15 Days Best Of Uganda Safari Tour

This 15 days Best Of Uganda Safari Tour starts and ends in Entebbe International Airport.  You will go and explore main destinations in Uganda such as Murhison falls that squeezes through the narrow gorge, Kibale forest, Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi forest national park meet eye to eye with the amazing gorillas in their natural habitat. This close encounter with these gorillas and chimpanzee is simply breathtaking. You will also get close range with the big five, amazing landscapes and a diversity of Uganda culture.

15 Days Best Of Uganda Safari Tour  Highlight   

Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe International Airport

Day 2: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park with stopover for optional Rhino Tracking

Day 3: Morning game drives and afternoon boat cruise on the Nile

Day 4: Transfer to Kibale National Park

Day 5: Excursion to Semliki NP for the hot spring and Batwa community dance

Day 6: Morning Chimpanzee tracking and optional Bigodi swamp walk in the afternoon

Day 7: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National NP and Boat Cruise on Kazinga Channel

Day 8: Game drive or Optional hot air Balloon safari and optional Afternoon Nature Walk to the bat cave

Day 9: Transfer to Ishasha Sector – Tree Climbing Lions Search

Day 10: Transfer to Bwindi

Day 11: Gorilla Tracking

Day 12: Bwindi To Margical Bunyonyi

Day 13: Margical Bunyonyi to Lake Mburo – Afternoon Boat Cruise

Day 14: Lake Mburo to Jinja

Day 15: Source of the Nile

Day 1: Arrival At Entebbe International Airport

Meet and greet at Entebbe International Airport where your Best of Uganda safari tour starts by our representative who will warmly welcome you and facilitate seamless arrival formalities.  Your will then be transferred to your hotel where you will be briefed about your adventure safari.

Depending on the time of arrival you are advised to have money Changed on this day and time allowing you may go for city tour with the help of our driver/guide, visit the shopping Malls around town and craft villages to get items which you may need while in upcountry

Accommodation: Fair Way Hotel and Spa
Meal Plan: Bed and Breakfast 

Day 2: Kampala – Murchison Falls National Park

After your early morning breakfast drive northwest to Murchison Falls National Park, you may stopover at the Rhino Sanctuary for an optional opportunity to trek Rhinos at an extra fee of $45 per person.  There are 15 Rhinos which were reintroduced after their extinction in the 1970s through poaching.  A local ranger guide will lead you on foot to an up-close encounter with the rhinos and it may take about 1 and half hours. Proceed to Masindi Town for lunch at your expense and later continue to Murchison Falls National Park arriving at your lodge late afternoon.

Accommodation: Pakuba Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 3: Murchison Falls National Park – Game Drives And Boat Trip

Arise very early in the morning for your game drive on the northern bank of the River Nile in your open-roof vehicle which will give you an excellent opportunity to view and photograph the diverse wildlife. Your guide will help you spot elephant, lion, cape buffalo, Roth child’s giraffe, hartebeest, waterbuck, oribi, bushbuck, bohor reed buck, hyena and if you are lucky, the leopard.

After lunch, go for a boat cruise upstream the calm Victoria Nile to the base of the falls stopping just few of meters from the ‘Devil’s Cauldron’, marvel at the schools of hippos, crocodiles and over the 17km stretch you may see elephant, waterbuck and Uganda Kob. This is also the zone of many birds, species like goliath heron, Egyptian goose, pelican bee-eater, kingfisher, hornbill, cormorant and the rare shoebill stork. After taking shorts of the photogenic Murchison Falls, you may continue to the top of the falls at an extra fee of $15 per person where you will have the amazing view of the falls! See where the Nile -world’s longest river explodes violently through a narrow cleft  in the Rift Valley escarpment to plunge into a frothing pool 43m below. Later, return to your lodge and relax in the evening.

Alternatively, you may choose to pay a supplement of $500 per group below 10 PAX to join a boat cruise to the bottom of the falls where you will mix with the high concentration of mammals  as well you will get a chance of coming close to the endemic Albertine rift Shoe bill stork in the wilderness

Accommodation: Pakuba Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 4: Murchison Falls National Park – Kibale Forest National Park

After your morning breakfast, Carry packed lunch from the lodge and  begin your journey to Kibale Forest National Park. Drive south via Hoima to Fort Portal through verdant countryside passing through traditional homesteads, farms and Tea Estates. You will arrive at your lodge in the late afternoon. Check in at your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Accommodation: Isunga Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: Full board 

Day 5: Kibale – Semliki National Park

Depart early after breakfast for the hot springs tour. Enjoy a full day pursuing the Semliki Valley Wildlife Reserve, The Park is dominated by the easternmost extension of the great Ituri Forest of the Congo Basin. This is one of Africa’s most ancient and bio-diverse forests; one of the few that survived the last ice age, 12-18,000 years ago. Your guide will point out and explain the park’s diversity of wildlife and flora and fauna. The Sempaya hot springs are Semliki’s most famous attraction. There’s a “male” spring, known as Bintente, measuring 12m in diameter and is set in a lush swampy clearing. The “female” spring Nyasimbi, meaning “the female ancestors”, is a boiling geyser (103°C) which spurts bubbling water and steam up to two meters high – the steam cloud can be seen from as far as 2km away. Local residents used to cook their food in these boiling pools.

Crown the day with a visit to the local Batwa community located in Ntandi. The community dancers put on traditional performances for visitors. The visit to the villages has proven to be an interesting cultural experience. The guide will have lunch arranged for you to be served as a picnic while you experience the “Real Africa”.  Return to your accommodation for dinner and an overnight stay.

Accommodation: Isunga Safari Lodge
Meal Plan:  Full Board

Day 6: Chimp Trek Kibale Forest National Park

After breakfast at your lodge, transfer to the starting point of your Chimpanzee tracking experience in Kibale Forest National Park which is reputed to have the greatest variety and highest concentration of primates in East Africa. The most famous of its 13 species is the Chimpanzee, man’s closest relative. Kibale’s 1450 Chimpanzee represent Uganda’s largest population of this endangered primate. Kibale is also a home to the rare I’Hoest’s monkey. Other primates include the black and white Colobus, Blue monkey, Grey cheeked mangabey, Red tailed monkey, Olive baboon to mention but a few. So you will enjoy a guided nature walk in the tropical rainforest in search of the wild chimpanzees, red-tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys and many others.  Although chimp sightings are not guaranteed, visitors stand a good chance of hearing and seeing our distant cousins as they gloom and bond with one another.

Alternatively you may opt to do chimpanzee habituation experience by paying a supplement of $70, this exercise takes the whole entire day.  Only 6 people are allowed per day and you will be sure to come face to face with these closest cousins of man. Advance booking is necessary for this option.

After lunch, head to Bigodi for an optional afternoon swamp walk at an extra fee of $45 per person. Bigodi was established by a local development organization to protect the 4sq-km Magombe Swamp that’s home to around 200 species of birds (highlights include papyrus gonolek, white-winged warbler and great blue turaco). The highlight of this tour is catching a glimpse of the great blue turaco. The swamp is also good for spotting butterflies and primates, with 8 different species here, including grey-cheeked mangabey. The 2-3 hour guided walk is led by experienced local guides who interact with the guests and make the trip both enjoyable and exciting.

Accommodation: Isunga Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: Full Board 

Day 7: Kibale Forest National Park -­ Queen Elizabeth National park

After breakfast at your lodge before you proceed to Queen Elizabeth National Park following the mystical Rwenzori Mountain Range. Your expert driver guide will take you through the game park where you might spot some animals.

Upon arriving at your lodge, you will enjoy a hot lunch and later in the afternoon take a unique 2-hour boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel into Lake Edward. This trip passes through possibly the highest concentration of hippos and this launch/cruise offers an excellent platform for photography, bird watching and game viewing.  The prolific bird life is colorful and stupendous, with well over 550 resident species.

Accommodation: Elephant Hab Lodge
Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 8: Queen Elizabeth National Park – Game Drives

Queen Elizabeth National Park’s diverse eco-system of grassy plains, tropical forest, rivers, swamps, lakes and volcanic craters is home to an incredible abundance of wildlife.  Have an early morning game drive where you have an opportunity to view the massive Rwenzori as backdrop, which provides excellent opportunities to spot lion, leopard, giant forest hog, Cape buffalo, elephant, defassa waterbuck, Uganda Kob, topi and bushbuck. The game drives and the boat trip (taken prior) are memorable methods of discovering a vast array of Ugandan wildlife. Be sure to have your camera ready for these amazing sightings!

Alternatively you may opt to go for a balloon safari on payment of a supplement of $380. Arise early in the morning and proceed to the starting point of your balloon safari at the Kasenyi gate of Queen Elizabeth NP at 5:30am. This early drive in the dark is a chance to see nocturnal animals that live in and around the park. You will meet your pilot and be given a safety briefing and instructions for boarding the balloon as well as landing procedures. The flight gives you great photo opportunities that are different from an ordinary safari on the ground. As you gently drift over the park, you can watch the sun rise as savannah below come to life with birds and animals. After landing, celebrate the flight with a glass of sparkling wine. After the toast, passengers sit down to a delectable bush breakfast prepared by Mweya Safari Lodge. The bush breakfast makes for a memorable ending to your ballooning adventure in Queen Elizabeth NP.

Have an afternoon optional Nature Walk at an extra fee of $30 per person to the bat and hunters cave where we take a close look at the bats, rock python and forest cobras. The same walk will provide a chance of seeing birds, primates, tree species etc. Return to the lodge for dinner and your last overnight stay.

Accommodation: Elephant Hab Lodge
Meal Plan: Full Board 

Day 9: Ishasha – Tree Climbing Lions  Search

After your early morning breakfast, pack-up your bags and transfer to IshashaPlains, a Sector in Queen Elizabeth, Enjoy the wilderness and its habitants that are highlighted by Uganda’s Tree Climbing Lions as well as numerous Birds and more Mammals.

Have Lunch and Proceed with another afternoon Search for More mammals or relax at the Lodge.

Accommodation:     Topi Safari Lodge
Meal Plan:  Full Board

Day 10: Queen Elizabeth National Park – Bwindi Impenetrable National park

After your early morning breakfast, pack-up your bags and drive through Ishasha plains for your final visit with the tree climbing lions and other wildlife before heading out of the Queen Elizabeth National Park and on to Bwindi.  The drive takes you through the Switzerland of Africa area known as the Kigezi Highlands with its terraced hillside and winding roads to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, arriving in the evening. Check into the lodge for dinner and your overnight stay.

Accommodation: Bakiga Lodge
Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 11: Gorilla Tracking In Bwindi Forest

After an early breakfast depart to the starting point for briefing about your gorilla trekking adventure after which you will be led by experienced gorilla trackers on the slopes of the volcanoes. You will start from the site where the gorillas were encountered the day before and from here the gorilla tracking begins. Although the hike can be physically demanding, the anticipation of the exciting experience ahead is amazing, and the beauty of the gorilla forest and its inhabitants are fascinating. One of Uganda safari tour highlights is when you encounter these gentle apes. It is a humbling experience to stand just meters from man’s distant cousins as they eat rest, play and bond with their young ones. Follow the mountain gorillas as they range freely in the impenetrable forest, and discover their gorgeous natural habitual and the many species they share it with. You are allowed an hour with the gorillas before finally sloping down back to your lodge. If your trek was relatively short, you may have a guided nature walk around the lodge and the surrounding communities in the evening. Return to the lodge where you will enjoy dinner with your fellow travelers before getting a good night’s rest for tomorrow’s safari adventure.

You may opt for Gorilla Habituation on supplement of $800 per person – here you will be sure of meeting and spending enough time with the Gorillas.

Don’t forget to carry your rain gear, packed lunch, plenty of water, gloves, hat, and water proof bag for protection of your camera in case of rain

Accommodation: Bakiga Safari Lodge
Meal Plan:     Full Board

Day 12: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park – Lake Bunyonyi

After breakfast drive to Lake Bunyonyi which has breathtaking scenery. Spend the night overlooking Uganda deepest lake, where you may try your hand at paddling at dugout canoe, or eating fresh water crayfish.

Accommodation:    Bunyonyi Rock Resort
Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 13: Lake Bunyonyi – Lake Mburo National Park

After breakfast, drive to Lake Mburo national park. Check in your booked hotel, have luch and relax before heading to the park for an amazing night game drive to spot a number of wild animals such as zebras, Kobs, eland, leopard among others. Drive back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation:  Rwakobo Rock lodge
Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 14: Safari Walk In Lake Mburo National Park – Jinja

After breakfast have a safari walk under the escort of an armed ranger. The Kopjes are particularly interesting with the camouflage kilspringers and topis. Due to cattle herding in the area it is amusing to see zebra grazing alongside the long horned Ankole cattle peaceably.  It is exciting to approach wildlife at such close range.

Later drive to Jinja with a stopover at the Equator for water experience, here you will too have an opportunity to stand in 2 hemispheres at the same time.  Take some photos, then another stop over at the Mpigi Royal Drum Makers where you will be able to watch the ceremonial drums being crafted using methods passed down through the generations arriving in the afternoon.

Accommodation: Source of the Nile hotel
Meal Plan: Bed and Breakfast 

Day 15:  Visit To The Source Of The Nile – Departure

Arise early morning with to enjoy rays of sunlight spreading on the green canopy and grasses that fringe the source of the Nile, have your breakfast and lead to the source of the Nile for a Morning memorable Boat Cruise that will lead you to the Napoleon Gulf where the Nile River starts to travel Miles through Sudan – Egypt leading finally to the Mediterranean sea. While at The source of the Nile, View the Mahatima Ghadi Monument as well John Hanning speke Monument where he stood to point at The point where the Nile starts to spread to Mile – You May Try out To sample some fish at your Expense while at the source of the Nile.

Have early Lunch in a selected restaurant in town or at the Hotel and Proceed to Entebbe Airport with a stopover at Mabira Road side Market for barbaque of roasted chicken and Gonja all at your experience, proceed straight to the Airport to end your best of Uganda safari tour. 

Inclusive:

• All ground transportation in A 4×4 safari vehicle with all fuel
• Full time driver/guide with all his associated expenses
• Accommodation based on per person sharing
• Meals are on Full Board apart from in Cities or Towns.
• Park entrance fees
• Boat cruises
• Game drives
• Ferry Crossing
• Batwa Community Experience
• 1 Chimpanzee permit per person
• 1 Gorilla permit per person
• Safari Walk in Lake Mburo
• Equator water Experinec
• Source of The Nile Entrance
• Well bottled mineral water
• Any other items included in the above itinerary

Exclusive:

• International Air tickets
• Visas
• Personal insurance
• All meal enroute an in Cities/town where Accommodation is on Bed and Breakfast
• Personal expenses such as drinks, tips, telephone calls, etc
• All meals en route and in cities
• Any other items which are not included in the above itinerary
• All optional activities