17 Days Uganda Adventure
17 Days Uganda Adventure : This 17 Days wildlife, primates and cultural safari covers 80% of Uganda’s national parks including Lake Mburo national park, Queen Elizabeth national park, Bwindi impenetrable national park, Kibale national park, Murchison falls national park, Semuliki national park, Lake Bunyonyi and Jinja town. Murchison falls national park is located in the north-western of Uganda offering the best experience of the big four game, and the park is divided by the River Nile which flowing through a narrow gorge causing a lot of force as the waters flow through a narrow gorge thus the most powerful falls in Africa – the Murchison falls. Kibale national park is Africa’s best chimpanzee trekking destination with guaranteed best views of the chimpanzees and other 12 existing primates in the park. It is also a home to 138 species of birds, 250 tree species and 60 species of forest wildlife including forest elephants, bushbucks, warthogs, giant forest hogs and buffaloes.
Semuliki national park and reserve is located in Bundibugyo district near Fort portal town adjust to Congo Ituri rain forest. The park is a home to Uganda’s largest Sempaya hot springs, about 53 mammal species and over 400 bird species recorded in this park thus making it one of the top birding destination in Africa earning a title of “True birders Haven” Queen Elizabeth national park is located in the western part of Uganda offering the great experience of different Antelope species.
Queen Elizabeth national park is home to the tree climbing lions in Uganda. The park is occupied by 2 great lakes – Lake Edward and Lake George which meet at a channel commonly known as the Kazinga channel. Mgahinga national park is one of Uganda’s oldest national park with diverse rainforest of over 25,000 years ago and contains about 400 plant species. Lake Mburo national park is smallest savannah national park and has the different species of Antelope and is named as one of the best birding destinations in Uganda. Lake Bunyonyi is the deepest lake in East Africa with 44 -900 meters deep and with about 29 islands. When you think of a place to relax and chill after gorilla trekking before going back home, Lake Bunyonyi is the best place because of its cool weather and freshness of the breeze.
Safari summary
- Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe airport
- Day 2: Transfer to Lake Mburo national park
- Day 3: Game drive and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
- Day 4: Explore Lake Bunyonyi and transfer to Mgahinga national park
- Day 5: Golden monkey tracking
- Day 6: Gorilla trekking experience
- Day 7: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park – Ishasha
- Day 8: Game drive in Kasenyi and afternoon boat cruise
- Day 9: Drive to Fort portal – visit Amabere caves and crater lakes
- Day 10: Transfer to Semliki national park – visit the Sempaya Hot springs
- Day 11: Game drive in Toro in Semiliki wildlife reserve – Transfer to
- Day 12: Chimpanzee tracking and Bigodi swamp walk
- Day 13: Transfer to Murchison falls national park – Top of the falls visit
- Day 14: Game drive and boat cruise along the Kazinga channel
- Day 15: Transfer to Jinja
- Day 16: white water rafting
- Day 17: Transfer to Entebbe – Departure
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe airport
Upon arrival at Entebbe airport, you will be met by our company representative/safari driver guide who will transfer you to your booked hotel for relaxation dinner and overnight stay at Best Western Garden Hotel Entebbe – Bed and Breakfast/Blue Monkey Guesthouse/Protea Entebbe Hotel for luxury
Day 2: Transfer to Lake Mburo national park – Night game drive
After breakfast, your safari driver will meet you up at the lobby to transfer to Lake Mburo national park. It’s about 5 hours’ road drive via Masaka – Mbarara highway with en-route stop at the equator for water experiments and photographs, Royal drum Village at Mpambire for souvenirs. Arrive in the park at good time for lunch at your booked lodge.
Spend your afternoon leisure. After dinner, meet the team that will be with you on a night game drive for an opportunity to find a number of rare animals in the park including the lions, Leopards and other nocturnal animals (game drive trails – Warukuri, Zebra and Lakeside drive trails) . Overnight stay at Mihingo Lodge for luxury/Arcadia Cottages Lake Mburo for mid-range/Eagles Nest Lodge for budget
Day 3: Game drive and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
Early morning after breakfast, head out for in search for the early risers on a good day you may spot the lions and the leopards are actually rarely seen and it will be by luck to find them. Do not forget to carry your camera in order to keep all your memories forever intact and also to ensure not to miss out a detail on your amazing game drive and find animals such as the Impalas, Zebras, Waterbucks, Oribi, buffaloes, Giraffes to mention a few.
Thereafter, embark on your journey to Lake Bunyonyi that is located in the far Southwestern part of Uganda close to Uganda-Rwanda border. The drive is scenic so you stop for pictures, taking about 4-5 hours to reach Lake Bunyonyi. This is the deepest lake in Uganda with over 20 islands on this lake. Upon arrival, proceed to check-in at your booked lodge for relaxation. Dinner and overnight stay at Bunyonyi Overland Resort for budget/Bunyonyi Eco-Lodge for mid-range/Bunyonyi BirdNest for luxury
Day 4: Explore Lake Bunyonyi and transfer to Mgahinga national park
After having breakfast, connect to explore the lake on a boat trip and visit some of the interesting islands. Bunyonyi comprises of 29 islands especially the punishment island and the lake is the best place of relaxation.
Optional activities: Zip-lining experience at Lake Bunyonyi and nature walk.
After lunch, transfer to Mgahinga national park which is about 3 hours’ drive from Lake Bunyonyi. The drive is also scenic with rolling Kigezi hills and sights of the Volcanic Mountain ranges. Upon arrival in Kisoro, connect to your booked lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge for mid-range/Travellers’ Rest Hotel for budget option/Lake Mutanda Safari Resort for Luxury
Day 5: Golden monkey tracking
After breakfast, you will transfer to Mgahinga National Park for briefing about the Golden monkeys with your packed food and water. Later enter the forest to search for the monkeys. On finding them, spend an hour viewing them while taking pictures and videos.
Later visit the Batwa Pygmies and Participate in the cultural performances and so on. Return for dinner and overnight at Lodge as above
Day 6: Gorilla trekking experience
Early in the morning after breakfast and a briefing from the UWA officials, set off for the gorilla tracking. This is a once life time experience and unforgettable adventure. The ranger guides will lead you into the thick forest and start your search for the endangered Mountain Gorillas. You will move up and down the rugged terrain until you finally meet these harmonious creatures that will entertain you with performances for about1hour.
The activity can take 2 -7 hours since the gorillas move up and down. This is an awesome and exciting moment. En-route, there are other types of the primates such as the monkeys, birds and more. Return for dinner and overnight stay as above.
Day 7: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park – Ishasha
After enjoying your cup of coffee in the morning, depart the park and embark on your journey to Queen Elizabeth national park-home to the tree climbing lions. It’s a 5-6 hours’ drive, arriving in Ishasha area at good time for lunch.
After your lunch, enjoy a game drive in the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth national park for chances of spotting the tree climbing lions and other animals. Late afternoon, connect to your lodge located 2 hours’ drive away from Ishasha area. Dinner and overnight stay at Elephant Hub lodge for mid-range/Pumba Safari Cottages for budget/Elephant Plains Lodge for luxury
Day 8: Game drive in Kasenyi and afternoon boat cruise
Early in the morning after breakfast, you will set out for the lion tracking experience and game drive in search for early risers in the Kasenyi area. The park has diverse eco-system of grassy plains, rivers, crater lakes, forests, swamps and lakes. These are a home to various types of wildlife and a game drive in Queen Elizabeth will reward you with views of animals such as lions, antelopes, buffalos, elephants, waterbuck, Uganda Kob and other types of antelopes.
Return to your Lodge for lunch and after, go for a 3 hours launch cruise along the Kazinga Channel and into Lake Edward. This cruise will let you pass through a place of the highest concentration of hippos and you may also see many animals drinking at the water’s edge. The cruise also offers good platform for photography, bird watching and game viewing. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight as above.
Day 9: Drive to Fort portal – visit Amabere caves and crater lakes
Early morning after breakfast, depart the lodge Proceed for your long journey to Fort portal which is about 3 hours’ drive from Queen Elizabeth national park. Arrive at good time for lunch, check-in at your reserved lodge. Later afternoon, drive to visit the Amabere caves and waterfalls there is an interesting history for the caves relation the Tooro Kingdom. Also visit the crater lakes before you return to your hotel. Dinner and overnight stay at Westend Motel for budget /Nyange Resort/Aramaga Lodge for mid-range/Kyaninga Lodge for Luxury
Day 10: Transfer to Semliki national park – visit the Sempaya Hot springs
After your breakfast, embark on your 2 hours’ drive to Bundibungyo district which is about 2hours drive from Fort portal town. Connect to Semuliki national park where we find the Sempaya hot springs which are the main attractions of Semuliki national park. These hot springs are the largest in Uganda, divided into female and male however they both have a geyser that shoots up from 8 meters holes with a high temperature of up to 100 degrees Celsius. The strength and hotness of the springs are amazing as one can boil eggs and in few minutes, it is ready to eat. The community around the park also visit the springs to perform rituals basin on their beliefs.
Thereafter, connect to stay at Semuliki Safari Lodge for luxury/Ntoroko Game lodge for mid-range. All meals will be provided at the lodge.
Day 11: Game drive in Toro in Semuliki wildlife reserve – Transfer to Kibale national park
After breakfast at your lodge, check-out and transfer to Kibale national park. It’s a 3 hours’ drive. You will enjoy a morning game drive before your leave the park. Check-in at your lodge, have lunch and spend your day exploring the interesting places around the park such as the crater lakes. Dinner and overnight stay Crater Safari Lodge for luxury/Chimpanzee Guesthouse for mid-range/Isunga Safari Lodge
Day 12: Chimpanzee tracking and Bigodi swamp walk
Wake up very early, enjoy your breakfast and set off to the park headquarters with your trekking gears, packed lunch and water. Meet with other trekkers and gather for a briefing from the park officials where you will be guided on the expectations. Thereafter in only a group of 12 people and ranger guides/researchers, set off for chimpanzee trekking experience. This is a 2-5 hours activity where you will trek habituated chimpanzees and on finding then, you will be allocated 1 hour in their presence.
After trekking, have your lunch then then connect for a Bigodi swamp walk for about 2 hours, return to relax at your lodge with great views of the area and crater lakes. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above
Day 13: Transfer to Murchison falls national park – Top of the falls visit
After breakfast, depart from the lodge to transfer to Murchison falls national park. It’s a 7-8 hours’ drive with en-route lunch via Papidi – Hoima towns. Entebbe the park via Kichwabanyobo gate and connect to your booked lodge with en-route stop at the top of the falls. Proceed relax at the top of the Murchison falls before you continue to check-in your lodge for a dinner and overnight at Pakuba safari lodge for mid-range/Paraa Safari Lodge for luxury/Heritage Safari Lodge for budget
Day 14: Game drive and boat cruise along River Nile
After an early breakfast at your lodge, you will go for a morning game drive on the delta area which is the best place to find most of the animals that reside in the park. The activity takes about 2-3 hours spending on the availability of the animals such as the Savannah Elephants, Rothschild Giraffes, Cape Buffaloes, Lions, Hartebeest, Uganda kobs, Oribis and Waterbucks. After the game drive, you will return to the lodge for lunch.
Later afternoon, go for a launch cruise on the along the Nile which will give you an exciting panoramic view at the bottom of the mighty Murchison falls. Along the cruise, you will encounter crocodiles, hippos, and birds on the river banks like kingfisher, cormorants and bee-eater. After viewing the falls at the bottom, hike to the top of the falls. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above
Day 15: Transfer to Jinja Via Kampala for the COVID 19 PCR test
After breakfast at your lodge, check-out of the lodge and embark on your journey to your next destination – Jinja town. Jinja is located in the Easern part of Uganda taking 608 hours’ drive from Murchison falls national park driving vai Kampala for en-route lunch. Jinja is home to the source of River Nile and upon arrival in Jinja, connect to your booked hotel for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at Jinja Nile Resort for luxury/2 Friends Jinja Guesthouse for mid-range/Source of the Nile for budget option
Day 16: white water rafting
After early morning breakfast, drive out of the hotel to connect for your Jinja Nile experience on a white water rafting experience. This is close to a full day experience. You will be briefed and provided with the gears for rafting.
Thereafter, return to the lodge for lunch. Later afternoon, visit the source of the Nile and also on a sunset boat cruise on the Nile before you return to your hotel for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at hotel as above
Day 17: Transfer to Entebbe – Departure
Depart the lodge at leisure after breakfast to connect back to Entebbe taking about 3-4 hours’ drive depending on the road traffic. You will have your lunch in Kampala with sightseeing around Kampala town then proceed to Entebbe where you will be dropped off at Best western Garden Hotel. After dinner, you will be dropped off at Entebbe airport 3 hours before your return flight back home. End of Safari
