12 Day Classic Uganda Game & Great Apes Safari

Upon arrival in Uganda at Entebbe International Airport, located on a peninsula that juts out into Lake Victoria, Africa’s biggest fresh water lake, you will be welcomed and greeted by your driver/guide. He will be standing at the Arrivals Hall holding a placard with your name so you cannot miss him. You will then be transferred to the hotel/ guest house you have chosen and check-in for dinner and overnight stay. Your driver/ guide will brief you about your safari at some stage (either before dinner or first thing after breakfast the next day).

For those that arrive early in the day – there are optional activities around Entebbe especially if you intend to stay active and not rest after long overseas flights. You can visit the Entebbe Botanical Gardens or head out to trawl Mabamba bay for a chance to see the prehistoric and mythical shoebill. Or, your guide will be on hand to take you to the local markets or one of the malls to shop for some essentials.

After breakfast, commence a 6-hour drive to Murchison Falls National Park via the Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary where a conservation project to revive white rhinoceros is underway. Murchison Falls National Park is a nature reserve teeming with diverse wildlife and natural wonders. Before arriving at Murchison Falls N.P, you make the de-tour to Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary. The rhino sanctuary is not part of Murchison Falls National Park but can easily be visited on the way to or from Murchison. You witness the remarkable efforts of conservationists to protect and rehabilitate these majestic creatures. Once abundant in Uganda’s wild places, white rhinos faced a dire threat from poaching and were wiped out. The sanctuary is a project aimed at their rebirth and so far it is a success. At Zziwa you will stretch your legs on a nature walk to go find the rhinos in the company of a guide and armed ranger. Once you encounter these endangered White rhinos, view them at close quarters (as close as the rangers will allow) and can take photos and videos to your fill. You are able to walk from one group of rhinos to the next in the open spaces of the sanctuary. When you spot the rhinos, you will stay in their presence experiencing them. After an enlightening encounter with rhinos, enjoy lunch somewhere en-route and continue to the crown jewel of Murchison Falls National Park. Prepare to be awe-struck as you stand atop the magnificent Murchison Falls, where the mighty Nile River plunges through a narrow gorge, creating a spectacle of nature’s power and beauty. Conclude your day by checking-in at the lodge you have chosen, where you can unwind, refresh, and relish the serenity of the surroundings.

Game in Murchison Falls National Park is among the best in Uganda, garnished with wonderful birdlife that makes the park a wildlife and birders’ paradise. The park is home to 76 mammal species including herds of buffalo, elephants that are scattered in the savannah woodland areas. The park is also home to a good number of camouflage leopards as well as a good number of lion prides. The park is also known for the endangered Rothschild’s Giraffe. On the Nile’s banks and in the pools, you find hippos and crocodiles. Today, rise as the African sun rises and head out for a game drive – view the glorious day-break from across the open savannah, birds and dotted woodland as well as riverine vegetation along the Nile. You explore the area and are in search for game ranging from lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant, giraffes and marvel at the graceful grazers like oribi, Jackson’s hartebeest, bushbuck and a lot of antelopes.

Back at the lodge, enjoy lunch and then head out for one of Uganda’s under-stated adventures – a 3-hour boat trip on the Nile to the bottom of the powerful Murchison Falls. On the banks of the Nile, be on the look-out for hundreds of hippos, sunbathing crocodiles and prolific birdlife dotting the shore and atop in the trees. At the climax, see and experience the mighty River Nile explode through a narrow gorge, plunging 40 metres below in a thunderous cascade. The climax is at the edge of the rift valley escarpment at which point you will get off the boat and trek to the top of the falls (wear sports shoes while on the boat for ease of trekking to the top). Having worked up a sweat, once at the top, get bathed in the misty spray that the Nile create as it forces itself into the 7-metre cleft to create the famous Murchison Falls. Your guide will be waiting up top to transfer you back to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

Optional Activity: Night Game Drive

As the sun casts its golden light upon the landscape, embark on the next leg of your Ugandan odyssey. Travel to the enchanting Kibale Forest National Park, a haven for primates and a biodiversity hotspot. En-route, see the scenic beauty of the countryside, punctuated by quaint towns and verdant landscapes with traditional homesteads surrounded by crop plantations in a very leafy and green area – arriving in Fort Portal town in the mid-afternoon. At Fort Portal, savour a delectable hot lunch and continue to Kibale. On the edge of Kibale Forest National Park, you will check-in at the lodge you have chosen, settle-in and have the rest of the day to yourselves. Later, dinner and overnight at the lodge.

Optional Activity: Visit the Amabere ga Nyinamwiru caves

Today you are in for some real monkey business! After breakfast, you head to Kanyachu, the headquarters for Kibale Forest National Park.  Reputed for having the greatest variety and highest concentration of primates in East Africa, Kibale Forest National park teems with wildlife and is also home to 13 other primate species. After a comprehensive briefing, venture into the wilderness in search of these fascinating creatures, known for their intelligence and social behaviors. Given the diversity of the place, keep your senses attuned as you might spot the rare L’Hoest monkey, red-tailed colobus monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys and many others. Perhaps you will hear rare bird calls or the playful cries of olive baboons. The guides and rangers will provide detailed explanations, not only on primates, but also on all the forest fauna and flora and will ensure that your walk is both informative and enjoyable. However, what you are roaming the forest for are the chimpanzees. Once you locate the chimpanzees, you will have a full 1-hour in their presence. You watch them go about their day, see the young ones play and the mature ones grooming each other or looking for food. You either find them atop the big fruit trees or on the ground. It is a most exhilarating experience if you are lucky to find them on the ground.  After the mandatory 1-hour is finished, your guides/rangers will lead you back to the trail-head from where you come back to the park HQ. You receive your tracking certificates and it’s a wonderful Instagram moment so indulge, take the pictures and you can post later. From here, return to the lodge for a hot lunch.

Afternoon: After lunch, set out for a guided nature walk through the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary – a community project. The swamp offers visitors a platform to see more primates, swamp and forest birds, all the while supporting local conservation efforts. On your tour, you will likely see several kinds of monkeys including black and white colobus, red colobus etc. Other wetlands mammals include baboons, Sitatunga (an increasingly endangered swamp antelope), bush pigs, civet cats, mongooses, bush bucks and an occasional chimpanzee appearance. The walk is 4.5 kilometres in length and lasts 3 hours and should not be missed by avid birders. Money generated from the activities in Bigodi is used to fund community projects including a school and a clinic. Later, return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

Optional Activity: Chimpanzee Habituation

You wake up at leisure and enjoy your breakfast. You are not in a hurry and so you will depart Kibale Forest National Park for Queen Elizabeth National Park at leisure. You will transfer through the beautiful crater lakes region where the views and scenery are to die for! After seeing some of the many craters in the region, back on the road, you continue to Queen Elizabeth National Park with the Rwenzori Mountains in the backdrop. On a clear day, you can see the snow-capped Magherita peak of the Rwenzori Mountains. On arrival to your destination, you check-in at the lodge you have chosen, enjoy lunch and can relax.

In the late afternoon, head to the Katwe Crater Lake where locals have mined salt through the ages. This lake – situated just north of the impressive Mweya peninsula, is far too salty to support any wildlife. However, since the 16th Century, it has ensured the survival of the Katwe residents, who spend their days under the equatorial sun, harvesting salt from its milky waters. Enjoy the spectacular drive to Katwe as you look out for wildlife including buffaloes and elephants. Once you arrive at the salt mines, marvel at the network of paths and huts that have been built across the lake to support hundreds of workers. The salt is sold to traders from across Uganda, and as far as Congo and Rwanda. This excursion gives visitors a unique insight into the fascinating yet tough process of salt mining and meeting and interacting with the locals. During the tour of the lake you will see community members at work and you get to talk to them. Later, return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

Begin your day with the anticipation of thrilling wildlife encounters as you embark on a morning game drive through the picturesque landscapes of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Wake up early, enjoy your breakfast or opt to take it on the go as you venture into the Kasenyi track, renowned for its rich biodiversity. In this open savannah, keep your eyes peeled for sightings of buffaloes, majestic lions, graceful elephants, and a myriad of avian species that have been recorded here. Queen Elizabeth National Park stands out for its lush greenery, even during the dry season, testament to its unique landscape shaped by ancient volcanic activity. Traverse through this remarkable terrain, marveling at the vast crater lakes, sprawling grasslands, and dense woodlands that dot the park. After the guided morning game drive, return to your lodge for a hot lunch. After, you will embark on a boat cruise along the Kazinga channel – a major highlight of the safari to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The channel is a natural waterway, linking lakes Edward and George. It boasts one of Africa’s highest concentrations of hippos (there are 1,500 hippos found along the channel), providing a mesmerizing spectacle of these aquatic giants. Glide along the tranquil waters, accompanied by the symphony of birdcalls and the occasional splash of a crocodile, as you soak in the serene beauty of the surroundings. On the boat cruise, hippos frolic and yawn wide, elephants and buffalo drink to their fill at the channel’s banks. The boat trip is a front-row seat to nature’s spectacle. The boat cruise promises to be a highlight of your journey, offering unparalleled opportunities for wildlife viewing and birdwatching. From the boat cruise, if time allows continue on an evening game drive culminating into a return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

Optional Activity: Lion tracking experience

This drive to Bwindi via the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park will also serve as a game drive. As you journey through Ishasha – the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, bring out binoculars and keep your gaze trained on the horizon as you search for the iconic tree-climbing lions that inhabit this unique region. If you are lucky to find them, marvel at the sight of these majestic predators perched atop ancient sycamore fig trees or acacia trees, surveying their kingdom with regal poise. There are about four prides of lions in the area numbering more than 40 in total. Look out for the males with their black mane, which is a notable attribute. Also, there are about 1000+ elephants present in the area and you normally see large herds. There are Topi (savannah relatives of the world-famous Wildebeest) and Uganda Kob antelopes in large numbers. The drive is a fantastic opportunity to take pictures. You continue to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, a realm of mist-shrouded mountains and dense vegetation. Along the way, feast your eyes on the scenic beauty of the landscape, from vast banana plantations to lush valleys and towering forests. As the day draws to a close, arrive at the lodge you have chosen in Bwindi, where you can unwind amidst the tranquil surroundings and prepare for the extraordinary adventure that awaits tomorrow.

After breakfast, with your packed lunch, lots of water in your rucksack, your guide will take you to the park HQ before 8:00am for registration and briefing by Uganda Wildlife Authority staff. Once the formalities of what to do and not to do while tracking the gentle giants are communicated, you will head to the trail-head of the gorilla family you have been allocated. At the trail-head, you will commence the trek, pushing your way through the undergrowth, to track the gorillas. (the trek can last from half an hour to 8 hours – a reasonable degree of fitness is required as well as a sturdy pair of walking shoes). When you finally locate the family that you are tracking, take in everything as you watch the gorillas go about their day – feeding on the green leaves, bamboo shoots, wild celery, stinging nettle and wild fruit. If there are juvenile gorillas, enjoy them play about and take it all in. Take lots of pictures (and a selfie if you happen to have a gorilla in your selfie frame) and video as the one-hour will be over before you know it. It is an extraordinary feeling being in the presence of these majestic apes, sitting/standing in the dense rainforest with the knowledge that you are in the presence of the few remaining (their population is recovering as they now number just above 1000) wild mountain gorillas. After the mandatory one hour is up, the rangers will lead you back to the starting point/trail-head where you will find your driver/guide. Once back at the trail-head, your driver/guide will be waiting to take you back to the park HQ where you receive your tracking certificates (evidence of your contribution to the conservation of the majestic gorillas). From here, you will be taken back to your lodge for a hot lunch. After lunch, relax and you have the rest of the day to yourselves. Now is a good time to look back on your awe-inspiring encounter with the gorillas through the lens of your camera. Later, dinner and overnight at the lodge.

What to bring for gorilla tracking/trekking: light but sturdy hiking shoes, light rain jacket, daypack, 2 litres of water, gardening gloves, long trousers either jeans/khakis, long-sleeved shirt/blouse, wide-brimmed hat, sun glasses, insect repellent and an energy bar.

Optional Activity: Gorilla Habituation experience

This morning, enjoy your breakfast and go to meet the Batwa pygmies. The Batwa are one of the oldest peoples in Africa. They roamed the forests looking for fruits and honey, and hunted with bows and trained dogs. As the woods were cut down by the Bantu people, Batwa numbers dwindled. A visit to the Batwa trail permits visitors to discover the magic of the indigenous people’s old homes while partaking in nature walks and learning about the group’s cultural heritage.

During this moving cultural encounter tour, the Batwa demonstrate hunting techniques; gather honey; point out medicinal plants and demonstrate bamboo cups. This is truly a unique experience for visitors to learn about the traditional culture of the indigenous people. After meeting the Batwa, you will transfer to the picturesque Lake Bunyonyi. On arrival, check-in at Birdnest Resort Bunyonyi and enjoy lunch. In the evening, you go out on a local boat to explore the picturesque lake and hear local legend. Later, dinner and overnight stay at the resort.

Optional activity: Track Golden Monkeys

After breakfast, check-out and start your drive to Lake Mburo National Park. En-route to Lake Mburo, you will make a stop at Igongo Country Hotel and enjoy lunch. After lunch, continue to Lake Mburo National Park. This small park, which sometimes packs a punch with its surprise sightings is the only park in Uganda with Eland, Impala antelopes and Burchell’s Zebra. You start a game drive immediately you enter the park. The scenery of rolling hills, lakes, swamps make Africa real, and it is in Lake Mburo where the Tanzanian Savannah meets Uganda in a most scenic fashion. At about 6.30pm, you will find the lodge you have chosen and check-in for dinner and overnight stay.

Lake Mburo National Park is one of two game parks in Uganda where visitors are allowed to go for a bush nature walk with an experienced ranger. On a morning guided walk, you often encounter hyenas that are returning to their dens after a night of being on the prowl – at the same time you can often see hippos returning from grazing during the night and returning to the lake to keep cool during the day and protect their sensitive skin from the sun. You will also see Zebras, Giraffes, Eland, Topi and other antelopes, buffaloes, birds, butterflies. After your walk, return to the lodge, take a shower and check-out – ready for the drive to Entebbe. At the Equator crossing, take some fun pictures and purchase crafts from your Uganda safari. You should arrive in Entebbe by 16.00Hrs. If you are checking-in for your international flight home right away, you are dropped off at the airport in time for you to check-in. If your flight is later this evening, a Day Room will have been arranged for you at one of our partner Guest Houses in Entebbe for you to refresh and repack ahead of your check-in. At the appropriate time, you will be dropped off at the airport in time for you to check-in for your onward flight home to bring to an end what we believe will have been a wonderful game and apes safari in Uganda.