7 Days African Big Five and Chimpanzee Safari

This 7 Days Uganda African Big Five Safari takes you to visit some of Uganda’s unique destinations; some must visit destinations in the Pearl of Africa. You shall visit Murchison Falls National Park, home to the world’s strongest waterfalls with an en-route walking safari at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary; combining Murchison Falls with Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary gives you the only opportunity to sight the African Big Five in Uganda. You shall have game drives and a boat cruise to the bottom of the falls and later a visit to the top of the Falls.

The safari shall as well take you to visit man’s closest cousin – the chimpanzee in their natural habitat at Kibale National Park combined with community visits and game safari experiences at Queen Elizabeth and Lake Mburo National Parks where you’ll be able to go on free range walking safaris in the National Park. You shall be accompanied by an experienced local English speaking driver guide who is well conversant with the destinations, knowledgeable and an expert in the field of guiding.

Safari Overview

SAFARI HIGHLIGHTS

  • Rhino Trekking
  • Game Drives
  • Walking Safari
  • Community Encounters
  • Boat Cruise on the River Nile
  • Chimpanzee Trekking
  • Countryside Escapes
  • Full board accommodation at selected Lodges
  • All game drives and activities as per itinerary
  • 1 Chimpanzee tracking permit and all national park entrance fees
  • Water during lunch and dinner (500ML per person per meal)
  • Service of a qualified English Speaking Guide
  • Transport in a 4×4 Safari Land cruiser as necessary
  • 1 Litter bottled mineral drinking water per person per day while on the road in the car
  • All international flights and taxes
  • Any Domestic Flights
  • Visas at USD 50 per person for single entry visa
  • Travel and Personal accident insurance
  • Excursions not detailed in the itinerary
  • Personal nature items like laundry
  • Tips and porterage at the hotels and lodges including tips at meals
  • Porterage during Chimpanzee trekking

Detailed Itinerary

DAY 1: ARRIVE AT ENTEBBE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

You will arrive at Entebbe International Airport and will be met by our representative who will transfer you to your booked hotel at Entebbe. Spend the rest of the day at leisure.

DAY 2: ENTEBBE TO MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK

Today, you shall wake up early for your morning breakfast, prepare to check out and start your transfer journey to Murchison Falls National Park. En-route, you shall have a stopover at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for a walking safari to see the endangered White Rhinos. At the sanctuary, look out for other animals like the bush back, Uganda kobs and several birds. From here you shall set off for Murchison Falls with en-route lunch at Kabalega Dinners, reaching the park in the early evenings with a visit to the top of Murchison Falls for aerial views and a short game drive en-route to your lodge for dinner and overnight. Murchison Falls lies on the northern end of the albertine rift valley and is Uganda’s largest national park. The park is home to 76 mammals, 451 bird species and is bisected by the Victoria Nile which plunges down 15 meters through an 8 meter wide gorge to form the world’s most powerful water falls that is Murchison Falls, the main attraction of the park.

DAY 3: MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK

You shall wake up early and head out to the plains for your morning game drive carrying with you packed breakfast. Early mornings are superb times to catch up with the predators on their hunt for prey, a time to see the wild unfold its natural beauty to you. As the sun raises, the lions roar, birds sing, hippos gulp in the Nile, all these unfold in your eyes. Look out for animals like lions, elephants, giraffes, antelopes, jackals among others.

You shall have lunch at your lodge and there after transfer to Paraa for your launch cruise to the bottom of the falls. This 3 hours boat cruise on the Nile is prime for views of wildlife on the banks including elephants, antelopes, buffalos that come to the river to quench on the waters of the Nile. The Nile crocodile can as well be sighted, don’t mind it if you aren’t fan of reptiles. On lucky days, the big boys including the Lions, Leopards and Hyenas can as well be sighted along the river.The cruise ends at the point where you have a full view of the waterfalls, seeing thousands of tons of water squeeze through a 7 meter wide gorge to plunge 30 meters down forming the world’s strongest waterfall. Later on, return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

DAY 4: TO KIBALE NATIONAL PARK

You shall wake up for your morning breakfast, checkout of the lodge and start your transfer journey to Kibale National Park driving towards Kibale with en-route picnic before extending to Fort Portal; Uganda’s Tourism City, the only city with an English name in Uganda. Fort Portal is set on the foothills of the Rwenzori, the tallest block of mountains in Uganda and third tallest in Africa. The jagged hills give the city an amazing wallpaper look that will leave you wondering about its creation story. After lunch, drive to Kibale Forest, checking in at your lodge that is set on the boundary with the forest. Enjoy the natural views as you settle in for dinner and overnight. Prepare for another ultimate adventure tomorrow.

DAY 5: KIBALE NATIONAL PARK TO QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK

You shall wake up early in the morning for your breakfast and thereafter set off for the transfer to Kanyanchu Visitor Information center at Kibale National Park. You will be briefed about the chimp tracking experience by the rangers and thereafter head out into the forest in small groups led by a ranger. The tracking experience can take between 1 to 3 hours depending on the location of the chimp community. You will be allowed to spend up to an hour in the company of the chimps, take photos and videos as much as you can. You shall thereafter go for your community experience at Bigodi Village.

The community experience takes you through the daily life of the local people; you will meet local herbs men, blacksmith and local crafts women. The  Bigodi wetland is a project being run by local communities and is much known for its rich diversity of bird species and other primates. It also provides employment and job opportunities to the local youth through tour guiding. You shall have your lunch after the community experience and there after set off for a 2 hours transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Enjoy a game drive until the sun sets; look out for grazers and some predators spotting for their prey.

DAY 6: QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK

After an early morning breakfast, depart for your morning game drive in the Kasenyi savannah plains. Look out for grazers and predators such as Lions, Leopards, Buffalos, Elephants, Antelopes, Warthogs, Waterbucks, Bush bucks and so on. You shall go for a mid-morning boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel after your game drive; the channel connects Lake Edward and Lake George. It is home to one of Africa’s largest hippo populations and bird species. This 3hrs boat cruise will enrich you with views of the water loving animals such as Hippos, Elephants, Buffalos, Crocodiles and other antelopes as well as bird species. Return to your lodge for lunch and, embark on your journey to Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda’s smallest savannah park and also the closest park to Kampala.

The park is home to lots of antelopes, buffalo, giraffe, zebras, warthogs and predators like leopards. It is the only park where walking safaris can be conducted in Uganda.

Check in to the park for an evening game drive en-route to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

DAY 7: LAKE MBURO NATIONAL PARK TO ENTEBBE

This morning after your breakfast, you shall head out into the park for your game drive that shall be combined with a walking safari in the park. Lake Mburo National Park is the only park in Uganda where you can walk in close proximity with wildlife. Animals like zebras, elands, giraffe, buffalo, and lots of antelope call this small savannah park home.

You shall thereafter check out of the lodge for the transfer journey back to Entebbe with en-route lunch at The Equator point. You shall be dropped off at the airport for your out bound international flight or at your home.

Other Packages

Encounter Gorillas, Big Game and Local Communities on this Safari across Uganda.

A Traditional African Safari to both Game and Primates whilst staying at Classic Safari Lodges.

Gorilla Tracking adventure combined with Big Game Safari in Uganda’s most visited National Parks.