18 Days Uganda Safari

DAY TO DAY HIGHLIGHT

Day 1: Arrival & pick up at Entebbe international Airport

Arrival at Entebbe International Airport and meet your driver guide for pick up and drop off at the hotel in Entebbe or Kampala City. Entebbe is set not far from the scenic shores of Lake Victoria also an ideal location to chill on the first day in Uganda, the Pearl of Africa.

Day 2: Kampala – Jinja city

Transfer to Jinja from Kampala, driving eastwards and the Source of the Nile River is the main area of interest. En-route, drive via Mabira Forest, a natural rainforest lying between 2 great cities of Uganda –Kampala and Entebbe. Continue to Jinja to check in at the hotel or guesthouse, enjoy lunch and after, catch up with the sunset boat cruise on the source of the Nile River.

Expect to spend at least 2 hours exploring the Nile River while capturing amazing pictures of the sunset. From the sunset boat cruise, get back to your lodge and if time allows, your guide will take you around the craft markets and other sites within the city.

Day 3: Jinja to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

Your driver guide will pick you up at the hotel, and you set off to the northwestern part of Uganda. The 4-5 hours’ drive takes through Kampala-Gulu highway and branch off at Nakasongola to visit Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, the only place to find rhinos in their natural habitat.

Day 4: Budongo Forest – chimpanzee trekking experience

After a hearty breakfast, you will be briefed by the officials in Budongo Forest about the chimpanzee trekking regulations. About 700-800 chimpanzees exist in Budongo Forest and you will be exploring the habituated troops. As you look out for chimpanzees, you will also spotting other primates including olive baboons, red-tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys. This forest also inhabits nocturnal primates like forest galagos and pottos.

After the 2-4 hour chimpanzee trek, you will get back to the lodge for relaxation and enjoy lunch. From Budongo Forest, head off to the Northern section of Murchison Falls National Park but first visit the top of the falls.

Day 5: Game drive & launch cruise to the base of the falls

Start your adventurous game drive with an experienced guide and expect to see myriad of wildlife and birds. Expected sightings for the day include the Rothschild giraffes, cape buffaloes, elephants, lions, Jackson’s hartebeests, Uganda Kobs, bushbucks, oribis, grey duikers, Defassa waterbucks and birds.

You will return and have lunch at the lodge, relax till afternoon when you take part in a boat cruise excursion. On a guided boat cruise, keep eyes on the aquatic life such as hippos, crocodiles and birds like kingfishers, fish eagles, and others.

Day 6: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park

Pick up from your lodge and you set off for Kibale National Park, driving via Hoima-Fort Portal city. A brief stopover will be made in one of the restaurants in Fort Portal city, enjoy lunch and proceed to your respective accommodation facilities for relaxation and overnight stay.

Day 7: Chimpanzee trekking & Bigodi walk

Today’s morning will include briefing about chimpanzee trekking regulations and the park official will assign you the park guide. You will start the walk straight from Kanyanchu Visitor Centre or be dropped off by your driver to the starting point in the forest. The search for a habituated chimpanzee community takes 2-4 hours and includes one hour for up close and personal with chimpanzees in the wild.

The park guide will explain to you different body gestures displayed by chimpanzees, and how they behave as well as give you a chance to take photos. After your chimpanzee encounter, begin returning to the lodge for relaxation and enjoy a delicious lunch.

Bigodi guided nature walk will be done in the afternoon with a local guide. Bigodi protects about 8 primate species, and expect to come across l’hoest monkeys, grey cheeked mangabeys, vervet monkeys, blue monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, red colobus monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys.

Day 8: Kibale Forest – Queen Elizabeth National Park

Early in the morning, start your journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park driving via scenic route while you enjoy the views of the vast banana farms and the crater lakes plus the Rwenzori Mountain ranges.

Arrive early and as you connect to the lodge, keep eyes on the different animals as they roam. In the afternoon, you will continue with a guided game drive to see the large and small mammals plus birds.

Day 9: Game drive excursion & boat cruise

Embark on an exciting drive guided game viewing excursion in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Take the popular game track –Kasenyi and expect to see several of Uganda Kobs, African bush elephants, cape buffaloes, lions, leopards, warthogs and birds.

In the afternoon, you will have an addition of a guided boat cruise, an exciting recreational sport and enjoy sights of hippos, crocodiles and water birds like bee-eaters, pelicans, skimmers, and spoonbills.

Day 10: Transfer to Bwindi National Park

Following an early morning breakfast, drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park via Ishasha sector. In Ishasha, you will have a brief game viewing tour with focus to see the tree climbing lions and later, enjoy picnic lunch. You will continue straight to your lodge for relaxation and adequately prepare for your next adventure.

Day 11: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Forest & Batwa pygmy community walk

Early in the morning, assemble at Bwindi National Park offices to be briefed about mountain gorilla trekking guidelines. Begin your trek to see mountain gorillas at 8:00am with the park guide leading you and expect to take 2-6 hours with guarantee of 1 hour for up close and personal with these unique apes.

After observing how gorillas behave and taking photos, return to chill at the lodge till late afternoon when you will embark on a guided cultural tour in the Batwa community.

Day 12: Transfer to Mgahinga National Park

After breakfast, leave Bwindi National Park for Mgahinga Gorilla National Park home to both mountain gorillas and golden monkeys. Mgahinga Gorilla NP is the smallest park in Uganda and today, you will have a long day relaxing at the lodge.

Day 13: Golden monkey trekking. Overnight stay in Lake Bunyonyi.

Meet with the park official for briefing about golden monkey trekking guidelines. You will begin your trek through Mgahinga NP forest as you look for the beautiful golden monkey troops.

A maximum of 1 hour will be allowed for you to observe how golden monkeys behave and take pictures. In the afternoon, you will drive to Lake Bunyonyi for evening relaxation, enjoy refreshments at leisure.

Day 14: Canoe ride & community visit

After breakfast, embark on a canoe ride along Lake Bunyonyi with a local guide. You will enjoy the scenic view of the lake’s islands, 29 islands all exist on Lake Bunyonyi and today’s canoe ride may include visit one, especially the Punishment Island. As you ride on the lake’s waters, keep eyes on some of the birds and beautiful surrounding area with terrace farms. In the afternoon, you will pay a visit to the Bakiga community; get to know the unique cultures, traditions of Bakiga.

Day 15: Pick up, drive to Lake Mburo National Park

You will be picked up and driven from Lake Bunyonyi up to Lake Mburo National Park. Arrive early and relax at the lodge then in the afternoon, you may opt to engage in a guided game drive or remain at the lodge.

Day 16: Cycling tour & boat cruise

An adventurous cycling tour in Lake Mburo NP is a great way to spot different wildlife, interact with local people, admiring landscapes and exercising. You will be accompanied by local guide as you explore wonders of this park and its surroundings, including giraffes, zebras, elands and other antelope families. In the afternoon, join others on a memorable boat cruise excursion and you will be spotting lots of aquatic life like hippos, crocodiles and water birds.

Day 17: Game drive & cultural tour

Start your day with a memorable game drive using a 4×4 safari vehicle. Explore Lake Mburo N/Park’s diverse wildlife including leopards, giraffes, zebras, elands, topis and birds. After the 2-3 hours of exploring wildlife in the rich game tracks of Lake Mburo NP, get back and have lunch. Relax and later, visit the nearby community to learn different cultures and traditions in Ankole region.

Day 18: Guided walk & depart

In the morning you will have breakfast and later meet your guide for a guided nature walk. This on-foot walk experience allows you to enjoy a close encounter of wildlife in their habitat and after, you be transferred back to Kampala/Entebbe.

End of safari