Itinerary
The safari adventure highlights of the 13-day the Pearl of Africa Uganda Classic Wildlife Safari are to explore Western Uganda, including gorilla trekking at Bwindi National Park, game drives, chimpanzee trekking, and community experiences.
Day 1: Welcome to Uganda – the Pearl of Africa
Bamboo Ecotours staff will pick you up upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport and proceed to the guest house in Entebbe or downtown Kampala for overnight.
Day 2: Kampala-Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary – Murchison Falls National Park
In the morning, we will transfer from Kampala to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Rhino’s got extinct in Uganda in the early 1980s, and the Ziwa site is being used as a breeding site for the black and white Rhino. After we will proceed to Murchison Falls National Park. Dinner and Overnight at Fort Murchison or Red Chilli Rest Camp.
Day 3: Game drive, boat trip, and top of the falls hike at Murchison Falls National Park
In the morning, you will go for a game drive in the park to spot elephants, lions, giraffe, and other wildlife. In the afternoon, you will take a relaxing boat trip on the River Nile, and here you will have a chance to see crocodiles, hippos, and a range of rare birds. You will also see for yourself the point where River Nile joins Lake Albert, one of the “major highlights” of this trip.
Day 4: Transfer to Kibale National Park ( along the drive of 7-8hrs)
On this day, we transfer from Murchison Falls National Park to Kibale National Park in mid-western Uganda.
Day 5: Kibale National Park chimpanzee trekking
Spend the morning trekking the chimpanzee in Kibale national park. Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park in the afternoon
Day 6: Queen Elizabeth National Park game drive and Kazinga Channel boat trip
You will start the day with early morning breakfast at the lodge. Afterward, we proceed to the famed Kasenyi plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park to spot various species of wild animals. Kasenyi plains dwell in the vast savannahs of the Albertine rift in Queen Elizabeth National Park. It will be a morning full of adventure! Expect to encounter lions, herds of buffalos, elephants, Uganda kobs, topi, and bushbucks. While it is not guaranteed to spot the “Big Five” in the park, you may site leopards to make it the “Big Four” on a lucky day. We will return to the lodge for lunch.
After lunch, join the Kazinga channel boat cruise for an afternoon of wild game viewing. You will spot crocodiles, buffaloes, elephants, and a wide range of bird species on the channel waters.
Day 7: Ishasha tree-climbing lions and transfer to Bwindi National Park
We will drive through the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, popularly known for the tree-climbing lions. Unlike their counterparts at the Kasenyi plains, the lions at Ishasha have found a way to climb the fig trees to enjoy the warm temperatures available in the park. While the sighting of the tree-climbing lions is not 100% guaranteed, Ishasha is worth a visit.
Day 8: Gorilla tracking at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
You will head to the Bwindi National Park gate immediately after breakfast to get a briefing about the gorilla trek. The briefing will be conducted by the national park guide and will cover the basics of what to expect during the tour. It is at this point that you will be told which gorilla family to trek. Other visitors will likely join you. The gorilla trek can take from few to many hours, depending on how far the gorillas are inside the forest.
Day 9: The Batwa Cultural Experience in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
You will embark on the Batwa* Trail cultural experience in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The Batwa cultural experience gives a chance to the Batwa guides to showcase their ancient lifestyle through various demonstrations; including how to harvest herbs for medicine and wild honey; their old ways of fetching water using bamboo made “mugs,” and construction demo of grass thatched huts they used to live in. The tour ends with a cultural show by the Batwa community at the Garama cave entrance, a ceremonial ground for Batwa cultural leaders. The cave was such a symbolic place in the Batwa culture, and you will be proud to be part of this experience.
Other activity options for day nine include the Sabyinyo volcano hike and golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, a coffee-making experience, and Lake Mutanda canoe trekking.
Day 10: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi for canoeing
Considered one of the deepest lakes in Africa, Lake Bunyonyi is a freshwater body located about 400kms south of Kampala and 4hrs drive from Kigali, Rwanda. The lake is located in the present-day Kabale district and is surrounded by farming communities. Lake Bunyonyi lies in the valleys of the Kigezi highlands, with several terraced hills adding to the scenic beauty of this famous lake.
Day 11: Transfer from Lake Bunyonyi to Lake Mburo National Park
We will transfer from Lake Bunyonyi in the early afternoon to Lake Mburo National Park.
Day 12: Game drives at Lake Mburo National Park
Spend the day exploring Lake Mburo National Park through game drives, boat trips, and nature walks.
Day 13: Transfer from Lake Mburo to Kampala/Entebbe with a scheduled stopover at the Igongo cultural centre and the Equator crossing.