18 Day Best of Uganda Safari

Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe International Airport

Upon arrival, our representative will meet you and transfer you to Kampala. On the way u will be able to see homesteads, serene vegetations, Roadside markets among others.

On arrival check in to the option of available accommodations.

• Luxury: Kampala Serena Hotel, Speke Resort and Conference Centre,
• Mid-Range: Hotel Africana,
• Budget: Forest Cottages, Namirembe Guest House.

Meals — Breakfast

Day 2: Transfer to Jinja, source of the Nile

After breakfast, transfer to Jinja, east of Uganda which is the second largest town in Uganda. Expect to see the Namanve industrial centre, tea plantations, Mabira Forest among others. Jinja is also characterized by the Asian quarters, the brewery industries and the colourful gardens.

Upon arrival, Visit the Source of the Nile on Lake Victoria, the monument of Gandhi, and the spectacular Bujagali Falls on the river Nile a few kilometres from the source.

Return to the city for lunch. In the evening go for the unforgettable emotion of white water rafting which is one of the main attractions done here.

Lunch trip at Bujagali where local food is served.

Return to take on option of available accommodations.

• Luxury: Jinja Nile Resort,
• Budget: Friends Guest House.

Day 3: Jinja — Transfer to Mbale

After breakfast with packed lunch, transfer to Mbale traversing homesteads, serene vegetations, among others. Upon arrival, go for the nature walk to the spectacular waterfalls on the river Sipi which originates from Mount Elgon. The starting point is at Crow’s Nest, a camping and lodging site. You will see the caves, plantations of coffee, matooke and sugarcane plantations along the way.

Return to transfer back to Kampala.

Upon arrival sign in to your Hotel.

Meals — Breakfast, Dinner

Day 4: The White Rhinos of Ziwa sanctuary

After a late breakfast, transfer to Masindi via  Nakasongola. You will stop at Ziwa Rhino sanctuary where you will enjoy a nature walk to see rhinos in the wild. The journey is long but enjoyable as you go through a green countryside with classic Ugandan villages and farms.

Return to proceed to Masindi town for lunch and overnight stay at option of available accommodations.

• Luxury: Miika Eco Resort Hotel, Sambiya River Lodge,
• Mid-Range: Rosaline Suites, Tik Hotel,
• Budget: Hoima Resort Hotel, Glory Summit Hotel.

Meals — Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 5: Masindi — The Murchison Falls National Park:

After an early breakfast, proceed to Murchison Falls National Park, the largest protected area in Uganda, named after the famous falls on the Nile. Uppon arrival go straight to the Top of the Falls to see the spectacular water falls squeezing through a narrow gorge.

You’ll be staying at one of these options:

• Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge,
• Budget: Murchison River Lodge.

After lunch, go for an evening   game drive through the northern part of the park where you will be able to spot elephants, lions, cape buffalos, Rothschild’s giraffes, hartebeests, waterbucks, oribi, bushbucks, spotted hyenas and, if you are lucky, leopards.

Return to the lodge. Meals — Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 6: Game drive — Boat Safari in Victoria Nile

After breakfast, start the day with an early morning game drive in the park. Return to the lodge for Relaxation at the swimming pool side.

After lunch, you will go upstream by boat to the cool Victoria Nile and the base of the falls just ten meters from the Devils Cauldron. There you can wonder at toothsome hippos, crocodiles and over the 17-kilometer stretch you may also see elephants, waterbucks and Uganda kobs. This is also the habitat for many bird species including goliath herons, pelicans, bee-eaters, kingfishers, Hombills, and the rare shoebill stork among others. The boat leaves you near the falls and you will hike to the top. It is an exciting experience that brings you very close to the speeding up whitewater as it squeezes itself through the narrow gap below.

Relax a bit at the top where you can enjoy the Niles beauty. The ground can be felt wavering from the 43 meter drop of the falls and the resulting mist from the commotion often produces rainbows. Your guide will be waiting for you here.

Return to the lodge.

Meals — Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Day 7: Murchison Falls — Fort Portal at the foothill of the Mountains of the Moon

After an early morning breakfast with packed lunch, leave the park heading southwest via the Albertine Escarpment of the Western Rift Valley. Drive through Hoima the capital of the Bunyoro kindgom, passing though green countryside, tea plantations and traditional homesteads. You arrive in the colorful and beautiful town of Fort Portal, the capital of the Tooro kingdom, in the shadow of the magical Mountains of the Moon (Rwenzori).

Upon arrival sign in to the option of available accommodations

• Mid-Range: Kalya Courts Hotel,
• Budget: New Fort View Resort.

Meals — Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Day 8: Semliki Valley National Park

After breakfast, go for the magical game drive and visit the male and female hot springs. Return for lunch and in the evening visit the Kasenda Crater Lakes which dominate all the areas with incredible panoramic views.

Return to the lodge.

Meals — Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Day 9: Semuliki — Queen Elizabeth National Park:

After breakfast, transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park following the spiritual Rwenzori Mountain Range most of the journey arriving in time for lunch after which you enjoy the unique two hour boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel. This trip goes through perhaps the highest concentration of animals and birds as they may be seen drinking at the water’s edge. This boat cruise offers an excellent platform for photography, bird watching and game viewing. The fruitful bird life is colourful and amazing with over 550 resident species. You will then continue through the fascinating Crater Lake region.

Return to take on option of available accommodations.

• Luxury: Ishasha Wilderness camp,
• Mid-Range: Ishasha Jungle lodge,
• Budget: Katara Lodge.

Meals — Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Day 10: Game drive and Chimp Trekking in Kyambura Gorge

After breakfast, get on an early morning game drive along Kasenyi tracks and Queens mile in the park and expect to see lions, Kobs, waterbucks, elephants, mongooses, cape buffalos, warthogs, spotted hyenas, among others and if lucky the leopard plus a lot of small animals and birds. Return to the lodge for lunch. After, drive to Kyambura gorge for a forest walk in search of the habituated chimpanzees and other primates. This gorge is 16 km long on the Rift Valley and 100 meters deep. The rangers will provide you with a walking stick for this trekking.

Return to the lodge.

Meals — Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Day 11: Tree climbing lions of Ishasha — Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

After breakfast with your packed lunch, drive to the Ishasha sector of the park for a game drive in search for the rare tree climbing lions found only in this part of Uganda. The landscape is open savannah with acacia trees. Return to Proceed to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park traversing serene vegetations, tea and banana plantations among others.

Upon arrival signin in to the option of available accommodations.

• Luxury: Mahogany Springs,
• Mid-Range: Silver back lodge,
• Budget: Buhoma Community Bandas.

Meals — Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Day 12: Encounter with mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

After breakfast, go for the briefing from the rangers and set off for the mountain gorilla tracking inside the Bwindi forest. You need to carry drinking water, packed lunch, rain jacket and jungle boots while the rangers will provide you with a walking stick.

Gorilla tracking is one of the unique activities you will enjoy. Photograph the gorillas in their natural habitat.

Return to proceed to Kabale through the beautiful, undulating hills and terraced landscape.

Upon arrival sign in to the option of available accommodation:

• Bird nest,
• Bunyonyi Overland Resort,
• Bunyonyi Safari Resort.

Meals — Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Day 13:  The wonderful Lake Bunyonyi Sight Seeing — Lake Mburo N. P

After breakfast, go for a boat ride on the lake around the various islands for bird viewing and sight-seeing. Visit the Bakiga Museum.

Return to the lodge for Lunch after which you depart for Lake Mburo National Park, the smallest in size among all the National parks but fascinating.

Sign in to the option of available accommodations.

• Luxury: Mihingo Lodge,
• Mid Range: Rwakobo Lodge,
• Budget: Rwonyo Rest Camp.

Meals — Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Day 14: Game drive and a Boat ride

After breakfast, go for a morning game drive in search for the beautiful impalas, zebras, cape buffalos, elands, oribi and topi. Return for relaxation and lunch after which you go for a boat trip on Lake Mburo. The park is a very good opportunity for bird watchers who enjoy more than 250 species of birds found here.

Return to embark on the journey back to Kampala. Checki n to your hotel. Dinner: Overnight.

Day 15: Departure:

After breakfast, depending on your flight program, you will spend the day at leisure shopping for souvenirs at the cultural village, a city tour to St. Balikudembe market.

Return for lunch after which your driver  transfers you to the Airport for your international flight back home.

Extensions

Day 15: The Ssese Islands of Lake Victoria:

After breakfast, drive to Entebbe to board the ferry boat which will take you to Ssese Islands, an archipelago of 84 islands on Lake Victoria. Meantime you can visit the wonders of the botanical garden in Entebbe. After lunch enjoy the navigation on the lake which looks like a vast and peaceful sea. You reach the beautiful bay of Lutoboka in Bugala Island.

Upon arrival sign in to the option of available accommodations:

• Pearl Gardens resort,
• Brovad Sands Lodge.

Meals — Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Day 16: The Islands tour

After breakfast, journey through the Ssese Islands and enjoy the beauty of the lake and forested islands. You will explore three islands, a fishing village, settlement island. Return to your Hotel for lunch and relaxation by the beach side while swimming and sunbathing.

Meals — Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Day 17: Ecological Nature walk and Bugala Village tour

After an early morning breakfast,   go for a relaxing ecological nature walk in the pure forest on the islands with the services of our guide who will tell you all you need to know about the forest. Return for lunch and relaxation after which you go for an evenning village tour on a motor bike and you will visit the packages and traditional fishing village on Bugala Islands, palm tree farm and the pineaple farm.

Return to your hotel.

Meals — Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Day 18: Ssese – Entebbe:

After breakfast, aboard the ferry boat and return to Entebbe. Spend the afternoon at leisure or craft and souvenir shopping .

Transfer to Entebbe International Airport for your international flight.

End of Safari.