Looking for a unique experience?
Stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to visit the reintroduced white rhino. A unique experience in Kidepo Valley National Park, in addition to the expected park drive where you will see lions and other animals, you can enjoy activities such as hiking, sightseeing, bird watching excursions and rich culture of Karimajong.
Organizes bush safaris in Murchison Falls National Park and boat trips to Murchison Falls and the Victoria Nile Delta. There is quite a change in the delta to see the strange boot. Meet a close relative in Kibale Forest on a chimpanzee walk and see many bird and smaller primate species on a walk in Bigodi Swamp.
Look out for lions, leopards and Uganda’s unique koba on a safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park. See plenty of African buffalo, hippo, bushel and other mammals as you cruise the Kazinga Channel, but don’t forget to keep an eye out for birds and large Nile crocodiles.
Encounter a small group of chimpanzees in the pristine Kyambura Gorge and look out for tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha area.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: – Arrival in Entebbe
You will be picked by our driver/guide who will transfer you to Hotel Africana for overnight. He will brief you about the tour and what time to pick you on day 2.
Day 2: – To Kidepo Valley National Park
After an early morning breakfast, you will head off to KidepoValley National Park passing via Luwero, Gulu and Kitgum. You will have lunch in Gulu and then proceed Kidepo via Kitgum staying overnight at Kidepo Savannah Lodge. We a have opened this camp which is part of our Nature Lodges, the tents vary from shared bath and private bathroom facilities. Kidepo ranks among Africa’s finest wildernesses. From Kidepo Savannah Lodge just outside the national park, a savanna landscape extends in all directions, far beyond the gazetted area of 1,442km2, towards horizons outlined by distant mountain ranges. The rest of the day is for resting
Day 3: – In Kidepo Valley National Park
After an early breakfast you will head inside the Kidepo Valley National Park for a game drive. Kidepo ranks among Africa’s finest wildernesses. From Apoka, in the heart of the national park, a savanna landscape extends in all directions, far beyond the gazetted area of 1442km2, towards horizons outlined by distant mountain ranges. In the afternoon you will go for a cultural visit of the Karimajong tribe.
Day 4: – Whole Day Game drive plus hot springs
Start with an early breakfast and then go for a game drive along the trails of Kidepo Valley. The park inhabits one of the most exciting faunas of any Ugandan parks, with over 80 species of mammals several of which are endermic to Kidepo National Park like the cheetah, the striped hyena the caracal and over 465 bird species including the ostriches. In the afternoon visit the Karamojong village to learn more about their culture, music and dance Karamoja has a cattle culture and the Karamojong are notorious as cattle raiders. Unlike most other Ugandans, many Karamojong shun western-style clothes and instead wear “traditional” dress of a blanket -like shawl, often in red and black. The women wear elaborate beadwork.
Day 5: – To Murchison Falls NP
Early in the morning after breakfast, and then leave for Murchison falls national park the northern sector with lunch along the way. The park is bisected by the Victoria Nile, which plunges 45m over the remnant rift valley wall, creating the dramatic Murchison Falls, the centerpiece of the park and the final event in an 80km stretch of rapids. The mighty cascade drains the last of the river’s energy, transforming it into a broad, placid stream that flows quietly across the rift valley floor into Lake Albert. There are a lot of animals to see on your way to the hotel through the park such as elephants, giraffes and buffaloes; while hippos, Nile crocodiles and aquatic birds are permanent residents. We reach Fort Murchison just outside the park boundaries later in the afternoon. Here we will stay and with a cool drink and a fabulous view over the river Nile the evening will come with all the noise of an African night.
Day 6: – In Murchison Falls NP
In the morning we will go for the game drive, special are here the lions, giraffes, Elephants, Leopards, Uganda Kobs and many more animals… In the afternoon we have the impressive launch trip on the Nile to the Falls. Hippos, crocodiles, buffalo, elephants and many birds will be seen
Day 7: – In Murchison Falls NP
Early morning the boat will take us downstream to the delta. The place where the Nile enters Lake Albert. This trip of 5-6 hours will show us all the beauty of this national park especially the delta with all the different birds. Here is a good chance to see the elusive Shoebill stork! In the afternoon is a visit to the top of the Falls, a wonderful view.
Day 8: – To Kibale Forest NP
Early morning the boat will take us downstream to the delta. The place where the Nile enters Lake Albert. This trip of 5-6 hours will show us all the beauty of this national park especially the delta with all the different birds. Here is a good chance to see the elusive Shoebill stork! In the afternoon is a visit to the top of the Falls, a wonderful view.
Day 9: – Chimp walk and Swamp Walk
At 08.00 we will start with the 4 hours chimp walk. Also 10 other primates can be seen!! The park is also known for all the butterflies and birds. In the afternoon a walk through Bigodi Swamp (community based project)
Day 10: – To Queen Elizabeth NP
Early morning departure for Queen Elizabeth. Via Fort Portal we reach at midday Mweya in Queen Elizabeth NP with a stunningly beautiful view over Kazinga Channel. In the late afternoon we will make a game drive.
Day 11: – In Queen Elizabeth NP
This day is for a game drive on the plains of Queen Elizabeth with thousands of Ugandan kobs, lions, elephants etc. Also on the program is a two hours launch trip on the Kazinga channel where we will see all the animals from the waterside.
Day 12: – In Queen Elizabeth NP
Our second day in this beautiful park! Very early in the morning breakfast we go to Kyambura Gorge. Here you can go for a 3-4 hour walk in to the Gorge for meeting the chimpanzees. After the Gorge will drive to Ishasha Sector and have an evening gamedrive in search of the tree climbing lions.
Day 13: – To Kisoro
In the morning we leave Bwindi for Kisoro, the bad road takes us through a beautiful landscape called the “Switzerland of Africa”. We pass mountains,
hills and lakes with cultivated terraces and tropical rainforest and bamboo forest. On the last hill the landscape unfolds beneath us, in the vast plane of Uganda, Rwanda and Congo the Virunga volcanoes dominate the view. Down is Kisoro where we will stay in the famous Travellers Rest Hotel. Just outside Kisoro, this unique hotel offers a cozy stay for the tourists, who come to see the endangered mountain gorilla. The hotel, built in a somewhat colonial style, and entirely renovated in 1999, has a comfortable ambiance. In the sixties the famous American ‘gorilla-woman’ Dian Fossey visited Hotel Travellers Rest many, many times to do paperwork, to relax or to meet people. Fossey said about the hotel: ,,It was my second home.”
Day 14: – Gorilla tracking
This is the day of Gorilla tracking. From Traveller’s Rest Hotel Kisoro it is 1 hour by car to Nkuringo/Nshongi/Mishaya/Kahungye group in South Bwindi. At 7:45 A:M you will be at the Offices of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest for pre-briefing and at 8:30 you will start the trek after finding the Gorillas you will spend with maximum 1 hour. All visitors are expected back to the starting point by 7:00 P:M. Being physically fit is recommended.
Day 15: – In Kisoro
Here everybody can do individually (or in a group) activities.
With local organizations and the National Park we have developed a number of very interesting activities:
- 2nd Gorilla tracking in Rushaga
- Gorilla tracking in Rwanda (1 day) If tracking the second time client has to sleep in Rwanda the before the tracking date
- Climbing Muhavura Volcano (± 8 hrs; distance 12km; height 4127m; elevation gain 1700m; price USD $60 pp)
- Climbing Gahinga Volcano (± 6 hrs; distance 8km; height 3474m; elevation gain 1100m; price USD $40 pp)
- Sabinyo Gorge (± 4 hrs; distance 6km, no elevation gain)
- Climbing the Sabinyo volcano (Sabinyo has three peaks, you can climb all three in the same walk, you need to be fit!! ± 8 hrs; distance 14 km; height 3669m, elevation gain 1300 m; price USD $40 pp)
- In Magahinga to the viewpoint and Garama Cave (pygmy cave) (± 4 hrs; distance 1 and 4 km)
- Bird walk in Magahinga (start at 10 AM, it can take up to 4-5 PM)
- Several bicycle rides on mountain bikes. From 25km to 50km. The hills can be steep and tough!
- Cultural village walk (with a local guide walking through the land of the Bufumbira tribe)
- Walk to Lake Mutanda. Visit Python island and go canoeing on this beautiful lake.
- Or just sit and relax or read a book in the garden of Travellers Rest!!
Day 16: – To Lake Mburo NP
Early in the morning we will leave for Lake Mburo National Park. You will have lunch in Mbarara before you continue to Lake Mburo, a smaller but unique park, and the only one in the Western part of Uganda with impalas and zebras. If staying in budget accommodation this afternoon will be for the village/cultural walk.
Day 17: – In Lake Mburo NP
Early morning we will go for a game walk. In the afternoon a boat trip on Lake Mburo followed by another game drive in the afternoon / early evening. This little park hosts a variety of animals, that is to say 68 mammal species, including a large number of impalas (the antelope from which “Kampala” is named after), zebras Uganda kobs, duikers bushbucks, Ankole cattle topis, buffaloes, leopards, spotted hyenas, waterbucks, warthogs, oribi. There are 315 bird species including; shoebill stork, red faced barbet, crested crane, papyrus yellow warbler. The vegetation is mainly open Savannah of Acacia trees, Olea and Boscia.Lake Mburo is a natural haven for fauna and flora. The bank teems with animals and birds. Crocodiles and hippopotami are permanent residents, and buffalos come to drink during the dry season. Others include; impalas (the antelope from which “Kampala” is named after), zebras Uganda kobs, duikers bushbucks, Ankole cattle topis, buffaloes, leopards, spotted hyenas, waterbucks, warthogs, oribi. The wide variety of resident birds includes Malachite Kingfishers, Pied Kingfishers, African Fish Eagles, Rufous Long-tailed Starlings, Blue-headed Weavers, Green-necked Doves, Hammerkops, Pelicans, Herons, Cormorants and even rare Shoebills.
Day 18: – To Kampala / Entebbe
After breakfast the last part of the journey will bring us back to Kampala. On the way back you will have lunch in Mbarara town, and after Masaka there will be an opportunity to a stop at the Equator for photo shoots and buying souvenirs and have tea or coffee and will bring you directly to Entebbe airport for an onwards flight.
Day 19: – Departure
If departing in the morning the hotel has a shuttle to the airport but if departing in the evening there many activities you can do in Kampala and Entebbe.
Optional: – Kampala City tour (USD $120 for vehicle including driver and fuel)
Entebbe Tour: Ngamba Island for the orphaned chimps (USD $88 per person), and it can be combined with Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (the former Zoo) Botanical Gardens at USD $10 p.p.