21 DAYS MT ELGON HIKE, PRIMATES & WILDLIFE SAFARI
Itinerary Overview
Get a chance to immerse yourself into the unspoiled African wilderness areas only on our all-round 21 Days Mt Elgon Hike, Primates & Wildlife Safari. Visit all the relevant Uganda National Parks and other tourist sites in the various parts of the country from East to the West, North to the South. This is one of the best primate and wildlife tours introducing you into both the verdant tropical forest and extensive savanna plains including Bwindi National Park, Kibale National Park while savanna protected areas include Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, Kidepo and Murchison Falls National Park.
The long Uganda safari lets you to encounter diversity of wildlife ranging from big game – elephants, cape buffaloes, lions, leopards, rhinos, antelopes, giraffes, zebras, etc; chimpanzees, golden monkeys and mountain gorillas. It also includes visit to the Sipi Falls, found in the Eastern side of Uganda and a spectacular falls consisting of triple waterfalls.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Pick Up , Transfer To Jinja, White Water Rafting
After breakfast, the driver guide will pick you from your hotel, brief you about your 21 Days safari and embark on your journey to Jinja via Mabira Forest – a natural forest found en-route to Jinja. At Jinja- East Africa’s adrenaline adventure capital will treat you with white water rafting taking you through tough challenge on the strongest grade 5 and rapids.
After, connect back to your lodge in Jinja city for the rest of evening relaxation, dinner and overnight sleep. Other alternative experiences you may opt for while in Jinja include bungee jumping, boat cruise, horseback riding, quad biking, jet boating and others.
Overnight:
King fisher resort (Budget)
2 Friends hotel (Midrange)
Lemala Wild Waters Lodge (Luxury)
Day 2: Drive To Sipi Area , Sipi Falls Hike
After breakfast, we shall embark on a journey to Mount Elgon is located about 175kms from Jinja and en-route lunch will be had at Mbale city. Connect afterwards to Sipi Falls for hiking adventure to explore the Triple waterfalls/ Sipi Falls located at the slopes of the Mt. Elgon. After a hike to the falls, connect to the lodge to chill, dine and overnight sleep.
Overnight:
Lacam Lodge (Budget)
Rafiki Lodge (Midrange)
Sipi River Lodge (Luxury)
Day 3 – 6: Mount Elgon Climbing Adventure
Spend at least 4 days exploring the beautiful Mt. Elgon – located in Eastern Uganda within Mount Elgon National Park. Mt. Elgon – a home of the world’s mountain caldera in the world is comprised of distinct peaks with the highest being Wagagai (4321m), Sudek (4302m), Mubiyi (4211m), Masaba (4161m) and Koitobos (4222m).
Today, you will undertake a direct climbing path to commence your adventure to the Wagagai peak, but first journey stops at 1600m for you to enjoy the view of the Elgon and its surrounding.
Overnight:
(In the mountain)
Day 7: Transfer To Kidepo Wildlife Trip Via Mbale City
After breakfast, embark on a journey to the extreme North – Eastern side of Uganda to explore the unspoiled Kidepo Valley National Park also nicknamed the “Maasai Mara of Uganda” to engage in a guided game drives, cultural encounters in the Karamojong communities etc. We shall arrive late in the afternoon; relax the rest of the day and retire for the night ahead of tomorrow’s activities.
Overnight:
Apoka Hostel Bandas(Budget)
Kidepo Savannah Lodge (Midrange)
Apoka Lodge (Luxury)
Day 8: Kidepo Guided Game Drives & Community Visit
Early rise for a cup of tea or coffee, and after get ready for Kidepo’s early morning guided game drive taking 2-3 hours in the golden savanna. We shall have a chance to encounter early risers like the rothschild giraffes, lions, elephants, leopards, cheetahs, elands, zebras, oribis together with birds like ostriches. After the game drive, we shall drive back to the lodge for lunch break, relaxation and later, take a walk to Karamojong villages – visit the Manyatta, learn about the ancient ways of life of the Karamojong people then get the best of their dances, music performance.
Overnight:
Apoka Hostel Bandas (Budget)
Kidepo Savannah Lodge (Midrange)
Apoka Lodge (Luxury)
Day 9: Morning Nature Walks & Hiking Mt. Morungole With Cultural Visit To The IK
After breakfast, leave for a rewarding nature walk around the park to see some wildlife, birds, flora and proceed to Mt. Morungole for long day hike to IK community at the summit. At the summits, interact with the IK and later, descend back to have the rest of the evening at the lodge.
Overnight:
Apoka Hostel Bandas (Budget)
Kidepo Savannah Lodge (Midrange)
Apoka Lodge (Luxury)
Day 10: Transfer To Murchison Falls National Park Northwest
After an early breakfast, we shall leave Kidepo valley National Park for a long road trip to Uganda’s largest park – Murchison Falls National Park also a home of the world’s powerful falls. Spreading to cover 3840sq.kms, Murchison is found in the North-west of Uganda and a home to 4 of the big 5 members with exception of only rhinos. We shall get to the lodge in the evening where we shall retire for the night.
Overnight:
Fort Murchison (Budget)
Pakuba Safari Lodge (Midrange)
Paraa Safari Lodge (Luxury)
Day 11: Murchison Falls Game Drive & Launch Cruise
After an early breakfast, we shall drive out to the park for a rewarding game drive to the Northern circuit for a chance to encounter wildlife like rothschild giraffes, big game, hartebeests, oribis, alongside birds in large numbers.
After the game viewing, we shall drive back to the lodge for lunch and later, get a chance to reach the base of the falls and its top while on a boat excursion from Paraa via Victoria Nile 2-3 hours. The boat excursion comes with ultimate view of hippos, Nile crocodiles, together with lots of aquatic birds. After the boat cruise, we shall return to the lodge for an evening relaxation and call this a day.
Overnight:
Fort Murchison (Budget)
Pakuba Safari Lodge (Midrange)
Paraa Safari Lodge (Luxury)
Day 12: Top Of The Falls Tour & Drive To Hoima City
After a relaxed breakfast, we shall drive to Hoima city with an en route visit to the top of the Murchison Falls to witness it squeeze itself into the 8m rock then fall 43m below creating devil’s cauldron and its permanent rainbow. After some photo momemts, we shall get back to the car and embark on the journey to Hoima – the oil city, visit the homesteads, food markets or the Kingdom and then later, have an overnight stay.
Overnight:
Kontique Hotel (Budget)
Hoima Resort (Midrange)
Mika Eco Resort (Luxury)
Day 13: Transfer To Kibale Forest National Park En-Route Hike To The Top Of The World
After breakfast, we shall exit Hoima city for Kibale National Park, which is also Uganda’s primate city through Fort Portal city. In the afternoon/ evening, take a walk to enjoy mesmerizing view of the Ndali- Kasenda Crater (the top of the world). We shall return to the lodge for an evening relaxation, dinner and an overnight.
Overnight:
Nkuruba Lodge (Budget)
Isunga Lodge (Midrange)
Chimpundu Lodge (Luxury)
Day 14: Guided Chimpanzee Trekking Experience, Bigodi Wetland Walk
After breakfast, we shall drive to the park offices for briefing about chimpanzee trekking. After the briefing, we shall get allocated a trekking group and ranger guide and start the hike in the forest to search for chimpanzees. In the forest, you will encounter other primates like different monkey species, elephants, bird species flora and fauna that are residents of this forest.
After encountering the chimps, you will be allowed one hour as you learn more about human close relatives and their behaviors. We shall return to the lodge for lunch and there after go for a walk in Bigodi Wetland Swamp for a chance to see more primates alongside birds and other mammals.
Overnight:
Lake Nkuruba Lodge (Budget)
Isunga Lodge (Midrange)
Chimpundu Lodge (Luxury)
Day 15: Transfer To Queen Elizabeth National Park With Salt Lake Trip
After a hot cup of tea or coffee, we shall leave the primate city behind and embark on a journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park located about 4 hours’ drive away. En-route includes view of Rwenzori Mountains at the background and lunch served on arrival at the park. In Queen Elizabeth National Park, we shall go for a tour to the Salt Lake thereafter after we shall check in at the lodge for a sundowner and an overnight.
Overnight:
Bush Lodge (Budget)
Elephant Hab Lodge (Mi range)
Mweya Safari Lodge (Luxury)
Day 16: Morning Wildlife Game Drive, Kazinga Channel Launch Excursion
Enjoy an early breakfast and after drive to the park to experience Queen Elizabeth NP at sunrise. In the park, we have an opportunity to sight savanna dwellers such as elephants, lions, antelopes, warthogs, buffaloes, leopards etc via Kasenyi sector. We shall return to the lodge for lunch and a bit of relaxation and in the afternoon embark on a rewarding launch trip via Kazinga Channel which Links Lake George to Lake Edward with chance encounters of aquatic wildlife such as hippos, crocodiles plus birds.
Overnight:
Bush Lodge (Budget)
Elephant Hab Lodge (Midrange)
Mweya Safari Lodge (Luxury)
Day 17: Transfer To Bwindi Impenetrable NP Via Ishasha Sector Game Drive
After breakfast, we shall drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park; home to the magnificent Mountain Gorillas. Along the journey, we shall have an enroute game drive in Ishasha area; the Southern side of Queen Elizabeth NP for a chance to see the tree climbing lions that are often seen lazily relaxing in the fig tree branches. Drive to the lodge for lunch and then proceed to Bwindi for an afternoon relaxation, dinner and an overnight.
Overnight:
Buhoma Community Rest Camp (Budget)
Mahogany Springs Lodge (Midrange)
Buhoma Lodge (Luxury)
Day 18: Guided Gorilla Trekking Day In Bwindi
After an early breakfast, leave for briefing about rules of trekking and also to be allocated habituated gorilla families to visit and when in the forest, you have chance to encounter other wildlife since the park is home to over 200 tree species, 119 other mammals including colobus monkeys; 360 bird species, butterflies, floral species and more.
When you have finally met a gorilla family, you will be allowed one hour for a face to face encounter and should be fully utilized for photography and learning more about the behaviors of mountain gorillas. Return to the lodge for lodge and in the afternoon; drive out to visit the Batwa pygmies – the original dwellers of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, for a great chance of learning about their ancient way of living, norms, practices, traditions, cultures and others.
Overnight:
Buhoma Community Camp (Budget)
Mahogany lodge (Midrange)
Buhoma Lodge (Luxury)
Day 19: Lake Bunyonyi Relaxation & Excursion
After breakfast, we shall leave the misty forest behind and embark on a journey to the beautiful Lake Bunyonyi. The lake is made up of 29 islands each with a different historical story. Enjoy the beauty and scenic views of the spectacularly stunning lake and in the afternoon go for a boat ride excursion exploring one of the islands. In the evening, visit the Batwa – the original forest keepers or go interact with Bakiga.
Overnight:
Bunyonyi Eco Resort (Budget)
Bird Nest Resort (Midrange)
Arcadia Lodges (Luxury)
Day 20: Transfer To Lake Mburo Trip, An Afternoon Launch Cruise
After a relaxed breakfast, leave the beautiful and stunning views of Lake Bunyonyi for Lake Mburo NP which is known as Uganda’s zebra planet. We shall reach the lodge right on time for lunch and in the afternoon, drive to Lake Mburo for a boat cruise excursion with a chance to see lots of hippos, crocodiles plus many aquatic birds.
Overnight:
Eagles Nest Lodge (Budget)
Rwakobo Rock (Midrange)
Mihingo Lodge (Luxury)
Day 21: Early Morning Game Drive, Departure For Entebbe
Following an early breakfast, embark on a departure journey to Entebbe with an early game drive to see special wildlife in the park including zebras, giraffes, leopards, lions, buffaloes, antelopes and birds. Along the journey, we shall have a stopover at the Equator for some photo moments and demonstrations and souvenir shopping. This will mark the end of our 21 Days Mt Elgon Hike, Primates &Wildlife Safari.
