On arrival at Entebbe international airport, you will be warmly met by a company representative who will be your professional English speaking safari guide throughout this 5 days Uganda wildlife sighting and chimpanzee trekking safari who will be at the airport guest waiting lounge for meet and greet and then transfer you to your booked hotel in Entebbe town to check in, freshen yourself and later meet your safari guide at the reception to be briefed about the tour. The hotel is about 10-20 minutes’ drive from Entebbe international airport.
If time allows, drive to Entebbe botanical gardens for an evening walk where may encounter some primates and bird species as well as visiting the shores of Lake Victoria where you may spot some water birds 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 the source of the River Nile which is the longest on the planet. Lake Victoria is shared by the three East African Countries of Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya and the River Nile flows for more than 6,600 kilometers (4,100 miles) to the Mediterranean Sea from Lake Victoria in the north through over 5 Africa countries including Uganda, Egypt Ethiopia, Sudan, and South Sudan.
Accommodation; Via Via Guest House (Standard), 2 Friends Beach Hotel (Mid-range), Protea Hotel Entebbe by Marriott (Luxury)
Meal plan; Dinner
On this day your hot breakfast, meet your safari guide and get all your luggage packed in the vehicle, check out of the hotel (0700 am) and start your drive to Lake Mburo National park found in western Uganda south of Equator line. On your way to Lake Mburo national park, you will have a stopover at Uganda equator line located in Kayabwe which is believed to be separating the planet into two parts; the Northern and Southern hemisphere.
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. 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. 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.
After the water experiment, have a cup of coffee and then proceed with your journey to Lake Mburo national park too check in at your booked lodge, relax for some time, be served lunch, again relax and later at 0400 pm, drive to the park up-to 0900 pm for your evening and night wildlife sighting game drive safari where you will have an opportunity to spot several mammals like; the beautiful Zebras, Impalas, Giraffes, Elands, Topis, Waterbucks, other species of Antelopes, Warthogs, Caped buffaloes, Giraffes Leopard some primates like Olive baboons, vervet monkeys among others. Have a short break to relax, sip a bottle of water and proceed with the night game drive which will boost your chances to see the nocturnal mammals of park such as the spotted hyenas, Leopards, Civet, African rock python, Porcupine, Bush babies among others which are very difficult to see during day game drives. It is an interesting experience out in the park at night and Lake Mburo is one of the best parks for a night game drive. Dinner and an overnight.
Accommodation; Rwakobo Rock Lodge (standard & Mid-range), Mihingo Safari Lodge (Luxury)
Meal plan; Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Day 3 :
Lake Mburo national park – Horseback riding safari – Boat canoeing on Lake Bunyonyi – Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable forest national park
Wake up very early in the morning to have breakfast (700 am) go for the 2 hours’ horseback riding safari – a nature walk on horses in the park accompanied by an experienced guide. Without any doubt, horseback riding safari in Lake Mburo national park is one of the most amazing activity which gives an outstanding experience to view wildlife and do a nature walk while on top of a horse. During horseback riding safari, you will have opportunities to view animals like Zebras, Impalas, and the more shy one like Elands from a close range as they are so curious looking at their close relatives without black and white stripes. Horse riding is the most peaceful way to explore the park since it does not leave any footprints behind, cause noise and air pollution as it is when using a safari vehicle which will make you feel part of nature. After the lovely 2 hours’ horse riding safari, do more game drive to fully explore the park and have a chance to spot more animals. Thereafter, return to your lodge to have to full breakfast, check out and start your drive to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park with a stopover at Igongo cultural museum to tour the great museum which is one of the Uganda’s richest heritage with history and traditions of the Ankole people and southwest Uganda that will take you centuries back about the life of the Ankole people and then proceed with your journey with another stop at Lake Bunyonyi the deepest Lake in Uganda and one of the most beautiful lakes dotted with 29 small islands and each Island has its unique interesting story. On arrival at Lake Bunyonyi, have lunch and go for a 2 hours’ boat canoeing safari on Lake Bunyonyi to some Islands such as the Akampene Island which was used to punish girls who were found pregnant before marriage by isolating them there until death as a way of teaching a lesson to others not to do the same mistake. In an African culture, it is an abomination for a girl to get pregnant before marriage and it could cause disrespect to the family so, parents would work hard to keep their girls safe until they get officially married. After enjoying Lake Bunyonyi, continues with your drive to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park the best home to endangered mountain gorillas to check in at your booked lodge for dinner and an overnight.
Accommodation options; Broadbill Forest Camp (Standard), Bakiga Lodge (Mid-range) or Silverback Lodge (Luxury)
Meal plan; Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Wake up very early in the morning to have breakfast (700 am) go for the 2 hours’ horseback riding safari – a nature walk on horses in the park accompanied by an experienced guide. Without any doubt, horseback riding safari in Lake Mburo national park is one of the most amazing activity which gives an outstanding experience to view wildlife and do a nature walk while on top of a horse. During horseback riding safari, you will have opportunities to view animals like Zebras, Impalas, and the more shy one like Elands from a close range as they are so curious looking at their close relatives without black and white stripes. Horse riding is the most peaceful way to explore the park since it does not leave any footprints behind, cause noise and air pollution as it is when using a safari vehicle which will make you feel part of nature. After the lovely 2 hours’ horse riding safari, do more game drive to fully explore the park and have a chance to spot more animals. Thereafter, return to your lodge to have to full breakfast, check out and start your drive to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park with a stopover at Igongo cultural museum to tour the great museum which is one of the Uganda’s richest heritage with history and traditions of the Ankole people and southwest Uganda that will take you centuries back about the life of the Ankole people and then proceed with your journey with another stop at Lake Bunyonyi the deepest Lake in Uganda and one of the most beautiful lakes dotted with 29 small islands and each Island has its unique interesting story. On arrival at Lake Bunyonyi, have lunch and go for a 2 hours’ boat canoeing safari on Lake Bunyonyi to some Islands such as the Akampene Island which was used to punish girls who were found pregnant before marriage by isolating them there until death as a way of teaching a lesson to others not to do the same mistake. In an African culture, it is an abomination for a girl to get pregnant before marriage and it could cause disrespect to the family so, parents would work hard to keep their girls safe until they get officially married. After enjoying Lake Bunyonyi, continues with your drive to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park the best home to endangered mountain gorillas to check in at your booked lodge for dinner and an overnight.
Accommodation options; Broadbill Forest Camp (Standard), Bakiga Lodge (Mid-range) or Silverback Lodge (Luxury)
Meal plan; Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
On this day, rise up very early in the morning to have breakfast, get your packed lunch, meet your safari guide and drive to the park information office to meet other guests to be briefed on the guidelines to follow in the forest while searching for the mountain gorilla and then start your long time awaited for wildlife adventure. Meeting Mountain Gorilla in their natural habitat offers an once-in-a-lifetime experience that cannot be found anywhere in the world apart from Uganda, Rwanda and DR Congo and visitors that have had this experience before can give evidence that there is no any other wildlife experience in Africa matches spending an hour face-to-face with endangered mountain gorillas. In the course of mountain gorilla tracking, you may see many other wildlife species such as like Chimpanzees, Bush pigs, forest Elephants, and many bird species and the guide will be able to give you much information about species that you will encounter hence making your walk so adventurous and exciting. After you have met gorillas, you will be allowed stay with them for a maximum of 1 hour and you will be allow to take as many photos as you would want to keep your amazing moments with the mountain gorillas so, your camera has to be fully charged and on standby. After spending an hour with the mountain gorillas, return to the park offices to get your trekking certificate award of recognition for your support towards the conservation of the endangered mountain gorillas, enjoy your packed lunch and refreshments and later drive to Queen Elizabeth national park through Ishasha sector in the southern part of park to search for the tree climbing lions. These unique tree climbing lions are only found in Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth national park, Lake Manyara of Tanzania and Kruger national park in South Africa. However, Queen Elizabeth national park is the best park to see them. After the game drive, proceed to the northern sector of the park to check in at your booked lodge to relax, dinner and an overnight.
Accommodation options; Pumba Safari Cottages (Standard), Elephant Hab Safari Lodge (mid-range) or Mweya Safari Lodge (Luxury)
Meal plan; Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Wake up very early in the morning to have breakfast, have all your luggage packed in the vehicle and drive to Kalinzu forest reserve head office where you will be warmly welcomed by the site local guide, be briefed on Chimpanzee tracking and then start your forest walk to look out for chimpanzees and other primates in this forest. Kalinzu forest reserve is the second best forest in Uganda for chimpanzee experience with over 50 well habituated chimpanzee individual for visitor tracking. During chimpanzee tracking, you may encounter other of wildlife species such as over 380, other primates such as Red tailed monkeys, Blue monkeys, L’hoest’s monkeys, Olive baboons etc, about 261 butterfly species, 98 moths, reptiles and flowers. The time taken during Chimpanzee tracking in Kalinzu forest reserve is not known but it may be between 1 to 4 hours depending on the location of chimpanzee, once you encounter them, you will be allowed to stay with them for a maximum of 1 hour and free to take as many photos as possible. After meeting chimpanzees, return to the forest offices to freshen yourself with a bottle of water and then start your drive back Entebbe or Entebbe international airport with a stopover at Igongo cultural museum to have lunch and the drive straight to Kampala or Entebbe. This will be the end 5 days Uganda wildlife sighting and chimpanzee trekking safari.
Meal plan; Breakfast / Lunch
