12 Days Uganda Safari - Nile Adventure Safari
Destination: UgandaThis is the most complete itinerary of the Albertine Rift Valley Circuit of Western Uganda. In this 12 days journey you will discover the beautiful Murchison Falls where river Nile encounters the rift before proceeding with its course to South Sudan, the biggest and the oldest conservation area in Uganda that is famous for photographic safari.
Kibale Forest being the most extended natural forest is home to endemic primates of the rift. Particularly with its highest density of the chimpanzees, it is a good location for the eco-tourism activities in contact with the great apes which is unique to Uganda. Kibale National Park is known as the primate Capital of the World with 13 Primate Species recorded here including the Red Colobus Monkeys, Black and white Colobus, Grey-cheeked Mangabey, Olive Baboon, Red-tailed Monkey, and L’Hoest’s and many others.
Travel by road 12 day Itinerary
| DAY | PLACE | ACTIVITIES |
| DAY 1 | Entebbe |
On your arrival at Entebbe International Airport in Uganda you will be welcomed by our representative and transferred for overnight in BB to the hotel. Overnight at: Cassia Lodge / Boma Guest House. BB |
| DAY 2 | Murchison Falls National Park |
After breakfast your adventure begins by driving northwest towards Masindi and Murchison Falls National Park, the largest national park in Uganda, which offers beautiful sceneries of grassland acacia savannah in the north and tropical forests in the south.nYou will stop over for a nature walk at Ziwa Rhino sanctuary, the breeding project which saw the rebirth of the endangered white rhinos.
You can see them closely while walking freely in the reserve. Lunch. Proceed to the national park; you reach the river Nile where the beautiful Murchison Falls create a narrow canyon of thunderous water. You will have a view from the top of the falls. Check in to your lodge for dinner and overnight.nNote: Today transfer is about 6 hours drive, part of it through dirt road within the park. Overnight at: Paraa Safari Lodge/Murchison River Lodge (C) or Pakuba Lodge (E). Full Board |
| DAY 3 | Murchison Falls National Park |
After breakfast you will embark on an early morning game drive, explore the savannah in the delta of the Nile on Lake Albert, Northern bank. As you view and take memorable photographs of the animals in the wild, you might find elephants, lions, buffalos, giraffes, waterbucks, bushbucks, spotted hyenas and, very rarely, the leopards.
Drive back to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, you take the boat safari along the river Nile to the base of the magnificent Murchison Falls. It is amazing the concentration of wildlife in the bank of the river Nile, including hippos, crocodiles, and a variety of bird’s species, like African eagles, pelicans, kingfisher, Egyptian geese and much more. Dinner and overnight . Overnight at: Paraa Safari Lodge / Murchison River Lodge (C) or Pakuba Lodge (E). Full Board |
| DAY 4 | Albertine Rift Valley and Fort Portal |
After breakfast you leave the National Park heading southwest along the Lake Albert and Rift Valley escarpment, with breathtaking panoramic sceneries. Pass via Hoima the capital town of Bunyoro kingdom, one of the oldest in Uganda. Stop over for a cup of coffee and lunch en route. Drive to Fort Portal the capital town of Tooro kingdom which lies on the shadow of Rwenzori Mountains, the biggest mountain range in Africa. Dinner and overnight.nNote: Today transfer is about 7 / 8 hours drive, through dirt road and the conditions are variable according to the rains. Overnight at: Primate Lodge (Standard Cottage) / Crater Safari Lodge (Supplement for papaya lodge) (C) or Isunga Lodge / Chimpanzee Forest Guest House (E). Full Board |
| DAY 5 | Kibale National Park – Bigodi – Queen Elizabeth |
After breakfast, today you go for a nature walk in Kibale Forest National Park for experiencing the rain tropical forest, birding and especially as you encounter the chimpanzees in their natural environment. Other primates you might see include black and white colobus, red tailed monkey and velvet monkey. After lunch, visit the eco-tourist site of Bigodi for village walk (you also have the opportunity to taste the Ugandan cuisine for lunch if you prefer). In the evening transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park, for dinner and overnight Overnight at: Mweya Safari Lodge / Park View Safari lodge (C) or Ihamba Lakeside Safari Lodge / Enganzi Lodge (E). Full Board |
| DAY 6 | Queen Elizabeth National Park |
In the early morning, take a game drive along the tracks of the national park, in the Northern sectors and towards Lake George and Kasenyi village. You might see lions, elephants, buffaloes, spotted hyenas, waterbucks, Uganda kobs, perhaps the leopard which is a rare sight. Queen Elizabeth enjoys unique landscapes and views of crater lakes and the Albertine Rift Valley, which make this area special and unforgettable. Lunch at the lodge. In the afternoon, take the most exciting safari by boat from Mweya peninsula along Kazinga channel, one of the most popular sites in Uganda for its concentration of wildlife, bird’s life and opportunities for good photographs. Moreover, you will see plenty of hippos, buffaloes and elephants while drinking from the channel. In the evening you go for another short game drive and try out your luck. Return at lush to your lodge for dinner and overnight . Overnight at: Mweya Safari Lodge / Park View Safari lodge (C) or Ihamba Lakeside Safari Lodge / Enganzi Lodge (E). Full Board |
| DAY 7 | Ishasha in Queen Elizabeth |
After breakfast, leave the Northern sector of Queen Elizabeth and proceed to the southern sector, Ishasha, a vast savannah between the rivers Ishasha and Ntungwe. After lunch, take a game drive in search for the “tree climbing lions” which are seen during the hot hours of the day, as they lie resting on top of Figs trees. See also herds of buffaloes, elephants, topi antelopes and more. Overnight at: Dinner and overnight at Ishasha Jungle Lodge. Full Board |
| DAY 8 | Ishasha - Bwindi Forest National Park |
After breakfast, leave the Queen Elizabeth and head southwards, where you find the rain tropical forests which are the natural habitat for the endangered mountain gorillas. Lunch en route. Reach Bwindi National Park by evening for dinner and overnight.nnNote: Today transfer can be long up to 7 hours and depends on roads conditions and place of allocation of gorilla permits. The choice of the area of the gorilla safari depends on the availability of permits. n Overnight at: Bwindi Engagi Lodge / Bakiga Lodge / Gorilla Valley Lodge (E) (supplement for upmarket accommodation: Bwindi Volcanoes Lodge / Chameleon Hill Lodge). Full Board |
| DAY 9 | Mountain gorilla safari |
In the morning you enter the rain tropical forest of Bwindi for the gorilla safari. The activity starts at 8am and you will follow the ranger guides in a group of maximum 8 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. You have one hour for observing the primates and their behaviors, while taking photographs. Ensure you take the packed lunch and water with you in the bag and for this you might need the support of available porters. Overnight at: Dinner and overnight, Bwindi Engagi Lodge / Bakiga Lodge / Gorilla Valley Lodge (E) (supplement for upmarket accommodation: Bwindi Volcanoes Lodge / Chameleon Hill Lodge). Full Board. |
| DAY 10 | Batwa Trail Echuya Forest - Lake Bunyonyi |
After breakfast, optional, you can enjoy a walk in the nature of Echuya Forest, to encounter the Batwa pigmies and to learn about their history, traditions and culture. nLater drive to Lake Bunyonyi near Kabale in the Kigezi region. Lunch at the lodge. In the afternoon you have a wonderful experience of nature with a guided canoe excursion along the Lake, for birding, exploration and visiting local places. In the evening relax at the lodge, dinner and overnight Overnight at: Bird Nest Resort (C) or Arcadia Cottages Bunyonyi (E). Full Board |
| DAY 11 | Lake Bunyonyi - Lake Mburo National Park |
After breakfast, transfer to Lake Mburo National Park, the smallest of Ugandan National Parks. Lunch en route. As you enter, go for game drive in search for the beautiful impalas, elands, topi and many antelopes, buffaloes, zebras. Note: Today transfer is about 4 hours drive, through tarmac roads. Overnight at: Dinner and overnight at Rwakobo Rock Lodge / Mantana Mburo Tented Camp (C) (Supplement for Mihingo Lodge) or Mpogo Safari lodge (E). Full Board |
| DAY 12 | Lake Mburo - Entebbe |
After breakfast, game drive (or optional, you can enjoy a nature walk). Lunch and proceed back to Entebbe. Reserved for departure from Entebbe International airport. Lunch en route. Half Board.
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The price includes:
1. Water on board
2. Entrance fees, taxes
3. Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park
4. Gorilla permit per person
5. English speaking Driver/Guide
6. Ground transportation by 4x4 tourist Land Cruiser
7. Full board accommodation
8. Airport transfers
