12 DAYS UGANDA SAFARI
This 12 Day’s Expedition leads you to Uganda’s classic parks, tropical forests which will give you a taste of Uganda. It involves, rhino tracking, gorilla tracking, chimpanzee tracking, golden monkey trekking, game watching, bird watching, sightseeing and so on.
TOUR OVERVIEW
Day 1 Arrival
Day 2 Travel to Murchison Falls National Park
Day 3 Game drive and Boat trip
Day 4 Travel to Kibale Forest National Park
Day 5 Chimpanzee Trekking and Travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 6 Game drive and Boat Trip
Day 7 Game drive in Ishasha and travel to Bwindi
Day 8 Gorilla Trekking
Day 9 Travel to Lake Bunyonyi
Day 10 Travel to Lake Mburo National Park and evening game drive
Day 11 Morning game drive and optional activities
Day 12 Depature
DETAILED ITINERARY
Day 1 Arrival
On arrival at Entebbe airport, you will be welcomed by your safari guide from Mandela Safari Holidays and transfer you to your Hotel in Kampala or Entebbe.
Meal plan- Dinner
Accommodation- Papyrus Guest House
Day 2 Travel to Murchison Falls National Park
Your safari guide will meet you in the morning after breakfast and give you a short briefing about the whole tour and then travel to Murchison Falls National Park.
On the way, you are to do rhino tracking at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. This is the only place to see rhinos in the wild in Uganda. You track rhinos on foot under the guidance of an expert guide. We then continue to Murchison falls National Park and drive to the Top of the falls. This is where you will see how the Nile moves into a 6meter wide gorge and forms the Murchison Falls.
Meal plan- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation- Sambiya River Lodge
Day 3 Game drive and Boat trip
Have breakfast and then start your game drive in search for elephants, giraffes, lions, buffalos, leopards and so on. Spend the morning exploring the Buligi track, Albert track, Queen’s track, the Nile Delta and so on. You will have a lunch break and later go for a boat safari on the Nile River. The intention is that you see the bottom of the Murchison Falls. Here the Nile River is forced into a narrow gorge and forms the loud Murchison falls. This is the world’s most powerful falls. While on the boat trip expect to see hippos, elephants, crocodiles, buffalos, antelopes, many water birds and so much more. You then return to your lodge to relax.
Meal Plan- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation- Sambiya River Lodge
Day 4 Travel to Kibale Forest National Park
Having had breakfast, travel to Kibale Forest, the primate capital of the world. The forest is home to 13 primate species including the chimpanzee, blue monkeys, nocturnal portal, bush babies, and so on. It is also home to several species of butterflies. Arrive at your lodge in the afternoon
In the afternoon, you have an option to go for a Bigodi Swamp Walk which might give you an opportunity to see some other primate species including black and white colobus monkeys, olive baboons, vervet monkeys, blue monkeys and so on. This is also a Ramsar site for bird watchers. Species to see include the African fish Eagles, kingfishers, herons and so on. You end this walk with a village walk led by a local guide.
Meal plan – breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Accommodation- Chimpnest Safari Lodge
Day 5 Chimpanzee Trekking and Travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Wake up early for breakfast and then travel to Kanyanchu Park headquarters where you will be briefed about the dos and don’ts of chimpanzee tracking. You then enter the tropical rainforest as you search for man’s closest relatives, the chimpanzee. Having encountered them, enjoy a full hour observing their behaviour and then travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The journey overlooks the Rwenzori mountains and takes you through the Kasenda crater lakes region. Arrive at your lodge and relax.
Meal Plan- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation-Kikorongo Safari Lodge
Day 6 Game drive and Boat Trip
Wea wake up for early breakfast and embark on a morning game drive to search for the early risers.Look out for elephants, buffaloes, kobs, leopard, etc. This area is a mating ground for kobs and therefore a good area to spot the African savanna lions.
We then return to the lodge for a lunch break and go for an afternoon boat safari on the Kazinga channel. This is the water stream that joins Lake Edward to Lake George. It is said to have the highest concentration of hippos in the world. Expect to see elephants, buffaloes, crocodiles, waterbucks, monitor lizards and so on. This water stream is also a bird watchers paradise as it is home to several bird species including the pelicans, African Fish eagles, gulls, kingfishers and so on.
Meal plan-Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation-Kikorongo Safari Lodge
Day 7 Game drive in Ishasha and travel to Bwindi
Have early breakfast and then go for a game drive in Ishasha, the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. This area is famous for the rare tree climbing lions. Climbing trees is not a common habit in lions, so you will get to know why these cats tend to climb fig trees in this area. Other animals to see on this game drive include elephants, buffaloes, kobs, Topi, waterbucks and so on.
Proceed on to Bwindi Forest which is home to the remaining mountain gorillas.
Meal plan- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation-Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge
Day 8 Gorilla Trekking
On this day, you wake up very early, move to the park headquarters for paperwork and then get briefed about gorilla trekking before entering the Impenetrable Forest. Be ready to walk for one to six hours depending on where you will find the gorillas. Having encountered them, you will enjoy a full hour in their presence. The one hour you spend with the gorillas is unforgettable. The mountain Gorilla is the most powerful and muscular primate on earth.
In the afternoon you have an option to relax or do a village walk or visit a Batwa community.
Meal plan- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation- Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge
Day 9 Travel to Lake Bunyonyi
Have breakfast at leisure and then travel to Lake Bunyonyi. This is Uganda’s deepest and most beautiful lake. Relax at one of the resorts here and take part in a number of optional activities which include swimming, birdwatching, visiting some of tyhe legendary islands on the lake, visiting a Batwa community and so on.
Meal plan- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation- Arcadia Lodges Bunyonyi
Day 10 Travel to Lake Mburo National Park and evening game drive
After having breakfast, travel to Lake Mburo National Park. This is famous for large herds of zebras and impalas. Other animals to see include elands, waterbucks, buffaloes, giraffes and so on. Due to the scarcity of big predators, you can have a bike safari, horseback safari, walking safari inside this park. This evening, you have an option to do a night game drive giving you chance to see some of the nocturnal creatures.
You arrive in the afternoon, check into your accommodation, and relax
Meal plan- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation- Rwakobo Rock Lodge
Day 11 Morning game drive and optional activities
After having breakfast, travel to Lake Mburo National Park. This is famous for large herds of zebras and impalas. Other animals to see include elands, waterbucks, buffaloes, giraffes and so on.
Due to the scarcity of big predators, you can have a bike safari, horseback safari, walking safari inside this park.
You arrive in the afternoon, check into your accommodation, and relax. After checking in, feel free to take part in any of the optional activities. They include safari walk, bike safari, horseback safari. The absence of large predators such as lions makes Lake Mburo a perfect place to have these adventurous activities.
Meal plan- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation- Rwakobo Rock Lodge
Day 12 Depature
Wake up for a morning game and later drive to Kampala or Entebbe. You are to have a lunch stop at Kayabwe (Equator village) where you can also shop for some souvenirs for the trip. You will reach Entebbe in the evening, hence the end of the safari.
Meal plan-Breakfast and lunch
Accommodation- Not Included
HIGHLIGHTS
Rhino tracking
Game drives and game walks
Bird watching
Hiking to the top of the fall
Boat trips
Gorilla tracking
Chimpanzee tracking
Gorilla tracking
INCLUDED IN THE COST ARE
Airport Transfers
All meals
All accommodation
VZR Garant Financial Protection
Top of the Falls
All park entrance fees. Game ranger fee All game
drives.
Rhino tracking fees
1 gorilla permit per person (valued at USD 800)
1 chimpanzee permit per person (valued at USD 250)
Boat trips on the river Nile, and Kazinga Channel
4WD Safari vehicle (Landcruiser) suitable for game viewing
Enough Bottled drinking water while on safari
NOT INCLUDED IN THE COST ARE
Any activity marked optional in the itinerary.
Porter for chimpanzee and gorilla trekking (if you need one)
Flights
Visa fees
Tips
Drinks besides water provided in safari vehicle.
Packing list
A pair of waterproof trousers and jacket.
A hat
Insect repellent
Sunshine repellent
A pair of sunglasses
Personal camera
A pair of binoculars
Personal sleeping bag
Good hiking shoes
This safari program can be further personalized to meet your interests. Feel free to let us know where you need us to change. The accommodation suggested is available at time of making this itinerary. If not available at the time of booking, we shall switch to another accommodation of the same class.
ENJOY YOUR SAFARI!
