15-Days Uganda Safari: North to South Wildlife Adventure
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Entebbe
Embark on a 15-day safari adventure in Uganda, exploring the untouched wilderness of Kidepo Valley National Park and encountering the majestic Mountain Gorillas and Golden Monkeys in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Duration: 15 days
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights

To Jinja for Sunset Boat Safari on the Nile to view the Source of the Nile via Sezibwa Falls & Mabira Forest Reserve

Jinja - On this day, you will have your breakfast & drive through Kampala & head eastwards along the Kampala - Jinja highway to Jinja., home to Source of the Nile while passing through coffee, tea and sugar plantations and the colourful roadside fruit/vegetable markets.

You will make your first turn-off to Sezibwa Falls, a Buganda cultural heritage site, with beautiful waterfalls and cool atmosphere. Spend an hour here hiking the rocks, watching birds, and learning about the myths of the falls & the ancient traditional worshiping that is still practiced here.

Mabira Central Forest Reserve - Thereafter, you will return to the road & make another stopover at Mabira Rainforest - the largest forest in Central Uganda. You will head out for a 2-hour trek to the track the habituated Grey-cheeked Mangabeys, watch lots of birds, monkeys, squirrels or zip lining & enjoy the aroma of an African jungle.

Source of the Nile - Speke Monument - After your activities at Mabira Forest Reserve, you will get back to the main road & drive to Jinja for your lunch & go for sunset boat safari to the spot where John Speke discovered the source of the Nile. You will also be able to view the Source of the Nile - Speke Monument.

To Gulu with a stopover at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to track White Rhinos

Rhino Fund Uganda - On this day, you will have your breakfast & transfer to Gulu with a stopover at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to track White Rhinos.

You will arrive to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary at around 10:00 am and enter the territory of the southern white rhinos on foot where well-trained rangers will guide you through the bush to where the white rhinos are. You will get the opportunity to watch these endangered, magnificent creatures in their natural habitat before proceeding to Gulu City.

To Kidepo Valley National Park for Afternoon (Sunset) Game Drive

Kidepo Valley National Park - On this day, you will have your breakfast & transfer to Kidepo Valley National Park.

The drive will take you through the Karamojong Villages and you will also be rewarded with splendid views of the countryside. Kidepo Valley National Park is Uganda’s most isolated national park, but the few who make the long journey north through the wild frontier region of Karamojong would agree that it is also the most magnificent with ranks among Africa’s finest wildernesses.

You will arrive to Kidepo Valley National Park in the afternoon, have lunch and go for afternoon/evening (sunset) game drive where you will be able to see various animals like; Zebras, Elephants, Buffaloes, Giraffes, Lions among others.

Morning (Sunrise) Game Drive & Afternoon Karamojong/IK Cultural Experience

Kidepo Valley National Park - On your morning (sunrise) game drive, a ranger with extensive knowledge of the park will join you in your vehicle. The Park is known for its massive elephant population, wide array of bird species and big herds of buffalo. Giraffes, lions, antelope and waterbucks can also be spotted here and if you search the trees carefully, you may even spot the elusive leopards.

In the afternoon after your lunch, you will visit the Karamojong/IK Community. Here you will spend time in a Karamojong/IK village learning about their traditional way of life, traditional kraals, traditional dance, their typical manyattas and colourful blankets among others. You will also spend a wonderful evening with Karamojong & IK people & have an insight of their way of life and beliefs. At the end of the tour, you will be able to understand why their pride makes them slow to adapt to globalization.

To Murchison Falls National Park for Afternoon (Sunset) Game Drive

Murchison Falls National Park - On this day, you will have your breakfast and drive south west to Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s biggest National Park in Uganda. The drive will take you through the Karamojong villages where you will also be rewarded with splendid views of the countryside with several stopovers landscape and beautiful sceneries viewing. You will have a stop in Gulu town for lunch and to purchase some items then proceed to the National Park.

You will arrive to Murchison Falls National Park in the afternoon, have lunch and go for your afternoon (sunset) game drive where you will expect to see elephant, buffalo, antelopes and giraffe and keep your fingers crossed for lion and leopard. The game track network converges at Delta Point where the Nile flows north out of Lake Albert; this is a convenient place to stop for refreshments and view water birds offshore and distant hippos.

Morning (Sunrise) Game drive & Afternoon Boat Safari on Victoria/Nile River, Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison Falls National Park - On this day, your safari breakfast will be served before the day breaks so that you can start your morning game drive as the sun comes up. Sunrise is the best time for wildlife spotting as animals tend to be the most active during the “golden hours”, when the first rays of sunshine come to rest on the savannah. Elephants, buffalo and several species of antelope are some of the characters you may come across today, & if you’re lucky, you may even spot a lion or leopard.

You will return for lunch in the afternoon & go for a 3-hours boat safari upstream on the Victoria Nile to the falls where you will pass by breathtaking scenery, as well as many crocodiles, hundreds of hippos, buffaloes, water birds, monkeys & other animals that come down to the Nile. The boat will drop you near the waterfall for your hike (1-1.5 hours) up to the top of the falls (optional at additional cost of $15 pp).

Top of the Falls Walk & Transfer to Kibale National Park for a guided Crater Lakes & Plantations walk

Kibale National Park - On this day, you will enjoy your last sunrise & breakfast in this beautiful National Park in Uganda with a walk to top of Murchison Falls for about 30 minutes to 1 hour. Here is your chance to see the beauty of the Nile perfected. Marvel at the immensely powerful falls, caused by the 50m-wide Nile being funnelled into a 7-metre cleft in the rocks. Dropping 40 metres with a thunderous roar, the falls create a beautiful rainbow and an impressive plume of spray-they were once described as the most spectacular thing to happen to the Nile along its 6700-kilometre length.

You will immediately start your journey from Murchison Falls to Kibale Forest National Park through Fort Portal town. Fort-Portal rests in the shadow of the fabled Mountains of the Moon. You will enjoy spectacular views of the Mountains and tea fields along the way with other several stopovers for beautiful scenery, landscape viewing among others before reaching Fort Portal for your lunch at Fort Portal Garden Restaurant.

Fort Portal - In the afternoon after your lunch, you will go for a guided Crater Lakes & Plantation Walk. The landscape south of Fort Portal is dotted with picturesque crater lakes, some over 400m deep. These crater lakes are breathtakingly beautiful to behold, and offer one of the best hiking places in the area. The hikes lead you through several crater lakes, villages, tea plantations and waterfalls.

Visit to Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary OR optional Chimps Tracking at Kibale & Transfer to Semuliki for Sempaya Hot-Springs

Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary - On this day, you will wake up early and have breakfast and go for Community walk or go deeper into the forest on a Swamp Walk in the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary; home to 8 primate species, over 200 bird species, butterflies and various reptiles.

Kibale National Park - Alternatively go to Kibale National Park for optional Chimpanzees Tracking experience (optional at additional fee of $200 per person) where you will have the opportunity to follow an experienced guide into the forest to observe these fascinating creatures at a close range. Watching them interact with each other and go about their daily routine of grooming, playing and foraging is an incredible experience. While your chances of encountering chimpanzees are high during your tracking excursion compared to any other tracking points in Uganda, it is never 100% guaranteed. These are, after all, wild animals with wills and minds of their own! The park is also home for 10 other primates including l’ hoestes, red colobus, blues, red-tailed, and gray-cheeked mangabey. The guide will provide detailed explanations, not only on primates but on all the forest fauna and flora and will ensure that your walk is both informative and enjoyable.

Guided walk in Nature at Amabere Caves & Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park for Afternoon (Sunset) Game drive

Amabere Caves - On this day, you will wake up early for breakfast and go for a guided walk in Nature at Amabere caves where you will be able to view stalagmites, crater lakes, and birds viewing, hill climbing among others. Amabere Ga Nyina Mwiru Caves is a historic site believed to be the birthplace of the founding King of the Bachwezi. The Amabere Ga Nyina Mwiru meaning ‘Breasts of Nyinamwiru’ were named after the stalactites that form in the caves. They resemble the breasts of a woman, though some would say it looks more like a cow’s udder.

Queen Elizabeth National Park - In the afternoon after your lunch, you will embark on an exciting drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park following the mystical Rwenzori Mountain range for much of the journey.

You will arrive to Queen Elizabeth National Park in the afternoon and embark on your afternoon (sunset) game drive where you will expect to view animals like elephants, buffaloes, Lions, bush pigs, antelope’s families among others.

Morning (Sunrise) Game Drive & Afternoon Boat Safari on Kazinga Channel, Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park - Early in the morning, you will set out for a game drive in the park. Queen Elizabeth National Park’s diverse ecosystem of grassy plains, tropical forests, rivers, swamps, lakes, and volcanic craters makes it home to an incredible abundance of wildlife. Game drives in this park, with the massive Rwenzori Mountains as a backdrop, provide excellent opportunities to see lions, leopards, giant forest hogs, Cape buffalo, elephants, defassa waterbuck, Uganda Kob, Topi, and bushbuck.

You will return for lunch & later in the day when the sun is high in the sky & the animals make their way to the river for a drink, you will head to Kazinga Channel for an exciting boat safari. You will spot more hippos today than you can imagine. Herds of elephants & buffalos will also be wandering down to the shoreline to bathe in the cooling waters. It will be a wonderful experience.

Chimps Tracking at Kalinzu Forest Reserve & Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable or Mgahinga NP via Ishasha sector

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park - After breakfast, you will drive to the “Switzerland of Africa” area known as the Kigezi Highlands with its terraced hillside and winding roads. Along the way, you will enjoy spectacular views of the mountainous countryside and this comes with many incredible photography opportunities. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in the southwestern part of Uganda on the rim of the Rift Valley. More notably, this “impenetrable forest” protects over 400 population of mountain gorillas – approximately half of the population in the world, among which are some habituated groups, that can be tracked by visitors.

OR

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is one of the luckiest and smallest parks in Uganda where the world’s critically endangered mountain gorillas are found and it happens to be part of the Virunga massif where more than 480 mountain gorillas are known to be living.

Kalinzu Central Forest Reserve - You will have a stopover for Chimps tracking at Kalinzu Forest Reserve & go for a game drive at Ishasha Sector, Queen Elizabeth National Park if time allows. Ishasha is most famous as the place where tree climbing lions can be spotted. Here you will have an extended game drive as you search for the tree climbing lions.

Mountain Gorillas Tracking & Batwa Community Visit

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park - After your breakfast, you will hike to the park headquarters just meters from the lodge for a briefing by UWA guides before transferring to the starting point for gorilla tracking. You will enjoy Mountain gorilla tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable NP. Bwindi has the biggest concentration of Gorillas, given its small size. The search for Gorillas goes through the thick untamed rainforest, where you’ll be scrambling over mossy rocks & through deep undergrowth. It isn’t the easiest of activities & will be arduous, but the encounter is well worth the effort. Watching Gorillas in their natural habitat is an experience that will last a lifetime. The experienced ranger guides will willingly share with you a lot of information about the history and lifestyle of these Gorillas. Your tracking experience will be an exciting, yet challenging, journey along forested slopes, tangled vines, thick vegetation & bamboo forests before you reach the territory of these gentle giants.

Batwa Trail - After Mountain Gorillas tracking, you will go to visit the Batwa community for them to take you through their traditions like traditional dance, beer making, and setting fire among others.

Golden Monkeys Tracking & Canoe ride on Lake Bunyonyi

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park - Just like gorilla tracking, you will go for Golden Monkey tracking starting with pre-tracking/trekking briefing at the park headquarters. Hiking through the forests to sight the golden monkeys is not so strenuous like gorilla trekking because golden monkeys live in lower areas, so you will not track for more than 3 hours. When you encounter the golden monkey family, you will be given one hour to spend with them (to take photographs and observe their behaviour). With this activity, there is no minimum number of visitors and the age limit is 12 years.

To Lake Mburo National Park for Afternoon (Sunset) Game drive

Lake Mburo National Park - After an early breakfast, you will leave Lake Bunyonyi & drive to Lake Mburo National Park via Kabale Town. You will be welcomed into the park by various herds of zebra, buffalo, Eland, and antelope as they graze in the savannah grass.

You will arrive in the afternoon, have lunch & go for an afternoon game drive where you will be assured of spotting Zebras, Buffalos, Impalas, Warthogs, and Waterbucks among others. Also, when it comes to the birds, you will view the malachite kingfishers, African Fish eagles, blue-headed weavers, Rufuos-tailed starlings, Herons, pelicans, the rare shoebill as well as the cormorants.

Morning (Sunrise) Walking Safari, Equator Experience & Departure

Lake Mburo National Park - On this day, you will enjoy your last sunrise in this beautiful side of Uganda with a guided walk-in nature (walking safari with a guide) where you will spot Zebras, Giraffes and Eland, Topi, Antelope, Cape buffaloes among others on close range. Take the Trail to the top of the hills and see Lake Mburo and beyond. From this vantage point, you will have a great view of 9 of the twelve lakes surrounding Lake Mburo National Park.

What's Included
  • Ground transportation by 4×4 safari van or Land Cruiser
  • Airport transfer
  • All meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
  • Kanarok Hot-Springs Experience at Kidepo Valley National Park
  • Game safaris
  • Mountain Gorillas Tracking permits at Bwindi Impenetrable (USD 700 per person)
  • Guided walk in nature at Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary (KAFRED)
  • Drinking water on all days
  • All park entrance fees
  • Canoe/Boat ride on Lake Bunyonyi
  • Equator Experience & photo moments
  • Karamojong or IK Community Visit or Cultural Visit at Kidepo Valley National Park
  • Top of Murchison Falls walk at Murchison Falls National Park
  • Full-time English-speaking driver/guide
  • Golden Monkeys at Mgahinga National Park (USD 60 per person)
  • Boat safaris
  • Full board accommodation and en-route meals
  • Batwa/Pygmies Community Visit
  • Chimps Tracking permits at Kalinzu Forest Reserve (USD 50 per person)
  • Guided walk in nature at Amabere Caves or Crater Lakes & Plantations Walk
  • Ostriches Experiences at Kidepo Valley National Park
  • All relevant government taxes
  • Vehicle park entry fees
  • Guided walk-in nature & Hot-Springs Experience at Semuliki National Park
  • Park ranger
What's Not Included
  • Airfares (International Air tickets and airport taxes)
  • Visa Fees
  • Personal Insurance
  • Expenses of personal nature such as; drinks, tips, laundry, tips & meals not indicated etc
  • Chimps Tracking at Kibale National Park is optional at additional fee of USD 200 per person
  • Chimpanzees habituation at Kibale National Park is optional at additional fee of USD 250 per person
  • Any other items which are not included in the above itinerary
  • Accommodation on your first & last night in Uganda
Additional Information

Experience Uganda from North to South: Kidepo Valley National Park to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Start by heading to the untouched wilderness of Kidepo Valley National Park. From there continue the journey to the south with highlights of Boat-safaris, Game-drives and Chimps trekking on the way. In the south you will meet the gentle giants of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, the Mountain Gorillas & Golden Monkeys. Along the way you discover Uganda’s varied nature and friendly people.

Location
Entebbe
Your driver/guide from Ecovic Tours will be at the airport to welcome you and expertly navigate you through the lively traffic, while you can lean back and watch your new world go by. If this is your first time traveling to Uganda/Africa, you will never forget your first acquaintance with her.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
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Callcot
Sep 7, 2019
Murchison Falls - It was great seeing a rainbow in the most powerful waterfall in the world. The game drives and boat cruise were extremely perfect. Viewing lions at the Albert region made my tour a complete one. I recommend it to travellers visiting Uganda.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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