Entebbe * Murchison Falls * Kibale Forest * Kyambura (Chimps) * Queen Elizabeth National Park * Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (Gorillas)
A privately guided, mid-range safari itinerary linking Uganda’s classic game reserves by road: Murchison Falls on the River Nile, chimpanzee tracking in the forests of Kibale, big game safaris (and tree-climbing lions) in Queen Elizabeth National Park, and ending with the highlight: gorilla trekking in gloriously-named Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
Travel in a customized 4×4 with your guide; with a flight back to Entebbe to avoid the longest drive. Comfortable lodges and some 3-night stays keep the focus on wildlife and value.
Unlike many itineraries, this includes 3 nights in Bwindi, so you have time for a second gorilaa trek (permit not included), or to enjoy one of the other activities. As with nearly all of our trips, this safari can be tailored to suit your exact requirements,
The safari is suitable for fairly fit people as it involves walking in rugged conditions. We show prices below for groups of 2 or 4 people, You travel in specially customized 4 x 4 safari vehicles. The safari is based on staying in good lodges and luxury tented camps. If you are a larger party, then the price will be lower still. Contact us for a tailor-made quote.
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On arrival at Entebbe International Airport you will be met by a Wild Frontiers representative and transferred to Hotel No.5, or similar.
Set on the shores of Lake Victoria, Entebbe is a small town that is easy to explore on foot or local boda bodas (motorbike taxis). Explore the markets, hunt for souvenirs or crafts, meander through the Botanical Gardens or relax with a boat cruise on Lake Victoria. You’ll find a wide variety of restaurants, bars and clubs where you can sample the local beer, catch a game of football and meet the friendly locals.
Transfer after breakfast to Twiga Safari Lodge (or similar) with picnic lunch en route. (Drive is 4-5hrs, with optional visit to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary en route)
The Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is the only place in the country with wild rhinos. Currently home to 22 southern white rhinos, the sanctuary offers rhino trekking, shoebill trekking, canoeing, bird watching, and night walks. Visitors may also spot a range of other species including Uganda kobs, oribis, bush bucks, and water bucks. The prehistoric-looking shoebill stork is one of the most sought after birds in Uganda, and the sanctuary is one of the only places where they can almost always be seen. See over 300 bird species along bird trails through the woodlands, swamp and savannah.
Murchison Falls National Park lies at the northern end of the Albertine Rift Valley – Uganda’s largest and oldest conservation area, hosting 76 species of mammals and 451 species of birds. The park is bisected by the Victoria Nile, which plunges 45 metres over the rift valley wall, creating the dramatic Murchison Falls. The mighty cascade drains the last of the river’s energy, transforming it into a broad, placid stream that flows quietly across the rift valley floor into Lake Albert. This stretch of river provides one of Uganda’s most remarkable wildlife spectacles. Regular visitors to the riverbanks include elephants, giraffes and buffaloes while hippos, Nile crocodiles and aquatic birds are permanent residents.
Spend the next few days enjoying Murchison Falls and surrounding area. The game in this park is exceptional, and four of the “big five” (Cape buffalo, elephant, lion, and leopard) can be spotted, especially in the North of the park.
Overnight: Twiga Safari Lodge – 3 nights
Twiga Safari Lodge is located on the banks of the River Nile – offering spectacular views across the river into the Murchison Falls National Park. The lodge is intimate with only 8 rooms, and offers guests the perfect setting to relax after their day out on safari. The accommodation design fuses canvas with thatch, set on elevated wooden decks. The cottages are well-spaced, and have large verandahs from where guests may enjoy watching wildlife, listening to birds and in the evenings the chorus of frogs. There is a central dining and lounge area, bar, a lookout point, and a swimming pool for guests to cool off in. The lodge is located just a few minutes from the park entrance, with easy access to the bridge over the Nile River to the north bank of the Park, where you may enjoy game drives.
Aside from a game drive in Murchison Falls, a cruise to the bottom of the falls as well as a Delta Cruise for bird watching/ game viewing are included during your stay.
Murchison Falls Bottom of the Falls Cruise
Murchison Falls Bottom of the Falls Cruise is a three-hour scheduled and private cruise from park headquarters to the head of Fajao Gorge at the base of Murchison Falls. Passengers can witness the mighty force of the Nile River pushing through a narrow seven-metre gap, cascading down a forty-metre cliff to the vast gorge below. The power of the falls and the scenic views from their base are breathtaking. Large resident populations of hippo float in the water along the way, groups of crocodile bask on the shore, and herds of elephant, buffalo and antelope can be seen moving along the riverbanks. The river offers spectacular opportunities for bird watchers, with a wide range of water birds and vibrant Bee-eaters nesting in the cliffs along the river’s bank.
Murchison Falls Delta Cruise
The Victoria Nile delta, a 20km voyage downstream from Paraa is home to rare wetland birds including the elusive shoebill and papyrus endemic species. This leisurely cruise aboard a Kingfisher/Alligator boat down to Lake Albert offers the opportunity to spot elephant, hippo and large Nile crocodiles. The trip lasts approximately 4-5 hours.
Head to Kibale Forest, a drive of about 5 hours, with picnic lunch included.
Kibale is an enchanting ancient forest, and supports an incredible range of flora and fauna. Rich in wildlife, it is most noted for its primate population including red-tailed monkey, diademed monkey, olive baboon, chimpanzee, black and white colobus. Two nights in the area allows time for chimpanzee trekking in the forest. Optional additional excursions include a guided forest walk, visit to the Bigodi Swamps, or the Vanilla Farm close to Ndali.
Primate Lodge Kibale’s principal edge is its location, tucked deep in the forest and right next door to the starting point for Chimpanzee trekking. All nine spacious en-suite Luxury Cottages are set deep in the forest for maximum privacy and a natural ‘living in nature’ feel.
Your Kibale Forest chimp trek will generally take place in the morning. The forest is alive with noise! Chimpanzees can be quite active and may move quickly through the forest canopy… or, if you are lucky, you may find them resting or eating near the forest floors. It’s an exhilarating walk, in beautiful scenery. Your guides will be able to show you different bird species and will give details of the plant species within the forest. The trek allows you to spend 1 hour observing the chimps once you have found them.
Rest of the day at leisure.
Bigodi Swamp Walk (Optional extra)
Considered one of Uganda’s best bird watching locations, Bigodi Swamp’s rich ecosystem makes it a spectacular venue for viewing numerous primate and bird species in their natural habitat. This two to three-hour walk can be tailored to individual schedules and interests.
Depart Kibale Forest this morning and travel to Ishasha in the southern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park. This can be a good couple of hours drive depending on the game viewing you encounter en-route.
Located in the western arm of the Great Rift Valley, the park is home to a wide variety of wildlife including elephants, leopard, lions, hippos, buffalo, Uganda kob, baboon, and many species of birds. With both a riverine and savannah habitat, the southern Ishasha area includes the massive Maramagambo, one of the largest surviving natural forests in Uganda, and is home to the tree climbing lions typically found in the area. Afternoon game drives will be enjoyed in the Ishasha area, looking for the huge herds of buffalo, elephant, Uganda kob and of course the famous tree-climbing lion typically found in the area.
There may be an opportunity to enjoy a Kazinga Channel boat cruise (optional) depending on the boat schedule at time of travel. Please check with your safari consultant at time of booking. The Kazinga channel is a 32-kilometre long natural channel linking Lake Edward and Lake George. Kazinga’s shores are dotted with herds of lazy buffalo, pods of hippos wallowing without a care, and countless bird species.
Continue onto the remote southern sector of the park.
Ishasha Wilderness Camp is an idyllic retreat for people who truly enjoy the wilderness, coupled with superb accommodation and exceptional service.
The thatched central lounge and dining area provides a cosy and relaxed space for guests, although meals are often served ‘al fresco’ beside the river. In the evening, the outdoor fireplace beside the river is the perfect place for guests to relax over sundowners and share their day’s experiences.
Each of the ten spacious framed canvas rooms, privately nestled along the riverbank, is comfortably furnished and feature en-suite bathrooms. Wake to the delicious aroma of morning coffee served on your private verandah. Resident troops of Black-and-White Colobus and Vervet monkeys abound and if you are lucky you’ll spot Henry, the lone hippo, wallowing lazily below our viewing deck. Game roams freely through camp, with Elephant making frequent guest appearances.
Designed to respect and complement the environment, this low impact, eco-sensitive camp is really something special, and after a few days unwinding here, you may well not want to leave. Highly recommended to book in advance are the bush sundowners and the bush breakfast, both unique experiences in beautiful settings.
Spend the day enjoying game drives in the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, rounding things off with scenic bush sundowners including drinks and snacks. Few things beat an ice cold one while watching the African sun set!
Continue your journey onto Bwindi, with a brief stop en route at a community project near Ishasha Village (drive +- 3 hours). The Bwindi Impenetrable National Park lies in southwestern Uganda on the edge of the Rift Valley. Its mist-covered hillsides are blanketed by one of Uganda’s oldest and most biologically diverse rainforests, with almost 400 species of plants. This ‘impenetrable’ forest is also home to an estimated 460 mountain gorillas – including several habituated families.
Gorilla Trekking
Coming face to face with mountain gorillas is a rare and exhilarating wildlife encounter that is hard to capture in words. Experienced guides and trackers will accompany your party on an early morning trek into the dense rain forest on the steep mountain slopes. Please note that gorilla trekking is strenuous, with treks ranging from 45 mins up to eight hours, at high altitudes in often hot conditions. We do recommend hiring a local porter to assist you on your trek. Although mountain gorillas are wild animals and sightings cannot be guaranteed, viewing success rates are over 95%.
Once you have located your gorilla family, spend an hour quietly observing them. The time passes so quickly; be sure to enjoy this experience fully and not just through your camera lens.
Those with additional pre-purchased permits will depart for a second gorilla trekking experience. Or spend the day at your leisure exploring the Bwindi area – optional activities include forest walks, a visit to a local school/ orphanage/ hospital or Batwa pygmy village, or some local curio shopping.
Forest Walk
Embark on a walk through tropical rain forest with experienced wildlife guides. Enjoy scenic views and the sights and sounds of the rain forest, with ample opportunities for bird watching and glimpses of the many monkey species living in the park as they move through the forest canopy.
Village Community Walk
This community walk takes you through the local villages surrounding Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Optional extra activities include visits to a traditional home, local orphanage or school, banana brewing demonstrations and meeting traditional medicinal healers. This 3-4 hr walk is easily tailored to your individual interests.
Batwa Cultural Experience
Embark on a three to four hour hike to a Batwa village in the midst of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. This amazing encounter will allow you the opportunity to meet Batwa elders and their families and learn about their daily lives. Through the assistance of a skilled interpreter you will discover the unique traditions and practices the Batwa people including their deep attachment to the forest, the cuisine they enjoy, how they harvest their food, the style of their homes, and their burial rites. Visitors are even given the chance to learn how to light a fire with just a stick and how to shoot a target with traditional weapons.
Transfer to the airstrip for your return flight Kihihi to Entebbe International airport.
This is a set tour using specific camps. However many tours can be adapted. Chat to us about your options. It excludes international flights but includes an estimate for all domestic or regional flights within the tour.
All meals and safari activities, one gorilla permit, one Chimpanzee trekking permit
EXCLUDES$895 for the second permit (including an admin fee), other optional excursions - all to be added at quote stage, visas, travel insurance, items of a personal nature (eg gratuities, curio purchases, telephone), drinks other than bottled water on vehicle.
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