On arrival at Entebbe international airport, you will be warmly met by a company representative with your professional English speaking safari guide to meet and greet and then be transferred to your booked hotel in Entebbe town to check in, freshen yourself and later meet with our company representative and safari guide at the hotel lobby to brief you about your 7- Days Uganda wildlife, birding and primate experience safari. The hotel is about 10-20 minutes’ drive from Entebbe international airport on the shores of Lake Victoria.
Later, if time allows, drive to Entebbe botanical gardens that is found on the shore of Lake Victoria for a walking safari. Botanical gardens is a home to some primates such as Vervet monkeys and several bird species. The walking safari will take you to the shores of Lake Victoria where you will spot some water birds, enjoy the fresh breezes from the lake as well as getting used to the Uganda’s beautiful nature. Lake Victoria is the largest water body in Africa and second largest fresh water body in the world and shared by three East African Countries (Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya). Lake Victoria is also the source of the River Nile which is the longest river on the planet flowing for more than 6,600 kilometers (4,100 miles) from Lake Victoria to the Mediterranean Sea in the north through several African countries these include Uganda, Egypt, Sudan, and South Sudan. Later, return to your hotel for dinner and an overnight.
Accommodation: Via Via Guest House (Standard) or Protea Hotel by Marriott Entebbe (Luxury)
Meal plan: Dinner
Rise up very early in the morning to have breakfast (0600 am), check out of your hotel and then start your adventurous drive to Queen Elizabeth national park found in western Uganda. On your way to Queen Elizabeth national park, you will have a stopover at Igongo cultural center in Mbarara city to have lunch, tour the Museum one of the Uganda’s richest heritage with history, traditions, and lifestyle of the Ankole people and southwest Uganda that will take you centuries back about the life of the. Thereafter, proceed with the journey to Queen Elizabeth national park where you will arrive early evening to check in at your booked lodge to freshen up, spend some time at leisure. Queen Elizabeth national park is understandably one of the Uganda’s most popular national park with diverse ecosystems such as humid forests, sprawling savanna plains, shady, fertile wetlands, and sparkling lakes that make it an ideal habitat to 95 mammal species such as the classic big games (Elephants, Caped buffaloes, Lions and Leopards), several antelope species (Uganda Kobs, Waterbucks, Topis among others) ten primate species including chimpanzees and over 600 species of birds. Later in the evening go for an evening game drive safari to start enjoying the jungle. During your evening game drive safari you will have a chance to spot several wildlife species such as Elephants, African caped buffaloes, several Antelope species, Warthorgs, some primates and you encounter some big African predators such as Lions, Spotted hyenas, Leopard and others since they are so active during evening hours. Later after the game drive, return to your lodge to have dinner and an overnight.
Accommodation: Pumba Safari Cottage (Standard) or Mweya Safari Lodge (Luxury)
Meal plan: Breakfast/ Lunch / Dinner
After having breakfast, leave the lodge and drive to Maramagambo Forest and check out for more bird species. Maramagambo forest is famous bird watching place in Queen Elizabeth national park which contains many forest bird species like the fawn breasted waxbill, Dark capped yellow warbler, Sulphur breasted bush shrike, black headed batis, bat hawk, African green pigeon, Ross’s turaco, red tailed bristle bill, black rumped button, pink backed pelican, martial eagle African skimmer, white tailed lark, papyrus gonolek, Chapin’s fly catcher, papyrus canary and many more. After spot several bird species in Maramagambo forest return to your lodge to relax, have lunch and then drive to Katunguru Bridge and best place to spot papyrus swamp bird species such as Gull-billed Tern, Pied Kingfisher, White-winged Tern, Lesser Swamp Warbler, Malachite Kingfisher, White-winged Warbler, Greater Swamp Warbler Papyrus Gonolek, Carruther’s Cisticola among others. After the birding tour in the Maramagambo forest, return to your lodge to have lunch and later go for a birding and boat cruise safari on the Kazinga channel up-to Mweya peninsular the site between the Kazinga Channel and Lake Edward where you will be able to see water bird species like; African Mourning Dove, Raptors, Diederik Cuckoo, Slender-tailed Nightjar, Squire-tailed Nightjar, Swamp Nightjar among others as well as several wildlife animals both aquatic and land mammals such as hippos, Nile-crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes and many others. Dinner and an overnight.
Key bird species in Maramagambo Forest include; Little Grebe, Red-chested Cuckoo, African Finfoot, African Emerald Cuckoo, Black Cuckoo, Black Coucal, Yellowbill, Black Bee-eater, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Barbets, Blue-throated Roller, Brown-eared Woodpecker, Red-throated Wryneck, Honeyguide Greenbul, Red-shouldered Cuckoo-shrike, Dark-capped Warbler, Blue-shouldered Robin-Cht, Broad-tailed Warbler, Green Crombec, Croaking Cisticola, African Moustached Warbler, Black-and-white Shrike Flycatcher, Black-headed Batis, African Paradise Flycatcher, Chestnut Wattle-eye, Brubru, Brown Illadopsis, Sulphur-breasted Bush-shrike, Marsh Tchagra, Black Bishop, Western Black-headed Oriole, Fork-tailed Drongo, White-breasted Negrofinch, Blue-naped Mousebird, Pin-tailed Whydah, Grey-Headed Kingfisher, Little Bee-eater, Pygmy Kingfisher, Red-capped Lark, Nubian Woodpecker, Swallows, Martins, Grey-capped Warbler, Swifts, Scarlet-chested Sunbird, Swamp Flycatcher, Black-headed Gonolek, Red-chested Sunbird, Slender-billed Weaver, Lesser Masked Weaver, Pin-tailed Whydah, Yellow-backed Weaver.
Key bird species in Katunguru Bridge Area; Gull-billed Tern, Pink-backed Pelican, Pied Kingfisher, White-winged Tern, Lesser Swamp Warbler, Malachite Kingfisher, Greater Swamp Warbler, White-winged Warbler, Papyrus Gonolek and Carruther’s Cisticola.
Key bird species in Mweya peninsular include; African Mourning Dove, Raptors, Squire-tailed Nightjar, Diederik Cuckoo, Swamp Nightjar, Slender-tailed Nightjar, Grey-Headed Kingfisher, Blue-naped Mousebird, Little Bee-eater, Pygmy Kingfisher, Red-capped Lark, Nubian Woodpecker, Swallows, Martins, Swifts, Swamp Flycatcher, Grey-capped Warbler, Red-chested Sunbird, Scarlet-chested Sunbird, Lesser Masked Weaver, Black-headed Gonolek, Yellow-backed Weaver, Slender-billed Weaver and Pin-tailed Whydah
Accommodation: Pumba Safari Cottages (Standard) or Mweya Safari Lodge (Luxury)
Meal plan: Breakfast /Lunch / Dinner
Today rise up very early to have breakfast, get all your luggage loaded in the vehicle, check out of lodge and the drive to Kalinzu central forest reserve to tracking the chimpanzees in their natural home. Kalinzu Forest Reserve is one of the best places in Uganda to meet to track chimpanzees and other primates such as black and white colobus, Olive baboon, L’hoest guenon, red-tailed monkey and other mammals like both blue and red duiker, giant forest hog, bushbuck, waterbuck. Kalinzu forest reserve is estimated to have over 350 individual chimpanzees and about 70 of them are well-habituated for tracking. On arrival at the forest center you will be briefed on the rules and regulations to follow when tracking chimpanzee by the site guide and then start your forest walk to lookout for chimpanzees, others primates plus bird species. The time taken while looking chimpanzees is not known but expected to be between 1 to 5 hours once you have spotted them, you will be allowed to stay with them for a maximum of one hour and you will be free to take as many photos as you would want. After chimpanzee tracking safari, have lunch and then start the journey to Ishasha sector found in the southern parts of Queen Elizabeth national park known for being at to the tree climbing lions. The unique tree climbing lions are only found in the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth national park in Uganda with 4 prides, Lake Manyara of Tanzania with 2 prides and Kruger national park in South Africa. On arrival at Ishasha sector, check in at your booked lodge to have lunch, refresh, spend some time at leisure and later early evening, drive to the park for an evening game drive safari to lookout for the unique tree climbing lions and other wildlife species such as Elephants, Topi, Uganda Kobs, Buffaloes and many other wildlife species. In Uganda, the tree climbing lions can only be found in Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth national park with 4 prides and in other countries can only be found in Lake Manyara of Tanzania with 2 prides and Kruger national park in South Africa. After the game drive, return to your lodge to relax till time to be served dinner and an overnight.
Accommodation: Topi Safari Lodge (Mid-range) or Ishasha Wilderness Camp (Luxury)
Meal plan: Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner
Rise up early morning to have breakfast, get your binoculars, snacks, drinking water and then drive to Ishasha Sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park to search for the bird species. Ishasha sector, offers one of the best bird watching experience in Queen Elizabeth national where you can have an opportunity to spot several and unique bird species plus mammals. Ishasha sector has some special mammals to keep an eye out for, savannah birds and the top vulture of the region such as Africa`s most spirited eagle the Marshal eagle, Lappet faced vulture, larks and can try to tick off the rare Dusky blue flycatcher on the Ishasha River. Have a short break to relax, have lunch and then proceed with your day activity, as well as looking for the tree climbing lions one of the main sights of park which is are often found hanging on the acacia and the fig tree branches, looking down on the antelopes feeding on the savannah grasslands and others species such as Elephants, Buffaloes, Warthogs among others. Later early evening leave Ishasha sector to northern sector of Queen Elizabeth national park to check in at your booked accommodation to relax, dinner and overnight.
Key bird species to be able to sight Ishasha sector include; Giant Kingfisher, African Darter, Long-toed Plover, Osprey, Veracious Dove, Grey-headed Kingfisher, Abyssinian Ground, Black-headed Lapwing, Hornbill, Yellow-fronted Tinker bird, Rock Pratincole, Black-billed Barbet, wood pecker, Long-tailed Nightjar bird, Vulture, white headed barbet, Grey-backed, African green pigeon, Common bulbul, White- browed Robin-Chat, fiscal among others and you will absolutely love the birding tour in Ishasha sector in Queen Elizabeth national park.
Accommodation: Broadbill Forest Camp (Standard) or Mahogany Springs Lodge (Luxury)
Meal plan: Breakfast /Lunch / Dinner
Day 6 of the 7- days Uganda wildlife, birding and primate experience safari, wake up early morning (0600am) to organize yourself, arrange the necessary equipment during mountain gorilla trekking such as camera, binoculars, insect repellants, get well-dressed in a recommend style for mountain gorilla trekking like long khaki /jean trouser, long sleeved shirt, water proof hiking boots, a rain jacket, heavy duty gloves and round hats, have heavy breakfast, get your packed lunch boxes, get enough drinking water and meet your safari guide to be transferred to the park information offices to join other guests to be briefed about mountain gorilla trekking dos and don’ts, how to behave in the presence of mountain gorillas and the expectations, be allocated a mountain gorilla family to track, UWA ranger and the forest guide. We would recommend you to hire a porter to help you carry your packed bag other and your other items you would need during mountain gorillas. After pre-mountain gorilla trekking session, start your forest walk in search for the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitats.
The time taken before encountering your allocated mountain gorilla family is not known however, it may be between 45mins to 4 hours depending on the movements and location of gorilla family therefore, you should be physically and mentally prepared to walk a long distance through the forest that is made of hills and with no clear walking trails that are only made on that particular time of tracking by the your guide depending on the direction that can easily lead you to the location of the gorilla family. That is why, it is recommended to carry enough water to keep you hydrated and snacks to keep you with enough energy since you use a lot of energy when walking through the forest in search for the mountain gorillas.
Once you encounter the mountain gorilla family, the excitement of seeing the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat, will outweigh the hardship went through while searching for them. A mountain gorilla family can be made of several members such as the giant silverback who is always the head and protector of the family, mothers, infants and juveniles. The time you will spend with the mountain gorillas, you get to know much about their behaviors, how they socializes and be excited with their actions like the playful babies, mothers grooming their babies and the Mr. silverback watching the situation silently as he is ready to protect the family from any kind of attack. You will spend a maximum of one hour with the mountain gorillas and you will be free to capture as many photos and recording videos as you would want to keep your great memories with the mountain gorilla family in the jungle. Thereafter an hour with the mountain gorilla family, return to the trekking start point to receive your mountain trekking certificate in appreciation of your contribution to the conservation of the endangered mountain gorillas in Uganda. Have refreshments, enjoy your full lunch and then drive to Lake Mburo national park where you will an opportunity to experience the jungle at night. On arrival at Lake Mburo national park, check in your lodge, relax for some time and later go for a night game drive safari to enjoy the jungle at night and to boost your chances of seeing nocturnal wildlife species. Being in the jungle at night is one of the lifetime safari experiences in Africa. So, during your night game drive safari, you will have a higher chance of spotting some nocturnal animals such as leopards, porcupines, bush babies, grazing hippos, spotted hyenas, African rock pythons, and many others. Beyond seeing animals, you will have a chance to listen to the night sounds of the jungle and feel how calm the jungle is at night. After exploring the jungle at night, return to the lodge for an overnight.
Accommodation: Rwakobo Rock Lodge (Mid-range) or Mihingo Safari Lodge (Luxury)
Meal plan: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Early morning be up to get simple breakfast, get your packed breakfast drive to the park to have a chance to watch the early risers of the park such as the Red-faced Barbet which is endemic to the park, Grey-capped Warbler, cuckoos, Brown-chested Lapwing, black-headed weaver, Rufous-napped Lark, Black-bellied Bustard, Lilac-breasted roller and many more. Later have a short break enjoy your full breakfast and proceed with your safari. You will go through different bird habitats include the roadsides between Rwonyo camp and the jetty, the swampy valleys of Warukiri and Miriti, Rubanga Forest where you will encounter bird species like the Rufous-bellied Heron, Coqui Francolin, Bateleur, Black-bellied Bustard, Grey Crowned Crane, Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove, Brown-chested Lapwing, Red-headed Lovebird, Brown Parrot, Bare-faced Go-away-bird, Ross’s Turaco, Common Scimitarbill, Green Wood-hoopoe, Red-faced Barbet, White-headed Barbet, Red-shouldered Cuckoo-shrike, Nubian Woodpecker, Yellow-breasted Apalis, Long-tailed Cisticola and White-winged Tit which make the park to be a real draw for keen birders. While at Lake Mburo national park you will see several wildlife animals such as Zebras, Impalas, African caped buffaloes, Giraffes, Elands and several antelope species. Later after the game drive and birding safari, return to the lodge to have early lunch and check out of the lodge and then start your drive back to Entebbe international airport to prepare for your return flight. On your way to Entebbe international airport, you will have a stopover at the Uganda equator line located in Kayabwe, which is believed to separate the planet into two parts; the Northern and Southern hemispheres.
While at the equator landmark, you will see the water experiment which is done to show how forces move differently on each side of the planet and to prove the difference between the two hemispheres for example water drains from the funnel in a clockwise motion on the northern hemisphere whereas it drains down in an anti-clockwise motion on the southern hemisphere. Here, the sun rises and sets rapidly and the temperatures and weather is largely constant all year through, take some memorial photos with one foot in the southern hemisphere and another one in the northern hemisphere which will give you an opportunity to take a photo while standing in both sides of the world at the same time. It is also said that while standing at the equator line, your body weight is reduced by about 3kgs so, you will have a chance to prove this statement right or false. After the water experiment, have lunch, visit some craft shops to buy some souvenir which are fully designed in a Ugandan local art. After staying at the Uganda equator for some time, proceed with your journey to Entebbe international airport to prepare for your return flight. This will be the end of your 7 Days Uganda wildlife, birding and primate experience safari.
Meal plan: Breakfast / Lunch
