7 DAYS IN THE WILD UGANDA

Day one

Depart to Kibale National Park, after breakfast. This will take you about 7 hour drive from Kampala You will Escape the city in the morning and extend to western Uganda through lots of tea plantations and later to Kibale.

This park is East African world of Chimpanzee. Check in Sky Tree Banda within Kibale National Park and relax in the wild. In the evening prepare to take a nocturnal nature walk with the park. The park is organized into trails that will help you walk well in a very fresh environment. The tour guides will show you the primates exist in the forest. This can take you up to 2 hours. 

Return to park headquarters and proceed to Sky Tree Banda, relax, dinner and over night.

Day Two

Today we explore the world of Chimps. Uganda is a Chimpanzee paradise. Chimpanzees occupy a wide range of habitats, from dense primary rainforests to dry savannah woodlands and reverine forests. Uganda is one of the most biologically diverse nations on the African continent and hosts a wide chimpanzee population.

Kibale Forest NP has a new product and offers the opportunity to participate during one or more days in the habituation experience.

After Breakfast in the morning the Rangers will visit with you an assigned group for habituation. When you find the group, Rangers will try to spend some time with them. This can only be done gradually and the process can take up to hours before tourists will be allowed. 

Once a group is habituated to humans, they lose their fear for humans and are more vulnerable to poachers. Daily monitoring becomes necessary for their safety and health. It's an effective way against poaching: when snares are found in the park, the guards will remove them and if animals are found in the snares, or when they are sick, a veterinarian can help them.

You will experience chimpanzee feeding, playing the whole day. You will have to move with parked lunch, as you are more likely to return late in the evening.

Over night at Sky tree Banda.

Day Three

Depart from Kibale, early morning at 8.30 am, to head the Queen Elizabeth National park of Uganda. Queen Elizabeth N.P. is one of the outstanding treasures of Uganda.  QENP has recently been designated a Biosphere Reserve for Humanity under UNESCO.  The park covers a remarkable variety of eco-systems; from semi-deciduous tropical forest to green meadows, savannah and swamps.  It is the home of the famous tree-climbing lions, the Uganda kob and other antelope as well as elephant, buffalo, hippos, baboons, and chimpanzee.

Over 500 species of birds have been recorded here making it prime target for birdwatchers.  Species recorded include the shoebill stork, black bee-eater, 11 types of kingfishers and a variety of raptors including several falcons and eagles.  In the crater lakes, spectacular flocks of flamingos gather, creating the image of a moving pink carpet.

The launch trip along the Kazinga Channel between Lake George and Edward is a memorable way to view the variety of game in Queen Elizabeth.  North of the main gate is the crater area, one of the most scenic parts of the park.  To the East, in Kyambura Gorge, visitors can climb through tropical forest and catch a glimpse of a variety of primates.  In the more isolated Ishasha sector of the park, search the woodlands for the tree-climbing lions perching on the boughs of ancient fig trees.  To the Southeast, travelers can explore newly opened trails in Maramagambo forest.

Located in the Western region of Uganda, Queen Elizabeth National Park spreads across more than 1,900 sq km of virtual untouched land, endowed with lush vegetation and rich wildlife. Everywhere you look, you are rewarded with a breathtaking view of grand designs of Mother Nature

A short drive of 200 metres into the park you will see, lots of wildlife especially the famous Uganda Kobs and Waterbucks will welcome you to their home. Check in Mweya Park Hostel. Head to shores of Lake George to take one of the most fascinating boat cruises in the park. This Launch trip starts on Lake Edward and moves along Kazinga water channel. Other tourists from other countries will join you. A guide will be on the trip to answer every question. Lots of water animals, e.g. Crocodiles, Hippos, beautiful water birds, water buffalos, 65 year old Elephants, drinking water by the shores. You will have a chance to see a hippo at a closer range and say hello. 

This will be a perfect chance to record your African experience. The cruise takes two hours after which you will come back, and if time allows take an evening game drive. 

Drive back, relax, dinner and overnight.

Day Four

Wake up early morning, by 6.30 am, the African experience rocks again. Start a great game drive around the park. You have a wildlife guide with you, to tell you all about animals. This is a chance to see thousands of wildlife e.g., Monkeys, hyenas, lions, Elephants, Uganda Kobs, Warthogs, and thousands of beautiful birds. You will have a chance to view up to 604 different species of birds-the highest number of bird species to be found within any nature reserve in Africa.

The game drive takes up to 4 hours around the park. Remember to pass with your Camera to electronically record this experience.
Return for Breakfast at 10.00 a.m. After Breakfast head to a small park museum within the park, to learn about the history of the park.

Relax in the afternoon and prepare to return to the evening Game drive to further keep abreast with the wonders of Queen Elizabeth National park. 

Return, dinner and overnight.

Day Five

Today early morning within Queen Elizabeth you take a nature walk within Maramagambo forest. Maramagambo Forest is one of the largest forests in Uganda. It is a medium altitude moist, semi-deciduous forest. Characteristics of such forest are increasingly becoming rare in Africa. It has very spectacular lakes and craters. 

It is the only place in the park where one could find Blue Lakes. Other features of attraction in the forest include; primates e.g. Lhost monkeys, Chimpanzees, bush baby, baboons, vervet monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, etc. Due to its location, Maragambo has a high diversity of butterflies. The bat and the hunter’s cave are other pleasant experiences that the forest offers, and of course some forest birds.

In the afternoon transfer to the Southern part of the park in Ishasha sector where tree-climbing lions may be found perched on Savannah fig trees. There is a high concentration of game in this Savannah setting that includes Lake Edward and the Ishasha River flats, and the Ishasha riverine forest. The hippo pools in the Ishasha river and Congo escarpment provides splendid scenery.

So this afternoon you take a game drive to see the climbing lions, elephants and other primates within the park. 

In the evening, return to park offices, dinner and over night.

Day Six

Today you visit Kyambura Gorge. Kyambura river gorge is situated on Northeastern side of the Park (QENP) - 35 kms from Mweya the park headquarters. The Gorge spans a distance of 16 kms or 10 miles long and 100m/300ft deep, while the widest point is over 500 metres. The Gorge emerges between savannah grasslands. It forms an outstanding topographic feature in dramatic contrast to surrounding savannah landscape. 

The Gorge has a river line virgin forest that transits to papyrus swamps towards the Kazinga Channel. It is the only place in the Park where you can view the chimpanzees at close range - "Habituated" with other types of primates including B/W Colobus Monkey, Red-tailed monkey, baboons and vervet monkeys. 

The Gorge is also a habitat for concentration of birds - Peregrine Falcon, Falcon peregrinus, black be eater- Merops Mulleri and African Finfoot etc. The Gorge is an important water source for savannah animals Arrive at Kyambura at 9.00am and begin the trek to world of Chimps. The Guide will be by your side all day through to show primates like chimps, baboons, birds etc.

Return to Mweya Park Hostel, dinner and overnight.

Day Seven

Today is our final day in the wild. Wake up early morning and escape Queen Elizabeth National Park to Lake Mburo. Lying in extensive acacia woodland in the south of Uganda, Lake Mburo National Park is rich in biodiversity and a birding hotspot within easy reach of Kampala. We branch off to lake Mburo on your way to Kampala. Arrive there by 11 am and check with Park offices.

Early afternoon take a boat cruise with the park to see a variety of animals on Lake Mburo like crocodile, hippo, and pelicans, Black Crake and, with luck, Shoebill. The park supports 310 bird species in its forests and woodlands, papyrus swamps, grasslands and on its open waters.

Escape the park and return to Kampala arriving late in the evening.

Tour Price: USD 320 per person per day. (Based on Minimum 2 people)
 

This cost includes:  All park fees Transport- 4x4WD Gorilla permits Budget Accommodation Meals Airport transfers English speaking tour guides

Excludes: Shopping Accommodation Air Fare Tips Airfare Visa fees Alcoholic drinks