16 Days Explore Uganda Safari

Safari Overview

This 16 Day safari will take you to Murchison Falls for game viewing and boat cruise along the Nile, the Kibale forest for chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi swamp walk, Queen Elizabeth for game viewing and boat cruise on Kazinga channel, Bwindi National Park for gorilla trekking and Batwa visit, and Lake Mburo National Park for game viewing, game walking safari and boat cruise in Uganda. In addition you will explore the Kasenda Crater Lake area, Kampala city tour and marvel at the beautiful scenery surrounding Lake Bunyonyi found in Kabale. Among the activities you will enjoy will be game drives, chimpanzee trekking, gorilla tracking and bird watching.

Safari Highlights:

• Rhino tracking
• Game drives
• Kampala city tour
• Sezibwa falls
• Source of River Nile
• Boat cruises
• Crater Experiences
• Bigodi swamp Walk
• Gorilla trekking
• Batwa Visit
• Canoe at Lake Bunyonyi
• Game Walking safari

Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe Airport and Transfer to the Hotel

On arrival at the Entebbe International Airport, you will be received by our delegate who will transfer you to your place of accommodation in the capital in Kampala.

Accommodations: Acactus Hotel/ Namirembe Guest house

Meal Plan: Dinner

Day 2: Visit Spiritual Healers and Kampala City Tour

In the morning after your breakfast, you will go to visit spiritual healers around Kampala. There after continue with a city tour where you visit Kasubi Tombs, Uganda Museum, Kabaka’s Palace and tombs and many more, crafts shopping, cultural sights and community tourism. Later transfer to your lodge for dinner and overnight

Accommodations: Acactus Hotel/ Namirembe Guest house

Meal Plan: Full Board Basis

Day 3: Visit Sezibwa Falls and Source of River Nile

In the morning after, you will transfer to Jinja with stopover at Sezibwa falls – a Buganda cultural site rich with birds, folktales and great scenery. This is a great Uganda birding spot for bird lovers, cultural site with folk stories and traditional healers and lastly the water falls that equally have a story as to how they got to be named. On arrival we shall be met by a resident tour guide who will lead us explaining the different, then proceed to Jinja. After lunch, you will take a boat up to the source of River Nile. Later in the late afternoon, transfer back to Kampala for dinner and overnight stay

Accommodations: Acactus Hotel/ Namirembe Guest house

Meal Plan: Full Board Basis

Day 4: Travel to Murchison Falls National Park via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

Following an early breakfast, you will drive from Kampala towards the northwest, visit the impressive Ziwa Rhino sanctuary to track rhinos and have lunch along the way. From there you will continue to Murchison Falls National Park, taking a short stop at the top of the falls, to the great Nile make its way through a small 7 meter gorge and thunderous drop to more than 43 meters below.  Dine and overnight at your lodge.

Accommodations: Fort Murchison / Murchison River Lodge / Red Chilli Rest Camp

Meal Plan: Full Board Basis

Day 5: Game Viewing and boat cruise on the Nile

In the morning you will have a game drive along the Northern banks of the river and with the help of your guide you will see various animals. After, you will return for a late breakfast at the lodge, rest and lunch. In the afternoon, you will have a boat ride to the bottom of the falls and you will see several animals such as hippos, giant crocodiles and birds, and not so far away Uganda kobs, elephants and waterbucks. There will be an optional 1 hour hike to the top of the falls where you will find your driver who will drive you back to the lodge.  Dine and slumber at the lodge.

Accommodations: Fort Murchison / Murchison River Lodge / Red Chilli Rest Camp

Meal Plan: Full Board Basis

Day 6: Travel to Kibale National Park via Fort Portal in the shadow of the Mountains of the Moon

On this day, you will depart from Murchison Falls NP and head southwest driving through the impressive Albertine Escarpment of the Western Rift Valley; have Lunch en route. Go through Hoima to the beautiful Fort Portal town which is Tooro kingdom’s capital, located in the shadow of Mountain Rwenzori. Dine and overnight at your lodge.

Accommodations: Kibale forest camp /Chimpanzee Forest Guest House

Meal Plan: Full Board Basis

Day 7: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi Walk in Kibale National Park

Today you will actually spend most of your morning tracking chimpanzees in the forest. These primates are quite mobile and seeing them is not guaranteed however the 4 – 5 hours forest walk will be very rewarding with views of other primates and birds like the hoestes, grey cheeked mangabeys, Red-colobuses, Red-tailed monkeys and the Blue tailed monkeys plus butterflies. Your guide will detail you about the impressive flora and fauna found in this verdant forest.  After lunch, you will visit the Kasenda Crater Lake area or take the Bigodi community initiative swamp walk. Dine and slumber at your lodge.

Accommodations: Kibale forest camp /Chimpanzee Forest Guest House

Meal Plan: Full Board Basis

Day 8: Travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park and visit Crater Lakes

After breakfast you will leave for Queen Elizabeth National Park. The drive will reward you with great views of the Rwenzori Mountain Range as well as game viewing. You will have lunch at your Lodge, located on the peak of the Mweya peninsula. On your way, you visit the stunning Crater Lakes region. Arrive at your lodge, check in , Dinner and sleep at your lodge.

Accommodations: Kazinga Channel View Lodge/ Simba Safari Camp / The Bush Lodge

Meal Plan: Full Board Basis

Day 9: Game Viewing and Boat Cruise in Queen Elizabeth National Park

The day will begin with a game drive in the morning along the Kasenyi plus Queens Mile to see elephants, mangoose, Uganda Kobs, buffaloes, lions, spotted hyenas, waterbucks and warthogs, plus various bird species. This drive will take you up to Lake George and later return for lunch at your lodge.

In the afternoon you will have a boat cruise on the famed Kazinga Channel for 2 hours and this will take you past very high populations of hippos, plus other several animals’ drinking water. This boat cruise offers you a great chance for photography, game viewing as well as bird watching. The abundant bird life is multicolored and amazing with more than 550 species. Dinner and slumber at your lodge.

Accommodations: Kazinga Channel View Lodge/ Simba Safari Camp / The Bush Lodge

Meal Plan: Full Board Basis

Day 10: Game drive searching for tree climbing lions of Ishasha and Travel to Bwindi National Park

You will set out with a packed lunch and drive to Bwindi through the Ishasha area of the Park looking for the tree climbing lions which can only be seen in this part of Uganda. Fortunately the terrain is open savannah scattered with acacia and fig trees. You will enjoy your picnic lunch and later continue to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park where you will dine and slumber.

Accommodations: Travellers Rest Hotel/Gorilla Friends Lodge/Broadbill Forest Camp/Buhoma Community Rest Camp

Meal Plan: Full Board Basis

Day 11: Mountain Gorilla Trekking and Batwa Visit

After breakfast in the early morning, you will head to the park headquarters where you will be briefed before going gorilla tracking. The rainforest is thick and it’s crisscrossed by several animal trails. The joy of finally meeting the gorillas and even spending an hour with them will certainly be very memorable an experience. Generally Gorillas are huge peaceful yet shy animals however you will have a chance to take photographs and observe them play, feed and care for their young.

In the evening, you will visit a traditional herbalist to see how he prepares native medicine to treat a wide array of human sicknesses, see a black smith manufacturing local tools used in everyday life and see how local beer is brewed using local methods. You will also be entertained by the traditional dances offered by the community. You will later return and dinner and overnight at your lodge.

Accommodations: Travellers Rest Hotel/Gorilla Friends Lodge/Broadbill Forest Camp/Buhoma Community Rest Camp

Meal Plan: Full Board Basis

Day 12: Travel to Lake Bunyonyi

 In the morning after your breakfast, drive to Kabale through the beautiful terraced verdant hills. This place is known as the “Switzerland of Africa”. You will have a stop for lunch as you enjoy the breathtaking views of Lake Bunyonyi. After lunch you will take a boat ride on Lake Bunyonyi to the numerous islands to sight see as well as view the various bird species. Dine and sleep at your lodge

Accommodations: Hawk’s Eye Lodge/Bunyonyi Overland /Lake Bunyonyi Eco Resort

Meal Plan: Full Board Basis

Day 13: Relaxation at Lake Bunyonyi

On this day, you will either have a relaxed day at the lodge or go for a community walk around Lake Bunyonyi. Then, dinner and overnight stay at the lodge

Accommodations: Hawk’s Eye Lodge/Bunyonyi Overland /Lake Bunyonyi Eco Resort

Meal Plan: Full Board Basis

Day 14: Travel to Lake Mburo National Park and Game Viewing

In the morning after a breakfast, you will head to Lake Mburo National Park which is the smallest of Uganda’s national parks, and there you will have a game drive to see elands, topi, impalas, oribi, zebras and cape buffalos; plus a boat ride on the lake. This park is a very stunning birding paradise with 250 bird species such as Carruther’s cisticolas, Papyrus gonoleks and Brown-faced lapwings. Dine and slumber at your lodge.

Accommodations: Rwakobo Rock/Lake Safari Lodge

Meal Plan: Full Board Basis

Day 15: Game Walking Safari and Afternoon Boat Cruise on Lake Mburo

Early breakfast before embarking on our return to Kampala, You will have a short drive to the Rwonyo park headquarters. This has often been a good chance of seeing hyenas coming back to the water you will see buffalo zebra, impala and topi and with a bit of luck may be even a sitatunga, an antelope rarely seen living in the papyrus swamps.

In the afternoon, you will go for a boat trip on Lake Mburo where you will animals Impalas, zebras, Uganda kobs, duikers, bushbucks, topis, buffaloes, leopards, spotted hyenas, Defassa waterbucks, warthogs, oribis and birds such as malachite kingfishers, pied kingfishers, African fish eagles, Rüppell’s long-tailed starlings, blue-headed coucals, tambourine doves, hammerkops, pelicans, herons, cormorants, red-faced barbets, grey crowned cranes. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay

Accommodations: Rwakobo Rock/Lake Safari Lodge

Meal Plan: Full Board Basis

Day 16: Transfer to Kampala/Entebbe Airport and Departure

After breakfast, you will start up a journey back to Kampala/Entebbe Airport with a stopover for lunch either in Masaka or at the Equator, for photo shoots and buying souvenirs. You will then proceed to Kampala/Entebbe Airport for your flight.

No Accommodation

Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch

Requirements for this Safari:

• A Visa – you can apply for the visa online or very easily get one at the point of entry into the country (airport)
• Uganda Chimpanzee and Gorilla Trekking permits – You can apply and secure these on linebut experience has shown that it is better coordinated when you send money to the tour firm to handle it for you at no extra cost to the standard fee
• Travel &Health insurance – This should be arranged by you in your home country before you travel.
• Physical fitness

Included in the price:

• Airport transfer to/from
• Ground transport
• Gorilla Permit
• Rhinos trekking fee
• English speaking driver/guide
• Accommodation as mentioned in the itinerary
• Meals as described in the itinerary
• Bottled mineral water in the vehicle
• Entrance fees and ranger fees for national parks
• Activities mentioned in the program
• Permit for chimps trekking

Price Exclusions:    

• International flights
• Visa
• Any optional activities
• Meals and drinks not mentioned above
• Items of personal nature
• Tips
• Additional accommodation before or after the safari