Overview:
True vine safari gives you a fantastic, well-planned tour that allows you to see the best Uganda has to offer, staying in quality lodges just outside and within the national parks. Track the majestic mountain Gorillas and man’s closest relative, the chimpanzee. Boat Cruises on river Nile, Kazinga Channel, and Lake Mburo, as well as getting the chance to see the ‘Big 5’ and take in some of the most spectacular scenery in the whole of Africa.
Day 1: Arrival at the Airport.
Upon arrival at Entebbe International airport, you will be met by your guide, briefed about your upcoming journey, and transferred to your lodge.
Day 2: Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary and Murchison Falls N. Park
After breakfast, your safari will start as you transfer to Murchison falls national park in the Northwestern part of the country for two nights passing via Ziwa Rhino sanctuary for Rhino tracking. Have lunch, then proceed to the top of the falls and later check in the lodge for overnight.
Day 3: Game Drive and Nile Boat Safari.
Spend the morning on a game drive in Murchison’s breathtaking wildlife and scenery, including 4 of the ‘Big 5 with only a rhino missing. In the afternoon you will embark on a boat cruise to see one of the planet’s great sights, Murchison Falls, where the mighty Nile River squeezes through a 7m wide gorge creating the world’s most powerful water flow and the trademark rainbow. During this three-hour cruise, you will also get to see the fantastic array of wildlife on the river bank.
Day 4:Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park.
Depart south for the Kibale Forest, a full day’s drive, taking picnic lunches with you. On the right-hand side, you should enjoy views of the Rwenzori Mountains in the distance, known as the Mountains of the Moon. Kibale forest is home to extraordinary thirteen species of primates including chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, red colobus, and grey-cheeked mangabey. Kibale forest also has recorded over 355 bird species and a range of other mammals including the elusive forest elephants.
Day 5: Chimp Tracking & Bigodi Swamp.
Wake up early for breakfast and report to Kanyancu Park headquarters for a briefing on the chimp tracking experience by a UWA expert ranger. Just after that, you will be divided into groups of six people and led into the forest in search of the next cousin to man. This could take anything between 1 to 5 hours, depending on how the chimps move. According to the tracking rules, you will only spend one hour if you encounter them. This enables you to learn and observe the behaviors of these endangered creatures while taking photos.
Then after returning to the lodge for lunch, later head to Bigodi wetland sanctuary for a swamp walk. This will enable you to see some species like birds and monkeys which are residents of the area. Return to the lodge for the daybreak with dinner and overnight.
Day 6: Kibale Forest – Queen Elizabeth National Park
Transfer to the Queen Elizabeth National Park via the Kasenda crater field area. Along the journey to the park, you will have an opportunity to visit the crater lake areas of Kasenda with a spectacular view of the Rwenzori Mountains. Then proceed to Uganda’s second-largest national park with an afternoon game drive. Here expect to see notable creatures like elephants, lions, and many leopards, especially at the Kasenyi Plains. Later go check in at the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 7: Game Drive and Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise.
This morning you can go on a game drive on the Kasenyi Track, an area that is one of the best places to look for big cats, as well as herds of elephants and solitary buffalos, and of course the fairly common Ugandan kob. This afternoon you will do a boat trip on the Kazinga Channel, which is a lovely change of scene from being in a vehicle, and is best in the afternoons when animals such as elephants and waterbuck come to the water to drink. Birdlife along the shore is equally impressive, including malachite kingfishers, saddle-billed storks, and pink-backed pelicans.
Day 8: Queen Elizabeth – Bwindi Impenetrable national park.
Morning transfer Queen Elizabeth – Bwindi Impenetrable After your morning breakfast, transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable national park about 4-5 hours via Ishasha where you have a chance to see the tree-climbing lions, which have made Queen Elizabeth national park very famous arriving at the lodge in time for lunch. Spend the afternoon relaxing and have a good night’s sleep in preparation for the following day’s gorilla tracking.
Day 9: Gorilla Tracking.
Start your day with an adventure trek to Bwindi’s mist-covered forests in search of the critically endangered mountain gorilla species. Depending on the gorillas’ movement, this might take any time from 1 to 8 hours.
According to the trekking regulations, if you have a gorilla encounter, you can spend an hour in their front yard. Allowing you to take pictures while learning and observing the behaviors of these gentle giants in their natural habitat.
Later, return to the Park Headquarters where you will receive a certificate for mountain gorillas trekking before making your way to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 10: Bwindi Impenetrable – Lake Mburo national park.
After breakfast, we drive to Lake Mburo National Park. Game drive or a boat trip on the lake in the afternoon. In the evening we make a night game drive with a high chance of seeing leopards. Lake Mburo is one of the 2 national parks with zebras and the only national park with impalas in Uganda. There are no elephants or lions, so walking safaris are possible.
Day 11: Lake Mburo National Park – Entebbe.
Get up early for breakfast, then check out of the lodge and drive back to Kampala. Take a lunch break in Mbarara and a brief stop to buy souvenirs at the Kayabwe equator crossing. Depending on your flight time, the journey will then continue to Kampala or Entebbe international airport.
Price starts at $2800
Package Inclusions
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Safari vehicle /car hire
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Services of an English-speaking guide
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Park entrance fees
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Visit Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
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Hike to the top of the falls
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Boat cruise on both the Nile and Kazinga channels
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Wild game drives
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Chimpanzee tracking experience
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Gorilla trekking experience
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Visit the Bigodi wetland sanctuary
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10 Nights Accommodation on a full board basis
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Lunch en-routes
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1 Litter bottled drinking water per day
Optional Activities
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Lion tracking experience at Queen Elizabeth National park
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Community visits
Package Exclusions
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Air ticket and Visa fees (this can be done based on personal arrangements)
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All times of personal nature
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All drinks and beverages that are alcoholic
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Any activity that is not mentioned in the itinerary above