9 Days Uganda Big Five Safari in Uganda National Parks
Day 1: Kampala to Murchison Falls
Uganda big five safari starts with a panoramic drive across the renowned Luwero Triangle and Masindi Town northwest, stop for lunch at Masindi hotel. Proceed to Murchison Falls NP via Budongo forest, drive to the top of the spectacular fall where you can see the Nile’s perfected beauty, and marvel as it compresses and squeezes itself from over 1 kilometer wide down through a 7-meter canyon.
The 150-meter drop of the falls creates a thunderous roar and a beautiful rainbow in a plume of spray – the best thing to ever happen to the Nile. Finally, you can enjoy the sunset as you return to the superb comfort and service of Paraa Uganda Safari Lodge/Red Chillis Camp, or Sambiya River Lodge. (BLD)
Day 2: Game Drive – Murchison Falls National Park
Embark on an early morning game drive on the northern bank after a cup of tea where your guide will help you spot elephants, lions, Cape buffalo, Rothschild’s giraffes, hartebeests, waterbucks, oribi, bushbucks, bohor reed bucks, hyenas, and rare leopards.
Return to the breakfast lodge. Relax by the side of the pool. After lunch, you will safari upstream by boat to the calm Victoria Nile and the base of the falls just tens of meters from the “Devil’s Cauldron.” There you can marvel at toothsome hippos, crocodiles and over the 17-kilometer stretch, you may also see elephants, waterbucks and Uganda kobs.
This is also the habitat of many bird species including goliath herons, Egyptian geese, pelican bee-eaters, kingfishers, Hombills, cormorants, and the rare shoebill stork.
After taking shots of the photogenic Murchison Falls you will return for dinner and an overnight stay at Paraa Uganda Safari Lodge/red chillis camp, or Sambiya River lodge. (BLD)
Day 3: Safari through the Albertine Rift:
Greet the early morning sun yet another game drive to spot those wild species on the past game drive that you might have missed. Return to the lodge for breakfast at around 10: 30am. Relax at the lodge. Have an early lunch at 1 pm and be ready for the ferry crossing at exactly 2 pm.
Drive on the Masindi-Hoima-Fort portal highway through the western Rift valley’s Alberta Escarpment. This is going to be a long drive south through Hoima to Fort Portal, passing through green landscape and traditional homes and farms.
Fort Portal rests in the shadow of the Fabled “Mountains of the Moon,” The Journey is long! At least four hours of driving. Dinner and overnight at Ndali Uganda Safari Lodge, mid-range Rwenzori view guest house/Budget Sky treehouse. (BLD)
Day 4: Chimp Tracking in Kibale Forest National Park
We will drive to Kibale Forest N / P for primate viewing after breakfast. The activity begins at 8:00 a.m. An all-day search for chimpanzees and other primates including Red-Colobuses, Blues, Red-tailed and grey cheeked Mangabeys swinging through the dense forest and birds, butterflies and many small insects.
The guide will provide detailed explanations on not only primates but also on all the forest’s fauna and flora, ensuring that your walk is both informative and enjoyable. This walk is excellent for viewing bird life and primates in close quarters. A visit to the Bigodi swamp eco-tourism site is amazing, as we shall encounter rare and beautiful flora and fauna.
Lunch, Dinner, and overnight at Ndali Uganda Safari Lodge, mid-range Rwenzori view guest house/Budget Sky treehouse. (BLD)
Day 5: Queen Elizabeth National Park – Uganda big five safari
After early breakfast, follow the mystical Rwenzori Mountain Range most of the trip to Queen Elizabeth National Park (A trip to Queen Elizabeth). A game drive Enroute may be rewarded with a view of waterbucks, Elephants, Leopards, Buffaloes, Hyenas and a variety of Antelope species.
After lunch, enjoy the unique 2-hour boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel and into Lake Edward. This journey may go through the largest concentration of Hippos, and at the bottom of the water, many animals can be seen drinking.
This launch cruise provides an outstanding photo, bird watching, and game-viewing platform. The prolific bird life is colorful and stupendous with well over 550 resident species. Dinner and overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge /budget Institute of ecology. (BLD)
Day 6: Game Viewing along the Kasenyi Track
After a cup of coffee, Embark on an early morning game drive along Kasenyi track and Queen’s mile in the park and expect to see Lions, Elephants, cape buffalo, Warthogs, leopard, hyena, mongoose, waterbucks, kobs, and lots many small animals and birds.
After the game drive, proceed to Bwindi via Maramagambo and Ishasha sector. You can see animals like waterbucks, elephant, antelopes, buffalo, kobs along the motorway as you drive along the road via the Ishasha sector. Relax around the camp in the Forest.
Dinner and overnight at the luxurious Gorilla Forest Campsite deep in the rain forest, Mid-range Buhoma homestead, or budget Buhoma community banda. (BLD)
Day 7: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Forest
The entrance to a gorilla sanctuary is early in the morning. The rainforest is magnificent as it provides a dramatic, highly forested and dense landscape crisscrossed by countless animal paths that allow visitors access. Recorded mammals here include the endangered mountain gorilla, the rare golden monkey, black-fronted duikers, bushbucks, giant forest hogs as well as other animals.
This park is best known for its intriguing mountain gorillas (suggested gorilla safari package), where time and terrain vary depending on the movements of these wonderful primates. The thrill of spending time with these gentle giant gorillas and watching them is a rare, moving, amazing and thrilling adventure that will leave you with long-lasting memories of a truly distinctive experience.
The gorillas are shy and peaceful animals and it is an unforgettable experience to watch and photograph them as they interact with each other. Dinner and overnight at the luxurious Gorilla Forest Camp, Buhoma homestead, or budget Buhoma community banda. (BLD)
Day 8: Game Viewing in Lake Mburo
After an early breakfast, you will drive to Lake Mburo National Park and enter the Park through the Nshara Gate. The afternoon game drive will bring you along the lakeshore path, and the “Kigambara Loop” provides exciting guided lakeside walks with its own scheme of game trails and clear walks.
Here you can find herds of zebra, cape buffalo and eland, and Pribi and topi are easy to approach. Along with the game drive, many visitors also enjoy a boat trip on Lake Mburo and self-guided nature trails.
Bird watchers will enjoy more than 250 species of birds found in Lake Mburo including Papyrus Gonoleks, Brown-faced Lapwings, Carruther’s Cisticolas, the extraordinary White-winged Warbler, and Bare-Faced Go-away bird. You will return for dinner and first-class service at the Agip Motel.
Day 9: Return Trip to Kampala (End of Uganda big five Safari)
Head to Kampala, the drive back to Kampala stops at the Mpigi Royal Drum Makers. Here you will be able to watch the ceremonial drums being crafted using methods passed down through generations. There will also be time to stop for pictures at the equator and before lunch, you will arrive in Kampala.
END OF UGANDA BIG FIVE SAFARI