10 Days Uganda wildlife experience
10 Days Uganda wildlife experience : This 10 Days wildlife, and cultural safari covers part of Uganda’s national parks including Murchison falls national park, Queen Elizabeth national park, Semiliki national park and Lake Bunyonyi. Murchison falls national park is Uganda’s largest national park for the wild big 5 game followed by Queen Elizabeth national park, which is located in the western part of Uganda offering the great experience of different Antelope species. Queen Elizabeth national park is home to the tree climbing lions in Uganda. The park is occupied by 2 great lakes – Lake Edward and Lake George which meet at a channel commonly known as the Kazinga channel. Queen Elizabeth national park has plenty of animals and other experiences to be enjoy while on your stay in Uganda ranging from wildlife, culture, boat cruise to nature walks then Semiliki national park which is home to the largest hot springs in Uganda. This trip will end with Lake Bunyonyi as a relaxation site.
Safari highlights
Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe airport – Hotel
Day 2: Transfer to Murchison falls national park – Top of the falls visit
Day 3: Game drive and River Nile boat cruise
Day 4: Rhino tracking in Ziwa rhino sanctuary – Transfer to Kibale national park
Day 5: Bigodi swamp visit – Optional Chimpanzee trekking experience ($200 pp)
Day 6: Visit the Sempaya hot springs – Queen Elizabeth national park
Day 7: Lion tracking/game drive – boat cruise in Kazinga channel
Day 8: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi (7-8 hours’ drive)
Day 9: Explore Lake Bunyonyi
Day 10: Drive back to Kampala (8-9 hours’ drive) – Departure
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe airport – Hotel
On arriving at Entebbe International airport, you will meet our company representative who will also be your Uganda wildlife safari guide for the 12 the driver will pick you up and transfer you to Kampala. From the airport, it is about a 1-hour drive to Kampala city. On locating your hotel, proceed to check-in for relaxation, dinner, and overnight stay
- Luxury option – Sheraton Hotel
- Mid-range option – Fairway Hotel and Spa
- Budget option – Forest Cottages
Day 2: Transfer to Murchison falls national park – Top of the falls visit
After your breakfast, transfer to Murchison falls national park. this park is located in the North western part of Uganda taking about 6-7 hours’ drive with en-route lunch. Upon arrival at Murchison falls national park via Kichwabanyobo gate, connect to the top of the falls, the most powerful falls in Africa. After exploring the top of the falls then drive to your lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at;
- Luxury option – Paraa Safari Lodge
- Mid-range option – Twiga Safari lodge
- Budget option – Parkside Safari lodge
Day 3: Game drive and River Nile boat cruise
After breakfast, embark on a game drive at the delta area where you will find most of the animals. Murchison falls National Park is the only park where you will be able to see most of the animals in the park. This will take about 2-3 hours depending on the availability of the animals including Elephants, Rothschild giraffes, Buffaloes, Lions, Hartebeest, Uganda Kobs, Oribis and waterbucks.
Thereafter return to the lodge for lunch and later at 2 pm, you will set off for the boat cruise on the along the Nile which will give you an exciting panoramic view at the bottom of the mighty Murchison falls. Along the Boat cruise, you will encounter crocodiles, hippos, and birds on the river banks like kingfisher, cormorants and bee-eater, drive back to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay as above.
Day 4: Rhino tracking in Ziwa rhino sanctuary – Transfer to Kibale national park
On the 4th day of your 10 Days Uganda wildlife experience, wake up early, have breakfast and transfer to Ziwa rhino sanctuary which is a 2 hours’ drive from Murchison falls park. Connect for your rhino tracking experience for about 2 hours for chances of seeing the rhinos in Uganda. Thereafter, embark on your journey to Kibale national park in the Western part of Uganda. It’s about 4-5 hours’ drive with en-route lunch.
Upon arrival at the park late afternoon, check-in at your lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at;
- Luxury option: Crater Safari Lodge
- Mid-range option: Chimpanzee Guesthouse
- Budget option: Isunga lodge
Day 5: Bigodi swamp visit – Optional Chimpanzee trekking experience ($200 pp)
After early morning breakfast at the lodge, drive to Bigodi wetland for a nature walk experience. The swamp is blessed with other primates like the black and white colobus monkeys, Vervet monkeys to mention a few. Bigodi is also one of the best destinations in bird watching in Africa, enjoy the sounds of birds and spot a variety of birds in this unspoiled nature. This will take about 2 hours’ also visiting the community for a community tour.
Return for lunch at the lodge and spend your afternoon relaxing at the lodge or visit the crater lakes or do chimpanzee trekking. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above.
Day 6: Visit the Sempaya hot springs – Queen Elizabeth national park
After early morning breakfast, check-out of the lodge to connect to Sempaya hot springs in Semiliki national park which is a 2 hours’ drive, these are the most beautiful hot springs in Uganda, visit both the male and female hot springs. Drive to Fort portal town for lunch and the embark on your journey to Queen Elizabeth national park. Upon arrival late afternoon, connect to your lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at
- Budget option: Pumba Safari Cottages
- Mid-range option: Parkview Safari lodge/Elephant Hub Lodge
- Luxury option: Elephant Plains lodge
Day 7: Lion tracking/game drive – boat cruise in Kazinga channel
Wake up early, have your delicious breakfast, meet your guide, and drive to the Kasenyi area where you will hand over to the research team for a lion tracking experience. This experience is only carried out in Queen Elizabeth national park where you are guaranteed to view the lions. You will get an opportunity to come close to a pride of lions. You will also connect to a game drive for chances of finding some of the park’s habitats like the Buffaloes, elephants, waterbuck, Uganda Kob and other types of Antelopes.
Return for lunch at your lodge before you return to the park for a boat cruise that will take you along the Kazinga channel. The lakes have the highest concentration of hippos and other animals drinking at the water’s edge, also good for bird watching. The cruise also offers good platform for photography, bird watching and games. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above
Day 8: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi (7-8 hours’ drive)
After enjoying your breakfast, check-out of the lodge and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi which is the second deepest lake in Africa with over 29 islands on this lake and it is one of the most beautiful and relaxation sites in the southwestern part of Uganda. It is also considered safe to swim since it is Bilharzia free. It takes about 2-3 hours’ drive to Lake Bunyonyi with beautiful sites of the Kigezi hilly region. It’s a 7-8 hours’ drive driving via the Ishasha sector for chances of seeing the tree-climbing lions. Upon arrival in the evening, proceed to check-in your booked accommodation for relaxation, dinner, and overnight stay.
- Luxury option: Bunyonyi BirdNest lodge
- Mid-range option: Bunyinyi Eco-lodge
- Budget option: Bunyonyi Overland resort
Day 9: Explore Lake Bunyonyi
On the 9th day of your 10 Days Uganda wildlife experience, after breakfast, take a boat trip on the lake to explore some of the islands on the lake. Lake Bunyonyi means “place of little birds” and the lake is made of steep hills covered with lush green vegetation showing from the water edges. You will connect for a canoe ride to visit some of the islands on the lake and also sight different bird species. Dinner and overnight stay
- Luxury lodge option: Bunyonyi Birdnest lodge
- Mid-range lodge option: Bunyonyi Eco-Resort/Bunyonyi Rock Resort
- Budget lodge option: Bunyonyi Overland Resort
Day 10: Drive back to Kampala (8-9 hours’ drive) – Departure
On this day as you end your Uganda safari, have your breakfast and transfer back to Kampala/Entebbe depending on your travel arrangements. It is a 8-9 hours’ drive back to Entebbe with en-route stop for lunch and at the Uganda Equator. Your Uganda safari guide will drop you off at a location you advise or drop you off at Entebbe international airport for your onward flight back home. End of Safari
