THE AMAZING UGANDA  SAFARI |  12 days

From land to water in lakes & rivers, this stunning safari takes you to some of the most wondrous corners of Uganda and definitely through the country’s most popular national parks; giving you a golden chance to travel off the beaten path, swim in lake waters, sail on river waters, experience Africa’s most unique wildlife and track chimps as well as the prestigious mountain gorillas only found in this part of the world.

Day 1: Arrival and airport transfer to Kampala

Upon your arrival at the airport, you will be welcomed by our driver/guide.  Take in the first sights of Uganda as you drive along Entebbe road to your accommodation facility in Kampala, where you will be able to make foreign exchange transactions for local currency that you may require on the trip.

Depending on your time of arrival, you can take a leisurely walk along the shores of Lake Victoria before you set off, or explore the bustling streets of Kampala upon arrival.  Enjoy your overnight stay at the Cassia Lodge booked on bed and breakfast basis.

*Meals Plan: No Meals

Transit time:    1hr

Day 2: Travel from Kampala to Murchison Falls National Park

Early morning, you will drive to Murchison Falls National Park and have a stopover for lunch in Masindi town before proceeding straight to the top of the falls where you can serve your eyes to the spectacular view of the breathtaking flow of the waters of the Nile river from various points all the way to Baker’s Summit.

The Murchison Falls; where the world’s longest river, the Nile River, narrows from 50m into a 7m gorge (at the top) are possibly the most powerful natural surge of water in the world; and this National Park is named after these falls.

After the falls experience, you’ll be driven to Paraa Safari Lodge where you will check in, have your dinner and overnight stay.

*Meals include breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Transit time:             5hrs

Day 3: Exploring Murchison Falls National Park

After a cup of tea/coffee for warmth, witness wildlife at its best with an early morning game drive on the Northern wing of the park to find elephant, buffalo, lions, giraffe, and a variety of antelopes. Return to the lodge for a full breakfast and later on lunch.

In the afternoon, see the Nile closer than ever as you enjoy a boat cruise down this legendary river – home to Africa’s most dense hippo and crocodile populations, as well as a dazzling variety of water birds, including the Gray Heron, Goliath Heron, Yellow-Billed Stork, Kingfisher, and occasionally the rare Shoebill Stork. The boat cruise will last up to three hours after which you will return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Day 4: From Murchison Falls National Park to Kibale Forest National Park

Setting off after breakfast, you’ll drive further south along the western escarpment overlooking Lake Albert to Kibale Forest National Park, home to one of Uganda’s astounding major rainforests.  Along the way, enjoy your picnic lunch. Kibale Forest is home to 13 primate species, including the red colobus and L’Hoest’s monkey.  More still, it also boasts a remarkable opportunity to track habituated chimpanzees.  More closely related to humans than any other living creature, chimpanzees are captivating to watch as they swing from the fruiting trees in the depths of the rainforest.  Arrive in time for dinner and an overnight stay at Ndali Lodge.

*Meals include breakfast, lunch and dinner. Transit time:             7 – 8hrs

Day 5: Explore Kibale Forest  National Park

In the morning, set out on your chimpanzee trek in the rainforest! Head to the park headquarters to meet park rangers for your pre-tracking briefing that precedes an exciting two to four-hour primate walk in the forest, where you will track the beloved chimpanzee, Grey-Cheeked Mangabeys, and Red Colobus Monkeys (only found in the Kibale Forest in Uganda).  Bird lovers are also in for a treat, as the rainforest also hosts an astonishing 375 bird species. After the trek, return to the lodge for lunch.  .  .

Later, we will take a nature walk through the Bigodi Swamplands, a sanctuary rich in bird life, including the Blue Turaco. Thereafter, our guide will move you back to your lodge for the evening/night

Day 6: From Kibale Forest National Park to Queen Elizabeth National Park

The day begins with a relaxed drive after breakfast as you leave Kibale National Park, headed for Queen Elizabeth National Park.  Watch out for the incredible scenery of the “Mountains of the Moon” unfolding before your eyes as you drive along the smooth road. Upon arrival in the park, check in and have lunch at the Mweya Safari Lodge.

After lunch, enjoy a late afternoon game drive in the park along different tracks of the Northern wing, where you may catch sight of wildlife species of the Elephant, Lions, Leopard, Hartebeest, Cape buffalo, Uganda Kob, and much more. Return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

*Meals include breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Transit time: Approx. 3hrs

Day 7: Exploring Queen Elizabeth National Park

Sip on an early cup of tea/coffee at the lodge for the morning game drive along the Northern part’s tracks for an opportunity to view the early morning wildlife in action and perhaps at close range while the sun rises with its beautiful scenery.  Wildlife available includes lions, hyenas, Cape buffalo, Ugandan Kob, warthog, elephant, leopard, and waterbuck.  Thereafter, you may return to the lodge for a more sumptuous breakfast and relax till lunch.

After lunch, enjoy a boat cruise along the Kazinga channel that joins Lakes Edward and George. There may be stunning sights of more buffalo, elephants, hippos, as well as numerous local and European migratory bird species. Take in the evening by a campfire beneath the expansive, star-filled sky and enjoy dinner thereafter and an overnight stay at the lodge.

*Meals include breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 8: Chimp tracking at Kyambura Gorge and travel to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

After breakfast, transfer to Kyambura Gorge. This gorge, popularly referred to as the valley of apes, offers one of the most impressive landscapes in the region. It is about 1km wide at its widest point and about 100 metres deep. The gorge derives its name from the River Kyambura that runs through it. Enjoy the nature walk through the rich tropical rainforest as you search for the chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, giant forest hogs, red-tailed monkeys, among others. Kyambura Gorge is also rich in bird life.

After the chimps, you’ll drive towards Bwindi Impenetrable National Park through the Ishasha sector, located in the Southern wing of Queen Elizabeth National Park, where the famous tree-climbing lions have always been sighted; other game here includes elephant, buffalo, topi and hippos. Arrive at your destination, The Silverback Lodge Bwindi, in the late afternoon for dinner and an overnight stay.

*Meals include breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Transit time:             Approx. 4hrs

Day 9: Gorilla Tracking – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

The most exciting yet fierce experience awaits you this day. Carry your picnic lunch, which you will enjoy en route in the midst of this impenetrable forest, where you will have your hike-of-a-lifetime on this day. After your breakfast, head to the park HQs for a thorough pre-tracking briefing by the park rangers who will serve as your guides for the day’s excursion that may last from an hour or two to eight hours, before you can meet the gorillas.

Once you meet the gorillas, however, you will be able to spend one full, unforgettable hour with them. The day’s tracking is normally guided by where the gorillas were found the previous day. At the end of the tracking, you will return to the lodge to relax the afternoon away and enjoy a cocktail by the campfire as you listen to the sounds of Bwindi, then later have dinner and sleep.

However, depending on your return time and state of body, you may choose to take a nature walk around the surrounding Batwa community, watching the magical motions of traditional Ugandan dances and feasting your eyes on local craftworks of the community on sale.

Day 10: Travel to Lake Bunyonyi

After such extraordinary animal experiences, breathtaking sceneries and unforgettable forest mountain hikes enjoy a relaxed morning and leisurely breakfast at the lodge in preparation for your journey to Lake Bunyonyi. You will drive through great heights of Uganda’s magnificent mountain scenery of forests and agricultural terraces before arriving at Arcadia cottages in the afternoon.

Although this lake is believed to be one of the deepest crater lakes in Africa, it is also known to be safe for swimming, so dive in and enjoy the feel of fresh water beneath the expansive sky before you can embark on a bird watching exercise in your afternoon.  “Bunyonyi” means “the place of many birds” and the lake is aptly named: it is home to over 200 bird species.

In the late afternoon, explore the lake by canoe or try your hand at cray fishing around the lake’s evergreen islands and you can retire to your hotel for dinner, a drink and sleep.

*Meals include breakfast, lunch and dinner.                               Transit time:             Approx. 4hrs

Day 11: Travel to and explore Lake Mburo National Park

Today’s smooth journey leads you to Lake Mburo National Park, stopping over for lunch in Mbarara town along the way.  Check into your accommodations at Lake Mburo Mihingo Lodge before enjoying an evening game drive later on. Alternatively, you might opt for a walking safari in the company of a park ranger.

Lake Mburo National Park is considered the best place in the country to witness the enormous Eland Antelope, zebra, Topi, Impala, and the numerous birds drawn to the Acacia tree.

*Meals include breakfast, lunch and dinner.   Transit time:             3hrs

Day 12: From Lake Mburo National Park to Kampala

Explore the wilderness one last time with a morning game drive through the Acacia savanna and woodlands of the park.  Wildlife here includes Zebra, Impala, Eland Antelope, buffalo, Topi, warthog, and the occasional leopard.  The park also offers an abundance of savanna bird species, including the Cocqui Francolin, Lapwings, and Hornbills.  Return to the lodge for a full late breakfast and after lunch, embark on a return journey to Kampala.  Along the way back to Uganda’s bustling capital city, you will stop in at the Equator for a few snapshots, craft shopping, and at another local shop to see the traditional craft of drum-making.  Arrive in Kampala later in the evening, marking the end of an extraordinary trip.

Transit time: Approx. 5hrs

Includes:

  • Airport transfers,
  • Accommodation  and meals,
  • Ferry crossing,
  • Park entry fees,
  • Game drives,
  • Nile cruise,
  • Chimp walk Kibale,
  • Biigodi Swamp,
  • Kazinga cruise,
  • Kyambura gorge,
  • 1 Gorilla permit,
  • Canoe ride at Lake Bunyonyi,
  • Nature walk Mburo,
  • 4×4 transportation with driver guide

Excludes:

  • Beverages,
  • tips and personal expenses.