First in the central part of the country, then to the east, north-east, and then southwest, before the central part marks the end of the adventure; what a perfectly organized trip. Visit the country’s top attractions and national parks; not omitting the fact of spending nights in amazing accommodation facilities, getting transported on a well tarmacked road and feeding on lip-smacking cuisines.
You will visit the source of the longest river on earth; river Nile; Mountain Elgon national park, Kidepo valley national park, Murchison Fall national park, Semuliki national park, Kibale Forest national park, Queen Elizabeth national park, Bwindi Impenetrable national park, and the freshening Lake Bunyonyi. You will track the mountain gorillas and chimpanzees, hike, watch the birds, game viewing, visit the local Batwa pygmies, spare hours for the Karamojongs people, explore the cities, and relax at Lake Bunyonyi. The trip starts and ends in Entebbe international airport.
Detailed safari.
Day 1: Pick up and Transfer to Jinja. Enroute Mabira Forest walk.
As the travel day and time gets at hand; our company representative will be at the place to pick you up for the adventure. He will brief you about the trip and then hit the road to Jinja- one of the newly created cities in the country. The route to Jinja is known for traffic jam, which enables visitors to uncover the behavior of Uganda drivers, traders and natives. You come across one of the oldest natural forests in the country; Mabira forest.
Also, feel free to buy the local roosted chicken, beef, and roasted banana (Gonjja) sold near Mabira area. Just after Mabira lays the Magical Jinja Bridge; this ushers you to Jinja city. You will have late lunch and a city tour if time allows, before checking in your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 2: Boat ride and transfer to Mount. Elgon National Park.
At daybreak, you will check out of the lodge for a boat ride at the Nile; the longest river on earth. On a boat, you will be taken to the source; a spot where the river Nile starts its three-month journey to the Mediterranean Sea in Egypt. This activity lasts for approximately 1 hour, followed by photo moments at the portrait of Mahatma Gandhi, and then en exit to Mountain Elgon national park near Mbale city.
You will have an Enroute lunch and enjoy the sight of many plantations, mountain Backdrops, and local homesteads. Check-in to the lodge for dinner and overnight upon arrival.
Day 3: Hike to Sipi Falls.
At sunrise, energies yourself with a cup of coffee, and then get to hike Mountain Elgon, all way to the powerful sippi falls at the slope. You will watch the plantations, bamboo plants, birds, primates, and the scattered homesteads at the base. Sipi Falls is magical, and you will take photos, relax, have lunch and bath if you so wish. You will return to the lodge late in the evening for refreshment, dinner and overnight stay.
Day 4: Transfer to Kidepo Valley National park – Nyero rock painting.
After breakfast early morning, you will check out of the lodge for a full day drive to Kidepo valley national park located in the far northeastern part of Uganda. There will be a stopover at Nyero rock paintings to first study the ancient writing and art, before proceeding with the drive, through the Karamoja plain lands, this part of the country where everything is natural and cultural.
Let it not surprise you seeing a grass thatched house, a half-naked person or elders gathered around one pot; because besides it being culture; the area is very hot and thus commands this way of life. You will arrive at the park late in the evening with a game viewing opportunity to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Game drive and a visit to the Karamojong people.
During daybreak, you will have breakfast, and visit the vast Kidepo valley, and its different corners; areas where you will chance to come face to face with the prey and predators in this region during the 3-4 hour game drive.
The tour guide will help in identifying the different species by color, name, height, and appearance as they feed, hunt, or relax. Lions, leopards, cheetah, different Antelope species, warthogs, ostrich, Buffaloes, and elephants among others call Kidepo valley home
Day 6: Transfer to Murchison Falls national park.
At sunset, head to the Apoka Viewpoint to first view the wilderness, fascinating sunrise, and the animals roaming or feeding at the savanna pasture. Thereafter enjoy a lip-smacking breakfast meal, followed by a full day drive to Murchison Fall national park; with an en-route stopover at Gulu city for Lunch. Call off the day at the lodge in the evening with dinner and overnight.
Day 7: Game drive and Launch trip to bottom of Murchison falls.
After breakfast, you will get to the Northern sector for a 3-4 hour game drive. Well guided, you will come to cross different mammals, birds, and plants, notably the elephants, Cape Buffaloes, warthogs, giraffes and many more, the Egyptian geese, lovebirds, cranes and Turacos; trees such as the whistling acacia.
You will have a lunch break, and refreshment, before proceeding for a boat cruise to the bottom of the falls. This is the most powerful waterfalls on earth, with permanent rainbow as you will see at the top once there is sunshine. Return to the lodge at sunset for dinner and a nap
Day 8: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park.
After breakfast; you will checkout of the lodge for a transfer to Kibale forest national park, a primate hub in the tourist city of Uganda – Fort portal.
The transfer lasts for about 5 hours, with amazing views of undulating hills, scattered homesteads and flourishing plantations. Lunch will come along the journey, as dinner is served at the Lodge in or around the park, before a nap.
Day 9: Primate trekking and Bigodi forest walk.
At daybreak, you will greet your intestines with a lip-smacking breakfast meal and then head to the park headquarters for a pre trekking briefing, and registrations. Depending on your trekking speed, Chimp trekking can last for approximately 1-6 hours, plus a maximum of one hour of watching them play, sing, and feed. Chimpanzees resemble humans in so many ways and have over 98% human-like DNA.
You will return to the lodge after this exercise for rest and lunch and then a visit to Bigodi swamp; a Ramsar site with a collection of primates, birds and the local natives carrying on with their daily chores. You will have sunset drive back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 10: Transfer to Semuliki national Park – evening bird watching and sightseeing.
After having a relaxed breakfast meal at the lodge, then you will bid farewell to your new friends and hit the road to Semuliki national park, a true birder’s haven. This journey has a lot to look out for from the start to the lodge.
Talk of the rolling hills, plantations, buzzing centers and many more. On arrival, check in for lunch, followed by a visit to the Sempaya hot springs; the same region with a good selection of bird species, and unique plant species. Retire at the lodge after all activities with dinner and a nap.
Day 11: Morning bird watching and transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park.
At birds call, you will check out of the lodge to catch up with them in the wild. Semuliki forest offers asylum to migrating birds, those endemic to the Albertine, and non-endemic. Some of the species you will watch include; the Turacos, sunbirds, the sought-after shoebill stock, crowned cranes and many more.
Thereafter return to the lodge for lunch, before checking out for a transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park; while traversing the rolling hills, vegetation and many more. Check-in at the lodge late in the evening for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 12: Game drive and Kazinga channel exploration.
Today; there will be a 3-4 hour sunrise game drive in the vast queen Elizabeth national park wilderness. Besides the commonly seen park residents; elephants, Cape Buffaloes, warthogs, the oribis, waterbuck, Uganda kobs, and many more, cats notably the leopards, lions, and hyenas are also present but only seen on a lucky day. Birds such as crested cranes, Turacos and Egyptian geese, primates and unique flora make up the list of what your eyes can come across.
After the game drive, you will have a bush breakfast, followed by an evening boat cruise at the Kazinga channel, as you watch the school of Hippos and crocodiles among others. At sunset return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 13: Tracking the Tree climbing Lions and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable national park
At daybreak, you will greet your intestines with a lip-smacking breakfast meal, followed by a drive to the Territory of the endangered mountain Gorillas; a rare species of apes only found in the continent of Africa. You will use the route via Ishasha sector; a region that necessitates tracking of the tree climbing Lions. There will be a three-hour game drive in this sector plus lunch before proceeding with the drive to the Buhoma sector.
Late check-in at the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 14: Gorilla trekking.
After breakfast, you will depart the Lodge very early in the morning for a rewarding Gorilla trekking experience; starting with registration and trekking exercise at the park headquarters by the park rangers. After being told the Trekking rules, what follows is the Ultimate trekking exercise; an activity that can last for roughly 1-6 hours, plus a bonus hour for watching the apes and asking questions.
After gorilla trekking, you will return to the lodge for lunch, followed by a free exciting evening. End the day with dinner and overnight.
Day 15: Batwa cultural encounter and coffee tours.
Midmorning, you will visit the Batwa pygmies; one of the shortest people in the world. Though trying to adapt to modernity; the Batwa have never known life outside the forest. Their forefathers breathe and fed in the Jungle; sleeping in the caves, covering with leaves, and feasting on plants.
This and more stories, will they narrate to you in this day’s exploration. Don’t feel shy to dance to the local songs, feed with them during lunch and donate where need be. Thereafter, you will return to the lodge in the evening for refreshment, dinner, and overnight.
Day 16: Drive to Lake Bunyonyi.
Start your day with a tasty cup of coffee early morning, and then checkout for a 2-3 hour drive to Lake Bunyonyi; a beautiful and Bilharzia-free lake; one of the deepest in the world, and dubbed the Switzerland of Africa.
You will arrive and enjoy a lunch meal, before spending the evening enjoying sunset, cool breeze and many more. There is liberty of selecting any other activity of your choice in the evening, notably bird watching or guided nature walk.
Day 17: Explore Lake Bunyonyi – full day.
After breakfast, you will depart the lodge to explore Lake Bunyonyi. This will be on a locally made boat, with a very knowledgeable guide, who will explain the significance of the 27 islands surrounding the Lake. Punishment Island is one of them, a place where the ladies who conceived or who were caught in sexual acts before marriage were disciplined and abandoned.
After the visit, you will return for lunch and then spend the evening either swimming or just watching beautiful landscape. End the day with a lip-smacking dinner meal and a nap.
Day 18: Departure.
Have a relaxed breakfast meal and then check out of the lodge for a departure to Entebbe international airport for a flight.
Enroute you will have a stopover at the scenic equator point to witness the demonstrations and many more experiments done by experts to prove the effectiveness of the magical equatorial line. You will still take this opportunity to enjoy lunch and take amazing photos.
