10 DAYS UGANDA SAFARI ADVENTURE- WILDLIFE, PRIMATES, SCENARY

Detailed Itinerary of 10 Days Uganda Safari

Day 1: Arrival and Transfer to Safari Lodge in Entebbe 

Your Uganda safari will begin in Entebbe, a remarkable gateway to East Africa, situated on the northern shores of Lake Victoria.

Our friendly guide from Orinoco Expeditions will welcome you and help with your luggage to Uganda, the Pearl of Africa.

After a short briefing, you will be transferred to your accommodation in Entebbe, a peaceful town known for its colonial history, botanical gardens, and home to some wildlife homes.

When possible, travellers get to explore the town’s tourist destinations, such as the Uganda Wildlife and Education Centre, Ngamba Island, and Lake Victoria on a sunset boat cruise.

Have dinner and rest at your lodge because the real Ugandan safari experience begins the following day with a journey to Murchison Falls National Park.

Lodging in Entebbe.

Day 2: Entebbe to Murchison Falls National Park 

Your day begins with a delightful breakfast at your lodge, and then a scenic road trip northward to Murchison Falls National Park. This journey will take about 6 to 7 hours, depending on traffic, stops, and conditions of the road.

On the way, you will drive through remote villages, beautiful bustling towns, and farmlands. You will have a major stop at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, the only place in Uganda where you will find the wild White Rhinos in their natural habitat.

After an up-close adventure with the Rhinos, you will continue to the MFNP with an en route lunch stop along the way.

Murchison Falls National Park will welcome you with incredible views of animals, the river, and the rugged wilderness.

You will arrive in time for the top of the falls experience, an adventure that will allow you to explore the beautiful waterfalls, flowing powerfully through an 8-meter gorge.

Check in to your lodge, have dinner, and a night’s rest.

Lodging in Murchison Falls National Park.

Day 3: Murchison Falls National Park 

After your delicious breakfast, set out into the golden light of dawn for an early morning game drive to experience animals in their active time.

With the help of your guide, you will navigate the acacia woodlands and grasslands with high chances of viewing Buffalo herds, Elephants, Lions, Giraffes, Uganda Kobs, Hartebeests, Leopards, and Hyenas etc. The landscape is also a good place to view savannah bird species, such as the Bee-eaters, Hornbills, and Raptors.  

By 11:00 am, you will be back at your lodge for either a light breakfast or an early lunch as you refresh for your next safari adventure.

You will continue for a 2-3 hour boat cruise in the afternoon along the Nile River, known to be the longest River in Africa.

The riverbanks are filled with beautiful views of Crocodiles, Hippos, and various waterbirds like the Kingfishers, Herons, and Eagles.

After the explorative boat cruise, you may return to your lodge, and if time allows, you will have an evening game drive to explore the nocturnal wildlife of the park.

Lodging in Murchison Falls National Park.

Day 4: Murchison Falls National Park to Kibale Forest National Park 

Wake up to the sounds of wildlife in the savannahs for an early breakfast before beginning your journey to southwestern Uganda at Kibale National Park. The journey will take about 7 hours. The journey heads through the Albertine Rift Valley, which covers the western arm of the East African Rift System.

You will pass through crater lakes, rolling hills, and local villages that reveal the rural lives of locals.

The beautiful town of Fort Portal will reveal the amazing views of the Rwenzori Mountains and you can have an optional short detour through the Rwenzori or the Mpanga tea estates.

You will have a lunch stop along the way before continuing to the biodiverse forests of Kibale National Park.

Upon arrival in the afternoon, you will head straight to the Kanyanchu Visitor Centre for a short briefing before heading out to track one of the habituated chimpanzee families.

While on the way, you will get the chance to view the Black and White Colobus Monkeys, Red Tailed Monkeys, and L’Hoest’s Monkeys, among others.

You will spend one hour with these amazing creatures as you watch them feed, groom, play and feed.

In the evening, you will check in to your lodge for a delicious dinner and a night’s rest.

Lodging in Kibale National Park.

Day 5: Kibale National Park to Queen Elizabeth National Park (Northern Sector) 

The major safari experiences for this day are the Bigodi Swamp Walk, Community Coffee Tour, Crater Lakes tour, Kazinga Channel boat cruise, and the Bunyampaka salt experience.

You will awake to the serene environment of the rainforest and have a hearty breakfast to begin your day filled with wildlife, nature and culture adventures.

Afterwards, a guide will lead you through the famous Bigodi swamp walk, an experience that will bring you closer to different primates like the Black and White Colobus Monkeys, Grey-cheeked Mangabey and the Red-tailed Monkeys. The papyrus swamp is also home to over 200 bird species, including the famous Great Blue Turaco.

During the experience, you will get to learn about the different animals, birds, local flora, and the livelihood of the locals.

Upon finishing the Bigodi Swamp experience, you will visit a nearby village for an amazing coffee experience. Expect to be taken through the harvesting, roasting, grinding and the making of a cup of coffee.

In the early afternoon, you will begin a 3 to 4-hour drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park en route to the Ndali Kasenda Crater Lakes region. The journey offers remarkable experiences like exploring the volcanic crater lakes, banana plantations, and lush hills.

You will have lunch along the way or at your lodge in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Queen Elizabeth National Park is the second largest national park in Uganda after Murchison Falls National Park and is considered the most diverse destination in the country.

Found in the western arm of the Great Rift Valley, Queen Elizabeth NP covers wetlands, forested gorges and crater lakes.

Upon arrival, you will head straight for the famous boat cruise experience on Kazinga Channel, taking about 2 hours. Expect to experience a vast wildlife viewing adventure where you will see the Buffaloes, Nile Crocodiles, Elephants, Hippos, Pelicans, Kingfishers, and Eagles.

En route to your lodge, you will visit the Bunyampaka Salk Lake to experience salt mining methods that have been passed down by families from generation to generation and the evaporation pans.

You will then retire for lodging and a sumptuous dinner

Lodging at Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Day 6: Queen Elizabeth National Park (Northern Sector) to Ishasha 

On day 6 of our incredible safari, we transition from the northern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park to Ishasha in the southern part.

The day begins with an early breakfast at your lodge in Kyambura Gorge, also referred to as the “Valley of Apes”. An experienced Uganda Wildlife Authority guide will guide lead you on a guided nature walk after a short briefing to explore the beautiful forest.

During the walk, there is a 60% chance of finding the sole habituated chimpanzee family and viewing other primates, for example, the Olive Baboons, Black and White Colobus Monkeys, and large array of bird species.

The walk is a wonder that will immerse you in the magic of one of Uganda’s ecological wonders.

Upon finishing the amazing trek, you will get the chance to tour the tranquil twin lakes that reveal the wonders of the crater lakes and beautiful views of the Rift Valley Escarpment.

In the late morning, you will begin your scenic drive to the south of the park towards the Ishasha sector. As you pass through the expansive grasslands and the Ishasha woodlands, you will be able to spot different animals like the buffalo, Uganda kobs or elephants

These adventures will allow you the chance for breathtaking photography experiences.

You will arrive in time at your lodge in Ishasha for a well-deserved lunch and a short rest.

In the evening, you will head out for an evening game drive on the dotted plains to catch glimpses of the elusive tree-climbing Lions, Buffalo herds, Elephants, Topi Antelopes and the Uganda Kobs.

You will head out to your lodge for dinner and a night’s rest.

Lodging in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Day 7: Ishasha to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park 

Day 7 marks a change from the beautiful open savannah plains to the dense forests of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

You will start your day off with a delicious breakfast, then head for the final game drive at QENP in the morning with various views of the breathtaking wildlife in the landscape.

With luck, we will be able to view the famous tree-climbing Lions sleeping on the acacia or the fig trees.  

You will then begin your journey southwards along remote villages, verdant valleys, and terraced hillsides as you head to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Along the way, you will have lunch and a short break to stretch your legs.

By evening, you will have arrived in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, where you will check into your lodge, enjoy dinner and an overnight rest to prepare you for the Gorilla trekking experience the following day.

Lodging in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Day 8: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to Lake Bunyonyi 

Today will mark the adrenaline-pumping experiences with the Mountain Gorillas from the ancient forests of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to the calm, rolling hills and the high altitude Lake Bunyonyi.

Your beautiful day will begin at dawn with an early breakfast, and by around 7 am, you will be headed for the pre-trek briefing at the Bwindi park headquarters.

With the guidance of a trained guide from the Uganda Wildlife Authority, you will enter the forest to look for one of the habituated Gorilla families in their natural habitat.

Upon meeting a Gorilla family, you will spend one hour with them as you watch them groom, feed and play. A Gorilla tracking certificate will be awarded to you for participating in this amazing experience.

After lunch, you will begin your scenic journey to Lake Bunyonyi through beautiful highlands and terraced hills of the Kigezi region.

Lake Bunyonyi is Uganda’s deepest lake, reaching a depth of 900 meters, and it is dotted with about 29 lush islands. The environment reveals a peaceful environment where you can relax and unwind from the safari experiences.

You will arrive at your nature-surrounded lakeside lodge for a warm and hospitable dinner and a good night’s rest.

Lodging at Lake Bunyonyi.

Day 9: Lake Bunyonyi to Entebbe 

You will wake up early and catch sight of the serene lakeside. Enjoy breakfast and begin your 9 to 10-hour journey to Entebbe, along the Kabale-Mbarara route.

You will pass through bustling towns, terraced hills, locals grazing and amazing green farms.

There will be a delicious lunch stop at the Equator in Kayabwe, Mpigi District, where you can also explore the Equator and stretch your legs before continuing with your journey to Entebbe.

You will arrive in Entebbe early evening for a delightful dinner and rest in your lodge.

Lodging in Entebbe.

Day 10: Departure 

Today, we close your unforgettable 10-day safari.

Your driver guide will lead you to the airport at least 3 hours before time, so you have ample time to clear customs and immigration before heading for your journey back home