Description
UGANDA SAFARI HOLIDAY WITH WILDLIFE AND GORILLA SAFARI-15 DAYS
Day one:
The Uganda safari holiday begins with arrival at Entebbe Airport. The safari guide meets on arrival and transfers to Kampala. You check in at your Hotel at the and spend the evening either relaxing in your room or at the Spa enjoying massages, steam baths or at the swimming pool. Overnight at the Serena Lake Victoria Resort on a bed and breakfast basis.
TRANSIT TIME 45 MINUTES
Day Two:
After breakfast, the driver guide transfers through the Mabira forest on the way to Jinja. Transfer to the source of the Mighty River Nile where the you take a boat ride into Lake Victoria at a place where the Longest River in the World, The mighty Nile starts its 6,000km journey through Sudan and Egypt to the Mediterranean sea.
Later, drive through Jinja town and proceed to the Surjio’s guest house for an early lunch. In the afternoon, transfer to the Itanda Falls to enjoy the scenic vegetation, as well as the raging white water rapids. If time allows, you could have a quad bike trip along the Nile Banks or take a Bungee Jump here. For the rafters, it is possible to do a full day white water rafting trip on the River Nile. This trip covers over 25kms through tropical forests. Later, return to your accommodations for dinner and overnight at Jinja Nile Resort.
Day Three:
Morning breakfast at Jinja Nile Resort, then transfer through the Kayunga route towards Murchison Falls National Park. You will transfer to the Ziwa White Rhino ranch and track the Rhinos on foot. Thereafter, transfer to the top of the Murchison Falls and hike up to the Bakers summit, the falls seen by the Bakers in 1863. Take pictures of the falls in this spray of rainbow colors before driving to the Para Ferry crossing. Cross onto the northern bank and check in at the Paraa Safari Lodge for dinner and overnight.
TRANSIT TIME 7HOURS
Day four: Uganda Safari Holiday
Breakfast, then take a morning game viewing with a game tracker/guide on the northern bank as you trail and spot Elephant, Buffalo, Uganda Kob, Hartebeest, Oribi, Giraffe, Leopard and other game. It is only here that you can trail wildlife with an armed ranger guide. Return to the Lodge for a hearty lunch before taking a sun downer cruise to the bottom of the falls. On the Nile, the boat affords close up experiences of seeing Schools of Hippo, Nile Crocodile basking along the banks and protecting their eggs from the hyenas, Water bucks and a host of water birds like the saddle billed Storks, Goliath Herons as well as Kingfishers and black crakes.
Return for dinner and overnight at Paraa Safari Lodge.
Day five: Kibale
Breakfast early and depart from Murchison Falls National Park. This would be a very long drive through different villages and farmlands. Have a picnic lunch and transfer to the Ndali Lodge or the mid range Kibale Forest Camp arriving for dinner and overnight.
TRANSIT TIME 7 HOURS
Day six: Kibale National Park
Breakfast at the lodge and then transfer to the Kanyanchu visitor center where a briefing on chimpanzee trekking happens. Later, the groups will be split into trekking parties and the guide will begin the morning chimp trek. On the trail in the forest, the ranger guide will be pointing out species of monkeys as well as birds and different plants of interest. These include; Grey Cheeked Mangabeys, Red-tailed Monkeys, Olive Baboons and others.
A Chimpanzee troop which numbers over 40 individuals is tracked to the feeding area and it is possible to spot the chimpanzees hunting for red tailed monkeys, feeding on the fruiting trees, grooming or simply resting. The trek ends around lunch time and then a two hour drive to the Queen Elizabeth National park. You could stop by the Uganda Equator in the park before starting an evening game viewing safari of Queen Elizabeth National Park. You drive through Lake Katwe and the Leopard loop in search of Giant forest Hogs, Bushbuck and Leopard before heading to the Lodge to arrive for dinner and overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge.
TRANSIT TIME 3 HOURS
Day seven: Queen Elizabeth Tour Uganda
Morning wake up call and have hot chocolate, tea or coffee with snacks. Later, start the early morning safari in a custom built safari vehicle with a game viewing hatch. The wildlife viewing will be conducted in the Kob mating grounds near the Kasenyi tracks. It is here that the largest concentration of Lions, Uganda Kobs and other animals are found. The Vultures are usually seen perched on the Euphorbia trees as they feed off the carcasses left by the lions. Lion prides are observed resting in the thickets following their hunts for Uganda Kob and other animals.
Later, return to the Lodge by 9:30am or 10:00am to have breakfast and relax by the pool. Have lunch at the lodge and later take the afternoon game viewing boat cruise on the kazinga Channel. It is believed that the largest populations of Hippos in Africa is seen on this water body. Several schools of Hippo would be seen at the banks marking their territories with the occasional grunts, yawns and fights. The boat trip ends at the Kazinga Village where thousands of birds including Pelicans, Cormorants,Skimmer and Darters can be seen. Sail back to the lodge for dinner and overnight at the Mweya Safari Lodge.
Day eight:
Breakfast early and transfer to the Maramagambo Forest. The guides will lead the team on a nature walk along the trails in the Forest to the blue Lake as well as the Bat caves. At this place, several African Rock Pythons can be seen emerging out of the caves to feed on the millions of bats that reside in these rocks. Later, drive to Ishasha where the plains Lions can be observed climbing trees. This is an expansive area that is famous for its tree climbing Lions, Elephants, Topi, Cape Buffalo and Hippos.
Meals and overnight at Ishasha Wilderness Tented Camp.
Day NINE:
Morning breakfast at the Camp and have another game drive in search of the Elephants, birds and other wildlife. Later, proceed to Bwindi to take part in the Batwa cultural experience to learn about these forest people that inhabited large chunks of forests. They hunted for forest antelopes, gathered honey and berries and also lived in these protected areas before being gazetted wildlife parks. Later, proceed to your Lodge for dinner and overnight at The Gorilla Resort.
TRANSIT TIME 2 HOURS
Day TEN:
Wake up call and have breakfast at the camp. Later, drive to the nearby park offices to attend a briefing by the Tourism Conservation and the gorilla guides. You will be briefed on how to behave in the forest while in the presence of the gorilla family. Later, after registration, the gorilla trekking starts with trackers, guides and porters and this may take as little as a few minutes to as long as a couple of hours. Once the gorilla group is found, you will be allowed an hour to stay with the gorillas before breaking off for lunch in the forest. Later, walk back to your waiting vehicle and return to the park offices to receive a gorilla trekking Certificate. You will later return to your accommodations to freshen up. Later, dinner around 7 pm before overnight at the Gorilla Resort.
Day ELEVEN:
Morning breakfast and departure through the Impenetrable forest. This is truly a Tropical rain forest, mostly covered in mist. Teeming with very rare birds, Butterflies, Gorillas, Chimpanzees, Blue Monkeys and forest antelopes. Drive to Lake Bunyonyi arriving in time for lunch at the Arcadia Cottages. Take a guided tour by sailing to the Punishment Island by canoe. The local inhabitants of this area used to abandon unmarried pregnant girls on this Island as a punishment for conceiving before marriage. It is also here that men that would not afford bride price would pick up some of these girls and take them on as wives. Meals and Overnight at The Lake Bunyonyi Arcadia Cottages.
TRANSIT TIME 3 HOURS
Day TWELVE:
Breakfast at the Lodge and drive to Lake Mburo National park arriving for lunch at the Lodge. Spend the afternoon exploring Lake Mburo National park in search of Zebra drinking by the lake. Large Eland herds grazing among the Acacia shrubs, Topis marking territory and standing on earth mounds. Lake Mburo a haven for woodland birds in Uganda feature, scimitar bills, barefaced go away,papyrus gonoleks and other waterbird species. In the evening, transfer to your overnight accommodation arriving for dinner and overnight at the Lake Mburo Safari Lodge.
TRANSIT TIME 5 HOURS
Day THIRTEEN:
Breakfast early then meet your armed ranger guide in preparation for the morning activity. Later, start the game walk as the guide takes you through the Hyena’s Den. Next, you will walk through the Savannah grasslands dotted with acacia trees, you would be walking close to Zebras, Cape Buffalo, Eland Topis and Impala. At the swamp, it may be possible to spot Hippos and the shy sitatunga antelopes. Later, the waiting car will pick up and transfer to the hotel on another game drive. Check out of your Hotel then drive to Kampala, have the evening at the spa or by poolside. Overnight at Lake Victoria Serena Resort. Meal plan: Breakfast and lunch.
Day FOURTEEN:
Morning breakfast and drive to Entebbe where the speedboat will be waiting to transfer to Ngamba Island. On arrival, attend a briefing by the caretakers at the main hall, then visitors move to the viewing platform. Chimpanzees emerge from the forests to have their supplementary feeds behind an electric fence. The chimp viewing takes about an hour, before the return trip on speedboat to the mainland. Overnight at the Lake Victoria Serena Resort.
TRANSIT TIME 4 HOURS
Day FIFTEEN:
We end the Uganda safari holiday with a morning breakfast, later, your safari guide will transfer to the airport for your departure flight.
Uganda safari holiday tour cost
Tour price per person sharing in a double room starts at USD5,250 plus Gorilla permit at Top Lodges.
Price per person sharing in a double room starts at USD4,550 plus Gorilla permit at Mid range Lodges.
Per person sharing in a double room starts at USD3,750 plus Gorilla permit at Budget Lodges.
Uganda safari holiday price includes:
- Airport transfers
- Accommodation and meals on safari
- Park entrances
- Source of the Nile tour
- Guided nature walks
- Game viewing at Murchison falls
- Cruise on the River Nile
- Rhino safari at Nakasongola
- Ferry crossings at Paraa
- Chimpanzee walking tour at Kibale Forest
- Unscheduled stops to meet with tribespeople
- Game viewing at Queen Elizabeth National park
- Boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel
- 1 Gorilla trekking permit at Bwindi
- Lake Bunyonyi canoeing trip
- Lake Mburo guided walk with ranger guide
- Relaxing Uganda safari holiday at the Serena Resort
- Private 4×4 vehicle with knowledgeable driver guide
The Uganda safari holiday program excludes:
- Beverages other than those not listed on tour
- Personal expenses
- Kampala or Entebbe meals based on bed and breakfast basis
- Optional tours out of the Uganda safari holiday program
- tips
- portage at tented safari camps or lodges
- Alcoholic drinks at bars
