This safari will give you a chance of visiting the most fantastic tourism destinations in Uganda for the search of mammals, primates, wildlife and many wonderful spots like Kibale Forest, Bwindi impenetrable forest, source of the Nile, Ngamba Island and many more destinations. The tour will also take you for a Kampala city tour were you will visit many attractions that are found with this capital city. You will then visit Jinja town and enjoy some cultural tribes like the bagishu and the Basoga, you get to view the Wagagai gorges and the hot springs that bubble up to 48 ℃ as well as the romantic Sipi Falls.
You also get a chance to visit Murchison falls national park which has got many wildlife species as well as birds, the same safari will take you to Kibale National park and get to adventure Bigodi wetland swamp for more primates and birds, you will as well visit Queen Elizabeth National park to enjoy many game drives as well as a boat cruise on Kazinga channel. The main highlight is the mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable National park, visit Lake Bunyonyi and lastly Lake Mburo National park for several game drives and wildlife species. Also get a chance to enjoy Ssese Island along Lake Victoria in Kalangala district.
Highligths of Uganda from above
DETAILED ITINERARY
Day 1: Have Kampala city tour
Have breakfast at the Lodge and then your guide will pick you up from your hotel so as to enjoy a Kampala city. This safari will take you too many different heritage sites that include; Kasubi tombs, Uganda Museum, Makerere University, Bahai temple. In the evening, you will relax or do some shopping in the local markets that are worthy to visit.
Accommodation options:
- Luxury: Serena Hotel Kampala
- Mid-range: Cassia Lodge Kampala
- Budget: The Lodge Lweza
Day 2: Visit to the source of the Nile
Have breakfast and then after drive to Jinja which is also the past industrialized town of Uganda. You have a stopover at Bibbo village in order to visit Sezibwa falls that were formed by the only human born river sezibwa. Later on, you will drive to Jinja were you will find the Asian quarters, the colorful gardens, as well as the brewery industries. You will as well visit the source of the Nile where the Nile emerges from Lake Victoria marking the starting point of its 6400 miles journey which ends with in the Mediterranean Sea as well as the Gandhi’s monument. After continue to the Bujagali falls to view the super fantastic rapids on the river Nile which is a few kilometers from the source.
Accommodation options
- Luxury: Jinja Nile Resort
- Mid-range: Paradise Hotel Jinja
Day 3: Explore Jinja
You spend the whole day trying to carrying out white water rafting on the world high grade rapids of the mighty Nile which is the second longest River. Have lunch at Bujagali falls and after proceed to the hotel and relax.
Accommodation options
- Luxury: Jinja Nile Resort
- Mid-range: Paradise Hotel Jinja
Day 4: Transfer to Mt Elgon National park
Have your breakfast and then the guide will drive you to Mbale and arrive in the afternoon, relax at the lodge and refresh from this long and scenic journey.
Accommodation at Mount Elgon Hotel
Day 5: Explore Mount Elgon National park
Have breakfast and then visit Sipi falls that are found in Kapchorwa which is north to Mbale. We shall have a nature walk where you will view the different floral species that include Elgonensis Lobelia and filled with the clusters of the peculiar groundsels. Have Lunch and then visit the caves as well as the plantations of coffee, sugar canes as well as Matooke. Evening hours, return to Mbale for your dinner and the overnight at the lodge.
Accommodation at Mount Elgon Hotel
Day 6: Transfer to Zziwa Rhino sanctuary
Have breakfast and then leave for Murchison falls National Park. Go through Kampala with the panoramic views and drive North West through the Luwero Triangle. Have a stopover at Zziwa Rhino sanctuary. As you follow the reduction of Uganda’s rhino in the early 1980s during the period of the civil unrest as well as the high poaching, this place has been recognized to breed black and white Rhinos and then restore the rhino population in Uganda’s protected areas.
Overnight at Masindi Hotel.
Day 7: Transfer to Murchison Falls National park
Have breakfast and then proceed for a game drive that will take you through the many different habitants. You will get a chance to see many different animals including the elephants, giraffes, bushbucks, jackals, lions, the birds as well as the hartebeest. You then have a drive to the top of the falls. Just from the different viewpoints, you will view the refreshing spray as the second world’s longest river, the River Nile that thunders through the different rapids from 7 metres gap to a fall of 40 metres below. You then return to the lodge for lunch as you prepare for a lunch cruise on the Nile river were you will see many animals including the crocodiles, hippos, water birds and the elephants .
There are also many birds that can be seen along the banks of the river. Some of these include; herons, the pelican bee eaters, kingfishers, cormorants, shoe bill, and the Egyptian geese and many more.
Accommodation options
- Luxury: Paara Safari Lodge
- Mid-range: Murchison River Lodge
Day 8: Chimpanzee trekking & evening game drive
Have breakfast and then enter the rain forest of Budongo for the guided walk. In this forest, there are many chimpanzees as well as other primates. Have lunch and then relax as you prepare for another game drive in the northern banks of the Nile where you will view many animals including; giraffes, Rothschild’s, cape buffalos, Oribi, bush bucks, the hyenas, leopards, lions as well as many more
Accommodation options
- Luxury: Paara Safari Lodge
- Mid-range: Murchison River Lodge
Day 9: Transfer to Fort portal
Have breakfast and then start your drive to Fort portal, you head southwest through the albertine rift, the journey will take you through the beautiful scenic area that is featured by the escarpments of the western arm of the East African Rift valley. On arriving this colorful and beautiful town of fort portal that is situated in the shadow of the legendary mountains of the moon, you then proceed to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation options
- Luxury: Ndali Lodge
- Moderate: Primate Lodge
Day 10: Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale
Have breakfast and then continue to Kibale National park for chimpanzee trekking where you will view many primate species including the grey cheeked Mangabey, the red colobus, the black and white colobus monkeys, as well as the blues plus the butterflies, birds and the many small insects. The tour guide will guide you through tree identification in the forest and in explaining to you the other features of the forest. After tracking, return to the lodge for lunch as you prepare for a nature walk through the bigodi swamp. You get a chance to view the many mammals and birds.
Accommodation options
- Luxury: Ndali Lodge
- Moderate: Primate Lodge
Day 11: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National park
Have breakfast and then drive to Queen Elizabeth National park. You will then enter the park as you view the spiritual Rwenzori Mountain Ranges. You have a game drive enroute as you see the many different animals that include; lions, leopards, buffaloes, elephants, hyenas, and many antelopes. Have lunch and then proceed to Kazinga channel for a boat cruise where you will view many animals drinking water. These include; elephants, buffalos, hippos as well as the water birds.
Accommodation options
- Luxury: Mweya safari lodge
- Mid-range: Enganzi safari lodge
Day 12: Morning game drive & Ishasha sector for tree climbing lions
Have breakfast and proceed for a game drive in the morning along the Kasenyi track and the queen’s mile with in the park and expect to see the elephants, lions, cape buffalos, hyenas, warthogs, waterbucks, mongoose, and the kobs. In case you are lucky enough, you might see the leopards and many small animals and birds. You can drive back to the lodge for your lunch and in the afternoon, drive to Ishasha sector of the park via Maramagambo Forest for dinner and the overnight.
Dinner and overnight Savannah Hotel
Day 13: Explore the Ishasha sector
Have breakfast and then proceed for a game drive in search for the tree climbing lions that are always seen climbing trees on the old fig trees. This drive in the open savannah land scape is also characterized with many of the acacia trees that is quite a memorable adventure. Then after proceed to Bwindi impenetrable National park in the southern part of the country. In case you have some time, you might make a visit to the local communities to have an adventure of remote communities or chose to relax at the lodge.
Accommodation options
- Luxury: Gorilla safari Lodge
- Mid-range: Silverback Lodge
Day 14: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable National park
Wake up so early in the morning and proceed to the park headquarters to have a briefing about the dos and the don’ts of tracking the mountain gorillas. After, the rangers will lead you to start your search for these wonderful gentle giants. The walk can sometimes be so tough and requires someone who is strong enough. The trackers are also advisable to carry the rain coats as well as the boots since the weather is always unpredictable. There are also potters who carry the luggage on behalf of the guests at a small cost. Once you come face to face with these gorillas, the rangers will also guide you on how to handle them most especially by giving them a 6 meter distance as you play around with them. It’s also not so easy to predict the time to be taken while trekking and this will mainly depend on the location of some families since some stay really far from the headquarters. But this takes about 2 to 8 hours to come into contact with them and the rangers will also be there to guide you. This trek is also active and needs someone who is physically fit. After the trek, you will return to the lodge for dinner and relaxation in late afternoon.
Accommodation options
- Luxury: Gorilla safari Lodge
- Mid-range: Silverback Lodge
Day 15: Explore the little Switzerland of Africa.
After enjoying your breakfast, we shall have a scenic drive to Kabale and go through the beautiful terrain of these rolling hills with the terraced land scape. This scenery and the cool temperatures have also given this region to be called the Swiss Alps. We shall also have a stopover at the Bakiga Museum in Kabale in order to discover the true culture of the people that live in the area. Have lunch and after have a boat ride on second deepest lake. This ride will take you too many Islands for bird viewing as well as sightseeing.
Accommodation options
- Luxury: Bunyonyi Safari Resort
- Moderate: Bunyonyi Overland Camp
Day 16: Transfer to Lake Mburo National park
Have breakfast and then drive to Lake Mburo which is the smallest national park in Uganda. Have lunch in Mbarara at Lake View Regency Hotel. Have an Evening game drive through the park. Expect to see many animals including the impalas, cape buffalos, zebras, oribis, elands as well as the topis. You might also enjoy a boat cruise on the lake and get chance to see many birds. Some of the birds to look out for include; the brown faced lapwings, carruther’s Cisticola, papyrus Gonolek, the white winged warbler and many more.
Accommodation options
- Luxury: Mantana Tented Camp
- Midrange: Mburo safari camp
Day 17: Morning game drive & departure to Kampala
Have a morning game drive through the park and later go back to the lodge for your breakfast. Have a guided walk to the salt lick area where there is a blind building animal which allows you to view more than four different animal species that lick salt from the salty soils. Have lunch and after start your drive to Kampala and have a stopover at the equator for some photos arriving in Kampala late evening.
Overnight at Cassia Lodge
Day 18: Visit UWEC & Ssese Islands
Have breakfast and then be transferred to Uganda Wildlife Education centre which is found in Uganda’s post-colonial administration town of Entebbe. This tour will take you through different exhibits and help you will much information that concerns Uganda’s mammals, birds, reptiles. After the tour, you will take a ferry boat that will take you to Ssese Islands located on Lake Victoria. This navigation will take you to the very beautiful bay of Lutoboka, in Bugala Island for your dinner and an overnight.
Overnight at Mirembe Resort Beach
Day 19: Visit Bukasa Island
Have breakfast and then take a tour to Bukasa Island which is the second largest island in the Ssese Island. This examination of the Island features the beautiful lake shores as well as the forested lands that give the memorable experience. You have lunch and then proceed with your tour in the islands. You then return to Bugala Islands by the evening time and have dinner.
Overnight at Mirembe Resort Beach
Day 20: Enjoy the beach at Bugala Island
You will spend the whole day relaxing at the white sandy beach. The other activities also include swimming in the water, fishing in the waters of Lake Victoria that are characterized by the many fish species, or you might hire a bicycle to explore the Island and the forest. You will also get surprised by the good atmosphere. The other optional activities are sort fishing.
Overnight at Mirembe Resort Beach
Day 21: Departure
Have breakfast and then return to Entebbe
