10-Day Tailor-Made Holiday & Tour in Uganda –Big 5 Safari

Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, a Home to Africa assigned English-speaking Professional Tour Driver-guide will receive and welcome you to Uganda – the Pearl of Africa. Thereafter, you will transfer to the booked accommodation. You will check in and take your rest – recovering from jet lag, adjusting to time difference. #Optional (extra cost): Just in case you reached early and interested in some activity, you may consider; a). excursion to the Entebbe Botanical Gardens to sight a few primates and birds, b). excursion to Mabamba wetland in search of the prehistoric shoebill stork. Otherwise, check in and just take your rest.

There will be breakfast and then we embark on a transfer to Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary – a successful conservation effort that was set to save the near-extinct rhino population in Uganda. Today, visitors to Uganda have a chance to encounter rhinos thanks to this effort. Once in Zziwa, we will proceed for an hour of on-foot rhino tracking. From the rhino tracking, we will drive off to Masindi where you will have a lunch stop. After lunch, we will embark on the last leg of our journey for today that will see us overnight at the booked accommodation in Murchison NP. *You can decide to do a game drive first and then finally, proceed to the booked accommodation. Otherwise, we can go straight to the accommodation, check in and stay at leisure.

Today you will have a full packed game viewing opportunity in the park. Murchison Falls NP is a home to different wildlife species such as; Buffalos, Jackson hartebeests, elephants, Lions, Giraffes, leopards, Hyenas, among others. They are widely spread all over the Savannah grasslands, grazing or hunting for prey. These make the park’s landscape so amazing for game viewing/game driving. *To avoid the long drive back to the lodge, we can proceed to Red Chilli and enjoy hot lunch there. After the lunch, we can move back for the second leg of our game viewing. After a satisfying day’s encounter, we shall head back to the lodge to freshen up – awaiting dinner and the overnight stay. #Optional (extra cost 30$ pp): If interested, you may consider the 11am boat trip upstream towards the falls that also offers the opportunity to hike (extra 25$ pp) to the top of the falls.

We will have breakfast and then drive to the top of the falls to truly appreciate the beauty and magnificence of the Murchison Falls. From the top, we shall embark on a transfer that will see us overnight at edge of Kibale Forest National Park. The drive is quite long but incredibly scenic – passing through villages, lush green countryside and hills dotted with tea plantations that characterize this part of Uganda. The beautiful scenery will amaze you all the way. Upon arrival at the accommodation, check in and just relax. *Optional (extra cost): If interested, you can proceed for the crater lakes excursion. You will enjoy the beauty of the numerous small lakes, surrounded by gentle hills, and the stunning views all over. Else, just enjoy your rest at the facility.

Have breakfast and move out for the Bigodi wetlands excursion. The Bigodi wetland boasts of extensive array of biodiversity among which are several primates’ species like the black and white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkey, and baboons. The Bigodi is also a paradise for bird watchers. *Optional (extra cost 230$ pp): If interested, you can consider chimpanzee tracking (Kibale Forest) in place of the Bigodi wetlands excursion. Please, take note that permit for chimp tracking needs to be secured prior to the actual date. From the Bigodi (or Kibale Forest), embark (right away) on a transfer (about 2hrs) to Queen Elizabeth National Park. You will reach Queen with some time available to move out for game viewing. During the game drive/viewing, look out for wild animals like; lions, the elusive leopard, herd of elephants, buffaloes to mention but a few.

Be up early and have your 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. *After the boat trip, you can decide either to return to the lodge to rest or first proceed for a brief late afternoon game drive and thereafter, return to the lodge

Enjoy a relaxed breakfast and then travel to the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park – famously known for tree-climbing lions frequently seen in the area. The chance of spotting these lions stands at about 60-70% but 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 tree, the sight is picturesque and memorable. From Ishasha, you will continue to the accommodation at the edge of the 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 tomorrow.

Have breakfast and move to the rangers’ post. You will receive some briefing on the dos and don’ts during gorilla trekking. Thereafter, you will enter the forest for your adventure and encounter. 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 (4-8 hours) 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 time with these gentle but endangered giants is unforgettable. Return to the accommodation, and rest after a strenuous trek. *Optional (extra cost): In case the body is willing to go out again, you can request your guide to arrange: a community visit to gain an insight in the local lifestyle, or some short nature walk.

Enjoy a relaxed breakfast and then, set off to Lake Mburo NP. Mburo is a compact gem, located conveniently close to the highway that connects Entebbe/Kampala to the parks of western Uganda. It is the smallest of Uganda’s savannah National Parks but home to so many bird species as well as animals such as: Giraffes, Zebra, impala, eland, buffalo, and the elusive leopard among others. We shall arrive and check in for some rest before heading out for a late afternoon-to-evening game drive that will bring us up close with the Mburo inhabitants. Finally, return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay. #Optional (extra cost 30$ pp.): If interested, you may consider the night game drive to encounter nocturnal creatures which will be a rare sighting compared to the regular daytime sightings.

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, Cape buffaloes among others.
After this up-close encounter with wildlife, return to the accommodation for checkout and then hit the road to Entebbe airport to catch flight (1800hrs or later). Expect a stop at the Equator crossing mark (in Kayabwe) where you will have a photo opportunity and also (if interested) buy some souvenirs.