24 Days Best of Uganda Safari
24 Days Best of Uganda Safari
Day 1: TRANSFER TO JINJA VIA SEZIBWA FALLS FOR A BOAT CRUISE TO THE SOURCE OF THE RIVER NILE AND OVERNIGHT AT 2 FRIENDS BEACH HOTEL.
After an early breakfast, you will meet your guide again and drive to Jinja through Mabira. You can opt to stop and buy some souvenirs, and Sezibwa Falls then proceed to Jinja where you will do a boat cruise to the source of the Nile.
Meal Plan: Full Board.
Drive time: 3 hours’ drive.
Accommodation: 2 Friends Beach Hotel
Day 2: WHITE WATER RAFTING EXPERIENCE AND DRIVE TO SIPI FALLS OVERNIGHT AT SIPI RIVER LODGE.
After an early breakfast, you will go for a half-day of heart-pounding thrills as you charge through the Grade 3-5 rapids, and be amazed by the breathtaking scenery with some wildlife. Our qualified and friendly river guides will keep you informed of what’s coming next. After you will drive to Sipi Falls via Mbale town found on the slope of Mountain Elgon National Park for overnight.
Meal Plan: Full Board
Accommodation: Sipi River Lodge
Drive time: 5-6 hours’ drive
Day 3: VISIT SIPI FALLS FOR A HIKE AND PHOTOGRAPHY AND DRIVE TO PIAN UPE WILDLIFE GAME RESERVE FOR OVERNIGHT AT UWA BANDAS.
After breakfast at your Lodge you will start a hike to Sipi Falls, this hike takes you through the waterfalls trails, giving you an opportunity for great photography. After the Sipi Falls experience, you will drive to the Pian Upe Wildlife game reserve for an evening game drive and overnight.
Meal Plan: Full Board
Accommodation: UWA Bandas
Drive time: 2-3 hours’ drive
Day 4: MORNING GUIDED GAME DRIVE AND DRIVE TO KIDEPO VALLEY NATIONAL PARK FOR OVERNIGHT AT UWA BANDAS.
After breakfast, you will do a morning game drive in search of missed animals after you will drive to Kidepo Valley National Park for an overnight. Kidepo Valley National Park has been identified as one of Africa’s most magnificent wildernesss worth visiting for an authentic African safari, re-known for its unique Big game favourites including elephants, big herds of Buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, elands, rare cheetahs and ostriches. This is also an area of rich authentic traditional African culture dotted with the Manyattas of the fiercely traditional Karamojong pastoralists.
Meal Plan: Full Board
Accommodation: UWA Bandas
Drive time: 4-5 hours’ drive
Day 5:GAME DRIVES IN KIDEPO VALLEY NATIONAL PARK: OVERNIGHT AT KIDEPO SAVANNAH LODGE.
Today after your breakfast at the Lodge, you will spend both morning and afternoon doing game drives in the savannah plains of Kidepo Valley National Park. This park hosts a great variety of animal species in comparison to any other Ugandan park. Of the Eighty species recorded in 1971, Twenty-eight weren’t known to exist in any other park within Uganda. Carnivore species distinctive to Kidepo are the Hunting dog, Bat-eared Fox, Cheetah, Striped Hyena, Caracal, and aard Wolf.
The more uncommon ungulates are the greater & Lesser Kudu, roan antelope, Chandler’s mountain Reedbuck, beisa oryx, Klipspringer, and Bright’s Gazelle, which have been greatly decreased by poachers within the past few years. Among the other big ungulates are elephants, oribi, Burchell’s zebras, Jackson’s hartebeests, bush pigs, bohor reedbuck, warthogs, Rothschild giraffes, defassa waterbucks, cape buffaloes, elands, bush duskier and bushbucks.
Five primate species are found within the park of which the most endemic is the Kavirondo bush baby. Carnivores existing include lions, side-striped jackals, leopards, black-backed jackals, various small cats as well as spotted hyenas.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Lodging: Kidepo Savannah Lodge
Day 6: VISITING THE KARAMANJONGO VILLAGES AND/OR GAME DRIVES TO EXPLORE THE CULTURES OF THESE PASTORAL PEOPLE. OVERNIGHT AT KIDEPO SAVANNAH LODGE.
After breakfast, you will visit the homes of the Karamajongo, interact with the elders, and get to know more about the lifestyle, culture, and behaviors of the one-time pastoral group or choose to do more game drives on the day.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Lodging: Kidepo Savannah Lodge
Day 7: DRIVE TO MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK FOR AN EVENING GAME DRIVE: OVERNIGHT AT PAKUBA SAFARI LODGE.
After breakfast, you will drive to Murchison Falls National Park which is Uganda’s largest protected area of 500kmsq formed by Murchison Falls National Park and the contiguous Karuma and Bugungu wildlife reserves, the park is uniquely known for the River Nile which traverses this wilderness, dividing grasslands roamed by big game roaming the savannah grasslands from the north to the southern banks.
Depending on where you will be staying, the afternoon game drive will be rewarding.
Drive time: Approximately 5-6 hours
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Lodging: Pakuba Safari Lodge
Day 8: MORNING DELTA CRUISE AND AFTERNOON WATERFALL BOAT CRUISE. OVERNIGHT AT PAKUBA SAFARI LODGE.
Early morning departure from the lodge with picnic Lunch and transfer to catch the morning boat at the Jetty point, you will spot several herds of buffaloes, Uganda Kobs, Jacksons Hartbeast, Giraffes, Elephants, several bird species, and other wild animals as they flock River Nile to drink water.
In the afternoon you will come back for another boat cruise to continue upstream to the base of the falls to observe how water squeezes in a narrow gorge to later explode in what has been referred to as the strongest and most powerful falls on planet Earth. Return to the Lodge for overnight.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Lodging: Pakuba Safari Lodge
Day 9 : MORNING AND AFTERNOON GAME DRIVE. OVERNIGHT AT PAKUBA SAFARI LODGE.
After an early breakfast will head to the park to experience its beauties with multiple Game drives along the Nile Delta stretch to see various animals as they go about their day, among these include Lions, Leopards, Jackal, Elephants, Giraffe and several other species of Albertine Rift birds. You will return for lunch and a swim to relax at the lodge then head back later for more game viewing as the animals have the last meal of the day.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Lodging: Pakuba Safari Lodge
Day 10 : DRIVE TO HOIMA TOWN VIA THE TOP OF THE FALLS VISIT AND ESCAPEMENTS: OVERNIGHT AT KONTIK HOTEL OR HOIMA CULTURAL LODGE.
After a lazy breakfast, you will drive to Hoima via the top of Murchison Falls and the Escarpment of the Albertine Rift Valley which is just on your way from Murchison Falls National Park to Hoima, Depending on the nature of the road, you will have good views of Lake Albert. Check in at the lodge and go for a cultural walk or relaxation at the lodge.
Drive time: 4-5 hours
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Lodging: Kontik Hotel/Hoima Cultural Lodge
Day 11: TRANSFER TO KIBALE FOREST NATIONAL PARK VIA AMABERE CAVES FOR THE CULTURAL EXPERIENCE OF THE HISTORY OF THE CAVES AND A HIKE TO THE TOP OF NYAKASURA HILLS OVERNIGHT AT CHIMPANZEE FOREST GUEST HOUSE.
You will drive to Kibale Forest National Park via Fort Portal town for Lunch and visit Amabere Caves for cultural, hiking Nyakasura caves, and geographical and historical encounters. After you will proceed to Kibale Forest for check-in at the Lodge and overnight.
Drive time: Approximately 4 hours
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Lodging: Chimpanzee Forest Guest House
Day 12 : CHIMPANZEE TRACKING EXPERIENCE AND BIGODI WETLAND WALK AND OVERNIGHT AT CHIMPANZEE FOREST GUEST HOUSE.
After breakfast, you will be transferred to Kibale National Park headquarters at Kanyakyu to join other trekkers for briefing and eventual chimpanzee trekking. You will be led by a well-trained ranger/guide who will take you for a guided primate walk inside Kibale Forest National Park.
This forest is best known for the number and variety of resident 13 species of primates which you may encounter during your trek and later you will return to the Lodge overnight.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Packed Lunch and Dinner
Lodging: Chimpanzee Forest Guest House
Day 13 : TRANSFER TO QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK FOR AN EVENING GAME DRIVE AND OVERNIGHT AT ELEPHANT HAB LODGE.
After breakfast you will drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park for 2 nights at Elephant Hab Lodge/Buffalo Resort Lodge, the park is located along the Equator in South-Western Uganda.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is Uganda’s most popular and diverse conservation area situated in the western Rift Valley floor with a variety of habitats including grassland, acacia woodland, forest, and water which has enabled it to sustain a wide variety of wildlife among the Big 4 animals which you will enjoy viewing while you stay here.
Accommodation: Elephant Hab Lodge/Buffalo Resort Lodge.
Accommodation Type: Low Mid-range/High Budget but open to upgrade
Meal Plan: Full Board/with packed Lunch
Day 14 : MORNING GAME DRIVES FOR WILDLIFE VIEWING AND AFTERNOON BOAT CRUISE ON KAZINGA CHANNEL IN QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK OVERNIGHT AT ELEPHANT HAB LODGE.
After an early morning breakfast, you will go for game drives in Kasenyi plains for wildlife viewing you will have a chance to see the big herds of Buffalos, Antelopes, Uganda Kobs, and Warthogs among the wildlife and return to the lodge for lunch then later in the afternoon you will do a boat cruise on the Kazinga channel by far known as the highlight of all activities in this park.
This boat cruise offers a chance to spot over 400 species of water birds, and many wild animals as they flock to this channel for drinking water above all, Kazinga channel has the highest concentration of hippos in the whole world
Accommodation: Elephant Hab Lodge/Buffalo Resort Lodge.
Accommodation Type: Low Mid-range/High Budget but open to upgrade
Meal Plan: Full Board/with packed Lunch
Day 15 : TRANSFER TO ISHASHA SECTOR QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK, FOR AN EVENING GAME DRIVE TO SEARCH FOR LATE GRAZERS AND TREE-CLIMBING LIONS AND OVERNIGHT AT TOPI LODGE.
On this day, after an early morning breakfast, you will drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park Ishasha section for 1 night at Enjojo Lodge/Ishasha Jungle Lodge, you will arrive in the lunchtime hours check in at the Lodge and have lunch, then relax at the lodge, you will later go for an evening game drive to search for tree-climbing lions and other late grazers after you will return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Enjojo Lodge/Ishasha Jungle Lodge
Accommodation Type: Low Mid-range/High Budget but open to upgrade
Meal Plan: Full Board/with packed Lunch
Drive time: 2 hours’ drive.
Day 16 :GAME DRIVES IN THE ISHASHA SECTOR TO SEARCH FOR TREE-CLIMBING LIONS WHILE ENCOUNTERING OTHER WILDLIFE AND OVERNIGHT AT TOPI LODGE ON A FULL BOARD BASIS.
On this day, after early morning breakfast, you will go for game drives in Ishasha plains to view Tree Climbing lions depending on your luck that day, you will also have an opportunity to view other wildlife.
Accommodation: Enjojo Lodge/Ishasha Jungle Lodge
Accommodation Type: Mid-range but open to upgrade
Meal Plan: Full Board/with packed Lunch
Day 17 : TRANSFER TO BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST NATIONAL PARK FOR OVERNIGHT AT RUSHAGA GORILLA HAVENS LODGE/TREKKERS TAVERN COTTAGES ON FULL BOARD BASIS.
On this day after your breakfast at the lodge, you will drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in South Western Uganda where you will spend two nights. This journey is about 4-5 hours’ drive but very enjoyable as you will be driving through various local communities and towns along the road, the drive also takes you through the beautiful cascading and rolling hills of the Kigezi region. You will arrive at the lodge in the afternoon hours have your lunch and check in for overnight.
Accommodation: Rushaga Gorilla Havens Lodge or Trekkers Tavern Cottages.
Accommodation Type: Low Mid-range/High Budget but open to upgrade
Meal Plan: Full Board.
Drive time: 2-3 hours’ drive.
Day 18 : GORILLA TRACKING EXPERIENCE DAY AND DO OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES AROUND THE PARK AND OVERNIGHT AT RUSHAGA GORILLA HAVENS LODGE/TREKKERS TAVERN COTTAGES ON FULL BOARD BASIS.
After early morning breakfast, you will drive to the Park headquarters for registration and join other tourists for a gorilla trekking briefing about the dos and don’ts during your Uganda Gorilla Trekking Tour.
Once this is done, you will trek through the tropical rainforest of Bwindi with your ranger guides to find the Gorillas, which can take you from half an hour to three-quarters of the day. During your trek, you will have a chance to encounter other wildlife including, various bird species and tree species which your guide which give you information about to make the trek enjoyable.
This is indeed an extraordinary feeling to be with these beautiful endangered Creatures. You will be awarded a certificate for participating in gorilla trekking and thus contributing to the conservation of mountain gorillas.
Accommodation: Rushaga Gorilla Havens Lodge or Trekkers Tavern Cottages.
Accommodation Type: Low Mid-range/High Budget but open to upgrade
Meal Plan: Full Board/with packed Lunch
Day 19:TRANSFER TO MGAHINGA NATIONAL PARK FOR BATWA CULTURAL TRAIL EXPERIENCE AND OVERNIGHT AT LAKE CHAHAFI RESORT.
After your breakfast, you will drive to Mgahinga National Park for check-in at the Lodge and Lunch then later in the afternoon you will go for the Batwa cultural trail experience this walk will expose you to other attractions in the park before returning back to your hotel for overnight. The Batwa, or ‘Twa people are one of the last groups of short-statured people also known as ‘pygmy’ people, and until the Mgahinga Montane forest area was gazetted as a National Park they lived a hunter-gather lifestyle in the forest. They are now some of the poorest people in the world with a high infant mortality rate and low life expectancy.
As the original dwellers of this ancient jungle, the Batwa were known as “The Keepers of the Forest.” The history of these small-statured people is long and rich. The Batwa survived by hunting small game using arrows or nets and gathering plants and fruit in the rainforest. They lived in huts constructed of leaves and branches, moving frequently in search of fresh supplies of food. The Batwa lived in harmony with the forest and its creatures, including the mountain gorillas, for millennia. Some anthropologists estimate that pygmy tribes such as the Batwa have existed in the equatorial forests of Africa for 60,000 years or more.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Lodge: Kisoro Traveler’s Inn/Lake Chahafi Resort.
Day 20 :FULL-DAY GOLDEN MONKEY TRACKING AND OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES AROUND THE PARK AND OVERNIGHT AT LAKE CHAHAFI RESORT.
After early morning breakfast, you will drive to the Park headquarters for registration and join others for a Golden Monkeys trekking briefing about the dos and don’ts during your Uganda Golden Monkey Trekking Tour. Once this is done, you will trek through the montane forest of Mountain Mgahinga National Park with your ranger guides to find the beautiful Golden Monkeys, which can take you from half an hour to three-quarters of the day.
During your trek, you will have a chance to encounter other wildlife including, various bird species and tree species which your guide which give you information about to make the trek enjoyable. This is indeed an extraordinary feeling to be with these beautiful endangered Creatures. Once you find them you will spend one hour encountering them and then return to your lodge for relaxing and overnight.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Lodge: Kisoro Traveler’s Inn/Lake Chahafi Resort.
Day 21: TRANSFER TO LAKE BUNYONYI FOR OVERNIGHT AT CRATER BAY COTTAGES.
On this day you will drive from Mountain Mgahinga National Park to Lake Bunyonyi in Kabale District. Lake Bunyonyi is one of the three Lava damned Lakes which was formed when lava flowing from one of the volcanoes blocked a river channel and water was forced to flow back hence filling the space to create Lake Bunyonyi.
Bunyonyi locally means small birds due to the abundance of small birds in this area. Lake Bunyonyi is said to be the deepest lake in Uganda and the second deepest in East Africa, it as well as many traditional attachments by the local people. You will do a boat cruise as well as visit the Batwa Pygmies having a chance to view the 1000 islands on the lake.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Lodge: Crater Bay Cottages/Birdnest Resort.
Drive time: 2-3 hours
Day 22 :MORNING CANOE BOAT CRUISE ON LAKE BUNYONYI TO VISIT AND VIEW THE 100 ISLANDS AND ENCOUNTER THE BATWA PYGMIES.
On this day, after breakfast at your lodge, you will go for a canoe boat ride on the lake to visit and view the 1000 islands and encounter the Batwa pygmies.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Lodge: Crater Bay Cottages/Birdnest Resort.
Day 23 : TRANSFER TO LAKE MBURO NATIONAL PARK WITH STOPS AT MBARARA FOR EN-ROUTE LUNCH THEN PROCEED TO THE PARK FOR AN AFTERNOON GAME DRIVE AND BOAT CRUISE ON LAKE MBURO.
After breakfast, drive to Lake Mburo National Park through the small towns of Uganda. Make a stopover at Mbarara for lunch. Enjoy an en-route game drive as you drive to your lodge/hotel for check-in and lunch. After lunch, you will have a boat on the lake in search of hippos, crocodiles, and water birds among others.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Lodge: Lake Mburo Safari Lodge/Rwakobo Rock Lodge.
Drive time: 5-6 hours
Day 24 : MORNING EN-ROUTE GAME DRIVE AND TRANSFER TO KAMPALA/ENTEBBE VIA EQUATOR CROSSING THEN PROCEED FOR DROP OFF/YOUR FLIGHT OUT TO END THE EXCLUSIVE SAFARI IN UGANDA.
This will mark our last day on this tour, after breakfast, you will drive back to Kampala/Entebbe via the Equator crossing then proceed for drop off or your flight out.
END OF TOUR.