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5 Days Uganda Safari – Chimpanzee Trekking, Wildlife Viewing Uganda Tour
5 Days Uganda Safari – Overview
Our 5 days Uganda Safari is a 4-night/ 5 days safari in Uganda offering chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park and Kyambura gorge as well as wildlife viewing in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Starting and ending in Kampala, this memorable 5 days Uganda safari tour takes you to Kibale NP for a remarkable chimpanzee trekking encounter in the primate capital of Africa boasting over 13 primate species counting 1500 chimpanzees, plus other 12 amazing primate species including the rare L’hoest’s monkey, plus over 370 bird species.
From Kibale, transfer to Queen Elizabeth NP– the most prominent park in Uganda for game viewing and home to the rare tree climbing lions.
You’ll enjoy game drives and a thrilling Kazinga channel boat cruise where most of the 95 mammal species including lions, elephants, leopards, buffaloes, hippos, crocs, numerous antelopes, plus numerous bird species will be spotted.
This 5 days safari in Uganda will further expose you to chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura gorge where you’ll spot several primates and also allow you to have an Uganda Equator Line crossing experience at Kayabwe for incredible photo shoots.
Contact Us For A Perfectly Planned Memorable 5 Days Safari In Uganda Tour, Tailored To Your Tastes And Interests
5 Days Uganda Safari – Prime Safari Activities
- Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park
- Game viewing in Queen Elizabeth park
- Boat cruise on Kazinga channel
- Chimpanzee tracking in 100m deep Kyambura gorge
- Encountering tree-climbing in Ishasha sector
- Enjoying scenic views of the Ugandan countryside during the road transfers
5 Days Uganda Safari- FEATURED SAFARI DESTINATION/PARKS
Day 1 & 2: Kibale National Park
Day 3 & 4: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 5: Transfer to Kampala
5 Days Uganda Safari- SAFARI HIGHLIGHTS
Day 1: Transfer to Kibale park, visit Amabere caves & hike Fort Portal Crater field
Day 2: Morning chimpanzee trekking in Kibale & Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary
Day 3: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park, do game drive, afternoon Kazinga channel boat cruise & evening game drive
Day 4: Do a game drive in the Ishasha sector in search of tree-climbing lions
Day 5: Undertake chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura gorge and transfer to Kampala
5 Days Uganda Safari- DETAILED SAFARI ITINERARY
Day 1: Transfer To Kibale National Park. Visit Amabere Caves & Hike The Fort Portal Crater Field
After an early breakfast at 7: am, you’ll be picked up by your guide from your hotel in Kampala, and embark on a 300km (5- 6 hours) drive to Fort Portal. Along the way, enjoy the dramatic scenery of the distant views of Lake Wamala, Mubende inselbergs, and the lush green swamps of Kyegegwa and Kyenjojo before entering Fort Portal- the topmost beautiful city in Uganda.
You’ll have lunch in Fort Portal and after, transfer to Amabere (breasts) caves for a memorable cultural encounter. You’ll explore the amazing beliefs of the local people that date back to the prehistoric era. The breast-like features are believed to be the breasts of Nyinamwiru the mother of Ndahura the famous Muchwezi ruler who expanded the Chwezi Empire.
From Amabeere cave, you hike the Fort Portal Crater Lake field where you’ll encounter the effects of explosive volcanicity in the area. The area features a range of hollows counting the magnificent crater lakes such as Lake Nyabikere (the lake of frogs), Lake Saaka, and Lake Kigere (resembling a person’s foot).
A hike to the summit of Kyeganywa hill offers incredible views of the Rwenzori Mountains- popularly known as the “mountains of the moon” due to their snowcapped peaks. Transfer from the activity, drive to Kibale NP for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.
Accommodation:
Luxury: Crater Safari Lodge, Primate Lodge Kibale, Kyaninga Lodge
Mid-range: Kibale Guest Cottages, lsunga Lodge Kibale, Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse
Budget: Kibale Forest Camp, Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse
Drive distance & time: Approx. 300km or 5 hours
Activities & Services of the day
- Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
- Visit Amabere Caves
- Fort Portal Crater Lake field hike
Optional activities you can do on this day.
- Nocturnal walk in Kibale National Park enables you to encounter some of the nocturnal creatures such as Bush babies, Potto, Tree hyrax, and night jars.
- Visit the Amabere caves in Fort Portal
- Cycling in Mpanga tea estate
Day 2: Do Chimpanzee Trekking In The Morning & Bigodi Swamp Walk
Retreat from the activity and connect to Bigodi wetland sanctuary for an afternoon wetland walk. The Sanctuary is an eco-tourism site and so far the best in Uganda with over 200 bird species among which include the Great Blue Turaco. It is also a habitat for the swamp-dwelling Sitatunga antelope and several primates. Settle for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.
After breakfast at 6:30 am, you’ll transfer to Kibale National Park headquarters with your packed lunch for the chimp trekking briefing at 8 am. After, embark on a 2- 5 hours trek in search of the chimps- wonderful man’s cousins sharing 98.7% DNA with humans.
Kibale- the primate capital of Africa boasts 13 primate species counting over 1500 chimpanzees, the rare L’hoest’s monkey, black and white colobus, grey checked Mangabeys, olive baboons, red-tailed, vervet, and red colobus monkeys are always encountered while on a chimp trek plus some of the 370 bird species including the Great blue turaco, Tropical boubou, Black-capped Apalis, African grey parrot, Western nicator, Masked Apalis, etc.
On encountering the chimps, you spend one amazing hour with chimps observing them feeding, grooming, communicating, patrolling, and swinging in trees- a remarkable experience worth undertaking. After, return to the briefing point for a packed picnic lunch.
After your lunch, undertake a nature walk in Bigodi wetland- an eco-tourism site, home to over 138 bird species including the beautiful great blue turaco. while on the walk, you can spot numerous primates and the swamp-dwelling Sitatunga antelope. After this incredible nature walk, return to your lodge for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.
Accommodation:
Luxury: Crater Safari Lodge, Primate Lodge Kibale, Kyaninga Lodge
Mid-range: Kibale Guest Cottages, Isunga Lodge Kibale, Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse
Budget: Kibale Forest Camp, Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activities & Services of the day
- Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park
- A nature walk in Bigodi wetland
Optional activities you can do on this day
- Nocturnal walk in Kibale National Park
- Bigodi community tour
Day 3: Transfer To Queen Elizabeth Park, Do Game Drive, Afternoon Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise & Evening Game Drive
After an early breakfast at around 6:00 am, you’ll embark on a 157km (3-4 hours) drive to Queen Elizabeth NP for a thrilling game viewing and a boat cruise on the Kazinga channel.
Along the way, you’ll have dramatic scenery of the snowcapped Rwenzori Mountains– 3rd Africa’s tallest mountain (rising 5109m altitude).
Upon arrival, embark on the drive through the scenic landscapes of Queen Elizabeth park and you’ll look out for lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, spotted hyenas, waterbucks, Uganda kobs plus more of the 95 mammal species and numerous bird species as the park is a birder’s haven with over 600 bird species counting the African fish eagle, martial eagles, Palm-nut vultures, etc.
After the game driver, transfer to your lodge for lunch, and at 2 pm embark on a 2 hours thrilling Kazinga channel boat cruise where you’ll get a memorable close encounter with 100s of hippos submerged in water.
You’ll spot crocodiles basking, buffalos, and elephants bathing on channel banks plus over 100 water bird species around like Pink-backed pelicans, African darters, African skimmers, etc.
From the boat cruise, you’ll have a short game drive along the channel track as you connect to your lodge for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.
Accommodation:
Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge, Katara Lodge
Mid-range: Enganzi Game Lodge, Kasenyi Safari camp, Bush Lodge
Budget: Pumba Safari cottages, Park View Safari Lodge
Drive distance & time: Approx. 152km or 3- 4 hours
Activities & Services of the day
- Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Morning game drive
- Afternoon boat cruise on Kazinga channel
- Evening game drive
Optional activities you can do on this day
- Lion tracking
- Night game drive
Day 4: Do Game Drive In Ishasha Sector In Search Of Tree Climbing Lions
After an early breakfast at 7.30 am, transfer to Ishasha sector 76km from the northern sector of Queen Elizabeth park. You drive through a spectacular landscape of rolling plains of the savannah. On arrival, you’ll take on a game drive in search of the mysterious tree climbing lions that tend to amazingly rest up in the big fig tree branches, especially during the hot hours of the day.
While in this sector, you’ll encounter buffaloes, elephants, topis, waterbucks, Uganda kobs, plus various bird species. After the memorable encounter, drive back to your lodge for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.
The highlight of the day: Encountering the tree-climbing lions
Accommodation:
Luxury: Mazike Valley Lodge, Mweya Safari Lodge, Katara Lodge
Mid-range: Enganzi Game Lodge, Kasenyi Safari Camp, Bush Lodge
Budget: Pumba Safari Cottages, Park View Safari Lodge
Activities & Services of the day
- Game drive in Ishasha sector
Day 5: Do Chimpanzee Tracking In Kyambura Gorge And Transfer To Kampala
After your breakfast at 7 am, embark on a 2-3 hours chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura gorge starting at 8 am. This mysterious gorge is a 100m deep canyon of tropical rainforest stretching 11km amidst the dry savannah plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park home to numerous primates and birds.
The chimp trek on the gorge slopes is quite challenging however, the experience is worth undertaking. While on the hike, you’ll spot several beautiful primates including the black and white colobus, olive baboons, vervet and red-tailed monkeys plus various birds counting the beautiful great blue turaco, African fin foot, black-and-white casqued hornbills, black bee-eaters, and blue bellied kingfishers, etc.
On encountering chimpanzees– man’s closet cousins, you’ll observe how they, groom, eat, socialize, hunt, play, and their amazing ways of swinging in trees- a lifetime experience a must not miss! After chimpanzee tracking, embark on the transfer to Kampala, 420km (7-8 hours) drive making a stop at Uganda Equator crossing Kayabwe en-route.
The highlight of the day: Chimp tracking in Kyambura gorge.
Drive distance & time: Approx. 420km or 7-8 hours
Activities & Services of the day
- Chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura gorge
- Transfer to Kampala
End of the 5 Days Uganda Safari
5 Days Uganda Safari: SAFARI INCLUSIONS
- Full-time English professional safari driver guide
- 4×4 safari van/4×4 Safari land cruiser with poop up roof for game viewing with functional A/C
- Full board accommodation
- Chimpanzee trekking permit fees
- Boat cruise fees
- Wi-Fi Internet on board the safari vehicle
- Bottled water
5 Days Uganda Safari: SAFARI EXCLUSIONS
- International & domestic flight fees
- Visa fees
- Laundry services
- Items of personal nature
- Gratuities and tips
- Other beverages/drinks
- Other extras not mentioned in the itinerary above