18 Days Discover Uganda Safaris Tours : This 18 Days wildlife, primates and cultural safari covers 70% of Uganda’s national parks including Lake Mburo national park, Queen Elizabeth national park, Bwindi impenetrable national park, Kibale national park, Murchison falls national park, Kidepo valley national park. This 18 days trip also features visit to the most famous towns with exciting features such as Ziwa rhino tracking, Nyero Rock paintings, Amabere Ganyamwiru caves and waterfalls, Bigodi swamp as day excursions. Visiting the parks offers amazing wildlife encounter of a lifetime. The Big five game which is the most sought for animals can be spotted in the park provided in this package.
Karamoja region is one of the unexplored regions in Uganda yet with a lot to explore in relation to culture and wildlife Uganda safaris. It is located in the far North-eastern part of Uganda including districts of Kaabong, Kotido, and Moroto. This region offers diverse range of landscapes, wildlife and has a rich culture. It is blessed with 2 national park that is Kidepo national park and Pian Upe wildlife reserve which located in the south part of Karamoja region and home to numerous rare species such as the Roan Antilope, Topis, Gazelles, Heartbeest and Eland. While Kidepo valley national park is home to rich variety of animals with spectacular scenery. Kidepo national park is listed by CNN as third best Wildlife Safari park in Uganda.
Karamonja region has the most interesting and unique culture to explore while on a Uganda cultural safari. The Karamojong people are believed to have migrated 1600 AD from Ethiopian highlands, and settled in the present day Kenya, Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, and Ethiopia. The Karamong people are divided in about 7 ethnic tribes including; the Jie, Bokora, Pian, Pokoth, Dodoth, Lebtur, and Matheniko who now live on the plains and mountains of the indigenous inhabitants, the IK and the Tepeth. The Karamonja people are mainly pastoralists recognised by their traditional dress code that is similar to the Masai of Kenya and Tanzania. Karamonja region is about 1,000 meters above sea level and it is set on a large plateau with 4 mountains overlooking the region’s savannah highlands and River valleys, these mountains include; Mount Moroto in the East, Mount Morungole in the north, Mount Napak and Mount Kadam. So if you are active travellers and interested in hikes, Karamoja region is the best place to go for adventure.
The best time to visit Karamoja region is during the dry months of January, February, March and December. You can as well visit in the wet months of April to May but the path ways are usually difficult to use given bad road conditions.
Initially Karamojang people were known to be hostile because of the cattle raiding practised by the local people against their neighbouring tribes however, the region is secure now and can be visited anytime of the year. The Uganda People Deference force disarmed the guns from the Karamojas and since then peace was restored. Today Karamoja is a safe place to visit. This 7 Days discover Karamoja region will take you through the most interesting experience you can ever enjoy in the region, from wildlife to culture and adventure.
Highlights of the Safari
- Day 1: Arrival in Uganda – Kampala
- Day 2: Transfer to Lake Mburo national park – Boat trip/Horseback ride safari
- Day 3: Walking safari and transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park
- Day 4: Gorilla trekking experience – Buhoma sector
- Day 5: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park – Ishasha game drive
- Day 6: Lion/tracking and Boat cruise along Kazinga channel
- Day 7: Transfer to Fort portal – Visit Amabere caves and water falls – Crater lakes
- Day 8: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi swamp walk
- Day 9: Transfer to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
- Day 10: Transfer to Murchison falls national park
- Day 11: Morning game drive and boat cruise
- Day 12: Transfer to Kidepo national park
- Day 13: Full day game drive – Narus valley and Kidepo valley
- Day 14: Climb Mount Morungole to visit the IK tribe (4hrs up, 2hrs down)
- Day 15: Visit the Dodoth community – Transfer to Kotido
- Day 16: Visit the Jie community (Cattle market) – Transfer to Moroto (Overnight in a Kraal)
- Day 17: Transfer to Kumi – Nyero Rock paintings
- Day 18: Drive back to Kampala
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe Airport and transfer to hotel
Upon arrival in Entebbe international airport, you will be meant by your safari guide and transferred to your booked hotel in Kampala city, the capital of Uganda. It’s about 45 minutes’ drive from the airport to Kampala. Depending on your time of arrival, you can opt to do a city tour or drive to your hotel to rest as you prepare for your 11 days safari. Dinner and overnight stay at
- Luxury option: Sheraton Hotel/Kampala Serena Hotel
- Mid-range option: Fairway Hotel
- Budget option: Forest Cottages
Day 2: Transfer to Lake Mburo national park – Boat cruise/Horseback ride safari
After breakfast, meet your safari guide and transfer to Lake Mburo national park. It is about 4-5 hours’ drive with en-route stop at the equator for the equator experiment. Proceed to the park arriving there at good time for lunch. After lunch, connect for an afternoon boat trip on Lake Mburo. Optional activities: horseback ride safaris and nature walk. Accommodation and meals (Full board)
- Luxury option: Mihingo Lodge
- Mid-range option: Arcadia Cottages Lake Mburo
- Budget option – Eagles Nest Lodge
Day 3: Walking safari and transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park
Early morning after breakfast, head out for the walking safari to find the park’s residents such as the Zebras, Impalas, Waterbucks, Oribi, buffaloes, Giraffes to mention a few. Do not forget to carry your camera in order to keep all your memories forever intact.
Have your bags packed up to transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable national park. It’s a 5-6 hours’ drive with en-route lunch. Connect to Buhoma sector of Bwindi impenetrable national park. This was the first gazetted sector of gorilla trekking. This sector is no different from other sectors. Gorilla trekking is equally the same. Upon arrival, continue to check-in your booked accommodation. Dinner and overnight stay at
- Luxury option: Buhoma Lodge/Mahagany Springs Hotel
- Mid-range option: Buhoma Haven Lodge
- Budget option: Buhoma Community Rest Camp
Day 4: Gorilla trekking experience – Buhoma sector
On the 4th day of your 18 Days Discover Uganda Safaris Tours, After breakfast, drive to the park headquarters with your trekking gears and packed lunch, meet with other trekkers for briefing about gorilla trekking. Head into the forest for trek, gorilla trekking takes 2 to 8 hours depending on the movement of the gorilla family being visited. These primates roam the park freely and there is no way of telling where they will be for a particular. On finding them, you will be allowed 1 hour to view and take photos of these gentle primates before you descend back to meet your driver/guide and transfer back to your lodge. The time after trekking can be spent on a village/community Batwa tour or relaxing off at the lodge as you unwind with a glass of wine with the memories of your gorilla experience in Bwindi. Dinner and overnight booked lodge as above
Day 5: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park – Ishasha game drive
After breakfast, transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park. It’s a 4-5 hours’ drive arriving via Ishasha sector, home of the tree climbing lions. On a lucky day, you will spot the tree climbing lions lying on trees. They usually lay on tree branches in due to the hot sun or due to flies. Proceed to your your booked lodge for dinner and overnight stay
- Luxury option: Kyambura Gorge Lodge/Mweya Safari lodge
- Mid-range option: Parkview Safari Lodge
- Budget option: Pumba Safari Cottages
Day 6: Lion/tracking and Boat cruise along Kazinga channel
Wake up early, have your delicious breakfast, meet your guide, and drive to the Kasenyi area where you will hand over to the research team for a lion tracking experience. This experience is only carried out in Queen Elizabeth national park where you are guaranteed to view the lions. You will get an opportunity to come close to a pride of lions. You will also connect to a game drive for chances of finding some of the park’s habitats like the Buffaloes, elephants, waterbuck, Uganda Kob and other types of Antelopes.
Return for lunch at your lodge, before you return to the park for a boat cruise that will take you along the Kazinga channel. The lakes have the highest concentration of hippos and other animals drinking at the water’s edge, also good for bird watching. The cruise also offers a good platform for photography, bird watching, and games. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above
Day 7: Transfer to Fort portal – Visit Amabere caves and water falls – Crater lakes
After breakfast at the lodge, meet your guide and to Fort portal town, it’s about 3 hours’ drive with en-route lunch in fort portal tiwn. Connect to Amabera Ganya Mwiru caves for an excursion; these caves and waterfalls have great cultural and historical information that will amuse you. Later connect to view the crater lakes before you drive to your booked accommodation for dinner and overnight stay
- Luxury option: Kyaninga lodge
- Mid-range option; Chimapanzee Guest house
- Budget option: Isunga lodge
Day 8: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi swamp walk
After breakfast, connect to the park headquarters for a briefing about Chimpanzee tracking. Enter the forest for trekking with your packed food and water. This will take 2-5 hours to find the chimpanzees and on seeing them, you will spend 1 hour with the chimpanzees while taking pictures. After lunch, connect for the Bigodi swamp walk in Kibale forest for a nature walk experience. The swamp is blessed with other primates like the black and white colobus monkeys, Vervet monkeys to mention a few. Bigodi is also one of the best destinations in bird watching in Africa, enjoy the sounds of birds and spot a variety of birds in this unspoiled nature. This will take about 2 hours’ depending on your interest before proceed to your booked accommodation close to the park for relaxation, dinner, and overnight stay at lodge as above
Day 9: Transfer to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
After early morning breakfast, embark on your journey to the north-western part of Uganda to Nakasongola district – home to the only existing rhinos in Uganda. It’s quite a long drive from Fort portal taking about 6-7 hours via Kyenjojo-Hoima road with en-route lunch. Upon arrival in the afternoon, you may do the rhino tracking experience. You will be briefed before you connect to see the rhinos. This will take 2-3 hours depending on the location of the rhinos. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay at
- Luxury/Mid-range option: Amuka Safari lodge
- Budget option: Ziwa Guesthouse
Day 10: Transfer to Murchison falls national park
On the 10th day of your 18 Days Discover Uganda Safaris Tours, After your delicious breakfast, check-out of the lodge and transfer to Murchison falls national park. It is about 3-4 hours’ drive from the sanctuary. On arrival at the Kichwabanyobo gate, check-in and proceed via Budongo forest to connect to the Top of the Murchison falls to vividly view the falls at a closer range. The park derived its name from the mighty falls that exist inside the park and are extremely interesting to see how the narrow gorge forces water through creating a strong force of water flow and sound forming a rainbow. This is a must-visit area in Murchison falls national park. After exploring the top of the falls, drive to your booked lodge for lunch, and relax in the afternoon as you wait for an evening game drive. Dinner and overnight stay at
- Luxury option: Paraa Safari Lodge
- Mid-range lodge: Pakuba Safari lodge
- Budget option: Heritage Safari lodge
Day 11: Morning game drive and boat cruise
After breakfast, embark on a game drive at the delta area where you will find most of the animals. Murchison falls National Park is the only park where you will be able to see most of the animals in the park. This will take about 2-3 hours depending on the availability of the animals including Elephants, Rothschild giraffes, Buffaloes, Lions, Hartebeest, Uganda Kobs, Oribis and waterbucks.
Thereafter return to the lodge for lunch and later at 2 pm, you will set off for the boat cruise on the along the Nile which will give you an exciting panoramic view at the bottom of the mighty Murchison falls. Along the cruise, you will encounter crocodiles, hippos, and birds on the river banks like kingfisher, cormorants and bee-eater, drive back to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay as above.
Day 12: Transfer to Kidepo national park
Depending on your location in Kampala, you will meet our company representative who will also your safari guide during the safari. Early morning after breakfast, embark on your long journey to Kidepo valley national park located in the far North-Eastern part of Uganda in the semi-arid area of Karamojong region. It’s a 9-10 hours’ drive through the beautiful scenery of the northern region of Uganda with en-route lunch in Gulu town. Upon arrival in Kidepo national park late afternoon, proceed to check-in your lodge for dinner and overnight stay at
- Luxury option: Apoka Safari lodge
- Mid-range option: Kidepo Savannah Lodge
- Budget option: Apoka Rest Camp
Day 13: Full day game drive – Narus valley and Kidepo valley
On the 13th day of your 18 Days Discover Uganda Safaris Tours, Wake up early and connect for a morning game drive in Narus valley. As you enjoy your game drive, bush breakfast will be served and return for more adventure in the savannah plains of Kidepo national park on your morning game drive in Narus valley. This area is famous for finding the big 4 game including the lions, elephants, leopards and buffaloes. If you are lucky, you will spot the Cheetahs and hyenas as well. Other animals to be found include the kobs, Oribi, Zebras, the giraffes to mention a few. Return to the lodge for lunch.
Later afternoon, connect for yet another game drive in the Kidepo valley. This area is further and it is where you will find the Ostrich birds and other animals. This area is closer to South Sudan border to Uganda. You will also visit the hot springs of Kanangorok before you return to your lodge. Spend the rest the rest of the evening at leisure. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above
Day 14: Climb Mount Morungole to visit the IK tribe (4hrs up, 2hrs down)
On the 14th day of your 18 Days Discover Uganda Safaris Tours, After breakfast, drive to the starting point of Mount Morungole located in the absolute northern hills of Karamoja. Here is where we find the smallest tribe of Uganda called the IK. The IK people lived in nowdays Kidepo national park but were misplaced when the area was gazetted as a national park. The IK now live on Mount Morungole ridges as a community. Visiting the IK people gives visitors a rare insight into the unique tribe/culture in Africa. You will also enjoy the beautiful scenery, the higher the climb takes you, the more breath-taking the scenes in the valleys below and into the Eastern rift valley of Kenya and over to southern Sudan. After the hike, drive to check-in at Kaabong Resort hotel for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay
Day 15: Visit the Dodoth community – Transfer to Kotido and visit the Jie community
On the 15th day of your , 18 Days Discover Uganda Safaris Tours, After breakfast, meet your guide and visit a Dodoth community. The Dodoth are the Karamojong group that settled in Kaabong area, they have a unique culture that is interesting to experience. Thereafter, transfer to Kotido which takes about 3-4 hours’ drive. Upon arrival in Kitodi, enjoy lunch then connect to visit the Jie community in Kotida. They also belong to the Karamoja tribe and they are known to be warriors. Connect to your booked hotel for dinner and overnight stay at La Maison Hotel
Day 16: Visit the traditional cattle market – Transfer to Moroto (Overnight in a Kraal)
After your breakfast, connect to the visit the traditional cattle market. This market is where people can to buy and sell cattle and it only takes place on a Wednesday. So plan your trip accordingly to enable you visit the cattle market. You will also visit the largest nomadic group in Africa who are located in Kotido district. You will participate in traditional games, daily activities as preparing staples foods, harvesting, beading, learning, dance, traditional friendly wrestling and know how to shoot using a bow and arrow.
Thereafter, transfer to Moroto. It’s about 3-4 hours’ drive with en-route lunch. Connect to a community and learn more about the Karamojong people who are the real pastoralists. Experience the typical Karamoja pastoral life by visiting a kraal with their shepherds. You will participate in bringing the cows to the Kraal, play games with the worries and tell stories and learn the monadic life of the Karamojong people. You will spend a night in a tent close to the kraal.
Day 17: Transfer to Kumi – Nyero Rock paintings
On the 17th day of your 18 Days Discover Uganda Safaris Tours, After breakfast, embark on your jouruery to the Eastern part of Uganda that is Kumi district where we find the Nyero rock painting. It’s a 6-7 hours’ drive via Soroti- Kampala road with en-route lunch. Upon reaching Ngora, drive to explore the rock paintings, learn detailed informational about the rocks that are said to have been settled by the Batwa people before they were misplaced to the south western part of Uganda. Take pictures and drive back to Kumi town where your accommodation is. Dinner and overnight stay at Kumi Hotel
Day 18: Transfer back to Kampala/Entebbe
Wake up for the delicious breakfast very early, check-out of the hotel and set off for Kampala with en-route lunch in Jinja town and other several stops where you will need to stretch and refresh. This journey takes about 7-8 hours on road. You will be dropped at a location you will advise in Kampala/Entebbe or connect to Entebbe airport for your onward flight back home. End of the trip
