12 Days – Ultimate Uganda Safari Murchison Falls-Kibale Forest- Queen Elizabeth-Bwindi Gorillas-Lake Mburo

Day 1: Murchison Falls National Park [L, D]
This morning, transfer to Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary, a two-hour drive from Kampala, along the road on the way to Murchison Falls National Park. While you track the rhinos, visit the information centre and craft shop, look out for bush buck, leopard, Uganda kob, oribi, crocodiles, hippo and other wildlife present on the ranch. The bird life is abundant, with even the rare shoebill stork present in the Lugogo Swamps. Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary offers peace and tranquility in beautiful surroundings

In the afternoon we will visit the "top of the falls" for your chance to view the magnificence of the Nile. The park is cut into half by the famous River Nile where it has to squeeze itself through the legendary Murchison Falls, an impossibly narrow 7 m gap in a cleft rock creating a powerful explosion of white water. The Falls are believed to be the most powerful natural flow of water anywhere on earth. Superlatives like “awesome” “stupendous” “fantastic” and “wow” have been used to describe this amazing spectacle. Overnight Red Chilli Rest Camp / Murchison Falls River Lodge / Paraa Safari Lodge

After an early breakfast, proceed for a game drive. Elephant, Cape buffalo, Rothschild's giraffe, Uganda kob, hartebeest and waterbuck are commonly seen. You may also spot oribi, bushbuck, Bohor reedbuck, bush duiker, warthog and bushpig. Large carnivores include lion, leopard and spotted hyena.

After lunch, go for a boat safari upstream the calm Victoria Nile. En-route, marvel at the toothsome hippos, crocodiles and over this 17 km stretch you may see elephant, waterbuck and Uganda Kob. This is also a zone of many bird species like Goliath heron, Egyptian goose, pelican bee-eater, kingfisher, hornbill, cormorant and the rare shoebill stork. The boat will stop just tens of metres from the sinister, frothing and bubbling base of the falls.

Overnight Red Chilli Rest Camp / Murchison Falls River Lodge / Paraa Safari Lodge

All day drive south via Hoima to Fort Portal through verdant countryside and past traditional homesteads and farms. Fort-Portal rests in the shadow of the fabled Mountains of the Moon. 

Overnight Kibale Forest Camp / Primate Lodge / Ndali Lodge

All day search of chimpanzees and 10 other primate including l' hoestes, red colobus, blues, red tailed and gray - cheeked mangabey. The guide will provide detailed explanations, not only on primates, but on all the forest fauna and flora and will ensure that your walk is both informative and enjoyable. This walk is excellent for viewing bird life and seeing primates at close quarters.

Overnight Kibale Forest Camp / Primate Lodge / Ndali Lodge

Morning visit to Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary to search for smaller mammals and primates. Look out for the rare red colobus monkey and the sitatunga. The guided 4.5km circular trail through the swamp is also one of the best guided bird trails in East Africa as well as offering a realistic opportunity to see up to six different primate species in a space of a few hours.

Proceed to Queen Elizabeth National Park following the mystical Ruwenzori Mountain range for much of the journey. A game drive en route may be rewarded with views of lion, elephant, leopard, buffalo, hyena and a variety of antelope species. 

Enjoy the unique 2 hour boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel and into Lake Edward. This trip passes through possibly the highest concentration of hippos and many animals may be seen drinking at the water's edge. This launch cruise offers an excellent platform for photography, bird watching and game viewing. The prolific bird life is colourful and stupendous with well over 550 resident species. 

Overnight Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge / Katara Lodge / Mweya Safari Lodge

Two game drives today. Queen Elizabeth National Park's diverse eco-system of grassy plains, tropical forest, rivers, swamps, lakes and volcanic craters is home to an incredible abundance of wildlife. Game drives in this park, with the massive Rwenzoris as a backdrop provides excellent opportunities to see lion, leopard, giant forest hog, Cape buffalo, elephants, defassa waterbuck, Uganda Kob, Topi and bush buck. These two game drives and the boat trip (taken prior) are a memorable method of discovering a vast array of Ugandan wildlife 

Overnight Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge / Katara Lodge / Mweya Safari Lodge

Early morning transfer to Ishasha Area of Queen Elizabeth national park. Game drives in Ishasha sector, home to the famous [tree-climbing lions] and the large herds of game. The scenic beauty, the size of the euphorbias and combination of riverine forest, Savannah plain and equatorial forest makes this a memorable day, only found in Africa.

Overnight At the Ishasha River / Ishasha Ntungwe River Camp / Ishasha Wilderness Tented Camp

Game drives in Ishasha sector, home to the famous tree-climbing lions and the large herds of game. The scenic beauty, the size of the euphorbias and combination of riverine forest, Savannah plain and equatorial forest makes this a memorable day, only found in Africa.

Overnight At the Ishasha River / Ishasha Ntungwe River Camp / Ishasha Wilderness Tented Camp

Drive through the "Switzerland of Africa" area known as the Kigezi Highlands with its terraced hillside and winding roads to Bwindi. 

Overnight Buhoma Community Rest Camp / Engagi Lodge / Buhoma Lodge

Early morning entry into Gorilla sanctuary. This rainforest is spectacular. 

It offers a dramatic steeply forested landscape and is incredibly dense, but criss-crossed by numerous animal trails allowing access to tourists. Mammals recorded include the endangered mountain gorilla, rare golden monkey, buffalo, elephant, black-fronted duiker, bushbuck, leopard, giant forest log and others. This park is best known for the fascinating gorillas. The time taken and the terrain varies according to the movements of this marvelous primates. The thrill of spending time and observing the gorillas is a rare, moving, awesome and exciting adventure. The gorilla is a shy and peaceful animal and it is unforgettable experience to watch and photograph them as they interact.

Overnight Buhoma Community Rest Camp / Engagi Lodge / Buhoma Lodge

After an early breakfast, you will and drive to Lake Mburo National Park. Enjoy the boat ride on Lake Mburo and get quite close to crocs and hippos.

Birdwatchers will enjoy the more than 250 species of birds found in Lake Mburo including Papyrus Gonolek, Brown faced Lapwing. Carruther's Cisticola, the extraordinary White winged Warbler and Bare-Faced-Go- Away bird.

Evening game drive along the Lakeshore track. With its own system of game trails and cleared walkways the "Kigambara Loop" offers interesting guided lakeside walks. Find here herds of zebra, Cape buffalo and eland. Oribi and topi are easily approached.  

Overnight Rwonyo Rest Camp / Lake Mburo Tented Camp / Mihingo Safari Lodge

After breakfast, proceed for a game drive or a safari walk under the escort of an armed ranger. The Kopjes are particularly interesting and camouflage kilpspringers and topis. Due to cattle herding in the area it is amusing to see zebra grazing alongside the long horned Ankore Cattle peaceably. Return for lunch which should be taken leisurely enjoying the view of the lakes in this park.

After lunch, drive back to Kampala stopping at the Mpigi Royal Drum Makers en route where you will able to watch the ceremonial drums being crafted using methods passed down through generations. There will also be time to stop at the equator for photographs. You arrive Kampala in the early evening.