SAFARI HIGHLISTS:
Uganda surely y commands a voice in eco – tourism, among the attractions Uganda boasts are the primates, abundant game, birds and scenic beauty. On this safari we shall take you to explore Uganda’s wildlife and also some of the authentic sites like the river Nile , during this two weeks, you get to see big five, track gorillas in bwindi impenetrable national park and chimpanzee expeditions in their natural environment of kibale forest for encounter of life time memory wild but habituated chimps. You will proceed to view unique games in our prized Murchison falls national park and queen Elizabeth national park and through journey you will experience allots of unique geographical features and scenic allure, plus a great deal of diverse cultures. The safari starts and ends in Kampala.
Detailed itinerary
ARRIVAL DAY:
On this day, you will be highly welcomed by your safari guide from African skimmer tours who will be eagerly waiting at Entebbe international airport or any of the uganda’s border posts in Busia, Mutukula, Malamba’ Elegu, Katuna etc and drop you at booked place of accommodation for overnight and dinner on your first day.
DAY 1: TRANSFER TO KIDEPO VALLEY NATIONAL PARK (9 TO 10 HOURS DRIVE BY ROAD)
Pick up from the place of accommodation after breakfast and transfer to kidepo valley national park
An early breakfast at 6:30 am, check out of the hotel and start your long journey to the land of pastoralist karamojong natives, arriving in the evening with lunch en-route. This land also boasts kidepo valley national park which is Uganda’s second biggest national park
Kidepo is one of Africa’s last great wilderness areas –attract of rugged savannah dominated by mount morungole and cut by kidepo and Narus rivers. And with the perennial running water they kidepo an oasis in the semi desert.
Check in to the booked lodge for dinner and overnight stay
DAY 2: KARAMOJONG CULTURAL TOUR
You will have a relaxed breakfast at the hotel and take the rest of the morning for leisure and immediately after lunch you can walk to the community and visit the karamojong manyattas (homesteads). In the afternoon you will be taken to the guided cultural village tour where you will have a chance interact with karamonjong and you will see the kraals belonging to the community, tradition costumes, stools, spears, knives, bows and arrow, jewellery among others
The visitors get unique, unforgettable experience and understanding of nomadic lifestyles around karenga and kidepo. The elders will show you the kraals, gliding stones, local defence fences and cultural dances known as ‘Edonga’. Not to missed on this tour is the local community near the park staging cultural dance such as the Emuya of the Naporre and Nyangia, Larakaraka and Apiti dances of Acholi are worthy to see and participate interesting and some of these items are worthy to take as souvenir. After this cultural thrill, you will return to the lode for diner and overnight stay.
DAY 3: EXPLORE KIDEPO VALLEY NATIONAL PARK (full day)
Wake up early morning with the cup of tea/coffee head for early morning game drive to explore more kidepo. You will be rewarded with diverse game in this well preserved wild. You will return to the lodge for full breakfast and take the rest of the time for leisure until lunch
In the evening set off for and enchanting ostrich drive around the kanangorok hot spring. You will be rewarded with the variety and number of animals who come to drink water art the river banks and Baboons may be seen roaming floor of Kidepo River and palm trees
DAY 4: TRANSFER MURCHISON FALL NATIONAL PARK
Pick up from hotel at 7:00 am after breakfast, followed by the drive to Murchison falls national park with interesting stops like the scenic Aruu waterfalls. You will arrive in the afternoon at chobe safari lodge
Where you will check in and also have your late lunch ten relax, while enjoying the hotel facilities until time for dinner and overnight.
DAY 5: MURCHISON FALLS EXPERIENCE
After relaxed breakfast you will check out and we drive to paraa sector of the park arriving in time for lunch and checking in at the selected accommodation in paraa
After check in, you will relax over lunch; take the rest of the day at leisure.
In the evening you have the option of enjoying the game drive while watching the beautiful sunset in this amazing park
DAY 6: MORNING GAME DRIVE AND AFTERNOON BOAT CRUISE
On this day you will have unique experience of the scenic Murchison falls.
Wake up early in the morning with snacks and set off on a sunrise game drive (about 6:30 am) in Nyamasika plateau while on the game drives, cape buffaloes, Rothschild’s giraffes, Uganda kob’ hartebeest and waterbucks are commonly seen. You may also spot some oribi, bushbucks, lions, leopards, spotted hyena.
Chimpanzee and olive baboons ahead of the list of six species of primates found in the park etc
After the game drive you will return to the lodge for full breakfast relax until time for lunch
After lunch at, 02:00pm you will proceed for boat trip on the placid Victoria Nile, upstream, to the base of the falls. En –route you will see hippos, crocodiles, water bucks and wide variety of birds like usual shoebill stork.
The boat stops just tens of meters from the “devil’s cauldron”. From here you will disembark and take hike to the top of the falls where your vehicle waiting for you for pickup. This awesome experience, as you will experience the majestic Murchison falls forming into impressive rainbow. A great opportunity for pictures, there we shall return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 7: TRANSFER TO KIBALE FOREST NATIONAL PARK (5 TO 6 HOURS DRIVE)
Enjoy the relaxed breakfast, followed by the check out of the lodge and drive to kibale forest national park. Along the way you will view Albertine region rift valley escarpment on the country side through hoima to fort portal. On arrival you will check in booked lodge for lunch and after relax at the lodge facilities as you wait for dinner and overnight
DAY 8: CHIMPANZEE TRACKING AND BIGODI SWAMP WALK IN THE AFTERNOON
Early morning you will have breakfast head to the visitation centre at 8:00am for briefing about chimpanzee tracking and after words head to the forest for guided chimpanzee tracking. The park is reputed for having the greatest variety and highest concentration of primates in east Africa.
Enjoy the guided nature walk in search of chimpanzees; as well have an opportunity to see other primates like golden monkey’s, grey cheeked mangabey and red tailed monkeys among others and as well view bird species like rumped tinker bird, green breasted pitta and many more .
Return to the lodge for lunch, and then relax. In the evening you have the option to visit bigodi birds’ sanctuary and enjoy an amazing birding experience. Thereafter you will return to the lodge for dinner and overnight at preferred accommodation facility.
DAY 9: TRANSFER TO QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK (3 HOUR DRIVE)
Have a relaxed breakfast, check out and drive to Queen Elizabeth national park. You will drive through the region of crater lakes in fort portal and then proceed with the journey to queen Elizabeth national park check in to the booked lodge where you will relax until lunch.
In the afternoon, at 2:00pm you will go for lunch cruise along kazinga channel where you will view birds like malachite kingfisher, pink backed pelicans, and saddle billed stork as well as wildlife such us hippos, elephants, and crocodiles along the channel. There you will return to the lodge for dinner and overnight at your preferred accommodation facility.
DAY 10: MORNING GAME DRIVE AND AFTERNOON BOAT CRUISE QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK
Wake up on a warm cup of coffee, as you set off for an early morning game drive (about 6:30am) in kasenyi plain sector. This is awesome experience to spot animals in their natural habitant. With high chances of spotting elephants, solitary cape buffaloes, hyenas, lions, leopards, antelopes, warthogs and beautiful birds. This has spectacular sceneries including crater lakes and roiling savannah plains overlooking the snow caped of mount rwenzori ranges. Return to the lodge for breakfast and relax until lunch.
In the afternoon you have an option of visiting the cultural group of kikorongo, and they will perform their cultural dances as you sit at queen’s pavilion while enjoying the cultural experience performance. On the drive back to the lodge, you will watch the sunset amazingly over crater lakes, as you do mini game drive back to the lodge for dinner and overnight
DAY 11: ISHASHA GAME DRIVE AND TRANSFER TO BWINDI
In the morning after breakfast, the trip will take you through ishasha sector to enjoy the tree climbing lions and then en-route to bwindi Gorilla Park. You will drive through the remote southern sector of queen Elizabeth national park to see climbing lions that mostly seen in this and later have lunch at ishasha jungle lodge and after proceed with the trip to bwindi gorilla park in late afternoon and check in to the lodge for relaxation at the lodge as you wait for dinner and overnight at the selected accommodation
Meals and accommodation at trackers safari lodge
DAY 12: GORILLA TRACKING IN BWINDI
The day starts with early morning breakfast 06:30 am and then you will be driven to the briefing point and after briefing you will be guided to gorilla trails in search for gorillas. The trek lasts from anything between 2 to 6 hours and therefore we recommend that you carry drinking bottled water and rain coat and comfortable shoes.
On meeting the gorillas, you will be allowed to interact with them for one hour and later return to hotel for meals and overnight stay
DAY 13: DRIVE TO LAKE BUNYONYI
Lake Bunyonyi should not be missed when visiting Uganda. Tucked away in the gorilla highlands, it is a must visit destination, perfect way to wind down your safari after hectic gorilla trek. Lake bunyonyi offers hosts of thrilling activities ranging from swimming, canoeing in dugout canoe, boating, island hopping, hiking, zip lining, biking, nature walks and interactive cultural visit to batwa and bakiga.
After breakfast, we shall transfer to the beautiful lake bunyonyi. Check in and relax until lunch time. In the evening have an option to go for canoe ride on scenic Lake Bunyonyi or simply relax and take the rest of the day.
DAY 14: LAKE BUNYONYI EXPERIENCE (EXPLORE LAKE BUNYONYI)
On this day you will enjoy the cultural allure of the batwa communities and scenic boat rides to bunyonyi’s small islands will simply take your breath away.
We believe this hidden African jewel lake bunyonyi’s scenery that will stay with you. From its 29 islands, mountains and virunga volcanoes, the pleasant climate, the perfect spot according to lonely planet, to relax and chill out with its waters proven biliharzia free, meaning super safe foe swimming
Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight at your selected accommodation
DAY 15: TRANSFER TO KAMPALA
After relaxed breakfast, you will check out of the lodge and embark on your journey back to Kampala with interesting stops like at the equator for photos moments and lunch after you will visit to explore souvenir markets at the equator for your own disposal
You will reach Kampala/ Entebbe and check in at the selected accommodation for relaxation dinner and overnight stay
DEPARTURE day
Wake up with relaxed breakfast at the lodge and check out. You will be picked up and transferred to Entebbe international airport or any of the border points for departure/flight dropped for your departure back home
Thank you for traveling with us at African skimmer tours