UGANDA SAFARI 22 DAYS

Summary: trip takes you to the best of Uganda 22 days, where the savannah meets the tropical rainforest. Expect to see the unique animals of the savannahs: like lion, elephant, buffalo, giraffe, hippo, and leopard) and up to 16 primate species, including gorillas and chimps
The safari also gives you an idea on historical, cultural and religious among other! The takes you to most of interesting places, day to day program: Buganda (Kampala City Tour), Busoga, Bunyoro, Bugisu and whilst the Karamojong can be visited too especially the IK group of people Near Kidepo National park. You can also combine this trip with visiting the National parks of your choice near these cultural sites. Take your memory with what you have seen back home and tell your story.
The safari brings you to the most important and well-known places and national parks of Uganda including the home of the rare mountain gorillas: Jinja, the source of the Nile. Sipi Falls, Murchison Falls National Park, Kibale Forest National Park, Semuliki National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi National Park, Mgahinga National Park, Lake Bunyonyi and Lake Mburo National Park.

Day 1:  Entebbe – Airport transfer

On your arrival at Entebbe International Airport in Uganda, you will be welcomed by our representative and transferred for an overnight.

Distance: 10km (\15minutes drive)
Medium accommodation: Shangri- La Hotel /Cassia lodge (BB)
High range accommodation: Serena Lake Victoria / Commonwealth Resort (BB)

Day 2: Entebbe – Jinja (Source of the River Nile)

Today, after your breakfast, you will drive eastwards to the source of the River Nile, on the way visit Ssezibwa Falls (Ssezibwa Falls, where the legend narrates of the presence of the spirits of the traditional religion, including spirit of water (Mukasa), of hunting (Ddungu), of the rainbow (Musone) and fertility), Mabira tropical rain forest and later proceed to Jinja, town on the shores of Lake Victoria, discovered by J. Speke in 1864. Dinner and overnight your hotel

Distance:  130 km (about 4 hours)
Medium accommodation: 2Friends Jinja (FB) 
High accommodation: lodge/ Haven Jinja (FB)
Top end accommodation: Whitewater (on request)

Day 3: Jinja (Source of the River Nile)

Today, after your breakfast, optional activities: For the water sports and nature lovers, not to miss the opportunity  of the white water rafting along river Nile which is one of the most exciting and safest  experience. For those not interested in white water experience can choose among other activities like horse riding, “quad” riding, boat trips on the Nile, mountain bike cycling …. Dinner and overnight at your hotel/lodge
Reminder:  for some of the optional activities like white water rafting, horse riding, “quad” riding, boat trips on the Nile, mountain bike cycling, we advise to book in advance the optional activities above mentioned.

Medium accommodation: 2Friends Jinja (FB) 
High accommodation: lodge/ Haven Jinja (FB)
Top end accommodation: Whitewater (on request only)

Day 4: Source of the River Nile- Mt Elgon National Park (Sipi falls)

After your breakfast at the source of the River Nile, for the water lover and adventure, you can enjoy the safest while water rafting on the Victoria Nile or set off for Kapchorwa district where Sipi Falls is located.  Sipi falls is a series of three waterfalls in Eastern Uganda. The waterfalls lie on the edge of Mount Elgon National Park near the Kenyan border, after lunch, you can relax or hike to the Sipi waterfalls or go for guided walks around the Sipi village to see and learn about the culture of the people.

Distance:  282 km (about 4 hours)
Medium accommodation: Rafiki Sipi lodge /Sipi Resort (FB)
High accommodation: Sipi River lodge (FB)

Day 5: Sipi Falls – Moroto - Karamoja

Today, we depart the stunning views of Sipi Falls; start the journey to Moroto; through the semi-arid land of Karamoja region. Our journey takes us the off the road track experience by going through one the unique tribes, hopping for a market day to visit the tribes. It’s a very remote area with a scenic reserve, local people, markets in the most untouched area and remote village set up as the highlights. The region is mostly a semi-arid plain with harsh climate and low annual rainfall. It is largely savannah, covered with seasonal grasses, thorned plants, and occasional small trees. The region of Karamoja extends over 27,900 square kilometers. 
Distance:  251 km (about 5 hours)
Medium accommodation: Kara Tunga lodge / Moroto hotel (FB)

Day6: Karamoja (Moroto) - Cultural visit day

After a wonderful breakfast you will proceed to explore the culture and people of Karamoja through the facilitation of local cooperation projects. 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. Expect a visit to Lopotuk villages, the youth centre where you can request to see local performances of music and dance.

Medium range accommodation: Kara Tunga lodge / Moroto hotel (FB)

Day 7: Karamoja (Moroto) - Kidepo Valley National

After an early morning breakfast you will embark on your journey Northwards via Kaabong and Kotido to reach Kidepo Valley National Park which is one of the few unspoilt wild places left in Africa. The region is characterized by mountains, hills and valleys and the park is a haven of different species of birds and animals.

Distance:  242 km (about 2 hours)
Medium accommodation: Kidepo Savannah lodge,
High: Adere Safari lodge 
High End accommodation: Apoka Lodge

Day 8: Kidepo Valley National

Start 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 endemic to Kidepo National Park like the cheetah, the striped hyena, the caracal and over 465 bird species including the ostriches

Medium accommodation: Kidepo Savannah lodge (FB)
High accommodation: Adere safaris lodge 
Top end accommodation: Apoka Safari Lodge (FB)

Day 9: Kidepo Valley National Park

After breakfast experience, the exclusive game drives in park and expects to explore the region of the river Narus valley.  For additional experience, visit to the local Karamojong homestead or “manyattas” can be organized on request. Dinner and overnight at your lodge 
Medium accommodation: Kidepo Savannah lodge (FB)
High accommodation: Adere safaris lodge 
Top end accommodation: Apoka Safari Lodge (FB)

Day 10: Kidepo Valley National Park –Murchison Falls National Park

After your breakfast, drive to Murchison Falls national park one of the country’s biggest national park. Arrive in time for dinner and overnight at your Lodge. 

Distance:  442 km (about 11 hours)
Medium accommodation: Pakuba lodge / Murchison River lodge (FB)
High accommodation: Paraa safari/ Baker’s lodge (FB)

Day 11:  Murchison Falls National Park

Today, experience the morning game drive in these savannah national park  and expect some of the animals like elephants, buffalos, giraffes, waterbucks, oribis, bushbucks, among other if lucky lions, spotted hyenas and leopards. In the afternoon, take a 3 hours boat cruise on Victoria Nile to the base of the Murchison Falls. Expect to encounter some of the animal like hippos, crocodiles, variety of water birds species. 

Medium accommodation: Pakuba lodge / Murchison River lodge (FB)
High accommodation: Paraa safari/ Baker’s lodge (FB)

Day 12: Murchison Falls National Park - Hoima

After breakfast, depart the National Park heading southwest along the Lake Albert and Rift Valley escarpment, with breathtakingly panoramic sceneries, visit the Old Fort Butiaba and arrive Hoima the capital town of Bunyoro kingdom, one of the oldest in Uganda. Dinner and overnight at your hotel.

Distance:  150 km (about 3 hours)
Medium accommodation: Hoima cultural Hotel (FB)

Day 13: - Hoima Town – Kibale Forest National Park

After your breakfast, depart in direction of Kibale National Park, have a stopover in Fort Portal, the capital town of Tooro kingdom that lies on the shadow of Rwenzori Mountains, the biggest mountain range in Africa. Dinner and overnight at hotel on Full Board

Distance:  280 km (about 5 hours)
Medium accommodation: Kibale Forest Camp/ Chimpanzee Forest lodge (FB)
High accommodation: Kyaninga lodge / Ndale Lodge / Primates Lodge (FB)

Day 14 - Kibale National Park

Today after your very early, depart for Chimpanzee Habituation Experience, this is a lifetime experience that allows accompany Kibale’s researchers and habituation at chimpanzee during their daily activities, thereby getting used to human presence without changing their natural. During your tour, expect coming across the chimps de-nesting (in their nocturnal nests) 

Medium accommodation: Kibale Forest Camp/ Chimpanzee Forest lodge (FB)
High accommodation: Kyaninga lodge / Ndale Lodge / Primates Lodge (FB)

Day 15: Kibale National Park - Semliki Valley National Park -Fort Portal

Drive to Semliki Valley National Park; visit the Sempaya Hot Springs, on the way back, proceed to Amabere for the waterfalls and cave. Dinner and overnight at hotel 

Distance:  90 km (about 3 hours)
Medium accommodation: Rwenzori view guesthouse (FB)
High accommodation: Kyaninga / Mountains of the Moon Hotel (FB)

Day 16: Fort Portal - Queen Elizabeth National Park

Transfer to the Queen Elizabeth National Park. On our way, we pass the equator. Drive to Katwe fishing village, visit the local mining and arrive your lodge in the 

Distance:  160 km (about 3 hours)
Medium range accommodation: Kasenyi game lodge/Bush lodge (FB)
High range accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge / Kyambura Game lodge (FB)

Day 17: Queen Elizabeth National Park

Early morning game drives experience in  the national park, with aim of seeing animal like  elephants, buffaloes, spotted hyenas, waterbucks, Ugandan kobs, and if lucky  lion and leopard . In the afternoon, take the most exciting 2 hours boat cruise on Kazinga channel, one of the most popular sites in Uganda for its concentration of wildlife and bird. 

Medium range accommodation: Kasenyi game lodge/ Bush lodge (FB)
High range accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge / Elephant Plains lodge (FB)

Day 18: Queen Elizabeth National Park Mweya – Ishasha Sector

After breakfast, drive through the National Park to the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, famous for tree climbing lions. After lunch, game drive in search of the tree-climbing lions.

Distance:  120 km (about 3 hours)
Medium accommodation: Enjojo lodge / Ishasha Jungle lodge (FB)
High accommodation: Ishasha wilderness (FB)

Day 19: Ishasha Sector of Queen Elizabeth- Bwindi National Park

Early morning game drives in search of the tree-climbing lions; afterwards we drive to Bwindi Impenetrable. Today transfer will depend on the location of the gorilla permits and road conditions. 

Distance:  90 km to Buhoma sector (about 2hours)/ 200 km (about 6hours)

Medium accommodation: Haven Buhoma / Rushaga Gorilla (FB)
High accommodation: / Mahogany spring / Buhoma lodge/ Leisure Gorilla (FB)
Top end accommodation:  Gorilla Forest Camp/ Cloud lodge (on request)

Day 20: Bwindi National Park

Today, the activity starts at 8am and you will follow the ranger guides in a group of maximum eight people as you search for the habituated family of mountain gorillas, which was allocated according to the permits. Bwindi forest in Uganda has a population of about 370 gorillas, which is half the world population according to 2007 gorilla population surveys. It is not predictable the time you will spend to encounter the gorillas. 

Medium accommodation: Haven Buhoma / Rushaga Gorilla (FB)
High accommodation: / Mahogany spring / Buhoma lodge/ Leisure Gorilla (FB)
Top end accommodation:  Gorilla Forest Camp/ Cloud lodge (on request)

Day 21: Bwindi National Park - Lake Mburo National Park

After breakfast, proceed to Lake Mburo National Park, the smallest of Ugandan National Parks. As you enter, go for game drive in search for animal like impalas, zebras, elands and many other antelopes. Dinner and overnight at your lodge on Full Board
Distance:  260 km (about 3hours)
Medium accommodation: Rwackobo Rock /Arcadia cottage (FB)
High accommodation: Mihingo lodge / Mantana Tented camp / (FB)

Day 22: Lake Mburo National Park – Entebbe

Today, early morning guided game walk in the park for the unique wildlife experience and later, depending on your flight schedule, transfer to the airport for your flight departure 
Distance:  350 km (about 5hours)

TOUR COST is per person sharing

The tariff includes:

Airport transfers
Full board accommodation with meals mentioned    
Ground transportation in modified safari car 
English speaking Driver/Guide
Gorilla and chimpanzee habituation experience permits per person per tracking 
Entrance fees to the national park and other sites on the itinerary
Local government taxes

The tariff does not include

Air ticket.
Tourist insurance health insurance
Entrance visas: Uganda 50 USD directly from Entebbe International Airport
Optional activities, 
Personal natures and tips