This 15 Day’s Expedition leads you to Uganda’s classic parks, tropical rain forests and country sides which will give you a taste of Uganda. It involves rhino tracking, gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking, game drives, bird watching, cultural experiences, sightseeing and so on.
Tour Overview
Day1 Arrival
Day 2 Shoebill tracking
Day3 Travel to Murchison Falls Via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Day4 Game drive and Boat Trip
Day5 Game drive and travel to Kibale Forest National Park
Day 6 Chimpanzee Tracking and Bigodi Swamp Walk
Day 7 Travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day8 Game drive and Boat Trip
Day9 Ishasha Sector
Day 10 Travel to Bwindi
Day 11 Gorilla Trekking and a Batwa community
Day 12 Lake Bunyonyi
Day 13 Travel to Lake Mburo
Day 14 Lake Mburo
Day15 Depature
Detailed Itinerary
Day1 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 Shoebill tracking
Have breakfast and then go for shoebill tracking in the Mabamba Swamp. Sail in a motorized boat and search for the rare shoebill stalk. This is the most sought for bird by birdwatchers around the globe. Enjoy a local lunch and then relax at your lodge.
Meal plan- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation- Papyrus Guest House
Day3 Travel to Murchison Falls Via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Your safari guide will meet you in the morning after breakfast and trasfer you to Murchison Falls National Park.On the way, you are to do rhino tracking at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. This is clearly 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 also drive to the Top of the falls. This is where you will see how the Nile moves into a 6meter wide gorge and also formsthe Murchison Falls.
Meal plan- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation- Pakuba Safari Lodge
Day4 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 notably the world’s most powerful falls. While on the boat trip expect to see hippos, elephants,crocodiles, buffalos and also antelops, many water birds and so much more. You then return to your lodge to relax.
Meal plan- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation- Pakuba Safari Lodge
Day5 Travel to Kibale Forest National Park
Wake up early for breakfast and then travel to Kyanyanchu 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 behavior and then return to your lodge to relax.
Meal plan- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation-Chimpnest Safari Lodge
Day 6 Chimpanzee Tracking and Bigodi Swamp Walk
Wake up early for breakfast and then travel to Kyanyanchu 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 behavior and then return to your lodge to relax.
In the afternoon, you are to go for a guided 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 7 Travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park
After a mighty breakfast, you are to travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park. You drive through the Kasenda crater lakes region and your guide will identify some of the lakes. The whole journey overlooks the
mountains of the moon, also known as Rwenzori by the locals. The journey takes close to three hours and arrival will be in the
afternoon. Have lunch and later enjoy an evening game drive in the Kasenyi sector. Look out for elephants, buffaloes, Kobs, leopards, etc. This area is a mating ground for kobs and therefore, a good area to spot the African savanna lions.
Meal plan- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation-The Bush Lodge
Day8 Game drive and Boat Trip
We wake up for early breakfast and embark on a morning game drive to search for the early risers. The game drive lasts for 3 to 4 hrs. and ends at the shores of Bunyampaka Salt Lake.
We then return to the lodge for a lunch break and go for an afternoon private 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-The bush lodge
Day9 Ishasha Sector
Have 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. They tend to climb fig trees in the afternoons for some reasons you will get to know. Other animals to see on this game drive include elephants, buffaloes, kobs, Topi, waterbucks and so on.
Meal plan- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation- Enjojo Lodge
Day 10 Travel to Bwindi
We eat breakfast and then a travel to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. This is home to more than half of the world’s only surviving mountain gorillas. Other mammals such as black and white colobus monkeys, L’hoest monkeys, forest elephants and so on roam the forest. Arrival at your safari lodge will be in the afternoon.
Meal plan- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation-Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge
Day 11 Gorilla Trekking and a Batwa community
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 12 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 several optional activities which include swimming, birdwatching, visiting some of the legendary islands on the lake, visiting a Batwa community and so on.
Meal plan-Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation-Arcadia Lodges
Day 13 Travel to Lake Mburo
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 Lodge
Day 14 Lake Mburo
After a morning breakfast you will embark on a morning game drive in search for early risers like lions, leopard elephant, many antelopes among others. From there you will return to your hotel for lunch and relaxation. In the afternoon you have an option to take on any optional activity of your choice for example safari walk, bike safari, horseback safaris, boat 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 15 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
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 700)
1 chimpanzee permit per person (valued at USD 200)
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.
ENJOY YOUR SAFARI!