Western Uganda – Nature and Wildlife Safari
Discover the best of Uganda’s natural wonders and wildlife in a journey that encompasses the extraordinary. Witness the endangered mountain gorillas up close, hike through lush rainforests to track chimpanzees, and embark on classic safari adventures that bring you face to face with the Big 4 wildlife. It’s an unforgettable expedition through the heart of Uganda’s incredible biodiversity.
Travel Itinerary
DAY 1
Arrival to Kampala (Entebbe International Airport)
Welcome to Uganda! Upon your arrival at Entebbe Airport, you’ll be greeted by a knowledgeable guide who will assist with your transfer to your hotel in Kampala for check-in.
DAY 2
Kampala Sightseeing Tour
Start your day with a satisfying breakfast before embarking on a captivating sightseeing tour of Kampala. Experience the vibrant pulse of the city through an exhilarating mix of walking and vehicle exploration. Explore the city’s oldest food market, the bustling bus terminal, the royal palace, and other notable landmarks. Conclude your city tour with a delightful taste of local cuisine at a downtown restaurant. In the afternoon, embark on a meaningful journey as you visit a local slum and participate in a food pantry initiative. This immersive experience provides a first-hand look into the challenges of slum life and offers an opportunity to make a positive impact by helping to distribute food to street children. Following this heart-warming endeavour, return to your hotel for a leisurely evening.
DAY 3
Travel to Fort Portal
Set off early morning and take a five-hour drive west of Kampala to the city of Fort Portal. Fort Portal is situated right within close range to a host of attractions in the region, including Kibale National Park, the home of chimpanzees. Arrive at your lodge in time for lunch. Either spend the afternoon at leisure at the lodge or take an optional tour of a nearby village or surrounding crater lakes.
DAY 4
Chimpanzee Tracking and Swamp walk
After breakfast, head to Kibale National Park, home to one of the highest populations of chimpanzees globally, and offers one of the best places to encounter chimpanzees in the wild. The forest is also home to many other primates and wildlife species. Take a guided walk through the forest with the help of a ranger and track down one of the chimpanzee families. The four-hour adventure offers such an exhilarating and insightful experience of the chimps in the wild. Head back for lunch and a leisurely afternoon at the lodge. Later in the afternoon, take a walk through the Bigodi swamp connected to Kibale Forest and witness various species of birds and monkeys. Return to the lodge for dinner and rest.
DAY 5
Travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park
After breakfast, make your way down south and into the Rift Valley. The three-hour journey ends with arrival at your lodge, located in Queen Elizabeth National Park, in time for your lunch. After lunch, take a leisurely two-hour boat safari on the Kazinga channel, a water channel connecting the rift valley lakes, Lake George and Lake Edward. The channel is host to several wild animals, including Hippos, Nile Crocodiles, Antelopes, and even Elephants. After that, head back to the lodge for dinner and evening at leisure.
DAY 6
Lion Tracking and Game Drives
Start your day at 5 am and head out for an experiential learning tour with a lion conservation researcher. With the help of GPS, track down collared lions and learn about lion conservation and behaviour. After that, continue on a two-hour game drive for sightings of other wildlife. Queen Elizabeth is home to various mammals, including the Big Four, but it’s most famous for its herds of Elephants and tree climbing lions. Return to the lodge for breakfast. Spend the afternoon at leisure at the lodge. Later in the evening, head back for a second game drive; with the help of your guide, scout for more wildlife that you may not have seen in the morning. Return to the lodge for dinner and rest.
DAY 7
Travel to Bwindi
Set off at 7 am and head south to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The six-hour journey is a scenic drive up and down rolling hills through lush gardens, quaint towns, and villages. Arrive at your lodge in time for lunch. In the afternoon, take a walk through a nearby village. Get to engage with locals
in the community, and learn about their traditions and way of life. Spend the evening at leisure at the lodge.
DAY 8
Gorilla Trekking
Have breakfast at 7 am, then head to the Bwindi forest park headquarters for a briefing from the head ranger before starting your gorilla trekking expedition. The trek takes anywhere between two to eight hours of total trekking time. It all depends on where the gorillas are on a particular day. Bwindi is on a high altitude, averaging 2000m above sea level, with a rugged terrain of steep slopes and narrow ridges. Hence why the forest is commonly dubbed “impenetrable.” The hike is physically challenging, but with the forest being home to half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas, it’s also very gratifying. Get to immerse in the mysterious intimacy of the rainforest, alive with colourful bird calls. Upon sighting the gorillas, spend a full hour with them as they go about their daily life, feeding, playing, and raising their young. Coming face to face with these magnificent creatures is one of wildlife’s greatest fairy tale moments.
DAY 9
Travel to Kigali for departure
After breakfast, take a five-hour drive to Kigali and get dropped off at the airport for your flight back home. A flight after 1800hrs is suitable. Alternatively, you can take a flight from Bwindi to Entebbe and then catch your return flight home.
What´s included
- 8 night in hotel and lodges
- Airport transfer in Kampala and in Kigali
- Local transportation in private customized safari vehicles
- Park entry fees
- One gorilla tracking permit
- One chimp tracking permit
- Professional and experienced English speaking guide
- Meals as indicated
Excluded
- Visa - $100 per person
- International flights from / to the home country
- Travel cancelation insurance
- Any Personal Expenses
- Tips and Gratitudes
- Any other meals than mentioned
