18 Days Uganda safari
Explore Uganda in a 18 days Uganda safari finding out what makes Uganda such a wonder, carrying out the most incredible acitvities, to mention gorilla trekking in the jungles of bwindi, chimpanzee trekking, wildlife encounter in Murchison, Kidepo and queen Elizabeth national park, golden monkey in tracking in Mgahinga gorilla national park, visit jinja also known as the adventure capital of east africa.
Day 1: Arrival – Hotel
Upon arrival at Entebbe airport, you will meet our company representative/guide who will be waiting to receive you and transfer you Kampala city which is 37km away. You will be transferred to your hotel to check-in and rest from the long flight. In the evening dinner will be served and spend a comfortable night at the hotel.
Estimated distance: 1 hour drive
Accommodation and meals: Sheraton Hotel/Fairway Hotel – Half board
Day 2: Transfer to Jinja
Wake up early, have breakfast and drive for an excursion in Jinja town, en route at Mabira forest-Uganda’s largest tropical forest for a nature walk and do also do a skyway zip-lining. Then connect to Jinja crossing the bridge to the Eastern part of Uganda. Jinja is the second largest town/business commercial center after Kampala with plenty of excursions to engage in for just a day. Late afternoon, connect to explore the source of the Nile and go for sunset boat cruise on Lake Victoria. Return to meet your driver to drive back to your lodge and rest from the busy exciting day.
Estimated distance: 2-3 hours drive.
Accommodation and meals: Nile Resort/2 friends Jinja/Gately on the Nile – Full board
Day 3: Rafting and transfer to Sipi falls
After breakfast, meet up with your driver to take you at the starting point for a briefing about rafting from the experts. Then proceed for your half day rafting activity and there after drive connecting to Far East in Kapchora district. Arrive late afternoon and connect to your lodge to rest.
Estimated distance: 5-6 hours
Accommodation and meals: Sipi River lodge/Lacam lodge/Noah’s Ark
Day 4: Visit Sipi falls
After enjoying your delicious breakfast, drive to the Sipi falls offices register and get a guide for the Sipi falls hike. Sipi falls has 3 falls at Mount Elgon foothills that stretch to 85m, 75m and 100m accordingly. Hiking to the falls comes with a chance to interact with the community staying near the falls. Depending on your fitness, you will visit all the 3 falls or visit 2 falls and then return to your lodge later for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above. Sipi River lodge/Lacam lodge/Noah’s Ark
Day 5: Transfer to Kidepo
Wake up early, have breakfast and check-out of the lodge to proceed on your tour to the far North Eastern part of Uganda- Kidepo valley national park. This is a full day drive with en route lunch in Moroto town and stretching abit. Arrive in Kidepo later afternoon and check-in your lodge to rest from a long scenic drive of mou
Enjoy breakfast and visit the Narus valley intains, people and vegetations.
Estimated distance: 7-8 hours drive
Accommodation: Apoka Safari lodge/Kidepo Savannah lodge/UWA Bandas
Day 6: All day at Kidepon search for the wild cats and other animals. Kidepo is best known for cheetahs so on a lucky day you will be able to see them and other animals like the leopards, lions, buffaloes, elephants and antelopes. The park has great observation points with binoculars and you will be happy to use them.
Return to the lodge for lunch and unwind a bit before embarking on a drive to Kidepo valley close to south Sudan boarder to visit the hot springs and encounter different bird species especially “Ostriches”. Return to the lodge in the evening as you wait for dinner to be served and spend another night at lodge as above. Apoka Safari lodge/Kidepo Savannah lodge
Day 7: Transfer to Murchison falls
Wake up very early and after your breakfast, drive through Narus valley for missed animals briefly and then proceed to embark on your journey to Murchison falls National Park. You will arrive in Gulu town at good time for lunch and also stretch a bit before you proceed to Murchison. Arrive in the park early evening and connect to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Estimated distance: 7-8 hours
Accommodation and Meals: Paraa Safari lodge/Pakuba safari lodge/Fort Murchison lodge- Half board
Day 8: Boat cruise, hike to the falls and evening game drive
After breakfast, connect for the 9am boat cruise to the bottom of the Murchison falls, along the Nile which will give you an exciting panoramic view at the bottom of the mighty Murchison falls. Along the cruise, you will encounter crocodiles, hippos, and birds on the river banks like kingfisher, cormorants and bee-eater.
After viewing the falls at the bottom, you will hike up to find the falls at the top. This hike is a bit tuff but it’s fascinating as you will enjoy to see the falls at different points and finally when you reach at the top of the falls, you will be amazed. Spend a good time at the top of the falls before meeting your driver to return to your lodge for lunch.
Later in the evening, do a game drive to also explore the parks beauty and be sure to see animals like the giraffes, buffaloes, Jackson’s hartebeest, Oribi, Uganda kobs and on a lucky evening, you will see the leopards, lions and also the hyenas. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above. Paraa Safari lodge/Fort Murchison lodge/Pakuba lodge
Day 9: Transfer to Kibale
After enjoying your breakfast, you will meet your driver to proceed on your safari to Kibale forest national park in Kabarole district. It’s a full day drive so you will have en route lunch along the way. Arrive late afternoon and proceed to your lodge to refresh, dinner will be served and spend a night.
Estimated distance: 7-8 hrs
Accommodation: Kyaninga lodge/Chimpanzee Forest Guest house – half board
Day 10: Chimpanzee tracking
Have early breakfast and transfer to the park head office for a briefing about the endangered chimpanzees and later enter the forest with the guidance of a park ranger along with your tracking gears, packed water and snacks. This tracking takes about 2-5 hours in search of the chimpanzees depending on the movement of the chimpanzees. On finding the primates, you will spend 1 hour with the creatures while studying their behavior and taking pictures. After tracking, return to the lodge for lunch and refresh. Spend the rest of the evening at leisure. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above on full board
Day 11: Bigodi wetland visit – Queen Elizabeth national park
After your breakfast, the driver will take you for a nature walk at Bigodi wetland where you will enjoy the silence but only the whispers and sounds of birds, Bigodi wetland is where you will experience a lot of bird life and unspoiled nature and if you are good at birding, this is a great place to spot various bird species. Return to have your lunch, refresh and later afternoon embark on a 3 hours drive to Queen Elizabeth national park, en route equator, enter the park and drive to your lodge.
Accommodation and meals: Mweya Safari lodge/Parkview Safari lodge/Pumba safari cottages
Day 12: Lion tracking and boat cruise
Wake up early and meet with your guide to go for lion tracking, this activity allows you to go off track to find lions and viewing them closely. This will end at about 7am, have breakfast then connect for a game drive in Kasenyi area where you will also encounter other animals like the buffaloes, elephants, waterbuck, Uganda Kob and other types of antelopes. Then go back for lunch.
Afternoon, go for a 3 hours launch cruise along the Kazinga Channel into Lake Edward, this cruise will let you pass through a place of the highest concentration of hippos and you may also see many animals drinking at the water’s edge. The cruise also offers good platform for photography, bird watching and games. Dinner and overnight stay at as above
Day 13: Transfer to Bwindi
Wake up early, enjoy your breakfast and depart the park connecting to Bwindi Impenetrable national park in Kisoro district. Arrive at your lodge at good time for lunch. Later afternoon after relaxing, you will go for an optional community tour where you will learn and be entertained by the local people around the park. Return to the lodge in the evening for dinner and overnight stay.
Estimated distance: 5-6 hours
Accommodation and Meals: Mahogany springs lodge/Ichumbi Gorilla lodge- Half board
Day 14: Gorilla trekking
Have breakfast and transfer you to park offices for briefing about Mountain Gorilla trekking by a local guide. The time taken is usually between 2-8 hours depending on the movement of the gorillas. Meeting the gorillas unexpectedly is one of the most captivating lifetime experiences. You will have a chance to observe and take pictures at very close range. You will observe adults feeding and groaning among themselves. After an hour with the long-awaited gorillas, your guide and rangers will lead you back to the starting point where your driver will readily be waiting to transfer you back to the lodge. Depending on the time you return from the trekking activity, you may do an optional community tour. Have dinner and overnight stay as lodge above on full board
Day 15: Community tour – Kisoro
You will have breakfast and embark on one of the many optional adventures in Bwindi including Batwa experience, guided forest walk or a tour of the villages around the Park. Have lunch and in the evening, drive to an accommodation near kisoro to spend a night bringing you closer to Mgahinga national park and also have your dinner.
Accommodation and meals: Lake Mutanda Resort/Travelers’ Rest Lodge – Half board.
Day 16: Golden monkeys tracking
After having early morning breakfast, drive to transfer to Mgahinga National Park-one of the parks on the Virunga Mountains, it’s an hour drive from kisoro. Upon arriving at the park, you will be briefed about the activity then set off to search for the primates. This activity takes about 2-5 hours depending on their movement. On finding the golden monkeys, you will be allowed to spend an hour with them while taking pictures and videos. Return to the starting point and meet your driver at the lodge.
Return for dinner and overnight at Lake Mutanda Resort/Travelers Rest Hotel
Day 17: Transfer to Mburo national park – night game drive
Wake up very early and drive to Lake Mburo national park, it’s a 5 hours drive arrival Mburo at good time for lunch. After having your delicious meal, you will go for a boat trip on lake Mburo and return to the lodge and rest.
After your dinner at the lodge, you will go for a night game drive along with a park ranger guide. Lake Mburo is one of the best places to view wildlife in the night. On a very lucky day, you will see the lions and leopards hunting or feeding. Return to the lodge to sleep.
Accommodation and Meals: Arcadia cottages/Lake Bunyonyi Eco-resort/Lake Bunyonyi Overland resort – Full Board.
Day 18: Transfer to Kampala & Departure
Enjoy your breakfast and check out of the lodge and drive out of the park to return either Kampala/Entebbe, en route at the Equator for picture moment. Arrive in Kampala at good time for lunch then proceed to Entebbe airport to find your flight to your next destination. End of tour.
