14-Day The Best of Uganda Safari

Prepare very early in the morning and after breakfast to go for a morning game drive. The Nile itself hosts one of Africa’s densest hippo and crocodile populations. In the lush borassus grassland to the north of the Nile, elephant, buffalo, giraffe and a variety of antelope are regularly encountered on game drives, while lions are seen with increasing frequency. After enjoying a lunch go for a boat trip to the Lake Albert delta that provides the best chance in Africa of sighting shoebills. This is also a zone of dazzling variety of water birds including bird species like goliath herons, Egyptian gooses, pelican bee-eaters, kingfishers, hornbills, and cormorants. Overnight at Paraa safari lodge (https://paraalodge.com/) or its equivalent.

Early in the morning, you will visit the top of the Falls and have a breath taking view of the falls. After that activity head to Hoima where you will spend you overnight at Lake Albert Lodge in Hoima (https://www.lonelyplanet.com/uganda/hotels/lake-albert-safari-lodge/a/lod/bc97e01c-e0ad-4e39-a576-c4bacce5ece9/355692) or its equivalent. Have your lunch at the Lodge and have a relaxed evening. You can arrange optional activities at the lodge provided there is time.

You can have optional morning activities at the lodge like nature walks, horseback riding, fossil hunting, birding, bush dinner/bush breakfast. Midmorning start on your journey and travel to Kibaale Forest National Park via Fortportal. Dinner and overnight at Primate Lodge Kibaale (https://ugandalodges.com/primate/primate-lodge-photos/) or its equivalent.

Very early in the morning after your breakfast go for primate viewing with Chimpanzee trekking being the most exciting. Other primates include; red tailed and gray cheeked Mangabey, red colubus monkeys, and phoetes. More will be explained on the fauna and flora as you trek for the primates to ensure that the walk is both informative and enjoyable. In addition to primate viewing, expect to watch the bird life its natural habitat. Dinner and overnight at Primate Lodge Kibaale (https://ugandalodges.com/primate/primate-lodge-photos/) or its equivalent.

Continue to Queen Elizabeth National Park and view the majestic Rwenzori mountain range along. Viewing almost 100 mammal species makes this superb safari territory, with elephant, a profusion of hippos, the elusive giant hog and the handsome Uganda kob all regularly sighted around the tourist village on the Mweya Peninsula an exciting experience in a game drive. Also available is chimp tracking (optional). After lunch enjoy a launch trip on the Kazinga channel into the Lake Edward which offers great game viewing. This is an excellent view for taking photographs and bird watching (over 606 bird species). Dinner and overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge (https://mweyalodge.com/) or its equivalent.

Proceed for two drives today. Queen Elizabeth National Park’s diverse Eco system of savannah to rainforest, from dense papyrus swamps and brooding crater lakes to the vastness of Lake Edward, it is little wonder that the park boasts one of highest biodiversity ratings of any game park or reserve in the world. Game drives in this park, with the massive Rwenzori as a backdrop, provides excellent opportunities to see lion, leopard, giant forest hog, Cape buffalo, elephant, defassa waterbuck, Uganda kob, topi and bushbuck. These two game drives and the boat trip [taken prior] are memorable methods of discovering a vast array of Ugandan wildlife. Dinner and Overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge (https://mweyalodge.com/) or its equivalent.

Very early in the morning after breakfast, travel to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Travel through the Kigezi Highlands popularly known as the ‘Switzerland of Africa’ with its terraced hillside and winding roads. Dinner and overnight stay at Bwindi Lodge (https://volcanoessafaris.com/2015/11/bwindi-lodge/) or its equivalent.

Explore the gorilla sanctuary in the morning. The rainforest can be explored at any time. It offers a steep dense forested landscape, crisscrossed by numerous animal trails, which makes it easy be for the tourists to see the animals. The resident mammals include the endangered Mt. Gorilla, bushbuck, leopard, rare golden monkey, giant forest hog, buffalo, elephant, black fronted duiker, and others. This park is best known for the fascinating relatives of man “The gorillas.” The time taken and the terrain vary according to the movements of the marvelous primates. Wonderful time is spending time listening to songs of the many bird species and observing the gorillas which is a rare, moving, awesome and exciting adventure. The gorilla is a shy and peaceful animal and it is unforgettable experience to watch and photograph them as they interact. Dinner and overnight stay at Bwindi Lodge (https://volcanoessafaris.com/2015/11/bwindi-lodge/) or its equivalent.

Travel through the beautiful scenery of Western Uganda and head to Kabaale and continue to the banks of Lake Bunyonyi. Lake Bunyonyi is a lake with many small islands whose view is really breathe taking. The relaxation at the banks of the lake is memorable. You will check in at Lake Bunyonyi Lodge for dinner and overnight (https://www.arcadialodges.com/index.php?option=com_sppagebuilder&view=page&id=9&Itemid=110#) or its equivalent.

There are a number of optional activities while at Lake Bunyonyi. Enjoy bilharzias free swimming, dug out canoeing; sunbathing, hilly walks, mountain bike riding and craw fishing. This is whole day for relaxation. Dinner and overnight stay at Lake Bunyonyi Lodge (https://www.arcadialodges.com/index.php?option=com_sppagebuilder&view=page&id=9&Itemid=110# or its equivalent.

Prepare to go after breakfast, for a leisurely drive to Lake Mburo national park. Enter the park through the Nshara gate. In the afternoon enjoy a game drive along the lakeshore track with its own system of game trail and cleared walkways, the ‘kigambara Loop’ offers interesting guided lakeside walks where you can find herds of Zebra, impala, warthog, baboons, velvets, eland, Oribi and topi are easily accessed. After lunch enjoy a boat trip on Lake Mburo and expect to view crocodiles and hippos. Bird watchers will enjoy more than 250 species of birds found in Lake Mburo. The most interesting birds are; crested crane (Uganda’s national emblem), saddle bill storks and Abyssinian ground hornbills. Then return to Lake Mburo Lodge for dinner and overnight https://www.arcadialodges.com/index.php?option=com_sppagebuilder&view=page&id=3&Itemid=109or its equivalent.

Morning guided game drive or safari walk (Optional). There is a lot that are interesting including the Kopjes, klipspringers and topis. It is amusing to see Zebra grazing alongside the cattle peacefully. This is due to cattle herding of the Ankole long horned cattle in the area. Return for lunch taken while enjoying the view of the fresh water lakes in this park. Enjoy the boat ride on Lake Mburo and get quite close to the crocodiles and hippos. This is the only park where you are not entirely imprisoned in a vehicle. Dinner and overnight at Lake Mburo Lodge for dinner and overnight https://www.arcadialodges.com/index.php?option=com_sppagebuilder&view=page&id=3&Itemid=109or its equivalent.

After breakfast, go for another game drive. After lunch drive back to Kampala, stopping at Mpigi Royal Drum Makers en-route where you will be able to watch the ceremonial drums being crafted using methods passed down through generations. There will also be time to stop at the Equator for photographs. You arrive in Kampala in the early evening.