uganda culturaland wildlife safari, 18 days

Summary of the trip:
Ugandan Culture is composed of many ethnic groups. Each is unique of many tribes. With the diversity of tribes, Uganda remains the best destination for people interested in culture. Ranging from languages spoken, traditional dances, and meals served at table, ways of dressing, eating, and the upbringing is all unique depending on the tribe.  Various kingdoms represent various cultures. Many places can be visited to enjoy the diverse culture, but with limited time Ndere center has summarized it up and offered it to you in one package in one single night. That is the beauty of Uganda and its creativity.
Various Kingdoms can be visited to enjoy various cultures. A visit to the Kabaka’s palace enriches you with the Baganda culture; Toro kingdom rewards you with the beauty of Toro culture and many more. These will serve you with tasty traditional food, visit the memorial grounds and enjoy the cultural performances. You can also learn how to make crafts. In case you need souvenirs already made, the Buganda road craft village is at your disposal.
You can also enjoy the various religions by visiting the many different churches, mosques and temples, not forgetting the only Bahai temple in Africa located on Kikaaya Hill in Uganda, enjoy watching Uganda spots, visit schools and know all about our education system, what about the big hospitals and see what goes around .There is much more to tell, but cannot all be put on paper. 
Lastly, the unique safari experience from the mountain gorillas of Uganda offer wildlife lovers a rare and life-enhancing travel experience. While tracking them is our focus, Uganda offers so much more for nature enthusiasts, and this comprehensive itinerary highlights a host of wildlife encounters. We will see plenty of primates, to be sure: in addition to gorillas, we track habituated chimpanzees in Kibale Forest and likely witness troops of colobus monkeys overhead. However,we will also see big game on safari drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park, revel in some of Africa’s best birding, and explore the scenic volcano lakes region. That all-encompassing scope, plus these important differentiating features, makes our Uganda safari far more rewarding than those offered by most companies: Pay a visit and enjoy Uganda.
Itinerary

Day 1: Entebbe – airport transfer

Welcome to Uganda, you will be picked by our driver guide from Entebbe International Airport and transfer to your accommodation for overnight stay. 
Distance: 10km (15 minutes’ drive)
Medium accommodation: Boma Entebbe /Papyrus (BB)
High accommodation: No 5 Boutique Hotel / Marriott Entebbe (BB)

Day 2: KampalaCity tour

Enjoy the city tours of Kampala with a visit to some of the major tourism attraction within the city, aiming at cultural, religious and historical sites includingKasubi Tombs, the traditional burial ground for the Buganda kingdom, Makerere University, one of the oldest government higher learning institution, Bahai temple, Uganda martyrs shrine Namugongo, Uganda museum, Kabaka’s lake, the craft village among others.
Medium accommodation: Shangri-La Hotel /Africana Hotel (BB)
High range accommodation: Serena Lake Victoria / Commonwealth Resort (BB)

Day 3: Kampala – Jinja

After your breakfast, proceed to the source of the Nile , visit at Ssezibwa Falls cultural site, Mabira forest  for a tropical rain forest walk to arrive in Jinja. Dinner and overnight at your hotel/lodge.
Distance:  80 km (about 2 hours)
Medium range accommodation: 2Friends Jinja (FB) 
High range accommodation: lodge/ Haven Jinja (FB)
Top end accommodation: Whitewater (on request)

Day 4: Source of the River Nile- Kampala

After your breakfast at the source of the River Nile, for the water lovers and adventure, you can enjoy the safest white water rafting on the Victoria Nile and later return back to lodge 
Medium range accommodation: 2Friends Jinja (FB) 
High range accommodation: lodge/ Haven Jinja (FB)
Top end accommodation: Whitewater (on request)

Day 5: Jinja - Murchison Falls National Park.

Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park. On our way, we visit the rhinos in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. In Murchison Falls, we visit the top of the falls. Dinner and overnight at the lodge

Distance:  430 km (about 8 hours)
Medium accommodation: Murchison River lodge / Pakuba lodge / (FB)
High accommodation: Paraa safari/ Backer’s lodge FB
High End accommodation: Nile safari lodge   (FB)

Day 6:  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: Murchison River lodge / Pakuba lodge / (FB)
High accommodation: Paraa safari/ Backer’s lodge FB
High End accommodation: Nile safari lodge   (FB)

Day 7: Murchison Falls National Park - Hoima – Fort Portal

After breakfast, depart the National Park heading southwest along the Lake Albert and Rift Valley escarpment, with breathtaking panoramic sceneries, visit the Old Fort Butiaba and arrive Hoima the capital town of Bunyoro kingdom, one of the oldest in Uganda. Afterwards proceedto arrive Fort Portal at the foot of the Mountain of the Moon, enjoy the atmosphere of Fort Portal town. 
Distance:  430 km (about 8 hours)
Medium accommodation: Ruwenzori view guesthouse (FB)
High accommodation: Kyaninga lodge / Mountain of the moon (FB)

Day 8: Cultural visit of Tooro kingdom

Visit Tooro kingdom and beautiful culture of Tooro, the water falls and cave at Amabere Yinamwiru, the king palace, Karambi Tombs, botanical garden among other  and later proceed to Kibale National Park for dinner and overnight (FB)
Medium accommodation: Kibale Forest Camp /Chimpanzee Forest Lodge (FB)
High accommodation:  Ndale lodge / Primates Lodge (FB)

Day 9: 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:  Ndale lodge / Primates Lodge (FB)

Day 10: Kibale Forest- Queen Elizabeth National Park (Mweya sector)

Today, we drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park with mysterious view of the mountain of the moon. On our way, we pass on the equator famous for photo. Visit to Katwe local salt mining and later return to your lodge for Dinner and overnight
Distance:  157 km (about 3hours)
Medium accommodation: Kasenyi Game lodge / Bush lodge (FB)
High accommodation: Mweya safari Lodge/ Elephant Plains  lodge (FB)

Day 11: Queen Elizabeth National Park (Mweya sector)

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 accommodation: Kasenyi Game lodge / Bush lodge (FB)
High accommodation: Mweya safari Lodge/ Elephant Plains lodge (FB)

Day 12: Queen Elizabeth National Park - Bwindi

Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park the home of the mountain Gorilla. Accommodation for your overnight will depends on the permit location in Bwindi (FB)
Distance:  190 km to Buhoma sector (about 2hours)/ 260 km (about 7hours)
Medium accommodation: Haven Buhoma / Rushaga Gorilla Lodge / Ichumbi Lodge (FB)
High accommodation: / Mahogany spring / Buhoma lodge/ Leisure Gorilla (FB)
Top end accommodation:  Gorilla Forest Camp/ Cloud lodge (on request)

Day 13: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Very early go for briefing and proceed for gorillatracking. Accommodation for your overnight will depend on the permit location in Bwindi (FB)
Medium range accommodation: BuhomaBandas/ Gorilla Mist/ Nkuringo camp (FB)
Medium accommodation: Haven Buhoma / Rushaga Gorilla Lodge / Ichumbi Lodge (FB)
High accommodation: / Mahogany spring / Buhoma lodge/ Leisure Gorilla (FB)
Top end accommodation:  Gorilla Forest Camp/ Cloud lodge (on request)

Day 14: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park- Kabale

After your relax breakfast, community walk to the Pygmies village (Batwa) and afterwards proceed to Lake Bunyonyi through  Villages – option to visit  project on the ay  focusing  on poverty alleviation and opportunity creation. Participate infarm demonstration farm, comprising of crops and animals (pigs, chickens and goats), among other aiming to improve farming techniques of local farmers. For teachers, you can opt in teaching of not during school holidays. 

Distance:  110 km (about 3hours)
Medium accommodation: Overland resort/ Rock Eco resort (FB)
High accommodation: Bird nest / Arcadia cottage (FB)

Day 15: Lake Bunyonyi   - Nshenyi Village

You will have early morning breakfast and transfer to Nshenyi village with a Lunch stopover in Mbarara town. Afterward proceed to Nshenyi village for a cultural experience like no other! The village is nestled in the rolling hills of the Ankole Kingdom. Arrive in time for lunch and afternoon, at pleasure.  Dinner and overnight at Nshenyi village.

Distance:  250 km (about 4hours)
Medium accommodation: Nshenyi Village.

Day 16: Full Day at Nshenyi Village.

You will spend the full day in Nshenyi village and participate in all activities as you please! You will enjoy your stay at the charming and spacious farm, decorated according to the local customs. Participate in milking cows with your bare hands, accompany children to school, find out how matooke is prepared or follow the Kagera Trail to the natural border with Tanzania.
Let traditional dances and songs enchant you under the moonlit sky, while a campfire warms the cool evening. Relax in the raw comforts of nature and explore the rural charm of untouched Africa. Nshenyi village is such a rare experience that you will be delighted with.
Medium accommodation: Nshenyi Village.

Day 17: Nshenyi Village - 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. Afternoon at pleasure 

Distance:  130 km (about 2hours)
Medium accommodation: Rwackobo Rock / Mburo safari lodge /Arcadia cottage (FB)
High accommodation: Mihingo lodge / Mantana Tented camp / (FB)

Day 18:Lake Mburo –Kampala or Entebbe

Early morning game walk to get face to face with animal or horseback in the morning, after your lunch and return to Kampala or Entebbe with stopover at Equator for photo and experiment. Depending on your flight schedule, transfer to Entebbe for your departure flight. 

Distance:  350 km (about 5hours)

TOUR COST is per person sharing

Inclusive:

Transport in a 4wd Land cruiser with modified roof excellent for game viewing.
English speaking guide
Accommodation as listed in the program
Meals according to the program
Park entrance fees to the national parks, all mentioned activities: boat cruse in Murchison, Queen Elizabeth and Mburo, chimpanzee habituation experience and gorilla permits each, visit of Pygmies village (Batwa), horseback or game walk in Mburo.

Exclusive: 

International air fares
Entry visa Uganda50 USD
Meals that are not part of your accommodation.
Personal (medical/travel) insurance
Tips and gratitude to rangers, driver/guide, porter, and hotel staff etc.
All expenses of personal nature (e.g. drinks, laundry, optional, optional activities, souvenirs, etc