This 18 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 gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking, game drives, bird watching, cultural experiences, sightseeing and so on.
TOUR OVERVIEW
Day 1 Arrival
Day 2 Shoebill Tracking and Transfer to Jinja
Day 3 Optional Activities in Jinja
Day 4 Transfer to Moroto and Visit the Tepeth Community
Day 5 Karimajong Cultural Experience
Day 6 Transfer to Kidepo Valley National Park
Day 7 Game drives
Day 8 Safari walk and Transfer to Murchison Falls
Day 9 Game drive and Boat Trip
Day 10 Visit Top of Falls and Transfer to Kibale
Day 11 Chimpanzee Trekking and Bigodi Swamp Walk
Day 12 Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park and Game drive
Day 13 Game drive and Boat Trip
Day 14 Game drive in Ishasha and Travel to Bwindi
Day 15 Gorilla Trekking
Day 16 Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
Day 17 Travel to Lake Mburo National Park and Evening Game drive
Day 18 Walking Safari and Transfer to Entebbe
DETAILED ITINERAY
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
Comfort– Via Via Guesthouse/Airport Guesthouse
Midrange – Papyrus Guesthouse/Pineapple Guesthouse
Luxury – Entebbe Forest Lodge/Hotel Number 5
Day 2 Shoebill Tracking and Transfer to Jinja
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. Have lunch and then start the journey to Jinja. Jinja is famously known as the adventure capital of East Africa and this you have to see for your self.
You will have a boat trip to visit the source of the Nile River. This is the point where the Nile waters begin their 90-day journey to the Mediterranean Sea. From there you will return to your hotel for lunch and relaxation
Meal plan- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation
Comfort- Kingfisher Resort Jinja
Midrange- 2Friends guest house Jinja
Luxury- Source of the Nile Hotel
Day 3 Jinja
After a leisure breakfast, feel free to take part in any of the many optional activities Jinja has for you, for example zip lining, kayaking, quad biking, fishing, white water rafting, bungee jumping, history tour, horseback riding, boat trip to the source of the Nile and so on. Some of these optional activities need to be booked in advance.
Meal plan- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation
Comfort- Kingfisher Resort Jinja
Midrange- 2Friends guest house Jinja
Luxury- Source of the Nile Hotel
Day 4 Transfer to Moroto and Visit the Tepeth Community
After a morning breakfast, you will embark on your journey to Moroto in the foot steps of mountain Moroto.Visit the Tepeth community,these are originally hunters and fruit gatherers who moved up in the mountain after the coming of the nomadic Karimajong people into the region.
Take part in preparation of traditional meals, sing and dance to traditional folklore. Learn to make traditional Karimajong beads and accessories.
Have a campfire and experience the ancient traditions of foreseers, listen to the stories of elders and play traditional Karimojong games.
Meal Plan- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation
Comfort– Karatunga Safari Camp
Midrange- Hotel Africana Mororto
Luxury -Hotel Africana Moroto
Day 5 Karimajong Cultural Experience
In the morning after breakfast, you drive to Lorukul cultural village where you will get a glimpse into the Karimojong culture. The Karimojong are known for being very primitive and have for long opposed civilization. They are pastoralists and you will know how important animals are to their day-to-day life. You will be given a tour of the typical Karimojong homestead to learn what they eat, how they entertain them selves among others
From there you will return to your hotel for dinner and relaxation
Meal plan- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation
Comfort– Karatunga Safari Camp
Midrange- Hotel Africana Mororto
Luxury -Hotel Africana Moroto
Day 6 Transfer to Kidepo Valley National Park
You wakeup for breakfast and travel to Kidepo Valley National Park. This is Uganda’s remotest park and also known as the true African wilderness. On the way, you are to visit Nakaperimoru village in Kotido. This is the largest traditional village in East Africa and home to the Jie Karimajong people. The visit involves trekking to a nearby rock formation where you can see the whole village from above and later go to the homesteads to know about their day to day life.
You go to check in your accommodation and watch the savanna plains from the comfort of your lodge
Meal plan- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation
Comfort– Karatunga Safari Camp
Midrange- Hotel Africana Mororto
Luxury -Hotel Africana Moroto
Day 7 Game drives
You will have a full day game drive in the Narus valley. This part has a high concentration of animals due to the presence of a permanent water source; the Narus River. You start early to catch the early risers such as lions, leopards, hyenas, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, elands and so on.
Meal plan- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation
Comfort – Apoka Rest Camp
Midrange – kidepo Savanna Lodge
Luxury – Adere Safari Lodge
Day 8 Safari Walk and Transfer to Murchison Falls
In the morning after breakfast , you will go for a walking safari, you walk on foot under the guidance of an expert game ranger. While most people explore parks while in safari cars, there is alot to discover on a walking safari. The game ranger will tell you more about Kidepo fauna and flora.
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
Comfort– Apoka Rest Camp
Midrange – kidepo Savanna Lodge
Luxury – Adere Safari Lodge
Day 9 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 morningexploring 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, antelops, many water birds and so much more. You then return to your lodge to relax.
Meal plan- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation
Comfort– Horbill Bush Lodge/Mama Washindi Lodge
Midrange – Pakuba Safari Lodge/Tilenga Safari Lodge
Luxury – Para Safari Lodge
Day 10 Visit Top of Falls and Transfer to Kibale
Start the day with a morning game drive and later drive to the top of the Murchison falls. Its one thing seeing the falls from the boat and another seeing them from above. This time you see them from above and see how the Nile River is squeezed into a narrow gauge. Very loud and powerful and thus forms the Murchison falls. You then 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 and relax
Meal plan-Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation
Comfort – Kibale Forest Camp (Safari Tent)
Midrange – Chimpanzee Forest Lodge
Luxury – Chipundu Lodge/Primate Lodge Kibale
Day 11 Chimpanzee Trekking 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 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
Comfort – Kibale Forest Camp (Safari Tent)
Midrange – Chimpanzee Forest Lodge
Luxury – Chipundu Lodge/Primate Lodge Kibale
Day 12 Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park and Game drive
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
Comfort – Tembo Safari Lodge/Pumba Safari Cottages
Midrange – The Bush Lodge/Buffalo Safari Lodge
Luxury – Mweya Safari Lodge/Elephant Plains Lodge
Day 13 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 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
Comfort– Tembo Safari Lodge/Pumba Safari Cottages
Midrange – The Bush Lodge/Buffalo Safari Lodge
Luxury – Mweya Safari Lodge/Elephant Plains Lodge
Day 14 Game Drive in Ishasha and Travel to Bwindi
Game drive through 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.
You later 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
Comfort – Ride for a woman/Ruhija Rest Camp
Midrange – Bakiga Lodge/Gorilla Mist Camp
Luxury – Mahogany Springs/ Gorilla Safari Lodge
Day 15 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.
While inside the forest, the baby will stay at the lodge with a babysitter.
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
Comfort– Ride for a woman/Ruhija Rest Camp
Midrange – Bakiga Lodge/Gorilla Mist Camp
Luxury – Mahogany Springs/ Gorilla Safari Lodge
Day 16 Transfer 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 the legendary islands on the lake, visiting a Batwa community and so on.
Meal plan- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation
Comfort – Eagle’s Nest Camp
Midrange – Hyena Hill Lodge
Semi Luxe – Rwakobo Rock
Day 17 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, there is an option to do 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
Comfort– Hyena Hill Lodge/Eagles Nest Camp
Midrange – Rwakobo Rock/Arcadia Lodges Mburo
Luxury – Mihingo Lodge/Kigambira Safari Lodge
Day 18 Morning game drive, optional activities and departure
After a morning breakfast you will embark on a morning game drive or take part in the available optional activities. These are walking safari, bike safari, bike safari or boat safari. You later checkout of the park and start the journey to Entebbe International Airport. Have lunch on the way, a stop at the equator and arrive at the airport in the afternoon hence end of safari.
Meal plan- Breakfast and lunch
Accommodation- Not Included
HIGHLIGHTS
Game drives and game walks
Bird watching
Hiking to the top of the fall
Boat trips
Gorilla tracking
Chimpanzee 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.
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.
ENJOY YOUR SAFARI!
