24 Days Uganda Grand Tour | Best of Wildlife, Gorilla, Culture

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe International Airport

Our company representative will receive you upon your arrival at Entebbe international airport. He will update you with all the information about the safari, the country, take you to get local currencies.

Later check in your hotel either in Entebbe or Kampala. Depending on the time of your arrival some optional activities can be arranged.

Day 2: Kampala city tour/ngamba island

Today you have two options; either going for Kampala city tour or visiting the Ngamba Island chimpanzee sanctuary.

For the Kampala city tour, it will take you to the Best Tourist sites in Kampal and these include the two world heritage sites; Kasubi Royal Tombs, Namugongo Martyr’s Shrine, Baha’i Temple, Old Kampala Mosque, king’s Palace not forgetting the owino market.

For Ngamba island, you will take a 45 minute boat ride to the rescue centre for the Chimpanzee, here you will have quality time with the closest human cousins before returning back to your hotel.

Day 3: Drive to Lake Mburo National Park

After breakfast, the driver guide will meet you and depart for Lake Mburo National Park on smooth roads with a driving time of 5 hours max, passing through small town before reaching at the Equator.

Here you will have the Equator experience of the Clockwise and Anti clockwise displacement of water of the northern and southern hemispheres respectively. Stretch legs, use facilities, refresh with cold drinks, coffee or tea and good art crafts.

We then continue to Lake Mburo National park, check in the lodge for lunch and later go for Nature/ Village walk in the early evening.

Day 4: Morning game drive and boat cruise in afternoon

After an early breakfast, we set out for a game drive in search for game animals such as; Leopards, spotted hyenas, bush pigs, giraffes, buffaloes, eland, topis, impalas, bushbuck, waterbuck, wart hogs, in addition to birds; great blue staling, bateraur eagles, twany eagle, valtures, bee eaters, among others.

We then have lunch at the lodge.

In the afternoon, we shall go for a boat ride on lake Mburo for water safari.

Here you will have a chance of seeing hippopotamus very close, Crocodiles, lots of water birds such as; The African fish eagles, African darter, Pied kingkishers, Malakaite kingfishers, and many more. Sun set view at Kazuma out look.

Day 5: Walking safari and later transfer to lake bunyonyi

After breakfast, we will go for a walking safari in the park.

Accompanied with an armed ranger guide, walking safari is very rewarding, apart from from bringing you close to wildlife, its also an avenue of seeing nature into detail, such as plants, flowers, insects which you might not have see while in the car.

After the wlaking safari, we transfer to lake Bunyonyi. We reach the lodge in the afternoon and then have a relaxing evening at the lake shores.

Day 6: Canoeing on Lake Bunyonyi

In the morning after breakfast, we set out for a canoe experience, visiting the surrounding islands and learning the history of the region.

Canoe trekking on this lake does not need any experience also the lake does not have big waves. This active takes an average of 3 hours, but very interesting. Return to the lodge for Lunch.

In the evening you go out for a hike to the view point of the lake of a village walk around the lake if not swimming in the lake.
Dinner at the lodge.

Day 7: Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Mid morning depature to Bwindi. Driving through the rolling hills of the Kigezi highlands with a Scenic view of the natural terraces, locals attending to their crops, you enter into world herritage site of the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Check into our lodge andthen have lunch. In the afternoon, we do community walk.

Highlight of this walk are the Batwa. These are people who lived in the forest before it was gazetted.

They are the Pygmies. They faced stigma from the general population which resulted into their settlement into the forest, others include, the coffee factory, traditional healer. Just to mention but a few.

We then return to the lodge.

Day 8: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi

After an early breakfast, we go to the park offices, for breifing and gorilla group alocation.

All forest activities are conducted by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, at this centre we meet the people who are joining the group of tracking. 8 people in each group are being led by a range guide and armed escorts into the forest.

Gorilla trekking is less predictable when it comes to the duration of the hike, but good news is the ranger guide is in communication with the trackers who leave early in the morning the visitors.

And its very rewarding after meeting the gentle gorilla family in their natural home.

Spend that quality time with them either by taking much more photos or just enjoying to once in a life Gorilla trekking experience.

We Return back from the tracking for our certificates before getting to our lodge for relaxing.

Day 9: Ishasha Queen Elizabeth National Park

We bid farewel to Bwindi impenetrable national park and drive to Ishasha the southern sector of queen Elizabeth national park.

This is the home of the Tree climbing lions. Other game includes big herds of Buffaloes, Elephants, Uganda kobs, Topi, Leopards, Hyenas.

Arrive to the lodge for lunch and later set off for an afternoon game drive in south, enjoying also the landscape and return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 10: Morning game drive and boat ride on kazinga channel

After an early breakfast, we set out for a game drive. This is just a right time of seeing Hyenas returning to their dens after the night also Lions hunting if not feasting.

Drive the northern part of Queen Elizabeth national park for a boat ride on the Kazinga channel in the afternoon.

This is a very good place of seeing Elephants, Buffaloes very close as they come to drinking water from the channel.

Thousands of hippos, Nile crocodiles, monitor lizards, many bird species, after check in at the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 11 : Morning game drive transfer to Kibale

After an early breakfast, we set out for a game drive in search for game animals such as; Lions, Leopards, hyenas, elephants, buffaloes, Uganda Kob, birds, such; martial eagles, long crested eagle.

Return to the lodge for check out and transfer to Kibale Forest National Park, lunch at the lodge.

We then go for a community walk or swamp walk in the evening. If it’s a community walk, here you will visit the traditional healer, local beer factor, and return to for the night.

Day 12: chimpanzee tracking in Kibale forest national park

In the morning after an early breakfast, you assemble to Kanyanchu visitor centre for briefing more about the Chimpanzee tracking and behaviors in their presence.

Later you will be led by a ranger guide into the forest to meet out closest cousins. Spend a quality hour with them. Tracking can be short or longer depending on the availability of food and fruits for the chimpanzee but the experience is always rewarding.

Return to the camp for hot lunch and restful evening. Opportunities of doing optional activities.

Day 13: Drive to Semuliki valley national park

After breakfast in the morning, we set off to Semuliki national park via fort portal one of the beautiful towns in Uganda.

A tea growing town in the shades of mountain Rwenzori
We then stop at Amabere caves, an historical place where a daughter to the king breast fed her son because her father had cut off her breast; some nice waterfalls are also present in this place.

A top of the world view and beautiful crater lakes. Enjoy the scenic drive to the Semuliki valley national park.

Day 14: Nature walk and Sempaya hot springs

In the morning we go for a Nature walk on Sempaya ntandi road. This wonderful forest track provides best views of monkeys and birds in the forest.

We continue to the famous hot springs, male hot springs called Bintente with a boiling point of 110 degrees C, and female hot springs boiling up to 103). Later, we transfer to fort portal for overnight.

Day 15: depart for Murchison falls national park

After breakfast, we start driving northwards though kagadi and a hot lunch stop in hoima. A big town with nice restaurant for a good warm lunch even chances of local food and fruits.

After continue via Butyiaba escarpment, view point of Lake Albert on a clear day, entering the park n the afternoon. Checking in our lodge, with a free evening. Dinner at the lodge

Day 16: Morning game drive and boat ride in the afternoon

Today we set off very early in the morning in search for game especially the cats that are more active at this time.

Animals to be seen include; The Jackson heartbeats, Giraffes, Oribi, Uganda Kob, Water buck, Buffaloes and predictors like Lions, Leopard, Hyenas, Jackles not forgetting the big giants like Elephants.

After the morning game drive, we return to the lodge for lunch and boat ride in the afternoon. Aquatic animals and birds are seen during this boat ride, to mention but a few; Hippopotamus, Nile crocodiles, African fish eagles, Bee eaters, King fisher’s and lots more.

Seeing the bottom of the falls you will hike up to the top of the falls, for a clear view of the falls where you will meet your guide to bring you back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 17: Rhino tracking and transfer to Gulu

After breakfast we drive to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, the breeding ground of White Rhinos.

Rhinos in Uganda by 1984 had been killed to extinction, which led to the establishment of this sanctuary and it’s also the only place in Uganda where you can see Rhino in their natural habitat.

Tracking Rhinos is very amazing because it’s like a nature walk with a ranger guide where you stand very close to the endangered Rhinos.

After tracking settle for hot lunch before continuing to Gulu for and overnight.

Day 18: Kidepo valley National park

In the morning we drive to Kidepo National park through vast open plains and small settlements along the way to Karamoja. Driving time is 5-6 hours arriving for hot lunch at the lodge.

In late afternoon we set off for a game drive, searching for Giraffes, Buffaloes, Elephants, Elands, Zebras, Reedbucks, Lions, Leopards, Cheetahs,Jjackals, Caracal, with a lot of birds, snakes on a lucky day.

We then return to the lodge for dinner.

Day 19: Morning game drive and Cultural village tour

After a very early breakfast if not packed, we set off for a morning game drive in northern side of the park crossing the Kidepo River.

This side we stand great chances of seeing Ostriches and Cheetahs, early morning is just about time to see predators in action.

Morning game drive is highlighted by the visit to the Kanatarok hot springs and the South Sudanese boarder.

We Return to the lodge for hot lunch and in the afternoon visit the Karamajong cultural village. This is a unique Culture similar to the Masai people of Kenya.

Leaving in big settlements and many huts called the (Manyattas).

Day 20: Drive to Pain Upe

After breakfast, we set off for Pian Upe game reserve. Driving time of 6-7 hours, the drive is long but worthwhile, seeing the Karamajong settlements and some attending to their cattle, open plains offers food for the eyes.

Arriving in the late afternoon or evening depending on the condition of the road. The Pian upe covers a total area of 2788 square kilometers, gazette as the Debasien Animal sanctuary in 1958 and graduated as a game reserve in 1962.

Day 21: Whole day game drive in Pian Upe

In the morning after breakfast, we go out for a Game drive. This is very great place to see Ostriches, common Elands, and vast range of game, including; Greater Kudu, Roan antelope, Cape Buffalo, four toed Hedgehog.

We then return to the camp for lunch as we prepare for second game drive in the evening, being one of the remote game reserve a lot of unique sightings are expected like the Cheetah and Leopard.

Day 22: Transfer to Sipi falls

Morning after breakfast we aim for Sipi falls. These are a series of falls found in the eastern district of Uganda bordering Kenya on the edge of Mount Elgon National park.

Taking a nature walk and hikes is a big reward having spent much time sited in the car, the cave walk, coffee tours are also very interesting.

We arrive to the lodge for lunch before embarking onto the afternoon and evening Nature walks and hikes and then return to the lodge for dinner.

Day 23: Drive to Jinja

Jinja town is located south of Uganda and it’s the second largest city in the country after Kampala, the construction of the Owen falls dam in 1952 led to the big concentration of manufacturing industries in this town but also its geographic location is prime.

Jinja is located on the shores of Lake Victoria, offering good relaxation environment. It’s where we find the Source of the Nile, where the world longest river originates from.

The town offers boat ride to the source of the Nile. Nile River has series of waterfalls like the Bujagali falls and now the Itanda falls known for White water rafting with grade seven rapids, horseback riding can also be done in this town.

Day 24: Depart to Entebbe for your flight home

Our whole safari is coming to an end, depending on the time of the flight we can leave Jinja in the morning or afternoon for Entebbe international airport biding fair well to The pearl of Africa with compact and vivid experience of our 24 Days Uganda Safari