Day 1: Kibale National Park & Fort Portal

Day 2: Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale National Park & Bigodi Swamp Walk

Day 3: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park and Evening Game Drive

Day 4: Morning Game Drive in Queen Elizabeth and Evening Boat Cruise on the Kazinga Channel

Day 5: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park and Evening Game Drive

Day 6: Transfer to Kampala / Entebbe

Day 1: Kibale National Park & Fort Portal

Briefing on the safari before we drive westwards towards Fort Portal to the Kibale Forest National Park (about 5 hours).

Traveling on both asphalt and unpaved roads, you pass through traditional Ugandan Villages where you see people at work tending their traditional crops of millet, sorghum, beans and maize. The lush rolling hills of this region provide good photo opportunities.

As you approach Fort Portal in the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains, you enter Uganda’s famous tea plantation region. A carpet of green spreads before you, as far as the eye can see, and seems an unusual contrast to the countryside through which you have just passed.

You arrive at Fort Portal, then, continue toward Kibale Forest, one of the great African rainforest research reserves. Years of study by scientists (who have cut a grid through the forest) have habituated many of its animals to human observers. This forest is famed for the variety of primates found here and it is a terrific area for birds. This rural Ugandan town (Fort Portal) is locally famous for its weaving and basketry, and we can spend some time briefly to examine some of this local art.

Fort Portal is a small and attractive city. The fort was built between 1891 and 1893 and named after Sir Gerald Portal, the British Consul General of Zanzibar who arrived in Uganda in 1892 to formalise the protectorate of Uganda. He died of malaria a few months after the fort was completed.

In the afternoon we visit a nearby forest swamp that is excellent for viewing primates and other forest animals. At the eastern edge of Kibale Forest is Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary which is maintained by the local community. You will expect birds like the great blue turaco, blue monkeys, baboons, otters, mongoose, bushbucks, bush pigs and among others.

Accommodation options available (all on full board basis)

Up-market: Kyaninga Lodge | Ndali Lodge | Primate Lodge Kibale

Moderate: Kibale Forest Camp | Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse (self-contained cottages)

Low Budget: Kibale Forest Camp (tents) | Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse (shared bathroom rooms)

Day 2: Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale National Park & Bigodi Swamp Walk

Assemble at Kanyankyu River camp at 08:00 hours to go for the most popular activity in this park which is chimpanzee tracking.

Chimpanzees are man’s closest cousins though they are one of the most threatened primate’s species. More primates like black and white Columbus monkeys, L’Hoest monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabey, red-tailed monkeys, bush babies, pottos and many bird species like the yellow spotted nicator, rumped tinker bird, little greenbul, green breasted pitta, the crowned eagle, black bee-eater and mammals like elephants can be seen in this walk.

Kibale National park, which averages about 3,300 feet in elevation, is an extension of the great rainforests of central Africa. It is inhabited by three large communities of chimps, each numbering more than 100 individuals. Each community has a complicated social structure. The big adult males dominate the group and defend the community territory against incursions by male outsiders; the females usually wander in small family groups.

Typically, we locate the chimps by listening for their pant-hooting calls, then hustle to the area from which they are calling. We get to observe them as they feed in fruiting trees, lounge, and socialise with each other, or even, occasionally hunt.

Accommodation options available (all on full board basis)

Up-market: Kyaninga Lodge | Ndali Lodge | Primate Lodge Kibale

Moderate: Kibale Forest Camp | Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse (self-contained cottages)

Low Budget: Kibale Forest Camp (tents) | Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse (shared bathroom rooms)

Day 3: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park and Evening Game Drive

We shift to Queen Elizabeth National Park this morning (about 3 hours driving).

Leaving through Fort Portal town, you turn south and early this afternoon enter Queen Elizabeth National Park, which is dominated on its northern border by the snow-capped 16,000-foot Rwenzori Mountains – the famed “Mountains of the Moon”.

This 767-square-mile conservation area is bordered on the north-east by Lake George and on the south-west by Lake Edward; its western border adjoins the Congo Parc Du Virunga. You will expect to see teeming herds of impala-like Uganda kob, as well as topi, elephant and lion, giant forest hog, Cape buffalo. There are also several soda lakes filling ancient volcanic calderas where flamingos reside seasonally.

Up-market/Luxury: Deluxe Tent/Deluxe room at Mweya Safari Lodge | Katara Lodge

Mid-range or moderate facility: Ihamba Safari Lodge | Bush Lodge (rooms) | Buffalo Safari Resort | Enganzi Lodge

Budget price:  Bush Lodge (tents)

Day 4: Morning Game Drive in Queen Elizabeth and Evening Boat Cruise on the Kazinga Channel

We set out early in the morning for a game drive in the northern part of the park on the Kasenyi Track in search of lions, elephants, solitary buffaloes. This is the best time for opportunities of viewing the cats in action owing to the vast population of Uganda kobs. We have an excellent chance to view just about every animal here at very close range.

In the afternoon we will go for a launch trip along the Kazinga Channel. This gives you the opportunity to view wildlife up close: hippo’s huff and spray at a mere foot away from the boat, buffalo linger in the shallows. The shores of the channel are also home to an array of birds including pink backed pelicans, pied and malachite kingfishers, saddle billed stork and many others.

Up-market/Luxury: Deluxe Tent/Deluxe room at Mweya Safari Lodge | Katara Lodge

Mid-range or moderate facility: Ihamba Safari Lodge | Bush Lodge (rooms) | Buffalo Safari Resort | Enganzi Lodge

Budget price: Bush Lodge (tents)

Day 5: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park and Evening Game Drive

We start our Journey to Lake Mburo National Park where we shall have an evening game drive, sighting various animals like Zebra, Antelopes like Water-bucks, Impala herds, Bush-bucks and many more. We later head to rest at our accommodation for dinner and overnight in

Up-market/Luxury:  Rwakobo Rock

Mid-range or moderate facility: Rwakobo Rock

Day 6: Transfer to Kampala / Entebbe

This day will mark the last day of your jungle safaris. After Breakfast you will have a short walk around the Park and later check out as you embark on an exciting road trip back to Kampala with lunch en route. You will make a stopover at the Equator line for experiment and photography. You will arrive in Kampala in the evening and transfer to the airport to board your flight back home.

INCLUDES

• Transportation in 4×4 Vehicle
• Accommodation for 6 nights
• All meals(Including En-route Meals)
• Bottled drinking water
• Boat cruises
• Professional Driver Guide fees
• Fruits on en-route
• Park fees for 3 National Parks
• Chimpanzee permits

EXCLUDES

• Tourist insurance
• International flight ticket and Visa Fee
• Money for tips and anything of personal nature
• Beverages e. Soft sodas and alcoholic drinks
• Laundry expenses