The 6 days best of Uganda safari is an exciting trip taking you to three of the best National Parks in the Pearl of Africa to see the country’s top wildlife species that include the endangered Mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Chimpanzees and other primate species in Kibale Forest National Park and four of the big five animals including the tree climbing lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in south-western Uganda is a 331 square kilometer National Park gazetted in 1991. It is one of the four extraordinary National Parks that offer shelter to the endangered Mountain gorillas with over 20 habituated gorilla families opened for tracking. What makes Bwindi your number one gorilla trekking destination is the fact that these gorilla families are distributed across sectors-four in number to include Buhoma in the north, Rushaga and Nkuringo in the south as well as Ruhija in the east. There are also other species of mammals, 350 species of birds and several species of butterflies.
Kibale Forest National Park on the western side of Uganda is known as the primate capital of the World with over 13 species of primates including the Chimpanzees. There are also over 75 species of mammals to see during your visit to Kibale Forest National Park.
Your 6 days best of Uganda safari will also lead you to Queen Elizabeth National Park, the second largest National Park in Uganda extending for 1978 square kilometers and home to over 95 species of mammals including the rare tree-climbing lions that are only found here.
What to expect during the 6 Days Best of Uganda safari
• Transport by a customized 4WD Vehicle.
• Gorilla trekking.
• Chimpanzee trekking.
• Wildlife viewing.
• Chance to see several bird species.
• Cultural tours.
• Boat cruise.
• Tour of Crater Lakes
• Exciting drive to the National Parks and beautiful scenery.
Itinerary highlights of the 6 Days Best of Uganda safari
Day 1: Transfer from Kampala to Kibale Forest National Park.
Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Day 3: Game viewing and afternoon boat cruise.
Day 4: Early morning game drive and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Day 5: Gorilla trekking and cultural tour.
Day 6: Departure.
Detailed itinerary of the 6 Days Best of Uganda safari
Day 1: Transfer from Kampala to Kibale Forest National Park
Have breakfast at the Hotel of residence then be picked by the company driver guide who will drive you to Kibale Forest National Park through the Kampala-Mityana-Mubende-Fort Portal road where your breath will be taken away by the breathtaking views of the vast Toro tea plantations and rock boulders. Have your first stop at Nakayima tree in Mubende and en-route lunch in Fort Portal Town. Upon arrival at the Park, you will head for a tour of the beautiful Crater Lakes where if on the season will encounter migratory bird species. Later retire to the Lodge to relax, have dinner and overnight.
Meal plan: Lunch and dinner.
Place of stay
• Budget: Rwenzori View Guesthouse
• Midrange: Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse or Chimps Nest.
• Luxury: Crater Safari Lodge or Primates Lodge.
Travel time: 5 hours.
Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Breakfast will be ready by 6:00 am, so after preparing for the forthcoming activity, converge at the Visitor Center where the rangers will be waiting for you. Join other trekkers for a briefing that usually lasts about 30 minutes and move/transfer to the trailhead. Start the guided and guarded trek through the jungles at 8:00 am and this thrilling process lasts 1-3 hours before the habituated chimpanzee community is finally found.
The ranger/guide will notify you once you are almost approaching the chimpanzee community that will be found playing, foraging, grooming or resting. This unforgettable trek also offers opportunities for encountering other residents of the forest such as elephants, buffaloes, blue monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, and L’Hoests monkeys as well as the black and white colobus monkeys. After the one hour with them, return to the Lodge for a sumptuous meal then check-out of the Lodge to start your 3-4 hours’ transfer journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
places to stay:
• Budget: Simba Safari Lodge or Mweya hostels.
• Midrange: Ihamba Safari Lodge or Kasenyi Safari Camp.
• Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge or Katara Lodge.
Journey time: 3-4 hours.
Day 3: Game viewing and afternoon boat cruise.
Arise to a cup of tea/coffee grown and harvested from the verdant highlands of western Uganda with fresh tropical fruits, then prepare for your first activity of the day. Have an early morning game drive through the vast plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park where you will find the animals-Uganda kobs, bushbucks, elephants, warthogs, buffaloes, waterbucks, elands and Topis grazing while the leopards and lions stealthily hiding in the tall grasses while hunting. The game drive also introduces you to some of the 600 species of birds that call this Park home. After the 2-3 hours’ drive, head back for a snack and later lunch.
Have an afternoon boat cruise along the magnificent Kazinga Channel where you will watch the hippos and crocodiles lazing along the banks of the channel as well as the elephants, buffaloes, and antelopes drinking water or cooling their bodies from the strong sun heat. Aquatic bird species will also be spotted during this boat cruise. Retire to the lodge to freshen up, dinner and overnight.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Place to stay:
• Budget: Simba Safari Lodge or Mweya hostels.
• Midrange: Ihamba Safari Lodge or Kasenyi Safari Camp.
• Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge or Katara Lodge.
Day 4: Early morning game drive and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Enjoy your breakfast and check-out of the Lodge then start your journey to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Slowly drive through the Park for a chance to see some of the wildlife species not spotted the previous day and since you will pass through the southern sector of Ishasha, you will also see the extraordinary tree-climbing lions relaxing on fig tree branches. Have lunch as Savannah Hotel and arrive at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in the afternoon.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.
Place to stay:
• Budget: Buhoma Community Rest Camp or Bwindi View Bandas.
• Midrange: Silverback Lodge, Lake Kitandara Bwindi Camp or Engagi Lodge
• Luxury: Buhoma Lodge/Mahogany Springs Camp
Journey time: 3 hours.
Day 5: Gorilla trekking and cultural tour.
Have breakfast and converge at the Park Headquarters for a briefing on the dos and don’ts of gorilla trekking as well as what to expect. Make sure to have enough drinking water, energy-giving snacks, walking stick, hat, sunglasses, camera, and rain jacket. Move to the trailhead while accompanied by an armed ranger as well as a UWA tour guide.
Start the trek and after 1-4 hours, you will be able to locate the allocated gorilla family and have fun watching and taking photos of them playing, feeding and resting. After the one hour, return to the Lodge for your lunch. Rest for some time they proceed for the cultural tour at the Batwa community where they will entertain you in invigorating dances, take you through their traditional houses, make fire from sticks and many other interesting activities as it used to be before they were evicted from the Forests. Return to the Lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.
Place to stay:
• Budget: Buhoma Community Rest Camp or Bwindi View Bandas.
• Midrange: Silverback Lodge, Lake Kitandara Bwindi Camp or Engagi Lodge
• Luxury: Buhoma Lodge/Mahogany Springs Camp
Day 6: Departure.
Enjoy breakfast and check-out before setting off for Kampala City (the country’s Capital) and have lunch in Mbarara. Stop at the Uganda Equator for 30 minutes to take photos, buy souvenirs as well as experience what it feels to step in two hemispheres at the same time. Arrive in the evening.
End of your 6 days best of Uganda safari
The 6 days best of Uganda safari package includes;
• Gorilla permit ($600 but will increase to $700 from 1st July 2020).
• Chimpanzee permit ($150 but will increase to $200 from 1st July 2020).
• Customized 4WD Vehicle for transportation plus fuel.
• Full-time English speaking guide.
• Bottled water.
• Accommodation for 5 nights.
• Relevant Government taxes.
• Meals including the en-route ones.
• Game viewing.
• Cultural tour.
• Other activities on the itinerary.
The 6 days best of Uganda safari package excludes;
• Personal expenses such as tips, laundry, souvenirs, and beverages.
• Airfares.
• Optional activities not included in the itinerary.
Primate trekking guidelines
• Maintain a distance of 7-8 meters when in the presence of Mountain gorillas and Chimpanzees.
• Avoid using flash photography.
• Do not eat, drink and smoke while in the presence of mountain gorillas or chimpanzees.
• Tourists are allowed to spend only one hour with the primates.
• Don’t enter the Forest if you are sick because mountain gorillas and Chimpanzees are susceptible to human diseases.
What to carry for the 6 days best of Uganda safari
• Non-flash camera
• Pair of binoculars.
• Warm clothes (long-sleeved shirt and safari pants).
• Insect repellant.
• Strong waterproof hiking boots.
• Torch.
• Wide-brimmed hat.
• Rain jacket.
• Waterproof backpack.
• Warm sweater.
• Cotton socks.
• Gardening gloves
• Energy giving snacks.
• Water bottle.
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