorilla Forest Camp/Buhoma Lodge/Chameleon Hill Lodge

Midrange/Standard: – Haven Lodge Buhoma/Gorilla Mist Camp/ Gorilla Valley Lodge

Budget/Basic: – Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge/Buhoma Community Rest Camp

Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 9: Undertake A Gorilla Trekking Encounter In Bwindi & An Evening Community Walk.

At around 6.00 am, after breakfast at your lodge and then go to the respective park headquarters to get briefed about the gorilla trekking experience from an expert local ranger guide. At 8:00 am, embark on the Uganda gorilla trek within the Impenetrable Forest in the company of an experienced local ranger guide. The trek might take 2 – 8 hours to find the gentle giants of the forest depending on where the family is located.

The trek itself can be along steep, slippery trails and through the bush so you should be in reasonable physical condition, but the rewards of spending an hour with our close cousins more than makes up for the effort of getting to them. The thrill of spending time observing these gentle and endangered giants is indeed an awesome, exciting experience to be long savored. For up to five years each, these families have undergone an extremely delicate process that has gradually brought them to tolerate the presence of humans for a brief period every day and allow a few privileged visitors to interact with them in the wild.

After your one hour with the gorillas, return to the starting point where you will be rewarded with a gorilla trekking certificate and embark on the transfer to the lodge for relaxation. In the evening, you embark on the community tour to visit the last remaining members of the endangered Batwa Pygmy tribe that live peacefully with Gorillas of Bwindi for over 1000 years and later evicted from the forest to create the national park. A visit to their community is not only a way to learn more about the traditional forest practices of this hunter-gatherer culture, but a way to support a people whose ancient way of life has been almost completely wiped out by modernisation. You will listen to their stories and attend to their performances before retiring for overnight.

Accommodation:-

Luxury/Upmarket: – Gorilla Forest Camp/Buhoma Lodge/Chameleon Hill Lodge

Midrange/Standard: – Haven Lodge Buhoma/Gorilla Mist Camp/ Gorilla Valley Lodge

Budget/Basic: – Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge/Buhoma Community Rest Camp

Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 10: Travel To Lake Bunyonyi, Do a Boat Cruise & Visit The Island Communities

After breakfast at around 7.00am, transfer to Lake Bunyonyi (Africa’s second deepest lake) traversing the Kigezi Highlands commonly referred to as the Switzerland of Africa. The stunning geography of Lake Bunyonyi area offers a constant and lovely backdrop to your adventure, which will include a boat trip to gain impressive views of its spectacular 29 islands, and priceless interaction with the friendly and welcoming people of the region. Return to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation:-

Luxury/Upmarket: – Birdnest @Bunyonyi Resort

Midrange/Standard: – Lake Bunyonyi Rock Resort/Lake Bunyonyi Eco Resort

Budget/Basic: – Lake Bunyonyi Rock Resort

Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Drive distance & time: – 55-85 km or 1-3 hours

Day 11: Transfer To Lake Mburo National Park & Do An Afternoon Boat Cruise On Lake Mburo.

After a relaxed breakfast at around 8.00 am, embark on the drive to Lake Mburo National Park 199km about 4 hours’ drive. You drive through amazing landscapes of south western Uganda with stretching cattle farms and banana plantations before approaching Mbarara town the largest in the sub region and proceeding for 12km to Igongo Cultural Center for traditional lunch.

You proceed for 33km to Lake Mburo National Park entering through Nshaara gate to embark on an afternoon boat trip along the waters of Lake Mburo. The possible sights include impressive Hippos, Nile crocodiles and a range of birds such as African Fish eagle and African finfoot. Retire for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation:-

Luxury/Upmarket: – Mihingo Lodge

Midrange/Standard: – Rwakobo Rock/Arcadia Cottages Mburo/Mpogo Safari Lodge

Budget/Basic: – Eagles Nest Mburo

Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 12: Enjoy A Morning Game Walking Safari & Afternoon Banyankole Community Tour.

After breakfast at around 7.00am, embark on a thrilling game walking safari passing through the impressive savannah ecosystem with lots of Acacia. You enjoy beautiful views of the area including open stretching plains. The walk offers you an opportunity to explore the a range of wild game including; Rothschild giraffes, Impala, Burchell’s Zebra, Elands Topis, Warthogs, Waterbucks, Bushbucks, Elands  and Spotted hyenas not forgetting acacia associated birds. Hiking the Kazuma hill offers you one of the magical scenic views in Uganda.

You connect back to the lodge for relaxation and lunch and in the afternoon, you connect to the Enyemebwa Cultural center and upon arrival, the local guides take you around the home stead exploring the exterior and interior of the local thatched huts, the views of the cattle Kraal, the crop gardens and banana plantations after which you head to the wilderness for grazing the cattle along with other herd’s men.

Retreat in the evening back home with the cows for traditional hand milking after which you attend to the traditional performances before retiring for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation:-

Luxury/Upmarket: – Mihingo Lodge

Midrange/Standard: – Rwakobo Rock/Arcadia Cottages Mburo/Mpogo Safari Lodge

Budget/Basic: – Eagles Nest Mburo

Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 13: Transfer To Kampala With A Stop At Uganda Equator Crossing At Kayabwe.

We will have a relaxed breakfast at around 8.30 am after which we will embark on a 240km (3-4 hours) drive to Kampala. We will make a stop at the Uganda Equator at Kayabwe along Masaka road where you will be able to stand in both the northern and southern hemispheres and also experiment how water swirls in different directions when placed in the northern and southern hemispheres, take photos and even buy some of the beautiful souvenirs. Have lunch at the Equator and proceed to Kampala arriving in the afternoon for relaxation and overnight.

The highlight of the day: – The Uganda Equator experience at Kayabwe.

Accommodation:-

Luxury/Upmarket: – Speke Resort Munyonyo/Kampala Serena Hotel/Sheraton Kampala Hotel

Midrange/Standard: – Cassia Lodge

Budget/Basic: – Biyem Hotel/Nexus Resorts Nansana

Meal Plan: – Lunch & Dinner

Day 14: Entebbe and Kampala City tour

After breakfast at around 9.00 am, your guide will pick you up from your hotel and you embark on the famous Kampala tour. You will penetrate the busy capital city and tour all the gothic era cathedrals, mosques, the Baha’i temple, Namugongo shrine-where the famous Uganda Martyrs were murdered, visit the famous Owino market downtown, Kabaka`s palace and lake, Kasubi tombs and the Uganda parliament. Transfer to the airport for you flight back home.

Day 15 : Transfer to Entebbe Airport for departure

End of the 15 Days Western Uganda Safari