$6,508 to $6,832 pp (USD)
2 travelers on Start dateArrival
Arrival
Day 1
Camp with the Hippos at Lake Mburo
Camp with the Hippos at Lake Mburo
Depart Entebbe with a short transfer for a boat trip to Mabamba Swamp with a specialised birding guide – an introduction to Uganda’s abundant birdlife and chance to see the legendary shoebill stork.
Continue to the equator for lunch, followed by transfer to Lake Mburo National Park for game safari into the park. Lake Mburo is one of the smallest of Uganda’s National Parks, but a real gem. Abundant wildlife including impala, zebra, giraffe, warthogs, water buffalo, eland, water buck and a good place – if lucky – to see leopard.
Camp in style down by the lake with the hippos and a ranger. Listen to them chuckling all night but watch out for the cheeky monkeys in the morning – trying to pinch our eggs!
Overland truck provides full kitchen for dinner and drinks under the stars and around the campfire. Clean toilet block - truck has private, hot shower. Comfortable beds in up to 2 state of the art roof tents (2x2 person sharing - extra persons in ground tents with air beds).
- Main Destination:
- Lake Mburo National Park
- Accommodation:
- Budget camping
Wildlife in Lake Mburo NP
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 2
Lake Bunyonyi and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Lake Bunyonyi and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Break camp with a game safari through Lake Mburo, featuring a cooked breakfast at Kazuma Lookout with spectacular views over the park.
Depart the park heading south west to Kabale - the "Switzerland of Africa" for scenic lakeside drive and late lunch at Lake Bunyonyi, one of the deepest and most beautiful lakes in Africa with a rich and mystical history.
After lunch, head into Bwindi Impenetrable Forest on spectacular mountain trails to Buhoma.
Camp at Ruhondeza Lodge, Buhoma. Dinner, drinks, campfire and prep for the gorilla trek early next morning.
- Main Destination:
- Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Gorillas)
- Accommodation:
- Budget camping
Wildlife in Bwindi NP
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 3
Gorilla Trek, Ishasha and Kazinga Channel
Gorilla Trek, Ishasha and Kazinga Channel
Early transfer to Buhoma Gorilla HQ for briefing, cultural dancing and jungle trek to see the endangered mountain gorillas. Unforgettable experience to get dragged through several hedges backwards (or gentler if you prefer) and to spend an hour with our close cousins in their natural habitat.
Return from the trek and continue on forest trail for guided game drive at Ishasha Wildlife Reserve, part of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Abundant wildlife including elephant, kob, topi, more hippos and water buffalo and home to the unique tree climbing lions – same as any other lions, but these ones climb trees. Fingers crossed we see them.
Transfer to the Kazinga Channel at the heart of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Savannah plains meet rift valley landscapes. Lodge night and a well earned rest in a luxury banda overlooking the channel. Watch out for hippos and elephant!
- Main Destination:
- Ishasha Sector (Queen Elizabeth NP)
- Accommodation:
- The Bush Lodge (Banda)
Wildlife in Queen Elizabeth NP
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 4
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Early breakfast and depart for dawn game drive with guide in the Kasenyi Sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Abundant wildlife and a good chance to see lion and possibly leopard in their native hunting grounds. Short transfer to the boat dock for a guided boat safari along the Kazinga Channel. Great way to see the wildlife, aquatic and birdlife along the banks including elephant, water buffalo and hippos as well as kingfisher, weaver birds and fish eagles.
Return to Bush Lodge for lunch and a short siesta.
Head out mid afternoon to the nearby rift escarpment and the spectacular twin crater lakes at Kyambura. Optional short walk between the lakes in beautiful scenery.
Return to Bush Lodge for a second night in your luxury banda.
- Main Destination:
- Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Accommodation:
- The Bush Lodge (Banda)
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 5
Chimps and Rhinos
Chimps and Rhinos
Early morning breakfast and short transfer to Kyambura Gorge for chimpanzee trek. Head down into the gorge with trained guides and track the chimpanzees as they play and forage for food along the river banks or in the tree canopy above.
Depart Queen Elizabeth heading north for lunch at Fort Portal and a lengthy transfer through tea plantations and undulating hills to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.
Camp for the night in the Ziwa campground with campfire, dinner and drinks. If we're lucky the rhinos will graze around the (reinforced!) campground fence in the evening or early morning.
Take a birding or nature walk in the late afternoon and/or nighttime walk in the mid evening (one included).
- Main Destination:
- Kyambura Gorge (Chimps)
- Accommodation:
- Budget camping
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 6
Rhinos and Murchison Falls
Rhinos and Murchison Falls
Breakfast at the camp followed by rhino tracking with a trained guide. Walk with the rhinos and learn about the inspirational programme to reintroduce the white rhino into the parks of Uganda.
Depart Ziwa and transfer to Murchison Falls National Park for a visit to the top of the falls. Get up close and personal with the most powerful waterfalls on earth, the River Nile forming a raging torrent as it is squeezed through a narrow 7 metre wide gap. Dry out with a late snack lunch overlooking the Nile rapids.
Short hop from the falls to the Red Chili Restcamp where we will camp for the night with a lodge fire and dinner and drinks either around the camp or in the banda bar and restaurant - or a bit of both as you prefer.
- Main Destination:
- Murchison Falls National Park
- Accommodation:
- Budget camping
Wildlife in Murchison Falls NP
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 7
Murchison Falls National Park and the Nile
Murchison Falls National Park and the Nile
Early breakfast at Red Chili followed by memorable boat safari to the base of the powerful Murchison Falls. Spectacular wildlife on the Nile banks and in the water: elephant, hippos, water buffalo and abundant birdlife: kingfisher, weaver birds and fish eagles.
Transfer to the famous Paraa Lodge for lunch and a relaxing midday break around the pool, overlooking the Nile. Chill out!
Collect ranger and depart mid afternoon for savannah game safari. On into the wilderness to camp in the wild at the Nile Delta with Lake Albert. Expect antelopes, elephant, giraffe, water buffalo and an abundance of birdlife - Uganda is home to over 1000 species! We will collect firewood as we go and set up camp in the middle of nowhere, overlooking Lake Albert. We will then do an evening game drive with best chance to see lion and perhaps leopard, before returning to camp for BBQ and drinks around the campfire. This is wild camping: but we do have a hot shower and a folding toilet seat! Welcome to Africa!
- Main Destination:
- Murchison Falls National Park
- Accommodation:
- Budget camping
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 8
Destination Wilderness, Kidepo Valley
Destination Wilderness, Kidepo Valley
Break camp before dawn with a cup of tea and head into the nearby hunting grounds for a best chance to see the lions and perhaps a leopard at work - looking for breakfast. Stop for ours by the Nile and go for a guided walking safari to find hippos or perhaps a croc or two while we prepare. Continue the game drive across Murchison and head out the far north east gate through a sector renowned for elephants. Fingers crossed.
Depart the park and head to Gulu for lunch. Continue across the north of Uganda to the remote and wonderful Kidepo Valley National Park, rated by CNN as the second best park in the whole of Africa. Stop en route - and if time permits - at Aruu Falls. This is quite some journey, by road and then track, through remote villages and an ever changing landscape to finally arrive for a pampering lodge night at Kidepo Savannah Lodge, a luxury safari banda overlooking the valley with a spectacular hilltop restaurant to relax and unwind.
- Main Destination:
- Kidepo Valley National Park
- Accommodation:
-
Kidepo Savannah Lodge (Safari Tent)
Wildlife in Kidepo Valley NP
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 9
Kidepo Wilderness
Kidepo Wilderness
Leisurely breakfast and depart for game safari into Kidepo Valley. Apart from the magnificent scenery and the sense of truly vast African skies, this is perhaps the richest populated wildlife park in Uganda offering abundant antelope, zebra, giraffe, elephants and water buffalo as well as lions and a possibility of leopard and cheetah. Birdlife is also everywhere.
Arrive at Apoka, the park HQ for lunch and pick up a ranger for an afternoon safari heading towards Kakine Kopje for our second wild camp with a 360 view over the savannah plains of Kidepo Valley below. Relax in the late afternoon, taking in the scene and preparing for a wonderful sunset. Dinner and drinks around the campfire under perhaps the brightest stars on the planet. Again, all the attributes of our support vehicle are at your disposal, including 'the seat' if so desired. Take a breath, close your eyes, what's that you hear? Nothing!
- Main Destination:
- Kidepo Valley National Park
- Accommodation:
- Budget camping
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 10
The Karamoja and Pian Upe
The Karamoja and Pian Upe
Break camp at dawn for early morning game drive into true Lion King territory, a final chance to see lion and perhaps leopard in their hunting grounds. Depart Kidepo through the remote and magical Karamojo region. Kaabong, and a short detour to Nakaperumoru to meet the people of the Jie warrior tribe. Mount Moroto and lunch at the Karatunga Foundation, a community enterprise supporting the Karamojo Region. Vast savannah plains punctuated by volcanic plugs and seemingly ever present villages and settlements of the Karamojong with ornate kraals and bomas appearing to date back centuries and beyond. Infeasible rock formations and vast volcanic mountain ranges rising out of the plains.
Continue south to Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve for a late afternoon game drive and a rare opportunity to see roan antelope and ostrich. Head to the Kara-Tunga Eco Camp for a final night's camping with dinner, drinks, a campfire and a last chance to absorb the brightest stars.
- Main Destination:
- Pian-Upe Wildlife Reserve
- Accommodation:
- Budget camping
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 11
Mount Elgon and Sipi Falls
Mount Elgon and Sipi Falls
Camp breakfast and depart for final game drive. Enjoy a short trek to the ceremonial caves of the Upe tribe, adorned with cave paintings. Feel the presence of ancient tribal gatherings.
Depart Pian Upe heading to Mount Elgon, ascending the slopes of one of the highest volcanoes in Africa with the largest caldera in the world.
Arrive at Sipi. The Sipi River descends Mount Elgon over three spectacular waterfalls. We will lunch at the beautiful Lacam Lodge overlooking the lower falls, then transfer to the upper falls for a modest trek down the mountain trail to the middle falls where we will spend our final night, a lodge night in the splendid surroundings of the Sipi Heritage Lodge at the base of the falls.
- Main Destination:
- Sipi Falls (Highlight)
- Accommodation:
- Sipi Heritage Lodge
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 12
Jinja and the Source of the Nile
Jinja and the Source of the Nile
Depart Sipi Heritage Lodge and visit an ethnic coffee processing facility on the mountain slopes. Fascinating opportunity to learn the key stages of coffee production from planting to cup; roast and grind your own beans; and understand the potential of this valuable product to the local economy.
Descend Mount Elgon and commence the return leg of the journey, stopping at Jinja for lunch at the source of the Nile. Depart Jinja for return transfer to your accommodation either in Kampala around 6.00pm or Entebbe around 7.00pm.
Optional extra to stay over in Jinja and spend a further day whitewater rafting or more passive pursuits on the Nile or within the famous city of Jinja.
- Main Destination:
- Jinja (Town)
- Accommodation:
- No accommodation (End of tour)
- Meals & Drinks:
