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Rubondo Island National Park

RUBONDO NATIONAL PARK.

Where is Rubondo national park located? Situated on an island in the southwest corner of the world’s second-largest lake, Lake Rubondo Island National Park is one of the only two national parks situated on an… RUBONDO NATIONAL PARK.

Itinerary Details

A Rare Chance To Tentatively Interact With Mountain gorillas And Chimpanzees

Day 1: Arrival in Uganda – Transfer to Entebbe Hotel

Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by a representative from Wild Compass Africa and transferred to your hotel. Take the time to relax and stretch after your long journey. Meals and accommodation: Papyrus Guest House | Alternative

Day 2: Shoebill Excursion in Mabamba Swamp & Explore Entebbe

Wake up early for breakfast before heading out on a boat excursion to Mabamba Swamp in search of the elusive shoebill a must-see for birding and wildlife enthusiasts. Known as the "living dinosaur" or "whale-headed stork," the shoebill is one of Uganda’s most iconic wildlife encounters. On arrival at the swamp, you'll switch to smaller wooden boats that are ideal for navigating the narrow marsh channels. The activity typically lasts 1–3 hours, with about 1.5 hours total travel time to and from the swamp. Return to your hotel for a relaxed afternoon. You may also choose to explore Entebbe town at your own pace. Visit the local markets, shopping malls, or unwind at one of the local bars. For nature lovers, the Entebbe Botanical Gardens is a must-home to a variety of bird species and rich botanical diversity. It is also the oldest botanical garden in Africa and famously served as a filming location for Tarzan in the Jungle in the 1950s. Meals and accommodation: Papyrus Guest House | Alternative

The oldest botanical gardens in Africa

Day-3 Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary | Murchison Falls Top visit

Ziwa rhino sanctuary is the only natural home of the white rhinos in Uganda which had gone into extinction in the early 70s due to instabilities and serious poaching. Located on the same road as Murchison Falls National Park, it is a great idea to visit these massive creatures which will be the first highlight of the Big 5. Not only the rhinos, the sanctuary is rich in a variety of savannah bird species and other wildlife species such as bushbucks, warthogs, vervet monkeys, pangolins, and much more. The government of Uganda and the private entities re-introduced them back in the early 2000s and doing a great job to enable them to survive with a promising number and to re-introduce them back into the wild when the target number is hit. You will have a hot meal from the sanctuary restaurant and after that embark on your journey to the great home wildlife. Visit the top of the falls, hike, and see more wonderful aerial views of the falls, you will get a natural shower from the permanent splashes from the waters that form a rainbow. Feel the vibrations and witness how almost all the Nile waters are squeezed into a narrow gorge 8 meters wide and 43 meters deep, interesting how the natural turbines stimulate your happiness as you see the river flow gently after the falls. After viewing the strongest falls in the world, drive to your next accommodation where you will have a relaxed evening. Meals and accommodation: Pakuba safari Lodge | Alternative

Murchison falls of Uganda

Day 4 Private Nile Delta Boat ride | Game drive

River Nile links to the waters of Lake Albert where it proceeds to southern Sudan and Egypt before joining the Mediterranean Sea. It’s a home of several aquatic species both birds and mammals, you will be changed enough to spot hippos, elephants foraging along the river shores, crocodiles, lots of birds like herons, fish eagles, Hamerkops, kingfishers, and more so it's peaceful and among a major highlight of the safari. You will then connect to your safari vehicles from a different location after the delta experience, have a bush picnic, and later on start a real safari drive in search of savannah specials like lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, and much more. Have a great time in the wild with no rush, you will come back to the lodge when you think you have had enough for the day and this will give you room to either eat a hot lunch or go with your packed lunch for more wilderness experience. Meals and accommodation: Pakuba safari lodge | alternative

lioness Murchison falls park in great view point
lion experience

Day 5 Morning Wildlife search | Afternoon private Boat ride to the Falls

Have an early breakfast, then head out for an exciting morning game drive and photography session. Your guide will help you track key wildlife, including lions and leopards especially if you missed them the previous day. After the game drive, return to your lodge to refresh and enjoy lunch. In the afternoon, embark on a breathtaking launch cruise along the Nile, heading toward the base of the thunderous Murchison Falls. The cruise lasts approximately 2–3 hours and offers excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. Keep an eye out for Nile crocodiles, hippos, elephants, giraffes, and a variety of bird species such as carmine bee-eaters, African fish eagles, giant kingfishers, pied kingfishers, skimmers, and many more. After the cruise, return to your accommodation for a relaxed evening as you unwind and enjoy a beautiful sunset over the Nile River. Meals and accommodation: Pakuba safari lodge | alternative

The Jacksons hartebeest
Murchison falls of Uganda

Day 6- Brief morning game drive | flight to Kibale Park | after lunch chimp tracking

Wake up early and enjoy breakfast before heading out for your final game drive in Murchison Falls National Park. Each day in the wild offers something new, you might spot wildlife you haven’t seen yet, so keep your eyes open! After the game drive, you'll be transferred to the airstrip for your domestic flight to western Uganda, bringing you closer to the primate capital Kibale Forest. The scenic flight takes approximately 2 hours. Upon arrival, you'll be met by your guide and either head directly for chimpanzee tracking (depending on timing and flexibility) or proceed to your lodge for relaxation. Later, venture into the lush Kibale jungle with a ranger guide for your chimpanzee tracking experience. Be sure to carry enough drinking water, a snack, and wear proper jungle attire. Kibale National Park is renowned for hosting 13 primate species, including chimpanzees, red colobus, sooty mangabey, red-tailed monkeys, mantled guereza, olive baboons, and more. The park is also home to over 375 bird species, including key Albertine Rift endemics, as well as 250 species of butterflies, and several mammals such as elephants, buffaloes, warthogs, and duikers. Meals and accommodation: turaco Treetops Lodge | alternative

chimpanzee
Chimpanzee showcasing his dental in Kibale forest

Day 7 Morning Nature Walk | Transfer To Ishasha Home Of Tree Climbing Lions

The western part of Uganda is beautified by lots of mountains and crater lakes, walk around the community, experience coffee making, and local gin making from the plantain, hike to one of the crater lakes, and later on drive to Ishasha. Drive through the scenic fort portal Kasese road connected to the savannah land of the medley of wonders. Have a chance to enjoy the open savannah and forest of maramagambo, it’s a great world out there driving 3-4 hours in the wilderness. High chances of spotting lots of wildlife like elephants, buffaloes, and Uganda kobs, and to birders it’s a great drive along Edward. Checking into your lodge and having lunch and relaxing, you will have an option of going for an evening drive or a sunset treat in the wilderness marking the end of the day. Meals and accommodation: Ishasha Wilderness Camp

elephants in queen elizabeth

Day 8 Morning Game drive | Transfer to Bwindi

Search for tree-climbing lions at ease, and encounter more new species like the Topis, Ishasha is the great home of Uganda kobs, elephants, buffaloes, hyenas, birds, leopards, and much more. You will drive around this southern sector, go back to the lodge for lunch, and after transfer to Bwindi by road. It’s a great drive via the green mountains filled up with tea and coffee, and lovely people. Arrive at the lodge for an overnight stay as you are warming up for the gorilla experience. Meals and accommodation: Buhoma Lodge | alternative

Aerial view of the Bwindi canopies

Day 9 Gorilla tracking | Ride 4 a Woman project visit

Today is the highlight of your safari, gorilla trekking day! After an early breakfast, head to the park headquarters for a briefing and to be assigned to a gorilla family. Depending on the group, you may start trekking immediately or drive to a nearby trailhead. Hike through the thick forest, navigating vines, slopes, and streams as you search for the great apes. The journey can be challenging but incredibly rewarding, with chances to spot other wildlife and enjoy the breathtaking jungle scenery. Once you locate the gorillas, you'll spend a magical one hour in their presence a truly unforgettable encounter. Face masks are required during the visit, and your ranger guide will brief you on all necessary guidelines. What to bring: Fully charged camera, spare SD cards, rain jacket, hiking boots, long pants, and long-sleeved shirt. After the trek, return to your lodge for lunch and relaxation. In the afternoon, take an optional visit to a local women’s community project led by an inspiring local woman. The initiative empowers women with hands-on skills that help them earn a living your visit directly supports their efforts. Meals and accommodation: Buhoma Lodge

A lady sitting right near the Male mountain gorilla in the volcanoes of Rwanda
Barb our client happily showcasing her gorilla tracking certificate

Day 10 Fly Back To Entebbe | Back Home

You will be driven to Kihihi airstrip after your breakfast as you will be saying bye to Uganda. The flight to Entebbe takes 2 hours shortening the long drive of 10 hours on the road. You will be picked up by our company representative and taken to your hotel of choice or airport which marks the end of the trip.

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Getting a closer look at the male chimpanzee in the kyambura gorge uganda

Kyambura Gorge-Uganda

Where is kyambura gorge located? Kyambura is a 100-meter-deep gorge comprising lush tropical vegetation in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Kyambura is situated in the far eastern corner of Queen Elizabeth National Park one of the… Kyambura Gorge-Uganda

Kibale National Park

Being the most pre-montane forest in east Africa the park lies on the western edges of the country, containing a diverse array of landscapes. The primate capital of the world is gifted by 13 species chanced enough with a variety of diurnal monkeys but the east African chimpanzees as said to be the forest's most cherished lead the scene. This magnifique eco-tourism and safari destination was gazetted in 1932 and formally established in 1993 to protect the enormous and endangered forest species. The park has become most popular for chimpanzee tracking and other activities like chimpanzee habituation, nature walks, and birding following the famous Kanyanchu Primate Walk. It would uncertain for a nature lover to miss viewing these great apes because the chances of locating them are extremely excellent. The guided walks start at 8 am and 2 pm given an average of three hours, depending on various factors. Kibale national park is home to 120 mammals, including Uganda mangabey, Ugandan red colobus, chimpanzees, elephants, and antelopes. the park hosts about 370 species of birds, with the most 23 Albertine Rift endemics such as the green-breasted Pita, Purple-breasted sunbird, Dusky crimsongwing, The Nahan’s francolin, Cassin's spinetail, blue-headed bee-eater and low-land masked Apalis..the chimpanzee population surges to about 1,500 individuals subdivided into at least dozens of different communities, having 4 habituated to humans.

Activities in Kibale National Park.

Chimpanzee Habituation Experience

Chimpanzee habituation is the key process of training the most cherished primates to get used to human beings and preparing them to be tracked, habituation is not a month’s activity it can easily go up to 3 years before being official for normal tracking. Uganda has about 5000 chimpanzees and 1500chimpanzees are found in this tremendous forest. It requires one to wake very early and begin the journey to the jungle at 6:30 am with experienced trackers and also joined by researchers and photographers who may need to spend more time with the chimpanzees, the activity lasts for about 6 hours and it’s always key to book the activity in time at least 3 months earlier

Birding

Over 375 bird species are recorded in Kibale National Park with one of Uganda’s most sought-after birds, the olive long-tailed cuckoo, and African and Green-breasted pitta. Birding in Kibale national park happens all year round, and like all other park activities, all tourists shall be accompanied by one of the expert guides.It requires one to wake very early and begin the journey to the jungle at 6:30 am with experienced trackers and also joined by researchers and photographers who may need to spend more time with the chimpanzees, the activity lasts for about 6 hours and it’s always key to book the activity in time at least 3 months earlier

black bee eater kibale
green breasted pitta Kibale

Nature Walks

Apart from the primates, tourists can pick some interest in other residents like the rich historical vegetation, butterflies, and forest elephants which are primarily chaotic and makes sense as to why a ranger guide gives a company the tourists, the forest hogs, and many amphibians and reptiles are also among expectations while having a walk. The park also offers night nature walks that give a chance to see those nocturnal like tree hyraxes and bush babies.

kibale forest Park Uganda red Colobus
sunset game drive

Chimpanzee Trekking

Kibale Park is most famous for its shooting populations of chimpanzees worldwide, and chimpanzee tracking is becoming the most popular activity and ultimate highlight for visitors. For quite some time of conservation and habituation, chances of seeing the chimpanzees rose to about 95%. The activity is twice done in a day and it takes 2-6 hours depending on the location of the animals, slightly different from gorilla tracking. The trek is formulated by a group of 6 tourists accompanied by a ranger guide. It’s a fascinating experience as joy covers the faces and that love for conserving for future generations shall never fade.

Chimpanzee showcasing his dental in Kibale forest
Kibale National Park

Community Visits

Perfectly located in a most traditional region surrounded by various tribes and green vegetation, tourists are chanced to interact with the communities around the park like Bigodi as they have different explanations about their way of living and blissfully enjoying the cultural dances, the Bigodi swamp walk is also a mind freshener for birding and primate viewing

How to reach Kibale National Park?

BY ROAD

The easiest route is driving from Kampala to Kibale via the Mityana route which may cost you 6 hours of driving. However, there are several connections between Queen Elizabeth and Hoima depending on where you are coming from

BY AIR

The park is connected by either scheduled or charter flights from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi airstrip and Murchison falls national park landing to Kasese Airstrip. The flights don’t exceed 2 hours which makes it easier and flexible.