Safari Overview
This 7 days Uganda Primate and Wildlife tour takes you to Murchison Falls National Park home of the Big Five animals, with a boat cruise on River Nile to the bottom of the waterfalls, you will proceed to Semiliki national park for nature trekking and seeing the hot springs, as well as trek the chimpanzees living in Kibale National park.
Day 1: Travel from Kampala to Murchison Falls
Day 2: Game Drives and Launch Cruise
Day 3: Chimpanzee Tracking in Budongo forest
Day 4: Transfer to Semliki National Park
Day 5: Explore Sempaya hot springs
Day 6: Transfer to Kibale National Park
Day 7: Chimp Tracking, Departure to Kampala
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Transfer to Murchison Falls
You will be picked up from your hotel by our representative from Travel Gorge Tours who will double as your driver and guide on this safari. You will begin the journey to Murchison Falls National Park early morning driving along the Kampala-Bombo road. The 5 hours drive takes you through the well-known Luwero triangle, which currently is a small town that suffered a terrible massacre several years ago. You will have a lunch break in Masindi and then proceed to the top of the waterfall to an amazing view of these dramatic powerful Murchison falls. You will proceed to you accommodation where you will have dinner and spend the night.
There will be an optional visit to the Ziwa Rhino sanctuary
Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation Options: Paraa Safari Lodge, or Pakuba Lodge
Day 2: Game Drives and Launch Cruise
after an early morning breakfast, have a game drive in the park to see the different wild animals such as baboons, Lions, oribi, buffaloes, Jackson’s hartebeest, and waterbuck. Have lunch and in the afternoon enjoy a boat cruise on the river Nile (the longest river in the world). You will see large schools off hippos, several huge Nile crocodiles, a large profusion of birds plus a number of different animas including buffaloes and elephants. You will then walk to the top of the falls for an aerial view. Return for dinner and overnight rest at the lodge.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation Options: Paraa Safari Lodge, or Pakuba Lodge
Day 3: Chimp trekking in Budongo forest
Very early morning you will transferred to the starting point in Budongo forest where you will be met by park ranger guides who will brief you about the do and don’ts while trekking chimpanzees. You will be separated into trekking groups and led by the guides; you will search through the forest terrain as you search for the chimpanzees. The trek takes between 3 to 5 hours depending the movement of the chimps. You will get a chance to observe the chimpanzee go about their daily activities and even take their photographs. Please keep in mind that flash photography is not allowed. In addition you will see several bird species and primates including the potto, blue monkey and red-tailed monkeys. you will later head to your accommodation for dinner and the overnight.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation optional: Budongo Eco Lodge, or Masindi Hotel
Day 4: Transfer to Semliki National Park
You will have breakfast at your lodge, and then transfer to Semliki national park. The long scenic drive will reward you with amazing views of the Rwenzori mountain ranges as well as Lake Albert. This park is situated in bundibugyo district on Uganda’s western border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, within the Albertine Rift valley region being part of the huge Ituri forest making it a very good destination for bird watching with a bird list of more than 400 species. There are over 50 mammal species and 300 tree species as well. At night you will have a game drive to see some nocturnal species such as the serval cats, nightjars as well as the white- tailed mongoose.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation options: Semliki Safari Lodge
Day 5: Explore Sempaya hot springs
Today you will get a chance to explore the Semliki National and visit the amazing Sempaya hot springs which are the main attraction in the park. This natural hot spring shoots from a small hole that is 8 meters and have hot water. This is the largest hot water spring in Uganda. Along that trail you will also encounter a number of amazing bird species including Frasier’s ant-thrush, in addition to several primates like the red-tailed monkey. You will proceed to Mungilo waterfall to enjoy some breathtaking views as well.
After lunch, you will have a boat ride on Lake Albert to see different animals and birds on the shores of lake. You will return to your accommodation for dinner and the night’s rest.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation options: Semliki Safari Lodge
Day 6: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
Following breakfast, you will check out of your accommodation and begin the drive to Kibale National Park. Along the way you will visit the kings’ palace found in Fort Portal a very beautiful town, the crater lakes as well as the stalagmites. on arrival check into your accommodation, have lunch and the afternoon have a guided nature walk in Bigodi wetland sanctuary, home to several primates, animals and birds such as the Great Blue Turaco.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation options: Primates Lodge, or Ndali Lodge, or Chimps Nest Lodge
Day 7: Chimp Tracking and Departure
Very early morning set out or track chimpanzees. Beginning at the Kanyanchu information centre, you will meet the park ranger guides who will lead you on this adventure and then set out tracking. The activity takes between 1 hour and 4 hours. You will encounter other primate species while in the forest such as pottos, golden monkey, blue monkeys, L’Hoest monkey, red Colobus, baboons, mangabey, white and black Colobus monkeys as well as the grey checked. After finding them, you will spend an hour in the midst of the chimps taking photos and observing them.
Afterwards, you will drive back to Kampala where you will arrive in the evening, having lunch en-route. The driver will drop you off at a hotel of your preference or to the airport for your departure flight.
Tour includes:
Full board accommodation as per itinerary
Service of an English-speaking driver guide
Ground transport in a 4WD safari Vehicle
Bottled water in the car
Game drives
Chimpanzee trekking permits
Park entrance fees
Boat rides
Tour excludes
Personal expenses on drinks, telephone, laundry etc
Tips to porters and driver/ guide
Insurance
Airfares
All activities mentioned as optional