This 9 Days Budget Uganda adventure safari is good and perfect package for get away. This trip comprises of hiking, wildlife experience, and water experiences. Sipi falls is located on the foothills of Mount Elgon and they are said to be most beautiful waterfalls in Uganda. Sipi falls consists of 3 waterfalls separated by steep hillsides outside the boundary of Mount Elgon national park. Sipi falls has therefore earned being called the most visited tourism site in Uganda.
Lake Bunyonyi is Uganda and East Africa’s deepest lake with estimated depth of about 44 meters to 900 meters deep and a width of about 7 kilometres to 25 kilometres wide. Visiting Lake Bunyonyi is the best way to end your gorilla trekking safari as a way of relaxing during your trip. There are a variety of fun activities one can do in Lake Bunyonyi including Zip linking, Hiking, Community tours, canoe ride, birdwatching, and discovering the islands on the lake while on a boat trip. Bwindi Impenetrable 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. Bwindi Impenetrable national park inhabits half of the remaining endangered mountain gorillas in the world and it is divided into 4 sectors including; Buhoma sector which is the oldest trekking sector, Rushaga sector which has the largest number of gorilla families, Ruhija sector and finally Nkuringo sector. It is the best place for gorilla trekking in Africa.
Lake Mburo national park is one of the savannah national parks with plenty of Antelope species and is named as one of the best birding destinations in Uganda. Lake Mburo national park is the only park with the Eland, Impala and the Klipspringer and it also has the largest population of Zebras in Uganda. The park sits on a 370 kilometre area with reach in a variety of habitats including the rocky outcrops, open savannah and woodland, Lakes and swamps, forest, busy thickets and animals. Activities enjoyed in Lake Mburo national park include; Game viewing safaris, walking safaris, Horseback ride safaris, Mountain biking safaris, Boat cruises on Lake Mburo and birdwatching. With a Kampala city tour, this safari is even more interesting with the beauty of Kampala city, a city with a variety of things to do and see.
Safari highlights
Day 1: Arrival – Kampala city sightseeing tour
Day 2: Transfer to Sipi falls
Day 3: Transfer to Jinja – Sunset boat cruise on Lake Victoria
Day 4: White water rafting and transfer to Kampala
Day 5: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
Day 6: Optional gorilla trekking/ boat trip on Lake Bunyonyi
Day 7: Transfer to Lake Mburo national park
Day 8: Full day Lake Mburo Safari (Bicycle and horseback ride)
Day 9: Transfer to Entebbe airport – Departure
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Arrival – Kampala city sightseeing tour
Upon arrival at Entebbe international airport at, meet your safari guide and connect to Kampala city of Uganda. It’s a 45 minutes’ drive from the airport without traffic. Connect for a city tour visiting some of the most interesting places including; the Gadaffi mosque, Bahai temple, Nakasero Market, Uganda Monument, Art and craft market to mention a few depending on time with en-route lunch. Proceed to check-in your booked hotel for dinner and overnight stay at Fairway Hotel for mid-range/Sheraton Hotel for luxury/Forest Cottages of budget
Day 2: Transfer to Sipi falls
Early morning, meet your safari guide and embark on your journey to Sipi falls in Kapchwora district, it’s a 5-6 hours’ drive with en-route lunch then connect to Sipi falls is located in the foothills of Mount Elgon just at the edge of Mount Elgon national park nearing the Kenya border and the falls consist of 3 waterfalls with the highest fall dropping at 100m. Depending on your ability, you can hike 2 of the waterfalls or hike all the 3 falls. Before nightfall return to your lodge for dinner and overnight at Sipi River lodge
Day 3: Transfer to Jinja – Sunset boat cruise on Lake Victoria
If you missed out on the hike on the previous day, in the morning after your breakfast, do the hike and thereafter, transfer to Jinja town. Arrive in Jinja at good time for lunch. Visit the source of the Nile and also connect for a sunset boat cruise along Lake Victoria. Remember to carry your cameras to capture the sunset and the birds on the Lake Victoria. Dinner and overnight at Jinja Nile Resort/2 friends Hotel for mid-range option/Source of the Smile Guesthouse for budget option
Day 4: White water rafting and transfer to Kampala
After breakfast, drive to the starting area for your white water rafting experience. On arrival you will receive a briefing and given the rafting gears then proceed to the rafting point for an adventurous rafting activity with lunch provided. Later late afternoon after trekking, drive to Kampala. It’s a 2-3 hours’ drive depending on the traffic. Dinner and overnight at Sheraton Hotel Kampala for Luxury option/Fairway Hotel for mid-range option/Forest Cottages for mid-range
Day 5: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
After breakfast, embark on your journey to the western part of Uganda – Lake Bunyonyi. It’s a 7-8 hours’ drive with en-route stop at the Uganda Equator and lunch in Mbarara town. Upon arrival, proceed to check-in your booked lodge for dinner and overnight stay at Arcadia Bunyonyi Cottages for mid-range/Lake Bunyonyi Overland Resort for Budget option
Day 6: Gorilla trekking and boat trip on Lake Bunyonyi
After breakfast, connect to Bwindi Impenetrable national park for gorilla trekking. The nearest gorilla trekking sector from Lake Bunyonyi is Ruhija sector taking about 2 hours’ drive. Upon arrival, you will receive a briefing from the park officials and thereafter, enter the forest to search for the gorillas. It takes 2-7 hours depending on their location. On finding them, you will be allocated an hour to enjoy seeing them, while they are feeding, playing and relaxing.
Drive back to Lake Bunonyi in the afternoon and enjoy a boat trip on Lake Bunyonyi. Lake Bunyonyi which is one of the deepest lakes is Africa. The Lake has almost 32 Islands. This will enable you visit most of the islands on the Lake. Each Island is named according to the bird species found on the Island and some were named because of their purposes for example the Punishment Island which is the smallest and was used by the Bakiga people to drop their girls who got pregnant before marriage. After the Boat ride, return back to the Lodge for relaxation while you watch the beautiful sunset. Dinner and overnight at lodge as above
Day 7: Zip-lining and Transfer to Lake Mburo national park – Boat cruise
Connect for the Zip lining experience. Sturdy ropes are connected between trees in the opposite banks of the Lake. You get to swing over the calm waters of the lake and even make half somersaults to touch the waters and feel the breeze on your face. If you are not interested in Zip-lining, after breakfast, transfer to Lake Mburo national park. Arrive in Lake Mburo National Park at good time for late lunch. After lunch, enjoy a boat trip on Lake Mburo for a birdwatching and find some animals like the hippos and crocodiles. Return to your lodge with sights of animals like the Zebras, Impalas to mention a few. Dinner and overnight stay at Mpogo Lodge/Arcadia Cottages Lake Mburo
Day 8: Full day Lake Mburo Safari (Mountain biking and horseback ride)
After breakfast, drive to the starting point of your mountain biking safari. You will meet your guide who will brief and ride with you on this safari. It takes 1 to 3 hours then drive back to your lodge. Relax as you wait for lunch. After lunch, connect for your afternoon horseback riding safari for 2 hours. Enjoy and evening game drive as your drive back to the lodge. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge at lodge at as above
Day 9: Transfer to Entebbe airport – Departure
After breakfast, embark on a journey back to Kampala/Entebbe with en route Lunch and at the Equator for water experiments and photographs, Royal drum Village at Mpambire for souvenirs. It’s a 7-8 hours’ drive from Kabale to Kampala/Entebbe. The driver will either drop you off at your booked Hotel in Entebbe or you will be dropped off at Entebbe airport for your flight back home.
End of 9 Days Budget Uganda Adventure Safari
