21-Day Uganda Safari Adventure

It is recommended to take a very early breakfast, preferably in the morning to avoid traffic to get to Sezibwa Falls before proceeding to Mabira.
Your first destination will be the Sezibwa Falls – this is culturally important for the Baganda with many tales, birds and scenic views. This place is a beautiful habitat for birds especially to bird watchers, has folkore legends and traditional healers’ sites, and waterfalls which have a certain story as to why they are so called. You are welcomed by a resident tour guide, who will accompany you explaining the various sites as well as the stories associated with the water fall and the river.

Mabira forest is one of the biggest forest in Uganda and it is the only rain forest near to the central Uganda beginning from Kampala. You will go to the Eco tourism center to pick one of the available forest tracks for you to go for a nature walk in the forest. This is our local site guide who will be taking you through this tour.

Main Destination:

Jinja (Town)

Accommodation:

Jinja Nile Resort

• This is a mid-range hotel located in Jinja which is also known as Town.

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

You will set off from Jinja early in the morning with a scenic drive North Western part passing through the Luwero Triangle. You will make a stop at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Established in 1998, the Rhino Fund involves giving out black and white rhinos in Ugandas protected areas as well as creating awareness about endangered rhinos, poaching and environment conservation. The rhino trek lasts for 1 – 2 hours and you are provided with a close view of animals such as the kob. You will have lunch in Masindi and proceed further to the top of the falls. You will dine and spend a night in a hotel or other forms of lodging for the night.

Main Destination:

Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch

Best Time To GoJune to August and December to February (Dry seasons)

High SeasonJune to September (Peak time for Uganda)

Best Weather

Accommodation:

Pakuba Safari Lodge

• This mid-range lodge is situated within Murchison Falls National Park in Uganda.

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

You will wake up fairly early in the morning as you set out on a game drive to look for giraffes, lions, heartbeats, elephants, cape buffalos and many others. Others include Black-Chested Snake Eagle, Blue Napped Mousebirds, Secretary bird, Swallow Tailed Bee-eaters and Silver Headed Agama. In the afternoon, a launch cruise on theVictoria Nile up to the Murchison Falls will be a highlight as you approach the bottom of the powerful fall where the waters burst through a 8 kms narrow Gorge and fall 40 meters below. During the journey, such animals as the Nile crocodile, herbivore hippos, waterbucks, and many bird species can be noticed. You will have to get out of the boat and walk for 45 minutes to the gorge where the river drops several falls to form the actual falls.

Main Destination:

Murchison Falls National Park

Alternative UniversesDecember: February (Optimal Option for Animals Viewing)

High SeasonJune to September (Peak time for Uganda)

Best WeatherJune and July (Less rain and lower temperatures)

Wildlife in Murchison Falls NP

Chimpanzee, Elephant, Giraffe, Lion, Buffalo, Hippo, Leopard, White Rhino, Black Rhino, Cheetah, Zebra, Wildebeest, Wild Dog

Accommodation:

Pakuba Safari Lodge

• This mid-range lodge is situated within Murchison Falls National Park in Uganda.

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Following breakfast, you will be transferred to Kibale Forest, Approximate 2 and Half hours through the fascinating landscape of papyrus, swamps and ipairs jungle to Kibale forest, situated at the floor of the Rwenzori Mountains. You will go on a scenic drive to the town of Fort Portal before checking into your lodge.

Main Destination:

Kibale National Park (Chimps)

Chimp trekking is best from January to February and June to July but any time of the year is good for visiting Kibale forest.

High SeasonJune to September (Peak time for Uganda)

Best WeatherJanuary to February and June to July (Least rain)

Wildlife in Kibale NP

Chimpanzee, Elephant, Buffalo, Lion, Leopard, Hippo, Giraffe, White Rhino, Black Rhino, Cheetah, Zebra, Wildebeest

Accommodation:

Chimpanzee Forest Lodge

• Typical mid-range guest house situated within easy driving distance from Kibale National Park, known for its chimpanzee tracking.

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Chimpanzee Trekking and Habituation in the early morning in Kibale Forest. Here you will observe the cute apes as they fight and frolic in trees. In the afternoon, there will be 2-3 hours of an optional nature walk at the Bigodi Swamp, which is home to about 200 bird species, including the Papyrus Gonolek and the Great Blue Turaco. The swamp also has 8 primate species and numerous butterflies. You will be given an opportunity to visit Bigodi women’s project situated at the wetland sanctuary office in Bigodi trading. The group deals in mats, bags and jewelry They have been giving 10% of the amount generated from crafts to the development of the community over the years The school directly funding the group has supported the orphans, widows, disabled and other needy people in the community.

Main Destination:

Kibale National Park (Chimps)

Accommodation:

Chimpanzee Forest Lodge

• Typical mid-range guest house situated within easy driving distance from Kibale National Park, known for its chimpanzee tracking.

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

mid-morning tour of the crater lakes and Amabera caves, Amabere g’ Nnyinamwiru Caves; which are historical sites that have significant stand as the breasts of Nnyinamwiru, a daughter to a self-styled King of the Bachwezi kingdom Bukuku. Nyinamwiru had been restricted from breastfeeding their son Ndahura as the father was informed that Nyinamwiru’s offspring would usurp him in leadership. Despite all the efforts that Bukuku put in place to counter this change, it was inevitable to happen and Ndahura emerged as a famous Muchwezi ruler who is remembered for having extended Muchwezi domination to the areas of northern Tanzania, Rwanda and the eastern part of the present-day DR Congo while operating from Uganda.

Main Destination:

Fort Portal (Town)

Accommodation:

Chimpanzee Forest Lodge

• Typical mid-range guest house situated within easy driving distance from Kibale National Park, known for its chimpanzee tracking.

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Semuliki National Park is one of the Ugandan national parks which is situated in the western part of Uganda adjacent to the Democratic Republic of Congo. It covers the only lowland tropical forest in East Africa that is well known for its many bird species. This park has the two popular Sempaya hot springs; the male one dubbed Bintente and the female spring, Nyasimbi. This follows the Bamaga clan strong cultural beliefs where they believed that the female ancestors resided in Nyasimbi and the male ancestors resided in Bintente.
Female620489 is characterized by a geyser formation of water which shoots up to a maximum of 2m while male623204 comprises of a pool of hot water. The walk to the springs passed through impressive landscapes. It indicates that the temperature of the water in both the springs is 100 degrees Celsius and everybody knows that food can be cooked in the springs. You will also try out this and be able to boil eggs right in the water.

Main Destination:

Semuliki National Park

Best Time To GoDecember to March and June to August (Dry and early Wet seasons)

High Season is from June to September the park is not really crowded.

Best Weather

Accommodation:

Chimpanzee Forest Lodge

• Typical mid-range guest house situated within easy driving distance from Kibale National Park, known for its chimpanzee tracking.

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Today, you will be driving to Queen Elizabeth National Park; be ready to capture beautiful sceneries on the way. This park encompasses 200km of the Rift Valley Savanah, although it details some forest and several crater depressions containing small lakes. Lunch will be provided at the respective lodge, rest, then proceed for an evening game drive in search of various wildlife such as elephants, buffaloes, different types of antelopes, lions and even the shy leopards among others.

Main Destination:

Queen Elizabeth National Park

Best Time To VisitJanuary to February and June to July (Dry seasons)

High SeasonJune to September (Peak time for Uganda)

Best WeatherJune to July and January to February (Less rainfall)

Wildlife in Queen Elizabeth NP

Chimpanzee, Elephant, Lion, Buffalo, Hippo, Leopard, Giraffe, White Rhino, Black Rhino, Cheetah, Zebra, Wildebeest, Wild Dog

Accommodation:

The Bush Lodge (Banda)

• Banda mid-range situated at the edge of Queen Elizabeth national park

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

You wake up early enough to be ready for a 6.30am morning game drive. It boasts of Plains, Tropical Forests, rivers, mangrove swamps, lake, and volcanic crater that boasts of its rich wildlife. You can expect to find buffaloes, lions, elephants and many other wild animals and birds in their natural environment. For lunch, you will have time for a short walk before returning to your accommodation for a late breakfast. In the afternoon you will go for an afternoon launch cruise on the Kazinga Channel. This park is home to water birds and on hot times of day one may spot hippos, elephants, buffaloes, and waterbucks as they come to the water edge to take water and cool off. Crocodiles can still be occasionally observed in the channel spit insides especially on the banks.

Main Destination:

Queen Elizabeth National Park

Accommodation:

The Bush Lodge (Banda)

• Banda mid-range situated at the edge of Queen Elizabeth national park

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

The next day, since we shall be leaving early in the morning, you will be taken to the Ishasha Sector in Queen Elizabeth National Park. On your arrival to Ishasha, you will go for the game drive. Ishasha sector is arguably the most popular for game drives in Uganda so much so that it is famous for tree-climbing lions.

Main Destination:

Ishasha Sector (Queen Elizabeth NP)

Accommodation:

Ishasha Jungle Lodge

• It is a mid-range lodge that is situated just outside the Ishasha Sector of the Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

In the morning after breakfast, you will go for a short game drive at the Ishasha sector. In a while, you shall go back to the lodge for launching. In the evening, your driver-guide will drive and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. You will arrive in the evening in good time for dinner as you prepare the next day for the gorilla trekking.

Main Destination:

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Gorillas)

The best time to visit is during the dry season, which goes from June to August and December, February.

High Season June to September but it is difficult to get Gorilla permits

Best WeatherJune to July and December to February (Less rainfall)

Wildlife in Bwindi Impenetrable NP

Gorilla, Chimpanzee, Elephant, White Rhino, Black Rhino, Lion, Giraffe, Leopard, Cheetah, Buffalo, Zebra, Wildebeest, Hippo

Accommodation:

Bakiga Lodge

• This is a budget lodge that is based near Bwindi Impenetrable National Park famously known for its gorillas.

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

They can begin the journey at dawn and witness the magnificence and freshness of the forest – the natural habitat of over 50% of the mountain gorillas. The guides then give a brief on the forest and from there you will begin trekking in the thick densities in search of these endangered animals wherever they decided to build their nest the night before. In terms of conservation, The time spent with the Gorillas is limited to one hour because of the endangered nature of the project. You will also see the gentle giants feeding and having fun with each other. If you have spare time in the afternoon, there will be a three-hour village walk for you to engage in. As to the goals of the stakeholders, consider the inhabitants of the area and attend a session with a traditional healer, a blacksmith, and learn how local beer is brewed. There are organized dances which are traditional from the community and which you will be privileged to watch. In case you have some free time, you may pay a visit to Bwindi Hospital and probably look how you can be useful to the locals. For dinner and overnight accommodation, you will be taken back to the hotel.

Main Destination:

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Gorillas)

Accommodation:

Bakiga Lodge

• This is a budget lodge that is based near Bwindi Impenetrable National Park famously known for its gorillas.

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Today, we are going to track the “little primates” of the Virungas; the golden monkey otherwise known as Cercopithecus Kandti and which is now on the IUCN endangered list because of its dwindling population. The track will be intense, lasting most of the day, and the group will be no more than six people.

Main Destination:

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park (Gorillas)

The best time to visit Uganda is in June – early September and December – January when the climate is dry and there is an easy access to the Gorillas.

High Season June to September but it is difficult to get Gorilla permits

Best WeatherJun to Aug and Dec to Jan (Less rainfall)

Wildlife in Mgahinga Gorilla NP

Gorilla, Chimpanzee, Buffalo, Elephant, Leopard, White Rhino, Giraffe, Black Rhino, Lion, Cheetah, Zebra, Wildebeest, Hippo

Accommodation:

Travellers Rest Hotel

• Mid-range ac modation geared towards people interested in gorillas and habituated chimpanzees and is usually found between 1 and 2 hours’ drive from the park.

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

This is where you will take your breakfast before going for yet another drive around Kisoro as you visit these indigenous people, the Batwa. The Batwa are one of the most vulnerable groups in Ugandan society and are as a result a laughing stock to most of the Ugandan Nationals. Generation after generation of Batwa has lived in the forest mainly depending on hunting and foraging. There is always a necessity to pay for the Batwa; they entertain their clients through singing and dancing. As soon as the music is introduced, one cannot help but see them express real self- esteem in whatever they do. You will then go back to the lodge for lunch as well as to take a break. There is no plan for you tonight — you’ve got nothing to do.

Main Destination:

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park (Gorillas)

Accommodation:

Travellers Rest Hotel

• Mid-range ac modation geared towards people interested in gorillas and habituated chimpanzees and is usually found between 1 and 2 hours’ drive from the park.

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Mountain Sabinyo trekking takes place in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park which is in the Kisoro district, SW Uganda close to the border between Congo DR and Rwanda. You will reach the third summit. You will be standing in three countries and when hiking MT. sabinyo you go through different vegetation. The room will allow you to have a view of different towns and villages of Rwanda and DR Congo when the weather is clear.
Last of all Mount Sabinyo is the most challenging mountain to climb and so one has to be physically prepared and indeed it is worth the adventurous Volcano hiking.

Main Destination:

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park (Gorillas)

Accommodation:

Travellers Rest Hotel

• Mid-range ac modation geared towards people interested in gorillas and habituated chimpanzees and is usually found between 1 and 2 hours’ drive from the park.

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

You will proceed to Lake Bunyonyi in Kabale which is the second deepest lake in Africa and famous for birds, the place for you will be filled with sweet melodious tunes of the birds, Bunyonyi basically translates to mean small birds. Upon your arrival, the first activity will be a canoe/boat ride on the lake where you will see different birds & other island belonging to the communities, there are well over 29 islands in this lake. There is no limit to how many photos you are free to take. Dinner and an overnight stay will be provided for you.

Main Destination:

Lake Bunyonyi

Accommodation:

Lake Bunyonyi Rock Resort

•           A mid-range resort around the Lake Bunyonyi

Meals & Drinks:

•           All meals included

•           Bottled/pipe water /Other nonalcoholic beverages not included

One gets to drive through various traditional villages along the way. You will like the drive through the beautiful rolling plains of Ankole with another break in Mbarara town for lunch. After that, you proceed to Lake Mburo National Park. You will be timed to arrive in the afternoon for the boat trip and early evening game drive.

Main Destination:

Lake Mburo National Park

Best Time To VisitJanuary to February and June to August (Dry seasons)

High SeasonJune to September (Peak time for Uganda)

Best WeatherJune to August and January to February (Little rainfall)

Wildlife in Lake Mburo NP

Giraffe, Buffalo, Zebra, Hippo, Leopard, Hyena, Elephant, White Rhino, Black Rhino, Lion, Cheetah, Wildebeest, Wild Dog

Accommodation:

Rwakobo Rock Lodge

•A mid-range lodge based at the entrance to the Lake Mburo National park

Meals & Drinks:

•           All meals included

•           Bottled/pipe water /Other nonalcoholic beverages not included

This is a guided walk by the park rangers, this guided walk will lead you to the salt lick where you will be able to spot so many animals that are usually attracted to the salty rocks. The walks on west side of this lake normally start at 7:00am and will last for 2 hours. There are many scenes that involve animals such as the hyenas heading back to their dens and hippos coming from the lake. Along the ring of the woodland you can view different forest birds and mammals if you take the circuitous route to the top of the hill you will get to view other surrounding lakes in this park. In the afternoon, you will go for an evening game drive.

Main Destination:

Lake Mburo National Park

Accommodation:

Rwakobo Rock Lodge

•A mid-range lodge based at the entrance to the Lake Mburo National park

Meals & Drinks:

•           All meals included

•           Bottled/pipe water /Other nonalcoholic beverages not included

Ease up for an early morning game drive. It is endowed with grasslands, tropical forests, rivers, swamps, lakes, and is also home to millions of wildlife. Be on the look out for buffaloes, lions, elephants and many other wild animals in their natural environment. Your guide and driver will pick you early morning for a short Game drive in the park before returning to the lodge for a late breakfast Then transfer to Entebbe arriving in the evening.

Main Destination:

Entebbe (City)

Accommodation:

The Boma Hotel

•           A moderately priced accommodation situated in Entebbe (City).

Meals & Drinks:

•           All meals included

•           Bottled/pipe water /Other nonalcoholic beverages not included

You will be free in the morning and in the afternoon accompany the professional staff of the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC) to exhibit the various tasks involved in the handling of many of the animals in the centre. Established in 1994 to revive what was a small zoo in Entebbe, UWEC now focuses on the wildlife rehabilitation, raising awareness among Ugandans about the importance of wildlife conservation, and coordinating conservation programs with both local and international collaborators for other parks and protected areas throughout Uganda. After lunch Visit Entebbe Botanical Gardens

The locals enjoy recounting that one of the early Tarzan movies was partly shot here as stated by the Bradt Guide – Uganda. Even that, it is a perfect place to spend half or full day here you will eat flowers, trees, plants, birds, monkeys, nature and much more at Entebbe Botanical.

Main Destination:

Entebbe (City)

Accommodation:

The Boma Hotel

•           A moderately priced accommodation situated in Entebbe (City).

Meals & Drinks:

•           All meals included

•           Bottled/pipe water /Other nonalcoholic beverages not included

Later, after a fun morning, you will part with different mates. In the afternoon, you will be driven to the airport.

Main Destination:

Entebbe (City)

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

•           Transportation costs (Airport pick up/transfer to/from the university, transport throughout the stay, departure transfer to airport)

•           Bottled/pipe water /Other nonalcoholic beverages not included

End of tour

•           If the facility needs extra accommodation, it can be arranged at an extra cost.

•           You will be dropped at the airport.