Our 9 days Uganda wildlife safari is 8 nights 9 days wildlife safari in Uganda with Gorilla trekking, Chimpanzee tracking, and wildlife viewing trip. This 9 days Uganda wildlife safari includes a visit to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to track wild White Rhino on foot. Next, we move to Murchison Falls National Park for a wild game drive adventure in search of Lions, Leopards, Rothschild’s giraffes, Buffalos, and Elephants plus much more as the checklist of mammals reach 76 species. After the game drive, embark on a stunning boat cruise along the Nile, the longest river in the world, to the bottom of the powerful Murchison Falls where the 50m wide Nile River is funneled through a 7m-wide gap in the rift valley escarpment before dropping down 45 meters and then continues its epic 6,650km journey through the deserts of Sudan and Egypt to the Mediterranean Sea.
We will proceed to Queen Elizabeth National Park, a park of diverse habitats which hosts over 610 bird species and 96 mammal species including tree-climbing and savannah Lions, Leopards, Elephants, Buffalos, Chimpanzees, and Crocodiles for Chimpanzee tracking in the 100m-deep Kyambura gorge, game drives in the rolling savannah plains and an amazing boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel for the chance to view some of the highest hippo concentration in the world.
From Queen, we drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park which is undoubtedly the most iconic park in Uganda. Here will undertake a thrilling face-to-face encounter with gentle giants of the forest, the Mountain gorillas. You will witness the spectacular wildlife diversity here as this forest park is home to 120 mammal species including nearly 50% of the world’s Mountain gorillas. With the entire wildlife sighting done, go relax at the magical Lake Bunyonyi and then transfer back to Kampala.
Please contact us for a memorable value for money wildlife safari tailored to your interests and budget.
A face-to-face encounter with the gentle giants of the forest, Mountain gorillas
Track a troop of wild Chimpanzees on foot in 100m-deep gorge
Track wild Rhinos Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary on foot.
Game drives in Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth National Parks
Discover the legendary tree-climbing lions of Ishasha
Boat cruises on the Kazinga Chanel and the Nile River
Game walking safari in Lake Mburo National Park
A relaxing boat trip on magical Lake Bunyonyi
Day 1: Transfer to the hotel
Day 2 & 3: Murchison Falls National Park
Day 4: Fort Portal Area
Day 5: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 6: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 7: Lake Bunyonyi
Day 8: Kampala
Day 9: Departure
Day 1: Arrive in Uganda at Entebbe International Airport and transfer to the hotel
Day 2: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park. Visit the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary enroute & hike to the top of the Murchison Falls on arrival
Day 3: Do morning game drive and an afternoon boat cruise along the River Nile
Day 4: Transfer to Fort Portal in the shadows of the legendary Rwenzori Mountains
Day 5: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park, do a game drive & an afternoon boat cruise along the long Kazinga Channel
Day 6: Chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura gorge & transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Park
Day 7: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
Day 8: Do a sunrise boat cruise and transfer to Kampala
Day 9: Departure
This 9 Days Uganda tour kicks off the moment you touch down at the Entebbe International Airport which is located on the shores of Lake Victoria, the world’s largest fresh tropical fresh water lake. Our company representative will be at the airport to welcome you, brief you about Uganda and the safari in particular before transferring to a hotel in Kampala, the capital of Uganda for relaxation dinner, and overnight.
Highlight of the day: – Touching down in the Pearl of Africa at Entebbe international airport with the breathtaking waters of Lake Victoria.
Accommodation:-
Upmarket/Luxury: – Speke Resort Munyonyo/Kampala Serena Hotel/ Sheraton Kampala Hotel
Midrange/Standard: – Cassia Lodge
Budget/Basic: – Biyem Hotel/ Nexus Resorts Nansana
Meal Plan: – Dinner
Drive distance & time: – Approx. 40km or 1-1.5 hours
Optional activities you can choose to do on this day include:-
We will have an early quick breakfast (at around 6.00 am) at our hotel in Kampala and embark on a 311km (5 hours) drive to Murchison Falls National Park in the northwest of Uganda. On the way, we will visit Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary where we will track the Southern white rhinos on foot. Ziwa is the only place in Uganda to see wild rhinos and there are 22 Rhinos roaming its savannah and wetland..
You may have your lunch in Masindi town then Proceed to Murchison Falls National Park for relaxation, dinner and overnight. Covering an area of 3,840 km2, Murchison Falls National Park is largest national park in Uganda. The park harbours almost all major African animals including lions, leopards, elephants, buffalos, hippos, and Nile crocodiles plus much more as the mammal checklist reach 76 species. There is also over 451 bird species including the shoebills, the most sought-after of all African birds.
But it is the River Nile (the longest river in the world) – dividing the park into northern and southern halves – that gives rise to the park’s greatest draw card, the Murchison Falls. Here at Murchison Falls, you can hear, see, and feel the power of Nature as the historic River Nile (about 50 meters wide); is squeezed into a 7 meters wide cleft in the rift valley escarpment before dropping down 45 meters and then continues its epic 6,650km journey through the deserts of Sudan and Egypt to the Mediterranean Sea.
Highlight of the day: – Tracking wild white rhino on foot in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.
Accommodation:-
Upmarket/Luxury: – Paraa Safari Lodge/Bakers Lodge
Moderate/Mid-range:- Murchison River Lodge/Pakuba Safari Lodge
Basic/Budget: Hornbill Bush Lodge/Red Chilli Rest Camp
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Drive distance & time: – Approx. 375km or 7-8 hours
Activities & Services of the day:-
Other optional activities you can choose to do on this day include:-
We will start with an early morning breakfast at around 6.30am and then set off on our first real game drive of the safari in the Northern sector of Murchison Falls National Park. We will enjoy game viewing in open animal filled savannah plains of this sector and photography of giraffes, elephants, buffalos, waterbucks, oribis, hartebeest, kobs, if you are lucky lions and leopards plus a variety of bird species.
Retreat from the activity and return to the lodge for relaxation and lunch after which you gather at Paraa jetty for afternoon 3-hour boat cruise to the bottom of the falls. Starting from Paraa, the boat cruises slowly along the Nile River, fringed by borassus palms, acacia woodland and mahogany stands before finally docking in a small bay a few hundred meters away from the roaring falls. Game viewing is excellent along the way. Expect to see hippos in their hundreds, along with some of Africa’s largest surviving crocodiles, herds of buffalos, giraffe, waterbucks, kobs and elephants playing in water a few meters from the launch.
Birdlife is reliably stunning; African fish eagles, Goliath heron, saddle-bellied stork, African jacana, pied and malachite kingfishers, African skimmer, Piapiac and the top avian prize is of course the shoebill. Upon arriving on the bottom of the falls, you will embark on the hike to the top of the falls. The hike is a strenuous one but the thrill on reaching at top of this world’s most powerful waterfall is unforgettable. Miss it only if you must! Retreat from the activity and connect to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Highlight of the day: – A stunning boat cruise along the Nile River to the bottom of the Murchison Falls.
Accommodation:-
Upmarket/Luxury: – Paraa Safari Lodge/Bakers Lodge
Moderate/Mid-range:- Murchison River Lodge/Pakuba Safari Lodge
Basic/Budget: Hornbill Bush Lodge/Red Chilli Rest Camp
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activities & Services of the day:-
Other optional activities you can choose to do on this day include:-
At around 7.00am after your breakfast, we will embark on the transfer from Murchison Falls National Park via the Albertine Escarpment of the great Western Rift Valley heading southwest to Fort Portal Area 441km about 9 hours’ drive. We will drive through impressive countryside landscapes with rural settlements and village towns en route.
A lunch stop is made in Hoima which is undergoing rapid growth due to oil discovery in the Albertine graben. Then we proceed to arrive in Fort Portal for relaxation, dinner and overnight. Fort Portal, the seat of the ancient Kingdom of Toro is one of the most attractive towns in Uganda, situated amid lush rolling hillsides, swathed in neat tea plantations in the shadow of the legendary ‘Mountains of the Moon’ (The Rwenzoris- Africa’s tallest mountain range). Fortportal area has a strong association with legendary Bachwezi Empire. It is said that Ndahura the first Bachwezi King retired from his capital in Mubende after he abdicated in favour of son Wamala, and many crater lakes in the vicinity were his creation.
Highlight of the day: – A very scenic drive through impressive countryside landscapes with rural settlements and village towns en route.
Accommodation:-
Upmarket/Luxury: – Kyaninga Lodge
Midrange/Standard: – Mountains of the Moon Hotel
Budget / Basic: – Rwenzori View Guesthouse
Meal Plan: – Dinner
Drive distance & time: – Approx. 441km or 9 hours
Optional activities you can do in Fort Portal on this day:-
This day of our tour of Uganda starts with an early morning breakfast at 7.00am. We then embark on a 135km (2-3 hours) drive to the scenic Queen Elizabeth National Park, one of the most biologically diverse national parks in world. The park is has an incredible checklist of 600 bird species and 96 mammal species including the uncommon tree-climbing lions, savannah lions, leopards, elephants, buffalos, hippos, crocodiles, chimpanzees, monkeys plus much more.
Here will undertake an exciting game drive in the rolling savanna plains of Kasenyi sector, an important breeding ground of Uganda kobs, hosts numerous buffalos, elephants, and three lion prides. Besides mammals, the sector hosts an interesting selection of grassland bird species including the elegant Grey-crowned crane (Uganda national bird), Red-throated spurfowl, Yellow throated longclaw, Long-crested eagle, Black-bellied bustard, and Sitting cisticola.
After game drive, we will connect to the lodge for lunch, after which you enjoy the two hours launch cruise on the impressively scenic Kazinga Channel. This stunning boat cruise will give us a chance to cruise just meters from hundred hippos, buffalos, elephants, crocodiles, waterbucks, along with special waterbirds such as Saddle bellied stork, Pink-backed pelicans, Black-headed gonolek, plovers, Yellow-billed stork, White-billed stork, African Spoonbill, African fish eagle, Marabou stork, African jacana, White-faced Whistling ducks, and Knob-billed Ducks. It is remarkable experience being so close to all these fantastic creatures from the comfort of the boat, with the stunning park all around us adding to the memories we will have of this cruise. From the boat, do another game drive along the channel track in search of more game as head back to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Highlight of the day: – The afternoon launch cruise along the Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Accommodation:-
Upmarket/Luxury: – Mazike Valley Lodge/Mweya Safari Lodge/Katara Lodge
Midrange/Standard: – Enganzi Game Lodge/Kasenyi Safari Camp/Bush Lodge
Budget/Basic: – Park View Safari Lodge/Pumba Safari Cottages
Meal Plan: – Dinner
Drive distance & time: – Approx. 135km or 2-3 hours
Optional activities you can do on this day include:-
At around 7.30am, after an early morning cup of tea, we will travel to the 100m-deep Kyambura Gorge for forest walk in search of our closest relative, the habituated Chimpanzees which shares 98.8% of our DNA. The confined nature of this forested gorge makes it easy to locate chimpanzees by sound, one you have encountered them, and they can be approached quite closely.
During your chimpanzee tracking tour in Kyambura Gorge, you will also see a variety of monkeys including Black-and-white colobus monkeys, Red-tailed monkeys, and Olive baboons. Less visible inhabitants of the gorge include Giant forest hogs and bushbucks. The Kyambura River in the gorge hosts pods of hippos which sometimes respond to chimpanzee panthoot calls with some loud harrumphing of their own. You will also spot a variety of colourful birds such as the Great blue turacos, the noisy Black-and-white casqued hornbills, Black bee-eater, and blue kingfishers.
After this chimp trek, you will embark on the journey to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Ishasha sectors of the Park where you can luckily spot tree-climbing lions in the fig trees that are adjacent to the road. You arrive in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Highlight of the day: – Chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Accommodation:-
Upmarket/Luxury: – Gorilla Forest Camp/Mahogany Springs/Chameleon Hill Lodge
Midrange/Standard: – Gorilla Valley Lodge/Haven Lodge Buhoma/Silverback Lodge
Budget/Basic: – Buhoma Community Rest Camp/Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge
Day 7 of our 9 Days Uganda safari is dedicated to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park− a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994. As part of East Africa’s Albertine Rift and with altitudes ranging from 1,160 to 2,607 meters, Bwindi’s ancient rainforests have some of the highest levels of biodiversity in Africa, including 120 mammal species, 200 butterfly species, 27 species of frogs, 351 bird species, 1000 flowering plant species and 324 documented species of trees. Of course most famously, Bwindi is where almost half of the world’s Moutain gorillas live, about 459 individuals at last count with 20 fully habituated gorilla families available for trekking.
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi starts with a briefing from an expert local at the respective park headquarters. At 8am we will embark on an unforgettable trek through the jungle alongside a park ranger to search for these great mountain apes. The trek can vary in length and difficulty depending on the location of the gorillas.
However, the bit of exercise will be very well rewarded by meeting these rare gentle mysterious primates that shares more than 97 percent of our DNA. A massive male silverback gorilla reaches out to greet a passing ranger guide he recognizes. Or he stops whatever he is doing—playing with a youngster, munching a celery stalk—to look thoughtfully into a visitor’s eyes as if trying to understand him, and the visitor returns the gaze, with feelings described variously as awe, mutual curiosity and an almost mystical sense of connection between two beings that have traveled long, related and finally divergent evolutionary paths. Right After tracking connect to the starting point and embark on the scenic journey to Lake Bunyonyi through the beautiful terrain of the rolling hills with terraced landscape. You will dine and have your overnight at any of these lodges.
Highlight of the day: – The unforgettable gorilla trekking encounter in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.
Accommodation:-
Luxury/ Upmarket: – Birdnest @Bunyonyi Resort
Mid-range/ Moderate: – Lake Bunyonyi Rock Resort/Lake Bunyonyi Eco Resort
Budget/ Basic: – Lake Bunyonyi Rock Resort
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Drive distance & time: – Approx. 55-85 km or 1-3 hours
Activities & Services of the day:-
After breakfast, embark on the sunrise boat cruise on Lake Bunyonyi exploring the impressive scenic views of the Lake marked with 29 Islands surrounded by magical Kigezi Highlands dubbed the Switzerland of Africa. The calm waters of Lake Bunyonyi allow you to rub shoulders with the local people as they paddle their canoes connecting to and from the Islands and also doing some fishing.
Retreat from the 2-hour activity and embark on the transfer to Kampala 437km about 7 hours’ drive driving through impressive countryside landscapes of south western Uganda making a traditional lunch stop at Igongo Cultural Center for typical African buffet and another stop at Uganda Equator crossing Kayabwe for amazing photo shoots where one leg would be in the southern hemisphere and the other in the northern hemisphere. Continue to arrive in Kampala in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Highlight of the day:-The sunrise on the magical Lake Bunyonyi.
Accommodation:-
Upmarket/Luxury: – Protea Hotel Entebbe/Serena Lake Victoria Resort
Midrange/Standard: – Boma Hotel Entebbe/2 Friends Beach Hotel Entebbe/ Lake Heights Hotel Entebbe
Budget/Basic: – Airport Guesthouse Entebbe/Acacia Boutique Hotel
Day 9 Days Uganda Tour: Departure.
Here, you will be transferred to Entebbe International Airport to catch up with your flight back home.
End of the 9 Days Uganda Wildlife Safari
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
Gorilla & chimpanzee trekking permit fees
Boat cruise fees
Wi-Fi Internet on board the safari vehicle
Bottled water
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
Cate
Samuel
Robert
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