Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe international airport

Upon arrival at Entebbe International airport, Love Uganda Safaris driver / guide will meet you as soon as possible. He or she will brief you about the 13 days Uganda budget safari. Depending on your arrival time, you will then have lunch at any hotel in either Entebbe or Kampala. If you are tired because of the journey, you will spend the rest of the day in your earlier booked hotel or lodge. 

There is also an optional Kampala city tour. This will take you to wonderful places  with in Kampala city such as the Uganda Museum, Bahai temple, Old Kampala Mosque (for views of all the 7 hills of Kampala), Kasubi Royal tombs, Namugongo martyrs shrine, to mention but a few. You will return to your lodge for dinner and overnight. 

Accommodation:
Luxury / Upmarket: Serena Hotel or similar

Mid-range / Moderate: Cassia Lodge or similar

Budget / Basic: Dolphin Suites or similar

Meals: Lunch and dinner

Day 2: Transfer to Kibale forest National Park

After having a delicious morning breakfast at your lodge / hotel in Kampala, check out and meet your driver. You will embark on the road to Kibale Forest national park via Kampala – Mubende – Fort Portal highway. You will have lunch en’ route and a stopover at the historical Nakayima tree in Mubende district. You will enjoy the views of the surrounding areas of Fort Portal – Uganda’s tourism city such as the Rwenzori Mountains. 

If time allows you, visit Amabere ga Nyinamwiru and Nyakasura falls and do a short Fort Portal city tour

Check in to the lodge for relaxation upon arrival. If time allows you, you will go for a guided nature walk for scenic views of the surrounding areas. 

Main destination: Kibale Forest national park

Driving Distance: 358 kilometers 

Driving time: Approximately 5 to 6 hours

Accommodation:
Luxury / Upmarket: Papaya Lodge or similar

Mid-range / Moderate: Chimpanzee Forest guesthouse or similar

Budget / Basic: Kibale Forest Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 3: Chimp Tracking in Kibale forest National Park

After a morning breakfast, you will go to the visitor’s center for briefing about chimpanzee trekking. From there, you will enter the forests of Kibale and start on the search for these human-like chimps. Upon encountering them, you will have an hour in their presence whilst taking pictures. Not only will you see gorillas but also other primate species such as Red-tailed Monkeys, Black And White Colobus Monkeys, L’Hoest Monkeys, Blue Monkeys, Vervet Monkeys and Olive Baboons. 

Return to your lodge for lunch and some relaxation.

In the afternoon, you can visit Bigodi wetland for spectacular birding experience or visit the crater lakes region. You will see quite a number of crater lakes and hike to the top of the world for scenic views of the surrounding areas. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation:
Luxury / Upmarket: Papaya Lodge or similar

Mid-range / Moderate: Chimpanzee Forest guesthouse or similar

Budget / Basic: Kibale Forest Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 4: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park with a game drive as you enter the park, after lunch an early evening game drive.

After a lip-smirking breakfast at your lodge, check out and meet your driver / guide for a drive to Queen Elizabeth national park – A Medley of Wonders. You will have an en’ route game drive as you enter the park from where you will see several animals, plant and bird species. The drive also comes with scenic views of the surrounding features such as lakes and Rwenzori Mountains. Continue to your earlier booked lodge, check in, have lunch and some bit of relaxation. 

In the evening, you will embark on yet another amazing game drive. This presents to you an opportunity to see animals while they relax as the day draws close to an end. It is also an opportunity for you to land on the hunters and nocturnal as they leave their dens. Do not get surprised when you land on a lion hunting or even a leopard. 

Return to your lodge for dinner, relaxation and overnight. 

Main Destination: Queen Elizabeth national park

Travel distance: Approximately 180.8 km

Travel time: 3 to 4 hours

Accommodation:
Luxury / Upmarket: Mweya Safari Lodge or similar

Mid-range / Moderate: Twin Lakes Safari Lodge or similar

Budget / Basic: Pumba Safari Cottages or similar

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 5: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise

After a morning breakfast, you will go for a morning game drive in the Kasenyi plains. The area is a home to multiple species of both birds and animals. You will encounter animals such as elephants, buffaloes, zebras, Uganda kob, bushbucks, water bucks, to mention but a few. During the morning game drive, you will also see multiple tree and bird species among which include; yellow bill, Robin chat, read-throated wryneck, African emerald cuckoo, brown illadospis, lesser flamingos and papyrus gonolek. 

You will return to your lodge for lunch and some bit of relaxation. 

In the afternoon, drive to Mweya for a boat cruise at Kazinga channel. Kazinga channel is the water body that connects Lake Edward to Lake George. Here you will enjoy views of the surrounding areas while sailing the waters. You will see many animals converging at the channel to drink and several water animals such as hippos and crocodiles. There are chances of watching a crocodile grab a zebra or even lions hunt down a buffalo. Just know a lot of battles happen here since water for drinking is a uniting factor for these animals. 

Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation:
Luxury / Upmarket: Mweya Safari Lodge or similar

Mid-range / Moderate: Twin Lakes Safari Lodge or similar

Budget / Basic: Pumba Safari Cottages or similar

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 6: Morning game drive as you transfer to Ishasha sector, relaxation or evening game drive

After your morning breakfast, you will check out of your lodge and embark on a game drive towards Ishasha sector – the home of tree climbing lions. This sector is located in the south western parts of Queen Elizabeth national park. Every day in Queen Elizabeth national park is a brand new day. There is always something new that makes every game drive special. 

Check in to the lodge for lunch and relaxation upon arrival. 

You can choose to relax and enjoy the waters of the swimming pool on your lodge or go for an optional evening game drive. 

Have dinner and spend the night over. 

Accommodation: Ishasha Wilderness Camp, Enjojo Lodge, Ishasha Jungle Lodge or similar. 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. 

Day 7: Tree climbing lions and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable national park

After a morning breakfast, check out of your lodge and embark on a safari through the Ishasha sector. This sector is known for acacia trees from where lions seek refuge from insect bites and the sun especially during the dry season. You will encounter them in the plains and if you are lucky, you may land on one pride on the hunt. The luckier ones find them mating if it is the right season. 

Continue with lunch en’ route to Bwindi Impenetrable national park via the rolling hills and jugged landscape of Kigezi – Kabale region. Check in to your earlier booked lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight. 

Main Destination: Bwindi Impenetrable national park

Travel distance: Approximately 180.8 km

Travel time: 3 to 4 hours

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Main activities: Game drive in the Ishasha sector

Accommodation:
Luxury / Upmarket: Ruhija Gorilla Lodge, Buhoma Lodge and Four Gorillas Lodge or similar

Mid-range / Moderate: Buhoma Havens Lodge, Agandi Lodge and Icumbi Gorilla Lodge or similar 

Budget / Basic: Ride for a Woman Lodge, Broadbill forest Camp and Rushaga Gorilla Havens Lodge or similar

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner 

Day 8: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable national park

After a morning breakfast, meet your driver and go to the park headquarters for briefing. The briefing will last for about 30 minutes and you will be grouped into groups of not more than 8 people. The trekking begins there and then. You enter the forests in search of these apes. You are given one hour to spend in the presence of the gorillas as you take as many pictures as you wish. Follow the gorilla trekking rules and regulations strictly since violation of any may result into a penalty or fine. 

Return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation.

You will spend the rest of the day relaxing in the chilly gardens or swimming pool at your lodge. You can as well opt for birding in the nearby parts of the park. 

Have dinner and spend the night over.  

Accommodation:
Luxury / Upmarket: Ruhija Gorilla Lodge, Buhoma Lodge and Four Gorillas Lodge or similar

Mid-range / Moderate: Buhoma Havens Lodge, Agandi Lodge and Icumbi Gorilla Lodge or similar 

Budget / Basic: Ride for a Woman Lodge, Broadbill forest Camp and Rushaga Gorilla Havens Lodge or similar

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner 

Day 9: Transfer to Mgahinga Gorilla national park

After a morning breakfast, checkout of the lodge and embark on the journey to Mgahinga gorilla national park. The journey involves driving the rolling hills and jugged landscape but the views of the surrounding areas are always iconic to every traveler.

Check in to your earlier booked lodge for lunch and spend the rest of the day either relaxing in the lodge gardens or doing short guided nature walks around the nearby parts of the park. The walk comes with views of bird species and the surrounding areas.

Have dinner and spend the night at the lodge. 

Accommodation:
Luxury / Upmarket: Mount Gahinga Lodge or similar

Mid-range / Moderate: Mucha Lodge or similar 

Budget / Basic: Travelers Rest Hotel or similar

Day 10: Golden monkey tracking and Batwa cultural tour

After a morning breakfast, you will go to the park headquarters for briefing about golden monkey tracking. You will be told about the dos and don’ts of the activity and by 8:00am, the tracking begins there and then. Unlike gorilla trekking, Golden monkey tracking has no limited number of trekkers and the activity does not go beyond three hours since monkeys do not hide the way mountain gorillas do. You will be given a full hour to spend in the presence of these apes upon encountering with them. Take as many pictures as you dreamt of. 

Return to your lodge for relaxation and lunch.

In the afternoon, you will embark on the amazing Batwa community walk.  The Batwa are one of the ancient inhabitants of Uganda and areas of Democratic Republic of Congo. They will bless you with their traditional foods and drinks including local brewed beer. It is here that you can donate something in case you carried it. It is good to donate as a sign of giving back to the communities who live near these conservation areas. 

Return to your lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight. 

Accommodation:
Luxury / Upmarket: Mount Gahinga Lodge or similar

Mid-range / Moderate: Mucha Lodge or similar 

Budget / Basic: Travelers Rest Hotel or similar

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 11: Cross back to Lake Bunyonyi: Kabale, in the afternoon have a boat trip on the deepest lake

After a morning breakfast, check out of the lodge and drive to Lake Bunyonyi – the deepest lake in Uganda. Check in to the lodge for relaxation and lunch. 

In the afternoon, you will go for a boat trip at Lake Bunyonyi for yet another amazing encounter. You will majorly see multiple bird species such as  Pied kingfisher, Malachite kingfisher, Cinnamon-chested Bee eater, Bronzy sun bird, Pied wagtail, Gray shrike, Gray crowned crested crane, Hadada ibis, Swamp fly catcher, Black heron, Great cormorant, Fan -tailed widow bird, Streaky seed eater, Speckled mouse bird, Pin tailed, to point out just a few. You can as well engage in other activities such as fishing and swimming.

Main Destination: Lake Bunyonyi

Travel distance: Approximately75 km

Travel time: 1 to 2 hours

Accommodation:
Luxury / Upmarket: Birdnest Resort or similar

Mid-range / Moderate: Bunyonyi Rock Resort or similar

Budget / Basic: Supreme Adventure Park

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 12: Depart from Lake Bunyonyi to Lake Mburo National Park, an evening game drive

After a morning breakfast, meet your driver and start your journey to Lake Mburo National park with a lunch stopover at Igongo cultural center in Biharwe – Mbarara city. At Igongo, you will visit the archives and learn about the history of Ankole kingdom and western Uganda as a whole. If time allows you, you can hike to Eclipse monument opposite Igongo Cultural Center for spectacular views of Mbarara city and the surrounding areas. 

Continue and enter Lake Mburo national park via Sanga gate. You will embark on the game drive upon arrival. This is where you will enjoy scenic views as the sun goes down while encountering hundreds of Zebras, buffaloes, waterbuck, giraffes and multiple bird species. 

Check in to your earlier booked lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight. 

Main Destination: Lake Mburo national park

Travel distance: Approximately 272 km

Travel time: 4 to 5 hours

Accommodation:
Luxury / Upmarket: Mihingo Lodge or similar

Mid-range / Moderate: Rwakobo Rock or similar

Budget / Basic: Mpogo Lodge or similar

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 13: Morning game drive, transfer back to Entebbe International airport. 

After a morning breakfast, check out of your lodge and go for an en’ route game drive. The drive will take you to deeper parts of Lake Mburo national park following several trails. This is a chance for you to see what you might have missed on the previous day. You will encounter Ankole herdsmen grazing the traditional Ankole long-horned cattle. 

Join the Mbarara – Masaka – Kampala highway via Nshara gate and have lunch en’ route. You will stopover at Kayabwe for a picture at the Uganda equator. Ensure to grab something from the craft shop which will always remind you of your safari.

The driver will drop you at either a hotel of your choice in Kampala or Entebbe International airport for a plane back home. Thus the end of your 13 days Uganda budget safari. 

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch. 

SPECIAL NOTE: Love Uganda Safaris would like to inform you that, during your 13 Days Uganda Budget Big Five Group Tour, you will be interacting with animals and birds in their natural habitats NOT in cages or a zoo. We therefore request that you understand us in case you miss some of these animals or birds in the areas they are expected to be. However, from our experience and up to date information from Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) as well as national parks’ management, we are 85% sure that you will see these animals and birds in their respective areas.