Our 9 days Untamed Uganda takes you to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, a world Heritage site that hosts 51% of the world’s total population of mountain Gorillas; Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda’s most visited park famous for harboring the tree climbing lions, and Kibale Forest, home to 13 primate species including chimpanzees.
Untamed Uganda Safari highlights
- Nature Walk in Bigodi wetland
- Ultimate Gorilla tracking
- Chimpanzee Tracking
- Community Walk
- Road trips to the western Uganda wildlife circuit
- Kazinga Channel boat cruise
- Tree climbing lions in Ishasha sector
Detailed Itinerary
Day One – Arrival at Entebbe international Airport
Upon Arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will meet a representative/guide from Hooves Africa – Photo Safaris. Have a short meet and greet and then transfer to your hotel in Entebbe municipality. Overnight on Bed and Breakfast arrangement.
Accommodation: Boma Hotel
Meal Plan: Bed and Breakfast
Day Two – Road trip to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (optional scheduled domestic flight Kisoro)
After an early breakfast (06:00am), you will transfer from Entebbe to Bwindi (9 hour drive) with several interesting stops along the way. Stop at Equator for photo-shoots followed by Igongo Cultural Restaurant for hot lunch or a similar place. Grab the famous Uganda Rolex at Heat in Mbarara town for snacking.
Continue to drive south words through farmlands of Ankole and Kigezi hills. Arrive at the lodge on the edge of the forest.
Accommodation: Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge
Meal Plan: Full Board
Day Three – ultimate gorilla encounter
After an early breakfast, your guide will drive you to the briefing center of Uganda Wildlife Authority. Join other visitors for a briefing about the rules and regulations of gorilla tracking. The briefing starts at 7:30am and at 8:00am you embark on the search for the mountain gorilla family you have been allocated to.
Your group will constitute of eight people and two/three armed rangers who are there to ensure that you are safe throughout the tracking process.
After you have located gorillas, you will have one hour observing them in their natural habitat. The Bwindi gorilla trek can take 2-8 hours depending on location of gorillas. You should hire a porter to help carry your backpack and also give you a hand. Porters come from local community and it is a good way to give back to them.
Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge
Meal Plan: Full Board
Day Four – Transfer from Bwindi to Ishasha Sector
After breakfast, drive from Bwindi to Ishasha sector to search for tree climbing lions. This part of Queen Elizabeth national park borders with Virunga National Park. Central African species come to Uganda and those that you might see include forest buffaloes and elephants.
The day is dedicated to discovering the vast plains of Ishasha. Look out for elephant herds, topis, buffaloes, Kobs among others. Dinner and overnight in Ishasha sector.
Accommodation: Ishasha Jungle
Meal Plan: Full Board
Day Five – Full day Queen Elizabeth National park- Ishasha Sector
Since this is the most famous part of the park, we will dedicate this day to discovering the hidden gems of the sector. Then top it off with a sun-downer by the river Ntungwe. The sector is blessed with several tracks that a rich with abundant wildlife. On a game drive, you may be able to find several families of African Elephants, herds of Topis, pride of lions resting in tree or on the ground. Spotting a leopard is always a plus.
Accommodation: Ishasha Jungle
Meal Plan: Full Board
Day Six – Drive to the Kazinga channel
After breakfast, you will have a final game drive as you depart to northern part of the park. Check in at your lodge, have a hot lunch and prepare for the afternoon community boat to on Kazinga channel.
Kazinga channel is famous for harboring one of the highest population of hippos on the African continent. The channel has it’s own localized Big 5 which include hippo, African fish eagle, Nile crocodile, African elephant, and the Cape buffalo. A plethora of birds can be spotted such as African skimmers and yellow billed storks.
Dinner and overnight at the edge of the park.
Accommodation: Aardvark Safari Lodge/Bush Lodge
Meal Plan: Full Board
Day Seven– Drive to Kibale forest national park
After breakfast, you will conduct the last game drive in Queen Elizabeth national park before you drive to Kibale forest national park. After lunch, you will drive towards Fort portal town where you have crater lakes drive if time allows. The craters are part of the beautiful scenery of the region and walk to the top of the world is an experience that will blow you mind away. Dinner and overnight at the edge Kibale forest.
Accommodation: Kibale Forest Camp
Meal Plan: Full Board
Day Eight– Chimpanzee tracking and Bigodi wetland walk
After an early breakfast, you will drive to Kanyanchu visitor center for briefing. You will be accompanied by UWA guides and rangers in search chimpanzees.
Chimps tend to be active in the morning time as they search for food. Some times they climb to the tree canopies if its a fruiting season. If you don’t like the morning trek, you can opt for the afternoon trek, where chances are high to encounter the primates on ground level.
In the afternoon, we take a walk in the famous Bigodi wetlands, a community project managed by the community and changing lives of the local people. On this walk, you might able see some of the 8 primates such as Ugandan mangabeys, blue monkeys, olive baboons, red-tailed monkeys, bird species. The walk will brighten your day with a visit the traditional healer for his stunning metaphysics.
Later drive back to lodge for dinner and overnight at the forest edge.
Accommodation: Kibale Forest Camp
Meal Plan: Full Board
Day Nine– Drive to Entebbe international airport
After breakfast, we depart from Fort Portal to Entebbe international airport for your out bound flight. This journey is about 6 hour drive with several stops for leg stretch and refreshments. End of your 9 days untamed Uganda safari.
Besides this tour, we offer a wide range of Uganda primates and wildlife tours. Those intending to spend extra days in Kampala city or Entebbe, we also have short excursions such as the shoebill excursion to Mabamba wetlands.
Accommodation: None
Meal Plan: Lunch only
Included in the package price
- Accommodation as per the itinerary
- Entrance fees and tax involved
- One gorilla tracking permit per person
- One chimpanzee tracking permit
- 4×4 Safari customized vehicle with an English speaking guide
- Drinking water
- Activities mentioned in the itinerary
Excluded
- Optional activities
- Tips and gratuity
- International airfare tickets
- Visa entry fees
- Anything not mentioned in this itinerary
