16 Days around Uganda Safari Adventure – Primates, Wildlife, Birding, Cultures & Marine Adventures

After breakfast depart to Jinja via Kampala – you explore the Kampala city, visit the Kibuli mosque, Mengo Palace – then proceed to Bahai temple afterward continue via Gayaza to Jinja. You may opt for sundowner boat trip on the Nile

Accommodation: Haven Lodge Jinja

Meal Plan: Full Board

After your breakfast from your lodge, experience the breathtaking Nile with a boat ride to the source of the Nile - sit quietly as our expert guide explains a little of the magic settings you have reached. An unforgettable experience

Later after lunch, depart for White water rafting on the Nile - you will be briefed and given safety guidelines first, thereafter, head for a thrilling rafting experience on the world’s longest river. After having the time of your life rafting on the Nile, head back to your lodge for lunch. Later in the evening, you may relax in your lodge or have a lazy scenic walk along the Nile.

Dinner and overnight at the Haven lodge Uganda or River Base Camp.

Meal plan: Full board

Depart Haven Lodge and cross the River Nile, the longest river in the world. You will continue East and up into the foothills of Mount Elgon, an extinct volcano, which straddles the Uganda/Kenya border to reach Sipi Falls. On arrival you will meet your guide who will take you off on a coffee processing tour, through the farms and along the hillsides. You’ll pick, prepare and roast your own coffee beans; Coffee is widely produced in the region and an important source of income to local farmers.

Accommodation: Sipi River Lodge

Meal Plan: Full Board

After early morning breakfast, we drive to Pian Upe wildlife reserve. Pian Upe is home to 2 pastoralist tribes for which it is named the Pian being part of a sub group of the Karamoja and the Upe being Kalenjiin speaking people more widely known as the Pokot within Kenya. Conduct a guided game walk with ranger guide with visit to the Pian/Karamojong villages within the reserve for a cultural experience. After game drive, continue to Moroto town, for overnight as break in the journey to Kidepo Valley National Park.

Accommodation: Karamoja Safari Camp

Meal Plan: Full Board

After early morning breakfast, commence a drive to Kidepo Valley National Park. This is the most isolated park in the long journey North through the wild frontier region. Karamoja would agree that it is also the most magnificent, for Kidepo ranks among Africa’s finest wilderness. The Park contains 2 rivers; Kidepo and Narus which disappear in the dry season, leaving just pools for the wildlife. The local communities around the Park include pastoral Karamojong people similar to the Masai of Kenya.

Accommodation: Kidepo Savannah Safari Lodge

Meal Plan: Full Board

On a very beautiful morning, we kick start our day with a morning breakfast before we head for a game drive through the Narus valley in Kidepo for a game viewing, where you will encounter various wildlife including Lions, Africa Elephants, Buffalo, Cheetahs Ostriches among other wildlife.

You wouldn’t love to miss the beautiful scenery of the underlying plains of the Narus Valley, the rises and sunsets - he animal’s vocals calling in the wild, the bird sweetly singing in the wilderness. This is one of the best experiences you can ever have in life. After lunch, we shall visit the Lorokul cultural group and explore the fascinating, ancient culture of the Karamojong. Visit Traditional homesteads, sample local dishes and hear stories of the folklore of this remote tribe

Accommodation: Kidepo Savannah Safari Lodge

Meal Plan: Full Board

A whole day drive to Murchison falls national park. This park lies at the Northern end of the Albertine Rift Valley, where the sweeping Bunyoro escarpment tumbles into vast, palm-dotted savanna; it is Uganda’s largest and oldest conservation area. The park is bisected by the Victoria Nile, which plunges 45m over the remnant rift valley wall, creating the dramatic Murchison Falls. Have a 1-2hour rhino tracking at Ziwa rhino sanctuary before heading to your lodge for overnight.

Unfortunately, the Ziwa Rhino sanctuary is the only place where one can spot Rhinos in Uganda. Uganda once had over 1000 Rhinos roaming freely in the open plains. Extensive poaching wiped them out from the national parks. When less than 5 remained in the wild, they were transferred to this sanctuary for greater protection. The sanctuary now has about 20 individuals and there is a plan to transfer them to the national parks once their numbers grow. The Ziwa Rhino sanctuary is a large facility with amazing opportunities for nature walks, birding and primates viewing. As you tour the facility, you will be in the company of researchers and game rangers who will share with you all that you need to know about Rhinos. Lunch is served immediately before or after touring the sanctuary. After, you will then continue your journey to Murchison falls National Park.

Dinner and overnight at Paraa Safari Lodge, Pakuba Safari Lodge, Fort Murchison Lodge

Meal Plan: Full Board

At 06.30 set off on the morning game drives to the Victoria Nile delta area of the national park in the company of UWA ranger / guide. Return to Paraa and the lodge for lunch where at 13.45 you will again leave the lodge to return to Paraa for a launch trip on the Nile to the bottom of the falls. The riverbanks often host elephant in the afternoon; crocodiles are monstrous, water birds and the spectacular waterfalls. The riverbank is also home to the Red-throated bee-eater a local endemic to Murchison Falls National Park. We will also visit top of the falls to have a beautiful view and feeling of the world’s most powerful water fall.

Dinner and overnight at Paraa Safari Lodge, Pakuba Safari Lodge, Fort Murchison Lodge

Meal Plan: Full Board

After breakfast proceed to Kibale National Park one of the best safari destination in Africa for Chimpanzee tracking. Kibale is home to the uncommon L’Hoest’s monkey as well as East Africa’s biggest population of the endangered red Colobus monkey. The black & white Colobus, red tailed Colobus monkey, olive baboon, grey cheeked mangabey, bush baby and potto are among the other primates, and it’s also a home to 325 bird species.

Accommodation: Kyaninga Lodge/Primate Lodge, Isunga Lodge, Kibale Forest Camp

Meal Plan: Full Board

Proceed morning at 8:00 Am, Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary for a nature walk, Rich in biodiversity and beautiful scenery, the wetland is a birder’s paradise with about 138 species. Located outside the parkin Magombe Swamp, it also hosts eight species of primates including the black-and-white Colobus, grey-cheeked mangabey; red-tailed, L’Hoest’s and blue monkeys, and olive baboons. Bushbuck’s and mongooses can also be found here. The sanctuary was set up to preserve the exclusive environmental features along with the wetland and is managed by the local community.

Return to the lodge for lunch and then proceed for a half day chimpanzee experience; you will spend the half day with Chimpanzees following them around. While tracking, you will be able to spot different animal species like the Red Colobus, Black and white Colobus, Grey-cheeked Mangabey, Olive Baboon, Red-tailed Monkey, and L’Hoest’s Monkey among others and different bird species. Whilst trekking in the depths of the lush green forest, you will be surrounded by bird song and can expect to see at least5 or 6 other types of primate, most probably the grey-cheeked mangabey and the red-tailed monkey and of course the chimpanzees. The walking is fairly easy due to the well-maintained trails and reasonably flat terrain. Retire at the lodge

Accommodation: Katara Lodge/ Mweya Safari Lodge, Twin Lakes Safari Lodge, Bush Lodge

Depart Kibale Forest to Queen Elizabeth National Park, lying 1978 sq. km west of Uganda. It harbors a diverse eco-system with a lovely savannah, fertile wetlands making it home for the big game four, 10primate species and a large number of bird species. After checking in, you will enjoy an afternoon Launch cruise along the Kazinga channel. The channel is 40 wide and offers beautiful scenery of hundreds of hippos along the banks as well as different bird species seen when cruising west towards Lake Edward.

Accommodation: Katara Lodge/ Mweya Safari Lodge, Twin Lakes Safari Lodge, Bush Lodge

Today we will depart the beautiful area of Queen Elizabeth and drive to the southwest via Ishasha sector with a game drive in search of tree climbing lions, thereafter precede to Buhoma sector and continue to your lodge or take an optional guided walk through the impenetrable forest - a packed lunch will be provided. Your arrival in Nkuringo will see you at 2160m above sea level. From the vantage of the Lodge a 270-degree panorama will hopefully unfold to reveal views of the volcanoes of the Virunga, the western arm of the Great Rift Valley and a huge swathe of primary forest that constitutes the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.

Accommodation: Mahogany Springs Lodge/Buhoma Lodge, Haven Lodge, Buhoma Community Rest Camp

Meal Plan: Full Board

After breakfast, at around 7:45 am, with packed lunch and drinking water you will be transferred to the National Park Head Quarters for the briefing on the dos and the don’ts while with the gorillas. You then continue to the forest for the start of the actual gorilla tracking.

The beauty of this rain forest is spectacular. The area offers a dramatic, steeply forested landscape and is incredibly dense, but crisscrossed by numerous animal trails allowing access to tourists. The time taken and the terrain vary as per the movements of these great primates. The thrill of spending time observing these gentle and endangered giants is an awesome, exciting experience to be long savored. Many find it to be a rare and moving opportunity. The tracking can take place at Nkuringo, buhoma or at Rushaga (1 hr. drive from Nkuringo), as per the gorilla permits obtained.

If time permits, Wildfriends Africa Safaris guide will explore you to the village around to engage in some cultural interaction with the Batwa pygmies. The Batwa tribe was forced to leave their home in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in 1991 when it was declared a UNESCO Heritage site for gorillas only. They had been living in the forest as nomadic hunter-gatherers for millennia, in perfect balance with the flora and fauna around.

Moving out and suddenly living in communities with a completely different way of life has proven to be a huge challenge. They now survive as best as they can and earn a living explaining their previous life in the forest and their rich heritage. The walk continues through the community to visit the traditional herbalist and the black smith.

Accommodation: Mahogany Springs Lodge/Buhoma Lodge, Haven Lodge, Buhoma Community Rest Camp

Meal Plan: Full Board

After breakfast depart Bwindi via Kabale through Mbarara town to stop at Igongo Cultural Centre for lunch. Proceed to Lake Mburo National Park where your accommodation will be at Mihingo Lodge. Provision of 5 to 7 hours on the road between venues should be considered. Mihingo Lodge is situated on a series of rock out crops on the boundary of the park with views of Lake Mburo. Each of the accommodations is very private and beautifully sited. The lodge has a gorgeous infinity pool where the dining room overlooks a man-made waterhole that draws in game to include on occasions Eland antelope. Activities: - Conduct a boat trip on Lake Mburo in the afternoon; there after proceed with your guide on game drive en-route to the Lodge.

Accommodation: Mihingo Lodge

Meal plan: Full board

Conduct morning game drive and guided nature walk in Lake Mburo national park, the park is the safest for walking safaris. After, return to the Lodge. You will then proceed to Entebbe for outbound flight – En-route you will pass the equator where coffee break can be taken and possibly the picnic lunch provided by the lodge. Transfer directly to

Airport for outbound flight

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