Great Journey to Uganda
This trip shows you Uganda with all its large and small parks, the diverse world of animals, the chimpanzees and gorillas and the beauty of its landscape. Let the friendly people and their way of life surprise you day by day. Uganda offers a great evergreen landscape besides the variety of animals. The country will inspire you.
The highlights of The Great Journey to Uganda
– wonderful private trip through Uganda
– first class observation area in Kidepo
– Visit of the Karamoja Nomads
– spectacular boat safari on the Nile
– Hot Springs in Semliki Wildlife Reserve
– Encounter with the gentle jungle giants
– several hours of chimpanzee tracking
– exciting walking safari at Lake Mburo
– Crossing the equator
Itinerary and highlights of Great Journey to Uganda
Day 1 Great Journey to Uganda – arrival day Entebbe
Your driver / guide will meet you at the airport in Entebbe and take you to your lodge in Kampala. On the way you will get first impressions of the colourful life on the roadside. Depending on your arrival time you will have the opportunity to jump into the pool or to relax in the lodge.
Day 2 Great Journey to Uganda – Entebbe – Kampala – Ziwa Rhino Sacturary
Today you drive from Kampala to the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary in northwest Uganda. Once there you will undertake a short bush walk. You will walk through the bush with an experienced ranger and visit one of the giant rhinos. In any case you should keep calm. From very close you can observe the otherwise so rarely occurring magnificent animals.
Day 3 Great Journey to Uganda – Ziwa Rhino Sacturary – Kidepo National Park
After breakfast, you will head north to Kidepo National Park. On well developed roads you drive to Lira with a view of the Nile. Here you have the opportunity to visit the market. We continue through small villages and towns to the south side of the Kidepo National Park.
Day 4 Great Journey to Uganda – Kidepo National Park, Gamedrive
Today you start for your first game drive in Kidepo NP. The National Park has a great variety of animal species, 28 of which do not occur in any other Ugandan park. Most gamedrives can be undertaken along the Narus Valley, as the park’s wildlife gather here almost all year round. Here you have the opportunity to see the animals up close.
Day 5 Great Journey to Uganda – Kidepo National Park, 2nd Gamedrive
Today there is the possibility for another game drive or you explore the savannah on foot. Accompanied by an armed guide, you’ll venture along dry riverbeds, over rocky climbs and through bushveld to track the local wildlife. The majority of the walks take place in the Lamoj Mountains, just a few kilometres from the park’s headquarters. This area is located in the Narus Valley, a prime wildlife observation area.
Day 6 Great Journey to Uganda – Kidepo – Murchison Falls National Park
After breakfast you continue your journey to Murchsion Falls National Park. You will drive through the territory of the Karamoja nomads, have the opportunity to visit one of their villages and get an insight into the way of life of this many centuries old tribe. You reach Murchinson Falls Park via the northern access road and take your first game drive on the way to the Nile ferry. After crossing the Nile you will arrive at your lodge and enjoy the view of the river.
Day 7 Great Journey to Uganda – Murchison Falls NP, Game Drive, Boat Safari
In the early morning you start your first game drive through the beautiful Murchison National Park. The vegetation is dominated by savannah and riverside forest, and the shores of Lake Albert and the Nile are covered with reeds. You can see lions, leopards, elephants, giraffes, hartebeests, oribeests and the typical Uganda kobs. In the afternoon you undertake a boat safari on the Nile. Passing crocodiles, hippos and water birds you will drive to the famous waterfalls (Murchison Falls). If you like, you can get out of the boat a few meters before the gorge and start the 1 hour hike to the upper course of the river. Of course you can also go back by boat. Enjoy the spectacular view of the longest river in Africa, watch it plunge 43 meters into the depth.
Day 8 Great Journey to Uganda – Murchison Falls NP – Semliki National Park
Today you start after breakfast towards Semliki National Park. The drive goes along Lake Albert, you will arrive at Hoima and Fort Portal where you will have the opportunity to shop at the market. In the late afternoon you reach your lodge in Semliki Game Reserve.
Day 9 Great Journey to Uganda – Semliki – Kibale Forest National Park
Today you will have the opportunity for a game drive in Semliki National Park. The forest is home to 53 mammals, 27 of which are large mammals. These included the rare pygmy antelope and two species of flying squirrels. There are also the forest elephants and buffalo. Along the Seumuli River you can find hippos and crocodiles. Later you leave the park in the direction of Fort Portal. After about two hours driving time you will reach the city, the centre of western Uganda. Here you have the opportunity to go shopping at the market or to visit a café. Afterwards you continue on well constructed roads into Kibale Forest.
Day 10 Great Journey to Uganda – Kibale Forest NP – Chimpanzee Tracking
After breakfast you will start your chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest National Park. The forest has the highest number of primate species in the world. In Uganda there are about 5,000 chimpanzees in the wild, perfect for observing them today. With an experienced ranger you start your tour in the morning. There is no guarantee of actually seeing the chimpanzees, as they live in the wild. However, your ranger will be very keen to show you these wonderful animals. Be prepared for a strenuous hike through the dense bush and keep your rain gear handy. In addition to the countless tropical birds, the forest is also home to several species of monkeys, such as the colobus monkey. In the afternoon you travel on to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Day 11 Great Journey to Uganda – Queen Elizabeth, Game Drive Camp, Boat Safari
Today you undertake a deerstalking journey om Queen Elisabeth NP. It is located at the foot of the majestic Rwenzori Mountains, directly at Lake Edward and Lake George. The lakes are connected by the Kazinga Channel. In the National Park you will go on a great game drive with all that the African wildlife has to offer. There are numerous lions, buffalos, hyenas and of course the Kobe antelope, which can be found in Uganda. The National Park against the background of the Rwenzori Mountains offers a perfect panorama for your souvenir photos. After lunch we will go on a boat safari on the Kazinga channel. You will see hippos and crocodiles and the impressive birdlife up close.
Day 12 Great Journey to Uganda – Queen Elisabeth NP – Ishasha
In the morning, when the air is still fresh, you go on another game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Especially the elephant population with about 3000 animals is impressive. Around noon you will drive further south to the Ishasha region. There you will observe the lions climbing on trees. There are also other big cats like the leopard.
Day 13 Great Journey to Uganda – Ishasha – Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Today you will start the drive to the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The route continues via Kihi on winding roads into the Bwindi NP. There you will observe the endangered mountain gorillas and thus contribute to the protection of these unique animals. Since the gorilla groups have been opened for tourism, the population has recovered considerably. Each family is carefully guarded and their names like Otaka, Elsa or Nyakina will soon be known to you.
Day 14 Great Journey to Uganda – Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Gorilla Tracking
Today you experience one of the highlights of your Uganda trip! In the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest you can meet both mountain gorillas and chimpanzees. This forest is the only one in Africa that can offer this. As you advance along the wooded slopes, winding vines and bamboo plants into the densely overgrown jungle, you will learn many interesting facts about these fascinating giants. The experienced guide will show you traces of previous activities of the gorillas. For example nests, dung and nibbled bamboo shoots. Then you will suddenly find yourself facing the strong, almost human-looking mountain gorilla! You can watch the gorillas go about their daily business undisturbed. Be especially quiet and avoid jerky movements. Enjoy these unforgettable moments with the gorilla group.
Day 15 Great Journey to Uganda – Activities at Lake Mutanda
Today you have the opportunity for a 6-7 hour trip, you start with a boat tour on Lake Mutanda, go for a hike to one of the surrounding villages, visit the locals and learn a lot about the life of the villagers. Alternatively you can book a canoe tour on the lake or just enjoy the day at the lodge.
Day 16 Great Journey to Uganda – Lake Mutanda – Lake Mburo National Park
Today after breakfast you drive to Lake Mburo National Park. The route leads along well constructed mountain roads, here you can enjoy the view of the green valleys and the lake Bunyonyi with its 19 islands. In the afternoon you reach your lodge at Lake Mburo NO, the second smallest National Park in Uganda. Numerous rocks and hills alternate with small valleys. You undertake a game drive, typical for the park are zebras and antelopes together with long horned Ankole cattle. Besides these animals we also see
Impalas, reedbucks and waterbucks.
Day 17 Great Journey to Uganda – Lake Mburo National Park – Entebbe
Lake Mburo National Park is one of the two parks in Uganda where walking safaris are allowed. You go on an exploration tour with an experienced ranger, footprints and animal excrements tell you which animals are nearby. It is especially exciting to see the wild animals from this close up. Around noon you will leave for the return journey to Entebbe. Of course we stop at the equator for a souvenir photo. In the late afternoon you will arrive at your guesthouse in Entebbe where you can enjoy a sundowner with a view of Lake Victoria.
Day 18 Great Journey to Uganda – Departure day Entebbe
Depending on your departure time, you can relax in Carpe Diem or visit the botanical garden in Entebbe. If you are leaving in the evening, you can also take a boat trip to the Mabamba Swamp where you will have the opportunity to see the diverse birdlife and with a bit of luck you will find the prehistoric shoebill stork. The driver will bring you in time for your departure or for your connecting program.