Day 1: Transfer from Kampala -Murchison Falls Park via Ziwa rhino sanctuary

After breakfast at your accommodation in Kampala, embark on the trip to Murchison Falls National Park in the north of Uganda, a journey of 311km about 5 hours’ drive. You traverse through the undulating hill slopes of Nakasongola before branching off at Nakitoma for 7 km to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary just 176km north of Kampala. Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch is the proud home of the only wild rhinos in Uganda following their extinction and thus offers an unforgettable Rhino tracking experience. Ziwa is the only place where you will be able to see rhinos in the wild.

Presently the sanctuary is home to fifteen (15) southern white rhinos. The sanctuary has become increasingly popular with tourists; for rhino trekking, bird watching, nature walks and relaxation.

After this activity, you will continue on the drive to Murchison Falls National Park for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation:

Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge

Midrange: Pakuba Safari Lodge

Budget: Heritage Safari Lodge

Day 2: Morning game drive & boat cruise along the Nile to the bottom of the falls and hike to the top of the falls

You will wake up very early in the morning to go for a morning game drive where you will have a chance to spot early risers and nocturnal species before they return to their hideouts. This is the most beautiful national park in Uganda and this is because it hosts 4/5 of the big 5 animals and also it also home to one of the most beautiful and powerful falls in the world so far.

Traverse the rolling plains of Uganda’s largest National Park before returning later to the lodge for breakfast. The 3,893 sq. km park is home to a range of animals, and you will have a chance of viewing some of the Park’s residents including lions, giraffes, Jackson’s hartebeests, antelopes, buffalo, and elephants. For the birders, you will enjoy a cock tail of them as these areas support the secretary bird and the black chested snake eagle, to name a few.

In the afternoon, go for a boat trip to the base of Murchison Falls, where the Nile thunders through a small 7 meter gorge plunging 43 meters into the Nile on the way to Lake Albert. Lots of bird diversity can be spotted and numerous animals resting and drinking water along the banks of the Nile. The most common ones being hippos, buffaloes, Nile crocodiles and birds include, the African fish eagle, Yellow billed stork, Egyptian goose, Egrets, Malachite kingfisher among others. The launch cruise will take you close to the falls’ base where you will be shown the spot where Ernest Hemingway’s plane crashed during sightseeing tour to Murchison falls in 1954.

You can then get off the boat and go hiking up the side of the falls to the top.

After the cruise, you will drive back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation:

Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge

Midrange: Pakuba Safari Lodge

Budget: Heritage Safari Lodge

Day 3: Transfer to Hoima. Visit Kibiro Salt Gardens en route

After breakfast, embark on the journey to Hoima. Drive through pleasantly undulating landscapes of the Albertine rift before making a stopover at Kibiro salt gardens and hot springs en route on the steep shores of Lake Albert. You venture into the traditional means of salt extraction and learn how locals in this area have made a fortune out of this natural feature. The hike to the salt gardens is an adventurous experience of its own. Retreat from this activity and move on to Hoima for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation:

Luxury: Hoima cultural Lodge

Midrange: Kontiki Hotel

Day 4: Transfer to Fort Portal and Amabere g’ Nnyinamwiru caves and fort portal crater lake area

After breakfast, embark on the transfer to Fort Portal Area about 5 hours’ drive traversing the rural sceneries and traditional homesteads of Kagadi district before suddenly getting into Kyenjojo and eventually Fort Portal town. You take a rest before you continue to the cater fields and Amabere g’ Nnyinamwiru for lunch and then drive to visit the Amabere g’ Nnyinamwiru caves which is an ancient site with great traditional significance attached to the natives. The Amabere g’ Nnyinamwiru literally translated in Rutooro as the ‘breasts of Nnyinamwiru’ are breast like features that are arguably believed to have been the breasts of Nnyinamwiru the daughter of Bukuku a self-enthroned king of the Bachwezi who chopped off her breasts and hanged them in protest of her father’s decision that denied her an opportunity to breastfeed her baby Ndahura. From this activity, you proceed to hike the fort portal crater field, the magnificent Nyakasura hills that overlook fort portal town and summiting the towering Kyeganywa hill offers you impressive vistas of the crater lakes and crater hollows below and the distant views of the legendary mountains of the moon, Rwenzori Mountains on a clear day. Retreat for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation:

Luxury: Primate Lodge

Midrange: Kibale Forest camp

Budget: Rwenzori View Guest House

Day 5: Morning Chimpanzee trekking & Bigodi wetland walk

After an early breakfast, drive to Kanyanchu, Kibale national Park Headquarters, by 8.00 a.m for chimpanzee pre-trekking briefing by the park staff. The Chimpanzee trekking experience tends to last 2 – 5 hours and including one hour of direct encounter with these amazing creatures. In addition to chimps, Kibale forest is home to other primates including the red-tailed and grey-cheeked Mangabey, Phoestes, blue and red-Colobuses. There are many beautiful birds’ species, butterflies and many small insects as well. A visit to Bigodi swamp ecotourism site, given its astounding flora and fauna, will be worth it too. The swamp has numerous populations of birds, a wide range of over 138 different species of birds including the Great Blue Turaco, and swamp animals like Sitatunga antelope. Retreat from this as activity and return to the lodge for relaxation dinner and overnight.

Accommodation:

Accommodation:

Luxury: Primate Lodge

Midrange: Kibale Forest camp

Budget: Rwenzori View Guest House

Day 6: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth NP, Visit Rwenzori Art foundation & launch cruise along Kazinga Channel

After breakfast, undertake a trip to Queen Elizabeth National Park in the south of Kibale, a journey of 157km about 3 hours’ drive. Traverse through the magnificent plain landscapes of Kasese and Rwenzori Mountains before making a stopover at Rwenzori art foundation to have an experience with the sculpture making process. The Rwenzori Art foundation is the single bronze casting center in the entire continent of Africa. Proceed on the trip to Queen Elizabeth National Park for an afternoon boat cruise along the 45km long Kazinga Channel. The Kazinga Channel which stretches to 45km in length at one time had much concentration of Hippopotamus population in the region until the management decided to carry out culling in 1960s. You enjoy the wide views of the Nile crocodiles and other wild game quenching their thirst on the waters of Kazinga channel and flocking its shores on a hot day. Retreat from the 2 hour activity; engage in an afternoon game drive along the channel track as you head to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation:

Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge

Midrange: Ihamba Safari Lodge

Budget: Simba Safari Camp

Day 7: Morning game drive & Chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge

After a morning cup of African coffee, engage in an early game drive in the undulating savannah plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park and the extensive Kasenyi tracks to explore the park’s unique scenery marked with numerous herds of wildlife including lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, water bucks, jackals and flocks of unfamiliar bird species.

The game drive normally lasts for 3 – 4 hours after which you return to the lodge for relaxation and lunch before you transfer to Ishasha sector for an short evening game drive as you head to the lodge.

Accommodation:

Luxury: Ishasha wilderness camp

Midrange: Enjojo Lodge

Budget: @ the River Lodge Ishasha

Day 8: Do morning game drive in Ishasha sector and Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

After breakfast, before you embark on the trip to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in south western part of Uganda. You undertake a game drive in this part of park searching for the tree climbing lions.

Ishasha sector is well endowed with the infamous climbing lions together with other wild game that dwell in this woodland part of the park. The tree climbing lions prefer to lie flat on fig tree branches in the mid-morning sun while waiting for their prey. After this encounter, proceed on the drive to Bwindi arriving in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation:

Luxury: Gorilla Safari Lodge

Midrange: Bakiga Lodge

Budget: Broadbill Forest Camp

Day 9: Gorilla trekking & transfer to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

After an early breakfast, you will take a packed lunch, have a briefing by the game guides at the park headquarters and start your gorilla trail. Hiking through the thick, verdant, rain forest to eventually come across the gorillas in their natural habitat, is an amazing and unforgettable experience.

This encounter takes between 2 to 9 hours and is the highlight of an Africa exploration safari. You will only have 1 hour of close contact with these calm gentle apes, take pictures and get acquainted to them.

You are free to shoot as many photos as you desire before you retreat from the activity to return to the starting point. After this encounter, you will travel to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park traversing the impressive sloping of Kigezi and the magnificent views of the Virungas for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation:

Luxury: Mount Gahinga Lodge

Midrange: Traveler’s Rest Hotel

Budget: Amajambere Iwacu camp

Day 10: Golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga national park. Transfer to lake Bunyonyi

After your morning breakfast, you will undertake the golden monkey tracking where you have a chance to encounter the other critically endangered apes known to exist only in the Virunga massif in this part of the world. Return from the activity and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation:

Luxury: Arcadia Cottages

Midrange: Bunyonyi Safaris resort

Budget: Supreme Adventure Park

Day 11: Lake Bunyonyi and visit the 29 Islands

After a relaxed breakfast, you will undertake a tour on Lake Bunyonyi, spending the entire day at Uganda’s deepest lake, dubbed the lake of a thousand Islands. You explore the attractive landscapes of the lake and impressive relief of Kigezi region. Reach out to some of its 29 Virgin Islands amidst the pleasantly undulating hills of Kigezi. This 5 – 6pm boat cruise is a rewarding experience worth venturing. You return to the lodge and spend the rest of the day relaxed, enjoying dinner and overnight.

Accommodation:

Luxury: Arcadia Cottages

Midrange: Bunyonyi Safaris resort

Budget: Supreme Adventure Park

Day 12: Transfer to Lake Mburo NP & do evening game drive

After breakfast, embark on the trip to Lake Mburo National Park, a journey of 199km about 4 – 5 hours’ drive traversing the impressive plain lands in the countryside of south western Uganda before getting to Igongo Cultural Center 12km past Mbarara town for a traditional sumptuous lunch. Proceed through Nshara gate and continue for a distance of 33km to Lake Mburo National Park for an evening game drive activity exploring the park’s savannah low lands with impressive faunal and floral species. Retire for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation:

Luxury: Mihingo Safari Lodge

Midrange: Arcadia Cottages

Budget: Eagle’s Nest

Day 13: Morning game walking safari & transfer to Kampala with a stop at Uganda Equator crossing Kayabwe

After breakfast, embark on a fascinating game walking safari after the sunrise to explore the magnificent savannah acacia landscapes with gentle rolling hills marked with the extrusive Kopje rocks and other ancient Precambrian rocks that have existed in that locality for the past 500 million years. The animals which can be encountered include; Impala antelope which only exists in this small but rich national park, Lake Mburo National park, Burchell’s Zebra, Rothschild Giraffes, Topis, water bucks, warthogs, among other wildlife. Retreat from the 3 – 4 hour activity and undertake the transfer back to Kampala 240km about 4 hours’ drive. You will make a stop at Uganda Equator crossing Kayabwe for an amazing photo session for memories.

Accommodation:

Luxury: Serena Hotel Kampala

Midrange: Cassia lodge

Budget: Common Lens Inn Hotel

Day 14: Explore Jinja – the source of the Nile & take a night flight

After the morning breakfast, you will hit the road to Jinja making a stopover at Ssezibwa falls which is one of the vital places in the history of Buganda. You will proceed passing through the mighty Mabira forest where you will have a chance to see animals like monkeys, baboons and birds.

You will later embark on an afternoon boat ride to the source of the Nile and explore this legendary site that prompted the historical explorer, John Speke of the Roman times to gain interest in ascertaining it.

You will transfer back to Kampala for an evening international flight or overnight at the hotel.

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