16 Days Luxury Uganda Safari
Safari highlights
This 16 Days luxury Uganda Safari tour takes you to Uganda’s best sightseeing destination including featuring visiting Murchison falls national park, Kibale national park, Bwindi impenetrable national park, Queen Elizabeth national park, Semiliki national park, Bwindi impenetrable national park and Lake Mburo national park. These are the most trending places in Uganda blended with different activities and experiences all enjoyed in 16 days in Uganda.
Murchison falls National Park is the largest national park with a variety of wildlife life with the most powerful waterfall in Africa along the River Nile. Murchison falls national park are located in the Southern of Uganda and they offer the best experience of the big five game. Relax and explore Uganda’s rich wildlife adventure. Kibale national park is Africa’s best chimpanzee trekking destination with guaranteed best views of the chimpanzees and other 12 existing primates in the park. It is also a home to 138 species of birds, 250 tree species and 60 species of forest wildlife including forest elephants, bushbucks, warthogs, giant forest hogs and buffaloes.
Semiliki national park and reserve is located in Bundibugyo district near Fort portal town adjust to Congo Ituri rain forest. The park is a home to Uganda’s largest Sempaya hot springs, about 53 mammal species and over 400 bird species recorded in this park thus making it one of the top birding destination in Africa earning a title of “True birders Haven”. Queen Elizabeth national park is located in the western part of Uganda offering the great experience of different Antelope species. Queen Elizabeth national park is home to the tree climbing lions in Uganda. The park is occupied by 2 great lakes – Lake Edward and Lake George which meet at a channel commonly known as the Kazinga channel. Queen Elizabeth national park has plenty of animals and other experiences to be enjoy while on your stay in Uganda ranging from wildlife, culture, boat cruise to nature walks for bird watching and chimpanzee trekking.
Bwindi Impenetrable national park is one of Uganda’s oldest national park with diverse rainforest of over 25,000 years ago and contains about 400 plant species. Bwindi Impenetrable national park inhabits half of the remaining endangered mountain gorillas in the world and it is divided into 4 sectors including; Buhoma sector which is the oldest trekking sector, Rushaga sector which has the largest number of gorilla families, Ruhija sector and finally Nkuringo sector. Bwindi forest also shelters some species of mammals including the forest elephants and the different species of antelopes. The park is also rich with different bird species including Albertine Rift endemics. You will start and end this trip in Kampala as the nearest city to connect to Entebbe airport. Book this safari and enjoy a lifetime experience. End your 16 Days luxury trip in Lake Mburo national park which is the smallest national park with mainly only antelopes as the park’s commonly seen residents. The Impala are the only antelopes found nowhere else in Uganda, other animals include the Giraffe, Zebra, waterbucks, warthogs, leopard, just to mention a few.
Safari highlights
Day 1: Arrival and hotel drop off
Day 2: Ziwa Rhino trekking and Transfer to Gulu
Day 3: Transfer to Kidepo Valley National Park, Game Drive
Day 4: Morning game drive and Hot springs visit in Kidepo Valley
Day 5: Drive to Murchison Falls national park (Full day drive)
Day 6: Boat cruise and hike top of the falls
Day 7: Transfer to Kibale National Park
Day 8: Chimpanzee tracking and Bigodi Swamp Walk
Day 9: Hot Springs visit and night game drive at Semiliki national park
Day 10: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park
Day 11: Game drive and Launch cruise
Day 12: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 13: Gorilla trek in Bwindi forest Park
Day 14: Golden Monkey tracking – transfer to Lake Mburo national park
Day 15: Walking safari and Boat ride on Lake Mburo
Day 16: Transfer to Kampala/Entebbe/Departure
Detailed safari
Day 1: Arrival and hotel drop off
Following your arrival at Entebbe airport at 22h15 Entebbe Airport (flight SN 455), our company representative who will also be your safari guide will be waiting to welcome you and transfer to Kampala city where you will spend a night. Overnight stay at Protea Hotel Entebbe
Day 2: Ziwa Rhino trekking and Transfer to Gulu
On the 2nd day of your 16 Days Luxury Uganda Safari, considering the journey requires about 11 hours; pick up will be at 7:00 am and make an early start on your journey to Gulu. En route to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for Rhino trekking for 2 -3 hours’ Kidepo national park is far placed – northeast of Uganda, bordering Kenya to the east and South Sudan to the North. The journey can be very exhausting to drive directly to the park thus making it necessary to break the journey in Gulu and proceed the next day! You will have en-route lunch given the driving hours.
Dinner and overnight at Church Hill hotel Gulu
Day 3: Transfer to Kidepo Valley National Park, Game Drive
On the second day of your 5 Days Kidepo safari, we shall make our final trip to Kidepo Valley National Park. Wake up to a hot cup of coffee/tea and embark on a 3-5 hours’ drive to Kidepo national park.
Have lunch at your lodge afternoon check-in. Later afternoon/evening embark on a game drive in Narus valley in anticipation of seeing herds of buffalos, zebras, elephants, giraffes, hyenas, and cheetahs. You will enjoy a slow drive and you can be sure to seize picture moments while on your game drive and you can have stops at any moment you please.
Return to the lodge and spend the evening at leisure admiring the wilderness. Dinner and overnight at Apoka Lodge for luxury
Day 4: Morning game drive and Hot springs visit in Kidepo Valley
After breakfast, meet your guide and connect to the Narus valley for another game drive where you will find most of the animals like the elephants, buffaloes, Giraffes, Zebras, the Cheetahs, lions, leopards can be seen on a very lucky day, and the Elands will be spotted. This will take about 2-3 hours depending on the availability of the animals.
The later afternoon after lunch, drive to Kidepo valley which is closer to the Uganda and Sudan border where we find the Kanangorok hot springs and the wild ostriches can also be spotted in this area of the park with other animals while on a game drive. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above.
Day 5: Drive to Murchison Falls national park (Full day drive)
Very early after breakfast, depart Kidepo via Gulu for lunch then proceed to Murchison falls national park. This is a full day drive entering the park through one of the gates. Drive to connect to your lodge for a night rest at Nile Safari Lodge for luxury
Day 6: Boat cruise and hike top of the falls
On the 6th day of your 16 Days Luxury Uganda Safari, after breakfast, spend your morning at leisure. You can choose to do a morning game drive as you wait for your lunch. At 2 pm, connect for a boat cruise to the bottom of the falls. The boat cruise takes 2 hours thereafter hike to the top of the falls. This hike is a bit tuff but it’s fascinating as you will enjoy seeing the falls at different points and finally when you reach the top of the falls, you will be amazed and eventually forget about the tuff hike. After spending a good time at the top of the falls, you will meet your driver and drive to cross the ferry in time to return to your lodge for relaxation. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above
Day 7: Transfer to Kibale National Park
Early morning after breakfast, depart the lodge Proceed for your long journey to Kibale Forest National Park. This Park is home to almost 13 primate species. These include red colobus and L’Hoest’s monkey and many more. It’s a 7-8 hours’ drive with en-route lunch. Proceed to your booked lodge for relaxation, dinner, and overnight stay at Kyaninga Lodge for luxury
Day 8: Chimpanzee tracking and Bigodi Swamp Walk
After breakfast, you will set out for chimp tracking within the Kibale Forest. During your search, expect to see a lot of primate species like chimpanzees, monkeys, and other animals like the forest elephants, bush pig, and duiker, warthogs, reptiles, and amphibians as well as a colorful variety of butterflies. Return to the Lodge for lunch.
After lunch, go for a nature walk in the Bigodi swamp area and look out for most of the water-loving bird species. The forest /Park has about 335 species of birds and therefore a good place for birders. Return to the Lodge for dinner and overnight stay as above.
Day 9: Hot Springs visit and night game drive at Semiliki national park
After breakfast, depart for Semuliki National Park through the eastern Albertine area. Semuliki National Park located in the basin of the western rift valley is one of the parks endowed with many habitats ranging from rain forests, Riparian forests to short and high grass Savannah, enter the park and visit the hot springs before you drive to your lodge. It’s a 2-3 hours drive entering Sempaya hot springs.
Thereafter, connect to the reserve. Checkin your lodge for relaxation, later evening/night enjoy a night game drive. Commonly seen nocturnal animals include the white-tailed mongoose and the slender mongoose, the standard and pennant winged nightjars, cats, hyenas, leopards, among others. This park offers surprises because you can never tell what to find and it is also the only park in Uganda that offers a spotlight night drive. Dinner and overnight at Semiliki Safari lodge for luxury
Day 10: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park
On the 10th day of your 16 Days Luxury Uganda Safari, after enjoying your cup of tea, depart the park and embark on your journey to Queen Elizabeth national park, home to the tree-climbing lions. Depending on your time, have a stopover for lunch and at the Equator to take some pictures before entering the park. Connect to exploration crater lakes in the park before you proceed to rest at your lodge. Dinner and overnight stay at Kyambura Gorge Lodge while on your Uganda safari
Day 11: Game drive and Launch cruise
Early in the morning after breakfast, you will set out for the game drive in search of early risers in the Kasenyi area. The park has a diverse eco-system of grassy plains, rivers, crater lakes, forests, swamps, and lakes. These are home to various types of wildlife and a game drive in Queen Elizabeth will reward you with views of animals such as lions, antelopes, buffalos, elephants, waterbuck, Uganda Kob and other types of antelopes.
Return to your Lodge for lunch and after, go for a 3 hours launch cruise along the Kazinga Channel and into Lake Edward. This cruise will let you pass through a place of the highest concentration of hippos and you may also see many animals drinking at the water’s edge. The cruise also offers a good platform for photography, bird watching, and game viewing. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight as above.
Day 12: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
You will set out for the game drive in the Ishasha area and expect to see the rare tree-climbing lions. The lions can be seen upon the fig trees. However, it’s not a guarantee that the lions will be seen. Sometimes it depends on the luck and time of reaching the area. You will have lunch in the Ishasha sector and after you will proceed to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in preparation for your next day Gorilla trek. It’s about 5-8 hours’ drive depending on which gorilla trekking sector you will be heading to. Dinner and overnight stay at Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge
Day 13: Gorilla trek in Bwindi forest Park
Early in the morning after breakfast and a briefing from the UWA officials, set off for the gorilla tracking. This is a once lifetime experience and unforgettable adventure. The ranger guides will lead you into the thick forest and start your search for the endangered Mountain Gorillas. You will move up and down the rugged terrain until you finally meet these harmonious creatures that will entertain you with performances for about1hour.
The activity can take 2 -7 hours since the gorillas move up and down. This is an awesome and exciting moment. En-route, there are other types of primates such as monkeys, birds and more. Return for dinner and overnight stay as above.
Day 14: Golden Monkey tracking – transfer to Lake Mburo national park
After breakfast, you will transfer to Mgahinga National Park for a briefing about the Golden monkeys with your packed food and water. Later enter the forest to search for the monkeys. On finding them, spend an hour viewing them while taking pictures and videos.
Later you will transfer to Lake Mburo National Park taking about 5 hours’ drive. Enter the park late afternoon with views of animals such as the Zebras, Buffaloes, and elands. Dinner and overnight stay at Mihingo Lodge for luxury
Day 15: Walking safari and Boat ride on Lake Mburo
Early morning, after your breakfast, meet your ranger guides for your walking safari, this tour is no different from a game drive except that here you will walk on foot to find the animals. Return to the Lodge for refreshments, Lunch and in the afternoon go for a boat ride on Lake Mburo which will get you quite close to Crocodiles and Hippos. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight as above as your on a Uganda Safari.
Day 16: Transfer to Kampala/Entebbe/Departure
On the last day of your 16 Days Luxury Uganda Safari, early morning, you will have breakfast and after en-route game drive for the early risers and other missed animals on the previous game drive before embarking on a journey back to Kampala with en-route lunch and at the Equator for water experiments and photographs, Royal drum Village at Mpambire for souvenirs. Continue to Entebbe. The drive will drop you off at the airport for your night flight.
