17 Days Uganda Safari, wildlife & Gorilla Adventure
Safari H
ighlights
The 17 days Uganda Safari adventure offers a great experience of the true African wilderness. This safari takes you to Kidepo Valley National Park. The major safari activities include game viewing, Boat trips, primates trekking, Gorilla tracking, white water rafting, Cultural walks, Forest walks, excellent bird watching, Mountain hikes, photography and so on. This tours starts and ends at Entebbe Airport in Uganda.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Uganda (Entebbe International Airport)
After your arrival at Entebbe airport, meet your driver/tour guide and transfer to your hotel in Entebbe or Kampala, relax and wait for dinner and overnight.
Day 2: Transfer to Jinja – Source of River Nile
Breakfast at the Hotel and then drive Eastwards to Jinja town on the shores of Lake Victoria and the source of the River Nile. The activities at the Nile include white water rafting, one of the most exciting and safest in the world, quad biking, boat trip, Bungee jumping, mountain bike cycling and horse riding, dinner and overnight at The Haven / Jinja Nile Resort / Sunset Hotel.
Day 3: Jinja – Mountain Elgon National Park
Have breakfast and continue to Mbale via Tirinyi Road. Proceed to Mt. Elgon National Park and trek through the Sipi Falls, characterized by spectacular falls along river Sipi, flowing down the Mountain Elgon. The area is particularly panoramic with a view of the Karamoja valley. Ensure you carry packed lunch with you from the hotel. The activity will take you through the daily life of a typical African village, dine and stay at Sipi Lacam Lodge / Moses camp / Sipi River Lodge near overlooking Sippi Falls.
Day 4: Connect to Kidepo Valley National Park
Have early breakfast and proceed Northwards with packed lunch via Kitgum to one of the most un-spoilt, pure wild places remaining in Africa; Kidepo Valley National Park. It is a very long journey and takes you through dirt roads of Karamoja. Dinner and overnight at Apoka Safari Lodge, Nga’Moru Wilderness Camp or Uganda Wildlife Authority Bandas.
Day 5: Game drive in Kidepo Valley Park
Wake up early for a cup of tea /coffee and embark on a photographic game drive along the trails of the National Park to catch up with early raisers and predators returning to their hideouts. Expect to explore the region of the river Narus valley and localized carnivores like the bat-eared fox, striped hyena, aardwolf, caracal and cheetah. Other carnivores found here are lion, leopard, and spotted hyena, black-backed and side-striped jackals. Others include Chandlers Mountain reedbuck, the greater and lesser kudu, klipspringer and Guenther’s dikdik. Other large ungulates include elephant, Bohor reedbuck, Rothschild’s giraffe, Defassa waterbuck, Burchell’s zebra, Cape buffalo, bush pig, warthog, eland, bushbuck, Jackson’s hartebeest, bush duiker and Oribi. Birdlife is prolific with about 465 species.
Day 6: Connect to Murchison Falls National Park
Morning breakfast will be followed by connection to Murchison falls National Park (7-8hrs drive), arrive by lunchtime. Murchison Falls is the largest park in the country with a large population of animals, birds and beautiful landscapes of Savannah and forests, relax in the evening as you wait for dinner and overnight at Paraa Safari Lodge / Murchison River Lodge / Bakers Lodge / Parkside View Lodge / Red Chilli Rest Camp.
Day 7: Spend a full day in Murchison Falls wilderness
Set out after some tea or coffee and embark on an exciting 3-4 hour early morning game drive to explore the Savannah in the Northern bank of the Nile. Expect to see herds of buffaloes, elephants, lions, giraffes, waterbucks, Oribis, bushbucks, spotted hyenas and leopards. Return to the lodge for late breakfast and relax as we wait for lunch. In the afternoon, embark on a boat cruise to the bottom of the falls for excellent views of the waterfalls and various animals such as Hippos, Huge Nile crocodiles and Buffaloes basking along the shores. Return for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 8: Murchison Falls – Albertine Rift Valley – Kibale Forest
Have breakfast and drive for 6-8 hours through Lake Albert and the Rift Valley escarpment, with breathtaking panoramic scenery en-route to Fort Portal; the capital town of Tooro kingdom which lies on the shadow of Rwenzori Mountains. Relax in the evening at Ndali lodge/Primates lodge / Kyaninga lodge / Chimpanzee Guesthouse as you wait for dinner and overnight.
Day 9: Primates tracking and Bird watching
Assemble at Kanyanchu tourists centre for a briefing on Chimpanzee tracking. Expect to encounter other primates like black and white colobus, vervet and red-tailed monkey with over 350 bird species including the rare shoe-bill. After lunch, go for a nature walk to Bigodi ecotourism project near Kibale forest. Expect to typical/traditional homestead, to hear storytellers, the local healer and get an idea of the traditional culture of the Batoro and Bakiga. Return for dinner and overnight as on DAY 8.
Day 10: Depart for Queen Elizabeth National Park
We shall have breakfast and start off a 2-3hrs drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park, with lots of game viewing en-route. Expect to find early raisers and predators returning to the hideouts; relax as we wait for lunch at Mweya Safari Lodge. In the afternoon, embark on the boat cruise after lunch from Mweya peninsula along Kazinga channel, famous for the highest concentration of Hippos in Africa, with huge Nile crocodiles, Buffaloes and Elephants along the shores and about 611 bird species. The boat provides a clear platform for photographing. Relax in the evening as we wait for dinner and overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge / Simba Safari Camp / Enganzi lodge / Katara lodge / Twin lake lodge / Mazike Lodge.
Day 11: Wildlife Exploration in Queen Elizabeth National Park
After a cup of coffee, go for a game drive along the tracks of Queen Elizabeth, in the Northern side towards Lake George and Kasenyi village. Expect an encounter with animals like the African lion, spotted hyenas, herds of elephant, Ugandan kobs, buffaloes, water-bucks and rare leopard. In the afternoon, go to explore the Ishasha sector, southern part of Queen Elizabeth N.P. The game drive here rewards you with tree climbing lions which are seen during the hot hours of the day, as they lie resting on top of Figs trees. Also expect herds of buffaloes, elephants, topi antelopes and more. Return for dinner and overnight.
Day 12: Chimpanzee Trekking – Transfer to Bwindi Forest National Park
Wake up early and drive to Kyambura / Chambura gorge for wild chimpanzee tracking. Expect other primates like Vervet monkeys, Black and white Colobus, red-tailed monkeys, Giant forest hog, Galagoes and Mangabeys with many bird species. Later proceed to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest home to half of the remaining world population of the endangered Mountain Gorillas. Arrive by evening, dinner and overnight at Buhoma Community Rest Camp, Mahogany Springs Lodge / Gorilla Forest camp or Silverback Lodge.
Day 13: Gorilla Tracking Bwindi – Local Community Tours
After early breakfast, proceed to park headquarters with packed lunch for a briefing about the Dos and Don’ts while with gorillas. Tracking can take 2-6 hours depending on their movements. You will stay with these Giant apes for 1 hour for observation and photography. In the evening, you can relax at the lodge or take a cultural walk to nearby Batwa communities and learn about their cultures. Dinner and overnight stay as on Day 12.
Day 14: Transfer to the beautiful Lake Bunyonyi
After breakfast, transfer to Lake Bunyonyi with wonderful scenery en-route. Enjoy one of the most extraordinary wildlife and birding experience by boat as you cross the Lake Bunyonyi. The forested green islands on the lake are home to different species of endemic birds which the guide will help you to spot. All meals at Arcadia Cottages / Bunyonyi Rock Resort / Bunyonyi Overland Resort / Bird nest Resort.
Day 15: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park
Breakfast, visit the Bakiga cultural museum and later connect to Lake Mburo National Park, the smallest of Ugandan National Parks. Take an evening game drive before sunset in search for the beautiful impalas, elands, topi and many antelopes, buffaloes, and zebras among others. Dinner and overnight at Mihingo Lodge / Arcadia Cottages / Lake Mburo Safari Lodge / Eagles Nest Lodge / Mantana Tented Camp.
Day 16: Canoe Ride on Lake Mburo – Return to Kampala
After breakfast, take a boat ride on Lake Mburo for excellent birding including the rare shoe-bill. Other animals include Hippos, Huge crocodiles. Later proceed to Kampala with a stop at the equator for photographs, reach by afternoon. Dinner and overnight at Serena Hotel, Kampala Sheraton or Hotel Ruch.
Day 17: Transfer to Ngamba – Departure
Depending on your flight schedule, relax at your hotel, or transfer to Ngamba Island (Chimpanzee Sanctuary) and later transfer to the airport.
END OF THE SAFARI
This safari quotation includes;
– Airport transfers
– Full board Accommodation
– Park entrance fees
– Gorilla permits
– Chimpanzee trekking permits
– All activities mentioned
– Guiding fees
-A 4×4 comfortable safari vehicles are suitable for game viewing and photographing.
– Professional fulltime English speaking Driver Guide.
But excludes International flights, visas (where applicable), laundry, drinks, tips and other personal expenses.
