13-DAYS - TRANS-UGANDA TROPICAL SAFARI

Let us spread our wings across the savannah plains as we search the stunning national parks for unforgettable big 5 memories, and get up close and personal with the mighty silverback gorillas as we track them through the thick bamboo covers of the Virunga ranges. Have you ever witnessed the thunderous water explosions produced by the world's longest river (the Nile) as it squeezes through the 6 meters-wide gorge at Murchison Falls? So, let us spend 13 days exploring the splendour of Uganda's top tourist destinations.

Uganda’s stunning landscapes extend from the northern savannah plains to the western rainforest jungles, snow-capped mountains of the moon, and into the southwestern Volcano highlands. With the giant Lake Victoria washing off the whole central-southeastern corner, and hundreds of lakes around the landscape, from above, you could buy it off as a Claude Monet masterpiece.

HIGHLIGHTS

Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe Airport.
Day 2: Kampala – Murchison Falls National Park
Day 3: Murchison Falls National Park Uganda Safari
Day 4: Murchison Falls – Tourism City (Fort Portal)
Day 5: Semliki National Park Game Drive and Nature Walk
Day 6: Kibale National Park & Bigodi Swamp Walk
Day 7: Kibale – Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 8: Queen Elizabeth National Park Game Drive
Day 9: Queen Elizabeth National Park – Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 10: Bwindi Gorilla Safari
Day 11: Bwindi – Lake Bunyonyi - Lake Mburo National Park
Day 12: Lake Mburo National Park – Kampala
Day 13: Departure

ITINERARIES

Day 1: ARRIVAL AT ENTEBBE AIRPORT (46.9km to Kampala)

Our team will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your preferred place of accommodation in Kampala or Entebbe for much-needed refreshment. If time allows, we will proceed and take you on a city tour for an exciting introduction visit. The fresh air from Africa's largest freshwater lake (Lake Victoria) will greet you to a very welcoming Kampala city experience, with a cocktail of historical site visits, shopping, foodies, and nightlife experiences.

Day 2: KAMPALA – MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK (352km)

To the northeast, we will depart for Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda's largest and most beautiful protected area. We will stop for lunch in Masindi town before entering the park. We'll go to the magnificent falls, where you can marvel at the mighty River Nile. Be prepared to see key primates as we drive through the tropical forest of Bugungu before arriving at the top of the famous Murchison Falls, where you will hear the thunderous sound of river Nile waters as they funnel through a narrow cleft in the rift valley escapement.

We will take a short evening game drive through the savannah to the Albert Nile, where we will watch the beautiful sunset over the waters of the Albert Nile before dinner over the campfire at Red Chilli Rest Camp, where we will spend the night. Accommodation grades are available at Paraa Safari Lodge.

Day 3: MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK UGANDA SAFARI (30km)

After an early breakfast, we will go on a half-day game drive on the northern bank of the Albert Nile, which also happens to be Uganda's lowest altitude, escorted by an experienced ranger. Buffalos, Rothschild giraffes, elephants, Jackson hartebeests, oribis, waterbucks, lions, and a variety of antelopes and savannah woodland birds are among the animals to keep an eye out for. Our afternoon delight will be a two-hour boat ride upstream to the bottom of Murchison Falls. While there, we will get up close with elephants, hippos, crocodiles, and a variety of birds before heading to Red Chilli Rest Camp for dinner and overnight, with the option of upgrading to Paraa Safari Lodge.

Day 4: MURCHISON FALLS – SEMULIKI NATIONAL PARK (375 km)

A long road trip through Fort Portal, "the tourism city," will take you to Semuliki National Park, a birding paradise. While on the road, the magical beauty of the tropical rainforests will captivate your attention. You will gain a thorough understanding of why Uganda is known as the banana republic, as well as have the opportunity to experience true rural life. After a 7-hour drive to the foothills of Mountain Rwenzori, we'll check into your preferred choice of accommodation (midrange to high-range or camping) for dinner and the night over, such as Nyati game Lodge, Semuliki Safari Lodge, or Koi Koi Village, Isunga Lodge, Kibale Forest Camp, Chimps' Nest

Day 5: SEMULIKI NATIONAL PARK GAME DRIVE AND NATURE WALK (10 km)

Located at the northern foothills of Mt Rwenzori and within Ituri Forest, Semuliki National Park is a habitat for dozens of bird species found nowhere else in Uganda, including Lemon-bellied Crombec, Red-bellied Malimbe, Blue-billed Malimbe, Leaf love, Swamp palm bulbul, and Maxwell's Black swallow. Views of mountain Rwenzori ranges and the western rift valley towards the Congo basin and River Semliki are spectacular while driving. A nature walk through the rainforest while protected by game ragers will reveal the gifts of nature, such as the Sempaya hot springs and various primate species such as chimps, blue monkeys, vervet monkeys, and grey cheeked mangabeys, black monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, and olive baboons, among others. After exploring the semuliki tropical paradise, we return to Kibale Forest for dinner and overnight at designated accommodation areas such as Isunga Lodge, Kibale Forest Camp, Chimps' Nest, Nyati game Lodge, Semuliki Safari Lodge, or Koi Koi Village.

Day 6: KIBALE NATIONAL PARK & BIGODI SWAMP WALK (27km forest route)

Uganda's leading primate sanctuary, the number one destination for chimp tracking, and the only place in the world where you can see the greatest number of monkey species residing in one place. A guided trek through the tropical rainforest will also allow you to see rare plant species such as Lovoa swynnertonii, Cordia Millenii, and Entandrophragma Angolense. A nature walk through the Bigodi Swamp is an entirely different experience that will provide you with some fantastic birding and money viewing memories. Most importantly, the Bigodi Swamp Walk is a local community initiative run by the Kibale Association for Rural and Environmental Development (KAFRED), with all proceeds benefiting local communities in Bigodi. Many people have praised the Bigobi’s 4.5 km quality walk, which allows them to observe over 40 different species.

Many people have described the Bigobi 4.5 km quality walk as having the opportunity to see over 40 bird species in three hours of trekking. Dinner and overnight stay at designated lodges, such as Isunga Lodge, Kibale Forest Camp, Koi Koi Village, or Chimps' Nest.

Day 7: KIBALE – QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK (65km)

The route from Kibale vai Kasese offers rare views of the Mt. Rwenzori ranges on one side and the evergreen rift valley on the other, all in the middle of the Queen Elizabeth National Park, which is teeming with wildlife. We will first check in to our lodge and later in the day, we will enjoy a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel connecting Lake Edward and Lake George where we will see more birding, nature, and wildlife such as elephants, buffaloes, and hippos before heading for dinner and rest at the designated mid-range accommodation such as Kazinga Wilderness Safari Camp / Kasenyi Wild Game Reserve / Enganzi Game Lodge / Kisenyi Village.

Day 8: QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK GAME DRIVE (30km)

The dawn will launch us into the hunt for Africa's big five (lions, elephants, buffaloes, and leopards) as well as other wild species in their native habitat. After our afternoon lunch break, we will visit the Maramagambo Forest for a walk through the tropical forest, where you will have the opportunity to stretch your legs. The Blue Lake, as well as the Bat and Hunters Caves, are popular tourist attractions. You'll be able to get up close and personal with the bats, as well as the rock pythons and forest cobras that prey on them. As we finish our day at Uganda's second-largest, oldest, and most species diverse national park, you'll see primates, different bird species, and gorgeous fauna on the same trek.

Day 9: QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK – VIRUNGA RANGES (307km)

Before travelling to the extreme southwest in the Virunga volcanoes to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, we can't afford to miss out on the spectacular vista of Kyambura gorge, a 100-meter-deep valley of apes clothed in evergreen tropical rain forests on the eastern boundary of Queen Elizebeth National Park. Flamingos, monkeys, butterflies, and other species may be seen in the canyon, and a walk through the gorgeous valley is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We'll next go to Bwindi, where we'll eat dinner and stay the night at Mucha Hotel / Rushaga Gorilla Lodge / Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge.

Figure 8: The famous sunken forest of Kwambura Gorge is located in the northeastern corner of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Home of lost chimps

Day 10: GORILLA TRACKING EXPERIENCE (8km)

One of the most incredible safari experiences one can have is walking through the dense tropical rainforest cover of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and finally coming face to face with the hamble giants. Bwindi is the world's ultimate gorilla tracking destination, with a beautiful ecosystem and 18 habituated groups. Following hours of tracking, you will have an hour to observe these gorillas' unique behaviour, which will be an unforgettable experience! Our lodge will provide a restful evening at either gorilla safari lodge, mahogany spring, silverback safari and Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge

Day 11: BWINDI IMPENETRABLE NATIONAL PARK– LAKE BUNYONYI - LAKE MBURO NATIONAL PARK (292km)

We will head for Lake Mburo National Park in Mbarara after our early morning breakfast. We'll stop by Lake Bunyonyi, Africa's second deepest lake with a spectacular vista. The African Harrier Hawk, Malachite kingfishers, Pied kingfishers, and Egrets are among the many bird species that breed on Lake Bunyonyi's 29 islands. Before travelling to Lake Mburo National Park, we'll spend around 3 hours island hopping, canoeing, nature walks, birding, and swimming. We'll have lunch in Mbarara city as directed by our tour guide before heading to Lake Mburo National Park for an evening game walk and some sport fishing before dinner and a night's sleep in one of the park's selected lodges, such as Rwakobo Rock Lodge, Mantana Tented Camp, and Arcadia Cottages (mid-range lodges), with the option of upgrading to luxury lodges like Mihingo lodge and Lake Mburo Safari Lodge.

Day 12: LAKE MBURO NATIONAL PARK – KAMPALA (241km)

Fresh milk from Ankole long-horned cow will be our morning meal delight as we prepare for a cultural adventure with the Bahima and their most prized long-horned cattle experience. We will stop at the Igongo Cultural Centre on our way out of the park, where you can learn more about the Ankole culture and where we will have lunch before heading for Kampala. When we arrive in Kampala, we will check into one of the designated lodges in for dinner and a night before your next day's trip.

Day 13: DEPARTURE (47km)

You will bid farewell to the Pearl of Africa, enriched by a once-in-a-lifetime adventure and wonderful memories. You will be taken to the airport for your trip back home depending on the departure time. We hope to see you again in the future!