Best of Uganda Safari

Day 1: Entebbe

On your arrival at Entebbe International Airport in Uganda you will be welcomed by our representative and transferred for overnight to the hotel.

Accommodation at Cassia Lodge or Villa Kololo (comfort) or The Emin Pasha Hotel (deluxe)
Bed and Breakfast

Day 2: Entebbe – Jinja – Sipi Falls

After breakfast, meet your private guide and drive eastwards to Jinja, town on the shores of Lake Victoria where you find the source of the Nile, discovered by J. Speke in 1864.
Optional recommended: For lovers of water sports and nature, don’t miss the opportunity to go white water rafting along the river Nile for half day, one of the most exciting and safest in the world. You can also choose among other activities like “quad” riding, boat trips on the Nile, mountain bike cycling and horse riding. Lunch included.
Visit the source of the river Nile. Proceed to Mount Elgon at Sipi Falls. Dinner and overnight at lodge.

Accommodation at Sipi River Lodge or Lacam Lodge
Full Board

Day 3: Sipi Falls – Lira

After an early breakfast, you will trek through the Sipi Falls, characterised by four spectacular falls along the Sipi river, flowing down the Mount Elgon. The area is particularly panoramic with view of the Karamoja valley. The activity will take you through the daily life of a typical African village. Lunch and in the afternoon proceed the journey to Lira, one of the capital towns of the Acholiland, heading to Kidepo National Park. Stop over is made at the archaeological site of Nyeru Rock Painting near Kumi. Dinner and overnight at lodge.

Accommodation at Lilian Towers Hotel or Brownstone Country Guest House
Full Board

Day 4: Lira – Kidepo Valley National Park

After an early breakfast, the trip proceeds northwards to Kidepo Valley National Park. This park is named after the Kidepo river that marks the border between Sudan and Kenya. This is one of the most pristine wild places remaining in Eastern Africa. Lunch en route. Dinner and overnight at the lodge. Full Board.

Nga’Moru Wilderness Camp (comfort), Apoka Safari Lodge (deluxe)
Full Board

Day 5: Kidepo Valley National Park

After breakfast take a photographic game drive along the trails of the national park and explore the region of the Narus river valley. It is the most isolated national park in the country, but the few who make the long journey north through the wild region of Karamoja all agree that it is also the most magnificent. From Apoka, in the heart of the park, a savannah landscape extends far beyond the gazetted area, towards horizons outlined by distant mountain ranges. Kidepo contains one of the most exciting faunas of any of the Ugandan parks, with over 80 species of mammals, several of which are restricted only to Kidepo, such as cheetahs, striped hyenas and caracals. The bird list boasts over 465 species. A part from the game drive, a visit to the local Karimojong homestead or “manyattas” can be organized.

Nga’Moru Wilderness Camp (comfort), Apoka Safari Lodge (deluxe)
Full Board

Day 6: Kidepo – Gulu

After breakfast, last game drive or activity in Kidepo National Park. Proceed to Murchison Falls National Park, the biggest national park of Uganda. The distance is long therefore another stop over is needed in between. Lunch en route. Arrive in the afternoon in Gulu, dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Bomah Hotel or similar
Full Board

Day 7: Gulu – Murchison Falls National Park

After breakfast, transfer to Murchison Falls National Park. Arrive in time for lunch at the lodge. The first photographic safari is in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

Pakuba Lodge or Bwana Tembo Lodge (comfort), Murchison River Lodge or Paraa Safari Lodge (deluxe)
Full Board

Day 8: Murchison Falls National Park

After breakfast, you will embark on an early morning game drive to explore the savannah in the Northern bank of the Nile. You might see elephants, lions, buffalos, giraffes, waterbucks, oribis, bushbucks, spotted hyenas and leopards. Drive back to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, take another fascinating safari by boat along the magnificent river Nile to the base of the Murchison Falls. It is amazing the concentration of wildlife along the banks of the river Nile, including hippos and many crocodiles, plus a huge variety of birds species. The trip will end with the trekking to the “top of the falls”, where the river Nile creates a narrow canyon of thunderous water large only 7 meters and it drops for over 43 meters. Enjoy this magnificent nature and the rainbow from the water. Dinner and overnight at lodge.

Pakuba Lodge or Bwana Tembo Lodge (comfort), Murchison River Lodge or Paraa Safari Lodge (deluxe)
Full Board

Day 9: Murchison – Albertine Rift Valley and Fort Portal

After breakfast you leave the National Park heading southwest along the Lake Albert and Rift Valley escarpment, with breathtaking panoramic sceneries. Pass via Hoima the capital town of Bunyoro kingdom, one of the oldest in Uganda. Stop over for a cup of coffee and lunch en route. Drive to Fort Portal the capital town of Tooro kingdom which lies on the shadow of Rwenzori Mountains, the biggest mountain range in Africa. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

Primate Lodge (comfort) or Papaya Lake Lodge (deluxe)
Full Board

Day 10: Fort Portal – Kibale National Park – Queen Elizabeth National Park

After breakfast, today you go for a nature walk in the Kibale National Park to discover one of the most beautiful and the most varying tracts of tropical forest in the whole of Uganda. You will admire the tropical forest, and luckily meet the chimpanzees in their natural environment. Other primates you might see include black and white colobus, red tailed monkey and velvet monkey. After lunch, the journey through Uganda proceeds to the “pearl” of the national parks, Queen Elizabeth, which lies between Lake George on the East, Lake Edward on the West and the Rwenzori Mountains on the North. Have a game drive in the evening as you enter the park. Dinner and overnight.

Ihamba Safari Lodge or Enganzi Lodge (comfort), Kyambura Game Lodge or Mweya Safari Lodge (deluxe)
Full Board

Day 11: Queen Elizabeth National Park

After a cup of coffee, go for a game drive experience along the tracks of the national park, in the Northern side towards Lake George and Kasenyi village. You might see lions, elephants, buffaloes, spotted hyenas, waterbucks, Ugandan kobs, perhaps the leopard though it is shy and rare to be seen. Lunch. In the afternoon, take the most exciting safari by boat from Mweya peninsula along the Kazinga channel, one of the most popular sites in Uganda for its concentration of wildlife, bird’s life and opportunities for good photographs. Moreover, you will see plenty of hippos, buffaloes and elephants while drinking from the channel. In the evening short transfer to the Ishasha sector of the park. Dinner and overnight at hotel

Accommodation at Ishasha Jungle Lodge (comfort) or Ishasha Wilderness Camp (deluxe)
Full board

Day 12: Ishasha – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

After breakfast the exploration of the park continues to the Southern sector of Queen Elizabeth, called Ishasha. Take a game drive in search of “tree climbing lions” that can sometimes be spotted resting in the branches of the large fig trees in the area. See also herds of buffaloes, elephants, topi antelopes and more. Lunch. Proceed heading to the rain tropical forest of Bwindi which is the natural habitat for the endangered mountain gorillas. You will reach an altitude of up to 2300 m above sea level. The choice of the area for the “gorilla safari” depends on the availability and allocation of the permits. Arrive in Bwindi National Park for dinner and overnight.

Bwindi Engagi Lodge, Bwindi Jungle Lodge or Chameleon Hill Lodge (comfort) or Gorilla Forest Camp, Clouds Lodge (deluxe)
Full Board

Day 13: Mountain gorilla safari

In the morning you enter the rain tropical forest of Bwindi for the gorilla safari. The activity starts at about 8am and you will follow the ranger guides in a group of maximum 8 people. Bwindi forest in Uganda has a population of about 370 gorillas, which is half the world population according to 2007 gorilla population surveys. It is not possible to predict ahead of time just how long you’ll be hiking before you encounter a gorilla family. Some people spend as little as 40 minutes hiking before they come across gorillas, while others can spend up to several hours. For this reason, it is recommended that all gorilla trekkers be in good physical and mental condition. You’ll be allowed an hour of close contact with the gorillas once you have found them and you’ll be privileged enough to come within mere meters of a family of these rare and beautiful animals, observing their family dynamics and getting to learn a bit about each gorilla’s distinct personality in serene silence. The guide will organize a packet lunch. Once your time with the gorillas is done, you’ll return to your hotel. Dinner and overnight at your lodge.

Bwindi Engagi Lodge, Bwindi Jungle Lodge or Chameleon Hill Lodge (comfort) or Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge (deluxe)
Full Board

Day 14: Lake Bunyonyi – Lake Mburo National Park

After breakfast, transfer to Lake Bunyonyi and enjoy one of the most extraordinary wildlife and birding experience by boat as you cross the lake. The forested green islands on the lake are home to different species of endemic birds which the guide will help you to spot. Lunch. In the afternoon proceed to Lake Mburo National Park, the smallest of Ugandan National Parks. As you enter, go for a game drive in search of beautiful impalas, elands, topi and many antelopes, buffaloes, zebras. Dinner and overnight at lodge.
Accommodation at Rwakobo Rock Lodge or Mantana Mburo Tented Camp or Mburo Safari Lodge
Full Board

Day 15: Lake Mburo – Entebbe

After a last game drive in the park (or an optional nature walk in the park), the journey ends back to Entebbe. Lunch en route.

Suggestions and extensions

3 days to Ssese Island Bugala Island – see program below –
1 day Ngamba Island and Entebbe (first or last day) – detailed program available upon request –
1 day Semliki National Park (after day 8 or 9) – detailed program available upon request –
4 to 7 days trekking in Rwenzori Mountains – detailed program available upon request –
1 day trekking Muhavura mountain Virunga – detailed program available upon request -

EXTENSION to Ssese Islands Lake Victoria 3 nights:

Day 15: Ssese Islands in Lake Victoria

After breakfast, drive to Entebbe and board the ferry boat to the Ssese Islands on Lake Victoria. On arrival at Bugala Island and Lutoboka bay, the representative of the selected hotel will be there to welcome you. Late snack and dinner at lodge.

Accommodation at Brovad Sands Lodge.
Full Board

Day 16: Explore Ssese Islands

After breakfast and briefing from the guide, the resort will organize for you a full day trip by boat to explore other islands of the archipelago. You will stop over to see birds and forested islands. Ensure you have a packed lunch with you as well as sun cream protection, hat and insect repellent. Return to Bugala for dinner and overnight at lodge.

Accommodation at Brovad Sands Lodge.
Full Board

Day 17: On the beach at Bugala Island

This day you can relax on the sandy beach and swim on the lake. However, you can also choose among many optional activities offered by the resort, like sport fishing, cycling and nature walk to explore other areas of the islands and the rock caves.

Accommodation at Mirembe Resort Beach or Brovad Sands Lodge.
Full Board

Day 18: Entebbe

After breakfast you board the ferry boat back to Entebbe. Transfer to the International Airport.
Optional: if you have still some time, drive to Kampala for visiting handicraft markets, as well as visiting few cultural sites like Kasubi royal tombs or the art galleries.