UGANDA WILDLIFE & CULTURE SAFARI
NO OF DAYS : 14 : KAMPALA, MURCHISON FALLS, QUEEN ELIZABETH, KASENYI, KAZINGA, BWINDI, BUNYONYI, BISOKE, KAMPALA
FROM USD 2500 Per Person
Day 1: Arrival & Optional Kampala City Tour.
Arrival: Meet your company representative at Entebbe International Airport for a warm welcome and transfer to your hotel in Kampala. Optional Activity, Depending on your flight arrival time, embark on a cultural city tour. Highlights include the Namugongo Martyrs Shrine, Kasubi Royal Tombs, Kabaka’s artificial lake, the Bahá'à Temple, and the Uganda Museum. Alternatively, browse local craft markets and lively village bazaars. Alternative: Spend the day relaxing at your hotel to recover from your flight. Dinner & Overnight in Kampala.
Day 2: Transfer to Murchison Falls via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.
Morning: Enjoy an early breakfast before starting your journey to Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s largest and oldest protected wilderness. Rhino Tracking: Break up the drive with a detour to the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for a guided foot safari to track wild Southern White Rhinos. Midday, Stop for a local lunch in Masindi town. Afternoon, Enter Murchison Falls National Park. Take in the dramatic shift in scenery as you transition into rugged savannahs, dense woodlands, and striking landscapes. Dinner & Overnight: Sambiya River Lodge (Cottage).
Day 3: Murchison Falls Game Drive & Nile Boat Cruise.
Morning Safari: Set out at dawn for a comprehensive game drive across the northern savannah veins. Scan the landscape for elephants, Cape buffaloes, Rothschild's giraffes, lions, leopards, jackals, and various antelopes. Afternoon Boat Cruise: Board a scheduled launch cruise heading upstream to the base of the thunderous 43-meter-high Murchison Falls. Wildlife & Birding: Sail past massive schools of hippos, Nile crocodiles, and a fraction of the park's 460 bird species, including Goliath herons and the rare shoebill stork. Dinner & Overnight: Sambiya River Lodge.
Day 4 : Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
The Journey: Following breakfast, embark on a full-day scenic road transfer traveling south along the Albertine Rift Valley to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Afternoon, Marvel at changing landscapes, local villages, and distant mountain backdrops. Arrive at your lodge in the late afternoon. Evening, Enjoy the rest of the evening at leisure to unwind, dine, and rest.
Dinner & Overnight: Enganzi Game Lodge.
Day 5 : Kasenyi Plains Safari, Katwe Salt Lake & Kazinga Channel Cruise.
Morning Safari: Explore the open savannahs of the Kasenyi sector. This premier tracking ground offers excellent opportunities to see African elephants, buffalo herds, topis, bushbucks, and warthogs. Katwe Salt Pans: Visit the historic Katwe explosion crater lake to witness traditional, century-old salt mining methods before returning to the lodge for lunch. Kazinga Channel Cruise: Spend your afternoon on a 2-hour boat launch along the Kazinga Channel, a natural waterway connecting Lake George and Lake Edward. View dense concentrations of hippos, bathing elephants, buffaloes, and iconic waterbirds like the African Fish Eagle. Dinner & Overnight: Enganzi Game Lodge.
Day 6 : Transfer to the Southern Ishasha Sector.
Morning: Journey to the remote, wild southern wing of the park known as the Ishasha sector. This pristine environment is far less developed and offers a peaceful safari atmosphere. Conduct a specialized game drive to find Ishasha’s famous tree-climbing lions, which typically lounge on the branches of large fig trees during the heat of the day. Evening, Check into your lodge to unwind and watch the sunset over the plains. Dinner & Overnight at wilderness lodge.
Day 7 : Ishasha Game Drive & Transfer to Bwindi.
Embark on a final early morning exploration through Ishasha to catch active lions, herds of topis, or an elusive leopard on the hunt. Depart Queen Elizabeth National Park and drive up into the mist-covered, high-altitude terraced hills of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Afternoon, arrive at your rainforest base camp, check-in, and relax in preparation for tomorrow's trek. Dinner & Overnight: Wagtail Eco Safari Camp.
Day 8: Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Forest.
07:30 AM – Park Briefing: Grab your packed lunch and head to the park headquarters for a vital briefing on gorilla tracking safety and etiquette. (Note: Children who do not meet the tracking age limit can spend the day participating in fully-guided eco-activities around the hotel or local grounds). The Jungle Trek: Enter the ancient rainforest in a small group of eight, led by expert trackers. The trek can take anywhere from 1 to 4+ hours depending on the movement of the habituated gorilla family. Enjoy an unforgettable, face-to-face hour observing a wild mountain gorilla family feed, groom, and play. Optional Afternoon, spend your remaining hours resting at the lodge or taking a guided nature walk along the forest foothills. Dinner & Overnight, Wagtail Eco Safari Camp.
Day 9: Batwa Cultural Trail & Rainforest Hike.
The Batwa Experience: Immerse yourself in the history of Bwindi’s original forest keepers. Embark on a guided hike through the rainforest led by indigenous Batwa guides. Learn how the Batwa historically gathered medicinal plants, hunted, and built shelters. Participate in a mock hunting party, test your skills with a traditional bow and arrow, share a local meal, and listen to ancient folklore and vibrant ceremonial dances. Dinner & Overnight at Wagtail Eco Safari Camp.
Day 10: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi & Island Boat Cruise.
Morning: Travel through southwestern Uganda's scenic highlands to Lake Bunyonyi, arriving in time for a lakeside lunch. Afternoon Cruise: Board a boat to explore a few of Bunyonyi's 29 islands. Witness local island life firsthand, meeting blacksmiths, woodcarvers, and talented local women demonstrating traditional weaving arts. Dinner & Overnight: Arcadia Cottages.
Day 11: Cross the Border to Ruhengeri, Rwanda & Gorilla Guardians Village.
The Journey: Clear customs and cross the border into Rwanda, traveling to the base of Volcanoes National Park in Ruhengeri. Enjoy an en-route lunch. Visit the Gorilla Guardians Village to discover traditional Rwandan heritage. Tour a replica of the King’s compound, meet traditional herbalists to learn about native remedies, witness traditional pottery making, sample local banana beer, and watch all age groups gather for the mesmerizing Intore drumming and dance performance. Complete the evening with Igitaramo—a traditional fireside storytelling circle. Dinner & Overnight: Kinigi Guest House.
Day 12 : Mount Bisoke Crater Lake Hike (Volcanoes National Park).
The Climb: Fuel up with an early breakfast and head to the park station. Scale Mount Bisoke, an extinct volcano standing at 3,711 meters. The Summit: Reaching the top reveals a massive, spectacular volcanic crater lake nestled at the peak. Scenery & Birding: The trail cuts through unique Afro-alpine vegetation, offering great birdwatching opportunities and expansive views of Rwanda's "Land of a Thousand Hills." Return to the village base in the afternoon. Dinner & Overnight: Kinigi Guest House.
Day 13: Long Transfer to Kampala via the Equator & Drum Makers.
Start early on your return road transfer to Kampala, cruising along smooth tarmac roads that flank Lake Mburo National Park—keep an eye out for roadside zebras and impalas. Pause at the Igongo Cultural Centre in Mbarara for a premium lunch and a brief tour showcasing Ankole kingdom history. Equator Experience: Stop at the global Equator crossing for structural water experiments, geographic photos, and souvenir shopping. Visit the Mpambire royal drum makers to watch master craftsmen construct traditional musical instruments before arriving in Kampala by evening. Dinner & Overnight in Kampala.
Day 14: Return Drive to Kampala.
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel. Optional city tour of Kampala. Transfer to Entebbe International Airport in step with your outbound flight timing, marking the conclusion of your 14-day journey.
END OF SERVICE