5 Days Uganda Safari−DETAILED SAFARI ITINERARY

Day 1 Of The 5 Days Uganda Safari: Transfer To Kibale National Park.  Visit The Amabere Caves & Hike The Fort Portal Crater Field.

At around 7.00am, after breakfast at your hotel in Kampala, we will embark on a 300km (5-6 hours) drive to Fort Portal. You will enjoy the magical views of the lush green country side and impressive physical landscape including the views of Lake Wamala at a distance, close looks of Mubende Inselbergs, the swamps of Kyegegwa and Kyenjojo before arriving in Fort Portal.

You settle in Fort Portal town for lunch after which you connect to the Amabere (breast) caves for a heritage encounter. You explore into the beliefs of the local people that date back to the prehistoric era. The breast-like features are believed to be breasts of Nyinamwiru the mother of Ndahura the famous Muchwezi ruler who expanded the Chwezi Empire across the interlacustrine region.

From the caves, you hike the Fort Portal Crater lake field to explore the effects of explosive volcanicity in the area. The area is marked by a range of crater hollows and some of them have been filled with water to form crater lakes. The hike to the summit of Kyeganywa hill offers panoramic views of the area and the distant Rwenzori Mountains. Retreat from the activity and connect to Kibale National Park for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation:-

Luxury/Upmarket: – Crater Safari Lodge/Primate Lodge Kibale/ Kyaninga Lodge

Mid-range/Moderate: – Kibale Guest Cottages/ Isunga Lodge Kibale/Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse

Budget/Basic: – Kibale Forest Camp/ Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse

Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Drive distance & time: – Approx. 300km or 5 hours

Activities & Services of the day:-

• Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
• Visit Amabere Caves
• Fort Portal crater lake field hike

Optional activities you can do on this day:-

• Nocturnal walk in Kibale National Park which enables you encounter some of the nocturnal creatures such as Bush babies, Potto, Tree hyrax and night jars.
• Visit the Amabere caves in Fortportal
• Cycling in Mpanga tea estate

 

Day 2 Of The 5 Days Uganda Safari: Do Chimpanzee Trekking In The Morning & Bigodi Swamp Walk.

Shortly after a hearty breakfast at around 6.30am, you will connect to Kanyanchu Visitor Center where you will meet the excellent local ranger guide who will lead you into the magnificent rainforest of Kibale on your unforgettable Chimpanzee tracking experience which starts at 8am. In fact, beforehand you will be given an informative talk on tracking etiquette after which you will embark on a trek in search of our closest known relatives on foot. Kibale supports 13 species of primate including a strong population of 1500 Chimpanzees, the rare L’Hoest’s monkeys, the acrobatic Black-and-white colobus, Grey-cheeked mangabeys, Blue monkeys, Olive baboons, red-tailed monkeys, and Uganda red colobus which may be encountered during your chimp trek.

The chimpanzee trekking experience takes 2-3 hours involving hikes through challenging forest landscapes covered by mature trees and verdant flora (371 tree species). The forest also hosts a myriad of bird Species counting to 375 species such as Green-breasted Pitta, African pitta, Africa grey parrot, Afep pigeon, Crowned eagle, Black-bee-eater, Western nictor, Brown illadopsis, Cassin’s spinetail, Dusky crimsonwing, Ruwenzori apalis, White-naped pigeon, Nahan’s francolin, Little greenbul, Purple-breasted sunbird, and Blue-breasted kingfisher, to name a few.

Once the chimpanzees are located, you have one hour with these intelligent apes. You will watch them go about their daily routine in peace. In most instances chimpanzee troops are likely to be playing, patrolling their territory, grooming, resting, casually eating, or absorbed in some other primal social activity. You are free to take photos but keep the flash off. Retreat from the activity and connect to Bigodi wetland sanctuary for an afternoon wetland walk. The Sanctuary is an eco-tourism site and so far the best in Uganda with over 200 bird species among which include the Great Blue Turaco. It is also a habitat to the swamp dwelling Sitatunga antelope and several primates. Settle for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Highlight of the day: – Tracking wild chimpanzees on foot in Kibale National Park.   

Accommodation:-

Luxury/Upmarket: – Crater Safari Lodge/Primate Lodge Kibale/ Kyaninga Lodge

Mid-range/Moderate: – Kibale Guest Cottages/ Isunga Lodge Kibale/Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse

Budget/Basic: – Kibale Forest Camp/ Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse

Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Activities & Services of the day:-

• Chimpanzee tracking
• Bigodi swamp walk

Optional activities you can do on this day:-

• Nocturnal walk in Kibale National Park
• Bigodi community tour

 

Day 3 Of The 5 Days Uganda Safari: Transfer To Queen Elizabeth National Park, Do Game Drive, Afternoon Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise & Evening Game Drive.

After a steaming cup of Ugandan tea or coffee at around 6.00am, you will be transferred to the Queen Elizabeth National Park and this time superb game drives and a wonderful boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel are on the agenda. During this 157km (3 – 4 hours) drive to Queen, you will enjoy the impressive views of the snowcapped Rwenzori Mountains, Africa’s highest Moutain range which rises to 5,109m above the sea level.

Upon arrival, we will embark on the drive through the spectacular landscapes of Queen Elizabeth National Park to search for exciting or interesting wildlife such as Lions, Leopards, Elephants Buffaloes, Spotted hyenas; Side stripped jackals, and Waterbucks, Uganda Kobs plus much more as the checklist of mammal reach 96 species. You will also encounter many of the 600 plus bird species in this park including flamingos, African skimmer, Ayres’s hawk eagle, Rüppell’s Vulture, Bateleur, African hobby, Black-rumped buttonquail, Broad-billed roller, Caspian plover, Collared pratincole, Common sand martin, Crab-plover, Palm-nut vulture, Pel’s fishing-owl, Pink-backed pelican, Red-chested sunbird, and Western banded snake eagle.

After game drive, you will settle at your lodge for lunch and in the afternoon, you gather at the Mweya jetty for an afternoon boat cruise encounter departing at 2pm to explore the 45km long Kazinga Channel on a very relaxing boat trip as you cruise just metres from hundreds of hippos, crocodiles and African Buffalo, while African Elephants linger on the shoreline, along with waterbirds such as Saddle bellied stork, Pink-backed pelicans, Yellow-billed stork, White-billed stork, African Spoonbill, African fish eagle, Marabou stork, African jacana, Weaver birds, and  White-faced Whistling duck, to name a few.

The boat activity lasts 2 hours and you do an evening game drive along the channel track for more game viewing as you connect to the lodge for relaxation dinner an overnight.

Highlight of the day: – A stunning boat cruise on Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth Park.

 

Accommodation:-

Luxury/Upmarket: – Mazike Valley Lodge/Mweya Safari Lodge/Katara Lodge

Mid-range/Moderate: – Enganzi Game Lodge/ Kasenyi Safari Camp/ Bush Lodge

Budget/Basic: – Pumba Safari Cottages/ Park View Safari Lodge

 

Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Drive distance & time: – Approx. 157km or 3-4 hours

 

Activities & Services of the day:-

• Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
• Morning game drive
• Afternoon Kazinga Channel boat cruise
• Evening game drive

Optional activities you can do on this day:-

• Lion tracking
• Birding
• Night game drive

 

Day 4 Of The 5 Days Uganda Safari: Do Game Drive In Ishasha Sector In Search Of Tree Climbing Lions.

After leisurely breakfast at 7.30am, we transfer to Ishasha sector 75km from the north of Queen Elizabeth Park driving along the impressive savannah protected landscapes. Upon arrival in the south of Queen Elizabeth National Park, you embark on the game drive in search of the legendary tree climbing lions that tend to rest on fig tree branches in day time. The sector also support other wild game including water bucks, kobs, Buffaloes and elephants after which you drive back to the north and retire for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Highlight of the day: – Encountering the tree-climbing lion in magnificent fig trees of Ishasha Sector in Queen Elizabeth Park.

Accommodation:-

Luxury/Upmarket: – Mazike Valley Lodge/Mweya Safari Lodge/Katara Lodge

Mid-range/Moderate: – Enganzi Game Lodge/Kasenyi Safari Camp/Bush Lodge

Budget/Basic: – Pumba Safari Cottages/Park View Safari Lodge

 

Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

 

Activities & Services of the day:-

• Game drive in Ishasha sector

Optional activities you can choose to do on this day:-

• Lion tracking
• Birding
• Night game drive

 

Day 5 Of The 5 Days Uganda Safari: Do Chimpanzee Tracking In Kyambura Gorge And Transfer To Kampala.

After breakfast at 7.00am, embark on the chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura gorge where you slope down a forested gorge of 100m deep with sights of magical lush mature tropical forest thriving below sea level supporting counts of chimpanzees. Hiking the gorge’s steep slopes in search of chimpanzee is a challenging task that the whole encounter to go beyond the chimps. You hear chimpanzees long before you ever see them. Their screams and “pant hoots” carry to you, quickening the pulse, for you realize there is no comforting safety provided by a vehicle. This is real – you are on foot in the midst of a family of powerful wild animals that, in flashes, are disconcertingly human-like.

You are the outsider here, in the chimps’ home at their pleasure. This moment is one very few get to experience and Kyambura is one of a handful of places where you can do so. Kyambura gorges also harbours other primes including black-and-white colobus, vervet monkey, red-tailed monkey and olive baboons. For bird lovers Great blue turaco and Black-and-white casqued hornbill are also very vocal and the forested rim is one of best places in Uganda to look for Black bee-eater and Blue-bellied kingfisher.

Retreat from the encounter which tend to take 2-5 hours and then embark on the transfer to Kampala 417km about 7 hours’ drive making a stop at Uganda Equator crossing Kayabwe en route.

Highlight of the day: – Chimpanzee tracking in Queen Elizabeth National Park’s Kyambura gorge.

 

Meal Plan: – Breakfast & Lunch

Drive distance & time: – Approx. 417km or 7 hours

 

Activities & Services of the day:-

• Chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura gorge
• Transfer to Kampala

End of the 5 Days Uganda Safari

5 Days Uganda Safari: – SAFARI INCLUSIONS

  Full time English professional safari driver guide

  4×4 safari van/ 4×4 Safari land cruiser with poop up roof for game viewing with functional A/C

  Full board accommodation

  Chimpanzee trekking permit fees

  Boat cruise fees

  Wi-Fi Internet on board the safari vehicle

  Bottled water

5 Days Uganda Safari: – SAFARI EXCLUSIONS

  International &domestic flight fees

  Visa fees

  Laundry services

  Items of personal nature

  Gratuities and tips

  Other beverages/ drinks

  Other extras not mentioned in the itinerary above

Getting There for your 5 Days Uganda Safari, Chimpanzee Tracking & Wildlife Tour in Queen Elizabeth & Kibale National Park.

Transport Means to Your 5 Days Uganda Safari, Chimpanzee Tracking & Wildlife Tour in Queen Elizabeth & Kibale National Park

Accommodations/ Safari Lodges/ Safari Hotels to Your Safari Destinations