13 Days Best of Uganda Safari
This 13 Days Best of Uganda Safari takes you to some of the most adorable national parks in Uganda suitable for adventure. When you decide to explore Uganda, national parks are one of the most amazing places where you will get to do lots of interesting activities and these include; Rhino Tracking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Game drive, hike to the top of the falls and Boat cruise in Murchison Falls national park, Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale national park, Lion Tracking and a boat cruise in Queen Elizabeth national park, and gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and finally Lake Mburo national park for a game drive, boat cruise and a visit to Igongo cultural center and later transfer back to Kampala or Entebbe for your departure.
SAFARI HIGHLIGHTS
Day 1: Pick up from Entebbe and transfer to Kampala for a city tour.
Day 2: Transfer to Murchison falls national park.
Day 3: Morning game drive and hike to the top of the falls.
Day 4: Nature walk and an evening boat cruise.
Day 5: Transfer to kibale national park.
Day 6: Chimpanzee trekking in kibale national park.
Day 7: Bigodi swamp walk and visit to Amabere ga Nyina Mwiru.
Day 8: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park.
Day 9: Lion tracking and an evening boat cruise.
Day 10: Morning game drive and transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park.
Day 11: Gorilla trekking and drive to Lake Mburo national park.
Day 12: Morning game drive and evening boat cruise.
Day 13: Visit to Igongo cultural center and Departure to Kampala.
DETAILED ITINERARY
Day 1: Pick Up from Entebbe & Transfer to Kampala for a City Tour.
On Day 1st of your 13 Days tour in Uganda, you will be picked by your guide from Explore Rwanda Tours from Entebbe International Airport. You will then head to Kampala City for a tour. While on your city tour, you will visit places such as; the Uganda Museum, Independence Monument, Craft village, Namugongo Martyrs’ Shrine, Kabaka’s Palace in Mengo, Bahai Temple, Kabaka’s Lake, Idi Amin’s Torture Chambers, Ndeere Cultural Center and Kasubi Tombs among others.
Later head back to your hotel for dinner and an overnight.
Day 2: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park.
On the 2nd day, you will have breakfast early in the morning and before checking out of your hotel. Your guide will pick you up from your hotel and proceed with your journey to Murchison Falls National Park. Murchison falls national park also locally known as Kabalega falls and is situated in north-western part of Uganda in 4 districts of Uganda which include Masindi, Buliisa, Kiryandongo and Nwoya. It is the largest national park in Uganda. It was first gazetted as a wild reserve in 1962 and is a home of 76 different mammal species and 451 birds.
You will have a stopover at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary where you will get to see rhinos in the wild and also have lunch. The sanctuary is the only destination where visitors can get to see the white rhinos and proceed with your drive to Murchison falls national park.
Later you will check into your Lodge for relaxation, have dinner and an overnight stay.
Accommodation options
Luxury: Paraa safari lodge
Budget: Red Chilli safari lodge
Mid-range: Pakuba safari lodge
Day 3: Morning Game Drive and hike to the top of the falls.
On the 3rd day, you will have breakfast early in the morning, head out for a morning game drive on the northern bank of River Nile. While on the game drive, you will have a chance to see wildlife species like Elephants, the Rothschild giraffes, zebras, buffaloes, Hartebeests, Uganda Kobs, Waterbucks, Oribis, Impala and so many others. Your guide will take you back to your lodge for Lunch.
After having lunch at your lodge, you will head out for a guided hiking experience to the Top of the falls. Trails around the top of the falls will lead you up to the water’s edge. You will get an opportunity to close to the narrow gorge through which the river plunges.
Later drive back to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 4: Nature walk and an Evening boat cruise
On the 4th day, you will have breakfast in the morning and embark on nature walks in Kaniyo Pabidi forest and Rabongo forest in Murchison falls national park which exposes them to different bird, mammal and tree species. You will then head back to your lodge for lunch.
Later in the afternoon, drive to the Paara dock for a boat cruise on the Albert Nile. Boat cruises in Murchison Falls commence at exactly 2pm in the afternoon. You will take a boat trip to the Delta where you will get a panoramic view of the majestic and mighty Murchison falls. You will also be able to see crocodiles, hippos and various bird species such as the Kingfisher, cormorants, and the Rare Shoebill Stork among others.
Later retire to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 5: Transfer to Kibale National Park.
On the 5th day, you will wake up early in the morning for breakfast and check out of your lodge. Meet up with your guide at your lodge and proceed with your journey to Kibale National park. Kibale National Park is located in Kabarole district in western Uganda a land blessed with a strong cultural heritage. The park is located nearest to Fort Portal town which is the biggest town within Kabarole district. This town has a big population of the Batooro tribe who have their king’s palace located at the heart of this fort portal town.
You will have a stopover in Fort Portal town for lunch. After having lunch, you will take a short tour of the town and pay a visit to the royal burial grounds for the fallen Kings and queens of the Toro Kingdom. Proceed with your drive to Kibale national park.
When you get to the park, you will check into your lodge and relax, have dinner and an overnight stay.
Accommodation options
Luxury: Primate Lodge
Budget: Tinka’s homestead
Mid-range: Isunga lodge
Day 6: Chimpanzee trekking in kibale forest national park
On the 6th day, you will wake up early in the morning and head out to Kanyanchu Visitor’s Center, where your chimpanzee trekking activity will start. You will be expected to report to the park by 7am for a briefing from the head ranger at the park. Actual trekking begins at 8am after you have been placed into trekking groups that consist of not more than 6 members per group. You will be given an hour to spend with the chimpanzees once they have been located. Head back to the park headquarters in Kanyanchu for your chimpanzee trekking certificate and drive back to your lodge for lunch, relaxation, dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 7: Bigodi swamp walk and Visit Amabere Ga Nyina Mwiru.
On the 7th day, you will proceed to Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary which is just adjacent to the national park. Here, you will embark on a guided nature walk in the Swamp; where you will get to see a variety of bird species like; the Yellow-spotted Barbet, Hairy-breasted Barbet, Superb Sunbird, Black Bishop bird and the rare Shoe Bill Stock and many more. Later head back to your lodge for lunch.
After having lunch at your lodge, your guide will take you on a cultural tour at Amabere Ga Nyina Mwiru caves. The Batooro people believe that the caves are the ancestral home of the ‘Bachwezi’ people and the birth place of their first king. The caves derive their name from an old legend of a King who cut off the breasts of this daughter as a punishment for her refusing to marry the man that he had chosen for her. Later your guide will drive you back to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 8: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park.
On day 8, you will embark on a journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Queen Elizabeth is located in Kasese district of Uganda and it has various ecosystems made up of sprawling savannah, shadowy, moist forests, lakes and fertile wetlands which make it a good home to various species of wildlife, primates and birds. This park lies against the back of the great Rwenzori Mountains with stunning and panoramic views that are made up of various crater lakes. These lakes are carved dramatically into the green rolling hills. When you visit, you reward yourself with magical sights of the Kazinga channel. This channel’s shores are infested with hippopotamuses, elephants and buffaloes.
Upon your arrival in the park, you will check into your lodge for relaxation, lunch, dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation options
Luxury: Mweya safari lodge
Budget: Simba safari lodge
Mid-range: Park view safari lodge
Day 9: Lion tracking and an Evening boat cruise
On the 9th day, you will have your breakfast early in the morning and head out for a lion tracking experience in the national park. You will get to see the famous tree climbing lions of Ishasha and other animals as well like; hippos, savanna elephants, topi and buffaloes among others. Your guide will take you back to your lodge for lunch.
After having your lunch break, you will head out for an evening boat cruise along the Kazinga channel. The boat cruise starts at exactly 1pm and can take approximately 2 hours. During your boat cruise, you may see lots of wildlife such as hippos, Nile crocodiles, elephants and some species of birds like the great flamingos, Shoebill stock, Ibis and so many others.
Later you will return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 10: Morning Game Drive & Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
On day 10, you will have breakfast and proceed on a morning game drive in the park. This morning game drive will give you a great chance to see animals like leopards, serval cats and other wildlife such as African savannah elephants, hyenas, Uganda Kobs, heart beasts, giraffes, zebras and many more. Queen Elizabeth National Park has over 612 bird species thus making it a great destination for birding activities. While on your game drive, you may spot birds like the African skimmer, Chapin’s flycatcher, Shoebill stock, the great flamingos and Pink- backed pelicans. You will get back to your lodge for lunch.
After having lunch at your lodge, your guide will transfer you to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park which is located in the southwestern park of Uganda, in Kanungu district. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park harbors half of the world’s remaining species of mountain gorillas. The national park is also home to about 120 mammals and 350 species of birds. Upon your arrival in Bwindi, you will embark on a guided nature walk to explore the beauty of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. You will be able to see the unique bird species inhabiting the forest and monkey species like the vervet monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys and so many more.
Later you will check into your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Accommodation options
Luxury: Buhoma lodge
Budget: Bwindi forest lodge
Mid-range: Rushaga gorilla camp
Day 11: Gorilla Trekking and drive to Lake Mburo national park
On the 11th day, you will have breakfast very early at you lodge as your guide will pick you up at 6am. You will embark on a short journey to the Parks headquarters in Buhoma. You are supposed to be at Buhoma at exactly 7am for a briefing by the park’s head ranger which will begin at 8am and then you will be put in groups of 8 individuals per group depending on the gorilla group you are going to track. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has a total of 15 habituated gorilla groups that are tracked from four trailheads.
Your guide will drive you to Lake Mburo national park which is located in the western part of Uganda in Kiruhura district in Nyabushozi County near Mbarara district. It is the smallest national park amidst the 10 national parks in Uganda because it is on an area of approximately 260 square kilometers. Check into your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation options
Luxury: Mihingo lodge
Budget: Eagles’ nest
Mid-range: Lake Mburo safari lodge
Day 12: Morning Game Drive and evening boat cruise
On the 12th day after having your breakfast, you will embark on a 2- 3 hour morning game drive in the park. While on your game drive, you will view wildlife like; buffaloes, zebras, waterbucks, warthogs, impala, topi, duikers, hyenas, reed bucks and many more. After your game drive, you will head back to your lodge for lunch and afternoon rest.
Later in the afternoon, you will head out to Rwonyo for an evening boat cruise on the lake. The boat ride takes about 1-2 hours and offers you great sights such as; crocodiles, hippos, buffaloes and some bird species such as; the white egret, fish eagles, kingfishers and Shoebill stock among others.
You will retire to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 13: Visit to Igongo cultural center and Departure to Kampala
On the very last day of the 13 days trip, you will have breakfast before checking out of your lodge and then you will have a visit to the Igongo cultural center where items that represent the customs and history of the great Ankole kingdom are kept. You will later embark on your journey back to Kampala city with your guide.
On your journey back to Kampala city, you will have a stopover at the Equator monuments, where you will take some pictures. You will proceed with your journey to Kampala where your guide will drop you off at a hotel of your choice in the city or drop you off at Entebbe Airport for your flight back home.
Trip includes;
- Park entry fees
- Mineral water while on a safari
- Safari guide and a 4×4 safari vehicle
- Accommodation and meals as per your itinerary
Trip excludes;
- Visa fees
- Ticket fees
- Alcoholic beverages
