This 12 Days Big 5 adventure safari takes you to the savannah parks in Uganda that is Kidepo national park, Pian Upe wildlife reserve, and Murchison falls national park. Visiting these parks offers you 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. Other destinations such as Jinja for a Nile water experience and Sipi falls. You will start and end this trip in Kampala as the closest city to connect to Entebbe airport. Book this safari and enjoy a lifetime wildlife experience
- Day 1: Arrival – Hotel (1-hour drive)
- Day 2: Transfer to Ziwa rhino Sanctuary
- Day 3: Transfer to Murchison falls national park – Top of the falls visit
- Day 4: Morning game drive and boat cruise
- Day 5: Transfer to Kidepo national park
- Day 6: Morning game drive and community tour
- Day 7: Another day in Kidepo national park
- Day 8: Transfer of Pian Upe game reserve
- Day 9: Game drive and transfer to Sipi falls
- Day 10: Explore Sipi falls and transfer to Jinja City
- Day 11: Explore the Jinja
- Day 12: Transfer to Kampala
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Kampala city
Upon arrival at Entebbe airport, you will meet our company representative/guide who will be waiting to receive you and transfer you Kampala city which is 37km away. You will be transferred to your hotel to check-in and rest from the long flight. Depending on your time of arrival, you will explore Kampala city on a city tour. Some of the places to visit may include; Gadaffi mosque, Bahai temple, King’s palace in Mengo and drive through the interesting places of Kampala city with the guidance of your driver. Before night fall, drive to your booked lodge for dinner and overnight stay at
- Luxury option: Kampala Sheraton Hotel
- Mid-range option: Fairway Hotel and Spa
- Budget option: Forest Cottages
Day 2: Transfer to Ziwa rhino Sanctuary
Wake up early, enjoy your delicious breakfast and set off to connect to Ziwa rhino sanctuary where we find the rhinos in Uganda. The rhino fund is a Non- Government Organisation that is responsible for reviving the existence of the rhinos in Uganda after they were all killed in national parks during Amin reign. It takes about 4-5 hours’ from Jinja town. You will enjoy your lunch then connect for your rhino tracking experience. It will take 2-3 hours depending on the location of the rhinos. Proceed to check-in your lodge for dinner and overnight stay
- Luxury/Mid-range option: Amuka Safari lodge
- Budget option: Ziwa Guesthouse
Day 3: Transfer to Murchison falls national park – Top of the falls visit
On the 3rd day of your 12 Days Big 5 adventure safari, After breakfast, transfer to Murchison falls national park – Uganda’s largest savannah national park and home to the most powerful falls in Africa. It is a 3 hours’ drive from Nakasongola entering the park via Kichwabanyobo gate. Proceed through Budongo forest and connect to the top of the Murchison falls. It a refreshing moment to explore the Murchison falls as they are incredible to view as the water escapes via a narrow gorge creating a white form and strong sound. Sometimes a rainbow is seen deep inside the gorge.
Proceed to check-in your booked accommodation for lunch, check-in and relax for some time. Later evening connect for an evening game drive to find some of the famous animals found in the park such as the lions, elephants, buffaloes, warthogs, antelopes to mention a few. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
- Luxury accommodation option: Paraa Safari lodge/Nile Safari lodge
- Mid-range option: Pakuba Safari lodge/Murchison River lodge
- Budget option: Heritage Safari lodge/Red Chilly Rest Camp
Day 4: Morning game drive and boat cruise
After breakfast, connect to the delta area for your early morning game drive for chances of seeing the early risers and other animals. This will take 2-3 hours depending on the availability of the animals. Return for lunch at your lodge then connect for your afternoon boat cruise on the Nile. This is yet another exciting activity to enjoy while in Murchison falls national park. There are both land and water animals to encounter on this boat cruise that ends with view of the falls at the bottom. Encounter animals like the hippos, crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes and also different bird species. This boat trip takes about 2-3 hours. Return to relax at your lodge as above
Day 5: Transfer to Kidepo national park
On the 5th day of your 12 Days Big 5 adventure safari, After breakfast, embark on a 5-6 hours’ drive to Kidepo national park where you will embark on a game drive in Kidepo valley with en-route lunch in Gulu town. Proceed to Kaboong district where we find Kidepo with aim of seeing herds of buffalos, zebras, elephants, giraffes, hyenas, and cheetahs as you enter the park. 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 booked lodge
- Luxury option: Apoka Safari lodge/Adere Safari lodge
- Mid-range option: Kidepo Savannah lodge
- Budget option: Apoka Rest Camp
Day 6: Morning game drive and community tour
After breakfast, connect to Narus valley, a true wilderness for the early risers, you will set out for another rewarding game drive through the open savannah where you can easily spot the lions, the Cheetah, leopards and other animals including; the Cape Buffaloes, African elephants, waterbucks, Klipspringer, Jackals and different antelope species
After enjoying your lunch, drive to visit some of the existing local communities around the park. The Karamojong people are known for a truly unique culture similar to that of the Masai of Kenya. The Karamojong culture is still pure and totally unique from most other tribes in Uganda; they have rejected civilization and still live like in the ancient times. The Karamojong are predominantly pastoralists and live purposely to fight for their cattle as it is in their belief that every cattle in the world belongs to them. They are a very interesting group of people with a very unique culture visible in their way of dressing, cooking, dancing and other daily life activities. A visit to the Karamojong is a truly rewarding experience you should look forward to. Later transfer back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
- Luxury option: Apoka Safari lodge/Adere Safari lodge
- Mid-range option: Kidepo Savannah lodge
- Budget option: Apoka Rest Camp
Day 7: Another day in Kidepo national park
On the 7th day of your 12 Days Big 5 adventure safari, Have breakfast and brace yourself 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 and Narus valley and also visit the Kanangorok hot springs and you can encounter Ostriches within the region although their numbers are highly threatened by poaching by south Sudanese before you return. Dinner and overnight at lodge as above
Day 8: Transfer of Pian Upe game reserve
After breakfast, transfer to Pian Upe wildlife reserve. It is about 5-6 hours’ drive from Kidepo national en-route lunch. Proceed to the reserve and connect for an evening game drive the connect to your accommodation for dinner and overnight stay at your own set up tent near the park headquarters or Uganda Wildlife Authority Bandas for budget option or stay at Karamojong Overland Camp for mid-range option.
Day 9: Game drive and transfer to Sipi falls
After your breakfast, set off for a morning game drive in the savannah plains to search for reserve residents including the cheetahs, Uganda’s only population of the Roan antelopes, the Elands, Zebras, Hartebeests, Oribis, Gunther’s Dik Dik, Uganda Kobs, Buffaloes, blue and Common Duiker and Impalas to mention a few. Thereafter, embark on your journey to Sipi falls. It’s a 3-4 hours’ drive with an en-route lunch. Proceed to your booked lodge for relaxation with excellent views. Dinner and overnight stay
- Luxury accommodation option – Sipi River Lodge
- Mid-range accommodation option – Lacum lodge
- Budget accommodation option – Casa Sipi falls lodge
Day 10: Explore Sipi falls and transfer to Jinja City
On the 10th day of your 12 Days Big 5 adventure safari, After morning breakfast at the lodge, meet your safari guide and connect to the Sipi falls offices where you will be allocated with a guide before you start your hike. Sipi falls is located in the foothills of Mount Elgon just at the edge of Mount Elgon national park nearing the Kenya border and the falls consist of 3 waterfalls with the highest fall dropping at 100m. Depending on your ability, you can hike 2 of the waterfalls or hike all the 3 falls. After hiking, connect to Mbale town for lunch then proceed to Jinja city – home to the Source of River Nile. Upon arrival in Jinja, connect to your booked hotel for dinner and overnight stay
- Luxury option: Jinja Nile Resort
- Mid-range option: 2 Friends Guesthouse Jinja
- Budget option: Gately on the Nile hotel
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Sipi Falls
Day 11: Explore the Jinja on a rafting and mountain biking
After breakfast, drive to Nalubale for your white water rafting experience. You will meet your instructors who will brief you about rafting and also provide you with rafting equipment like the life jackets, helmets, rafting boat, Carbon Paddles, and rescue throw bags. Rafting takes almost the whole day exploring the different rapids. After lunch, later afternoon, connect for mountain biking around the areas in Jinja. In the evening return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 12: Transfer to Kampala/Entebbe – Departure
After breakfast, visit the source of the Nile before you embark on your journey to Kampala. It is a 2-3 hours’ drive from Jinja. Have your lunch in Kampala city and proceed to Entebbe airport for your onward flight back home. End of Safari