12 DAYS SAFARI TO UGANDA.

 

Itinerary for the 12 days Uganda Wildlife and Primates Safari

Day 1: Arrival for Best of Uganda Safari

Our friendly guide will welcome you to Uganda at Entebbe airport and transfer you to your hotel in Kampala. Enjoy the fresh breeze from Lake Victoria – 2nd largest lake in the world. Get a good night’s rest, your adventure starts tomorrow.

Day 2: Rhino Tracking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

Have an early breakfast and depart for Murchison Falls National Park found on the northern/western circuit. The journey is a magical adventure with a stopover at Ziwa Rhino sanctuary to track Rhinos. You will spend a total of 1 hour with the Rhinos after allocating them  with the help of your ranger guide.

Continue on to Murchison falls and proceed to the top of the falls where you will behold the Nile is forced through a 7-meter gorge with a thunderous fall before your very own eyes. This will depend on the location of your lodge.

Journey time – 4 hours

Meal plan – lunch & Dinner

Accommodation

• Up market – Paraa Safari Lodge
• Mid-range – Murchison River lodge
• Budget – Heritage Lodge

Day 3: Murchison Falls National Park Wildlife tour

Murchison Falls National park is the biggest park in Uganda offering fulfilling game viewing. After an early break-fast we start the day with a game drive on the northern bank of River Nile, and look out for giraffes, elephants, hartebeest, Buffaloes, Leopards, Lions and different bird species.

Indeed, it is a privilege watching wild animals in their habitat as they eat, play, and protect the young. In the after-noon, the safari will continue on River Nile. The relaxed boat safari provides more opportunities for spotting a variety of animals and birds. Watch the water the Murchison falls – the ‘devils cauldron’. This kind of boat cruise only found in Uganda in the whole of Africa.

Day 4: Transfer for Chimps in Kibale Forest NP

Today after an early breakfast we depart for the home of Chimpanzee in Kibale National Park – the primate capital of the world. We hope you had an adventurous time in Murchison falls NP.  Kibale forest is home to 13 species of primates with the main attraction being chimpanzee tracking among many other engaging activities.

On this journey, you will have stunning views as you pass small villages, local markets and several bird life. This is a day’s trip with packed lunch or in a town enroute. You arrive at your lodge later that evening ready for tomorrows adventure.

Journey time – 8 hours

Meal plan – Breakfast, lunch & Dinner

Accommodation

• Up market – Papaya Lake Lodge
• Mid-range – Primate Lodge
• Budget – Chimpanzee guest house

Day 5: Chimpanzee tracking in Uganda

 

Kibale national park is the primate capital of East Africa. Chimpanzee trekking is a fulfilling adventure that takes you deep in the tropical forest across streams of water. You may also have sightings of red-tailed monkeys, black-and-white Columbus monkeys,butterflies, and birds calling from the canopies. With the help of your guide, you will locate the chimps. Enjoy picture moments and watch them as they play and feed.

In the afternoon you will visit Bigodi Village and wetland known for its rich diversity of birds and primates depending on the availability of time. By taking this tour, you are in many ways contributing to the development of this community because the proceeds are used to build schools and offer small loans.

Day 6: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Today after breakfast, our tour continues to Queen Elizabeth National Park for a wildlife experience in the plain of Kasenyi. The drive will take us through views of several crater lakes and the mystical Rwenzori Mountain ranges en route. On arrival in the park, we shall have a small game drive as we proceed to the lodge for lunch.

In the afternoon the safari will continue on a boat cruise on Kazinga channel which is a stretch of water connecting Lake Edward and Lake George. The boat safari offers you great photography sessions in a relaxed way with lots of bird life on the shores, crocodiles, elephants, etc

Journey time – 2,5 hours

Meal plan – Breakfast, lunch & Dinner

Accommodation

• Up market – Mweya Safari Lodge
• Mid-range – Park view safari lodge
• Budget – Bush Lodge

Day 7: Wildlife Safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Today we arise early morning for a game drive. The animals in their different families, clans, and groups are out starting on their day. Notice the difference between these animals in their natural habitat and those caged in zoos.

The game drive happens in Kasenyi plains in the custom made safari cars for game viewing. Look out for Lions, Elephants, Buffaloes, Kobs, Water bucks etc all this in between the Rwenzori mountains and the Rift valley escarpment.

Proceed to Ishasha sector in the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth, famed for the tree-climbing lions,search for them with help of rangers. Lunch will be a picnic or at the lodge depending on what keeps you interested on the road.

Journey time – 2 hours

Meal plan – Breakfast, lunch & Dinner

Accommodation

• Up market – Ishasha Wilderness camp
• Mid-range – Destination Jungle lodge
• Budget – Enjonjo

Day 8: Expedition to Bwindi impenetrable Forest

Today we start journey to the home of the gentle giants of Bwindi impenetrable forest. This fulfilling journey takes us through the Kigezi highlands with great scenery of terraced hills. Lunch will be along the way or at the lodge depending on time of arrival.

Your lodge in or adjust to the impenetrable forest will offer you great resting as you prepare for the next day’s gorilla trek.

Journey time – 2 hours

Meal plan – Breakfast, lunch & Dinner

Accommodation

• Up market – Buhoma Lodge
• Mid-range – Buhoma Haven Lodge
• Budget – Buhoma community rest camp

Day 9: Gorillas trekking in Uganda

The highlight of your safari will be meeting the gentle giants of Bwindi National Park! Enjoy the fullness of the impenetrable forest abounding with life, host to several species of birds, butterflies, primates, mammals. Eventually with help of your guide who is also a park ranger, you will find yourself face to face with the enormous and rare mountain gorillas. The trekking experience takes anything from on hour (rarely) to about 8 hours to accomplish. However, you only have one hour with gorillas to capture your finest moment.

Suggested activities for those not interested in gorilla tracking is a community village walk or short guided forest walk.

Day 10: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park

Your driver guide will pick you up after breakfast to start the journey to Lake Mburo national park. The drive is through beautiful landscapes, plantations, and farms.

You have an opportunity to stop by a cultural Museum- exhibiting the life of the native people of the area how they lived through the centuries.

Have lunch/picnic at restaurant along the way. Arrive in the park later that afternoon and take a boat trip on Lake Mburo on the lake.

Journey time – 4 hours

Meal plan – Breakfast, lunch & Dinner

Accommodation

• Up market – Mihingo Lodge
• Mid-range – Rwakobo Rock
• Budget – Eagles Nest

Day 11: Transfer to Kampala and proceed to Jinja

After an early breakfast, we take a game drive in lake Mburo national park in search of the different game in this small park before driving out to continue our journey to Jinja – the adventure capital of East africa.

We later proceed to Kampala, with a stopover at the famous Equator line monument for pictures and shopping. Have lunch in the city or Equator depending on arrival time and proceed to Jinja.

Journey time – 4 hours

Meal plan – Breakfast, lunch & Dinner

Accommodation

• Up market – Wild waters Lodge
• Mid-range – Haven Lodge
• Budget – Nile River Camp

Day 12: White Water Rafting on River Nile

 

Today morning after an early breakfast, you will transfer to the starting point of the white water rafting.

In Jinja, the Nile finds its origin; visit the Source of River Nile where it starts its 4000 km journey through Africa and a great challenge for rafters. You shall have a whole days white water rafting experience.

After this experience and the entire Uganda wildlife safari, proceed to your hotel or late night flight. Thank you for traveling with About Africa, we appreciate.

Optional activities

Quad bike safari, bungee jumping, horseback safari

 

Gorilla trekking tips

• Bwindi impenetrable national park requires hiking, you should pace yourself and drink plenty of water.
• Eating, drinking and smoking near the gorillas is forbidden. Your ranger guide will communicate designated time and place for such.
• We encourage you to carry a rain poncho
• Waterproof walking shoes or hiking boots are essential.
• Gardening gloves for protection against stinging plants
• Long trousers and long sleeved sweaters or shirts while in the forest to avoid insect stings.
• Photography is permitted, although you must not use flash
• Porters are available to help you carry your day pack for a minimum fee of $20 or 50,000 Ugx

Tour includes

• Ground transport
• Gorilla permit fees
• Chimpanzee permit
• Park entrance
• Boat trips
• Water rafting
• Bottled water in the safari vehicle
• Full board accommodation for two nights
• Service of an English-speaking driver guide
• All mentioned activities except for the optional ones

Tour excludes

• Extras at the accommodation i.e. drinks, telephone, laundry etc.
• Tips to porters and driver/ guide
• Insurance