13 Days Wildlife Adventure Trip To The Pearl Of Africa

Day 1: Arrive in Entebbe and overnight at the booked accommodation

Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be received by a Tubale safari driver/guide who will welcome you to Uganda – the Pearl of Africa. Thereafter, you will be transferred to the booked accommodation in Kampala. In case you have had an early landing in Uganda, you may opt for a late afternoon ride around the city of Kampala. Else, check in and have enough rest awaiting dinner and overnight stay.

Main Destination: Entebbe
Accommodation: Acactus Hotel, a Mid-range lodge located in or near Kampala
Meals & Drinks:
Dinner (Breakfast & lunch not included)
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 2 of 13 Days Wildlife Adventure Trip to the Pearl of Africa: Boat Ride on the Nile

Your driver/guide will pick you up from the accommodation and you will head out for Murchison Falls NP. The highlights of this park include the roaring rapids of the Murchison Falls, and the rolling plains of Uganda’s largest National Park where you will have the chance of viewing lions, giraffes, hartebeest, buffalo, and elephants.

Then surely you will be fascinated by the concentration of hippos and Nile crocodiles here. En route, make a visit to Zziwa Rhino sanctuary. You will have at least one hour of rhino tracking while here. Another stop will be in Masindi in order to enjoy your lunch. Continue to the park and check into your accommodation to relax for the Evening.

Main Destination: Murchison Falls National Park
Best Time to Visit: December to February (Easier to spot animals)
High Season: June to September (Peak time for Uganda)
Best Weather: June and July (Less rain and lower temperatures)

Accommodation: Heritage Safari Lodge, a Mid-range lodge located inside Murchison Falls NP
Meals & Drinks:
All meals included
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 3: Murchison game viewing and the afternoon boat trip to the base of the falls

Have your breakfast, and depart for an early morning game drive across the rolling plains of Uganda’s largest National Park where you will have the opportunity of viewing lions, giraffes, hartebeest, buffalo, and elephants among others. For any birder, this area supports the secretary bird and black-chested snake eagle to name a few. Return to your accommodation for some rest time and lunch.

After lunch, you will head out for the boat trip to the base of Murchison Falls where you will also be able to catch sight of more animals including Hippos and Crocodiles, and several water birds. Continue with a hike (if you like) to the top of the falls. The hike may be a strenuous one but the thrill of reaching the top is unforgettable. Miss it only if you must. Return to your accommodation and have a relaxed evening.

Main Destination: Murchison Falls National Park
Accommodation: Heritage Safari Lodge, a Mid-range lodge located inside Murchison Falls NP

Meals & Drinks:
Dinner (Breakfast & lunch not included)
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 4 of 13 Days Wildlife Adventure Trip to the Pearl of Africa: Exit Murchison and Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park

After breakfast at your accommodation, depart right away for Kibale Forest National Park. The drive is incredibly scenic, passing through villages, lush green countryside, and hills dotted with tea plantations which characterize this part of Uganda. Kibale NP is popular for its primates like the chimpanzees, colobus monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, and red-tailed monkeys. On your chimpanzee trails, these are regularly seen swinging in the forest trees and others feeding on the wild fruits. You will reach and do little but check into your accommodation where you will have dinner and the overnight rest.

Main Destination: Kibale 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).
Wildlife in Kibale NP

Accommodation: Rweteera Safari Lodge, a Mid-range guest house located inside Kibale NP.
Meals & Drinks:
All meals included
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 5: Kibale chimp habituation experience, return to the accommodation and relax

Have breakfast at the accommodation and proceed out for a lifetime experience of chimp habituation in Kibale Forest. The activity allows you to accompany Kibale’s research and habituation team on their daily activities. You will spend a greater part of the day in the presence of these amazing humans closest relation with the wild and witness them nesting, de-nesting, feeding, playing, etc. while getting first-hand explanations from the experts on the ground. Later, return to the accommodation for relaxation with a spectacular view of Kibale features right in front of you.

Main Destination: Kibale National Park
Accommodation: Rweteera Safari Lodge, a Mid-range guest house located inside Kibale NP
Meals & Drinks:
Dinner (Breakfast & lunch not included)
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 6 of 13 Days Wildlife Adventure Trip to the Pearl of Africa: Drive to Queen Elizabeth NP, relax, and undertake the afternoon game viewing

Have a relaxed breakfast at the accommodation and drive off to Queen Elizabeth NP. You will reach Queen early enough to relax, have lunch and in the afternoon proceed out for game viewing. During the game drive, look out for wild animals like reedbuck, bushbuck, kob, warthogs, elephants, lions, and buffaloes to mention but a few.

Alternatively, you could choose to go for the Queen’s breathtaking explosion crater drive (instead). The drive is basically sightseeing with a very spectacular view of the breathtaking scenery in and around Queen. There is also plenty of wildlife to see along the drive although the commonest are sights of Cape Buffaloes plus Elephants. Return to the accommodation for relaxation, dinner, and an overnight stay.

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 June to July and January to February (Less rainfall).
Wildlife in Queen Elizabeth NP
Accommodation: Njovu Safari Lodge, a Mid-range lodge located inside Queen Elizabeth NP.

Meals & Drinks: All meals included | Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 7: Tracking plus other game viewing and afternoon boat trip on the Kazinga Channel

Have breakfast and proceed out for the early morning lion tracking experience. The lions that are tracked have radio collars on them and it’s breathtaking for Wildlife enthusiasts who take part in this rare opportunity while in Queen. However, the groups (to go tracking) are limited in order to reduce stress on these members of the big 5 and increase the quality of the experience for visitors. You will also have the opportunity to encounter other wildlife while on the lion tracking experience.

Return to your accommodation for some rest time and lunch. The afternoon adventure entails a launch (boat) trip on the Kazinga Channel – a water stream joining Lake Edward and Lake George. The channel attracts a large school of hippos and Nile crocodiles besides the variety of birds that flock to the reed shores like the pelicans, kingfishers, saddle-billed stork and sometimes the crowned cranes. Return to your accommodation in time to relax, enjoy dinner, and surely the overnight rest.

Main Destination: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Accommodation: Njovu Safari Lodge, a Mid-range lodge located inside Queen Elizabeth NP
Meals & Drinks: Dinner (Breakfast & lunch not included) | Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 8 of 13 Days Wildlife Adventure Trip to the Pearl of Africa: Proceed to the southern part of Queen – to the Ishasha area

Have breakfast then set off for a breathtaking game-viewing experience in the Ishasha area of Queen Elizabeth National Park – famously known for its resident tree-climbing lions. The chance of spotting these lions is about 70% though sometimes they are really hard to spot (most especially when they’re down in the grassland looking for prey). Hoping you get the chance to spot them, the sight will be spectacular! You will also be able to see other wildlife such as the Uganda kob, Cape buffalos, elephants, and warthogs in addition to the tree-climbing lions. Thereafter, head to the accommodation for relaxation, dinner, and later overnight.

Main Destination: Ishasha Sector (Queen Elizabeth NP)
Accommodation: Topi Lodge, a Mid-range lodge located inside Queen Elizabeth NP
Meals & Drinks:
All meals included
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 9: More Ishasha game viewing and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable NP

Be up and have your breakfast served. Go for more tree-climbing lion sightings and thereafter transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Bwindi is a big habitat for mountain gorillas in Uganda (harboring an estimated 400 mountain gorillas – roughly half of the world’s population), including several habituated groups, which can be tracked. With a strenuous day ahead, you will do less on arrival but just check in your accommodation, and relax as you prepare for the Bwindi gorilla trekking experience the following day.

Main Destination: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Best Time to Visit: June to August and December to February.
High Season: June to September June to September (Gorilla permits are scarce).
Best Weather: June to July and December to February (Less rainfall).
Wildlife in Bwindi Impenetrable NP
Accommodation: Broadbill Forest Camp, Budget tented camp located inside Bwindi Impenetrable NP.
Meals & Drinks: All meals included | Drinking water (Other drinks not included).

Day 10 of 13 Days Wildlife Adventure Trip to the Pearl of Africa: Gorilla trekking Bwindi and Transfer to Mutanda Lake Resort for relaxation and sightseeing

After an early breakfast and a briefing by a ranger guide, you will enter the gorilla sanctuary for your adventure. The beauty of this rainforest is spectacular! The area offers a dramatic steeply forested landscape and is incredibly dense, but crisscrossed by numerous animal trails allowing access to tourists. The time taken and the terrain varies with the movements of these great primates. Once you locate a gorilla group, you will be allowed an hour in their presence.

The thrill of spending time observing these gentle and endangered giants is an awesome, exciting experience to be long-savored. Return to your lodge for some rest time and lunch. Thereafter, embark on a transfer to Mutanda Lake Resort for an overnight stay. Perched on a Lake Mutanda peninsula in the shadow of the Virunga Mountains, the resort offers comfortable accommodation combined with the most spectacular views on planet earth.

Main Destination: Lake Mutanda
Accommodation: Mucha Lodge, a Mid-range resort located outside Bwindi Impenetrable NP
Meals & Drinks: All meals included| Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 11: Discover Lake Mutanda’s many islands in a traditional dug-out canoe and take the afternoon relaxing

Have your breakfast and proceed out to discover Lake Mutanda’s many islands in a traditional dug-out canoe (like a local fisherman). The canoe trek on Lake Mutanda is planned for at most 3- hours. Thereafter, return to the accommodation for some rest time and lunch. Take the afternoon hours relaxing at the Mutanda Lake Resort while enjoying some spectacular views of the scenery in and around Mutanda. NOTE: canoe trek going beyond 3 hours may lead to an additional cost being charged on the ground.

Main Destination: Lake Mutanda
Accommodation: Mucha Lodge, a Mid-range resort located outside Bwindi Impenetrable NP
Meals & Drinks: All meals included | Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 12 of 13 Days Wildlife Adventure Trip to the Pearl of Africa: Transfer to Lake Mburo NP and enjoy an afternoon (evening) game viewing

Have breakfast and set off to Lake Mburo NP. Drive past the intensely terraced Kigezi hill slopes into Mbarara town and finally Lake Mburo NP. Arrive in the park in the early afternoon and take some rest before proceeding out for the late afternoon (evening) game viewing. On the game drive, expect to see the gigantic eland antelopes, zebras in big numbers, topis, impalas, warthogs, Uganda kob, and Cape buffalos among others. Later, relax at the accommodation where you will spend the night.

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)
Wildlife in Lake Mburo NP
Accommodation: Kosiya Lodge, a Mid-range lodge located just outside Lake Mburo NP
Meals & Drinks: All meals included | Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 13: Mburo park (nature) walk and transfer to Entebbe Airport for your flight out

Enjoy your early breakfast and proceed for the Mburo morning park/nature walk in the presence of an armed Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger/guide. On this early morning guided walk, you often encounter hyenas that are returning to their dens after a night of being on the prowl. Also, you will have the opportunity to encounter (at close range): Zebras, Giraffes and Eland, Topi and other antelopes, and Cape buffaloes among others.

Take the Trail to the top of the hills and see Lake Mburo and beyond. From this vantage point, you will have a great view of 9 of the twelve lakes surrounding Lake Mburo NP. Thereafter, return to the accommodation for checkout and then hit the road to Entebbe airport for your flight out. We hope to see you (or any referral) when next, you visit, and thanks for choosing Tubale Safaris!