9-days Pearl Safari experience will take you to north-western Uganda via the Luwero Highway or Hoima Highway to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary and Murchison Falls National Park. While on this trip, you will view typical African home settings and other sceneries and wildlife that Murchison Falls is well known to offer. You will then head to Kibale Forest National Park for the chimpanzee tracking expedition. You will still make a quick stop at Queen Elizabeth National Park. You will take part in some activities and then head to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for the amazing Gorilla Tracking activity. With that, you will make a quick stop at Lake Bunyonyi and then your final destination will be your drop at the airport for your drop-off or to Kampala if you still have time in our beautiful pearl of Africa country.
Highlights for 9-days Pearl Safari Uganda and Primate Trekking
- Stopover at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for Rhino trekking
- Boat Cruise on the River Nile in Murchison Falls National Park.
- Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park.
- Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale Forest National Park.
- Afternoon Launch Trip on Kazinga Channel.
- Ishasha Sector Game drive to view tree climbing lions.
- Mountain Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.
- Service of an English-speaking driver/guide.
- 6 nights’ accommodations.
- Airport transfers.
Detailed Itinerary for 9-days Pearl Safari Uganda and Primate trekking
Day 1: Airport pick-up and transfer to Kampala
Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be picked up by both your driver and guide, who will transfer you to Kampala for dinner at the booked accommodation.
DESTINATION AND SELECTION OF LODGING.
- Main destination: Kampala
- Up-market accommodation: Sheraton Hotel Kampala
- Mid-range accommodation: Cassia lodge
- Budget accommodation: Apricot Guesthouse
- Meal plan: breakfast and dinner
Day 2: Drive from Kampala, visit the Rhinos and proceed to Murchison Falls.
Today we shall have breakfast and leave Kampala early to avoid the city jams as you will be driving northwest of Uganda. You will have a stop at the Ziwa Rhino sanctuary for rhino tracking. Proceed to Murchison Falls National Park, the largest protected area in Uganda, and visit the top of the spectacular falls, where you can see the Nile’s perfect beauty and marvel as it compresses and squeezes itself from over 1-kilometre wide down through a seven-meter canyon. The 43-meter drop of the falls creates a thunderous roar and a beautiful rainbow in a plume of spray, the best of the Nile River.
DESTINATION AND SELECTION OF LODGING.
- Main destination: Murchison Falls National Park
- Up-market accommodation: Paraa Safari Lodge
- Mid-range accommodation: Pakuba Safai Lodge
- Budget accommodation: Heritage Safari Lodge
- Meal plan: full board (breakfast, lunch, and dinner)
Day 3: Game drive and boat cruise on the river Nile
Today we have breakfast and after we drive through the northern part of the park to view and take photographs of wildlife. We see elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks, hippos, giraffes, Uganda kobs, lions, and if you are lucky, leopards, plus a variety of bird species.
After lunch, proceed for a two-hour cruise to the bottom of the mighty Murchison Falls, from where the rushing water escapes through a narrow gorge, forming a great thunder. This is an opportunity to see the amazing hippos and crocodiles along the riverbanks. Return to the lodge for dinner.
DESTINATION AND SELECTION OF LODGING.
- Main destination: Murchison Falls National Park
- Up-market accommodation: Paraa Safari Lodge
- Mid-range accommodation: Pakuba Safai Lodge
- Budget accommodation: Heritage Safari Lodge
- Meal plan: full board (breakfast, lunch, and dinner)
Day 4: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
Have breakfast and, after a transfer from Murchison Falls National Park, drive southwest through the Albertine Escarpment of the great Western Rift Valley. Drive through Hoima and reach the colorful and beautiful town of Fort Portal, the capital of the Toro kingdom, situated in the shadow of the fabled “Mountains of the Moon”, the Rwenzori. You will arrive in the late evening hours just in time to rest and relax. You will check into your accommodation as booked ahead and wait for your dinner.
DESTINATION AND SELECTION OF LODGING.
- Main destination: Kibale Forest National Park
- Up-market accommodation: Kyaninga Lodge
- Mid-range accommodation: Primates Lodge
- Budget accommodation: Chimpanzee Forest Guest House
- Meal plan: full board (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
Day 5: Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale with transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
After breakfast, head to the starting point for chimpanzees and have a briefing from park officials about the conservation rules and regulations of chimpanzees, thereafter, enter into the forest block to trek the amazing chimpanzees in the branches of the trees. Return to the lodge for lunch, check out and, thereafter, transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Have a game drive en-route to spot some of the wildlife like buffaloes, elephants, warthogs and much more. An evening drive to the crater lakes region is rewarding. The day will be concluded with dinner at the booked accommodation earlier.
DESTINATION AND SELECTION OF LODGING.
- Main destination: Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Up-market accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge
- Mid-range accommodation: Kingfisher Lodge
- Budget accommodation: Bush Lodge
- Meal plan: full board (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
Day 6: Morning game drive with an afternoon launch trip
Since you will be out for the game drive by 6:30 am, all you will have a cup of coffee or tea before starting your activity. Expect to see lions, elephants, buffaloes, warthogs, and lots of animals and birds. You should later return to the lodge and have your breakfast.
Relax at the lodge/hotel as you wait for your lunch, have lunch and then get ready to enjoy the two-hour launch trip on the Kazinga Channel for amazing bird life and a variety of wild animals. Head back to the lodge or hotel for dinner and overnight.
DESTINATION AND SELECTION OF LODGING.
- Main destination: Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Up-market accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge
- Mid-range accommodation: Kingfisher Lodge
- Budget accommodation: Bush Lodge
- Meal plan: full board (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
Day 7: Morning Ishasha Sector game drive with transfer to Bwindi National Park
The game drive today will be done in the morning as this will be your last day in the Queen Elizabeth National. These start by 6:30 am as you will want to see the animals as they get out to start their day. In most cases, before you leave for the game drive, all you have is a cup of tea or coffee with some snacks as organized by the lodge where you would have stayed to keep time.
By 6:30 am, you ought to be on the tracking road already to find the animal as the sun rises. Later, after the game drive is done, you will drive back to the lodge for your full breakfast and, of course, check out of the hotel/lodge. The drive straight to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park where you will arrive in the late evening and check in to your booked accommodation. You will rest as you wait for your dinner to be served.
DESTINATION AND SELECTION OF LODGING.
- Main destination: Murchison Falls National Park
- Up-market accommodation: Buhoma Lodge / Gorilla Leisure Lodge
- Mid-range accommodation: Silverback Lodge
- Budget accommodation: Buhoma Community Rest Camp
- Meal plan: full board (breakfast, lunch, and dinner)
Day 8: Mountain Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi with transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
Early breakfast and briefing from the guides before you set off for the mountains for gorilla tracking inside the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. You need to carry drinking water, a rain jacket, and jungle boots, while the rangers will provide you with a walking stick.
Gorilla tracking is enriching and rewarding as you walk through the thick rainforest. Immediately after the tracking activity, as you should have checked out of the lodge/hotel in the morning, you will drive straight to Lake Bunyonyi. The drive will take no more than 3-hours and you will be at Lake Bunyonyi, where you can check in to your booked accommodation and call it a day.
DESTINATION AND SELECTION OF LODGING.
- Main destination: Lake Bunyonyi
- Up-market accommodation: Bird nest at Bunyonyi Resort
- Mid-range accommodation: Heritage Lodge
- Budget accommodation: Bunyonyi Overland Camp
- Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 9: Morning Boat Ride and transfer back to Kampala
Today we start with a two-hour boat ride on Lake Bunyonyi to various islands inside the lake for bird viewing, sightseeing, and discovering the sites of the Bakiga culture. You will start your drive to Kampala immediately after the activity, as you will also have lunch en-route on your way back. Along the way, you will see Ankole longhorn cattle, banana plantations, drum makers, papyrus swamps, roadside barbecue stops at the equator for snacks and photo shooting, and friendly people to bargain with, arriving on time for an evening flight back.
DESTINATION AND MEAL.
- Main destination: Kampala or Entebbe airport
- Meal plan: Breakfast and Lunch
What to bring for 9-days Pearl Safari Uganda and Primate Trekking
- Comfortable shoes to hike in
- Warm clothes for the night as this part of the country gets cold.
- A good zoom lens camera
- A torch is necessary.
- Insect repellant
9-days Pearl Safari Uganda and Primate tracking includes.
- Airport transfers.
- Accommodation and meals as per itinerary.
- En-route meals.
- Transportation by safari vehicle.
- Nature walks.
- Pure Bottled Water.
- Chimpanzee tracking permits.
- Gorilla trekking permits.
- Bird watching at Bunyonyi Islands.
- Boat ride.
- Driver allowances.
However, 9-days Pearl Safari Uganda and Primate Track EXCLUSIONS.
- Airfare.
- Uganda Visa.
- Luxury drinks.
- Laundry.
- Tips for local guides.
- Telephone and porter fees while trekking.
- Personal Insurance.
- Personal shopping bills, cigarettes, and any other item not mentioned above.