Day 1 – Entebbe / Kampala

Bed and Breakfast

• On your arrival at Entebbe International Airport in Uganda you will be welcomed by our representative and transferred for overnight in BB to the hotel at Cassia Lodge / Onomo Hotel Kampala.

Day 2 - The Source of the river Nile

Full Board.

• After breakfast and a brief from our representative, at 7.30 drive eastwards to Jinja, town on the shores of Lake Victoria where you find the source of the river Nile.
• Lunch in a restaurant.
• In the afternoon we go visiting the source of the river Nile. Through a guided boat trip, you reach the point where the water of Lake Victoria enters River Nile. It is amazing the landscape, the birding life and the fishermen life in this spot near the port of Jinja.
• Later on proceed the journey to Mount Elgon at Sipi Falls, for about 3 hours and half for 200 km.
• Dinner and overnight at Sipi Heritage Lodge (C) or Home of Friends Guest House (E).

Note: Today transfer is about 6 hours in total, along tarmac roads for a distance of about 300 km

Day 3 – Sipi Falls trekking – Coffee tour

Full Board.

• Early morning you go for the trekking through the Sipi Falls from Mount Elgon. The vegetation is superb with banana and coffee plantations and view of the Karamoja valley. The Sipi river creates about four sets of incredible waterfalls as it descends down the valley.
• Lunch in a restaurant or at the lodge.
• In the afternoon, we go for the coffee tour in this area that is renowned for the best quality coffee in Uganda, the Arabica Bugisu of the mountains’ slopes. We will visit the coffee farmers and their cooperative to understand closer the coffee business.
• In the evening relax at the lodge and we may organize the storytelling about the culture of the Sabiny people around the camp fire.
• Dinner and overnight at Sipi Heritage Lodge (C) or Home of Friends Guest House (E).

NOTES: Trekking level: medium.

Day 4- Karamoja – Moroto

Full Board.

• After an early breakfast, at 8 am proceed the journey to Moroto the capital town of Karamoja
• Lunch at the lodge.
• In the afternoon visit the communities of the Matheniko of the plains. These are semi-nomadic people and cattle keepers, also known in the past for their raiding the cattle of the neighboring tribes. Their lifestyle is slowly changing to residential agriculturalists. Visit the typical homestead or “manyatta” to view the style of life. The Matheniko also can perform their traditional dances or “edonja” as they dress on their traditional clothes.
• Dinner and overnight at Kara Tunga Guest House.

Note: Today transfer is about 4 hours along murram roads for about 190 km.

Day 5 – People of Karamoja

Full Board.

• After breakfast, today we organize a number of cultural experiences, guided by local guides, with the objective to meet and learn from the people of Karamoja in the respect of their culture and traditions. These are authentic encounters and not prepared for mass tourism, which means we organize them for you.

We drive to the communities who inhabit the mountains surrounding Moroto, the Tepeth. These are the original inhabitants of Karamoja, who were raided by other Karimojong tribes and seek refuge on the slopes of the mountains, where are found their traditional manyattas. You will have a direct experience of the daily life in Karamoja.

• Lunch at the hotel or packed lunch.
• If time allows, in the evening back to Moroto and visit the Karamoja Museum and the local market.
• Dinner and overnight at Kara Tunga Guest House.

Day 6 – Moroto - Kidepo Valley National Park

Full Board.

• After breakfast, the trip proceeds northwards to Kidepo Valley National Park. This park is named after the river traversing this region at the border between Sudan and Kenya. This is one of the most unspoilt, pure wild places remaining in Africa.
• Lunch en route in a restaurant.
• As you arrive in Kidepo National Park according to the time, we may organize a first game drive.
• Dinner and overnight at Adere Lodge Kidepo (C) (supplement for Apoka Safari Lodge) or Kidepo Savannah Lodge/ Zebra Safari Lodge / Katurum Lodge (E).

Note: Today transfer is very long through the dirt roads of Karamoja, approximately 5 hours for 270 km.

Day 7 – Kidepo Valley National Park

Full Board.

• After breakfast at 7 am take a photographic game drives along the trails of the national park and expect to explore the region of the river Narus valley. Kidepo contains one of the most exciting faunas of any Ugandan parks, with over 80 species of mammals several of which restricted only to Kidepo, like cheetah and striped hyena. The bird list boasts over 465 species.
• A part from the game drive, on request a visit to the local Karimojong homestead or “manyattas” can be organized (included in the tariff).
• Lunch at the lodge.
• Dinner and overnight at Adere Lodge Kidepo (C) (supplement for Apoka Safari Lodge) or Kidepo Savannah Lodge/ Zebra Safari Lodge / Katurum Lodge (E).

Day 8 – Kidepo Valley National Park

Full Board.

• After breakfast at 7 am take a guided nature walk with the rangers in Kidepo.Short nature walks around Apoka Rest Camp provide the chance to view species such as zebras, hartebeest and reedbucks. Longer walks through the open grasslands of East Kakine should provide sightings of giraffe, buffalo, elephant and perhaps distant lions.
• In the afternoon / evening we organize a photographic game drive along the trails of the national park.
• Lunch at the lodge.
• Dinner and overnight at Adere Lodge Kidepo (C) (supplement for Apoka Safari Lodge) or Kidepo Savannah Lodge/ Zebra Safari Lodge / Katurum Lodge (E).

Day 9 – Kidepo – Murchison Falls National Park

Full Board.

• After breakfast, proceed in the direction of Murchison Falls National Park, the biggest national park of Uganda. Stop overs will be made in the main towns of Kitgum and Gulu for stretching out.
• Lunch en route in a restaurant.
• Dinner and overnight at Paraa Safari Lodge / Twiga Safari Lodge (C) Or Pakuba Lodge / Bamboo Village Lodge (E).

Note: The transfer is about 7 hours along mostly murram roads for about 350 km

Day 10 – Murchison Falls National Park

Full Board.

• After breakfast, at 6.30 am you will embark on an early morning game drive to explore the savannah in the Northern bank of the Nile. Among other animals in the wild, you might find elephants, lions, buffalos, giraffes, waterbucks, oribis, bushbucks, spotted hyenas and leopards.
• Drive back to the lodge for lunch.
• In the afternoon, take another fascinating safari by boat along the magnificent river Nile to the base of the Murchison Falls. It is amazing the concentration of wildlife in the bank of the river Nile, including hippos and many crocodiles. There are a number of birds commonly spotted along the shores of the Nile, including: Gray crowned cranes, Goliath herons, black headed lapwings, African fish eagle, saddle-billed stork, African Skimmer, various Kingfishers (Pied, Malachite, Giant), African Jacanas.
• In the evening, we visit the “top of the falls”, where 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.
• Dinner and overnight at Paraa Safari Lodge / Twiga Safari Lodge (C) or Pakuba Lodge / Bamboo Village Lodge (E).

Day 11 – Murchison Falls National Park – Bugoma Forest

Full Board.

• After breakfast, we embark on another game drive in the Murchison Falls National Park.
• The journey proceeds through the beautiful landscapes of the Rift Valley, to Hoima the capital town of the Bunyoro region. As you exit the park, there are spots where to admire the panoramic view of Lake Albert and the Rift. The Bunyoro Kingdom was one of the most important and long-lasting kingdoms in Uganda history. In Hoima the capital town there are cultural sites like the Bunyoro Royal Palace and the Mparo Royal Tombs, where is buried King Kabalega. King Kabalega is widely known or remembered for openly resisting British governance in his Kingdom Bunyoro and in Uganda in general after the British Colonial Government allied within Buganda Kingdom to fight his Kingdom for opposing Colonialism.
• Lunch in a typical restaurant in Hoima.
• In the afternoon, we propose a village walk to see closely the life of the people who inhabit the buffer zones of the protected Bugoma reserve. This activity is conducted by the local guides of the Association for Conservation of Bugoma Forest (ACBF).
• Dinner and overnight at Bugoma Jungle Lodge / Kikonko Lodge.

Note: The transfer is about 3 hours and half along murram roads for a distance of about 170 km

Day 12 – Uganda mangabey walk in Bugoma Forest – Kibale National Park

Full Board.

• After breakfast, at 7,30 am you go for a nature walk in Bugoma Forest to see the Uganda mangabey at the Karwata site. This tropical forest with its size of 410 sq km is the habitat of the chimpanzees and Uganda mangabeys. It is also the site for a conservation effort by Destination Jungle through the Association for Conservation of Bugoma Forest (ACBF). In the walk you might be able to see the Uganda mangabeys and other monkeys like black and white colobus, red tailed monkeys. Bugoma Forest since 2020 suffered a huge deforestation for sugar cane plantation, with a loss of more than 8,000 hectares of forests. The eco-tourism activities are directly contributing to strengthening the conservation of the reserve.
• We also visit the re-forestation project “Every 5 Acres” where you can plant an indigenous tree.
• Proceed the tour to Fort Portal and the crater lakes area arriving by late afternoon.
• Lunch in a restaurant.
• Dinner and overnight at Turaco Treetop Lodge / Guereza Canopy Lodge (C) or Isunga Lodge / Chimpanzee Forest Lodge / Kibale Guest Cottages (E)

Note: Today transfer is about 3 hours’ and half drive, for a distance of about 170 km.

Trekking level: easy.

Day 13 – Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park – Queen Elizabeth National Park

Full Board.

• After breakfast, the activity of the day is the chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park. This activity can be arranged at different times during the day according to the distribution of permits by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, in the morning or afternoon.

You experience the rain tropical forest, birding and especially you encounter the chimpanzees in their natural environment. Other primates you might see include black and white colobus, red tailed monkey and velvet monkey.

• Lunch at the lodge.
• In the afternoon the journey through Uganda proceeds to the “pearl” of the national parks, Queen Elizabeth, which lies between Lake George on the East, Lake Edward on the West and the Rwenzori Mountains on the North. Have a game drive in the evening as you enter the park.
• Dinner and overnight, Mweya Safari Lodge / Kikorongo Lodge / Aardvark Lodge (C) or Ihamba Safari Lodge / Enganzi Lodge / Marafiki Lodge (E).

Day 14 – Queen Elizabeth National Park

Full Board.

• After a cup of coffee, at 6.30 am go for a game drive experience along the tracks of the national park, in the Northern side towards Lake George and Kasenyi village. You might see lions, elephants, buffaloes, spotted hyenas, waterbucks, Ugandan kobs, perhaps the leopard though is shy and rare to be seen.
• Lunch in a restaurant or at the lodge.
• In the afternoon, take the most exciting safari by boat from Mweya peninsula along Kazinga channel, one of the most popular sites in Uganda for its concentration of wildlife, bird’s life and opportunities for good photographs. Moreover, you will see plenty of hippos, buffaloes and elephants while drinking from the channel.
• Dinner and overnight, Mweya Safari Lodge / Kikorongo Lodge / Aardvark Lodge (C) or Ihamba Safari Lodge / Enganzi Lodge / Marafiki Lodge (E).

Day 15 – Ishasha - Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

Full Board.

• After breakfast at 7 or 8 am transfer to the Southern sector of Queen Elizabeth, Ishasha. Take a game drive in search for the “tree climbing lions” which are seen during the hot hours of the day, as they lie resting on top of Figs trees. See also herds of buffaloes, elephants, topi antelopes and more.
• Lunch in a restaurant
• In the afternoon proceed the trip South, where you find the rain tropical forests which are the natural habitat for the endangered mountain gorillas. You will reach an altitude of up to 2300 m above sea level in Bwindi. The choice of the area of the “gorilla safari” depends on the availability and allocation of the permits for this activity.
• Arrive in Bwindi National Park for dinner and overnight, Bwindi Engagi Lodge/ Gorilla Safari Lodge / Ichumbi Lodge (C) or Bweza Lodge / Agandi Lodge / Rushaga Gorilla Camp (E). Note: Today transfer is variable, according to the location of the gorilla permits and road conditions.

Day 16 - Mountain gorilla safari – Lake Bunyonyi

Full Board.

• In the morning you enter the rain tropical forest of Bwindi for the gorilla safari. The activity starts at 8 am and you will follow the ranger guides in a group of maximum 8 people as you search for the habituated family of mountain gorillas, which was allocated according to the permits. Bwindi forest in Uganda has a population of 459 gorillas, which is half the world population according to 2018 gorilla population surveys. It is not predictable the time you will spend to encounter 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 and for this you might need the support of available porters.
• According to the time spent in the tracking, in the afternoon proceed to Lake Bunyonyi.
• Dinner and overnight, Bird Nest Resort Bunyonyi / Arcadia Cottages Bunyonyi (C) or Bunyonyi Eco-resort / Lake Bunyonyi Rock Resort (E).

Day 17 – Entebbe / Kigali

Half Board.

• After breakfast, proceed back to Entebbe and reserved for departure from Entebbe International airport.
• Optional: transfer to Kigali and departure from Kigali International Airport (supplement)

Note: Please note that today transfer to Entebbe is about 9 hours drive for 450 km, through tarmac road, therefore we advise to book late flights from Entebbe International Airport after 8pm or to add an extra night. The transfer to Kigali is about 3 hours for 130 km though the border of Gatuna.