Experience a 10-day Western Uganda safari featuring chimpanzee trekking, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Mburo, cultural tours, crater lakes and authentic local experiences.

Discover the breathtaking beauty of Western Uganda on this immersive 10-day safari that perfectly blends wildlife adventures, authentic cultural encounters, and unforgettable primate experiences. Journey through the lush rainforests of Kibale National Park, home to one of Africa’s largest chimpanzee populations, explore the spectacular savannahs of Queen Elizabeth National Park, and experience the rich traditions of the Batooro, Bakonzo, and Banyankole communities.

From trekking chimpanzees in tropical forests to cruising along the famous Kazinga Channel, hiking scenic crater lakes, experiencing traditional coffee and banana beer making, and spotting elephants, lions, hippos, buffaloes, and countless bird species, this itinerary showcases the very best of Uganda—the Pearl of Africa.

Whether you’re a wildlife enthusiast, photographer, birdwatcher, or cultural explorer, this safari promises unforgettable encounters, spectacular scenery, and genuine local hospitality throughout Western Uganda.

Tour Highlights

• Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park
• Explore Queen Elizabeth National Park
• Boat cruise on Kazinga Channel
• Search for tree-climbing lions in Ishasha
• Visit Lake Katwe Salt Mining Community
• Hike to the beautiful Crater Lakes
• Explore Amabere ga Nyina Mwiru Caves
• Tooro Kingdom Palace Tour
• Authentic Batooro cultural experience
• Bakonzo cultural immersion
• Banyankole cattle and milk experience
• Nature walks and bird watching
• Lake Mburo National Park game drives
• Equator experience in Kayabwe
• Scenic tea plantations and rolling hills
• Traditional dances and storytelling
• Coffee farm tour
• Banana beer brewing experience

Why Choose This Safari?

This carefully designed Western Uganda safari offers much more than wildlife viewing. You’ll explore three of Uganda’s most fascinating cultural regions while enjoying incredible safari experiences in some of East Africa’s most biodiverse ecosystems.

Highlights include:

• Small personalized safari groups
• Professional English-speaking safari guide
• Comfortable accommodation options
• Authentic cultural interactions
• Excellent bird watching opportunities
• Diverse wildlife habitats
• Ideal for photographers
• Flexible accommodation categories
• Great value for money

Wildlife You May See

Queen Elizabeth National Park and Lake Mburo National Park are home to:

• African Elephants
• Lions
• Tree-climbing Lions
• Leopards
• Buffaloes
• Hippos
• Nile Crocodiles
• Uganda Kob
• Topi
• Waterbuck
• Warthogs
• Hyenas
• Elands
• Impalas
• Zebras
• Bushbucks
• Chimpanzees
• Black-and-white Colobus Monkeys
• Red-tailed Monkeys
• Olive Baboons

Over 600 bird species can also be spotted throughout the safari, making it an exceptional trip for birdwatchers.

Best Time to Visit

This safari operates throughout the year.

Best Months

• January
• February
• June
• July
• August
• September
• December

These months generally offer drier conditions, making wildlife viewing and chimpanzee trekking more comfortable.

Accommodation Options

Budget

• Jungle Lodge Kibale
• Lake Nkuruba Campsite
• Mburo Eagle’s Nest
• Leopard Rest Camp

Mid-range

• Kibale Forest Camp
• Chimpanzee Guest House
• Rwakobo Rock
• Arcadia Lodge

Luxury

• Kyaninga Safari Lodge
• Papaya Lake Lodge
• Mihingo Lodge
• Mburo Safari Lodge

What’s Included

• Airport transfers (where applicable)
• 4×4 safari vehicle
• Professional English-speaking guide
• Chimpanzee trekking permit
• Park entrance fees
• Accommodation
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner
• Bottled drinking water
• Game drives
• Boat cruises
• Cultural experiences
• Guided nature walks

Exclusions

• International flights
• Uganda visa fees
• Travel insurance
• Personal expenses
• Alcoholic drinks
• Laundry services
• Tips and gratuities
• Accommodation in Kampala (unless requested)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is chimpanzee trekking included?

Yes. Your chimpanzee trekking permit and guided trek in Kibale Forest National Park are included.

How difficult is chimpanzee trekking?

It is moderately easy to moderate depending on where the chimpanzees are located. A reasonable level of fitness is recommended.

Can I see the Big Five?

This itinerary offers excellent chances to see elephants, lions, buffaloes and leopards. Rhinos are not included because they are found in other protected areas.

Is this safari suitable for families?

Yes. Families with older children who meet the age requirements for chimpanzee trekking can enjoy this safari.

What should I pack?

• Hiking shoes
• Lightweight clothing
• Rain jacket
• Binoculars
• Camera
• Hat
• Sunscreen
• Insect repellent
• Reusable water bottle

Which animals are unique to Lake Mburo National Park?

Lake Mburo is Uganda’s only national park where you can reliably see impalas, and it also has healthy populations of elands and zebras.

PROPOSED ITINERARY

DAY 1 Transfer to Fortportal/ Kibale Forest

Early morning, the City is already astir, after your breakfast, our driver guide will drive you through the City’s street lights towards Fortportal/KNP. Get to see and understand the city life, proceed on a 310 kilometers drive to Fortportal/Kibale National Park via the Kampala-Mubende-Fortportal highway. Enroute observe nature offerings, the pointing adjacent hill with tea plantations, the grazing local herds of cattle, different town suburbs with locals selling off their merchandise and so much more. We shall pass by Nakayima Tree Shrine

Later, you will proceed with journey to Fortportal and have lunch. After your lunch, we head for the Tooro Palace tour where we shall learn about the rich history of Batooro and the far they have come.

On our way to the Lodge, we take a visit to Kabundaire Market in Fort Portal. After we check in, refresh, relax as we wait for dinner

LOCATION: Kibale Forest National Park/ Fort Portal

Meal plan: Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation Options

Budget: Jungle Lodge Kibalez/ Lake Nkuruba Camp Site

                            Mid-range: Kibale Forest Camp/ Chimpanzee Guest House

                            Luxury: Kyaninga Safari Lodge/ Papaya Lake Lodge.

DAY 2 Homestead experience at Engabu Za Tooro&Amabeere ga Nyina Mwiru Caves.

After breakfast, we drive out and head to Engabu za Tooro, this will give us experiences with women groups and youth taking out different economic activities like craft designs and talent development by the vulnerable youth. We shall engage with the women in the process and procedure of what they do. We shall also head to the gardens for food harvest, preparation and service, so we shall have a traditional meal and end up with the traditional dance performance

In the after, we transfer to visit Amabere ga Nyina Mwiru Caves which is a great historical and cultural site, the Amabere caves will give you an exhilarating experience and the trail leading to the water falls near the caves that form a pond of very clean water.

Beyond the Amabere caves are the explosion crater lakes, so we proceed to explore the 3 crater lakes and a hike to Kyeganwa hill gives a beautiful scenery.

There after we head back to the lodge, refresh and relax as we wait for dinner.

LOCATION: Kibale Forest National Park/ Fort Portal

Meal plan:Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation Options

Budget: Jungle Lodge Kibale/ Lake Nkuruba Camp Site

                            Mid-range: Kibale Forest Camp/ Chimpanzee Guest House

                            Luxury: Kyaninga Safari Lodge/ Papaya Lake Lodge.

DAY 3 Chimpanzee Trakking and Community walk

After an early breakfast, we drive to the UWA offices for a briefing about chimpanzee tracking and there we shall find other groups going for the same activity. Here we shall be led by UWA rangers in small groups of 8pax maximum and this tracking normally takes 3-4 hours and you will have an up- close and personal interaction with the chips for a maximum of one hour. Afterwards, we shall head back to our lodge for lunch and refreshment.

In the afternoon, we move out for the community walks be fully immersed in the ways of the Batooro people. We shall have the banana beer brewery experience, from harvesting the bananas to the ready beer. There after we proceed to the coffee tours experience from planting coffee seedlings in the garden to the cup of coffee on the table. This will be a participatory experience and the activities are: coffee planting, harvesting coffee beans, drying, cleaning, sorting, roasting, grinding and making a cup of coffee.  We shall crown the day with the traditional dance of the Batooro after which we get back to our lodge for relaxation, refreshment, dinner and overnight stay.

LOCATION: Kibale Forest National Park/ Fort Portal

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation Options

Budget: Jungle Lodge Kibale/ Lake Nkuruba Camp Site

                            Mid-range: Kibale Forest Camp/ Chimpanzee Guest House

                            Luxury: Kyaninga Safari Lodge/ Papaya Lake Lodge.

DAY 4: Transfer to Kasese for the Bakonjo Community

After breakfast, we check out and drive to Kasese, heading to Bughalista Community.  After reaching, we check in at the Kinyamwirima camp and then trek for about 9KM and it comes with various perks like the beautiful and exhilarating view sceneries, livelihoods of the people of the area as depicted by their trading centers banana and coffee plantations and also have an opportunity to interact and getting close to the Bakonzo people and their ways of life. This view gives us an exceptional view of Kasese plains and Queen Elizabeth National park. We shall have lunch at the camp.

After lunch, we enjoy some traditional treats such as traditional dance of the Bakonzo, storytelling which is part and parcel of the community way of life, visiting the Williams waterfalls and just getting a full blown experience of how these people get accustomed to their rugged yet beautiful terrain.

 LOCATION: Kasese/ Bughalista Community

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation Options

Kinyamwirima Camp

DAY 5: Kameli Home/ Babinga Cultural Site

You wake up to a sumptuous breakfast and terrific glimpse of the sunrise, check out and we move straight to the Kameli Home known as the Babinga cultural site where you will experience the wonderful Bakonzo culture, then trail to River Rukooki, Bamboo forests and having an encounter with several plants and their cultural essence. This trail offers encounter with local wildlife like blue monkeys, three horned chameleon and various insect species.

Have lunch at Kameli home and there after hike Kameli Hill, afterwards descend to William camp for camp fire and an overnight.

LOCATION: Kasese

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation Options

William Camp               

DAY 6: Cocoa Visits and Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park.

We shall have breakfast, check out and proceed to the Cocoa tours after which we drive to Queen Elizabeth NP. We check in our lodge, relax as we wait for lunch. After lunch we go to explore the salt production by locals on Lake Katwe. And after that we proceed to one of the communities in the park, which is Kasenyi Fishing village. Return to the lodge, refresh, relax and wait for dinner.

 LOCATION: Queen Elizabeth NP

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation Options

Budget: Irungu Forest Safari Lodge/ Bush Lodge

                            Mid-range: Twin Lake Safari Lodge/ Wilderness Safari Camp

                            Luxury: Elephant Plains Game Lodge/ Mweya Safari Lodge.

DAY 7: Morning gamme drive and Boat cruise.

We have our breakfast and by 7:00am we are at the Kasenyi gate for registration and there after we start our game drive on the Northern side of the park in the Kasenyi plains. This game drive will offer to us 4 (four) of the BIG FIVE that is: Lion, Leopard, Elephant and Buffaloes but also different bird species, large schools of hippos, waterbucks and the Uganda Kob. The game drive will take 3-4 hours after which we go back to the lodge for lunch and get ready for an afternoon boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel and there after we head to the lodge for luxation as we wait for dinner and overnight stay.

 LOCATION: Queen Elizabeth NP

 Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

 Accommodation Options

Budget: Irungu Forest Safari Lodge/ Bush Lodge

                            Mid-range: Twin Lake Safari Lodge/ Wilderness Safari Camp

                            Luxury: Elephant Plains Game Lodge/ Mweya Safari Lodge.

DAY 8: Transfer to L.Mburo National Park

After breakfast, we to Uganda’s smallest Savannah park which is an Epicenter of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Lake Bunyoyni, Mgahinga Gorilla NP and Rwanda Boarders. Here there is a variety of activities like Bikiing and Walking Safaris, Game drives, Bird watching, Horseback safaris, Mountain biking and the Salt lick walk.  On arrival, we check in relax in await for lunch and there after go an afternoon Boat cruise, then crown it with an evening game drive. Get back to the lodge, refresh and have dinner. LOCATION: L.Mburo NP

 Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

 Accommodation Options

Budget:Mburo Eagle’s Nest/ Leopard Rest Camp

                            Mid-range: Rwaboko Rock/ Arcadia Lodge L. Mburo

                            Luxury: Mihingo Lodge/ Mburo Safari Lodge.

DAY 9: Moving to the Banyakole Community

We shall wake up early morning and go to the Ankole community to experience how they wrap their lives around animal farming and making products out of   milk. We shall go and have a milking experience, take on the turning process (ghee formation), making eshabwe (local mayonnaise), cleaning of pots and watering of cows. We shall make breakfast and lunch with the community people. We shall graze the animals too then end with a traditional dance, this so energetic, joyful and yet very graceful. There after we go back to the lodge for refreshment and relaxation as we wait for dinner.

LOCATION: L.Mburo NP

 Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

 Accommodation Options

Budget:Mburo Eagle’s Nest/ Leopoard Rest Camp

                            Mid-range: Rwakobo Rock/ Arcadia Lodge L.Mburo

                            Luxury: Mihingo Lodge/ Mburo Safari Lodge.

DAY 10: Game drive, checkout & transfer to Kampala

After breakfast, we head out for either  a morning game drive or walking/ nature walk safari, there after we checkout and transfer to Kampala. We shall a stopover for the Equator experience in Kayabwe and lunch.

LOCATION: Kampala/ Entebbe International Airport

 Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch

 Accommodation Options

Budget:

                            Mid-range:

                            Luxury:

General Notes

1. Above Quotation includes Group discounts and quoted rate is strictly only valid for Group size mentioned, more or less Pax on request.
2. Private Safaris Management reserves the right to change the program and schedule according to prevailing weather conditions.
3. This proposal cost is subject to change due to unforeseeable changes in fuel and other levies.
4. Suggested accommodation may be changed to similar depending on availability at the time of booking.
5. All accommodation is based on standard room category if not mentioned otherwise.
6. Government taxes/levies and national park related fees.

Passenger Information

Baggage allowance for domestic flights is 15kgs per person including hand luggage.

Soft sided luggage or duffels are preferable to hard luggage for storage on Safari vehicles within East Africa. Large suitcases of dimensions greater than 24*17*7 are impossible to store in vehicles and on aircraft and should not be used. Baggage and personal effects are at owner’s risk throughout the tour and baggage insurance for members is strongly advised).

LIST OF WHAT TO CARRY

• Hiking and trekking boots,
• Long sleeved shirts for the bush walks
• Hand gloves, Sun glasses and rain coats

Variation in Rates

Oltepesi Travel may alter the contract rates in writing in case of changes in park entrance fees and other levies and taxes.

Once you have booked a Safari and we have confirmed the booking, contract rates are fully guaranteed and will not be subjected to any surcharges.

INCLUDES

• 4*4 Ground Transport with English speaking local guide/drive.
• Bottled drinking water while in the vehicle.
• All park entrance fees.
• All mentioned activities.
• Accommodation and all meals.
• Chimpanzee Permit

EXCLUDES

• International Flights, it is imperative that you confirm your onward/ return flights. Please contact our office for assistance.
• Accommodation facilities while in Kampala
• Laundry services and any Tips.
• Visas, most nations require a visa to enter Uganda which can be obtained on arrival at USD 50 per person, single entry. Passport must be valid for a minimum of 6 months.

Health

• Yellow fever and malaria prophylactics are required
• COVID19 vaccination certificates are no longer a requirement to enter Uganda.
• Officials have a right to reject entry if you are found to have or show signs of communicable diseases.