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16-Day Adventure Tour Of The Highlights Of Uganda
  • Tour Category

    Private Tour

  • Tour Types

    Nature, Trekking, Wildlife

  • Duration

    16 Days

  • Activity Level

    Hard

  • Language

    English

Description

Embark on a 16-day Ugandan adventure safari that will take you to Uganda's Eastern and Western Parts. Explore the best of Sipi Falls, meet with the locals and enjoy game drives at Mt. Elgon National Park & Lake Mburo National Park, spotting the diverse savannah wildlife. Also, visit Lake Bunyonyi Island, track gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, see tree-climbing lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park, and get close to chimps in Kibale National Park.

Highlights
  • Visit Sipi falls and interact with the locals of Bagisu 
  • Enjoy a boat ride in Source of Nile River
  • Hike to Wagagai Peak of Mountain Elgon
  • Enjoy several Game drives, nature walks & community visits
  • See the tree-limbing lions at Queen Elizabeth National Park
  • Go on a boat cruise to view the wild animals
  • Indulge in Gorilla trekking at Bwindi National Forest
  • Track Chimpanzee in Kibale National Park
  • Day 1: Arrive in Kampala expand_more
    • On arrival at Entebbe international airport, you will be picked up by our driver-guide, who will transfer you to your hotel in Kampala or Entebbe. 
    • Based on the arrival time, enjoy a short tour of Kampala city to know its main places of interest like religious sites, cultural sites, local and craft markets, a Museum and the Martyrs Shrine.
    • Later, drive you to your hotel for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay.

    Meal Plan: BB

  • Day 2: Drive from Kampala to Sipi falls expand_more
    • Our safari guide will pick you up from your hotel at 7:00 am and embark on an exciting journey heading East to Sipi Falls, passing through Jinja and Mbale towns. Sipi falls is a series of three waterfalls, located far North East of Sironko and Mbale in Kapchorwa district. These waterfalls lie on the edge of Mountain Elgon National Park near the Kenyan border. Mount Elgon covers the biggest surface area of all the extinct volcanoes in the whole world. Mt Elgon National Park is gifted with the most magnificent waterfalls, eye-catching caves, cliffs and gorges in the entire country. 
    • You will enjoy your Lunch at the Hotel or in Mbale Town. 
    • Later, you will proceed to Sipi Falls for a guided tour with a briefing on various activities to choose from; hike to the Sipi waterfalls or take a guided walk around the Sipi village and learn about the culture of the people. The people in this area are the Bagisu, who speak a dialect of the Lumasaba language called Lugisu, which is fully understandable by other dialects and is also understood by the Bukusu. 
    • Drive back to the resort or Lodge for Dinner and Overnight.

    Meal Plan: Lunch Dinner.

  • Day 3: Transfer from Budadiri to Sasa Camp expand_more
    • After breakfast, we drive you to the trailhead at Budadiri / Bumasola Park headquarters for a briefing about the Hike and what to expect. 
    • Along with your porters, cooks, and Park rangers, start your trek at 1,250m above sea level. This is the easiest trail through the Sasa trail as you hike to one of the largest Caldera to Wagagai Peak. The first stretch on the trailhead snakes up through the hillside communities above Budadiri. 
    • Ascend further up the trail and enter the National Park and straight away climb the scary ‘Wall of Death’! that is named so because one had to use Ropes to climb up as it is a steep section. However, Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has constructed a series of ladders, ramps and boardwalks that take you through the Rain forest and Bamboo zone before retiring a strenuous first day to Sasa Camp (2900m)

    Budadiri to Sasa Camp: 5-7 Hours Hike

    Meal Plan: FB

  • Day 4: Sasa Camp to Mude Camp (3500m) expand_more
    • After breakfast at the Campsite, proceed through the Forest to the Summit base Camp at Mude Cave. This is an elevation of 600m, and usually, it is best to rest here for a night as you wait for the best views of the summit in the morning. 

    Dinner and Overnight at the Mude Camp

    Meal Plan: FB

    Sasa to Mude Camp: 4 / 5Hours Hike

  • Day 5: Wagagai Summit / Peak (4321m) expand_more
    • After breakfast, we will leave Mude camp and trek through the Moorland zone and head straight for the summit at Wagagai and later head back to the Mude camp. (3500m – 4321m – 3500m). The walk downhill back to Mude caves camp is fairly short and relaxing, allowing the opportunity to soak up the peaceful atmosphere and explore lake pools dotted around the hill. The Wagagai peak is the unobvious high point of the Caldera, the edge of the crater rim and requires walking a few km around the rim with spectacular views out towards Kenya and across the expansive, echoey plains of the Caldera. 

    Dinner and Overnight at Mude Camp

    Meal Plan: FB

  • Day 6: Drive to Jinja – Boat ride on the source of the Nile expand_more
    • After breakfast, we descend back to the Park's head at Budadiri and begin our Journey to Jinja. 
    • Enjoy your lunch in Jinja town. 
    • In the afternoon, take a Boat Ride to the Source of the River Nile at the now submerged Rippon Falls, where the Nile starts its 4000-mile journey to the Mediterranean Sea, traversing various countries along the way. 
    • Listen to your local site guide tell you stories of the ‘source of the Nile’ as believed by the locals. Jinja is also known as ‘the adventure capital of East Africa’ because of the many adventure activities carried out on the Nile and along the Nile, including water rafting, kayaking, jet boating, bungee jumping, Tubing, quad biking and horse riding along the Nile. 
    • Later, drive to the lodge for overnight and Dinner.

    Meal Plan: FB

  • Day 7: Drive from Jinja to Lake Mburo National Park expand_more
    • After an early breakfast, we drive from Jinja, heading west to Lake Mburo National park via the Kampala- Masaka- Mbarara highway, including an enroute stopover at the equator for some brief informational explanation about the equator. Capture photos while posing at the equator and take a cup of coffee and snacks. 
    • Proceed to Lake Mburo National Park with a game drive that will expose you to different Wildlife Species habited within this Park, including Elephants, Antelopes, Topi, Oribi, Buffaloes, Lions, Zebras, Warthogs, Bush pigs, reedbucks and other animals. 
    • Later arrive in the park on time for your lunch or enjoy your lunch en route. 
    • After your lunch, enjoy a short Game drive as you head to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

    Meal Plan: FB

  • Day 8: Game drive – Walk in salt lick Area expand_more
    • Take a morning game drive and encounter different wildlife species, particularly zebras, buffalo, elands and impalas and many more, along with a great variety of birds.
    • After this 3-4 Hour Game experience, You will be accompanied by a ranger guide to enjoy a guided walk to the wooden observation platforms of the salt lick area, where wildlife gathers to lick the salty Rocks. 
    • Later enjoy lunch at the lakeside restaurant and in the afternoon take a boat ride along Lake Mburo, exposing you to different aquatic species. 
    • Later, return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay. 

    Meal Plan: FB.

  • Day 9: Lake Mburo National Park - Lake Bunyonyi Island expand_more
    • Take breakfast and proceed through Kabale town to Lake Bunyonyi Island. Lake Bunyonyi Island is found in the South-Western part of Uganda, lying between Kisoro and Kabale and is close to the Rwandan border. It is Uganda’s deepest lake with a varying depth between 44m and 900m, a width of 7km and 25km long. With this Lake, Bunyonyi is also the second deepest lake in Africa, lying at an altitude of about 1962meters above sea level.

    Meal Plan: FB

  • Day 10: Lake Bunyonyi Island - Bwindi Impenetrable National Park expand_more
    • After breakfast, go for an exciting boat or a canoe ride along the waters of Lake Bunyonyi, visiting its major islands getting to know the story behind each one of them.
    • You can also hike to the viewpoint on the hills, exposing you to different exciting views. 
    • Or visit the Abaheesi and Batwa communities and interact with them; it is surely a good time to experience the cultures of the Bakiga and Batwa. 
    • Later in the afternoon, after lunch, transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. 
    • Arrive in the Park for your dinner and overnight at the Lodge or Camp.

    Meal Plan: FB

  • Day 11: Gorilla Tracking – Community Walk expand_more
    • In the morning, you will have breakfast, and with packed lunch, transfer to the briefing point at 7 am before you start your gorilla trek at 8:00 am. 
    • On arrival at the briefing place, you will be briefed that your driver-guide registers you with the ranger on duty to be allocated a gorilla family. 
    • You will eventually meet your ranger guide and start your gorilla trek in the jungles of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. We advise you to hire a porter to carry your day pack because sometimes the gorillas could be located a distance far from the start of your trek. They can also help push or pull you along the steep, slippery paths in the forest. 
    • Set off along the tracks to penetrate the impenetrable forest in search of these great apes. Depending on the movement of these humble giants, the walk might take between 2-9 hours before you encounter the Gorillas. The walk can be tiresome; however, meeting these great apes and spending some time with them while looking deep into their expressive brown eyes is an exhilarating and breathtaking experience. 
    • Later depending on the time of completion of the Gorilla trek, enjoy your lunch.
    • In the evening, take a Community Tour to visit the Batwa communities, exposing you to their culture based on how they live, dance, and hear stories concerning their culture. 
    • Return to the lodge/camp for dinner and overnight.
  • Day 12: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park expand_more
    • After breakfast, we drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
    • Have lunch enroute and Go through the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National park to see the famous tree-climbing lions. 
    • Arrive at your lodge in the evening for dinner and overnight at the lodge/camp.

    Meal Plan: FB

  • Day 13: Game drive – Boat ride on Kazinga Channel expand_more
    • Wake up before sunrise to a cup of tea or a glass of water and then set off to the park tracks for a game drive to be able to see predators as they return to their hideouts and the early risers.
    • During the drive watch out for games like the Leopards, Lions, giant forest hogs, hyenas, Uganda Kobs, warthogs and others. 
    • After the game drive, you will drive back to the lodge for heavy breakfast later, have lunch, and take a unique 2 Hour Boat Cruise on the Kazinga Channel in the afternoon. The lunch cruise takes you along the Kazinga channel that connects Lakes George and Edward. It will reward you with the highest game Concentration of Hippos, elephants and buffaloes at the shores, not forgetting plenty of birds.

    Dinner and overnight as above

    Meal Plan: FB

  • Day 14: Kibale Forest National Park - Fort-portal Tourism City expand_more
    • After breakfast, begin your journey to Fort portal town as you get a chance to enjoy an impressive sight of the magnificent mountains of the Moon clearly en route. Fort Portal is a beautiful city with several tourist attractions. It was the base for early British colonialists in Uganda, including Gerald Portal, the then British Consul in Zanzibar. Fort Gerry was built in this place to protect this region from external invaders at the time. The town was later renamed "Fort Portal".
    • After your lunch, begin your city tour of Fort Portal by driving through the town and visit the King's palace, Karambi tombs, the Tooro Botanical Gardens.
    • Drive to the historical Amabere Ga Nyina Mwiru and hike up to a viewpoint to get the best views of the different crater lakes and the beautiful views of the Magical Rwenzori Mountains from afar. 
    • Later in the evening, drive to Kibale national park to your accommodation for dinner and overnight at lodge/camp.

    Meal Plan: FB

  • Day 15: Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park – Bigodi Swamp & Village Walk expand_more
    • Your driver-guide will transfer you to the briefing point after breakfast, and he will hand in your details and permits for registration and allocation of the chimpanzee community to trek. 
    • You will be joined by a ranger guide who will lead you on the trek in search of these great apes. Watch the chimpanzees in their natural habitat as they swing from the branches in the canopy high above the forest floor, feed, play and rest.
    • Enjoy your Lunch, and later in the afternoon, explore the Bigodi village. You have an opportunity to visit a swamp with abundant butterflies, plants, animals and spectacular birds like the Great Blue Turaco, and this will be of great interest to bird lovers. 
    • After this experience, you will take a village walk that will lead you to a community for a coffee experience, banana beer making, basket making and a traditional healer. 
    • Later return to the Lodge for dinner and Overnight as above.

    Meal plan: FB

  • Day 16: Drive back to Kampala - Entebbe expand_more
    • Drive back to Kampala and transfer to the airport for a flight back home.

    Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch.

What's Included

Ground transportation and fuel in a 4x4 wheel drive

Full-time experienced English speaking driver-guide

Park entrance fees

Sipi falls tour

Source of Nile River visit

Mountain Elgon hiking fees

Ranger guides, porters, cooking fees on Mt. Elgon

Full board accommodations at hotels/lodges/camp

Enroute lunches

Community visits

Game drives

Boat rides

Gorilla tracking permit

Chimpanzee trekking permit

What's Excluded
  • Expenses of personal nature like laundry, beers, tips & telephone
  • Personal insurance
  • Flight tickets
  • Visas
What to bring
  • Rain Jacket is essential as it could unpredictably Rain
  • Light Clothes as the sun does shine pretty bright in Murchison falls and Queen Elizabeth National Parks
  • Torch is essential for safety purposes
  • Sunglasses to protect you from direct sun rays
  • A zoom lens Camera for photographs
  • A good insect repellent to keep those persistent Insects and Mosquitoes away.

With changeable weather conditions and dense forest vegetation, it is advisable to take layers of protective clothing. 

  • We recommend wearing the following:
    • t-shirt
    • long-sleeved top
    • warm fleece/jumper
    • thick trousers
    • thick wool socks (and gaiters preferably)
    • strong lightweight, waterproof walking boots
    • hat with brim
    • garden gloves to aid scrambling up banks

And carry a small rucksack with:

  • water
  • packed lunch and snacks
  • binoculars
  • camera/video camera with spare battery, memory cards or film
  • light-weight rain Mac / poncho
  • A sealed plastic bag around the camera/lenses will help keep them dry on the trek. 
  • Pockets are useful for valuables and spare camera batteries/lenses etc.
  • Required equipment for your Mountain Elgon hike: rucksack, sleeping bag for low temperature and sleeping mat, one plate, cutlery, mug, knife, trekking shoes, poncho or raincoat, heavy warm jacket, hand gloves, scarf and hat, one jumper, a torch.
Know before you go
  • Gorilla tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (Uganda) Trails is steeper and less accessible; hence, high energy levels are needed.
  • Treks are often 2 to 3 hours each way (but can be more Or Less) and involve hiking through dense forest and traversing steep ravines and mountainsides, often in damp conditions. However, all this adventure is worthwhile for a glimpse of one of nature’s finest spectacles. 
  • There is a minimum age of 15 years on gorilla treks
  • Walking sticks are available at the Park headquarters and porters can be hired for approx. US$20.
  • All equipment, besides valuables and spare camera batteries/lenses, must be left with porters approx. 200 meters away
Cancellation Policy

For cancellations upto 2 days before the tour -

Refund of 80% of the tour price.
Price Details
Adult
1 To 4 USD 4850 Per Person

This is a private tour

Starting From

Fromss

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USD 4850 / person