Safari Overview
Kibale – Semuliki – Queen Elizabeth – Bwindi
One week of the best Ugandan primates and grassland species. From the lions and elephants of Queen Elizabeth to chimpanzee tracking in Kibale and the incredible mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
We explore the dense African rainforest and its plethora of primates and birds, make a quick journey to see crater lakes and savannah, and head back into the jungle and the majesty of the mountain gorillas.
Itinerary
Day 1: Kampala – Fort Portal
The tour begins with a five hour drive to Fort Portal on the edge of Kibale Forest, lying beneath the impressive Rwenzori Mountains of the Moon.
After settling into our base, we set out to explore the surrounds of Fort Portal and enjoy an evening’s entertainment by traditional (kikiga) dancers.
Day 2: Kibale National Park
We rise early for the short journey to Kibale; Uganda’s most accessible rainforest and the best primate viewing in Africa. Expect an intense and enjoyable morning tracking chimpanzees and on the look out for L’Hoest’s monkeys, red colobus, blue monkeys, red-tailed monkeys and grey-cheeked mangabeys.
In the afternoon we drive to the Congo border right under the Rwenzori Mountains and into the Semuliki National Park jungle.
Day 3: Semuliki National Park
A full day in the dense forest of Semuliki, the closest habitat in East Africa to true Central African jungle. The new Semuliki National Park is a lowland, dense forest, with exotic primates, hundreds of bird species and a good selection of mammals. Its location on the shore of Lake Albert provides excellent shoreline game viewing.
Day 4: Queen Elizabeth National Park – Mweya
We leave after breakfast and head to Queen Elizabeth National Park. In contrast to the forest life and close environment of the previous days, the open plains and variety of Queen Elizabeth can bring a certain relief. This park hosts an incredible 95 species of mammal and 600 birds – the highest in Uganda (if not all Africa).
Our tour of Queen Elizabeth begins with a boat trip down the Kazinga Channel: a real spectacle of hippos, buffalo, birds and shoreline mammals.
Day 5: Northern Circuit – Bwindi National Park
Rise early for a full morning of game drive across the plains and crater lakes of Queen Elizabeth’s northern circuit. You can expect to encounter thousands of Ugandan kob, lions, elephants and the possibility of flamingos on the lakes. We then head back to base for lunch and the journey to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
Day 6: Bwindi National Park
The highlight of many safaris – gorilla trekking in Bwindi National Park (subject to permit availability at the time of booking). This can take up the whole day and can be very tiring – the ground is steep and densely forested – but it really is worth it.
Treks can take an hour or they can take four – it all depends on where the gorillas are. And so the time remaining after visiting the gorillas can either be spent relaxing and remembering the trek or hiking in the foothills and visiting local communities – its up to you.
Day 7: Bwindi – Kampala
Up early again for a quick tour of the foothills and then its the long journey back to Kampala, where the tour ends.