12 Day Uganda Wildlife Photography Safari

“12 Day Exploring Uganda, Wildlife Photography Safari”

Overview:

Mother Gorilla with her baby – Bwindi National Park.

Start your journey in Murchison Falls National Park, then pass through the tea plantations of Kabalore, on your way to the Kibale Forest National Park. In Kibale you will have the opportunity to track a number of primates, including intelligent and energetic chimpanzees.

Enjoy the spectacular views of the Rwenzori Mountains, as you drive through the crater lakes region, on the way to the Queen Elizabeth National Park where you will be intrigued by the local culture and agile tree-climbing lions while also enjoying a cruise on the Kazinga Channel.

Continue your journey to the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park for the opportunity to track the majestic and endangered mountain gorillas. From here you will head further to explore the majestic lakes of the Bunyonyi and Mburo National Parks.

Day 1: Welcome to Uganda.

On arrival at Entebbe Airport, you will be met and welcomed by your private guide who will briefly discuss your safari itinerary. From here you will be transferred for check in at Lake Heights Hotel for check-in and dinner. As an optional activity guests can also visit the Entebbe Botanical Gardens.

Day 2: Entebbe to Murchison Falls National Park.

Depart from Entebbe via Kampala, heading for Murchison Falls National Park. On the way we will stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary and enjoy lunch. The Park is situated where the Nile explodes through a narrow gorge and cascades down to become a placid river whose banks are filled with hippos and crocodiles, waterbucks and buffaloes. Resident wildlife includes lions, leopards, elephants, giraffes, hartebeests, oribis, Uganda kobs, chimpanzees, and many bird species.

We visit the magical Murchison Falls where you will enjoy and marvel at the mighty Nile being forced into thunder as it drops 45 meters below. We later cross the Nile by ferry and check in at Bakers Lodge set along the southern bank of the mighty Nile River. The lodge rests amongst large shady trees and wetland areas.

Day 3: Explore the Murchison Falls National Park.

During your safari you will enjoy game drives in Murchison Falls National Park, as well as a memorable boat cruise up the Nile River to the foot of the Falls. After an early morning breakfast, we enjoy a game drive, heading towards the Delta area. The Ugandan kobs (National animal of Uganda) are numerous in this park.

The wildlife found in this part of the park includes Elephants, the endangered Rothschild Giraffe, Jackson Hartebeest, Leopard, Lions, Kobs and a variety of woodland and Savannah birds among others. In the afternoon, we experience a boat cruise on the Nile for more chances of wildlife viewing at a close range. On this cruise you can expect to see many schools of Hippos and Crocodiles and some water birds. Return to the lodge late afternoon for dinner.

Day 4: Murchison Falls to Kibale National Park.

Depart Murchison Falls after an early breakfast and head for Kibale National Park with lunch being enjoyed en route. We arrive in Kibale in the afternoon and check in at Primate Lodge. Experience the world-renowned Ugandan hospitality amidst unrivalled nature, scenery and serenity in the heart of Kibale rainforest National Park.

This is Uganda’s primate paradise and home to over 13 different species of primates and numerous other mammals, butterflies and birds. Primate Lodge is tucked deep in the forest and right next door to the starting point for your Chimpanzee tracking excursion.  Dinner will be served at the spacious dining terrace with incredible views.

Day 5: Exciting Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale.

After breakfast, start the day with some sensational chimpanzee tracking in the heart of the Kibale Forest. The reserve boasts the greatest variety and highest concentration of primates in East Africa, providing sightings of wild chimpanzees, red-tailed monkeys and the black and- white colobus monkeys on your guided nature walk.

After a hearty lunch, enjoy a transfer to Bigodi to visit a local community initiative – the Bigodi Wetland Walk. Be on the lookout for primates and the rare great blue turaco, one of the 138 bird species found in the swamp area. Dinner will be enjoyed at the lodge.

Day 6: From Kibale to Queen Elizabeth National Park.

After a relaxed breakfast, you will be transferred to Queen Elizabeth National Park, driving along the foothills of Mountain Rwenzori, with lunch en-route. We enjoy a mini game drive as we enter the Park. Queen Elizabeth National Park is understandably Uganda’s most popular tourist destination.

The park’s diverse ecosystems include sprawling savanna, shady, humid forests, sparkling lakes and fertile wetlands. This make it the ideal habitat for classic big game, ten primate species including chimpanzees and over 600 species of birds. Set against the backdrop of the jagged Rwenzori Mountains, the park’s magnificent vistas include dozens of enormous craters carved dramatically into rolling green hills, panoramic views of the Kazinga Channel with its banks lined with hippos, buffalo and elephants.

The endless Ishasha plains bare fig trees that are favorites for climbing lions ready to pounce on herds of unsuspecting Uganda kobs. Mweya Lodge is located on a peninsula within the heart of Queen Elizabeth National Park and surrounded by the magical Rwenzori Mountains – the ‘Mountains of the Moon’; Mweya Safari Lodge offers visitors a spectacular experience of luxury in the wilderness.

Day 7: Wildlife and Lakes of Queen Elizabeth National Park.

The day begins with an early breakfast and we head out on a game drive within the northern sector of this Park. Here we are more likely to see water-buck, buffaloes, elephants, lions and warthogs in their natural habitat. The game drive normally takes 2-3 hours. After lunch we will enjoy a scenic sunset boat cruise on the Kazinga channel.

This is a natural channel that connects Lake George and Lake Edward, which has become a popular tourist attraction due to its magnificent wildlife sightings. Animal species to be on the lookout for include Nile crocodiles, hippos, monitor lizards, buffaloes, and elephants. There are also about 60 species of birds that can be sighted during the boat cruise.

Day 8: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.

After an early breakfast embark on a game drive to the Ishasha plains to have a chance to see the resident tree climbing lions plus a diversity of other wildlife. The landscape in this sector is unique compared to that in other parts of Queen Elizabeth National Park. It’s breathtaking seeing these lions lazily resting on tree branches targeting their prey.

In the afternoon, you will be transferred to Bwindi National Park with lunch en-route. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park lies in south western Uganda on the edge of the Rift Valley. Its misty landscapes are covered by Uganda’s oldest and most biologically diverse rainforest jungle. More famously, this rainforest is a habitat to an estimated 320 mountain gorillas, constituting almost half of the world gorilla population.

Buhoma Lodge, a top quality and intimate property, commands spectacular and uninterrupted views of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. One of only two lodges situated within the National Park, the lodge is walking distance from the meeting point for gorilla tracking and other activities in the area.

Day 9: Unforgettable Gorilla Trekking.

After an early morning breakfast, with our packed lunch, we go to the Park offices for the briefing at around 8:00am and later start the trekking, entering the forest, the natural habitat of the gorillas. Your gorilla trekking adventure may take 3-8 hours under warm, muddy and strenuous conditions, sometimes with rain overhead.

But all these conditions cease to be a challenge the moment you come face to face with the amazing mountain gorilla. The feeling is one unlike any other felt before, and this will be an experience you will never forget! The most incredible day on the tour will end with a sumptuous dinner while you relive the moment you saw a gorilla for the first time.

Day 10: Visit Lake Bunyonyi.

After a relaxed breakfast, we transfer to Lake Bunyonyi with lunch en-route. Nestled in the extreme south western corner of Uganda, dotted with 29 islands and overlooked by rolling hills Lake Bunyoni is one of Uganda’s most picturesque locations. This is a perfect place for rest, relaxation and photography. The name of the lake translates as the ‘place of little birds’ and it is indeed blessed with some 200 bird species. As the highest lodge on the hill Arcadia Cottages overlook the beautiful Lake Bunyonyi and all its many islands from all our cottages and main dining and bar area.

Day 11: Visit Lake Mburo National Park.

After an early morning breakfast, we transfer to Lake Mburo National Park with lunch en-route arriving in the afternoon for a boat cruise on Lake Mburo. It is the only park in Uganda that supports massive herds of “impalas”. Kampala city derives its name from these elegant antelopes. Other antelopes easily seen are topi, bush-buck, common duiker, oribi, Defassa water-buck, Bofor reed-buck, Buffalos, warthogs, bush-pigs and hippopotamus and many others.

Rwakobo Rock is a peaceful and secluded retreat where you can breathe in the essence of wild Uganda. Rwakobo is nestled on a scenic outcrop with breath-taking views. Animals such as zebra, warthog, impala and bush-buck abound around the lodge and often congregate at the water hole below the dining area.

Day 12: Return to Entebbe.

After an early morning breakfast, we depart for a nature walk escorted by a ranger in search for wildlife. During this walk we are likely to see a number of mammals including the Eland (the biggest antelope in East Africa), Bush buck, Zebra, Buffalo, Bush pig, Hyena, Impala, Reed-buck and a variety of bird species. After the walk, check out and drive back to Kampala with lunch en-route and stop at the Equator for photos. We will arrive in Kampala in the afternoon and drive straight to the airport for your flight home.

Safari Summary:

Tour Duration: 12 Days & 11 Nights

Departure / Return Location: Entebbe, Uganda

Destinations on Tour:

1. Entebbe
2. Murchison Falls NP
3. Kibale Forest NP
4. Queen Elizabeth NP
5. Bwindi Impenetrable NP
6. Lake Bunyonyi
7. Lake Mburo NP
8. Entebbe

Quotation 2 Pax / Per Person: $ 8585 High Season & $7685 Low Season.

Terrain Safaris Itinerary

Included:

• Transport
• Private guide
• Accommodation
• All meals
• Selected drinks
• Entrance fees
• Park fees
• Trekking permits

Not Included:

• International flights
• Visa costs
• Medical insurance
• Travel insurance
• Selected Drinks
• Gratuities
• Laundry
• Personal expenses
• Other activities

Some of our safari partners/ Tour Operators:

Jewel Of Africa Safaris and Wild Nature Photo Adventure are some of the partners we work with.

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