UGANDA CULTURAL TOUR (12 DAYS)
Day 1: Kampala city tour & Lake Mburo National Park
Wake up and have breakfast then go for a short morning tour around Kampala City. You will make a visit to Nakasero market with a lot of fresh fruits display; visit the mysterious Kasubi tombs the burial ground for Buganda Kings. Visit Uganda Museum a display of all Uganda cultures. After lunch, drive through the lush green countryside to Lake Mburo National Park stopping at Equator. Visit some Bahima Homesteads and get to know how they earn their living. Dinner and overnight at Mantana Luxury Lodge or Rwonyo Camp.
Day 2: Lake Mburo National Park
Wake up and have breakfast then go for an early morning game drive. This park was gazetted in 1982 and is located between the towns of Masaka and Mbarara. It is the only park that contains an entire lake. The attractive acacia-dotted savannah is home of huge herds of impala as well as uncommon topi, eland, klipspringer and other antelope. Zebra and buffalo also graze these peaceful acres. At the lake, there are hippo and crocodile, and a wonderful diversity of birds. Because of the different habitats of the lakeshore and the broad savannah, the variety seems endless. Catch a glimpse of water birds diving for fish, the marabou stork, bee-eaters and cheeky bronze-tailed starling as well as the majestic crowned crane. Make sure you bring your binoculars! After game drive proceed to Mbarara, make a stop over and have a look at the Ankole long-horned traditional cattle enroute. You will have another lunch stop on the way if you never carried packed lunch and continue to Kabale. Drive past beautiful hills, ridges and valleys in Ntungamo area plus the long-flat stretch of savannah before reaching Kigezi Hills (Switzerland of Africa). Visit Bakiga cultural cites.
You will arrive in Kabale in the evening and proceed to Lake Bunyonyi. Dinner and overnight at Lake Bunyonyi Overland Camp or Bunyonyi Safari Resort.
Day 3: Lake Bunyonyi – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Camp
Following breakfast, you will go for a boat ride on Lake Bunyonyi and tour around the beautiful Islands on the Lake. The lake gives a sanctuary to many different species of birds and other migrating birds from Europe. Learn about the Bakiga culture and have a look at their cultural activities Too.The Lake provides a living and is the only fresh lake in the country where you can find otters. Enjoy sight seeing of Kigezi terraced hills, lunch and depart for Bwindi Impenetrable Forest passing through Mafuga forest. On a clear day, you will view the Virunga's from a distance and the Western Rift Valley stretch as it disappears to border of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Dinner and overnight at Buhoma Community Bandas or at Gorilla Forest Camp or Gorilla Resort or Buhoma Homestead or Community Bandas for budget facility.
Day 4: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
After breakfast, you will be briefed by the local guides and then go for the adventure. The time taken to encounter these humble apes varies according to the movements of these great primates. The thrill of meeting them face-to-face takes away the pain of the long and arduous trek. Return back to the camp to recount your experiences in the forest. Evening will be entertained with local dances from a local troupe. Dinner and overnight at Buhoma Community bandas or at Gorilla Forest Camp or Gorilla Resort or Buhoma Homestead.
Day 5: Bwindi – Queen Elizabeth National Park
Today a second will visit the communities by taking one of the village trails seeing the traditiational herbalists, brewing of local gin, community projects and how the people earn their leaving. You will spend time with the pygmies that used to share the Bwindi forest with gorillas and now resettled among the local communities.
You may also take a look at some of the creatures that share this forest with the Gorillas (forest walk). Explore the hidden waterfalls and marvel at the splendour of this African forest view other primates like the red tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys. There is also unique game like the giant forest hog, the bushbuck and wealth of bird life while you enjoy the forest flora. Later you will depart for Ishasha; you may have a chance to see the tree climbing lions in the game drive at Queen Elizabeth National Park. Dinner and overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge/ Jacana safari Lodge or Institute of Ecology (hostel).
Day 6: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Wake up early morning, have breakfast and then go for a game drive. This guided drive may last about three hours. Return to the lodge and have lunch and take an afternoon boat cruise along the Kazinga channel that joins Lakes Edward and George. This waterway is filled with schools of hippos, buffaloes, and elephants, which can be seen at the banks. There are also a rich variety of birds on the channel. Return for dinner and overnight at lodge or Hostel. Have the evening for leisure.
Day 7: Queen Elizabeth - Kibale Forest National Park
Start your day with an early morning game drive ; explore different tracks exploiting all chances of viewing game that inhabit this beautiful part of the world. You may also decide to track chimpanzees in Kyambura gorge.
Have lunch and then depart to Kibale Forest National Park – home of chimpanzees. Dinner and overnight at Ndali Lodge or Primates Lodge or Toro Resort.
Day 8: Kibale – Chimp tracking
After breakfast, you will proceed to Kanyanchu tourist’s centre and get briefed by the park authorities then enter the forest with local guides to track chimpanzees in their natural habitat. Kibale Forest National Park is believed to have the most concentration of primates in the world. Over 10 different species of primates including chimpanzees have been recorded in this park including the localized red colobus and L'Hoest's monkeys. Tracking the chimpanzee our 'cousin' is a very interesting experience. The way they feed, climb trees, respond to humans, caring for their young ones, is just phenomenal.
A network of shady forest trails provides much delight to botanists and butterfly lovers, while birders have recorded over 300 species including the endemic Prirogrine's ground thrush. The elusive forest elephant, smaller and hairier than its savannah counterpart, moves seasonally into the developed part of the park, while other terrestrial mammals include buffalo, giant forest hog and a half dozen antelope species. Return for lunch and in the afternoon visit communities and local markets and other activities that take place here and overnight.
Day 9: Kibale – Fort Portal- Murchison Falls Park
Depart for Murchison Falls National Park with lunch stop on the way. Enter through Bugungu gate. Arrive in the evening dinner and overnight at Sambiya River Lodge or Paraa safari lodge for mid range, Red Chili Camp for budget facility.
Day 10: Murchison Falls National Park
Carry out a game drive in the morning with a local guide who will assist you in seeing the Congo Blue Mountains on clear day. The game drive is carried out in the northern Bank of River Nile where concentrations of game like elephants, giraffes, antelopes, lions, leopards, hyenas and many bird species are commonly seen. Enjoy your picnic lunch; in the afternoon go for a boat cruise on the famous River Nile up to the bottom of falls. Chances of seeing the shoe bill stork are many though not a guarantee. Continue up to the bottom of the falls where you will see marine animals like the crocodiles, schools of hippos and many species of birds. Overnight at Paraa safari lodge/ Sambiya River Lodge/ Red Chilli Camp for budget facility.
Day 11: Murchison Falls National Park
You will drive to the top of the falls, have a spectacular sight where water squeezes in 6-meter gap before it explodes into thunderous explosion of Murchison Falls. Proceed to Kampala passing through Bundongo Forest for nature walk. Make a stop and view different species of flora seeing particular species of trees like mahogany, muvule that are characteristic of an African rainy forest dinner and overnight at Hotel Africana or Holiday Express Hotel in Kampala
Day 12: Kampala – Jinja - Entebbe
Make a visit to Jinja town. This day can is dedicated for white water rafting; alternatively you will be visiting the source of the Nile River and see where Speke the famous explorer stood and confirmed to the whole world after discovering and solving the mystery of the source of River Nile. View the submerged rippon falls where the Owen falls dam stand now and Bujagali Falls. Return to Kampala and if time allows, you can visit the Namugongo Martyrs Shrine and continue to Entebbe. Overnight at Entebbe Resort /Windsor Lake Victoria Hotel or Sophie’s Hotel/ Entebbe Flight Motel budget facilities.
Day 13: Airport Transfe