14 days (13 nights) Express Grand Uganda Vacation. Murchison Falls National Park, Kibale Forest National Park, Semliki National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, Lake Bunyonyi, Lake Mburo National Park, Ssesse Islands, Kampala City and Jinja Tour.
Day One Your driver/guide will pick you from your hotel at 08:00 am (meet and greet) then start your drive to Murchison Falls National Park with a stop over for lunch while en route. Murchison falls National Park covers 3,840-sq km and has recorded 76 mammal species and 450 bird species. The altitude is 619 m at the delta and 1,292 m at Rabongo Hill. The mean temperature is 29 ºC-high and 21 ºC-low.
Arrive at Paraa then drive to the “Top of the Falls” for a breathtaking sight of the raging Nile as it forces its way through a rocky gap barely six meters wide. Transfer to Red Chilli Camp for dinner and over night stay or alternatively you can take a ferry to the northern bank of the River Nile and stay at Paraa Safari lodge. Day Two
Start the day with an early morning game drive where in search of those animals that are unique to the African Savannah like giraffe, antelope, lion, elephant, and the Uganda kob. The bird life is also impressive, with the eagle being one of the prized sightings and the rare shoebill.
During your game drive request your guide to show you the Congo Blue Mountains, on a clear morning. After lunch, you will go for a launch cruise on the Nile River. The cruise takes you to the Bottom of the thundering falls where you will see huge crocodiles, schools of hippos, buffaloes, elephants and a variety of water birds like herons, cormorants, ducks, bee-eaters, kingfishers, skimmers, fish eagles and sometimes the rare shoebill. Day Three
After early breakfast, drive to Fort portal with lunch enroute. You will drive through traditional homesteads and farms and this will enable you enjoy the beautiful scenery across that part of the country. Dinner and overnight at Ndali Lodge/ Primate Lodge/ Mountains of the Moon Hotel / Fort Motel/ Toro Resort. Day Four
Go for an early morning chimpanzee viewing in Kibale National Park. After lunch have an early afternoon nature walk to view the butterflies and other insects. Visit the tropical swamps and their vegetation. Have a chance of seeing some water birds. Have an evening tour of the crater region, visit “top of the world’’, the natural bridge and a view of the snow cap on the Rwenzori on a clear day. Dinner and over night stay at Ndali Lodge/ Primate Lodge/ Mountains of the Moon Hotel / Fort Motel/ Toro Resort. Day Five
Visit the Semliki National Park. This park has fantastic scenery, hot springs, forest jungle walk, birding, primates viewing and River Semliki meanders. At “Mungu Ni Mukubwa’’while in the mountains, the road offers scenic views of the meandering river, fuming hot springs and tropical rain forest. Visit the Bambuti (pygmy) community. Have a picnic lunch at the Sempaya hot springs and then drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park viewing the mystical Rwenzori Mountain range for much of the journey. Dinner and overnight stay at Mweya Safari Lodge / Jacana Safari lodge / Ecology Institute Hostel. Day Six
Rise before the sun and drive to Kyambura Gorge for a thrilling Chimpanzee safari. Your guided walk may last three to five hours and in addition to seeing the chimps, the trip may yield sightings of the colobus monkeys, baboons, red tailed and vervet monkeys, and other primates. It is important to note that the chimpanzee safari is subject to availability of permits and good weather because occasional flooding can make the trails impassable.
Return to the lodge for lunch and take an afternoon Launch cruise on Kazinga Channel one that joins Lakes Edward and George. The cruise is a wonderful way to see hippo, buffalo, kob and the occasional Nile crocodile (which up until recently did not inhabit this area) and a spectacular bird watching on the water bank. Many who experience the launch cruise consider it the high light of their entire African safari. Return for dinner and overnight stay at the Mweya Safari Lodge/ Jacana Safari Lodge/ Ecology Institute Hostel or Mweya. Day Seven
Rise very early for a morning game drive to catch-up with the early risers and predators returning to their hideouts. You will most likely meet the grazing Hippos, Elephants, and Uganda Safari Lions, spotted Hyenas, bush buck, water buck, stripped jackal, comical warthogs and the elusive leopard.
Drive further along the deep and wide dry craters that are occupied by savanna grasses and acacia. The drive takes you through the unique western rift valley escarpment and the (southern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park) Ishasha sector. Lunch break then take on yet another game drive in search of tree climbing lions. Dinner and over night stay at Ishasha Wilderness Camp / Ishasha Bandas.
Day 8: Early break, fast then take on another game drive in search of tree climbing lions then proceed to Bwindi where you will arrive in time for a late lunch. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home of the rare mountain gorillas. Apart from gorillas, there are a wide variety of primates to see including the blue and red tailed monkeys. The forest itself is lush and green and there are streams running through it. Dinner and overnight stay at Buhoma Homestead / Buhoma Community Rest Camp (Bandas). Day Nine
After breakfast set off early with guides to track the gorillas. The thrill of your encounter will erase the difficulties of the potentially strenuous trek. Bring jungle boots and rain jackets because the park is often wet. Spend time in awe watching the gorillas go about their activities. Each gorilla safari encounter is different and has its own rewards, but you are likely to enjoy the close view of adults feeding, grooming and resting as the youngsters frolic and swing from vines in a delightfully playful display. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is a magnificent green swathe of dense rainforest, so ancient that survived the last ice age. A recently proclaimed World Heritage site, its one of the most biologically diverse areas on earth and its unique, precious flora sustains roughly half of the world population of mountain gorillas – believed to number just 600. There’s also a substantial chimpanzee population and research shows that Bwindi is the only forest in Africa in which these two apes live together. Return to camp exhilarated to relieve the encounter with friends over a drink. Dinner and overnight at Buhoma Homestead / Buhoma Community Rest Camp (Bandas). Day Ten
After an early breakfast transfer to Lake Bunyonyi in Kabale. Lunch break then take on afternoon boat ride to some of the islands on the lake. Dinner and overnight stay at Bunyonyi Overland Resort / Arcadia Cottages / Heritage Lodge – Habuharo Island. Day Eleven
After breakfast, drive to Lake Mburo National park. Arrive in time for a boat ride on the Lake. The presence of Lake Mburo within the park is a blessing worth mentioning. The lake is rich with a diversity of animal and plant species which will be viewed clearly as you are on the boat trip. Expect to see hippopotami and birds like African Fin foot, Pelicans, Black crake, Heron, cormorant, fish eagle; you may also sight the rare Shoebill Stork. You can opt to take on a short nature walk after the boat ride. All these will furnish your visit with pride. Dinner and over night stay at Rwonyo Camp / Mantana Tented Camp. Day Twelve
After an early breakfast, take on a morning game drive. Lake Mburo National Park is a very special place; every part of it is alive with variety, interest and colour. It contains an extensive wetland. You are likely to see elands, impalas, waterbucks, warthogs, topis and zebras. Thereafter transfer to Bukakata and cross to Bugala Island by ferry for dinner and overnight stay at Palm Gardens Beach – Kalangala / Ssese Islands Club / Mirembe Resort. Day Thirteen
Early morning nature walk, boat ride (optional) or half day fishing (optional). Dinner and overnight Ssese Island. Day Fourteen
After early breakfast drive to Kampala with packed lunch. Arrive around noon and either take on a city tour or proceed to Jinja where you will be able to visit the Source of the Nile, Bujagali falls or take on half day water rafting (optional) before returning to Kampala where you will be dropped off.
All our Uganda tours begin in Kampala. Airport pickups or drop offs are provided at $40 per journey. Accommodation of your choice will be arranged on arrival and if necessary prior to your departure. Executive, mid-range and budget facilities are all available in Kampala and Entebbe. We are more than happy to prepare tailor made itineraries for clients with specific interests or needs. Those that wish to combine certain aspects of our existing tours or wish to spend additional time in certain locations on any of these tours may correspond with us through our online reservations form on this site. Our Uganda Safari Prices for any of our programs will be communicated on request.
All our Uganda tours begin and end in Kampala. Airport pickups or drop offs are provided at $60 per journey. Accommodation of your choice will be arranged on arrival and if necessary prior to your departure. Executive, mid-range and budget facilities are all available in Kampala and Entebbe. We are more than happy to prepare tailor made itineraries for clients with specific interests or needs. Those that wish to combine certain aspects of our existing tours or wish to spend additional time in certain locations on any of these tours may correspond with us through our online reservations form on this site. Our Uganda Safari Prices for any of our programs will be communicated on request.
