13 Day – Wildlife and Primate Safari
per person
Safari to Murchison Falls National Park, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Kibale national Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi National Park and Lake Mburo National Park-13 days. This exciting and adventurous 13 day safari will have you experience the marvel of the Murchison Falls, the big 5 animals, the chimpanzees of Kibale, the unique and rare mountain gorillas, the tree climbing lions of Ishasha, the burchell’s zebra of Lake Mburo to mention a few.
Day 1: Welcome to Uganda.
You will be met at the airport by AGE safaris friendly staff and transferred to your chosen accommodation in Kampala.
Overnight options:
Mid range
Cassia lodge
Imperial Royale Hotel
High end
Kampala Serena Hotel
Sheraton Kampala Hotel
Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort
Meal plan: Bed and Breakfast
Day 2: Transfer from Kampala to Murchison national park via the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.
Highlights/ attractions to look for in Murchison Falls National park include, the magnificent falls that squeeze through a 7 metre crevice and fall approx 42 km below!, wild animals including elephants, cape buffaloes, lions, leopards, hippopotamus, giraffes, crocodiles, antelopes, hartebeest and the rare bird-the shoe bill stork.
At the agreed time our guide will pick you up and you begin your scenic drive as you leave the city behind and move north-west to one of Uganda’s most famous National Parks-Murchison Falls National Park. Approximately 3 hours into your journey, you will branch off the main road for a visit to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. This sanctuary is home to the biggest rhino population in Uganda. Have a chance to view these animals and later enjoy lunch served at the resident restaurant. Thereafter continue on your journey to the park.
Before you head to your lodge for the night, you will be taken to a spot where you can view the top of the magnificent Murchison Falls. On arrival at the lodge you will check in and have dinner before turning in for the night.
Overnight options:
Mid range:
Pakuba lodge
Simba safari lodge
Sambiya river lodge
High end
Paraa Safari lodge
Meal plan: Full board.
Day 3: Murchison National Park.
At 6.00am in the morning, you will leave for a 3 hour game drive via the Nyamasika Plateau to view some of the vast array of game animals like giraffes, elephants and buffalo that roam the park. Return to Lodge for Lunch. In the afternoon take a Boat Launch upstream to the foot of the thundering Murchison Falls offering great photo opportunities of this marvel of nature. Also along the banks of the River you will be able to see animals like Hippos, crocodiles, and a dazzling array of unique bird species for the avid Bird watchers. Return to Lodge for dinner and overnight.
Overnight options:
Mid range:
Pakuba lodge
Simba safari lodge
Sambiya river lodge
High end:
Paraa Safari lodge
Meal plan: Full board.
Day 4: Murchison Falls National Park to Kampala
After Breakfast begin your 5 hour journey back to Kampala. Arrive and check into your hotel for the night. Relax for the rest of the day. In the evening you will go to Ndere Cultural Centre for dinner and an experience of Uganda’s culture through dance and displays.
Overnight options:
Mid range
Cassia lodge
Imperial Royale Hotel
High end
Kampala Serena Hotel
Sheraton Kampala Hotel
Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort
Meal plan: Bed and Breakfast
Day 5: Transfer from Kampala to Kibale National Park.
The main activity in Kibale National Park is Chimp tracking. The walk starts from the Kanyanchu Visitor center at 08.00 & 15.00 and lasts 2 to 3 hours. Chimpanzees are the most sought after primates among the 13 known primate species that exist here, but your guide will also be able to point out the black & white colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys and the grey cheeked mangabey. You will also be shown pittas & different bird species and given details of the plant species within the forest. This walk is for 6 people in a group.
After an early breakfast depart for Kibale National Park. Stop for lunch in Hoima. Arrive in Fort Portal Town and continue on to Kibale N.P. Check in for Overnight at your accommodation (full board). It is optional to take a Short nature walk before dinner or a Nocturnal Walk through the forest after Dinner.
Nocturnal Walk: Experience a Ugandan forest at night where one is able to appreciate the vast biodiversity of Kibale. It is home to over 12 species of primates including the Bush babies which are the smallest primates and can only be seen at night since they are nocturnal.
Overnight options:
Midrange:
Kibale Forest Camp
High end:
Kibale Primate Lodge
Ndali lodge.
Meal plan: Full board
Day 6: Kibale National Park and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Enjoy a morning of chimp trekking (three hours) and thereafter return to the lodge for lunch. After lunch, continue to Queen Elizabeth N.P. via Fort Portal Town where you can stop to view the “Amabere ga Nyina Mwiru” (literally translated as “Breasts of Nyina Mwiru”). This popular tourist site is a stalagmite and stalactite cave formation that is formed to look like milking breasts. You can also get to see the king’s palace at Kabalore, with in the town of Fort Portal. Check in at our overnight accommodation (full board)
Overnight options:
Midrange:
Ihamba Safari lodge
High end options:
Mweya Safari Lodge
Katara lodge
Day 7: Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Queen Elizabeth National Park occupies an estimated 1,978 km2. The park extends from Lake George in the North to Lake Edward in the South West and includes the famous Kazinga Channel that connects the two lakes. It is home to 95 mammal species and over 500 bird species. The area around the Ishasha section of the park is famous for it’s tree climbling lions whose males spot black manes, a feature unique to the lions in this area.
At 6.00am head off for an early morning game drive (3 hours) for a spectacular view of almost 95 mammal species and a remarkable 606 bird species ,elephants, the elusive giant forest hog, lions, world’s largest concentration of hippos, warthogs, leopards, buffaloes and the handsome Uganda kob. Get back to the lodge, relax and have an early lunch. After Lunch, set off for a boat ride along the Kazinga Channel, the link between Lakes Edward and George, to have a better view of some of the park’s animals. Return to the lodge for dinner and over night.
Overnight options:
Midrange options
Ihamba Safari lodge
High end options:
Mweya Safari Lodge
Katara lodge
Day 8: Transfer to the Ishasha section of Queen Elizabeth N.P
Drive to the Ishasha Sector of Queen Elizabeth N.P. This section of the park is famous for its tree climbing lions. The main objective of visiting this section is therefore to try and view these unique lions. As you drive to the lodge you may see wildlife and also the tree climbing lions.
Arrive at your lodge and check in. Have lunch and then later on head out for an afternoon/evening game drive. Return to the lodge for dinner and over night.
Overnight options:
Midrange options
Ihamba Safari lodge
High end options:
Mweya Safari Lodge
Katara lodge
Day 9: Transfer from Ishasha to Bwindi NP.
After an early morning breakfast, set out further down south about 4-5hrs drive to Bwindi National Park and arrive in time for lunch and some extra free time to relax. Have an early dinner and night in preparation for the trekking the next day.
Overnight options include:
Mid range:
Silverback lodge
Gorilla Safari Lodge
High end:
Clouds lodge
Mahogany Spring
Buhoma lodge
Gorilla Forest Camp
Meal plan: Full Board
*The gorilla family to be trekked, may determine your choice of accommodation.
Day 10: Bwindi National Park.
Bwindi is a Rukiga word meaning impenetrable. Impenetrable because, it is a thick rainforest with steep haughty ridges and slippery valleys. It is home to more than half the world’s population of Mountain Gorillas, a sub species of the Gorilla beringei beringei. Mountain gorillas are only found in Bwindi and the Virunga massif area found in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo. Population is believed to be 880 with 400 in Uganda and 480 in Rwanda and Congo.
Have early morning breakfast and after a short briefing by the guides, proceed through the undergrowth and thick creepers of the dense rain forest to track these endangered mammals. Sitting with the most peaceful, most rare and endangered of all the apes, is a fascinating experience. Gorilla trekking could take anywhere between 3-8 hours. After an hour allowed with the giants, return to the lodge.
Overnight options include:
Mid range:
Silverback lodge
Gorilla Safari Lodge
High end:
Clouds lodge
Mahogany Spring
Buhoma lodge
Gorilla Forest Camp
Meal plan: Full Board
Day 11: Transfer from Bwindi National Park to Lake Mburo National Park.
Lake Mburo National Park is located in Western Uganda. The park has a variety of animals such as the burchell’s zebras, impalas and buffaloes, and over three hundred (300) bird species. It is the only park in Uganda with the Impala and one of the few places in the world you can view the burchell’s zebra. At 260 square kilometres (100 sq mi), the park is the smallest of Uganda’s Savannah national parks. At a distance of approximately 240 km from Kampala, it is the closest national park to the city and thus a day visit to and from Kampala is a possibility, albeit a tiring one!
Day 12: Lake Mburo National Park and transfer to Kampala
After an early breakfast, go for a game drive in the park on which you expect to see among others the Burchell’s zebra, antelopes, buffaloes and hyenas. As you complete the two hour game drive, proceed out of the park on your journey back to Kampala. Stop for lunch in Masaka town and also stop at the Equator for a photo opportunity. Drop of at the hotel (Bed and breakfast)
Overnight options:
Mid range
Cassia lodge
Imperial Royale Hotel
High end
Kampala Serena Hotel
Sheraton Kampala Hotel
Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort
Meal plan: Bed and Breakfast