12 Days Uganda Group Safari
ITINERARY OVERVIEW FOR THE 10 DAYS UGANDA SAFARI
For unforgettable wildlife encounters and authentic wilderness experiences, 12 days Uganda North-western circuit trip is worth booking. Have a chance to visit top destinations in the Pearl of Africa that make it a favorite wildlife safari destination including Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to see rhinos, Budongo Forest for chimpanzee tracking, Murchison Falls National Park and Kidepo Valley National Park- for great wildlife encounters in the extensive savanna plains. Also, go hike to the Sipi Falls- the Triple falls located in Eastern Uganda and at Jinja, have taste of the Nile River water while you challenge yourself in white water rafting experience to tough grades and rapids. End your trip in Kampala with city tour- explore different historical or cultural sites widely spread in and around the city.
DAY1: TRAVEL TO MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK.
Meet your driver guide as per your travel itinerary and start your journey to the first destination- Murchison Falls National Park. En-route on Kampala-Luweero triangle-Gulu highway, a stopover visit will be at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary- reason: rhino tracking. This is the only location where rhinos can be watched in their habitat and takes about 2 hours for you to enjoy rhino tracking then proceed to Budongo Forest Reserve via Kichumbanyobo gate.
Overnight:
Budongo Eco Lodge
DAY2: CHIMPANZEE TRACKING, TOP OF THE FALLS TOUR.
Have breakfast early, then assemble at Budongo Forest offices for briefing on chimpanzee tracking rules and covid-19 measures in place. Leave at 8:00am for actual trek to see chimpanzees and an experience guide will be the one take lead. This will take from 2 to 4 hours and you will have one hour mainly to observe how chimps groom each other, behave, habits and take pictures- but keep your flashlight off.
Budongo is a rich natural forest and protects more than chimpanzees. A huge profusion of other primates to come across range from red colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, red tailed monkeys, to black and white colobus monkeys, plus forest and Albertine rift endemic birds.
Return to the eco-lodge afterwards, have lunch and proceed to the top of Murchison Falls- enjoy a breathtaking view as it forces itself into a narrow rock creating a permanent rainbow.
Overnight:
Fort Murchison Lodge (Budget)
Pakuba Safari Lodge (Mid range)
Para Safari Lodge ( Luxury)
DAY3: GAME DRIVE AND BOAT CRUISE.
Follow the Northern bank game tracks for early morning guided game drive with guide and in a 4x4 vehicle with pop up roof. Expected wildlife encounters will range from African lions, buffalos, leopards, rothschild giraffes, Jackson’s hartebeests, oribis, kobs, warthogs and others plus different birds. During the afternoon boat cruise to the bottom of the powerful Murchison Falls come with great display of aquatic life such as hippos, birds, crocodiles and more.
Overnight:
Fort Murchison Lodge (Budget)
Pakuba Safari Lodge (Mid range)
Para Safari Lodge ( Luxury)
DAY4: MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK TO KIDEPO VALLEY NATIONAL PARK.
A quick game drive early morning as you exit Murchison Falls NP for Kidepo Valley National Park in the extreme North-eastern Uganda. Kidepo 1442sq.kms shelters valuable species of wildlife that are of great interest on game viewing tour including 4 of the big five game members, antelopes, zebras, giraffes, cheetahs, hyenas, etc.
Overnight:
Apoka Hostel Bandas (Budget)
Kidepo Savannah Lodge (Mid range)
Apoka Lodge ( Luxury)
DAY5: GAME DRIVE NARUS VALLEY KIDEPO AND KARAMOJONG CULTURAL VISIT.
Go game drive in Kidepo early to catch up with morning risers along Narus Valley. The animals to be spotted include rothschild giraffes, buffaloes, leopards, elephants, lions, jackals, warthogs, birds especially ostriches and in addition, breathtaking view of Kidepo landscape.
Have lunch and later in the afternoon, explore Karamojong homesteads for authentic African cultures, traditions. Great dances, drama, music performances will follow and you return when thrilled.
Overnight:
Apoka Hostel Bandas(Budget)
Kidepo Savannah Lodge (Mid range)
Apoka Lodge ( Luxury)
DAY6: MURUNGOLE HIKE TO VISIT IK.
Wake early and set off for a hike to Morungole. Visit the IK people living on the summits of Mount Morungole in Karamoja region.
After the hike transfer to Kotido town. This is a remote area and not so much touristic so we will spend the evening relaxing and sharing memories.
Overnight:
Lamason Hotel Kotido
DAY 7: TRANSFER TO MOROTO TOWN FOR A CULTURAL EXPERIENCE.
Have breakfast in the morning and set off for Moroto town for a thrilling cultural experience. Its a very interesting journey through the remote areas of Karamoja region. We target to arrive at the lodge for lunch.
After lunch, we shall go for the Karamojong cultural experience where we shall be in position to interact with the locals as they show case their daily life, visiting kraals, granaries, grinding stones and in the end we could engage into the dance with them and later return to the lodge for dinner.
Overnight:
Karatunga Camp (Budget)
Mount Moroto Hotel (Mid range)
Hotel Africana Moroto ( Luxury)
DAY 8: TRANSFER TO SIPI FALLS.
Leave Lira city in the North for Sipi Falls in Kapchorwa in the Eastern side, located at the base of Mt. Elgon. From Lira to Sipi will take about 4 hours via Soroti city and en- route, branch off to Nyero paintings 8kms away and they are valuable rock art sites a few of which still exist and documented in Uganda.
Overnight:
Lakamu Lodge Budget)
Rafiki Lodge (Mid range)
Sipi River Lodge ( Luxury)
DAY 9: HIKE SIPI FALLS.
Start a hike to Sipi Falls to explore 3 waterfalls located at the base of Mt. Elgon, Eastern Uganda. Navigate via the homesteads while viewing the surrounding areas and this will take 3-4 hours less or more depending on how fit you will be. In the evening, you will embark on coffee tour to explore all stages it takes to prepare coffee right first stage of planting to processing. Or you may opt for rock climbing or abseiling experiences.
Overnight:
Lakamu Lodge (Budget)
Rafiki Lodge (Mid range)
Sipi River Lodge ( Luxury)
DAY 10: TRANSFER TO JINJA.
Leave Sipi Falls for Jinja, adrenaline adventure capital of East Africa- about 5 hours’ journey. Arrive early, relax at the lodge, have lunch and later, go enjoy a sunset boat cruise and retire for the night at accommodation you booked early.
Overnight:
King Fisher (Budget)
2 Friends Hotel (Mid range)
Lemala Wildwaters Lodge ( Luxury)
DAY 11: WHITE WATER RAFTING.
Have early breakfast and connect where whitewater rafting is conducted. Meet officials for briefing and later, begin actual rafting taking you to grade 5 and after your challenge, get back for relaxation or go back for afternoon phase or opt for bungee jumping or tubing. Other possible activities to do while in Jinja include jet boating, kayaking, quad biking, biking/cycling, etc.
Overnight:
King Fisher (Budget)
2 Friends Hotel (Mid range)
Lemala Wildwaters( Luxury)
DAY 12: JINJA TO KAMPALA WITH A STOPOVER VISIT AT SEZZIBWA FALLS.
After a delicious breakfast, leave Jinja for Kampala passing through Mabira Forest. Drive via Mukono where you will branch off to visit Ssezibwa falls- scenic waterfalls and also significant cultural site in Buganda. For early arrivals in Kampala, proceed for a short city tour in Kampala. Later, you will have last drop off at a hotel in Kampala or Entebbe Airport for departure.
