Safari Highlights
- Equator experience
- Game drives in savannah National Parks
- Boat launch on 3 Lakes
- Chimps trekking
- Nature walks
- Cultural visits
- Gorilla trekking
- Golden Monkey trekking
- Canoeing at Lake Bunyonyi
- Hiking at Lake Bunyonyi
- Tree climbing lions
- Scenic views
- Sipi Falls
- Mountain hiking and abseiling
- Source of the Nile
- Water adventure sports on the Nile
Day 1: Arrival in Uganda – The pearl of Africa
Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be met by our company guide who will transfer you to Kampala to a hotel booked for you. In case you have had an early flight to Uganda, you will be taken on a brief tour of the city of Kampala.
Accommodation options
Luxury Lodge: Serena Hotel/ Sheraton Hotel/Munyonyo Speke Resort/Pearl of Africa Hotel
Moderate: Cassia Lodge/ Speke Resort Hotel/Protea Hotel/Hotel Africana/Cassia Hotel/Golf Course Hotel
Budget facility: Airport View Hotel/ Namirembe Guest house/Forest Cottages/Karibu Hotel/ Airport GuestHouse
Meal Plan: Half Board Basis
Day 2: Travel to Lake Mburo National Park
After breakfast, you will travel west of Kampala to Lake Mburo National Park to start the Pearl of Africa Safari. The journey will take 3-4 hours with a stopover at the Equator where you will have an opportunity to stand in 2 hemispheres at the same time and take memorial photos. You will continue to Lake Mburo where you will have lunch at the Great Uganda Tour lodge booked for you.
In the afternoon, you will go on a boat trip on the lake to see a variety of animals such as hippos and crocodiles and bird species such as Pelicans, Black Crake, Heron, Cormorant, and Fish Eagle which can only be viewed clearly on a boat trip. You will retire to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation options
Luxury: Mihingo Lodge
Moderate: Lake Mburo Safari Lodge/ Rwakobo Rock
Budget: Eagles Nest Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3: Exploration of Lake Mburo National Park
You will have an early Great Uganda Tour breakfast and set off for a sunrise game drive in the park where you can expect to see a variety of wildlife such as zebras, monkeys, impalas, waterbucks, elands, buffaloes, hippos, topi, Bohor reedbuck, sitatunga antelope, klipspringer, vervet monkey, olive baboon, side-striped Jackal, spotted-hyena, leopard, white-tailed mongoose, among others.
You will return to your lodge for lunch and in the afternoon go for either horse riding around the park, or a Nature walk in the Rubanga Forest. This forest offers excellent habitat for birds therefore a very attractive place for bird watching. Time allows you would participate in sports fishing at Lake Mburo before retiring to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation options
Luxury: Mihingo Lodge
Moderate: Lake Mburo Safari Lodge/ Rwakobo Rock
Budget: Eagles Nest Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4: Travel to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After an early breakfast, you will set off from Kampala and travel westwards to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest for approximately 9-10 hours, to begin the 20 Days Uganda Safari. You will have a brief stop at the Equator for an opportunity for you to stand in two hemispheres at the same time and take some photographs. You will continue the journey through the beautiful verdant rolling hills characteristic of this part of the country. You will have a lunch break in Mbarara town and then continue to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park arriving late in the afternoon hours.
Accommodation options
Luxury: Gorilla Safari Lodge/Buhoma Lodge/Mahogany Spring Lodge/Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge/Bwindi Jungle Lodge/Silverback Lodge/Chameleon Hill Lodge
Midrange: Gorilla Mist Camp/ Mutanda Lake Resort/Rushaga Gorilla Camp/Gorilla Valley Lodge/Engagi Lodge
Budget: Travellers Rest Hotel/Gorilla Friends Lodge/Broadbill Forest Camp/Buhoma Community Rest Camp/ Haven Lodge Buhoma Community.
Meal Plan: Full Board Basis
Day 5: Gorilla tracking and Cultural exposure
After an early breakfast, you will go to the park headquarters where you will be briefed by the guides before you begin the search in the thick Bwindi forest for the giant gorillas. Bwindi Impenetrable forest National Park is renowned for its impressive mountain gorillas, although it is unpredictable how long you will track them before finding them since it all depends on their movement.
Though the time spent gorilla trekking is unpredictable, the thrill of spending time and observing these gentle giant gorillas is a rare, moving, awesome and exciting adventure that will leave you with long-lasting memories of a truly unique experience. You will return to your lodge for a rest and later go for a cultural walk to interact with the local people. You will participate in captivating traditional performances presented by Women’s groups or orphaned children groups.
Accommodation options
Luxury: Gorilla Safari Lodge/Buhoma Lodge/Mahogany Spring Lodge/Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge/Bwindi Jungle Lodge/Silverback Lodge/Chameleon Hill Lodge
Midrange: Gorilla Mist Camp/ Mutanda Lake Resort/Rushaga Gorilla Camp/Gorilla Valley Lodge/Engagi Lodge
Budget: Travellers Rest Hotel/Gorilla Friends Lodge/Broadbill Forest Camp/Buhoma Community Rest Camp/ Haven Lodge Buhoma Community.
Meal Plan: Full Board Basis
Day 6: Transfer to Mgahinga National Park
You will have an early breakfast and then travel to Mgahinga National Park for golden Monkey tracking. Dinner and overnight will be at your lodge of booking.
Accommodation options
Luxury: Mount Gahinga Lodge/Bwindi Gorilla Lodge/Chameleon Hill Lodge
Moderate: Mutanda Lake Resort.
Budget: Travellers Rest Hotel
Meal Plan: Full Board Basis
Day 7: Golden Monkey tracking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Travel to Lake Bunyonyi.
After breakfast transfer to the Mgahinga National Park headquarters for briefing and later begin the hike over the volcanic terrain in search of Golden Monkeys in the bamboo forests. Mgahinga National Park shares borders with Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in DR Congo. The park is also the most scenic as it stands at three volcanoes of Muhavura, Gahinga, and Sabyinyo. After, you will drive to Lake Bunyonyi. The lake is said to be the second deepest lake in Africa and one of the most beautiful places in western Uganda. It is also one of the few places in the country where it is considered safe to swim as it is bilharzia free. Dinner and overnight will be at one of the many lodges near the lake. Dinner and overnight will be at your lodge of booking.
Accommodation options
Luxury: Bird Nest Resort
Midrange: Arcadia Lodge Lake Bunyonyi
Budget: Bunyonyi Overland Resort/Crater Bay Cottages and Camp
Day 8: Canoeing and hiking on Lake Bunyonyi and Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park Ishasha sector for tree climbing Lions
This morning you can choose to either have a canoe ride on the lake or a walk through the surrounding hills. The landscape around the lake is made up of steep hills covered with lush green vegetation protruding from the water’s edge. Bunyonyi means “place of little birds” and as the name suggests, there is plenty of birdlife around the lake. You can choose to go for a canoe ride to see water animals and birds, go swimming, or hike to the viewpoint in the hills to admire the volcano mountain ranges at the border with Rwanda. In the afternoon you will drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Accommodation options
Luxury: Ishasha wildness Camp
Midrange: Ishasha Jungle Lodge
Budget: Enjojo Lodge/@ The River Ishasha Lodge
Day 9: Full-day Game Drive in Ishasha
You will wake up early for a morning game drive in search of tree-climbing lions in Ishasha, you will also see Elephants, Topis, Leopards, Bush bucks, Cape Buffaloes, Defassa Waterbucks, Giant Forest Hogs, Uganda Kobs, among others. Later drive to the lodge for evening relaxation, Dinner, and overnight stay.
Accommodation options
Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge/ Katara Lodge
Mid-range: Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge/Ihamba Safari Lodge/Parkview Safari Lodge/Twin Lakes Safari Lodge
Budget: Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge/Mweya Hostel
Meal Plan: Breakfast Lunch and Dinner
Day 10: Game drive and Boat Safari launch
You will wake up early for a morning game drive in the park during which you will see Lions, Elephants, Topis, Leopards, Bush bucks, Cape Buffaloes, Defassa Waterbucks, Giant Forest Hogs, and Uganda Kobs, among others. You will later in the afternoon go for a two-hour boat cruise down the Kazinga Channel that connects Lakes George and Edward. The cruise takes you through the highest population of Hippos and you will see a profusion of animals drinking on the water shores. This launch cruise rewards you with a great opportunity to take photos, watch birds and see the water animals.
Accommodation options
Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge/ Katara Lodge
Mid-range: Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge/Ihamba Safari Lodge/Parkview Safari Lodge/Twin Lakes Safari Lodge
Budget: Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge/Mweya Hostel
Meal Plan: Breakfast Lunch and Dinner
Day 11: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
After breakfast set off on a 4-hour journey to Kibale Forest National Park. On the Drive to Kibale National Park, you will be able to enjoy an impressive sight of the legendary “Mountains of the Moon” which you will clearly see on the road to Fort Portal. You will have lunch in Fort Portal and proceed to Kibale Forest National Park.
You will then choose either go to the unique Bigodi swamp eco-tourism site where you will see uncommon plants and rare bird species such as the Great Blue Turaco, little Bulbul, Rwenzori Turaco, and the Narina Trogon, among others, or visit the crater lakes area to enjoy the beautiful scenery. Dinner and overnight will be at the Great Uganda Tour lodge of your booking
Accommodation options
Luxury: Primate Lodge/Papaya Lake Lodge/Kyaninga lodge
Moderate: Isunga Lodge/Kibale Forest Cottages/Primate Lodge
Budget: Kibale Forest Camp/Chimpanzee Guest House
Meal plan: Breakfast Lunch and Dinner
Day 12: Chimpanzee tracking and swamp walk for bird watching
You will, after breakfast, head to Kibale Forest National Park to view the primates. The activity begins at 8.00 am with a briefing on the rule for trekking the chimpanzees after which you set off to search for them in the forest. The exercise takes half a day and along the way, you will see other primates such as Grey cheeked Mangabeys, Phoestes, Red-Colobus, and the Blue-tailed and Red-tailed monkeys swinging in the braches of this thick forest.
Your Great Uganda Tour guide will give you informative briefings on the lifestyles of the primates you will be coming across and on the plants as well as on the insects and butterflies in this forest to ensure that the trek is not only enjoyable but informative as well.
Accommodation options
Luxury: Primate Lodge/Papaya Lake Lodge/Kyaninga lodge
Moderate: Isunga Lodge/Kibale Forest Cottages/Primate Lodge
Budget: Kibale Forest Camp/Chimpanzee Guest House
Meal plan: Breakfast Lunch and Dinner
Day 13: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park (441 Kms)
You will set off on a 9-hour journey to Murchison Falls National Park. The drive is through verdant countryside inter-passing traditional homesteads and farms and via the town of Hoima where you have a lunch break. You will continue the journey to Murchison Falls National Park arriving late in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight will be at the lodge of your booking
Accommodation options
Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge/ Bakers Lodge
Mid-range: Murchison River Lodge/Pakuba Safari Lodge/Bwana Tembo Safari Camp
Budget: Fort Murchison Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 14: Game Drive and Boat Cruise
You will wake up very early and set off at 6.30 am for a sunrise game drive in the Nyamsika plateau to see the Cape buffaloes, Rothschild’s giraffes, Uganda kob, hartebeest, and waterbucks. You may also spot oribi, bushbuck, Bohor reedbuck, shy sitatunga, bush duiker, warthog, and bush pig plus large carnivores including lions, leopards, and spotted hyenas.
Chimpanzees and olive baboons head the list of six species of primates found in the park. Crocodiles and hippos will be seen along the banks of the Nile. Some of the more common birds that can be seen include goliath heron, Egyptian geese, pelican, bee-eaters, kingfishers, hornbill, cormorant, saddle-bill stork, and the rare shoe bill stork.
You will return to your lodge for a late breakfast and some relaxation before you set off in the afternoon for a boat cruise on the placid Victoria Nile, upstream, to the base of the falls. En-route you will see hippos, crocodiles, waterbuck, and a wide variety of birds like the unusual shoebill stork. The boat stops just tens of meters from the “Devil’s Cauldron” for pictures to be taken of the photogenic and majestic Murchison Falls.
Accommodation options
Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge/ Bakers Lodge
Mid-range: Murchison River Lodge/Pakuba Safari Lodge/Bwana Tembo Safari Camp
Budget: Fort Murchison Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 15: Visit the top of the fall and travel to Kitgum town
You will after your breakfast visit the “top of the thunderous Murchison falls”, where you will observe the River Nile squeezing itself into a 7 meter gorge before tumbling 40 meters down in a thunderous explosion and then flowing down into a very peaceful river whose water banks are swarmed with a profusion of water and land animals as well as birds. You will thereafter set off on a 9-hour journey to Kitgum in the northern part of Uganda where you will have an overnight stopover. You will have a Great Uganda Tour dinner and overnight at the lodge of your booking.
Accommodation options
Luxury: Boma Hotel/ Acholi Pride Guest Houses / Hotel de Carols
Budget: Lonely Planet / Kitgum Holiday Rentals
Meal Plan: Breakfast Lunch and Dinner.
Day 16: Drive to Kidepo Valley National Park
You will continue the journey to Kidepo Valley National Park on a rough road. The journey to Kidepo from Kitgum will take 4 – 7 hours depending on the weather conditions which determine the state of the roads in this part of the country. You will spend the night at one of the lodges in the park.
Accommodation options
Luxury: Apoka Safari Lodge
Mid-range: Kidepo Savannah Lodge/Nga’moru Wilderness Camp
Budget: Apoka Hostel
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 17: Game drive and safari walk in Kidepo
You will wake up early for a Great Uganda Tour game drive in the park to catch up with the early predators that will be returning to their habitats after a night hunt. In Kidepo you will find zebras, giraffes, elephants, lions, and leopards and this is the only place in Uganda – Pearl of Africa where you can find the cheetah and ostrich. You’ll return to the lodge for a late breakfast, have a rest, and go off in the mid-afternoon for a nature walk. You will return to your lodge in the late afternoon for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation options
Luxury: Apoka Safari Lodge
Mid-range: Kidepo Savannah Lodge/Nga’moru Wilderness Camp
Budget: Apoka Hostel
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 18: Cultural Village Tour in Kidepo
You will be taken on a guided cultural village tour where you will learn about the nomadic lifestyle of the people around Karenga and Kidepo. During this cultural tour, you will visit the Karamajong homesteads (manyattas) and see the kraals of cattle, the traditional costumes, stools, spears, headdresses, knives, bows, and arrows, jewelry, grinding stones, and utensils all made locally by the natives. In the evening you will be taken for a sunset game drive to explore more of Kidepo.
Accommodation options
Luxury: Apoka Safari Lodge
Mid-range: Kidepo Savannah Lodge/Nga’moru Wilderness Camp
Budget: Apoka Hostel
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 19: Travel to Sipi
You will after your breakfast set off for the Sipi Falls on Mt Elgon. This will be a 9-hour journey through the towns of Kotido and Soroti arriving late in the afternoon. You will have dinner and overnight at the lodge of your booking.
Accommodation options
Luxury: Sipi River Lodge
Mid-range: Lacam Lodge/Sipi Falls Resort
Meal Plan: Breakfast Lunch and Dinner
Day 20: Hike to Sipi Falls
You will after your breakfast go for a hike to see the beautifully stunning Sipi falls that cascade over a 100-meter cliff. You will follow the challenging trail to two other waterfalls. You will pass maize fields, coffee gardens, banana plantations, and typical African homesteads on your way and enjoy the breathtaking views over the laid-out valley. Those interested in experiencing the real thrill of watching the waterfalls from a very close distance will go abseiling down the mountain to the bottom of the famous Sipi Falls. At the end of the day, you will experience a magnificent sunset before returning to your lodge.
Accommodation options
Luxury: Sipi River Lodge
Mid-range: Lacam Lodge/Sipi Falls Resort
Meal Plan: Breakfast Lunch and Dinner
Day 21: Transfer to Jinja
We leave early in the morning and head to Jinja to visit the source of the Nile and to enjoy some of the adventurous activities whose options include white water rafting, jet boating, horse riding, mountain biking, quad biking or bungee jumping. Enroute, you will have a stopover at the Equator where you will have an opportunity to stand in two hemispheres at the same time and take some photos. You will arrive in the late afternoon and relax at the hotel of your booking till dinner and overnight.
Accommodation options
Luxury: Crested Crane Hotel
Mid-range: Jinja Nile Resort/Nile Village Hotel/Hotel Paradise on the Nile/The haven/Kingfisher
Budget: 2 Friends Guesthouse and Restaurant/Source of the Smile Hotel/Pearl on the Nile Hotel
Meal Plan: Full board basis
Day 22: Relaxation and Exploration of Jinja
You will have a relaxed morning at the lodge/hotel and Lunch. Thereafter lunch, you will take a boat up to the source of the River Nile, and visit Bujagali Falls and Fishing sites on Lake Victoria. Later return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation options
Luxury: Crested Crane Hotel
Mid-range: Jinja Nile Resort/Nile Village Hotel/Hotel Paradise on the Nile/The haven/Kingfisher
Budget: 2 Friends Guesthouse and Restaurant/Source of the Smile Hotel/Pearl on the Nile Hotel
Meal Plan: Full board basis
Day 23: Adventure on the Nile (white water rafting)
You will, after breakfast, go for the adventurous white water rafting on the Nile River. The rafting begins at the Source of the Nile at 09:30 am with a comprehensive briefing and being fitted with the rafting gear. The rafting is done on an 18-kilometer stretch of the Nile River and no prior experience in rafting is required. The first few rapids are of low grade (1, 2) to build the confidence of the participants before guiding them gradually into the more challenging grades. A total of eight major rapids are rafted to maximize the adrenaline rush of this adventure. You will, after the rafting adventure, be treated to a barbecue lunch and drinks before returning to Kampala
Accommodation options
Luxury Lodge: Serena Hotel/ Sheraton Hotel/Munyonyo Speke Resort/Pearl of Africa Hotel
Moderate: Cassia Lodge/ Speke Resort Hotel/Protea Hotel/Hotel Africana/Cassia Hotel/Golf Course Hotel
Budget facility: Airport View Hotel/ Namirembe Guest house/Forest Cottages/Karibu Hotel/Airport GuestHouse
Meal Plan: Full Board Basis
Day 24: Transfer to Entebbe for your departure flight
In line with the timing of your departure flight, you will be transferred to the Airport for your scheduled flight back home or visit the source of the Nile and enjoy some of the adventurous activities whose options
Requirements for this Safari
- A Visa – you can apply for a visa online or very easily get one at the point of entry into the country (airport)
- Chimpanzee and Gorilla trekking permits – You can apply and secure these online but 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 the standard fee (USD700)
- Travel &Health insurance – This should be arranged by you in your home country before you travel.
- Physical fitness
The Safari package includes
- Full board accommodation as per the itinerary
- 4WD safari vehicle
- Insurance
- Bottled drinking water
- Permits for trekking Gorillas, Chimpanzees, and Golden Monkeys
- Game drives
- Boat trips
- Services of an English Speaking Driver/guide.
- Community visit fees
- Guided nature walks
- Transfers from and to the airport
The Safari package excludes:
- Other drinks apart from bottled water
- Laundry
- Tips to local guides
- Telephone expenses
- Porter fees while trekking Gorillas and chimpanzees
- Cigarettes
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