16 days best of uganda safari

16 days best of Uganda safari is a multi-destination adventure rich to explore Rhino tracking of the Ziwa Rhino sanctuary, Kidepo Valley National Park, Murchison falls National Park, kibale forest National Park for chimpanzee tracking, Queen Elizabeth National park and the Ishasha sector for tree climbing lions plus Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable National Park plus a list of other destinations as listed in the safari Itinerary

In this 16 days best of Uganda safari experience, we visit Africa’s Red tapped Rhinos on 176 km north of Kampala on the Gulu highway, – best of the rawness of Kidepo Valley National Park where most safari enthusiasts never reach, Murchison Falls Park – one of the top Uganda Safari Destinations.

Kibale Forest – best place to see chimpanzee in Africa, Queen Elizabeth park with its Kazinga Channel & Ishasha Tree Climbing Lions, Bwindi mountain gorilla tracking (trekking) experience- probably the top highlight of your Uganda trip, along with Lake Bunyonyi – the ‘Little Switzerland of Africa’ & Lake Mburo Park – the perfect place to break a long journey at one of the most delightful places in Uganda.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival Entebbe International Airport

On arrival your guide will meet, greet and transfer you to your hotel for the night at Airport Guest house or similar. Your guide will give the full briefing about your safari and the pickup time for the next day.

Over Night: Airport Link Guesthouse Entebbe. (BB)

Day 2: Ziwa Rhinos (Approx. Drive time 5hrs)

Early morning, Transfer to Gulu town located in Northern Uganda. Stop over at the Ziwa Rhino sanctuary for a 2hr tracking experience. We will have Lunch at Amuka Lodge. Following lunch transfer to Gulu town for overnight at Bomah Hotel Gulu or Similar. Enjoy the beautiful landscape and the typical Ugandan villages and farms along the way for most part of the journey. You can also observe the after effect of the war in this area and how the people of Northern Uganda are rebuilding their lives through reconstruction of old homesteads, farming and local trade in the roadside Markets. Dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Bomah Hotel Gulu (BB)

Day 3: Kidepo Valley National park (Approx. drive time 5hrs)

Following early morning Breakfast, we will proceed on wards to Kidepo Valley National Park driving through villages and farm fields arriving on time for lunch at Kidepo Savannah Lodge. Kidepo ranks among Africa’s finest wildernesses. In the heart of the National Park, a Savannah landscape extends in all directions, far beyond the gazetted area, towards horizons outlined by distant mountain ranges. Evening Sun downer game drive in the African Savannah is an amazing experience!

Day 4: Morning Game drive in the Savannah landscapes

Start with an early breakfast and then go for a game drive along the trails of Kidepo Valley. The park inhabits one of the most exciting faunas of any Ugandan parks, with over 80 species of mammals several of which are endemic to Kidepo National Park like the cheetah, the striped hyena the caracal and over 465 bird species including the ostriches. Return for Lunch and following lunch you will drive to a Karamojong village to learn more about their culture, music and dance. Karamoja has a cattle culture and the Karamojong are known as notorious cattle raiders. Unlike most other Ugandans, many Karamojong people shun western-style clothes and instead wear “traditional” dress of a blanket -like shawl, often in red and black. The women wear elaborate bead-work. Dinner and overnight as above.

Day 5: Transfer to Murchison Falls National park

Following breakfast, you will go for a morning nature walk in the savannah. Return for lunch and after lunch, drive to MFNP arriving late afternoon with check in at Pakuba Lodge or Murchison River Lodge.

Day 6: Game drive and Boat cruise on the Nile

Early morning game drive; special here are the lions and giraffes. In the afternoon we have the impressive launch trip on the Nile to the Falls. Hippos, crocodiles, buffalo, elephants and many birds will be seen!! On reaching the bottom of the falls, get off the boat and hike to the top of the falls for amazing view and photography of the water fall.

Day 7: Delta Area Adventure

Early in the morning the boat will take us downstream to the delta, where the Nile enters Lake Albert. This trip takes 4 hours and will show us all the beauty of this National Park especially the delta with all the different birds. The driver will pick you at the delta point for a short game drive followed by a picnic lunch. In the afternoon at leisure and enjoy your Hotel facilities and service.

Day 8: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park

Following early breakfast, morning transfer to Kibale National Park. We will drive close to Lake Albert, on a clear day the view from the top of the Albert rift is spectacular. In the afternoon we will arrive at Kibale Guest Cottages or Isunga Lodge for dinner and overnight. (FB)

Day 9: Chimpanzee Trekking

At 8.00am we will start with the 4-hour chimp walk – during which you may also get to see 10 other primates! Kibale National Park is also known for all the butterflies and birds. In the afternoon we will walk through Bigodi Swamp (Home to a community-based project) Dinner and overnight as above.

Day 10: Queen Elizabeth National Park

Early morning departure for Queen Elizabeth National Park. Via Fort Portal we shall enjoy game drive and reach at around midday in Kasenyi safari Camp or Mara Rafiki Safari Lodge in Queen Elizabeth National Park with a beautiful view of the park. In the late afternoon we will make a boat cruise. Enjoy two hours launch trip on the Kazinga channel where we will view variety of animals and birds as they come to cool off along the channel. Dinner and overnight as above.

Day 11: Tree climbing Lions of Ishasha Sector

Following breakfast, we will have a morning game drive as we transfer to the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park in the south of Queen Elizabeth National Park, an area popular for the famous tree climbing lions. We will check in for Lunch at Ishasha Jungle Lodge. Later afternoon game drive.

Day 12: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National park

Following early breakfast, transfer to Bwindi impenetrable National park. Depending on where your Gorilla permit has been allocated, you will either drive to Buhoma for dinner and overnight at Haven Lodge Buhoma or Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge. (FB)

Day 13: Gorilla Adventure

After early breakfast 6:30am, you will transfer to the head trail for the gorilla group you will be allocated to for tracking and there you will have your morning briefing by the park rangers before entering the gorilla sanctuary. You will walk through the dense Rain forest crisscrossed by numerous animal trails. The thrill of spending time and observing the gorillas is one of the most memorable experiences on this safari.

Gorillas are shy and peaceful. Watch and photograph them as they interact and groom one another. Please note: tracking may be fairly strenuous with treks up to six hours or longer, at high altitudes. Also, mountain gorillas are wild animals and, as such, sightings cannot be guaranteed. However, viewing success rates are over 90%

Day 14: The beautiful Lake Bunyonyi

Following breakfast, we will transfer to Lake Bunyonyi a beautiful place surrounded by the hills of Western Uganda. The road drive takes us through a beautiful landscape called the “Switzerland of Africa”. Lake Bunyonyi is famous for birds, otters and delicious crayfish. The rest of the day at leisure with optional activities have a swim if you wish, try a canoe, or simply relax looking at the over 300 bird’s species. Dinner and Overnight at Bird nest (FB).

Accommodation: Rwakobo Rock.

Day 15: Lake Mburo National Park

After breakfast we then drive to Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda’s smallest National park. This small park is excellent for birding, antelope and other grazers, one of the only places to easily see Impala and zebra in Uganda. Game drives offer particularly picturesque game viewing with the Park’s mixture of savannah, acacia woodlands, grassy valleys, rocky outcrops, swamps, lakes and rolling hills. Herds of impala (found nowhere else in Uganda), buffalo and zebra, plus waterbuck and eland are amongst the variety of wildlife to be seen. Birders will enjoy the Park’s 310 recorded species. This is the only park where we will see Impala and Burchellʹs Zebra. Evening sun downer wildlife drive. Dinner and overnight.

Day 16: Reserved for departure from Entebbe International Airport

Early morning, we will go for a nature walk. This little park hosts a variety of animals, that is to say 68 mammal species, including a large number of Impalas (the Antelope from which “Kampala” is named after), plains zebras, Uganda Kobs, Duikers, Bushbucks, Topis, Buffaloes, Leopards, spotted hyenas, Defassa waterbucks, warthogs, oribi. There are 315 bird species. The vegetation is mainly open savannah of Acacia trees, Olea and Boscia. Lake Mburo National Park is a natural haven for fauna and flora. The bank of Lake Mburo teems with animals and birds. Crocodiles and hippopotami are permanent residents, and Buffaloes come to drink during the dry season.

The wide variety of resident birds includes Fin Foots, 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, Papyrus yellow warblers and even rare shoebills. Later Transfer back to Entebbe with stopover at Equator for curio shopping and photography.

Health
Yellow fever & malaria prophylactics are required.

Visas
Most nationalities require a visa to enter Uganda which can be obtained on arrival for USD50 per person, single entry. Passports must be valid for a minimum of 6 months.

Flights
It is important that you reconfirm your onward/return flights. We can assist you with this service as well.