“What a fantastic trip. This really is an excellent way to see wildlife very close to you. From the first time you put your canoe in the water you start seeing all the African wildlife you’ve dreamt of…”
10 DAY PRIMATES AND CULTURE TOUR
TO KAMPALA, KIBALE FOREST NATIONAL PARK. QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK, BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST, LAKE BUNYONI, LAKE MBURO NATIONAL PARK, JINJA AND KAMPALA
Day One: Kampala to Kibale Forest National Park
Following breakfast at your hotel, your Kompass Safari guide will meet you and you will leave for Kibale Forest National Park where you will be able to take a guided nature walk in the tropical rainforest and see many primate species including red colobuses, blue colobuses, grey cheeked mangabeys and black and white colobus monkeys, as well as other wildlife such as butterflies, birds and many other small insects. Your tour guide will talk you how to identify the different species of trees as well as the other features of the forest. Then, following lunch, you will go to the Crater Lake region and view the various picturesque Lakes as well as a traditional local dance before heading back to your Lodge for dinner and your overnight stay.
Day Two: Kibale Forest National Park to Queen Elizabeth National Park
After breakfast we leave Kibale for Queen Elizabeth National Park where we take on a morning game drive in search of the wild animals and view a beautiful panorama of the great lakes; Lake Edwards and Lake George. Expect elephants, lions, buffaloes, kobs, the Python, hyenas, warthogs, birds’ hippos amongst other Africal wildlife species. A buffet lunch will then be served at Tembo Restaurant followed by an afternoon boat trip along the Kazinga channel. This will give you the opportunity to view wildlife up close. Hippo’s huff and spray mere feet away from the boat whilst buffalo linger in the shallows. The shores of the channel are also home to an array of birds including pink backed pelicans, pied and malachite kingfishers, saddle billed stork and many others. After this wonderful afternoon, a slow drive back to the lodge where you can rest and enjoy dinner.
Day Three: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Following breakfast we go for a guided nature walk in Maramagambo Forest, the thick forest rich in birds, butterflies and monkeys and visit the Bat Cave and the Blue Lake. After lunch you will have the opportunity to go for a stroll around the Lodge and partake in a Local Community Tour to spend time and converse with locals and see how they live.
Day Four: Queen Elizabeth National Park to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Following breakfast we visit Kyambura Gorge where you can see the many Chimpanzees who call the Gorge home. There are also other species of primates to see such the black and white Colobus monkeys as well as many other animals including antelopes, hyenas and lions. Then, following lunch we drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest where you will relax and dine this evening before your day Gorilla Trekking tomorrow.
Day Five: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
After an early breakfast we excitedly start our Gorilla trekking guided adventure. The guides will then take you through the bush, pushing your way through the undergrowth and parting thick creepers to track the gorillas. This trek can take from half an hour to 5 hours and a reasonable degree of fitness is required as well as a sturdy pair of walking shoes. Sit in the forest among the gorillas, listening to them grumble to each other, and marvel at the sheer size of the dominant male; the Silverback. It is an extraordinary feeling sitting in the dense rainforest knowing you are with a few of the last remaining mountain gorillas. It’s amazing to think there are only about 650 of these beautiful creatures left. A packed lunch will be taken to be eaten along the trek. After the day trekking you will return to your accommodation, tired but hopefully happy, for dinner and your evenings relaxation.
Day Six: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to Lake Bunyonyi
After a hearty breakfast, you will have the opportunity to spend more time exploring Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, the home of the famous mountain Gorillas. It is estimated half of the world’s surviving population of mountain Gorillas live within Bwindi boundaries. This National Park offers a dramatic steeply forested landscape and is incredibly dense but has numerous animal trails allowing access to tourists. Apart from the gorillas, there are a variety of primates to be seen including the blue monkeys, red tailed monkeys, and black & white colobus monkeys. Then, after a Lunch break, we depart for Lake Bunyonyi where you can check in to your accommodation and spend the evening relaxing and dining.
Day Seven: Lake Bunyonyi
Today you will have the chance to relax and enjoy some unscheduled leisure time on the magical shores of this peaceful idyllic lake, surrounded by hillsides and terraces. You can choose to go birding (Bunyoni means ‘place of many little birds’ and is famous for its many species of bird life), cycling, sunbathing, swimming or even canoeing before enjoying dinner and evening relaxation at your accommodation.
Day Eight: Lake Bunyonyi to Lake Mburo National Park
Following breakfast we drive to Lake Mburo National Park. This Park is an extension of the Tanzanian plains with big herds of zebra, impala, eland and other ungulates. Bird viewing opportunities are excellent and for birders, this is one of the best places to find African fin foot, papyrus bush shrike. After checking in, we go for a game drive in the rolling hills and open grasslands. There is much to see and marvel at as the lovely landscape is home to impala, waterbuck, eland, zebra, buffalo, klipspringers, crested crane, and the elusive shoebill stork amongst other species of African wildlife.
Day Nine: Lake Mburo National Park to Jinja
We head out, after breakfast, to the town of Jinja, most famous for being the source of The Nile which winds from here 4,000 miles across Africa to the Mediterranean Sea. At Jinja you will also have time to soak up the atmosphere in the beautifully preserved Old Town. We also stop at vantage points to ensure you get a great view along the banks of the river and the source of the Nile. You will also be able to see the ‘Owen Falls Dam’ the source of hydroelectricity for Uganda.
Day Ten: Kampala
After breakfast we take a Kampala City Tour which will take you to historically significant sites such as the Kasubi tombs (a burial site for the Kings of Buganda), the Uganda Museum, Makerere University, one of the oldest educational institution in Africa and the Bahai Temple, the only temple of Bahai faith in Africa. After this it is time for lunch and you can carry on shopping in Kampala’s local markets before being dropped of either at your Kampala accommodation or at Entebbe Airport for onward travel.
TOUR INCLUDES
- Entrance Fees for all activities on the itinerary
- All excursions on the itinerary
- Accommodation from Day One until drop off on the last day of the tour
- All transport during the tour itinerary
- Meals – dependent on Half Board or Full Board arrangements made at the time of booking
- English speaking guide
- Game Drive
- Any Camping Equipment
- Permits for wildlife activities
TOUR EXCLUDES
- Any optional activities arranged separately
- Accommodation prior to Day One or after drop off on the last day of the tour
- Visa
- Travel Insurance
- Personal spending money
- Alcoholic drinks
- Laundry
- Any medical costs
- Tips
- Any fines incurred for improper behavior or breach of National Park rules
THE ABOVE IS JUST A PROPOSED ITINERARY AND CAN CHANGE WITHOUT ANY PRIOR NOTICE.
KOMPASS SAFARIS SHALL NOT BE HELD LIABLE FOR ANY CHANGES IT DEEMS FIT.