18-Day Uganda National Parks Safari with Gorilla and Chimp Trekking

1

Day 01

Arrival in Entebbe

• On arrival, you will be welcomed by our company representative, who will brief you about the 18 days of exploring Uganda's National Parks Safari-Adventure.
• You will then head straight to your booked accommodation for your overnight stay. Have dinner and rest.

2

Day 02

Journey to Jinja and Nile Adventures

• After an early morning breakfast, embark on a journey to Jinja - a city at the Source of the Nile. Expected sightings en route include the famous roadside market of Namawojjolo, Mabira Forest, and the vast tea and sugarcane plantations that hug the horizons.
• On arrival, head out for whitewater rafting, an amazing experience on the River Nile as you navigate through the rapids. Have lunch, and then go back for zip lining.
• Head back to your accommodation and rest.

3

Day 03

Tubing on the Nile and Transfer to Sipi

• Have an early morning breakfast, and then head out for tubing. The experience involves floating down the river on an inflatable tube while enjoying the scenic beauty of the river and its surroundings.
• After heading back and packing, continue to Sipi-Kapchorwa.
• On arrival, proceed to explore Sipi Falls. The hike takes about 2 1/2 to 3 hours and allows you to explore the nearby Sipi Falls, a set of three falls.
• The views are breathtaking and make for a great excursion while in Sipi. The coffee tour, however, will enable you to trace the story of coffee from seed to cup, and you do not want to miss this informative experience.
• Later, relax at the accommodation with a spectacular view of Sipi.

4

Day 04

Community Visit and Traditional Kraal Experience

• After breakfast, head out for a community visit. There are two local tribes that live in the area, the Bagisu and Sabiny, who will teach you more about their daily lives.
• After that, head out to learn more about the traditional kraal, see how it is constructed, and learn more about cow milking and more.
• Head back to your accommodation and rest.

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Day 05

Transfer to Kidepo and Evening Game Viewing

• After an early morning breakfast, head to Kidepo Valley National Park, arriving in time for some rest and lunch before going out for game viewing. You will proceed for game viewing in the Narus Valley in the southern sector of Kidepo.
• Narus is the sector of Kidepo that has savannah grasslands mixed with acacia woodland. It is also the area of the park with permanent water sources throughout the year and, for that matter, most of the animals are found in this part of the park.
• Be on the lookout for large herds of buffaloes, elephants, many zebras, antelope species, lions, and the elusive leopard. You will return to the accommodation for dinner and an overnight stay.

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Day 06

Sunrise Game Drive and Karamojong Community Visit

• Enjoy your breakfast, then embark on a sunrise game drive where you can encounter wildlife, including lions, herds of buffaloes, elephants, zebras, and the elusive leopard, among others. Return to the lodge for lunch and afternoon relaxation.
• After a good rest, move out for the Karamojong community. In this cultural encounter, you will spend a wonderful afternoon with the Karamojong people and gain insight into their way of life and beliefs. Dinner and overnight at the booked accommodation.

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Day 07

Savannah Nature Walk and Evening Game Drive

• We will have breakfast in the morning and then move out to explore the African savannah on foot. Accompanied by an armed ranger-guide, you will venture along dry river beds, rocky outcrops, and bushland to track the resident wildlife.
• If you end up in Kidepo River Valley, a stroll on its wide bed of white sand or in the Borassus palm forest, which feels like an oasis in the Sahara, is a fascinating attraction.
• Later, we will return to the Narus Valley to encounter more African wildlife. We will then return for dinner and an overnight stay.

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Day 08

Transfer to Murchison Falls and Visit the Top of the Falls

• Have breakfast in the morning and embark on the transfer to Murchison Falls National Park. The highlights of this park include the roaring rapids of Murchison Falls and the rolling plains of Uganda's largest national park, where you will have the chance to view lions, giraffes, hartebeest, buffaloes, and elephants, among others.
• Visit the top of the falls, which will give you a close look at Murchison Falls and leave you with a magnificent, memorable experience. Thereafter, we head to the accommodation.

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Day 09

Morning Game Drive and Nile Boat Cruise

• After an early morning breakfast, head out for a game-viewing opportunity in the park. Murchison Falls National Park is home to different wildlife species, such as buffaloes, Jackson's hartebeests, elephants, lions, giraffes, leopards, and hyenas.
• They are widely spread throughout the savannah grasslands, grazing or hunting for prey. These make the park's landscape so amazing for game viewing.
• After lunch, you will go on a spectacular boat cruise on the great Nile River. You will sight water animals like hippos, crocodiles, elephants having baths, and water birds, including secretary birds, herons, and fish eagles.
• Take pictures during the beautiful sunset, return to the accommodation, and retire.

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Day 10

Scenic Transfer to Kibale National Park

• After a relaxed breakfast, we shall embark on a transfer to Kibale Forest National Park. The drive is quite long but incredibly scenic, passing through villages, lush green countryside, and hills dotted with tea plantations that characterize this part of Uganda.
• The beautiful scenery will amaze you all the way. Upon arrival at the accommodation, check in and relax.

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Day 11

Chimpanzee Trekking and Bigodi Wetland Excursion

• After your morning breakfast, you will head to the park's headquarters for a briefing before heading to the rainforest for chimpanzee tracking. You will join a group of six and wait until the chimpanzees are found, which takes 2 to 6 hours, and then you will be given one hour to learn more about their behaviours.
• After lunch, move out for the Bigodi Wetland excursion. Bigodi Wetland boasts an extensive array of biodiversity, among which are several primate species like the black-and-white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, L'Hoest's monkeys, and baboons.
• Bigodi is also a paradise for bird watchers. Head back to the accommodation and rest.

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Day 12

Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

• After breakfast, transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park. You will reach Queen with some time to move out for game viewing. During the game drive, look out for wild animals like lions, the elusive leopard, herds of elephants, and buffaloes, among others.
• You will go for an evening game drive in the Kasenyi Plains and be on the lookout for buffaloes, lions, elephants, kobs, hyenas, and leopards, among others. Head back to the accommodation and rest.

13

Day 13

Kasenyi Game Drive and Kazinga Channel Boat Trip

• After breakfast, proceed for a game drive in the Kasenyi Plains. Be on the lookout for Cape buffaloes, herds of elephants, lions, and leopards, among others. Return to the accommodation for some rest time and lunch.
• After lunch, you will go for a 2-hour boat trip on the Kazinga Channel that connects Lakes George and Edward. During the trip, the sight of wildlife, including giant hippos, elephants, and crocodiles, among others, will fascinate you.
• You will also see many varieties of birds on the water shores. After the boat trip, you will return to the accommodation to rest.

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Day 14

Ishasha Tree-Climbing Lions and Transfer to Bwindi

• Enjoy a relaxed breakfast and then travel to the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park - famously known for tree-climbing lions frequently seen in the area. The chance of spotting these lions stands at about 60-70%, but sometimes they are hard to spot, especially when they are down in the grassland looking for prey. If you spot them in the tree, the sight is picturesque and memorable.
• From Ishasha, we shall embark on the final leg of our journey, which will take us to the accommodation situated right at the edge of Bwindi National Park.

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Day 15

Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi

• Have breakfast and move to the rangers' post. You will receive a briefing on the dos and don'ts during gorilla trekking. Thereafter, you will enter the forest for your adventure and encounter.
• The beauty of this rainforest is spectacular. The area offers a dramatic, steeply forested landscape and is incredibly dense, but crisscrossed by numerous animal trails allowing access to tourists.
• The time taken (4-8 hours) and the terrain vary with the movements of these great primates. Once you have located a gorilla group, you will be allowed one hour in their presence.
• The time with these gentle but endangered giants is unforgettable. Return to the accommodation and rest after a strenuous trek.

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Day 16

Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi and Canoeing

• After a relaxing breakfast, pack and drive to Lake Bunyonyi. Have a lunch stopover, then head to your reserved accommodation.
• Later, head out for canoeing, where you will have a chance to view the stunning scenery, spot a variety of different bird species, and also have a chance to visit any of the 29 islands. Return to your accommodation and rest.

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Day 17

Transfer to Lake Mburo and Evening Game Drive

• After a relaxed breakfast, set off to Lake Mburo National Park. Mburo is a compact gem located conveniently close to the highway that connects Entebbe/Kampala to the parks of western Uganda.
• It is the smallest of Uganda's savannah national parks but home to many bird species as well as animals such as giraffes, zebra, impala, eland, buffalo, and the elusive leopard, among others.
• We shall arrive and check in for some rest before heading out for an evening game drive that will bring us up close with the Mburo inhabitants. Finally, return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

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Day 18

Morning Nature Walk and Return to Entebbe

• Enjoy your early breakfast and proceed for the Mburo morning park walk in the presence of an armed Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger-guide. On this early morning guided walk, you will have the opportunity to encounter, at close range, zebras, giraffes, eland, topi and other antelope, and Cape buffaloes, among others.
• After this up-close encounter with wildlife, return to the accommodation for check-out and then hit the road to Entebbe Airport to catch your flight. Expect a stop at the Equator crossing mark in Kayabwe, where you will have a photo opportunity and also buy some souvenirs.
• Drive straight to the airport, and that will be the end of our 18 days exploring Uganda's National Parks Safari-Adventure.