If your plan has always been to pay a visit to both Uganda and Zanzibar but you are not sure how best you can do it then this 17 days safari is the best package we have for you. This 17 day Uganda Zanzibar safari takes you through different experiences including game drives, launch cruise, mountain gorilla and chimpanzee trekking as well as diving experiences in Zanzibar. This safari will commence in Uganda and end in Zanzibar.
Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe Airport and transfer to hotel in Kampala
Day 2: Depart from Kampala to Murchison Falls National Park
Day 3: Morning game viewing and afternoon launch cruise in Murchison Falls National Park
Day 4: Drive to Kibale Forest National Park
Day 5: Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest National Park and connect to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 6: Morning game drive and afternoon launch cruise
Day 7: Depart from Queen National Park to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Day 8: Mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi National Park
Day 9: Depart from Bwindi National Park to Lake Mburo National Park
Day 10: Drive back to Kampala/Entebbe Airport
Day 11: Pick up from Zanzibar airport
Day 12: Guided tour through Stone Town
Day 13: Depart from Stone Town to Nungwi
Day 14, 15, 16: Nungwi
Day: Return to Zanzibar International Airport
Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe Airport and transfer to hotel in Kampala
On arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be picked by our driver guide who will drive you to Uganda Wildlife Education Center. After, you set off to Kampala capital city to your hotel of choice to have a rest, dinner and overnight stay at Sheraton Hotel Kampala (Luxury), Cassia Lodge/Protea Hotel Kampala (Midrange) or Hotel Sojovalo (Budget).
Day 2: Depart from Kampala to Murchison Falls National Park
Have breakfast early in the morning in your respective hotel in Kampala and after, embark on a 4 to 5 hours’ drive to northwestern Uganda to Murchison Falls National Park. You will be driven via Kampala-Luweero-Nakasongala road and along the way, make a stopover at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for rhino trekking. Later, proceed and have another stopover in Masindi Town for lunch. After, continue to Murchison Falls National Park and then pay a visit to the top of the falls-Murchison falls the most famous and powerful waterfalls in the world. Have a rest, dinner and overnight stay at Paraa Lodge/Nile Safari Lodge/Chobe Lodge (Luxury), Bwana Tembo Safari Camp/Sambiya River Lodge/Pakuba Safari Lodge (Midrange) or Shoebill Campsite/Boomu Women’s Group Bandas (Budget).
Day 3: Morning game viewing and afternoon launch cruise in Murchison Falls National Park
Wake up early in the morning and have breakfast and after, drive to the northern side of Murchison Falls National Park for a morning game drive. This area features intense savanna wildlife species of which you will have a chance to catch a glimpse at while on a game drive. They include among others African elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, Uganda Kobs, Oribis, lions and many bird species. Later, return to the lodge for lunch and have some rest then set off for the afternoon a boat cruise to the bottom of Murchison waterfalls. A boat ride to this area doesn’t only reward you with breathtaking roar of the waterfalls but also great views of hippos, crocodiles and aquatic bird species along the way.
You will have a rest, dinner and overnight stay at Paraa Lodge/Nile Safari Lodge/Chobe Lodge (Luxury), Bwana Tembo Safari Camp/Sambiya River Lodge/Pakuba Safari Lodge (Midrange) or Shoebill Campsite/Boomu Women’s Group Bandas (Budget).
Day 4: Drive to Kibale Forest National Park
On this day, start your day with a tasty cup of tea or coffee and after, head off to Kibale Forest National Park-a renowned primate capital of the world. Drive through the Albertine escarpment region while catching a glimpse at the traditional homesteads and farm lands in this area. Along the way, you will have your packed lunch or make a stopover in Hoima for lunch. This journey will take you about 7-9 hours’ drive. On arrival at the park, check in at the lodge for dinner and overnight stay at Primate Lodge/Kyaninga Lodge/Ndali Lodge (Luxury), Kibale Forest Camp (Midrange) or Rwenzori View Guesthouse (Budget).
Day 5: Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest National Park and connect to Queen Elizabeth National Park
After your early morning breakfast, gather at Kanyanchu visitor center for briefing on chimpanzee trekking rules and regulations by park official. After, you will be grouped into six people to go and track chimpanzees together with a well-trained park guide. You will be driven from the visitor center to starting point or simply start your trek from the visitor center. This experience may last about 2-3 hours or even more and only one hour is given to you to strike your imaginations with these unique creatures, learn more about their behavior and take photos. Being a home to over 13 distinct primate species, expect more than chimpanzees. You will also come across a number of primates including the black and white colobus monkeys, olive baboons, red tailed monkeys, red colobus monkeys, L’Hoest monkeys and many more. After, return to the visitor center while walking or be driven back by your driver guide. You will have lunch and some rest then drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park and depending on the time you will arrive, you will have evening game drive if time allows. After, you return to lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at Mweya safari Lodge/ Kyambura Game Lodge, Ishasha Wilderness Camp (Luxury), Kazinga Channel View Resort, Mweya Hostel (Budget) or Enganzi Game Lodge, Bush lodge (Midrange).
Day 6: Morning game drive and afternoon launch cruise
Wake up early in the morning and have breakfast the embark on a morning game drive via Kasenyi track to see different savanna grassland dwellers such as African elephants, lions, buffaloes, warthogs, waterbucks, birds, leopards for those of you who will be lucky enough and many more. After exciting and enjoyable game viewing experiences, return to your lodge for rest and lunch then set off for the afternoon launch cruise at 2:00pm local time via Kazinga channel to look out for most of the aquatic life like hippos, crocodiles and many water bird species.
You will have dinner and overnight stay at Mweya safari Lodge/ Kyambura Game Lodge, Ishasha Wilderness Camp (Luxury), Kazinga Channel View Resort, Mweya Hostel (Budget) or Enganzi Game Lodge, Bush lodge (Midrange).
Day 7: Depart from Queen National Park to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Have a cup of tea or coffee at your respective lodge and after, check out ready to head off to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park-southwestern Uganda. Drive via Ishasha track where you will have excellent views of rare tree climbing lions. En-route make a stopover at Savanna hotel for lunch and then proceed to Bwindi National Park. On arrival, check in at your lodge of choice for dinner and overnight stay at Buhoma Lodge/Chameleon Hill Lodge (Luxury), Gorilla Mist Camp/Gorilla Valley Lodge (Midrange), Buhoma Community Camp/Broadbill Forest Camp (Budget)
Day 8: Mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi National Park
Breakfast will be served to you at your lodge and after, join the rest of the visitors at the park headquarters depending on where your gorilla permit directs you to treks in Bwindi National Park usually begin in Buhoma, Ruhija, Nkuringo and Rushaga sector-the four main trailheads in this stunning protected area. You will be briefed on dos and don’ts for gorilla trekking by a park official and after, you will be assigned a habituated gorilla family to track in a group of eight visitors and park ranger guide. After, you will head off for your long awaited adventure with packed lunch/snacks and bottled water. The trek may last for about 2-8 hours depending on a number of factors for instance the nature of habitat, location of gorillas and your hiking speed. Upon getting your gorilla family, you have only an hour to strike your imaginations with these rare apes, take pictures and learn more about their behavior. After, return to the lodge for rest and in case time is still there, you can embark on community walk to the Batwa community to learn more about these renowned forest dwellers, be entertained by their incredible traditional dances and music performances. After, you will return to the lodge to relax, have dinner and then spend a night at Buhoma Lodge/Chameleon Hill Lodge (Luxury), Gorilla Mist Camp/Gorilla Valley Lodge (Midrange) or Buhoma Community Camp/Broadbill Forest Camp (Budget)
Day 9: Depart from Bwindi National Park to Lake Mburo National Park
On this day, you will be served breakfast and later, drive to Lake Mburo National Park and if you arrived early, you will have lunch before setting off for a boat ride. While on a boat cruise, you will have a chance to spot out most of crocodiles, hippos and many aquatic bird species. After, return to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at Mihingo Lodge
Day 10: Drive back to Kampala/Entebbe Airport
Following breakfast in the morning, drive back to Kampala/Entebbe Airport. En-route you will have lunch and then connect to the airport for your scheduled flight to Zanzibar.
Day 11: Pick up from Zanzibar airport
On this day, you will be picked up by driver guide and then head off to Stone Town and have overnight stay at Kisiwa House-a luxurious hotel facility in this historical town.
Day 12: Guided tour through Stone Town
On the 12th day, you will be taken through a guided tour in spice plantation and after, return to Kisiwa House-Burdani room. The Stone Town is a true definition of Swahili coastal trading towns in East Africa and still feature the urban fabric and townscape with several fine structures which depict a specific culture. This safari will help you explore this historical town center and at the end it of all, you return when you fascinated. This town is UNESCO World Heritage Site with several landmarks, museums, antique shops and restaurants.
Day 13: Depart from Stone Town to Nungwi
On this day, connect to Nungwi and have overnight stay at Z Hotel Sea Room (Bed and Breakfast). This means this safari will take you to the northern side of Zanzibar Island to Nungwi which features as the second largest settlement area within this island.
Day 14 to day 16: Spend a day in Nungwi
Have breakfast and after, you embark on snorkeling or diving experience in Nungwi and later, return to The Z Hotel Sea View Room (Bed and Breakfast).
Day 17: Return to Zanzibar International Airport
Wake up early in the morning and have breakfast and then check out ready to set off to Zanzibar International Airport for your flight back home and this marks the end of your 17 days Uganda-Zanzibar safari. Note that this itinerary is not fixed, it can be changed to suit within your travel needs.
End of safari
Safari inclusions
• Gorilla and chimpanzee trekking permit
• Rhino tracking
• Full time English speaking driver guide
• Accommodation and meals
• Launch cruise and game drives
• Park entry fees
• Transportation
• Airport transfers
Safari exclusions
• Personal travel insurance
• Visa fees
• International flights/Airfares
• Personal expenses like laundry, telephone, cigarettes, accommodation and meals not included in the itinerary, beverages and other.
