13 Days Uganda Safari Tour, Gorilla Trekking in Uganda, Wildlife Viewing, Adventure

Extending the helping hand to the needy is one of the inherent attributes that we share as Prime Safaris. The orphans that lost their parents to HIV/AIDS scourge along with others thrive at Christ Our Vision Child Care Orphanage where they are supported to have good education and other necessities. The need to maintain the orphanage gave birth to Prime Uganda Safaris & Tours as a source of funding for the orphanage. Thus, paying a visit to this orphanage is one of the ethical safari activities that you can ever have in your journey times. You will play with kids and enjoy their performances. The traditional Kiganda buffet lunch will be served at the site. In the afternoon, you will take a walk in the Karagi village where the orphanage is located to learn about the way of life of the local people and their traditions before transferring back to Kampala city for dinner and overnight. The orphanage is about 40 minutes – 1 hour drive from Kampala city.

Accommodation: Sheraton Kampala Hotel (Upmarket/Luxury), Cassia Lodge (Midrange/Standard) or Buziga Country Resort (Budget/Basic).

Day 2 of the 13 Days Uganda Safari Tour: Encounter the source of the Nile – Jinja with half day white water rafting

You will wake up early for breakfast at your place of stay after which you will be transferred by your guide to Jinja 80km about 1-2 hours’ drive from Kampala. You will enjoy the soothing fresh air from Mabira forest en route which is one of the major rain forests in Uganda. Upon reaching Jinja – the adventure town of Uganda, you will enroll yourself for the half day white water rafting experience that will see you contain the strength of waters of the Nile as they splash through the rapids. You will visit the Reptile farm in Jinja to have encounter of various reptile species. The relaxing boat cruise to the source of the Nile will take you to the point where John Speke, the first European to see the source of the world’s longest river stood. You will see the Nile starting its 90 days journey to the Mediterranean Sea. Retreat to Kampala for overnight.

Accommodation: Sheraton Hotel (Upmarket/Luxury), Cassia Lodge (Midrange/standard) or the lodge (Budget/basic).

Day 3 of the 13 Days Uganda Safari Tour: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park & visit Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary en route

Transfer after breakfast to Murchison Falls National Park in the north west of Uganda 311km about 5 hours’ drive excluding stops en route. You will pass through the flat savannah landscapes of Nakasongora before branching off a little at Nakitoma 115km from Kampala for 7 km drive to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to track white rhinos that only thrive at this place in the whole of Uganda. You will have lunch at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary and depart in the afternoon for Murchison Falls National Park for relaxation and overnight.

Accommodation: Paraa Safari Lodge (Upmarket/luxury), Murchison River lodge (Midrange/standard) or Heritage Safari Lodge (Budget/Basic).

Day 4 of the 13 Days Uganda Safari Tour: Do morning game drive and Nile launch cruise

Wake up very early for a cup of coffee and then head to Paraa ferry crossing at 7:00am (if you slept in the south) to the northern sector of the Park where game drives are carried out. The possible sights of various wildlife including; elephants, buffalo, Jackson hartebeest, Kobs, lion, leopard, giraffe among other wildlife will leave you with a taste of African savannah wilderness. The activity takes 3 – 4 hours after which you will return to the Paraa ferry crossing at 11:00am to go back to your lodge for relaxation and memory sharing. After your stimulating lunch, gather at the Paraa for an after boat cruise on the Nile at 02:00pm. This boat trip has got captains and guides who have cruised on this waters for years and will be glad to share with every piece of information that you would wish to gather on this trip including any bird species and wildlife both aquatic and land that might present its self. The shoebill stork can be luckily seen on this boat while the great sights of Nile crocodiles – the second largest reptile in the world and the Hippos would make up your trip up to the base of the falls. The boat takes 3 hours after which you will have marked the end of your day’s adventures.

Accommodation: Paraa Safari Lodge (Upmarket/luxury), Murchison River lodge (Midrange/standard) or Heritage Safari Lodge (Budget/Basic).

Day 5 of the 13 Days Uganda Safari Tour: Encounter the top of the falls & to transfer to Hoima & visit the Mpalo Royal tombs

After breakfast, embark on the exploration of the top of Murchison Falls which is the powerful waterfalls in the world to marvel at the Nile River which is the longest River in the world squeezing itself to pass through an 8m ravine before falling 43m to what has been termed as the Devils Cauldron forming a thunderous roar with a plume of spray marked by trade mark rainbow. Sir Samuel Baker was the first European to marvel at this feature on 14^th March 1864 on his Nile expedition from the north and named after the then president of the Royal Geographical society – Sir Roderick Murchison. Continue on the drive to Hoima where you will visit the Mpalo Royal Tombs to encounter historical Kings of Bunyoro like King (Omukama) Kabalega who is famously known for resisting against the British rule in Bunyoro. Retire for overnight.

Accommodation: Kontik Hotel / Kolping Hotel

Day 6 of the 13 Days Uganda Safari Tour: Transfer to Kibale National Park & do either Mpanga tea estate cycling or Fort Portal Crater lake hike & the Amabere g’ Nnyinamwiru caves tour.

After an early breakfast, embark on the drive to Fort Portal area. After an approximate 5 hour drive on a rough murram road always preferred and named by the European travellers as African massage, you will arrive at Mpanga tea estates. You have the option of doing a cycling tour through the tea plantations, have an opportunity to participate in tea plucking with the estate workers and then pay a visit to the tea factory to get acquainted with the process of tea growing and processing. This is ideal for active travellers that prefer cycling/ mountain biking. You will proceed for lunch in Fort Portal town. As an alternative to the Mpanga tea estate cycling, you can opt for the Fort Portal crater lake hike and Amabere g’ Nnyinamwiru caves tour. Amabere g’ Nnyinamwiru caves – the breast like features dates back in the pre historic era with great attachment to the Chwezi heritage. The breasts (Amabere) are believed by the locals to belong to Nnyinamwiru the daughter of Bukuku who was a self-imposed King of the Bachwezi. The maiden daughter cut her breasts in protest of being refused to breast feed her only son Ndahura who later became a prominent King of the Chwezi Empire. The encounter also involves the hiking the Fort Portal Crater field. The famous Kyeganywa hill rises in a conical shape and its summit presents great sight-seeing moments of the range crater hollows and crater lakes including Saaka, Bikere among others not forgetting the distant views of Mount Rwenzori on a clear day. Transfer to Kibale area for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Primate Lodge (Upmarket/luxury), Chimpanzee Guesthouse (Midrange/standard) or Kibale Forest Camp (Budget/Basic)

Day 7 of the 13 Days Uganda Safari Tour: Chimpanzee trekking & transfer to Kasese. Visit Rwenzori Art foundation & Ruboni craft and wax center

After breakfast, gather at Kanyanchu tourism center for briefing at 08:00am from the park rangers about the Chimp trekking conduct. Set off to this forest of Kibale after the short briefing in quest of Chimpanzees. The 2 – 5 hour trek will expose you amazing tree species and wildlife including other 12 species of primates like Colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, Red tailed monkeys and olive baboons. The sights of Birds cannot be avoided while their songs will offer you natural entertainment through the jungle. You will marvel at the Chimpanzees as the roll themselves on tree branches, munch fruits and make their pant – hooting calls. After utilizing your one hour, you will have a picnic lunch and return to the starting point for short relaxation and then embark on the transfer to Kasese 110km about 3 hours’ drive excluding en route stops. You will make a stop visit at the Rwenzori Art Foundation – the only bronze casting center in Africa to have a look at the process of various sculpture making and the final products. A fine cup of coffee can be arranged at the site before proceeding to visit the Ruboni craft & wax center to have a look at how the local people extract different products like candles from bees wax and also encounter the craft making process. It is an experiential and if interested you can have some time and participate in making if various crafts like baskets among others. Proceed to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Ihamba Safari Lodge (Upmarket/Midrange) or Ruboni Community Camp (Budget/Basic).

Day 8 of the 13 Days Uganda Safari Tour: Do whole day Rwenzori hiking

Transfer early after breakfast to Mount Rwenzori (Nyakalengija) for the whole day Rwenzori hiking encounter. The hiking encounter exposes you to raised landscapes of Mount Rwenzori offering impressive scenic views of the ridges and glaciers and the rift valley flats below. It is a perfect one day active adventure exploring the legendary mountains of the moon as described the famous Greek geographer Ptolemy in 150AD towering to 5,109m above sea level making it the tallest mountain range in Africa and the third highest in Africa. Return from the activity at 5:30 pm and transfer to your lodge for relaxation and overnight.

Accommodation:   Ihamba Safari Lodge (Upmarket/Midrange) or Ruboni Community Camp (Budget/Basic).

Day 9 of the 13 Days Uganda Safari Tour: Do game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park & boat cruise on Kazinga Channel

Wake up very for a cup of coffee before setting of for the game drive activity in the savannah game park of Queen Elizabeth. The early departure at 06:00 gives you an opportunity to see night hunters like hyenas getting back to their hiding places and early risers setting off to look for what to eat. The drive through the Kasenyi and channel tracks gives a probable opportunity to see a range of game including; Lions, buffalo, elephants, elusive leopard (if too lucky), defassa water bucks, Uganda kobs, Oribis, side stripped jackal among other wildlife. Return to the lodge after this 3 -4 hour game drive and relax till lunch time. After lunch, you will gather at Mweya for a recreational afternoon launch cruise leaving at 03:00pm taking 2 hours exploring the magical offerings of Kazinga Channel including the sights of water birds and wild game drinking on the channel side, the Nile crocodile and the Hippos. The 45m channel that stretches from Lake George to Lake Edward has tranquil waters that always give pleasure and psychological satisfaction to any traveller on Uganda safaris. Retire from the boat at 5 pm for relaxation and overnight.

Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Enganzi Lodge (Midrange/Standard) or Pumba Safari Cottages (Budget/Basic).

Day 10 of the 13 Days Uganda Safari Tour: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park & do Ishasha game drive en route (tree climbing lions)

After breakfast, embark on the transfer to the gorilla trekking haven of Bwindi south (Rushaga) 309km from Mweya. You will pass through the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park and do simple game drives in search of the unique tree climbing lions that tend to rest on fig tree branches during day time – something that you can only find in Queen Elizabeth National Park Ishasha sector – Uganda and Lake Manyara National Park in southern Tanzania. Proceed with the journey, have lunch en route and arrive in Rushaga late in the evening for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Chameleon Hill Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Gorilla Valley Lodge (Midrange/standard) or Wagtail Eco- Safari Camp (Budget/Basic)

Day 11 of the 13 Days Uganda Safari Tour: Do gorilla tracking & transfer to Lake Bunyonyi

It is this long waited date when you will come across the critically endangered mountain gorillas that only exist in Bwindi and Virunga Volcanoes. You will wake up early for a heavy breakfast before gathering at the Park headquarters Buhoma for briefing at 08:00 about the conduct of gorilla trekking. You will head to the forest after briefing in search of these apes and though the trek is a bit challenging, it is one of those activities that you will never forget to have done in Uganda. The 2 – 8 hours activity involves hiking up the hills, descending down the valleys, walking through swamps and maneuvering the way through thickets which have formed the background of this Impenetrable forest before coming in direct contact with gorillas. The one full hour is at your disposal to maximize your experience with gorillas as you them forage, play, socialize and also gaze at you in a sign of welcoming and saying good bye. The opportunity to take as many photos as you can is availed to you while asking questions to your guide about these apes is up to your discretion. The experience is rewarding and worth undertaking. Your picnic lunch will take you through the activity after which you will descend to the starting point and embark on the transfer to Lake Bunyonyi for relaxation and overnight.

Accommodation: Birdnest@Lake Bunyonyi (Upmarket/Luxury), Arcadia Cottages (Midrange/Standard) or Byoona Amagara Island Retreat (Budget/Basic)

Day 12 of the 13 Days Uganda Safari Tour: Have a whole day relaxation at Lake Bunyonyi

After a relaxed breakfast embark on the canoe paddle or a boat ride across the Lake exploring its rich islands that count to 29 in number with impressive scenery complimented by the surround hills of Kigezi and the water stretch of Lake Bunyonyi which is the second deepest in Africa. The 5 – 6 hour activity involves a community tour to the island people exploring their traditions and their way of life. Retire from the activity for relaxation and overnight.

Accommodation: Birdnest@Lake Bunyonyi (Upmarket/Luxury), Arcadia Cottages (Midrange/Standard) or Byoona Amagara Island Retreat (Budget/Basic).

Day 13 of the 13 Days Uganda Safari Tour: Transfer to Kampala. Visit Igongo Cultural Museum, 1520 AD Eclipse Monument & Equator crossing at Kayabwe en route

After your breakfast, embark on the journey back to Kampala 437km about 7 hours’ drive excluding stops en route. The drive will expose you to country side sceneries and economic activities that have sustained the lives of the local communities for centuries past among which include extensive Banana plantation and cattle keeping. You will make a stop for lunch at Igongo cultural center 12km past Mbarara. You take a 30 – 40 minutes’ tour of the Igongo cultural museum that features a range collections, sculptures and writings about the heritage of tribes of south western Uganda. You will also visit the 1520 AD eclipse monument to take back the time of the total solar eclipse that occurred at Biharwe and its traditional significance to the people of the time. After this encounter, you will continue on the drive to Kampala. Another stop will be made at the Equator crossing Kayabwe 77km to Kampala for photo shoots and water experiments that justify the geographical divide between the northern and southern hemispheres if time permits. You will arrive in Kampala late in the evening.