10 Days Uganda Safaris through Kibale forest, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi and Lake Mburo Nationa parks.
This is a 10 days best of Uganda safari starting and ending in Uganda’s capital Kampala. The safari takes you to Uganda’s hot tourism destinations which will offer you the opportunity to have a highlight of what Uganda offers. You will have a visit to Uganda’s forest parks as well as a savanna national park. This will enable you have a comparison between the different features in both protected areas. The safari will take you to Fortportal-a town in western Uganda overlooking the mountains of the moon. Your tour through Kibaale Forest National park probably the protected area with the highest density of primates on the African continent gives you the chance to track chimpanzees-the closest ancestors of man.
From Queen Elizabeth National park you will be able to discover the treasures of this IUCN protected area probably conserving the highest biome in the world. The park is blessed with the big four while the Kazinga channel poses the highest concentration of hippos on the African continent. The park’s richness in ornithology is quite interesting with its diverse habitats attracting over 606 bird species including migratory birds. Camping in the Ishasha region is filled with the mystery of seeing the tree climbing lions that cling on the old fig trees.
The climax of the safari will be tracking the endangered mountain gorillas that live in the montane forests of Bwindi Impenetrable forest. This forest national park habituates half of all the remaining mountain gorillas in the world. Looking in the deep blue eyes of these giants is quite a memorable adventure that you will only receive in Uganda’s Bwindi or Mgahinga forest!
From Bwindi the safari will pass you through the Switzerland of Africa from where you will discover the second deepest lake in Africa. This lava dammed lake called lake Bunyonyi is a unique place to stay, and relax as you listen to the choruses of the singing birds. Real exposure to Nature! The history of the islands on this lake is interesting and your relaxation will give you the opportunity to refresh your mind ahead of your return to Kampala.
Day 1: Kampala - Fortportal
Our Uganda Safari guide will pick you from your hotel and start for Kibale Forest national park renowned for the greatest variety and the highest concentration of primates in Africa. Have a stopover at Mubende for a visit to the Nakayima witch tree- the 400 years tree on top of Mubende hill allegedly planted by Ndahura the first Muchwezi king. The tree is said to posses the spirit of Ndahura. You will later take lunch from Mubende before proceeding to Fortportal-a beautiful town overlooking the mountains of the moon-Rwenzori mountain.
Day 2 Kibale Forest NP
After breakfast, proceed to the visitor’s centre where the rangers will brief you before escorting you in different groups of maximum 6 persons for chimpanzee tracking. While having your guided nature walk the logistic team will clear the camp. A picnic lunch is foreseen at Kanyanchu before going for another bird walk through the Bigodi wetland sanctuary where you will see a range of wetland and forest birds. During the walk you may also see various primate species such as the white colobus monkey, the blue monkey, among others. Alternatively we can visit the Crater Lake region to see the different crater lakes. Kabarole district alone has over 60 crater lakes in this region. Return to the camp for dinner and Overnight.
Day 3 Kibale - Queen Elizabeth NP
After breakfast, we shall drive westwards heading to Mweya located to the northern sector of Queen Elizabeth. After leaving Fort Portal you will pass by the Rwenzori Mountains described by Ptolemy as the mythical mountains of the Moon. On our way to Mweya you will pass Kasese town and you will have a stopover at the equator for some photography at this memorable site. Driving along the channel track you will most probably see warthog, bushbucks, waterbucks, and elephants. Spotted hyenas and leopards are always seen during the morning hours. We shall drive across the Mbarara-Kasese-Fort Portal road and to Kasenyi an area near Lake Victoria which is an interesting game viewing area. Drive to Mweya for lunch and in the afternoon you will take the launch trip on the Kazinga channel probably the place with the highest hippo concentration in Africa. The launch trip takes 2 hours. After the launch trip we visit Mweya Safari Lodge and enjoy the splendid views of the channel. Return to the campsite where we shall have dinner around the campfire. An overnight as we experience the nature sounds coming from the channel as well as from animals such as hippos, comical warthogs, hyenas, and sometimes lions.
Day 4 Queen Elizabeth NP
Start your second day of Queen Elizabeth by exploring the northern sector of the park. After an early morning breakfast we take another game drive through the park. After the game drive we shall take a drive to Maramagambo Forest which lies on the southern part of Queen Elizabeth for exploration of its features. Relax as you wait for lunch. After having lunch take a guided nature walk into the forest. On the trail you will see the Bat caves where rock pythons and Fruit bat caves colonized, as well as the Blue Lake that’s rather turning into the Brown Lake. The tales of the guide about the medicinal trees and what they cure is part of the memorable experience you will get from the forest. Return to Mweya with an evening game viewing where you will see a lot of antelopes as they sum up their day.
Day 5 Kyambura Gorge (QENP)
After an early breakfast, drive to the Kyambura Wildlife Reserve for chimpanzee tracking with in the nearby gorge. This one hour drive from Mweya will take you through the beautiful savanna vegetation and good scenic areas. After a wonderful guided nature walk through the gorge we shall transfer to the Ishasha sector renowned for the tree climbing lions. Ishasha is about 3 hours away from Kyambura and during the transfer always keep an eye for the wild game you will come across the way. Camp on the banks of the Ishasha river that attract many hippos. Relax and enjoy your night filled with cries of black and white colobus monkeys, baboons, hippos, roaring ions and hyenas.
Day 6 Ishasha Region (QENP)
Adventure through the Ishasha Wilderness region. Located on the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth, Ishasha is considered by many tourists as one of the most alluring game viewing area of East Africa. Look for elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, and topis. The climax of the safari will be the hunt for the tree climbing lions are always cited on the northern circuit resting on the old fig trees. Return to the camp for a lunch. Relax as you wait for another game drive where you will see the wild game of the savanna dominated park of Queen Elizabeth. Return to the Ishasha camp as we sit around the campfire and enjoy the nature sounds of the woods.
Day 7 Ishasha - Bwindi Impenetrable NP
After the morning game drive (still in the hunt for lions) return to the camp will get prepared to be transferred to Bwindi a journey that can take a maximum of 2 hours. Have a convenient stop over at Kihihi for refueling and some shopping at the local stores. Reaching Buhoma in the afternoon have lunch and later take a community walk to the local villages where you will have an experience of the lifestyles of the local people. Return to the campsite for dinner and overnight.
Day 8 Bwindi Impenetrable NP
You shall have an early breakfast before proceeding to the Visitor center for a short briefing on Gorilla Tracking. Gorilla trekking is unpredictable. It's difficult to foresee how many hours you will hike in the steep sided montane forest looking for the elusive world giants. Once you are back from gorilla tracking expedition before 5 pm, you will be entertained by the orphans of the Buhoma village. Participate in the traditional Bakiga dances. Alternatively you can take a guided nature walk from where you have the chance to have a glance on a number of birds including the Albertine Rift endemics.
Day 9 Bwindi - Lake Bunyonyi
After breakfast, depart for Lake Bunyonyi (the lake of birds according to the local language). The scenic journey is interesting as you it is filled with seeing the terraced Kigezi mountains ranges. On the way you will have a picnic at an altitude above 2200m in the mountain tops. Reaching the lake shores by afternoon, relax at the moments on the shores of Africa’s second deepest lake formed as a result of lava damming. The waters of Lake Bunyonyi are bilharzia-free there fore there is no worry to swim in this lake. We shall have a boat ride to the different islands before retiring for dinner and overnight at the camp.
Day 10 Lake Bunyonyi - Kampala
From the Lake of little birds, we shall embark on a 6 hours drive Kampala passing through the little Switzerland of Africa. Drive via Mbarara (where you will have lunch) and Masaka having a stopover at the Equator for photography as you cross the equator for another time. Dinner and Overnight at your preferred accommodation establishment
END OF UGANDA SAFARI
