11 days Uganda Wildlife, Primates and Lake Bunyonyi

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe International Airport and transfer to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

Your driver/guide will meet you at the airport, welcome you, and transfer you to the hotel for lunch and a briefing of the tour, thereafter, you will set off to Nakasongola where you will have your night as you prepare for the rhino tracking adventure the next day. You will spend your night at Amuka Lodge which is close to the sanctuary. Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is the only place in Uganda where you can see rhinos in the wild.

Day 2: Rhino tracking and transfer to Murchison Falls Murchison Falls

Breakfast at the lodge, and head out for rhino tracking. As these will be morning hours, you might encounter the rhinos feeding, with their young ones, with a unique opportunity to get up close. You have a chance to also see other wildlife in this place such as antelopes, warthogs, and monkeys among other things.

Drive to Murchison Falls National Park with lunch in Masindi and a visit to the top of the Falls to view the Nile River from above, a wondrous creation that you would love to watch all day. It thrills with thunderous sounds and showers from the falls. From here, you will proceed to your lodge, have dinner and rest.

Day 3: Game drive and boat cruise in Murchison Falls National Park

The early morning will start with breakfast just before you start the game drive. Your driver/guide will lead you through the plains in your safari vehicle to see the different animals such as elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, Jackson’s hartebeest, and hippos. Lions and leopards can be spotted as they get relax after hunting early morning.

After lunch, you will go for a boat cruise along the Nile River to the bottom of Murchison Falls for spectacular views of the waterfalls. Along the way, you have chances to see crocodiles, hippos and several bird species such as malachite kingfisher, egrets and grey heron.

Day 4: Transfer to Kibale National Park

After breakfast, you will depart for Kibale National Park, which is best known for its primates and chimpanzee tracking. The road transfer takes you through the stunning landscapes of Hoima where you will also enjoy views of the rift valley. Enroute lunch, and on arrival at the lodge, you will check in, freshen up, have dinner and rest.

Day 5: Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale National Park and optional community or swamp walk

Between the two sessions – morning and afternoon, for chimp tracking in Kibale, we choose for you to go for the morning session. This is because it is usually easier to spot the primates. So, you will go for the briefing and enter the forest where you will get a chance to see these incredible animals. While on the guided trek, you may also see other primates like baboons, L’hoest’s monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, and red colobus monkeys.

In the afternoon, you may take a guided village tour around the nearby Bigodi community or go for a nature walk around Bigodi Swamp.

Day 6: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After breakfast, you will check out of your lodge in Kibale and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park which is popular because it is home to half of the world’s population of mountain gorillas. The journey takes you through scenic landscape of the western part of Uganda.

On departure, you may visit some craters near Kibale National Park, and proceed while making stops along the way for photography. You will arrive at the lodge in the late afternoon or evening, check in, have dinner and the overnight stay.

Day 7: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

One of the highlights of your safari is gorilla trekking and this is the day you will go to the forest for the adventure. It starts with an early morning breakfast, and you will also go with your packed lunch. Before the adventure starts, you will have a briefing at the park headquarters. Set off for the trek and start searching for the gorillas. Hike through the dense forest and once you find the gorillas, you will be allowed to stay with them for one hour – watching them play, take care of the little ones, chill, and feed.

In the evening, you may go for a cultural experience in the Batwa community.

Day 8: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi, canoe ride

You will be transferred to Lake Bunyonyi on this day, where you will arrive and go for a canoe ride. Lake Bunyonyi is the second deepest lake in Africa and one of the most beautiful lakes in Uganda. Enjoy the stunning views of the terraced farms and the Virunga volcanoes far ahead as you sail on the lake

In the evening, you can explore more of the area by taking a guided nature walk or simply relaxing by the lake.

Day 9: Transfer to Kampala

Depart to Kampala, with a stopover in Kayabwe for the equator experience. You will have photography moments of pausing at the equator monument and also go for the water experience. Proceed to Kampala where you will have your overnight.    

Day 10: Transfer to Mabamba Swamp

You will be driven to Mabamba just after your breakfast at the hotel. Meet your site guide and expert sailor here, get on the canoe, and go searching for the shoebill stork. Mabamba Swamp is a reliable place to see the rare and endangered shoebill storks. When you spot the stork, you will get up close for photos. You may see other species of birds, and later return to the mainland. Return to the hotel and rest.

Day 11: City tour and transfer to Entebbe for departure

Just before you end your 11 Days Uganda safari, you will have a short city tour in Kampala visiting the Independence Monument, Gadaffi mosque, and the Uganda Martyrs Shrine Namugongo. You will later have lunch and be dropped at the equator for your evening flight back home.

End of safari