‘Gifted By Nature’ Safari

Description: Classical safari exploring all the best of Uganda
Highlights: All main national parks, gorilla and chimpanzee trekking, Sipi Falls, source of the Nile.
Country: Uganda
Type: Photographic Safari, Wildlife and culture
Special Activities: Game drives
Number of Days: 15 days with possible extension to 18 days with Ssese Islands
Price: Choose between Comfort (C) and Economy (E) Shared or private: Both shared and Private
Extensions: See list of possible extensions
Included: See at the end of the itinerary. Uganda surprises any visitors for the variety of its nature and cultures, the water reserves, the mountains, the savannah and tropical forests, and inhabited by over 30 different tribes.

This is an active and interesting safari that will involve many types of activities, from photographic game drives in national parks, primates trekking and other trekking, boat trips in the river Nile and Lake Bunyonyi, the amazing Kazinga Channel, to cultural experiences.

Day 1 – Kampala
Upon arrival at The Entebbe International Airport in Uganda, our representative will welcome you and transfer you to your hotel in Kampala, Protea Hotel or similar (C) or budget hotel (E) for overnight. BB

Day 2 - The Source of the Nile
After breakfast, drive eastwards to Jinja, the town on the Lake Victoria where the real source of the Nile is found, as it was discovered by J. Speke in 1864.

Optional recommended: For lovers of water sports and nature, do not miss the opportunity to book the white water rafting along river Nile, one of the most exciting and safest in the world. You can also choose among other activities like quad riding, boat trips on the Nile, mountain bike cycling and horse riding. Lunch included.

Visit Bujagali Falls the rapids on the river Nile few kilometers from the source. In the evening proceed to Mbale for dinner and overnight at Mbale Resort Hotel or similar. FB

Day 3 - The Sipi Falls
After breakfast you take the road in the direction of Mount Elgon National Park and Sipi trails. Sipi Falls are four spectacular falls along river Sipi, down the Mount Elgon and the area is particularly panoramic with view of the Karamoja valley. You will take the trekking through banana and coffee plantations to the Sipi Falls. Lunch will be packed. The activity will take you through the daily life of the African villages and expect to see many children. In the evening return to Jinja for dinner and overnight at Jinja Nile Resort (C) or Sunset Hotel (E). FB

Day 4 – Masindi and Ziwa Reserve
After breakfast your adventure in Uganda will begin driving Northwest to Masindi town and Murchison Falls National Park, stopping over at the many stalls on the road to try the typical roasted cassava and other local food. First activity is the nature walk in Ziwa Rhino sanctuary, the conservation project which has brought back to Uganda the rare white and black rhinos and you will see them closely while walking freely. You can take photographs and movies as well, the emotion is guaranteed. Lunch. Proceed to Masindi, passing through the African villages, the colors of the landscapes and the people. Dinner and overnight in Masindi, Masindi Hotel (C) or Court View Hotel (E). Today transfer is about 6 hours drive, part of it through murram road within the park. FB

Day 5 – Murchison Falls National Park
After breakfast, you enter Murchison Falls National Park, the largest in the country and, for many visitors, the most beautiful. After traversing Budongo Forest, you reach the so called “top of the falls”, where you see the falls from the summit. The river Nile creates a narrow canyon of thunderous water large only 7 meters and it drops for over 43 meters. Enjoy this magnificent nature and the rainbow from the water. You will check in to your lodge for lunch. In the afternoon take a game drive and sight seeing. Dinner and overnight at Paraa Safari Lodge / Nile Safari Lodge (C) or Red Chilli Rest Camp (E). FB

Day 6 – Murchison Falls National Park
Today you will explore the National Park. After a cup of coffee, you will depart for an early morning game drive using our safari vehicle to explore the savannah, in the region of the delta of the Nile on Lake Albert, Northern bank. Among other animals in the wild, you might find elephants, lions, buffalos, giraffes, hartebeests, waterbucks, oribis, bushbucks, spotted hyenas and leopards. You will see the unforgettable African savannah around the Delta of the Nile on Lake Albert. Be ready with your camera for the best snaps. Relax as you drive back to the lodge where you will have breakfast and lunch. In the afternoon, another safari will be organized, by boat along the river Nile to the base of the Murchison Falls for about 23 Kilometers. It is amazing the concentration of wildlife in the bank of the river Nile, including hippos and many crocodiles (perceived to be “the headquarters of the crocodiles”), plus a variety of birds species, like African eagles, the rare shoebill stork, pelicans, kingfisher, Egyptian geese and much more. Dinner and overnight at Paraa Safari Lodge / Nile Safari Lodge (C) or Red Chilli Rest Camp (E). FB

Day 7 – Albertine Rift Valley and Fort Portal
After breakfast you leave the National Park proceeding Southwest along the Lake Albert and Rift Valley escarpment for panoramic view points on Bugungo Forest, the Lake and you see in distance the Blue Mountains of Congo. You will pass through a very green countryside with sugarcane, tea, banana, coffee and cocoa plantations. You pass via Hoima the capital town of Bunyoro kingdom for stop over. Lunch en route. After Kyenjojo you reach the main tarmac road and soon you are in Fort Portal the capital town of Tooro kingdom on the shadow of Rwenzori Mountains, the biggest mountain range in Africa. Dinner and overnight at Nyinabulitwa Country Resort / Mountains of the Moon Hotel or similar. Today transfer is long, about 6 hours subject to road conditions. FB

Optional: Dinner with a local family where you will learn about the Batooro traditional food, dances and life style. Overnight at Kafred community homestead in Bigodi.

Day 8 - Kibale National Park
After breakfast, today activity is the nature walk in Kibale National Park for experiencing the rain tropical forest, birding and especially to encounter the chimpanzees in their environment. The ranger from the park will guide you in a group through the forest’s trails and will make sure to instruct you on the aspects of flora as well as fauna. The terrain is not difficult as it is not a mountain forest. Other primates you might see include black and white Columbus, red tailed monkey, & mangabeys. For lunch you might choose to experience the local food. In the afternoon you will visit the ecotourism project in Bigodi, a small village close to Kibale forest. Here the local community organizes village walks to see the typical homestead, handicraft, cultural performances. The local people will inform you about the cultural traditions and the life style. Moreover, do not miss the view points of Kasenda Crater lakes and the short trekking to Mahoma Falls from Rusoona village. Dinner and overnight at Nyinabulitwa Country Resort / Mountains of the Moon Hotel or similar. FB

Day 9 – From Fort Portal to Queen Elizabeth National Park
After breakfast, the journey takes you to the “pearl” of the national parks, Queen Elizabeth, which lies between Lake George on the East, Lake Edward on the West and Rwenzori Mountains on the North. This park is a mixture of African savannah and forest reserves. As you enter the park after Kasese town, on a game drive, you will spot animals like Ugandan kobs, waterbucks, buffaloes, elephants. Have lunch at your lodge. In the afternoon, from Mweya peninsula the most exciting safari by boat will take you along Kazinga channel, one of the most popular sites in Uganda for its concentration of wildlife and opportunities of goods photographs. This cruise will introduce you to the bird life, and you will be in a position to view birds endemic to the channel, prominent among them the Great Rwenzori turaco. Moreover, you will see plenty of hippos, buffaloes and elephants.

Optional activity: short evening game drive around Mweya peninsula to enjoy the sunset and to search for the leopards. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight, Mweya Safari Lodge / Jacana Safari Lodge (C) or Hippo Hill Camp (E). FB

Day 10 - Queen Elizabeth National Park
After a cup of coffee, at around 6.30 AM be ready for a game drive though the tracks of the national park, in the Northern side and towards Lake George and Kasenyi village, using our safari vehicle. Expect to see lions, elephants, buffaloes, spotted hyenas, waterbucks, Ugandan kobs, perhaps the leopard though is shy and rare to be seen. The wildlife population in Queen Elizabeth has much recovered from the dark period of the Seventies, and now the park is a good place to spot animals and it enjoys unique landscapes and views of crater lakes and the Albertine Rift Valley, which make this area special and unforgettable. Lunch. In the afternoon the exploration of the park continues and you can choose to see the shore of Lake Edward at Katwe where salt is produced, the Baboon Cliff and explosion crater lakes, or Kyambura Gorge, a spectacular site where the escarpment breaks into a deep gorge of over 100 meters and 16 kilometers long (optional: chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura). Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight, Mweya Safari Lodge / Jacana Safari Lodge (C) or Hippo Hill Camp (E). FB

Day 11 – Ishasha and South West of Uganda, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
After breakfast, you leave the Northern sector of Queen Elizabeth and proceed to the South West of Uganda, where are found the rain tropical forests which are hosting the remaining world population of the endangered mountain gorillas. The choice of the area of the gorilla safari depends on the availability and allocation of the permits to secure this activity. According to the road and climatic conditions, you will pass via Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth, the Southern region of the park, where can be found a rare population of so called “tree climbing lions”. During the hot hours of the day, lions of this area enjoy resting lying on top of Figs trees and it is exciting to see this spectacular spot. Lunch en route. You reach by evening Bwindi National Park in Buhoma via Ishasha or in Kisoro for dinner and overnight, Bwindi Gorilla Resort – Nkuringo Safari Lodge (C) or Buhoma Community Rest Camp – Kisoro Tourist Hotel (E). FB
N.B: Today transfer is very long, approximately 5 to 8 hours as road conditions are variable. FB

Day 12 - Mountain gorilla safari
Today is the key day for many: the gorilla tracking! Early in the morning you enter the rain tropical forest of Bwindi for the gorilla safari (note: in case the allocation of the permits is in Rwanda Volcanoes National park, this will be communicated and the program changed accordingly). The activity starts at 8AM and you will follow the ranger guide in a group of maximum 8 people as you search for the location of 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 for the 2007 gorilla population surveys. Only some of the families have been habituated to receive visitors and this opportunity helps to support the conservation project. It is not predictable the time you will spend to find 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. Return for dinner and overnight, Bwindi Gorilla Resort – Nkuringo Safari Lodge (C) or Buhoma Community Rest Camp – Kisoro Tourist Hotel (E). FB

Day 13 - Lake Bunyonyi in Kabale
After breakfast drive to Kabale and Lake Bunyonyi, the area so called “Switzerland of Africa” for the characteristic terraced cultivated hills of the Kigezi region. The inhabitants are the Bakiga and exploring the islands on the lake is also a journey through the culture of the people – there are about 80 islands on the lake. In Kabale, you can visit the local Bakiga cultural museum as well as visiting local schools. You will cross the lake in locally made canoes, carved from a single eucalyptus tree. You will then visit the pygmies locally known as the Batwa. They are an endangered community of Bushmen in Uganda. They will perform their dances punctuated by songs where the rhythm and body movements will find you joining in the celebrations and joy of these people. You will also visit the third largest anti-malaria production field in the world where anti-malaria tablets are produced from Artemisia plants. Lunch. Dinner and overnight at Heritage Habuharo Lodge – Arcadia Cottages (C) or Jajama Panorama (E), and in this day you might be entertained with Bakiga traditional dancers from the lodge. FB

Day 14 - Lake Mburo National Park
After breakfast, leave Lake Bunyonyi and proceed to the smallest of Ugandan National Parks, Lake Mburo. As you enter the park, you go for game drive in search for the beautiful impalas, elands, topi and many antelopes, buffaloes, zebras. It is possible to take a nature walk guided by the rangers for birding and sceneries. Dinner and overnight at Mihingo Lodge (C) or budget accommodation in Masaka (E).

Day 15
Reserved for departure from Entebbe International airport. BB

Possible extensions:
3 days to Ssese Island Bugala Island (Day 15 – 16 – 17 - 18)
1 day Ngamba Island and Entebbe (first or last day)
1 day Semliki National Park (after day 7 or 8)
4 to 7 days trekking in Rwenzori Mountains
1 day trekking Muhavura mountain Virunga

D.J. EXTENSION SSESE ISLANDS:
Day 15 - Ssese Islands in Lake Victoria
After breakfast, you drive to Entebbe, where you board the ferry boat connecting to the Ssese Islands of Lake Victoria. On arrival at Bugala Island and Lutoboka bay, the representative of Mirembe Resort Beach will transport you to the hotel just located on the peaceful, sandy beach. Lunch and Dinner at Mirembe Resort Beach. FB

Day 16 – Explore Ssese Islands
After breakfast and briefing from the guide, the resort will organize for you a full day trip by boat to explore other islands of the archipelago. You will stop over to see birds and forested islands. You reach up to the last, Bukasa Island, with its wild and beautiful nature, the fishermen villages, forest trails. Ensure you have packed lunch with you as well as sun cream protection and hat. Return to Bugala for dinner and overnight at Mirembe Resort Beach. FB

Day 17 - On the beach at Bugala Island
This day you can relax on the sandy beach and swim on the lake. However, you can also choose among many optional activities offered by the resort, like sport fishing, cycling and nature walk to explore other areas of the islands and the rock caves. Full board at Mirembe Resort Beach.

Day 18 -
After breakfast you board the ferry boat back to Entebbe. Reserved to the transfer to the International Airport.

Optional: if you have still the time, drive to Kampala for visiting handicraft markets, as well as visiting the cultural sites like Kasubi royal tombs or the art galleries.

Enquire on the tariffs and departures.
Choose between Comfort or Economy tariffs
The tariff includes:
- Airport transfers
- Full board accommodation including one soft drink
- Ground transportation by 4x4 tourist Land Cruiser or minibus
- English speaking Driver/Guide
- Gorilla and chimpanzee permits
- Entrance fees, taxes
- Water on board

The tariff does not include:
- Air ticket.
- Tourist insurance/ local health insurance AIG / UAP
- Entrance visas: Uganda 50 USD directly from Entebbe Int. Airport
- Eventually: Rwanda 60 USD directly at the border.-
- Extra drinks and tips.

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