Be picked from either Entebbe airport or your hotel (prior to day 1). Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park. Expect a game drive/safari and a boat trip then chimp tracking in nearby Budongo Forest. Spend a night in Hoima City before heading to Queen Elizabeth National Park for more game viewing/safari. Connect to Bwindi for gorilla trekking and move to Lake Mburo where you will encounter wildlife on a walking safari. Return to Entebbe to catch a flight or drop off at your hotel.
Day 1: Start from Entebbe (before 10am) or be picked from a Hotel and transfer to Murchison NP
The pick-up will be from either the Hotel or the Airport upon arrival. The assigned Professional English-speaking Tour Driver-guide will pick/receive you and hit the road to Murchison Falls NP. The highlights of this park include the roaring rapids of the Murchison Falls, the rolling plains of Uganda’s largest National Park where you will have the chance of viewing lions, giraffes, hartebeest, buffalo and elephants among others. Expect a lunch stop en route. If time allows, you can proceed for a late afternoon-to-evening game drive/safari.
Note: If starting from the hotel or very early from Airport, it is possible to tour Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary for an hour of rhino tracking. If possible, you can do it at an extra cost of 50$ per person. Otherwise, we go direct to Murchison.
Day 2: Morning game drive/safari and afternoon boat trip/safari to base of the falls
Have your breakfast, depart for an early morning game drive across the rolling plains of Uganda’s largest National Park and be on the look for wildlife including lions, leopards (though hard to spot) among others. For any birder, there are quite a number of birds to sight too during the drive.
Return to the accommodation for some rest time and lunch. After lunch, you will head out for the boat trip to the base of Murchison Falls where you will also be able to catch sight of more animals including Hippos and Crocodiles and several water birds. #Optional (extra cost): If interested, continue with a hike to the top of the falls. The hike may be a strenuous one but the thrill of reaching the top is unforgettable. Return to your accommodation and relax.
Day 3: Chimp tracking in nearby Budongo Forest Reserve and then, transfer to Hoima
Be up early and drive off (about 1hr 15mins.) to Budongo Forest Reserve. We shall arrive in time for the 8 am briefing. From the briefing, we shall proceed to encounter the Human’s closest relatives in the wild. Enjoy a guided primate walk in the lush expenses of the tropical forest in search of the habituated chimpanzee family. Your guide will explain more about the animals and plant species that you encounter on your way. After the trek, we can take some rest and lunch at Budongo Eco Lodge. Thereafter, we shall embark on a transfer (not so long) to Hoima City where we shall have an overnight at the booked accommodation.
Day 4: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth NP and move out for a game drive/safari
Have a relaxed breakfast at the accommodation and drive off to Queen Elizabeth NP. You will reach Queen early enough to have lunch, rest and then proceed out for game viewing. During the game drive, look out for wild animals like reedbuck, bushbuck, kob, warthogs, elephants, lions and buffaloes to mention but a few. Alternatively, you could choose to go for the Queen’s breathtaking explosion crater drive (instead). The drive is sightseeing with a very spectacular view of the breathtaking scenery in and around Queen. There is also some wildlife to see along the drive although the commonest are sights of Cape Buffaloes plus Elephants. Return to the accommodation for relaxation, dinner and the overnight stay.
Day 5: Sunrise game drive – Kasenyi plains and head to Ishasha then, connect to Bwindi
Be up early and proceed for an early morning game drive in the Kasenyi plains. Be on the look for Cape buffalos, herds of elephants, lions, leopards (though hard to spot) among others. Return to the lodge and check out then head to the Ishasha sector in search of 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, the sight is picturesque and memorable. From Ishasha, we shall continue to the accommodation at the edge of Bwindi National Park (Ruhija sector) – arriving in the evening (around 6 pm).
Day 6: Gorilla trekking Bwindi Forest and transfer to Lake Mburo NP for overnight
Have breakfast and move 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 rainforest is spectacular! The area offers a 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 7: Morning walking safari in the park and return to Entebbe to catch flight
Enjoy your early breakfast and proceed for the Mburo morning park (bush) walk in the presence of an armed Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger guide. On this early morning guided walk, you will have the opportunity to encounter (at close range): Zebras, Giraffes and Eland, Topi and other antelope, and Cape buffaloes among others.
Take the Trail to the top of the hills and see Lake Mburo and beyond. From this vantage point, you will have a great view of 9 of the twelve lakes surrounding Lake Mburo NP. Thereafter, return to the accommodation for checkout and then hit the road to Entebbe airport to catch a flight (1800hrs or later).
