18 Days Adventure Uganda tour : This 18 Days Uganda safari adventure offers visitors an opportunity to enjoy a variety of Uganda’s main attractions for a period of about three weeks. Enjoy some of the country’s rich sights of wildlife, primates, and water experience. This trip involves exploring the primates in Semliki national park, Kibale national park, and Bwindi Impenetrable national park. Wildlife experience in the savannah park including Kidepo national park, Murchison falls national park, Queen Elizabeth national park and Lake Mburo national park. These national park have unique attraction that make them independently attractive and worth visiting. Other attractions include; nature walks such as Ziwa rhino trekking Plan on foot, Bigodi swamp walk, walking safari. Water experiences like boat cruises, horseback riding as added activities and community tours. The trip starts and ends in Uganda – Entebbe airport.
Safari highlights
Day 1: Arrival and hotel drop off
Day 2: Ziwa Rhino trekking and Transfer to Gulu (6-7 hours’ drive)
Day 3: Transfer to Kidepo Valley National Park (4-5 hours’ drive) – afternoon/evening game drive in Narus valley
Day 4: Game drive in Kidepo valley and Narus valley
Day 5: Climb Mount Morungole to visit the IK tribe community (4hrs up, 2hrs down)
Day 6: Drive to Murchison Falls national park (7-8 hours’ drive)
Day 7: Morning game drive and boat cruise
Day 8: Visit the top of the falls – Transfer to Kibale National Park
Day 9: Chimpanzee tracking – Bigodi swamp walk
Day 10: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park (3-4 hours’ drive)
Day 11: Morning game drive in Kisenyi and Kazinga boat cruise
Day 12: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 13: Gorilla trek in Bwindi forest Park
Day 14: Golden Monkey tracking – community tour
Day 15: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
Day 16: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park – evening game drive
Day 17: Walking safari and Boat ride on Lake Mburo
Day 18: Transfer to Kampala/Entebbe/Departure
Detailed safari
Day 1: Arrival and hotel drop off
Following your arrival at Entebbe airport, our company representative together with the guide will be waiting to welcome you and transfer you to Kampala city where you will spend a night. Dinner and overnight stay at Fairway Hotel and Spa for mid-range/Forest Cottages for budget Meal: Half Board
If your flight arrives in the night, you will stay in Entebbe with airport pick up by the hotel driver. Overnight stay at Best Western Garden Hotel for mid-range/Via Via Guesthouse for budget
Day 2: Ziwa Rhino trekking and Transfer to Gulu (6-7 hours’ drive)
On the 2nd day of your 18 Days Adventure Uganda tour, Considering the journey from Kampala to Kidepo requires about 11-12 hours, you will instead end your journey in Gulu reduce the journey. Pick up will be at 7:00 am to set off to Gulu. You will have an en-route stop to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for Rhino trekking for 2 -3 hours, have lunch then proceed to Gulu. Upon arrival, connect to your hotel for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at Church Hill hotel
Day 3: Transfer to Kidepo Valley National Park (4-5 hours’ drive) – afternoon/evening game drive in Narus valley
Wake up to a hot cup of coffee/tea and embark on a 4-5 hours’ drive to Kidepo national park with great views of the country side and the Karamojong people. Upon arrival at the lodge, have lunch and relax before driving to Narus valley for a game drive. Expect to see large 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 Kidepo Savannah lodge for mid-range/budget/Apoka lodge for luxury
Day 4: Game drive in Kidepo valley and Narus valley
On 4th day of your 18 Days Adventure Uganda tour, have breakfast and brace yourself for another thrilling game drive in the vast savannah of Kidepo Valley intercepted by patches of Borassus palm and the rising scenic hills. Enjoy the stunning views of the morning sun shining over the hills of Lomej, the Lotukei Mountains to the north close to the Sudan border, the Morungole range to the southern boundary of Kidepo before the rays strike down to the endless valleys of Kidepo valley, while in Kidepo valley, you will be rewarded with views of the ostriches and other animals. Also visit the hot springs before you return.
Day 5: Climb Mount Morungole to visit the IK tribe community (4hrs up, 2hrs down)
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 6: Drive to Murchison Falls national park (7-8 hours’ drive)
After breakfast, set off to transfer to Murchison falls national park with en-route lunch in Gulu town. Continue to Murchison falls national park and visit the top of the Murchison falls before you proceed to check-in at your lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at Pakuba safari lodge for mid-range or Heritage Safari lodge for budget
Day 7: Morning game drive and boat cruise
After an early breakfast at the lodge, you will go for a morning game drive. The activity takes about 3-5 hours depending on animals available, and you will find animals including elephants, Rothschild giraffes, buffaloes, lions, Hartebeest, Uganda Kobs, Oribis and waterbucks.
After the drive, you will return to the lodge for lunch. Later afternoon at 2pm, go for a launch 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. You will spend take viewing the falls at the bottom while taking pictures then later return to meet your drive and connect back to your lodge and a relaxed evening. After viewing the bottom of the falls, sail back to meet your driver who will transfer you back to your lodge with en-route game drive. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above
Day 8: Visit the top of the falls – Transfer to Kibale National Park
On 8th day of your 18 Days Adventure Uganda tour , early morning after breakfast, drive out of the park to transfer 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. You will have lunch in Kagadi. Upon arrival explore the crater lakes then transfer to your booked lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at Isunga lodge for budget/Chimpanzee forest guest house for mid-range
Day 9: Chimpanzee tracking – 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 colourful variety of butterflies.
Later afternoon, connect for a nature walk in the Bigodi swamp area and look out for most of the water-loving bird species. The forest /Park has almost 335 species of birds and therefore a good place for birders. Return to the Lodge for lunch.
Day 10: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park (3-4 hours’ drive)
After breakfast, transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park home to the tree-climbing lions. Arrive at good time for lunch. Spend your afternoon at leisure with an evening game drive in Kasenyi area. Return to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at Bush Lodge for mid-range/Simba Safari lodge for budget
Day 11: Morning game drive in Kisenyi and Kazinga boat cruise
Early in the morning after breakfast, you will set out for the lion tracking experience and 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
On 12th day of your 18 Days Adventure Uganda tour, 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. Dinner and overnight stay at Rushaga Gorilla Camp for budget/Ichumbi 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 the primates such as monkeys, birds, and more. Return for dinner and overnight stay as above.
Day 14: Golden Monkey tracking – community tour
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 visit the Batwa Pygmies and Participate in the cultural performances and so on. Return for dinner and overnight at Mulehe lodge for mid-range/Travellers’ Rest hotel for budget/Gahinga lodge for luxury
Day 15: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
After breakfast, you will transfer to Lake Bunyonyi which is one of the deepest lakes is Africa. The Lake has almost 32 Islands. The Lake is a good stopover for relaxation for people from trekking Mountain Gorillas. Upon arrival, you will go on a boat ride. This will enable you to visit most of the islands on the Lake.
Each Island is named according to the bird species found on the Island and some were named because of their purposes for example the Punishment Island which is the smallest and was used by the Bakiga people to drop their girls who got pregnant before marriage. After the boat ride, return back to the Lodge for relaxation while you watch the beautiful sunset. Dinner and overnight at Bunyonyi Overland Resort/Bunyonyi Birdnest Lodge – Luxury/Bunyonyi Arcadia lodge for mid-range
Day 16: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park – evening game drive
On 16th day of your 18 Days Adventure Uganda tour, start your day with an early morning breakfast and after you will transfer to Lake Mburo National Park. You will reach Mbarara town in time for lunch. Upon arrival in the park, enjoy a game drive to find some of the animals such as Zebras, Buffaloes, and elands. Dinner and overnight stay at Arcadia Lodge Lake Mburo for mid-range/Eagles Nest lodge for budget
Day 17: 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.
Day 18: Transfer to Kampala/Entebbe/Departure
Early morning, you will have breakfast and embark 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. Proceed to Kampala and drop-off at Entebbe airport for your flight back home.
