Questions About 5-Day Uganda Safaris
6 Questions About 5-Day Uganda Safaris
Is 5 days enough time for a Safari in Uganda?
Questions About 5-Day Uganda Safaris- are % days enough? Yes, if you don’t try to cram too much into the itinerary. A 5-day Uganda tour allows you enough time to cover several wildlife highlights. These include gorilla trekking, chimp trekking, and at least one boat safari and game drive. Having said that, if you want to fit all of this into 5 days, you’ll be looking at a hectic schedule. If possible, a lot must be said for allocating another day or two to the safari.
Where should I go on a 5-day safari in Uganda?
The most popular 5-day itinerary heads southwest from Entebbe International Airport (the main port of entry to Uganda). It combines Bwindi Impenetrable and Queen Elizabeth National Parks with one of several chimp trekking destinations. The main reason to visit Bwindi is to track gorillas. However, it is also great for monkeys, birds, and scenic walks. Highlights of Queen Elizabeth NP include boat safaris on the Kazinga Channel and game drives in the Ishasha sector to look for tree-climbing lions. You can also include Kibale National Park, Uganda’s most popular chimp trekking destination. You can combine it with a 5-day itinerary with the above parks. However, it involves less travel if you replace it with Kalinzu Forest Reserve or Kyambura Gorge. Both of them offer chimp trekking on the border of Queen Elizabeth.
Some don’t want or can’t afford to track gorillas. A popular option for a 5-day safari is the visit to Murchison Falls National Park. Here, you will see four of the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, and buffalo). You see them on boat trips on the Nile or game drives north of the river. Additionally, you can combine Murchison Falls with Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary and/or Chimp trekking in Budongo Forest. An off-the-beaten-track alternative to Murchison Falls is a 5-day day safari to Kidepo Valley National Park, which also hosts lion, leopard, elephant, and buffalo, and could be combined with a stop at Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch.”
Which animals am I likely to see?
Questions About 5-Day Uganda Safaris- animals to see. That depends on your itinerary for the 5 days. On a tour package that includes Bwindi and Queen Elizabeth NPs, you can be almost certain of mountain gorillas, elephants, buffalo, hippos, warthogs, and Nile crocodiles. You’ll also see plenty of antelope, most notably the endemic Uganda kob. You’ll also see a variety of monkeys including Angola colobus, olive baboon, and vervet monkey. You’re also quite likely to see lions in Queen Elizabeth. Lucky visitors might even encounter leopards and giant forest hogs there. If you go chimp trekking, you probably stand an 80% to 90% chance of seeing chimps too. If you head north to Murchison Falls or Kidepo Valley NPs, you’re almost certain to see many animals. These include elephants, buffalos, lions, giraffes, warthogs, patas monkeys, and a variety of antelope.
Hippos and Nile crocodiles are common on the Nile as it flows through Murchison Falls, while Kidepo Valley is home to plenty of zebras. Leopards are present but rather uncommon in both parks. White rhinos can be tracked on foot at Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch and are almost 100% certain to be located. Chimp trekking at Budongo Forest, which borders Murchison Falls, also has a high success rate. Although the focus tends to be on large mammals, you can expect to see a huge variety of colorful tropical birds wherever you travel in Uganda.
What are the options to extend my 5-day Uganda trip?
Within Uganda, if you have a day or two spare, there’s a lot to add at the end of your 5-day safari. Popular add-ons include whitewater rafting on the Nile River near the city of Jinja. It takes place on the shore of Lake Victoria. You can also embark on a canoe trip to Mabamba Swamp to look for the bizarre shoebill. If you want to chill out by the water, your best option in Uganda is Lake Bunyonyi. Farther afield, a 5-day Uganda safari focused on gorilla and chimp trekking pairs well with a Big Five safari in neighboring Tanzania or Kenya. For the more recreationally minded, the obvious coastal extension is Zanzibar Island, which lies in the Indian Ocean offshore of Tanzania.
What is the best time of the year for a Safari in Uganda?
The top months to travel in Uganda are from June to August and December to February. These are generally the driest months in the southwest, and thus ideal for gorilla trekking and other rainforest hikes. Wildlife viewing in savannah reserves also tends to be best during the Dry season, and there’s less chance of activities being rained out. While it is possible to track gorillas and chimps over March, April, and May, these are the wettest months in Uganda and are best avoided. This time is the best for those who don’t want to associate with crowds while trekking or doing other activities.
How much will this safari cost?
Budget 5-day Uganda safaris that don’t include gorilla or chimp trekking might come in at just over US$1,100 per person. Meanwhile, those that need to allow for a costly gorilla trekking fee are typically in the US$2,000 to US$2,500 range per person. Upmarket 5-day gorilla trekking safaris using more luxurious accommodations and/or domestic flights generally cost at least US$3,500. Safari prices in Uganda generally include everything except drinks, tips, and purchases of a personal nature.
Contact Safari Vacations and Travel Services for an unforgettable primate and wildlife experience. We’ll make sure that your trip is worth your time and money.
