This 16 Days Uganda Safari Expedition leads you to Uganda’s classic parks, tropical forests which will give you a taste of the Uganda. It involves, rhino tracking, gorilla tracking, chimpanzee tracking, game watching, bird watching, sightseeing and so on.
Day 1 Arrival
On arrival at Entebbe airport, meet your safari guide from Mandela Safari Holidays who will welcome you to Uganda and then transfer you to your Hotel in Kampala or Entebbe. It is also on this day that you will be briefed about your whole tour.
Meal plan – Lunch and supper
Accommodation –Malakai Eco Lodge
Day 2 Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park
This morning, you will be met by your safari guide for transfer 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. The sanctuary is a paradise for birds, antelopes such as bushbucks, heartebeests, as well as other big game.
We then continue to Murchison falls National Park with a lunch stop at Kabalega Dinner Resort and arrival will be in the afternoon. We then check in the lodge and relax.
Travel time – approx. 7 Hrs.
Meal Plan – Lunch and Supper.
Accommodation – Pakuba Safari Lodge/Fort Murchison Camp
Day 3 Murchison Falls National Park
After having breakfast, you are to have a morning game drive in search for giraffes, water bucks, elephants, warthogs, hyenas, leopards, oribis and so on. Have a lunch break and get ready for the boat trip to the bottom of the Murchison Falls. Expect to see hundreds of hippos bathing, crocodiles, warthogs, antelopes, elephants, buffaloes, lions, hyenas and many more. This park is also home to over 350 bird species. You are advised to wear a hat and insect repellent to avoid bites of insects.
Hike with your guide to the top of the falls to see how the Victoria Nile plunges over 45 meters over the Remnant rift valley wall thus creating the amazing Murchison Falls. You will also be able to see the rainbow that appears on the top of the falls no matter what time of the day. We then drive to our lodge to relax.
Meal plan – Breakfast, lunch and supper
Accommodation – Pakuba Safari Lodge/Fort Murchison Camp
Day 4 Travel to Lake Albert
Having had breakfast at leisure, check out of Murchison falls National Park and move towards Lake Albert. Your next destination is Kikonko Lodge on The shores of Lake Albert. This is one the East African Great Lakes and was a very important feature in finding the source of the River Nile by the English Explorer John Speke and other members of the Royal Geographical society. Arrive in the afternoon and feel free to either relax or take part in any of the optional activities. These include; tracking chimpanzees in the nearby Bugoma Forest, mountain biking, visit the Kisaru tea estate, sunset walk, or bird watching. Overnight at this place is meant to break the long journey to Kibale Forest.
Meal plan – Breakfast, lunch and supper
Accommodation – Kikonko Lodge
Day 5 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. In the evening, you have an option to a walk in the Bigodi wetlands giving you a opportunity to see several bird and primate species. In the afternoon, you have an option to go for a Bigodi Swamp walk which might give you an opportunity to see some 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.
Meal plan – breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation – Turaco Tree Tops
Day 6 Chimpanzee Tracking
Wake up early for breakfast and then travel to Kyanyanchu Park head quarters 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 – Turaco Tree Tops
Day 7 Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
After a mighty breakfast, we travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The whole journey overlooks the mountains of the moon also known as Rwenzori by the locals. We are to have lunch on the Mweya peninsular and then a boat safari on the Kazinga channel in search for crocodiles, hippos, elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks, water birds and so on. This channel is a water stream that joins two lakes George and Edward and is known as a hippo paradise because it has the highest concentration of hippos in the world. We then drive to our safari lodge to relax.
Meal plan – Breakfast, lunch and supper
Accommodation – Buffalo Safari Lodge/ Ihamba Lakeside Safari Lodge
Day 8 Full day game drives
We wake up for early breakfast and embark on a morning game drive around Kasenyi sector to search for the early risers. This sector is known as a matting ground for antelopes and therefore a hunting ground for predator such as lions, leopards and so on. The game drive lasts for 3 to 4 hrs and ends at the shores of lake George. We then return to the lodge for a lunch break. We end our day with an evening game drive around Kabatoro sector which is known for large herds of elephants, buffalos waterbucks, and so on.
Meal plan – Breakfast, lunch and supper
Accommodation – Buffalo Safari Lodge/ Ihamba Lakeside Safari Lodge
Day 9 Travel to Ishasha
Have breakfast and then travel to 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.
Meal plan – Breakfast, lunch and supper
Accommodation – Enjojo Lodge/Topi Lodge
Day 10 Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable forest
We eat breakfast and then travel to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. This is home to more than half of the world’s only surviving mountain gorillas and other mammals. Arrival to your safari lodge will be in the early evening.
Meal plan – Breakfast, lunch and supper
Accommodation – Gorilla Mist Camp/Bakiga Lodge
Day 11 Gorilla Tracking
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 be given a full hour to associate with them. The one hour you spend with the gorillas is unforgettable. The mountain Gorilla is the most powerful and muscular primate on earth. Expect to see more wildlife since the forest is home to other creatures including the black and white colobus monkeys, L’hoest’s monkey, bushbucks, olive baboons, forest elephants, and many bird species. You will then be transferred back to your lodge to relax or visit a Batwa community. These are the original inhabitants of Bwindi forest.
Meal plan – Breakfast, lunch and supper
Accommodation – Gorilla Mist Camp/Bakiga Lodge
Day 12 Travel to Lake Mulehe
Have breakfast at leisure and then travel to Lake Mulehe to relax as you get ready for your golden monkey trek the next day. Your accommodation is situated on the shores of Lake Mulehe giving you an opportunity to go canoeing, swimming or visit a Batwa community.
Meal plan – Breakfast, lunch and supper.
Accommodation – Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge
Day 13 Golden Monkey Tracking
Wake up early for breakfast and then travel to Mgahinga Gorilla park. Arrive in time for briefing and then enter the forest to search for the rare golden monkeys. The trek will take anywhere from 45 minutes to six hours depending on where the monkeys will be on this day. Enjoy a full hour with the goldens and travel back to your lodge to relax.
Meal plan – Breakfast, lunch and supper
Accommodation – Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge
Day 14 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.
You arrive in time for an afternoon boat trip which gives you chance to see hippos, crocodiles, water birds, buffaloes and so on. You are to have a night game drive. A night game drive is very rewarding in Lake Mburo National park and gives you chance to see some of the nocturnal animals. Commonly seen animals include; leopards, aardvarks, hippos, porcupines and so on.
Meal plan – Breakfast, lunch and supper
Accommodation – Rwakobo Rock/ Arcadia Lodges Mburo
Day 15 Lake Mburo
Wake up for a morning game drive and an afternoon boat trip. You are to have a night game drive. A night game drive is very rewarding in Lake Mburo National park and gives you chance to see some of the nocturnal animals. Commonly seen animals include; leopards, aardvarks, hippos, porcupines and so on.
Meal plan – Breakfast, lunch and supper
Accommodation – Rwakobo Rock/Arcadia Lodges Mburo
Day 16 Transfer to Entebbe
After having breakfast, we start the journey to Entebbe to catch your flight. We are to have lunch on the way and arrival will be in the evening hence end of service.
Meal plan – Breakfast and lunch
Accommodation – Not included
Highlights of the 16 Days Uganda Safari
Rhino tracking
Game drives and game walks
Bird watching
Hiking to the top of the Falls
Boat trips
Tree climbing lions
Gorilla tracking
Chimpanzee tracking
Golden monkey tracking
Visiting a salt lake
Visiting a Batwa community
Cultural performance
Included in the 16 Days Uganda Safari
- Airport Transfers
- All meals
- All accommodation
- Hiking to the Top of the Murchison Falls
- All park entrance fees
- Game ranger fee
- All game drives
- Rhino tracking fees
- 1 gorilla permit per person
- chimpanzee permit per person
- 1 golden monkey permit per person
- Boat trips on the river Nile, Lake Mburo and Kazinga Channel
- 4WD Safari vehicle (Landcruiser) suitable for game viewing
- Visit to the Batwa community and cultural performances
- Visit to the Salt Lake
- Enough Bottled drinking water while on safari
- Contribution to the local community at Katwe Salt Lake (USD 10 per person)
Not included in the 16 Days Uganda Safari
- Porter for chimpanzee and gorilla trekking (if you need one)
- Flights
- Visa fees
- Drinks besides water provided in safari vehicle
- Tips
Packing list for the 16 days Uganda Safari
- A pair of water proof trousers and jacket.
- A hat
- Insect repellent
- Sunshine repellent
- A pair of sun glasses
- Personal camera
- A pair of binoculars
- Personal sleeping bag
- Good hiking shoes
Note that weather at Bwindi/Kibale is unpredictable; it can rain at any time.
While on site, we accept payments either in US Dollars, Euros, or Uganda Shillings.
A flying Air Balloon Safari in Queen Elizabeth can be arranged on request. (US Dollars 380 per person)
