4 Days Safari to Kibale and Queen Elizabeth National Park
4-Day Uganda Primate & Wildlife Safari | Kibale & Queen Elizabeth.
Safari Quick
Destination: Kibale National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda
Duration: 4 days/3 nights
Safari Style: Private Safari/Tailored Safari
Tour Highlights: Chimpanzee Tracking, Game Drives, Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise
Start point: Kampala or Entebbe
Ending Point: Kampala or Entebbe
Ideal For: Couples, families, groups of friends, solo travellers and newcomers to Uganda safaris
Travel Theme: Wildlife, Primates, Nature and Classic Africa Safari
Our 4 Days Kibale and Queen Elizabeth Safari combines two of the best wildlife places in Uganda to provide travellers with one well-planned trip. Lush forest, where you have the opportunity to trek through the rainforest in search of wild chimpanzees and encounter some of the forest’s other primates.
From Kibale, the journey continues towards Queen Elizabeth National Park, where the landscape changes from dense rainforest to open savannah, crater lakes and wetlands. It’s here that the travellers get to go on a game drive in search of elephants, buffaloes, Uganda Kobs, antelopes, lions and other wildlife before taking a relaxing boat cruise in the famous Kazinga Channel.
Kibale Forest is famous for chimpanzee tracking, and currently, the UWA organises tracking from different sectors such as Kanyanchu. Normal chimpanzee tracking takes place in morning and afternoon sessions, with one hour of viewing time for each visitor after locating the chimps.
The Queen Elizabeth National Park offers an alternative Uganda safari setting in the form of expansive savannah, wetlands, lakes and the Kazinga Channel. The national park has more than 95 species of mammals and over 600 species of birds, ensuring you have much to anticipate during game drives and the boat trip.
This itinerary is perfect for holidaymakers that wish to visit Uganda’s primate capital and one of its top savannah safari spots but are not willing to embark on a lengthy safari.
Safari Highlights
Day 1: Kampala/Entebbe – Drive to Kibale Forest National Park
Day 2: Chimpanzee Trekking – Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 3: Morning Game Drive and Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise
Day 4: Queen Elizabeth – Morning Game Drive – return to Kampala/Entebbe
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Kampala/Entebbe – Drive to Kibale Forest National Park
Experience Uganda’s Primate Capital.
This safari adventure begins with an early morning transfer to your Uganda safari guide from your Kampala or Entebbe hotel.
After a short briefing, you will start your journey westwards to Kibale Forest National Park; the drive takes you through varying terrain, lively towns and the green rural areas of Western Uganda.
Depending on your preferred departure time, there will be opportunities to stop along the way for meals and refreshments.
It takes about 326 kilometres of road travel from Kampala through the Kampala-Fort Portal route to reach Kibale.
Once you get closer to Fort Portal and the Kibale region, the scenery becomes more and more appealing with tea plantations, rolling hills, crater lakes and forest scenery.
Optional Bigodi Wetland Walk
If time allows, enjoy a guided nature walk in Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary in the afternoon.
The community wetland walk gives you the chance to see the wetland environment and its wildlife, including monkeys and birds. You will also have a good insight into the communities around Kibale.
From here, proceed to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation
Budget: Isunga Lodge
Mid-range: Chimpanzee Forest Lodge
Luxury: Primate Lodge
Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner
Day 2: Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale – Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
The highlight: Chimpanzee Trekking
Wake up early and have breakfast at your lodge before heading to the park headquarters for the briefing on your chimpanzee trekking.
Your UWA-guided chimpanzee trekking experience will take you into the forest in search of habituated chimpanzee groups. The experience is not simply about finding chimpanzees; it is an occasion that allows you to walk through the forest canopy and learn about the ecology of Kibale and primates of the park.
Chimpanzee tracking is one of the key activities that Kibale is known for in addition to its great primate diversity. Chimpanzee trekking usually takes a few hours depending on the position of the animals.
As you walk through the forest, keep an eye out for other primates and other wildlife in the forest. Depending on the day’s sight, you may encounter red colobus, black-and-white colobus, L’Hoest’s monkey, grey-cheeked mangabey and olive baboons and other animals.
Once the chimpanzees are located, you will get a chance to observe the chimpanzees at the allowable distance and see how they behave naturally before heading back to the starting point.
Lunch and Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
After the trek, return to the lodge for lunch or have an en route along the way before starting on the journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
The scenery starts changing as you move away from the forest and into the open savanna terrain in Queen Elizabeth.
Check in at your lodge in the late afternoon and relax.
For travellers who arrive early enough and are still with to explore, an optional evening game drive can be arranged, subject to park conditions and available time.
Accommodation
Budget: Pumba Safari Cottages
Mid-range: Enganzi Game Lodge
Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 3: Queen Elizabeth National Park – Game Drive and Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise
Morning Game Drive
Wake up early for breakfast before heading out for a morning game drive.
The early hours are among the most rewarding times to explore the savannah, when wildlife is often active before the heat of the day becomes intense.
Your safari guide will explore the productive game-viewing areas of the park, looking for elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, waterbucks, warthogs and other antelopes.
There are also opportunities to encounter predators such as lions and leopards, although wildlife sightings are naturally dependent on animal movements and the conditions of the day.
Queen Elizabeth is a unique place to take a safari because of the ecosystem of the area that varies from savannah to wetlands to lakes and forests.
Return back to your lodge after the morning game drive; you can have lunch before resting some time at your lodge.
Afternoon Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise
In the afternoon, proceed to Kazinga Channel for the best experience on your Uganda safari.
On the boat cruise, you will be taken along the channel that connects Lake George and Lake Edward, offering a different perspective of Queen Elizabeth’s wildlife.
From the water, you may see large numbers of hippos in and around the channel, crocodiles resting along the banks, elephants and buffaloes coming down to drink, as well as numerous waterbirds.
The Kazinga Channel is one of Queen Elizabeth’s signature attractions and is recognised for close wildlife viewing from the water.
The relaxed pace of the cruise also gives you an opportunity to enjoy the scenery and take photographs without the movement associated with a game drive.
After the cruise, return to your lodge for dinner and your final night in the park.
Accommodation
Budget: Simba Safari Camp
Mid-range: Enganzi Game Lodge
Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 4: Queen Elizabeth – Morning Game Drive – return to Kampala/Entebbe
After breakfast, embark on your last game drive at Queen Elizabeth National Park.
The additional morning game drive gives you another opportunity to search for wildlife and revisit areas where you guide may have identified promising sightings during the previous day’s safari.
This marks the last chance for you to enjoy the park’s savannah environment and search for some wildlife before embarking on your journey to Kampala or Entebbe.
As per your preferences and depending on your chosen path, your guide will take several stopovers at various places en route, including the scenic viewpoints, crater zones and many more.
After lunch, move on with your journey to Kampala or Entebbe.
The 4 Days Kibale and Queen Elizabeth Safari will come to an end with you being dropped off either at your hotel or Entebbe International Airport, as per your next destination.
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
What is included?
- 4 x 4 Safari Vehicle
- Safari Guide (English speaking)
- Accommodation for 3 Nights
- Meals as listed in the itinerary
- Chimp trekking activity and permits, if any
- Game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Boat cruise on Kazinga Channel
- Entry fees to park wherever necessary in the package
- Water for the safari
- Transfer from and to Kampala/Entebbe airport
- All activities as per itinerary
What is excluded?
- International Flights
- Travel Insurance
- Personal Expenses
- Drinks other than water
- Tips for guide and lodge staff
- Laundry
- Activities other than listed in the itinerary
