“Big 5” Safari, plus Primates

Murchison Falls

Day 1: Murchison Falls National Park Safari & Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary We start the safari from your hotel in Entebbe or Kampala at 07:00am. If you are arriving on the same day as we start the tour, you need to arrive not later than 10AM.   On the tour start day, your guide will be at your hotel at 7am or before. You go through the program and have a general briefing about your Uganda safari before embarking on the 3 hours drive to Ziwa Rhinos Sanctuary. This is a generally beautiful scenic drive through some virgin African rural life.  At Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary you track the Rhinos, not just from a vehicle but up close – great opportunities of these fabulous animals – there is other wildlife to be found here, so keep your eyes open so you do not miss any and your guide will also point any other animals. You are accompanied by rangers who take you within 10 meters of the Rhinos.  You will most likely see other wildlife as you trek the rhinos such as antelopes, warthogs and more.  This sanctuary has now been established to breed black and white rhino, and restore rhino populations in Uganda's protected areas in a later stage. You will have a stopover at Masindi for lunch. We will continue through the park stopping at the top of the falls which is a fantastic sight. Here the Nile, the longest river in the world, is forced through a narrow gap in the rock (only 7 meters wide), before ferociously plunging down 43 meters. From here we will continue onto our accommodation place along the Nile River Murchison Falls National Park is the largest in Uganda at 3,840 square kilometres. Here is the awe inspiring Murchison Falls where the River Nile hurls itself in convulsions through a narrow crevice and then plunges 40 metres in one breathtaking leap. The park has a variety of vegetation ranging from riparian forests and swamplands to broad savannah, and provides visitors the opportunity of seeing large concentrations of wildlife including lion, leopard, civet, hyena, elephant, giraffe, buffalo, hippo, crocodile, a host of smaller game, small primates and many bird species, including the rare shoebill stork. The park is especially famous for crocodiles and hippos. Apart from game viewing, the launch trip to the bottom of the falls is another memorable adventure giving you the experience of the mighty Biblical Nile. On the launch you may see schools of crocodiles and hippos basking on the river banks as well as a variety of birds. Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge/ Nile Safari Lodge/ Bakers Lodge   Mid range: Fort Murchison (in rooms)/ Murchison River Lodge   Budget: Fort Murchison in tents/ Murchison River Lodge in tents / Red Chili   Meal Plan: Full Board Basis  

Kibale

Day 3: Travel to Kibale Forest National Park Early morning after breakfast we continue driving through verdant countryside interpassing traditional homesteads and farms and via the towns of Hoima and Fort portal which rests in the shadow of the fabled Mountains of the Moon. In the afternoon we visit a nearby forest swamp that is excellent for viewing primates and other forest animals. Dinner and overnight will be at your lodge of booking. Luxury: Ndali lodge/Primate lodge/Kyaninga lodge                                                                        Moderate: Mountains of the moon/Kibale forest camp/crater safari lodge/ Primate Lodge Budget: Rwenzori travelers/Kibale forest camp/Chimpanzee forest guest house Meal plan: Full Board Basis   

Day 5: Game Drive to See Lions, Leopards, Elephant; Buffalo, Boat Cruise-   We set out early in the morning for a game drive in the northern part of the park on the kasenyi, track in search of loins, elephants, and solitary buffaloes. This is the best time for opportunities of viewing the cats in action owing to the vast population of Uganda kobs. We have an excellent chance to view just about every animal here at very close range.   Return to the lodge for your breakfast, before heading out for a launch trip along the kazinga channel. This gives you the opportunity to view wildlife up close: hippos’ huff and spray at a mere feet away from the boat, buffalo linger in the shallows. The shores of the channel are also home to an array of birds including pink backed pelicans, pied and malachite kingfishers, saddle billed stork and many others.   Luxury Lodge: Mweya Safari Lodge/ Katara Lodge/ Jacana Lodge    Moderate:  Bush Lodge (in rooms) / Simba Safari Camp in rooms/ Buffalo Safari Resort/ Enganzi Lodge/ Ihamba Safari Lodge   Budget facility: Kazinga Channel View Lodge/ Simba Safari Camp in tents/ Bush Lodge in tents     Meal Plan: Full Board Basis  

Bwindi Impenetrable

Day 7: Gorilla Tracking In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Today enjoy gorilla tracking in Bwindi. After breakfast, proceed for the morning briefing before the highlighting of the trip. Gorilla trekking, which may last the entire day. We trek the gorillas through the rainforest and bamboo covered slopes, accompanied by a guide and trackers ,in search of a mountain gorilla family ,the walking can sometimes be tough and long ,but when you catch a glimpse of the magnificent silverback ,any discomforts will be quickly forgotten .when the gorillas are sighted, visitors will be guided to within 6 meters from the gorillas, sit around  them for a whole hour  while gazing into their big round eyes. Gorilla trekking is unpredictable. It’s difficult to foresee how many hours you will hike .The gorilla excursion can take from 2 up 8 hours. Expect to walk along distance in steep and muddy conditions, sometimes with rain overhead, before you encounter any gorillas. A good physical condition is recommended. For conservation purposes, time spent with gorillas is limited to one hour. A ranger will brief you on how to behave with the gorillas.  While most of today's forests are no more than 12,000 years old, Bwindi's vegetation has been weaving itself into tangles over at least 25,000 years, in the process accumulating a lengthy species list. This includes 310 species of butterfly, 51 reptiles, 200 trees, 88 moths and an exceptional 120 types of mammal including 10 primates. The latter includes chimpanzee, L'Hoest's, red tailed and blue monkey, black and white colobus, baboon, and Bwindi's most famous resident, the mountain gorilla. Bwindi is a prime destination for birdwatchers. Its 350 species include seven which are IUCN red data listed and 90% of all Albertine rift endemics, species which are difficult or impossible to see in any other part of East Africa. Dinner and overnight will be at your lodge of booking. Budget: Buhoma community Rest camp / Ruhija Gorilla Friends Camp / Travellers Rest Hotel Kisolo / Gorilla Valley Lodge Moderate: Gorilla Resort Bwindi /Gorilla Safari Lodge / Silver Back Lodge / Lake Kitandara Camp / Chameleon Hill Lodge / Lake Mutanda Resort/ Gorilla Mist Camp. Up market: Mahogang Lodge / Buhoma Lodge / Rushanga Gorilla Satari Lodge. Meal plan: Full Board Basis