Best of Uganda Safari - 18 Days Where do you go?: this safari takes you all around Uganda to visit Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi and Lake Mburo National Parks. Furthermore you can see the Source of the Nile and Bujagali Falls, Sipi Falls, Kasenda Crater Lakes and enjoy the scenery of Lake Bunyonyi in Kabale. The tour will end at the Ssese Islands of Lake Victoria (Bugala and Bukasa), where you can relax in the uncontaminated beaches.
What activities & attractions: during the safari expect to take the Gorilla tracking walk, the chimpanzee trekking, the nature walk to Sipi Falls. At the Source of the Nile you can try out the white water rafting. You will do a lot of birding and game drives in private vehicles along the parks trials. The boat cruise is organized in Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth, Lake Bunyonyi and Lake Mburo. Enjoy the navigation on Lake Victoria to Ssese Islands.
Who should take this Safari: anybody can join this tour itinerary, though the gorilla tracking can be generally the most demanding activity in terms of readiness to walk many hours in the rain tropical forest. You are expected to enjoy nature walk in original forests and trials. If you are an adventurer and sport person, you can enjoy the rafting on the Nile or sport fishing in the Ssese Islands.
When?: generally all the year long is possible to undertake gorilla tracking and game drives in Uganda. The dry seasons are most likely to guarantee a better road conditions in the parks. ITINERARY
Day 1 On arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be met by our representative who will transfer you to Kampala, Fairway Hotel or similar (C) or Ivys Hotel (B). BB Day 2 - The Source of the river Nile After breakfast drive to Jinja, which is the second largest town in Uganda. It is characterised by the Asian quarters, the brewery industries and the colourful gardens. Visit the Source of the Nile on lake Victoria, the monument of Gandhi, and then proceed to the “Bujagali Falls”, to view the spectacular rapids on the river Nile a few kilometres from the source. Optional: try the unforgettable emotion of the white water rafting, which is one of the main attractions in Jinja. Lunch at Bujagali, where fresh fish and local food is served. Afternoon drive to Mbale for dinner and overnight at Mount Elgon Hotel (C, B). FB Day 3 - The Sipi Falls After early breakfast go for nature walk to the Sipi Falls, four spectacular waterfalls on the river Sipi, which originates from Mount Elgon. The starting point is from Crow’s Nest, a camping and lodging site which organizes community projects and training of local guides. You will see the caves and the plantations of coffee, matooke and sugar cane. We ensure that you have packed lunch for the day. In the evening return to Mbale, for dinner and overnight at Mount Elgon Hotel (C, B). FB Day 4 - The rhinos of Ziwa sanctuary After breakfast, leave Mbale for Murchison Falls National Park via Kampala. On a panoramic drive Northwest you stop at Ziwa Rhinos sanctuary for a nature walk to see rhinos in their wild, a unique experience of Uganda. The journey is long but enjoyable as you go through the typical Ugandan homestead and farms. Dinner and overnight at Masindi Hotel (C) or Court View Hotel (B). FB
Day 5 - The marvelous Murchison Falls After breakfast proceed to Murchison Falls National Park, the largest protected area in Uganda, with 3.840 Kms, which is named after the falls on the Victoria Nile. Relax a bit at a situated site on the top of the spectacular falls, where you can see the Nile’s perfected beauty, and marvel as it compresses and squeezes itself from over 1 kilometer wide down through an 8 meter canyon. The 43 meter drop of the falls creates a thunderous roar and a beautiful rainbow in a plume of spray – the best thing to ever happen to the Nile. Lunch at Paraa Safari Lodge with unique view on the Nile. In the evening embark on a game drive on the Northern bank where you will be able to spot elephants, lions, cape buffalos, Rothschild’s giraffes, hartebeests, waterbucks, oribi, bushbucks, spotted hyenas and, if you are lucky, leopards. Dinner and overnight at Paraa Safari Lodge (C) or Red Chilli Rest Camp (B). FB Day 6 - The boat cruise on the river Nile After a cup of tea, embark on an early morning game drive in the park. Return to the lodge for breakfast. Relax at the swimming pool side. After lunch, you will safari upstream by boat to the calm Victoria Nile and the base of the falls just ten meters from the “Devil’s Cauldron.” There you can marvel at toothsome hippos, crocodiles and over the 17-kilometer stretch you may also see elephants, waterbucks and Uganda kobs. This is also the habitat of many bird species including goliath herons, Egyptian geese, pelican bee-eaters, kingfishers, Hombills, cormorants and the rare shoebill stork. Return to Paraa Safari Lodge (C) or Red Chilli Rest Camp (B) for dinner and overnight. FB Day 7 - Fort Portal at the foothills of the Mountains of the Moon After breakfast drive from Murchison Falls Southwest via the Albertine Escarpment of the Western Rift Valley. We ensure that you have packed lunch, drive through Hoima, the town of the Bunyoro kindgom, passing though verdant countryside, tea plantations and traditional homesteads. You arrive at the colorful and pretty town of Fort Portal, the capital of the Tooro kingdom, in the shadow of the fabled “Mountains of the Moon” (Rwenzori). Dinner and overnight at Fort Motel or Nynabulitwa Crater Resort . FB Day 8 - The boat cruise on Kazinga Channel After early breakfast, proceed to Queen Elizabeth National Park, following the mystical Ruwenzori Mountain Range most of the journey. On the way do not miss the beauty of the Kasenda Crater Lakes, which dominates all the surrounding areas with incredible panoramic views, arriving early for lunch at Mweya Safari Lodge, with its wonderful location on top of the Mweya peninsula. Enjoy the unique two hour boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel and into Lake Edward. This trip goes through possibly the highest concentration of hippos and many other animals may be seen drinking at the water's edge. This launch cruise offers an excellent platform for photography, bird watching and game viewing. The prolific bird life is colorful and stupendous with well over 550 resident species. Dinner and overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge (C) or Mweya Hostel (B). FB
Day 9 – Chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura After a cup of coffee embark on an early morning game drive along Kasenyi tracks and Queens mile in the park and expect to see lions, elephants, cape buffalos, warthogs, spotted hyenas, mangoose, waterbucks, kobs and, if lucky, the leopard, plus a lot of small animals and birds. Drive back to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge. Proceed for dinner and overnight at Savannah Hotel. FB Day 10 –The tree climbing lions of Ishasha sector After breakfast have a game drive on a search for the rare tree climbing lions which you can see only in this area of Uganda. Here lives a population of lions who enjoy resting on the fig trees when the day is warm. The landscape is open savannah with a variety of acacia trees. Proceed to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for dinner and overnight at Bwindi Gorilla Resort or Nkuringo Lodge (C) or Buhoma Community – Kisoro Tourist Hotel (B). FB
Day 11 -The encounter with mountains gorillas After breakfast, there is an early morning entry into the gorilla sanctuary of Bwindi Forest. The rainforest is spectacular as it offers a dramatic, heavily forested and dense landscape crisscrossed by numerous animal trails, allowing access for tourists. This park is best known for the fascinating mountain gorillas, where the time taken and terrain varies according to the movements of these marvelous primates. The thrill of spending time with and observing the gorillas is a rare, moving, awesome and exciting adventure. The gorillas are shy and peaceful animals and it is an unforgettable experience to watch and photograph them as they interact with each other. Dinner and overnight at Bwindi Gorilla Resort or Nkuringo Lodge (C) or Buhoma Community – Kisoro Tourist Hotel (B). FB Day 12 - The wonderful Lake Bunyonyi Take breakfast before making a scenic journey to Kabale through the beautiful terrain of the rolling hills with terraced landscape. An area referred as the "Switzerland of Africa”. Stopover at the Bakiga Museum in Kabale to discover the culture of the people living in the area. Lunch at Arcadia Cottages, with unique and amazing panoramic view of the Lake Bunyonyi, the deepest in Uganda. Afternoon boat ride inside the lake to various islands for bird viewing and sight seeing. Return to Arcadia Cottages for dinner and overnight. FB
Day 13 - Lake Mburo National Park After breakfast, you will drive to Lake Mburo National Park, the smallest in Uganda in size. Lunch in Mbarara at Lake View Regency Hotel. Afternoon game drive in search of the beautiful impalas, zebras, cape buffalos, elands, oribi and topi. Along with the game drive, many visitors also enjoy a boat trip on Lake Mburo. The park is a very good opportunity for bird watchers, who will enjoy more than 250 species of birds found here, including Papyrus gonoleks, Brown-faced lapwings, Carruther’s cisticolas, the extraordinary White winged Warbler and Bare-faced Go-away bird. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Brovad in Masaka. FB
Day 14 - The Ssese Islands of Lake Victoria After breakfast, drive to Entebbe to board the ferry boat which will take you to Ssese Islands, an archipelago of 84 islands on Lake Victoria. Meantime you can visit the wonders of the botanical garden in Entebbe. After lunch enjoy the navigation on the lake, which looks like an immense and peaceful sea. You reach the beautiful bay of Lutoboka, in Bugala Island, for dinner and overnight at Mirembe Resort Beach, with a magic location directly on the beach. FB Day 15 - The wild of Bukasa Island Early morning take a boat to Bukasa Island, the second largest. You will journey through the Ssese Islands and enjoy the beauty of the lake and forested islands. Explore Bukasa Island and have lunch at Victoria View Guest House. Return to Bugala by evening. Dinner overnight at Mirembe Resort Beach. In alternative: spend the night at Bukasa Island and return to Bugala in the morning. FB Day 16 - On the beach at Bugala Island Spend the day relaxing in the uncontaminated and transparent water. You will be surprise by such pleasant atmosphere. Optional activities: sport fishing, hire a bicycle to explore the island and the forest. Full board at Mirembe Resort Beach. FB Day 17 - Kampala City Tour After breakfast board the ferry boat to return to Entebbe. Spend the day at leisure and for your own shopping in Kampala. The city tour of the capital town can be arranged, to see the most relevant cultural and traditional sites of Buganda. Dinner and overnight at Humura Hotel or similar (C) or Ivys Hotel (B). Alternatively, reserved for afternoon and evening departure. FB Day 18 Reserved for the transfer to Entebbe International Airport. BB CHOOSE BETWEEN CLASSIC (C) OR BUDGET TARIFF (B)
The tariff includes: -Airport transfers - Full board accommodation - Ground transportation by 4x4 Land Cruiser or minibus -English speaking Driver/Guide - Entrance fees, taxes - “gorilla permit” and chimpanzee permit - Transportation to Ssese Islands with ferry boat The tariff does not include: - Air ticket. - Tourist insurance - Entrance visas: 50 USD directly from Entebbe Int. Airport. - Rafting - Extra drinks and tips. - Everything not directly mentioned in the programme itinerary.
