Uganda Budget Safari Itinerary

Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale National Park

day 3-4: kibale forest

Kibale National Park is a national park in western Uganda, protecting moist evergreen rainforest. It is 766 square kilometres (296 sq mi) in size and ranges between 1,100 metres (3,600 ft) and 1,600 metres (5,200 ft) in elevation. Despite encompassing primarily moist evergreen forest, it contains a diverse array of landscapes.

Go to a game drive out of the park to Kibale Forest via Fortportal. Kibale Forest is one of Africa’s beautiful rain forests and home to 13 primates and most common ones are Chimpanzees, it is also a great place for birders since it harbors over 325 bird species. Driving to this park great scenic views are spotted along the way. Have a nature walk in the evening in the park.

Breakfast, head to the park head offices for briefing and after set out for Chimpanzee tracking through the forest. Remember that only 1 hour is given to trackers when they meet with the chimpanzees. On seeing chimpanzees, other primates can be spotted such as the Red Tailed Monkeys, LHoest’s Monkeys, Blue Monkeys, Black & White colobus Monkeys among others and also elephants, antelopes, buffaloes can be spotted in the forest. In the evening go for a walk through the Bigodi wetland where you will see birds, baboons, bush babies among other wildlife species.

day 5-6: Queen Elizabeth National Park

Occupies an estimated 1,978 square kilometres (764 sq mi).^[14] The park is known for its abundant wildlife, including African elephant, African buffalo, Ugandan kob, hippopotamus, topi, waterbuck, warthog,^[7] giant forest hog, Nile crocodile, leopard, spotted hyena, chimpanzee and lion. Overall, the park is home to 95 mammal species and over 600 bird species.^[15] The area around Ishasha in Rukungiri District is famous for its tree-climbing lions, whose males often sport black manes

It is a 4 hours drive to Queen Elizabeth which is one of Ugandas outstanding wildlife National parks such as over 600 bird species, mammals like elephants, buffaloes among others. During the journey you will enjoy great views including the Rwenzori ranges. On reaching the park go for a game drive in the evening where you will see a number of animals.

Second day go to a morning game drive through the park where you will see different wildlife species like waterbucks, lions, elephants, hartebeests, giraffes, antelopes, buffaloes, leopards, warthogs, also view different crater lakes. After the 3 hour drive, head back for lunch as you prepare for the afternoon 2 hour boat cruise on Kazinga channel which is home to over 550 hippos; also you will birds and other animals like crocodiles, elephants, antelopes among others.

Leptoptilos Crumenifer in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Amazing Tree Climbing lions in Ishasha Sector

day 7: game drive & transfer to ishasha sector

The border point is a designated end of the Rukungiri–Kihihi–Ishasha–Kanungu Road, which partially forms the boundary of the Ishasha Sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park.^[2] Across the Ishasha River, which serves as the international border, lies the town of Ishasha, Democratic Republic of the Congo and the adjacent Virunga National Park

Visit animals in their distinctive clans, families and groups, this game drive can be taken through the Kasenyi plains looking out for elephants, leopards, buffaloes, waterbucks, and various colorful birds. Later, take a 2 hours drive to Ishasha which is a home to tree-climbing lions. With the help of skilled park rangers you will also such out for these lions and imagine how amazing it is to watch the lions in trees. Have lunch at the lodge or in form of a picnic.

day 8-9 : Bwindi Forest

The Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (BINP) is in southwestern Uganda. The park is part of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and is situated along the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) border next to the Virunga National Park and on the edge of the Albertine Rift. Composed of 321 square kilometres (124 sq mi) of both montane and lowland forest, it is accessible only on foot.

On this day, you begin your journey to Bwindi the habitat of gentle giants Mountain gorillas. This journey ill take you through Kigezi highlands and its various terraced hills. Have Lunch on your way or from the lodge; it will be dependent on your arrival time.

Talk of gentle giants with a 98% DNA close to that of humans, its the Mountain gorillas which made Bwindi Forest their home. Also other species like butterflies, plants, primates, mammals, butterflies, frogs, among others are also found here. After briefing at the headquarters, you will be led by the rangers into the jungle to track gorillas.

This experience usually takes 1 hour to about 8 hours since gorillas move differently also and only 1 hour is granted to capture your greatest moments with the gorillas. Just in case some of you are not interested in tracking gorillas, you can go for a short guided forest walk or Village walk to the Batwa community.

Mountain Gorilla trekking

Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

Unforgettable Deepest Lake Bunyonyi

day : Lake Bunyonyi

Lake Bunyonyi is a body of water in the Kabale District and about 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) west of Kabale town.^[11] It is the largest and highest of three small lakes (the others being Lake Mutanda and Lake Mulehe) in the Kigizi highlands that are part of the Nile basin.^[2] The lake was formed about 18,000 years ago by a volcanic eruption blocking a valley in the Ruchiga mountains near the present day village of Muko on the north-west tip of the lake.

Today, while still in the mood of reminiscing about the previous days gorilla experiences, you will drive to Lake Bunyonyi, which is Africas second deepest lake and a birders spot. Enjoy the eye-catching landscapes such as the locally terraced interlocking hills where most locals carryout their farming. Also while here you are in the base that was named by Britishs great diplomat

Take your breakfast having amazing views from surrounding hills, forests and the beautiful rays of the morning sun. After head out for a canoe ride on the lake which harbors 29 islands and almost every island with a history such as the Punishment Island – enjoy the stories from the guides on this boat ride. Have lunch and in the afternoon, take a walk, or hike up the hills to enjoy more spectacular views of forests and lakes, or watch birds, or read a book while relaxing by the lake shores, or swim in the lake which is Bilharzia free and safe for swimming.

day 12: Lake Mburo National Park- Home of Zebras

The park hosts zebra, hippopotamus, impala, warthog, common eland, African buffalo and over 300 bird species. Predators may include the lion, leopards, hyenas, genets, civets, jackals and serval cats, and since 2015 there is a population of Rothschild giraffes.^{[10][3][4][12][9][13][6][14][7]}

The protected area was considered a ‘lion conservation unit’ by the IUCN in 2005,^[15] despite lions no longer occurring here. Lions were eliminated by the indigenous people in the 1980s, but there were reports in early 2015 of a single lion roaming the areas of Miriti, Kashara, Warukiri and Rwonyo. Because this was considered problematic by the local residents, a solution offered was to translocate the lion to the zoo. At the same time, park management floated the idea of reintroducing lions to the park.^[10] The lion roaming the area eventually attacked and injured three people, causing a large crowd of the enraged community to hound the animal with stones and sticks. The Uganda Wildlife Authority made the decision to kill the animal, as the community was angry and the situation had become dangerous. It is thought to have migrated from Kagera Game Reserve in Tanzania.

After breakfast, embark to the 4 hours and 30 minutes drive to Lake Mburo National Park- among Ugandas smallest parks with lunch en route you will be passing through stunning sceneries, farms, and plantations. The park is home to a big number of Zebras, also impalas, oribis, buffaloes, warthogs, waterbucks and also over 332 bird species made it their home. When you arrive in the park- in the afternoon go on a boat cruise along Lake Mburo, take enough photographs.

Jaw dropping Zebra view in Lake Mburo National Park

day 13-15 kampala

Enjoy an early breakfast, after do a game drive as you continue to Kampala, have a stop at the Equator line; take photos and also buy some souvenirs from craft shop. Enjoy lunch still at the Equator or in Kampala depending on the time you arrive there.

After lunch drive to Jinja located in the East of Uganda and the home of the source of the Nile River. Arrive in the evening and have dinner and take a rest at the lodge/hotel of your choice.Have an early breakfast and head out for todays activities. The Nile River finds its source in Jinja where it starts the 4000 km through different African countries. So your driver will take you to where the beginning point is as you go for discovering the Source of the Nile; you will go for a guided boat cruise on the Nile. After the boat, go for half day rafting on the rapids which is an adventure and an unforgettable experience. Have lunch and after you could choose to rest at the lodge on the swimming pool or go for optional activities like bungee jumping or kayaking or quad biking or Horse riding.

day 16: back home

Uganda finally you have done it. what a safari in deed. Now you have memories that no one can take away from you.