13 Days Uganda Chimpanzee Tracking Safari | Adventure Vacation Holidays

DAY 1: MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK

In the morning our guide will pick you up from your hotel and transfer to Murchison Falls National Park in northern Uganda. Prior to reaching you accommodation, you will visit the top of the falls to see the great Nile force its way through a narrow 7 meter gorge before thunderously plunging 43 meters below. From here you will cross the Nile by ferry to your accommodation – Paraa Safari Lodge. You will see various animals such as buffaloes, crocodiles and hippos as you cross on the river banks. Dinner and over night at Paraa safari Lodge or Nile safari camps, or Sambiya River lodge, or Red Chillis camp

DAY 2: CHIMPANZEE TREKKING – KANIYO PABIDI AREA | BOAT SAFARI – RIVER NILE

Begin the day with a very early breakfast, you before setting into Kaniyo Pabidi where you will look for Chimpanzees. This Kaniyo Pabidi is an uninterrupted area comprised of natural forest inside Budongo Forest Reserve.  You will hike through the thick mature mahogany plus iron trees. The most prominent activity here is Chimpanzee tracking but you will see several forest birds, such as the Puvel’s illadopsis, Chocolate¬backed kingfisher and the White-thighed Hornbill. Have Lunch and then set off on a thrilling launch cruise on the Victoria Nile. Dinner and overnight at Paraa safari Lodge, or Nile safari camps, or Sambiya River lodge, or Red Chillis camp basic

DAY 3: SAFARI GAME DRIVE |  MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK

Early in the morning you will set out for a game drive. Some of the animals you will see include: Giraffes, antelopes, bush bucks, water bucks as well as several others. Head back to the lodge for a late breakfast and later lunch. in the afternoon, you will set off for a launch cruise on the Nile up to the bottom of the falls. During this amazing voyage, you will see large schools of hippos, waterbucks and giant crocodiles plus various birds including cormorants, kingfishers, ducks, and the rare shoebill, herons and fish eagles along the river banks. Dinner and the overnight at your lodge

DAY 4: KIBALE FOREST NATIONAL PARK

Today after your breakfast you will set off to Kibale National Park. This spectacular drive takes about 8 to 9 hours. You will drive past the Albertine escarpment, Have lunch along the way and finally reach Fortportal later in the Afternoon. Dine and spend the night at Ndali Lodge, or Primates Lodge, or Rwenzori View Guest House, or Kanyankyu Ecological Bandas (FB)

DAY 5: CHIMPANZEE HABITUATION EXPERIENCE / CHIMPANZEE TRACKING | KIBALE FOREST

Begin the day with an early breakfast, and then head to Kanyankyu tourist centre where you will be briefed before Chimpanzee Tracking. Kibale forest has a large number of about 13 primate species including the grey mangabeys, uncommon L’Hoest, pottos, red Colobus monkey, baboons, blue monkey, bush babies and black faced vervet monkeys, among others. A series of shady trails offers great to delight to botanists as well as butterfly lovers, whereas birders will have a lot to enjoy of the 335 bird species. Other wildlife here includes forest elephant, buffaloes, giant forest hogs, hairier and various antelope species. Return to the lodge for lunch before going for a nature walk in Bigodi swamp.
Dinner and slumber at Ndali Lodge, or Rwenzori View guest house, or Kanyankyu campsite

DAY 6: SEMLIKI WILDLIFE RESERVE

Get up early in the morning and transfer to Semliki Wildlife Reserve; this amazing drive will go through the eastern shore of Lake Albert. The Semliki reserve is located in the Western Rift Valley basin. It is among the most diverse wildlife habitats across Africa having an amazing rain forest, borassus palm forest, short & high grass savannas as well as Riparian forest.  Semliki is among the most biodiverse forest in Africa. It’s chiefly popular for its diverse species of birds.  It is among the most oldest Forests in Africa that have lived to survive the arid conditions of the previous ice age 12000 – 18000 years back along with Bwindi. There are Chimps living close to elephants, lions and buffalos in addition to the western Uganda species. After dinner you will go for a night game drive. This is the sole national across Uganda where you may enjoy night drive. Usually you will see big cats including the genet plus serval cats. Odd nocturnal dwellers as well are also seen including the white tailed mongoose and nightjars basing on the season. Dinner and Overnight at Semliki safari lodge.

DAY 7: CHIMPANZEE TRACKING

Early in the morning you will have breakfast and then move down into the verdant rain-forest where you will track chimpanzees. These Chimpanzees are tracked by several researchers within Semliki early morning and in the evening, since they normally disappear in the course of the day. In addition there are numerous bird species that are living in this amazing forest. You will head back for lunch at the lodge and the opportunity to unwind by the pool and also enjoy the beautiful the Lodge. Late in the afternoon you’ll enjoy a game drive, making a stopover to see beautiful African sun set disappear beyond the horizon. Dinner and Overnight at Semliki Safari Lodge

DAY 8: TRANSFER TO QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK

Today morning you will be picked from your accommodation and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park where you will arrive in the afternoon. There will be an optional walk in the Mweya Peninsula. In comparison to the different National Parks across the world, Queen Elizabeth prides as one of the leading greatly diversified natural areas with diverse habitats including the Crater lakes areas, open Savannah, thick Papyrus Swamps, Rain Forest and the beautiful Lake Edward.
There are nearly 100 species of mammals here including Buffaloes, Lions, the elusive Giant Forest Hog, Leopards, Bushbucks, Hippos, Mangoose, Spotted Hyena, Elephants in addition to more than 600 bird species such as the Swallow Tailed Bee Eaters, Black Chested Eagles, Lesser Flamingos, Black Bee-Eaters, Chappirs Fly Catchers as well as the Bustards in addition to the renowned Shoebill Stork. This park is among the leading birder’s paradise across East Africa. Queen Elizabeth national park is in addition home to various primate species including Chimpanzees, Black & White Colobus Monkeys, Black Faced Olive Baboons Red Colobus, Blue and Red Tailed monkeys among others.  Green Mambas, Puffadders, crocodiles, Rock-Python, Turtles, Gabon Rippers and Spitting Cobras, are among the reptiles here.
Dinner and overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge or Jacana safari Lodge, or Institute of Ecology

DAY 9: CHIMPANZEE TREKKING KYAMBURA GORGE | QUEEN ELIZABETH

In the early morning you will set out tracking chimpanzees in Kyambura gorge.  This 100 meter deep goes is home to habituated chimpanzees, and it is found on the rift valley floor near the Kazinga channel. During this guided walk you will look for chimps which are man’s closest cousins. This 6 to 8 hours activity begins at 8:00am and will also offer you an opportunity to see some other primates including the colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys and olive baboon. You will return for lunch at the lodge and in the afternoon enjoy a boat cruise on the Kazinga channel to see various water mammals including Crocodiles plus large schools of Hippos, in addition to several birds like the fish eagle, African jacana and pelicans.
Return to your lodge for dinner and the overnight Mweya Safari Lodge, or Jacana safari Lodge, or Budget Institute of Ecology

DAY 10: GAME DRIVE / BOAT RIDE SAFARI ON KAZINGA CHANNEL

You will wake up to a hot cup of tea / coffee before setting out for an early morning game drive inside the Park. Some of the animals you should expect to see include the Big Five animals such as Buffalos, Hyenas, leopards, mangoose, Elephants, waterbucks, Lions, Bush bucks, forest hog as well as a great profusion of bird species. In the mid morning head back to the lodge for heavy breakfast and rest as you wait for Lunch. At around 2:00pm in the afternoon, you will set out on a lunch cruise down the Kazinga channel to see the large schools of Hippos, Buffalos, as well as Crocodiles near the water edge. In addition, you will be fascinated by the great profusion of bird species down the Kazinga Channel which make up more than 550 species including the Shoe bill stork, African Jacana, pelicans, papyrus gonelok, fish eagle and martial eagles.
Later return for dinner and overnight at your lodge Mweya Safari Lodge, or Jacana safari Lodge, or Institute of Ecology

DAY 11: ENTEBBE

Today morning, you will have breakfast and then return to Kampala, having lunch along the way and make a stopover at the Uganda Equator. You will have lunch along the way. Dinner and over night at Boma Guest house or Imperial Botanical Beach Hotel in Entebbe

DAY 12: NGAMBA ISLAND | CHIMPANZEE SANCTUARY

arly in the morning the guide will pick you up from your Hotel and then head to Entebbe.At the shore of Lake Victoria You will transfer by boat to Ngamba island Chimpanzee Island (one hours ride). On arrival you will be offered a brief introduction about this sanctuary plus its history. You will them observe the orphaned chimpanzees being fed and see how they interact with each other. Amazing to see are some of their unique characters which include whistling for food and clapping. This is a very amazing activity worth enjoying.
Overnight at Ngamba Island G AND C Camps (FB)

DAY 13:  FOREST WALK WITH CHIMPANZEES | END OF PRIMATE SAFARIS

Today you will have a guided forest walk (which goes for an extra cost). This forest walk within the chimpanzee habitat offers you a chance to spend an hour with some of the habitat chimps. During this walk you will come across many chimps of different ages which will contact with you however you will be offered particular instructions concerning clothing, behavior, glasses as well as cameras. Because these chimps are familiar with human presence, they will play and climb you, grab your sun-glasses, and also pull your hair or simply walk besides you holding your hand! The Fun starts!  Later on you will return to the mainland and be transferred to the Entebbe airport for your departure flight back home.