- Information
- Tour Plan
- Gallery
- Similar Safaris
- Notes & Packing
What's included
- 1 Chimp tracking permit per person
- Accommodation as mentioned in the itinerary
- Bottled drinking water throughout the safari
- English-speaking driver/guide
- Ground transportation in 4WD safari car
- Meals indicated in the itinerary
- Park / Activity Fees
- International flights
- Personal expenses
- Personal travel insurance
- Services not specifically stated in the itinerary
- Tips and gratuities
- Visa fees
Western Uganda Wildlife Highlights
Quick Overview
This 7 day Western Uganda wildlife highlights safari takes you on a journey to see African wildlife in the Savannah, and chimps and monkeys in the forests of Uganda.
You will start from Kampala and go to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for a walking safari with Rhinos before proceeding to Murchison Falls National Park for giraffes, elephants, lions, leopards, hippos, buffaloes and much more. From there, you will go to Kibale National Park to see chimpanzees in the wild and spend 1 hour with them.
You will then continue to Queen Elizabeth National Park for more wildlife in the Savannah, and then visit Maramagambo forest on your way back to Kampala for even more chimps, monkeys and incredible caves.
This trip is well suited to work for solo travelers and small groups whose primary interest is the Savannah wildlife and chimpanzees. All our safaris to Uganda and Rwanda can be greatly customized to best suit your style and preferences.
Highlights
Destinations: Kampala, Murchison Falls National Park, Fort Portal, Kibale Forest National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park. Maramagambo Forest.
Activities: Game drives in Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth National Parks, Chimpanzee tracking, Boat cruises, Nature Walks, Hiking
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Drive to Murchison Falls N.P, Via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Meet and greet at 7 am in Kampala or Entebbe, and then transfer to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.
Driving to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary will take around 3 hours, and this is where you will enjoy a walking safari with rhinos. The sanctuary was established to reintroduce rhinos in Uganda's wild areas - and give them a truly wild ecosystem where they roam free.
After seeing the rhinos, you will continue to the nearby Masindi town for lunch, and then continue to Murchison Falls National Park.
You will reach Murchison Falls with enough time to visit the top of the falls and enjoy the golden hour. Here you will get to see the waters of the Nile as they squeeze through a narrow 7-metre gap to produce the world's strongest falls. You will be feeling the strength of the falls from under your feet.
After your first moment with the falls and some photography, you will go to your lodge for relaxation and an overnight stay.
Accommodation
- Budget: Heritage Safari Lodge
- Midrange: Kabalega Wilderness Lodge
- Luxury: Bakers’ Lodge
Wildlife game drives, Afternoon boat cruise up to the falls
You will start the day early with breakfast and the go for your wildlife game drive. During the game drive, you will see many animals, such as giraffes, antelopes, lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, warthogs, hippos and hundreds of bird species.
The game drive takes a couple of hours, after which you return to the lodge for a break and lunch.
After lunch, you will go for a boat safari upstream of the calm Victoria Nile. En route, marvel at the toothsome hippos and crocodiles and over this 17 km stretch where you may also see elephants, waterbuck and Uganda Kob besides the Nile.
This is also a zone of many bird species like the Goliath heron, Egyptian goose, pelican bee-eater, kingfisher, hornbill, cormorant and the rare shoebill stork. The boat will stop just a few metres from the sinister, frothing and bubbling base of the falls.
You will then return to the starting point, and this time the water's direction will make the cruise take half the time. Your guide will be waiting to take you back to the lodge.
Accommodation
- Budget: Heritage Safari Lodge
- Midrange: Kabalega Wilderness Lodge
- Luxury: Bakers’ Lodge
Drive to Kibale National Park, via Fort Portal
After your breakfast, you will leave Murchison Falls and drive south to Fort Portal Town. This drive will take you around 5 hours through lush countryside, farms and small towns.
You will reach Fort Portal in time for lunch after which you will proceed for 30 minutes to your lodge near Kibale National Park.
Accommodation
- Budget: Kibale Forest Camp
- Midrange: Primate Lodge
- Luxury: Papaya Lake Lodge
Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale N.P
After breakfast, you will go for a chimp tracking briefing by the park officials and then proceed to start your search for chimpanzees in the forest.
The tracking is led by an experienced ranger who will provide detailed information about the chimps, other primates and the entire ecosystem of the forests - making your walk enjoyable and insightful.
Upon meeting the chimpanzees, you will spend about 1 hour with them before heading back to the starting point of your hike. The whole experience takes about 3 to 4 hours depending on the pace of the group and the movement of the chimps.
You will have the rest of the day to spend at leisure or exploring the nearby areas - especially the crater lakes.
Accommodation
- Budget: Kibale Forest Camp
- Midrange: Primate Lodge
- Luxury: Papaya Lake Lodge
Drive to Queen Elizabeth NP, Launch cruise on Kazinga channel
In the morning, you will leave Kibale and drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park, 2 hours away.
You will reach Queen Elizabeth in time for a game drive in the park and lunch.
Proceed to Queen Elizabeth National Park, following the mystical Rwenzori 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.
In the evening, you will go for a relaxing 2-hour boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel - and into Lake Edward. This will take you through possibly the highest concentration of hippos and many animals will be seen drinking at the water's edge. The launch cruise offers an excellent platform for photography, bird watching and game viewing.
Accommodation
- Budget: Simba Safari Camp
- Midrange: Marafiki Lodge
- Luxury: Mweya Lodge
Gamedrives in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Today, you will get to explore the parks by enjoying two game drives. Queen Elizabeth National Park's diverse eco-systems of grassy plains, tropical forests, rivers, swamps, lakes, and volcanic craters, home to an incredible abundance of wildlife.
Game drives in this park provide an excellent opportunity to see lions, leopards, giant forest hogs, buffalo, elephants, waterbucks, Uganda kobs, hyenas, and hippos.
These two game drives are a great of discovering the abundant wildlife, birds and stunning landscapes in Uganda's most popular safari park.
Accommodation
- Budget: Simba Safari Camp
- Midrange: Marafiki Lodge
- Luxury: Mweya Lodge
Maramagambo Forest, Return to Kampala
In the morning, you will leave and go to Maramagambo Forest.
In the thick tropical forest, you will see many birds and a variety of primates - including some chimps. You will also find some bat caves and several crater lakes that dot the area and give it an unprecedented charm.
After exploring the forest, you will then drive to back to Kampala with a lunch stopover in Mbarara town.
You will reach Kampala in the early evening and your driver/guide will drop you off at your desired location. If you have an outbound flight on the same day, you can be dropped at the airport in Entebbe by your driver.
This will mark the end of your safari trip.
Accommodation
- (X) - Last Day
Notes of Chimp & Gorilla Trekking
Here are some important things to know about tracking gorillas or chimps in Uganda and Rwanda.
- Minimum age allowed to track chimps is 12 years old.
- Minimum age allowed to track gorillas is 15 years old.
- Tracking gorillas is quite strenuous and one should be physically fit to best enjoy the experience.
- Anyone with signs of communicable diseases will not be allowed to track chimps or gorillas.
- Maximum time allowed with the gorillas or chimps is 1 hour.
Packing Recommendation
Here are some general safari packing recommendations to consider. Your agreed itinerary will have recommendations based on your trip and schedule.
- Lightweight rain poncho
- Long sleeve shirt
- Sturdy hiking shoes
- Waterproof trousers
- gardening-type gloves
- Sunscreen
- Wide brim hat
- Insect repellent
- Camera with extra batteries and cards
- Your regular medication
- Phone/gadget chargers
Visas for Uganda or Rwanda
Both Rwanda and Uganda have simple to use online visa self-service portals where you can apply and get your visa in a few days. Here are the full articles to guide you about visas.
- Uganda visa requirements and processes for tourist
- Rwanda visa requirements and processes for tourist
Best time to visit Uganda or Rwanda
For most people, it is more pleasant and enjoyable to visit Uganda or Rwanda during the dry season months (June to September and December to February). The general climate is warm and sunny all year round, and you can visit at any time of the year.
If you don't enjoy crowds, the shoulder seasons are ideal since the tourist numbers are lower and the attractions are more intimate to explore.
Safety. Is its safe to visit?
Both Uganda and Rwanda are very safe countries to visit and live in. They are some of Africa's most visited countries and hailed for the friendly locals and warm welcoming smiles.
If you have any safety concerns or specifics your are worried about, simply reach out to us and we'll do everything to help you.
Why Choose Exclusive African Safaris
We are a full service Destination Management Company started and operating in Uganda since 2008. In more than 15 years, we have served guests from all parts of the world and helped them to enjoy wonderful experiences of the wild places, cultures and people in Uganda and Rwanda.
Choosing Exclusive African Safaris, is choosing to go with a trusted company whose wide network, experienced guides and staff will make sure that your safari experience is all that you wanted - and more.
Customizing your safari experience
All our safari packages can be customized and personalized to fit your budget, preferences and schedule. You can start the process through an already existing safari which is speaking to you - but not quite fully, and we shall tailor that trip to your wishes.
You can also directly reach out for us and request for a custom safari, and we shall work closely with you, start from scratch and build a safari that is 100% you.
