19 Days discovering Uganda’s Wildlife in all her National Parks

Day 1: – Arrival in Entebbe
You will be picked by our driver/guide who will transfer you to Airport Guesthouse Entebbe for overnight. He will brief you about the tour and what time to pick you on the next day.

Day 2: Transfer to Kidepo Valley National Park
After an early morning breakfast, you will head off to KidepoValley National Park passing via Luwero, Gulu and Kitgum. You will have lunch in Gulu and then proceed Kidepo via Kitgum staying overnight at Kidepo Savannah Lodge. The tents vary from shared bath and private bathroom facilities. Kidepo ranks among Africa’s finest wildernesses. From Kidepo Savannah Lodge just outside the national park, a savanna landscape extends in all directions, far beyond the gazetted area of 1,442km2, towards horizons outlined by distant mountain ranges. The rest of the day is for resting

Budget accommodation:- Kidepo Savannah Lodge (non self-contained rooms)
Comfortable accommodation: – Kidepo Savannah Lodge (self-contained rooms)
Drive Time: ± 10 hours

Day 3: – In Kidepo Valley National Park
After an early breakfast you will head inside the Kidepo Valley National Park for a game drive. Kidepo ranks among Africa’s finest wildernesses. From Apoka, in the heart of the national park, a savanna landscape extends in all directions, far beyond the gazetted area of 1442km2, towards horizons outlined by distant mountain ranges. In the afternoon you will go for a cultural visit of the Karimajong tribe.

Budget accommodation:- Kidepo Savannah Lodge (Self-contained Tents)
Comfortable accommodation: – Kidepo Savannah Lodge (Non Self-contained Tents)

Day 4: – Whole Day Game drive plus hot springs
KaramojongStart with an early breakfast and then go for a game drive along the trails of Kidepo Valley. The park inhabits one of the most exciting faunas of any Ugandan parks, with over 80 species of mammals several of which are endermic to Kidepo National Park like the cheetah, the striped hyena the caracal and over 465 bird species including the ostriches. In the afternoon visit the Karamojong village to learn more about their culture, music and dance Karamoja has a cattle culture and the Karamojong are notorious as cattle raiders. Unlike most other Ugandans, many Karamojong shun western-style clothes and instead wear “traditional” dress of a blanket -like shawl, often in red and black. The women wear elaborate beadwork.

Budget accommodation:- Kidepo Savannah Lodge (Non self-contained Tents)
Comfortable accommodation: – Kidepo Savannah Lodge (Self-contained Tents)

Day 5: – To Murchison Falls NP
day 5 Early in the morning after breakfast, and then leave for Murchison falls national park the northern sector with lunch along the way. The park is bisected by the Victoria Nile, which plunges 45m over the remnant rift valley wall, creating the dramatic Murchison Falls, the centerpiece of the park and the final event in an 80km stretch of rapids. The mighty cascade drains the last of the river’s energy, transforming it into a broad, placid stream that flows quietly across the rift valley floor into Lake Albert. There are a lot of animals to see on your way to the hotel through the park such as elephants, giraffes and buffaloes; while hippos, Nile crocodiles and aquatic birds are permanent residents. We reach Fort Murchison just outside the park boundaries later in the afternoon. Here we will stay and with a cool drink and a fabulous view over the river Nile the evening will come with all the noise of an African night.

Driving time: ± 5,5 hours

Budget accommodation:- Fort Murchison (non self-contained tents)
Comfortable accommodation: – Fort Murchison (self-contained rooms)

Day 6: – In Murchison Falls NP
In the morning we will go for the game drive, special are here the lions, giraffes, Elephants, Leopards, Uganda Kobs and many more animals… In the afternoon we have the impressive launch trip on the Nile to the Falls. Hippos, crocodiles, buffalo, elephants and many birds will be seen

Budget accommodation:- Fort Murchison (non self-contained tents)
Comfortable accommodation: – Fort Murchison (self-contained rooms)

Day 7: – In Murchison Falls NP
Early morning the boat will take us downstream to the delta. The place where the Nile enters Lake Albert. This trip of 5-6 hours will show us all the beauty of this national park especially the delta with all the different birds. Here is a good chance to see the elusive Shoebill stork! In the afternoon is a visit to the top of the Falls, a wonderful view.

Budget accommodation:- Fort Murchison (non self-contained tents)
Comfortable accommodation: – Fort Murchison (self-contained rooms)

Day 8: – To Kibale Forest NP
Early morning departure for the journey to Kibale Forest. We will pass close to Lake Albert, on a clear day the view from the top of the Albert rift is spectacular. In the afternoon we will arrive at Kibale Forest, sleeping with the noises of the tropical rainforest.

Driving time: ± 8 hours

Budget accommodation: Kibale Forest Camp (Non self-contained tents)
Comfortable accommodation: – Kiable Forest Camp (self-contained rooms)

Day 9: – Chimp walk and Swamp Walk
day 9At 08.00 we will start with the 4 hours chimp walk. Also 10 other primates can be seen!! The park is also known for all the butterflies and birds. In the afternoon a walk through Bigodi Swamp (community based project)

Budget accommodation: Kibale Forest Camp (Non self-contained tents)
Comfortable accommodation: – Kiable Forest Camp (self-contained rooms)
Day 10: – To Queen Elizabeth NP
Early morning departure for Queen Elizabeth. Via Fort Portal we reach at midday Mweya in Queen Elizabeth NP with a stunningly beautiful view over Kazinga Channel. In the late afternoon we will make a game drive.

Driving time: ± 5,5 hours

Budget accommodation:- Queen Elizabeth Bush Camp (Non self-contained Tents)
Comfortable accommodation: – Queen Elizabeth Bush Camp (self-contained Tents)

Day 11: – In Queen Elizabeth NP
day 11This day is for a game drive on the plains of Queen Elizabeth with thousands of Ugandan kobs, lions, elephants etc. Also on the program is a two hours launch trip on the Kazinga channel where we will see all the animals from the waterside.

Budget accommodation:- Queen Elizabeth Bush Camp (Non self-contained Tents)
Comfortable accommodation: – Queen Elizabeth Bush Camp (self-contained Tents)

Day 12: – In Queen Elizabeth NP
day 12Our second day in this beautiful park! Very early in the morning breakfast we go to Kyambura Gorge. Here you can go for a 3-4 hour walk in to the Gorge for meeting the chimpanzees. After the Gorge will drive to Ishasha Sector and have an evening gamedrive in search of the tree climbing lions.

Budget accommodation:- Queen Elizabeth Bush Camp (Non self-contained Tents)
Comfortable accommodation: – Queen Elizabeth Bush Camp (self-contained Tents)

Day 13: – To Kisoro
In the morning we leave Bwindi for Kisoro, the bad road takes us through a beautiful landscape called the “Switzerland of Africa”. We pass mountains,

hills and lakes with cultivated terraces and tropical rainforest and bamboo forest. On the last hill the landscape unfolds beneath us, in the vast plane of Uganda, Rwanda and Congo the Virunga volcanoes dominate the view. Down is Kisoro where we will stay in the famous Travellers Rest Hotel. Just outside Kisoro, this unique hotel offers a cozy stay for the tourists, who come to see the endangered mountain gorilla. The hotel, built in a somewhat colonial style, and entirely renovated in 1999, has a comfortable ambiance. In the sixties the famous American ‘gorilla-woman’ Dian Fossey visited Hotel Travellers Rest many, many times to do paperwork, to relax or to meet people. Fossey said about the hotel: ,,It was my second home
Driving time: ± 2 hours

Budget accommodation: – Travellers Rest Hotel Kisoro (self-contained rooms)
Comfortable accommodation: – Travellers Rest Hotel Kisoro (self-contained rooms)

Day 14: – Gorilla tracking
This is the day of Gorilla tracking. From Traveller’s Rest Hotel Kisoro it is 1 hour by car to Nkuringo/Nshongi/Mishaya/Kahungye group in South Bwindi. At 7:45 A:M you will be at the Offices of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest for pre-briefing and at 8:30 you will start the trek after finding the Gorillas you will spend with maximum 1 hour. All visitors are expected back to the starting point by 7:00 P:M. Being physically fit is recommended.

Budget accommodation: – Travellers Rest Hotel Kisoro (self-contained rooms)
Comfortable accommodation: – Travellers Rest Hotel Kisoro (self-contained rooms)

Day 15: – In Kisoro
Here everybody can do individually (or in a group) activities.

With local organizations and the National Park we have developed a number of very interesting activities:

2nd Gorilla tracking in Rushaga
Gorilla tracking in Rwanda (1 day) If tracking the second time client has to sleep in Rwanda the day before the tracking date
Climbing Muhavura Volcano (± 8 hrs; distance 12km; height 4127m; elevation gain 1700m; price USD $60 pp)
Climbing Gahinga Volcano (± 6 hrs; distance 8km; height 3474m; elevation gain 1100m; price USD $40 pp)
Sabinyo Gorge (± 4 hrs; distance 6km, no elevation gain)
Climbing the Sabinyo volcano (Sabinyo has three peaks, you can climb all three in the same walk, you need to be fit!! ± 8 hrs; distance 14 km; height 3669m, elevation gain 1300 m; price USD $40 pp)
In Magahinga to the viewpoint and Garama Cave (pygmy cave) (± 4 hrs; distance 1 and 4 km)
Bird walk in Magahinga (start at 10 AM, it can take up to 4-5 PM)
Several bicycle rides on mountain bikes. From 25km to 50km. The hills can be steep and tough!
Cultural village walk (with a local guide walking through the land of the Bufumbira tribe)
Walk to Lake Mutanda. Visit Python island and go canoeing on this beautiful lake.
Or just sit and relax or read a book in the garden of Travellers Rest!!
Budget accommodation: – Travellers Rest Hotel Kisoro (self-contained rooms)
Comfortable accommodation: – Travellers Rest Hotel Kisoro (self-contained rooms)

Day 16: – To Lake Mburo NP
Early in the morning we will leave for Lake Mburo National Park. You will have lunch in Mbarara before you continue to Lake Mburo, a smaller but unique park, and the only one in the Western part of Uganda with impalas and zebras. If staying in budget accommodation this afternoon will be for the village/cultural walk.

Driving time: ± 5,5 hours

Budget accommodation: – Eagle’s Nest Camp (Non self-contained standing tents)
Comfortable accommodation: – Eagle’s Nest Camp (Non self-contained standing tents)

Day 17: – In Lake Mburo NP
Early morning we will go for a game walk. In the afternoon a boat trip on Lake Mburo followed by another game drive in the afternoon / early evening. This little park hosts a variety of animals, that is to say 68 mammal species, including a large number of impalas (the antelope from which “Kampala” is named after), zebras Uganda kobs, duikers bushbucks, Ankole cattle topis, buffaloes, leopards, spotted hyenas, waterbucks, warthogs, oribi. There are 315 bird species including; shoebill stork, red faced barbet, crested crane, papyrus yellow warbler. The vegetation is mainly open Savannah of Acacia trees, Olea and Boscia.Lake Mburo is a natural haven for fauna and flora. The bank teems with animals and birds. Crocodiles and hippopotami are permanent residents, and buffalos come to drink during the dry season. Others include; impalas (the antelope from which “Kampala” is named after), zebras Uganda kobs, duikers bushbucks, Ankole cattle topis, buffaloes, leopards, spotted hyenas, waterbucks, warthogs, oribi. The wide variety of resident birds includes Malachite Kingfishers, Pied Kingfishers, African Fish Eagles, Rufous Long-tailed Starlings, Blue-headed Weavers, Green-necked Doves, Hammerkops, Pelicans, Herons, Cormorants and even rare Shoebills.

Budget accommodation: – Eagle’s Nest Camp (Non self-contained standing tents)
Comfortable accommodation: – Eagle’s Nest Camp (Non self-contained standing tents)

Day 18: – To Kampala / Entebbe
After breakfast the last part of the journey will bring us back to Kampala. On the way back you will have lunch in Mbarara town, and after Masaka there will be an opportunity to a stop at the Equator for photo shoots and buying souvenirs and have tea or coffee. We will then bring you back to Airport Guesthouse Entebbe for overnight. IF you continue your holiday somewhere else or back home, we will bring you directly to Entebbe airport for an onwards flight.

Driving time: ± 5,5 hours

Day 19: – Departure
If departing in the morning the hotel has a shuttle to the airport but if departing in the evening there many activities you can do in Kampala and Entebbe.

Optional: – Kampala City tour (USD $120 for vehicle including driver and fuel)
Entebbe Tour: Ngamba Island for the orphaned chimps (USD $88 per person), and it can be combined with Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (the former Zoo) Botanical Gardens at USD $10 p.p.