6 Days Uganda Wildlife and Chimpanzee trekking

6 Days Uganda Wildlife and Chimpanzee trekking feature visits in 3 of Uganda’s most attractive destinations, Queen Elizabeth national park, Kibale national park and Semiliki national park. Activities to be done include; Chimpanzee trekking, Game viewing, boat cruise on the Kazinga channel, nature walks and birding. Queen Elizabeth national park is Uganda’s second largest national park with tree climbing lions as its main tourist attraction however the park has a lot more activities to explore depending in the time spent in the park. Kibale national park is Africa’s best chimpanzee trekking destination with guaranteed best views of the chimpanzees and other 12 existing primates in the park. It is also a home to 138 species of birds, 250 tree species and 60 species of forest wildlife including forest elephants, bushbucks, warthogs, giant forest hogs and buffaloes. This trip also features a visit to Semiliki national park and reserve, located in Bundibugyo district near Fort portal town adjust to Congo Ituri rain forest. The park is a home to Uganda’s largest Sempaya hot springs, about 53 mammal species and over 400 bird species recorded in this park thus making it one of the top birding destination in Africa earning a title of “True birders Haven”

Safari highlights of the 6 Days Uganda Wildlife and Chimpanzee trekking

Day 1: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park
Day 2: Morning game drive/Lion tracking and boat cruise
Day 3: Transfer to Semiliki national park – Night game drive
Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking and Sempaya hot springs
Day 5: Transfer to Kibale national park – Chimpanzee trekking
Day 6: Transfer to Kampala

Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park

Transfer to Queen: Depending on your location in Kampala/Entebbe, you will meet with your safari guide and thereafter embark on your journey to Queen Elizabeth national park. This park is one of Uganda’s best travel destinations given its variety of attractions. The park is located in the western part of Uganda taking about 5-6 hours’ drive on the road with en-route stop at the Uganda Equator and lunch in Mbarara town. This drive is exciting with great views of the countryside and the people. Connect to visit the twin crater lakes before you proceed to check-in your accommodation for dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation and meals (Full board)

Luxury option: Mweya Safari lodge/Kyambura Gorge Lodge
Mid-range option: Parkview Safari lodge/Elephant Hub lodge
Budget option: Pumba Safari Cottages/Engiri Game lodge

Day 2: Morning game drive/Lion tracking and boat cruise – Queen Elizabeth national park

Morning game drive: After breakfast, transfer to Kisenyi area for your lion tracking experience and game drive. You will be able to meet the lions at a much closer distance given that Lions tracking is the only guarantee that visitors are able to see the lions in Queen Elizabeth national park
boat cruise: After game drive, return to the lodge for lunch then connect for a boat cruise on the Kazinga channel. It’s a 2 hours’ boat trip with sights of different bird species, hippos, Crocodiles, Elephants, and Buffaloes to mention a few. Return to you lodge for dinner and overnight stay as above

Day 3: Transfer to Semiliki national reserve – Night game drive

Transfer to Semiliki: After breakfast, check-out of the lodge and transfer to Semiliki national park. It’s a 4 hours’ drive with en-route stop in Fort portal town. Upon arrival at the park, connect to your lodge for check-in, have lunch and spend the afternoon at leisure. Later in the night, drive for a night game drive in search for the nocturnal animals like the bush babies and other animals like the lions, leopards and hyenas. Return to sleep at the lodge with great memories of the found nocturnal animals.

Accommodation and meals (Full board)

Luxury option: Semiliki Safari Lodge
Mid-range option: Ntoroko Game Lodge
Budget option: Bugama Cottages

Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking, Sempaya Hot springs, and birdwatching

Chimpanzee trekking: After your breakfast, transfer to Semiliki national reserve which is Uganda’s oldest wildlife reserve. Mugiri forest is a remarkable for chimpanzee trekking and birdlife. You will search for the chimpanzees in the forest with great views of different birds. Mungilo waterfalls in the forest are the best for bird watching. After finding and viewing the chimpanzees, walk back to find your guide and transfer back to your lodge for lunch.
Sempaya Hot springs: Later afternoon, drive to Semiliki forest to visit Sempaya hot springs which are the main attractions of Semiliki national park and the largest in Uganda, divided into female and male however they both have a geyser that shoots up from 8 meters holes with a high temperature of up to 100 degrees Celsius. The strength and hotness of the springs are amazing as one can boil eggs and in few minutes, it is ready to eat. The community around the park also visit the springs to perform rituals basin on their beliefs. Drive back to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay

Day 5: Transfer to Kibale national park – Chimpanzee trekking

Transfer to Kibale: Enjoy your breakfast, check-out and embark on your journey to Kibale national park. This park is Africa’s best primates’ destination with about 13 different primates’ species including the chimpanzees. The park is about 2 hours’ drive Kibale national, have early lunch en-route in fort portal then proceed to the park headquarters for briefing for your chimpanzee trekking experience. Meet with other trekkers and gather for a briefing from the park officials where you will be guided on the expectations of Chimpanzee trekking. Thereafter, in only a group of 12 people and ranger guides/researchers, set off for Chimpanzee trekking. The search may take 2-5 hours depending on their location. The chimpanzees in Kibale are quite easier to find and you will be allowed to spend 1 hour with them on finding them. Proceed to check-in your lodge for dinner and overnight stay

Accommodation and meal (Full board)

Luxury option: Kyaninga Lodge/Ndali Lodge
Mid-range option: Chimpanzee Guesthouse
Budget option: Isunga Lodge/Rweteera Guesthouse

Day 6: Transfer to Kampala

Transfer to Kampala: After breakfast, check-out of the lodge and embark on your journey back to Kampala/Entebbe. It’s a 5-6 hours’ drive from Kibale national park to Kampala with en-route lunch. You will be dropped off a location you advise in Kampala be dropped at Entebbe airport for your departure flight back home.