SUMMARY

Day 1: Depart Entebbe/Kampale – Travel to Murchison Falls National Park 

Day 2: Game drive – Boat cruise

Day 3: Chimpanzee Tracking in Budongo Forest

Day 4:  Transfer to Semuliki National Park

Day 5: Game drive – Explore the Sempaya hot springs

Day 6: Transfer to Kibale National Park

Day 7: Chimpanzee Tracking – Departure to Kampala/Entebbe

 DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1: Depart Entebbe/Kampale – Travel to Murchison Falls National Park 

After breakfast, our representative from Great Nest Image Safaris will pick you from the hotel and hit the road to Murchison Falls National Park. En route, make a visit to Ziwa Rhino sanctuary for your first Big 5 experience where you will have an hour of rhino tracking and another stop will be in Masindi for lunch.

We shall then proceed with our journey to Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s largest National Park where you will have the chance of viewing lions, giraffes, hartebeest, buffalo, and elephants. Reaching in the park late afternoon, you will visit the falls at the top where you will see the magnificent falls passing through the 7 m gap with rocks and form the Victoria Nile. Later you will check in your lodge and relax for the evening.

Accommodation

• Red Chili Rest Camp
• (Budget lodge located inside Murchison Falls National Park)

Meals & Drinks

•  Breakfast
• Bottled drinking water

Day 2: Game drive – Boat cruise

You will have your breakfast early in the morning and go for an early morning game drive across the rolling plains of Uganda’s largest National Park and be on the lookout for wildlife including lions, giraffe, elephants among others. For any birder, there are quite a number of birds to sight too during the drive like the kingfishers, standard night jar, herons and more. Later return to the lodge for some rest and lunch. After lunch, you will head out for a 2-3hr boat trip/launch cruise 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 like the kingfishers, wagtails, herons, shoebill and many more. Continue with a hike (if you like) to the top of the falls as you enjoy the thunderous roars of the magnificent falls as they make their way through an 8m gorge and falling at 43m to meet again the Victoria Nile. The hike may be a strenuous one but the thrill on reaching the top is unforgettable. Return to your accommodation and have a relaxed evening.

Accommodation

• Red Chili Rest Camp
• (Budget lodge located inside Murchison Falls National Park)

Meals & Drinks

•  Breakfast
• Bottled drinking water

Day 3: Chimpanzee Tracking in Budongo Forest

After an early morning breakfast, you will leave for chimpanzee tracking within Budongo forest and this takes approximately 3 to 5 hours. The forest is as well known for its special Mahogany tree species which are very tall. In addition, there are numerous primates including the forest galago, red-tailed monkeys, potto as well as blue monkey, in addition to several bird species like the yellow-footed eye catcher and the white-thighed hornbill. Later you will return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation

• Red Chili Rest Camp
• (Budget lodge located inside Murchison Falls National Park)

Meals & Drinks

•  Breakfast
• Bottled drinking water

Day 4: Transfer to Semuliki National Park

After your breakfast, you will drive to Semuliki National Park situated in Bundibugyo District along the western border of Uganda. On the way, you will enjoy this spectacular drive with views of Lake Albert and the legendary Mountain Rwenzori ranges. The park has a great location within western Albertine Rift valley region and occupies the eastern section of Ituri forest connecting Uganda with Congo River separated by river Semuliki. The park has got approximately 400 species of bird mainly forest birds. In the evening you can decide to go for a night game drive through the park. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

Accommodation

• Ntoroko Game Lodge
• (Mid-range guest house located just inside Semuliki National Park)

Meals & Drinks

• Breakfast
• Bottled Drinking water

Day 5: Game drive – Explore the Sempaya hot springs

You will have breakfast, after you will drive to the Toro Semuliki wildlife reserve for a chance to catch up with early species that rush from their hideouts, animals to see include the savannah elephants, waterbucks, buffaloes, warthogs, Uganda kobs, crocodiles and bush babies. You will return to the lodge for lunch and after setting out and visit the Sempaya hot springs. These springs have a geyser that shoots up from the 8 meters hole, and the water is at a high temperature. Hot springs of Sempaya has a temperature of more than 100 degrees Celsius with hot surrounding pools and here will also have a chance to taste boiled eggs and bananas; boiled from the springs. Along the trail where the hot springs are located, you will be in line to see a number of birds such as the Blue breasted Kingfisher and various primates such as the red-tailed monkeys, and the grey cheeked mangabey. Later, you will proceed to Mungilo waterfalls where you will have an opportunity of seeing a number of beautiful bird species which is a great time for birders. Later you will return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation

• Ntoroko Game Lodge
• (Mid-range guest house located just inside Semuliki National Park)

Meals & Drinks

• Breakfast
• Bottled Drinking water

Day 6: Transfer to Kibale National Park

After breakfast, you will drive to Kibale National Park while enjoying the beautiful drive southwest through Fort Portal where you will have a lunch break. You will have different sights like; the Toro Kingdom palace, Royal tombs, the mosque, several shops and much more Kibale National Park is popular for its primates like the chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys and L’Hoest’s monkey and while on your chimpanzee trails, you will see them swinging in the forest trees and others feeding on the wild fruits. This park is also one of the great rain forests in Africa and has the largest community of chimpanzees consisting of 1-100 individuals. Later after lunch, you will take a guided nature walk to Bigodi swamp sanctuary, a good site for birders and here watch out for the Great Blue Turaco, Papyrus Gonolek, herons and kingfishers among others. Other primate species to view include the bush pigs, baboons, bush bucks and more. Dinner and overnight stay at your lodge.

Accommodation

• Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse
• (Mid-range guest house located just outside Kibale Forest National Park)

Meals & Drinks

• Breakfast
• Bottled Drinking water 

Day 7: Chimpanzee Tracking – Departure to Kampala/Entebbe

After an early morning breakfast, you will go to the park headquarters where you will be briefed about the dos and don’ts while doing chimpanzee trekking. After, you will start your search for the chimpanzees within the park and this can take you half a day depending on the movements of these primates. These primates are the closest relatives to the human being, and they share 98% of their DNA with that of the human beings. There are other primates in the area like the golden monkeys, baboons, L’Hoest monkey, white and black Colobus monkeys, red Colobus and blue monkeys. Other animals to watch include forest elephants unique from the common type and giant forest hogs. Later on, return to Kampala/Entebbe with lunch along the way and this will end our safari.

END OF SAFARI TOUR

BEST TIME TO VISIT

The park can be visited throughout the year and all the activities can be enjoyed any time of the year.

PERMITS

In Uganda chimpanzee tracking is done throughout the year and the Chimpanzee permit goes for $250 per person.

ACTIVITIES

• Nature walks
• Zziwa rhino tracking
• Visit the top of the falls
• Chimpanzee tracking
• Game drives
• Boat cruies

Number of Days

7 Days / 6 Nights

Included

• All Park entry fees
• Chimpanzee tracking fees
• A professional driver/guide
• All transportation including fuel
• All activities (included in the itinerary)
• All accommodation (included in the itinerary)
• All Taxes/VAT
• Roundtrip/Airport transfer
• Drinking water
• Ferry crossing fees

Excluded

• International flights
• Personal items
• Meals
• Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
• Tips
• Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees

Standard 4X4 Safari Vans/Land cruisers

Our standard mode of transport is by road and we use 4×4 Safari van and Land cruisers with open roof tops customized for game viewing and photography.  Each Safari van/Land cruiser comes with a professionally trained driver/guide with fuel for the whole safari. Each client is entitled to a window seat and can take up to 8-10 people. We also have very comfortable super customs which can carry up 6 people with their luggage also have small vehicles like Alphads, Harrier and much more that can carry 4-5 people.