17 Days Safari In Uganda(Wildlife, Primates & Rwenzori Treks)
17 Days Safari in Uganda is a 17 day Uganda safari to Murchison Falls National Park, Kibale Forest National Park, Rwenzori Mountains National Park & Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This amazing 16 nights/17 day Murchison, Kibale, Rwenzori & Bwindi Safari provides a comprehensive travel experience including Rhino tracking(Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary), wildlife viewing, Chimpanzee tracking, Rwenzori trekking to Margherita peak Via kilembe trail, and Mountain Gorilla trekking.
All-Inclusive. This 17 days Rwenzori climbing, Gorilla trekking, Chimpanzee tracking and Big 5 adventure in Uganda includes; all park entrance fees, Rwenzori hike at $1705 (7 or 8 days kilembe trai), Gorilla trekking permit @ 800 per person, chimpanzee tracking permit at $250 per person, Game drives at $40 per person, boat cruise at $30 per person, all ground transportation to the National Parks in a customized 4×4 jeep, an English speaking guide or any other language(if requested), accommodations and meals as per the Itinerary.
Highlight of the 17 days Safari in Uganda Itinerary
Day 1: Transfer from Kampala to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to Murchison
Day 2: Morning Game Drive and afternoon Boat Cruise
Day 3: Murchison Falls to Kibale forest national Park (full day drive)
Day 4: Chimpanzee tracking and Bigodi
Day 5: Kibale to Semuliki (Hot Springs)
Day 6: From Similiki National Park to Kasese
Day 7: Transfer to Sine Camp(2596m)
Day 8: Climb to Mutinda Camp
Day 9: Mutinda Camp to Bugata Camp
Day 10: Hike to Hunwik’s Camp
Day 11: Climb to Magherita Camp
Day 12: From Magherita Camp to Kiharo Camp
Day 13: Kiharo to the Base
Day 14: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national Park
Day 15: Morning game Drive to transfer to Bwindi National Park
Day 16: Gorilla trekking (Ruhija or Buhoma)
Day 17: Transfer to Kampala
Detailed Itinerary For 17 days Rwenzori Hike Gorillas Chimpanzees and Big 5 Safari
Day 1: Transfer from Kampala to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to Murchison
Pick up your car from either the Entebbe International Airport or your hotel by our driver guide. In about 2-4 hours, depending on the traffic, you will be transferred to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for Rhino tracking. On arrival, you will be briefed by the rangers and guides about the rules and regulations for rhino trekking. The Guides will then lead you to the jungle to search for the brilliant Rhinos. An hour will be provided to the trackers, to stay in the presence of the Rhinos on encounter. You will then be led back to the information center. Lunch en-route at Masindi, and transfer to Murchison Falls National Park. Tour the top of the falls and then later drive to your lodge.
Accommodation: Para Safari Lodge, Chobe Safari Lodge, Fort Murchison River Lodge, red Chilli Rest Camp, Murchison falls Bamboo Village.
Day 2: Morning Game Drive and afternoon Boat Cruise
All You Need To Know About Murchison Falls National Park
Rise up early for Breakfast, and leave for a morning game drive to catch up with the early risers from their hunt before they go back into hiding. Look out for wild game like Elephants, Lions, Buffalos, and leopard to fill up your bucket list of seeing the big five. Not only will you stop at the top animals, but you will also watch giraffes, Babboons, and different types of Antelops. Return to the lodge for your lunch, and after set off for your afternoon boat ride to the bottom of the falls, which gets you up close with hippos, crocodiles and various birds You can then do the guided walk to the top of the falls where you will drive back to the lodge for dinner and a peaceful night.
Day 3: Murchison Falls to Kibale forest national Park (full day drive)
Today you will enjoy your 3rd day experience driving from Murchison Falls National Park to Kibale forest national Park with a lunch break at fort portal. You will be driven through the road that overlooks the rift valley for viewing the Great Rift Valley, as well as the lakes established within. You can stop over to watch the terraced farmlands, Banana & tea plantation, after then check in your hotel.
Accommodation Options: Kyaninga Lodge Primate lodge Kibale, Kibale forest Camp, Kluge’s Guest Farm, Primate Lodge,
Day 4: Chimpanzee tracking and Bigodi
After your breakfast in the morning, head to Kanyancu Visitor for the morning briefing about the Chimpanzees, before setting off in the forest to look for them. By the help of the guides, you will be led into the wild at 8:00am. The walk may last for about 2-6 hours searching for the chimpanzeess. An hour will be provided to the group to stay in the presence of the chimpanzees, after then you will return to the headquarters for your chimpanzee trekking certificate , then to the lodge for lunch. Apart from the chimpanzees, you should also look out for the black & white colobus, red tailed monkey or the grey cheeked mangabey, as well as birds.
After lunch, set off for the Bigodi wetland swamp walk. You will still spot an array of primates including; Red tailed monkeys, baboons, bush pigs, LHoests Monkeys, otters among others, Not forgetting the bird species like, the great blue Turaco.
Day 5: Kibale to Semuliki (Hot Springs)
Continue to semuliki National Park , located in the western border of Uganda and Congo close to Lake Albert. The park is strategically located in the in Bundibugyo district, in the western Albertine rift valley region of Uganda, taking up the eastern part of the Ituri forest
Semuliki is now regarded as a birders haven having about 400 bird species mostly forest birds. The forest has, 300 tree species recorded nowhere else in East Africa and 53 mammal species with 11 diurnal species. In Late afternoon, take a boat ride on Lake Albert, Spot the various water animals and later head back to your lodge.
During the night, one can go for a spotlight night game drive, where you can check for the slender and white- tailed mongoose, serval cats and diminutive nightjars.
Accommodation options. Semuliki Safari lodge(lux), Ntoroko Game Lodge(lux), Kirumia Guest house.
Day 6: From Similiki National Park to Kasese
Visit the Sempaya hot springs. These natural springs have a geyser shooting high from an 8 meter wide hole where water boils at a very high temperature. The Sempaya Hotspring is the largest in Uganda. Along this trail, you may identify different bird species such as the blue breasted kingfisher plus Frasier’s ant-thrush in addition to primates such as the grey checked mangabey plus the red-tailed monkey. Proceed to Mungilo waterfall to see some other fascinating birds.
Proceed to Kilembe, check in your hotel, Sandton Hotel, Rwenzori International Hotel
Day 7: Transfer to Sine Camp(2596m)
How To Climb Rwenzori Via Kilembe Trail Route
Have breakfast, and head for briefing, where you will register and start your trek to Sine Camp. You will start your trek at 1450m, and walk up the valley floor through the tall forest trees of the Afro Montane Forest Zone. The steady climb introduces you to multitudes of birds, as well as spotting blue monkeys. In most cases, you might come across a group of approximately 15- 20 black and white Colobus monkeys, as they jump from one tree branch to another.
L’hoest mokeys also form part of the primate sightings, and considered as the Bakonzo cultural emblems and are protected by the virtue of the King or Omusinga. Sounds of the wiold chimpanzees are heard from a distance. There is wide variety of plant species from forest trees to bamboos thickets, low shrubs, flowers, fungi, and with many moss and lichen covered vines hanging from the tall trees creating an awesome appeal. Enock’s falls situated 200m from sine hut, offering a awesome opportunity to capture for great for your memories.
While at Sine camp, the wooden huts set between tall forests on a narrow ridge where you can sit and enjoy the beauty of the Afro montane forest, while you keep admiring the fantastic waterfall crashing over the rocks far below. Sine camp is situated just below the bamboo zone and the area around has many different bird species. Sleep at Sine, For those who may be interested and fit to hike can as well proceed to Kalalama Camp at 3,134 metres and enjoy the fantastic views which provides more time at Mutinda Camp where you may climb up to Mutinda Lookout at 3,975 metres.
Day 8: Climb to Mutinda Camp
Start your 8th day with an early morning breakfast, begin climbing at 8:30am, and enter the Bamboo-Mimulopsisi Zone which is a steep climb with many high steps. The bamboo Zone tends to be muddy and slippery, hence delay during the trek.
However, the atmosphere and the forest is beautiful as you climb 551 metres altitude and a distance of 1.8km to Kalalama Camp at 3,147 meters which is in the Heather-Rapanea Zone where you can take a rest and a quick cup of tea or coffee before heading on to Mutinda Camp.
The trails raises up and over various small knolss along a ridge top, then drops down the side of the valley, before climbing again, and in doing so cross several small streams and pass close to moss covered waterfalls.
Climb steadily along the side of a beautiful mossy river which tumbles down over the rocks under the Giant Heather trees whose trunks are covered in green moss with old man beards (Usnea lichen) hanging from the branches. The trail twists and turns as you climb up the deep valley, which has an enormous variety of plants and flowers. The trail consists of a unique valley with a variety of many Giant Heather trees creating a beautiful atmosphere often shrouded in mist.
Climb up to the top of the Mutinda in the afternoon. The picturesque are splendid as you will stand on moss covered rocks at 3925 metere with views across the Rwenzori Mountains and down to kasese town and Lake George. Mutinda situated at 3975 meters is an excellent region for every hiker to acclimatize and reduce on the risk of high altitude sickness.
Day 9: Mutinda Camp to Bugata Camp
This trail is boggy, especially during the wet season, but by the help of the tussock, the trek becomes quite easy. First cross the Mutinda valley, through the tussock grass and everlasting flowers interspersed with many Giant Lobelias before climbing steep section up to Namusangi
Valley (3,840 meters), with sheer waterfalls and on looking back you get fantastic views of Mutinda Peaks. The Namusangi Valley is wide, with many ups and downs as the trail climbs steadily to Bugata Camp at 4,100 metres
Day 10: Hike to Hunwik’s Camp
Leave Bugata Camp for Hunwik’s , a you pass up aridge then slope down slightly before ascending to bamwanjarra pass at 4,450 meters where there is hut. Clear views of three peaks are viewd on a clear and bright day. The trail passes down the valley and around the edge of some bogs and thick ever green vegetation, moss, giant groundsel and lobelia.This is possibly the best spot to sight the Malachite Sunbird as it feeds on the many lobelia flowers and a known breeding site. Farther on there is some steep sections before a steady climb up and over a ridge to Hunwick’s Camp which is situated on the top of a deep valley and has good views of Mt Stanley, Mt Baker, Weismanns Peak and McConnell’s Prong.
Day 11: Climb to Magherita Camp
Walk along the ridge before crossing several wet areas and small rivers coming from Mt Baker and Fresh fields Pass.
The walk up Scott Elliott Pass is enjoyable as you climb through the pass and up the ridge of Mt Stanley to Margherita Camp at 4,485 meters which is below Elena Hut of the Rwenzori mountaineering services.
It is sheltered with a ring of high rocks and it is the original camp used by the Italian Prince Luigi Amadeo di Savoia, Duke of the Abruzzi. From here you have great views of Mt Baker, Scott Elliot Pass and some of the high glaciers on Mt Stanley.
The day’s hike to this camp is 4.2 kilometers. So you will reach here late in the evening and relax a little bit. Then you will prepare and go through what will transpire the following summiting day. So this exercising will entail preparing the ropes, the hiking shoes, ice breaking axes as well as crampons. So you will pass through how to use these equipment and attires. Then you will retire to your cabins for a night
Day 12: From Magherita Camp to Kiharo Camp
From Hunwick’s Camp you will start the day by climbing up a ridge towards McConnell’s Prong where you get the best views of all three peaks and Scott Elliott’s Pass before reaching Oliver’s Pass at 4,505 metres. The distance from Hunwick’s Camp to the top of Olivers Pass is 3km The trail then cuts across below Weismann’s Peak to the confluence of the Nyamwamba River which flows down thought Kilembe and Kasese to Lake George in Queen Elisabeth National Park.
After crossing the confluence the trail meanders down the valley to Kiharo Camp at which is situated in a deep valley with high cliffs and dense vegetation. On the way down the valley after each bog you will climb over a ridge of stones and earth which seems out of place but actually was pushed there by slow moving glaciers which eventually stopped moving, melted and left a pile of rocks and debris in front of where the glacier once stood.
Day 13: Kiharo to the Base
Distance Kiharo Camp to the park gate 12.2km and another 2.8km down to Trekkers Hostel Time to walk 5 to 8 hours so those who need to connect to flights back to Kampala or travel on to other activities need to leave Kiharo early. The trail down the Nyamwamba Valley is mostly downhill and absolutely stunning with beautiful views, moss covered rocks along the river, cascading waterfalls, deep valleys and forests are possibly the best in the Rwenzori Mountains. This part of the trail took us six years to find a way through and a route which is easy enough for tourists to use. In 1937 the explorer and geologist McConnell tried to find a way up this valley but failed and have to turn back and search for another route up the mountain but now you can experience this truly beautiful valley.
A few kilometers from Kiharo Camp the path turns off to the right to pass along the river. In the clear areas you may catch a glimpse of a Duiker quietly feeding in small clearings as you pass along the river. If you wish you may prefer to walk down the river itself hopping across the rocks as you pass down. A few kilometres down the river, becomes very steep with multitudes of waterfalls so you will have to move away from the river and follow a narrow ridge to bypass steep sections. At the bottom you will again meet the river where there is a huge rock shelter and a place to rest for a while.
Return to your lodge after the hike, enjoy your dinner get enough rest as you prepare for the next day.
Day 14: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national Park
After morning breakfast, embark on your journey to queen Elizabeth National Park, drive at your own pace with lunch enroute
Day 15: Morning game Drive to transfer to Bwindi National Park
Game Viewing Drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Head for the morning game drive, after your morning game drive. The morning hours are considered the best since there are high chances to catch up with the early risers like elephants, buffaloes, lion and a variety of antelopes and other wildlife you can see. Return to the hotel for lunch and set off for your Bwindi National Park for gorilla trekking.
Day 16: Gorilla trekking (Ruhija or Buhoma)
Have your early morning breakfast, and head to the park headquarters for briefing which takes place at 8:00am. The guides will then lead you to the forest, to search for the gorillas. The trek may take about 2- 6 hours depending on their location, and once found, a maximum of an hour will be provided for you to be in their presence. You will then return to the headquarters after your encounter, and later rest in your lodge
Day 17: Transfer to Kampala
Transfer to Kampala, or Entebbe international Airport to catch up with your flight.
End of Vacation
PRICE INCLUDES
Gorilla Tracking permits
Chimpanzee tracking permit
Bottled Water
English Speaking Guide
Park Entrance Fees
All Activities Mentioned
All Accommodations
Lunches Enroute
PRICE EXCLUDES
International flight fare
Entry Visas
Laundry services
Tips
Alcoholic Drinks
Any other optional activities.
What to pack for For the Safari
Rain jacket is important as the rains in this part is unpredictable.
Warm clothes
A Headlamp for safety purposes
Sunglasses to protect direct sun rays
A Zoom lens Camera for photographs
A good insect repellent to keep off persistent insects
Hiking boots for the hike
Gaiters
Hat for Sun Protection
Warm Sleeping bags
Crampons
Harness
Ice axe
Warm gloves and sock
Trekking poles
Personal snacks among others
Note That:
We can custom tailor the cost of your safari, depending on your travel season, the number of travelers in your group, and your pick up accommodation.
Depending on your style or travel budget, select from economy, comfort or luxury safari lodges, tented camps.
please know that whatever level of accommodation you choose, your confirmed safari adventure with us will always be at our highest expectations.
