11-Day Discover Western Uganda Safari

This safari takes you to three of Uganda’s most amazing national parks. You will trek chimpanzees in Kibale Forest National Park, see savanna animals during your game drives, boat-cruise in Queen Elizabeth National Park, and trek mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Arrival

• You’ll be collected from the airport (or hotel).
• Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Kampala – 1st day

You will be met by our professional driver-guide at Entebbe International Airport and be driven to Kampala in an official Ovacado Adventure van. Depending on your arrival time, it may be possible to take a tour of the city in the afternoon. Later you will check-in at Marie’s Royal Hotel, where you will enjoy dinner and your overnight stay.

Main Destination: Kampala
Accommodation: Marie’s Royale Hotel
• Mid-range hotel located in or near Kampala
Meals & Drinks:
• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Kibale Forest National Park – 2nd day

You will begin your safari this morning by transferring to Kibale Forest National, stopping at Fort Portal on the way for lunch. We will pass many villages and tea plantations in the country side along the way, offering many opportunities for stopovers. In the late evening, we will check into a beautiful resort area close to a crater lake that borders the forest.

Main Destination: Kibale Forest National Park
Best Time to Visit December to February and June to July
High Season June to September (Peak time for Uganda)
Best Weather June to July and December to February (Least rain)

Accommodation: Nyinabulitwa
• Mid-range resort located outside Kibale NP
Meals & Drinks:
• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Kibale Forest National Park – 3rd day

Kibale Forest National Park is a rainforest that is home to over 1,500 Chimpanzees. During your morning trek you will see chimps up close and capture shots of our closest cousins in the jungle! Besides the chimps, nine other different species of monkeys are found in this forest, including red colobus, red tailed monkey and bush babies. Within the forest canopy you may spot various bird species, like the native great blue turaco, joyful greenbul, olive long tailed cuckoo and the superb black bee eater.

After the trek, we start the transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park. You may drive past the Rwenzori Mountain Range or drive through the crater lakes in the hills to sample the surprising diversity of savannah trees and wildlife to be found here! Reach the lodge and enjoy the impressive view over Queen Elizabeth as we unwind from our long day.

Main Destination: Kibale Forest National Park
Accommodation: Park View Safari Lodge
• Mid-range lodge located just outside Kibale NP
Meals & Drinks:
• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Queen Elizabeth National Park – 4th day

Today you will discover Queen Elizabeth National Park with an evening game drive that exposes us to diverse animals, including elephants, buffalos, lion, leopards, warthogs and hyenas. There is also rich bird life here. The flamingoes that make their home in the salt lakes are an especially spectacular sight.

Main Destination: Queen Elizabeth National Park

Best Time to Visit January to February and June to July (Dry seasons)
High Season June to September (Peak time for Uganda)
Best Weather June to July and January to February (Less rainfall)

Accommodation: Marafiki Safari Lodge
• Mid-range lodge located just outside Queen Elizabeth NP
Meals & Drinks:
• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Wildlife search plus Kazinga Channel boat cruise – 5th day

After breakfast we will embark to see the park’s early risers on a game drive. After lunch it is time for a classic activity: a two hour boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel. This 36km waterway links Lake George to Lake Edward. On the banks you can see land and water adapted hippopotamuses yawning and slashing canines at each other. You may also get a glimpse of the Nile crocodile!

Main Destination: Kazinga Channel (Queen Elizabeth NP)
Accommodation: Marafiki Safari Lodge
• Mid-range lodge located in or near Kazinga Channel
Meals & Drinks:
• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Queen Elizabeth – Bwindi – 6th day

Today we will journey through the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park on our way to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This area is known for its tree-climbing lions who sit high amongst the fig tree branches.

Continue the transfer to Bwindi. Here you will experience a change in the landscape from flat savanna to cultivated hills to jungle covered mountains. If we arrive early enough you may opt to go on a walk to the local orphanage or visit with the locals.

Main Destination: Ishasha Sector (Queen Elizabeth NP)
Accommodation: Gorilla Mist Camp
• Mid-range lodge located in or near Ishasha
Meals & Drinks:
• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park – 7th day

Have an early breakfast and then get ready for big highlight of this safari – gorilla trekking! Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is home to the famous mountain gorillas, and on this day you get to meet them! You will set off into the forest with a specialized guide and trek through beautiful nature areas before spending one hour in the area where the mountain gorillas are. Besides the gorillas, this forest is full of birds, butterflies and plant species plus forest hogs and elephants.

Main Destination: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Best Time to Visit June to August and December to February
High Season June to September (Gorilla permits are scarce)
Best Weather June to July and December to February (Less rainfall)

Accommodation: Bunyonyi Eco Resort
• Mid-range resort
Meals & Drinks:
• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Lake Bunyonyi – 8th day

Today is a free day for you to relax by the beautiful Lake Bunyonyi. Here is a short list of optional activities that you can partake in: canoeing, swimming (safe in this lake), hiking on the Bushara trail along the lake shore, or lounging at your resort!

Main Destination: Lake Bunyonyi
Accommodation: Bunyonyi Eco Resort
• Mid-range resort located in or near Lake Bunyonyi
Meals & Drinks:
• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Lake Mburo National Park – 9th day

After breakfast you will transfer to Lake Mburo, which is known as the “zebra magnet”. You will arrive in the park and have lunch at the lodge before heading out for an afternoon game drive to view zebras, topis, warthogs, cape buffaloes and impalas.

Main Destination: Lake Mburo National Park
Best Time to Visit June to August and December to February
High Season June to September (Peak time for Uganda)
Best Weather June, July and January to February (Little rainfall)

Accommodation: Rwakobo Rock
• Mid-range lodge located just outside Lake Mburo NP
Meals & Drinks:
• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Lake Mburo National Park – Kampala – 10th day

Get up early for a morning safari walk, during which you’ll have the chance to see leopards, zebras, waterbucks and bird buffalos at daybreak! You will also pay a visit to a hyena’s den. Return for breakfast and then make your way back to Kampala, stopping for lunch in Masaka and at the equator.

Main Destination: Lake Mburo National Park
Accommodation: Marie’s Royale Hotel
• Mid-range hotel
Meals & Drinks:
• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Entebbe – 11th day

Your guide will pick you up in the morning for your visit to Mabamba Swamp, which sits a bit south of Entebbe. If you are lucky we might see some interesting birds along the way. When we reach the swamp we will go out in small boats to search for the rare shoebill stork, lesser jacana, marsh harriers, African pygmy-goose, whistling ducks and, if its is the right season, the blue swallow, blue breasted bee eater and many other aquatic birds. You will return to Entebbe after the tour.

Main Destination: Entebbe
Accommodation: No accommodation (End of tour)
Meals & Drinks:
• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

End of tour
• Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
• You’ll be dropped off at the airport (or hotel).

Included

• Park fees (For non-residents)
• Gorilla permits (One per person, non-resident)
• Chimp permits (One per person, non-resident)
• All activities (Unless labeled as optional)
• All accommodation (Unless listed as upgrade)
• A professional driver/guide
• All transportation (Unless labeled as optional)
• All Taxes/VAT
• Roundtrip airport transfer
• Meals (As specified in the day-by-day section)
• Drinking water (On all days)

Excluded

• International flights (From/to home)
• Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
• Tips (Tipping guideline US$10.00 pp per day)
• Personal items (Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
• Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees