Starts: Entebbe Uganda
Ends: Arusha Tanzania
Duration: 20 Days
Activities: The great migration in Masai Mara combined with exploring Central & Northern Serengeti for major wildlife sightings, enjoy white water rafting on the Nile River, Bird watching, Chimpanzee tracking, Game drives, Boat trips, Gorilla tracking, Nature walks
Destinations: Bwindi Forest, Jinja Source of the Nile, Kibale forest, Queen Elizabeth Park & Lake Mburo park in Uganda, Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Lake Naivasha & Masai Mara in Kenya, Serengeti & Ngorongoro in Tanzania
This 20 days Wild Uganda, Kenya & Tanzania Safari is a lifetime experience worth memories with a lot of adventure, nature, and cultural experiences.
TOUR DESCRIPTION
This Safari takes you to the world renown Masai Mara which hosts the world’s biggest wildlife spectacle; the annual wildebeest migration. Explore Northern Serengeti for major wildlife sightings, Central Serengeti at the most popular Serengeti – Seronera, Ngorongoro Conservation area and Karatu.
An amazing opportunity to enjoy white water rafting on the Nile River waters in Uganda plus a game safari experience. This journey through Uganda’s most popular destinations will make your Safari Memorable with spectacular views of the green vegetation & mountainous areas. First off on this trip is the beautiful city of Jinja located north east of Kampala (Uganda’s capital). This is where the source of the Nile is, and you or your team will have chance to see it. A rafting experience awaits you at the other side of the falls, with an experienced rafter/kayaker that will guide you through the whole process. Also you will find enough craft shops for your souvenir shopping.
Going west to a beautiful tourism city of fort-portal giving you views of the majestic Rwenzori Mountains (legendary mountains of the moon) from a distance and an astonishing green countryside. Later visit the Bigodi wetland sanctuary, a place known as the true birders paradise & common for the Rwenzori Blue Turaco bird. Your guide will take you to Kibale forest national park for an awesome chimpanzee tracking which is almost like the gorilla trek but this one will reward you with a number of primates.
After this you will go down to south western Uganda to the most popular destination – Queen Elizabeth national park, viewing the parks animals like elephants, Lions, kobs etc. and boat trips on the Kazinga Channel. The Journey will continue down south passing through the ‘Switzerland of Africa’ place known as Kabale winding your way down to the impenetrable forests of Bwindi. It’s here that you will get to encounter the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Get ready with your cameras as this will be a story to tell the world about Uganda’s gentle giants. Finally, you will visit Lake Mburo national park on your way back to Kampala, which is situated between the towns of Masaka & Mbarara
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WILD UGANDA SAFARI
Kampala City
Jinja Source of the Nile
Kibale forest national park
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Lake Mburo National Park
Nairobi City
Ol Pejeta Conservancy
Lake Naivasha
Masai Mara, Kenya
Serengeti, Tanzania
Ngorongoro, Tanzania
SAFARI ITINERARY
Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe, transfer to Kampala
Our tourist guide / driver will be waiting at Entebbe International airport to pick you up and then transfer you to your accommodation for the night.
Accommodation at Cassia Lodge or Kazi Beach resort
Meal Plan: Lunch & Dinner
Day 2: Transfer to Jinja then back to Kampala
Early morning after breakfast, you will be transferred to Jinja for a white water rafting experience on the Nile. This can take either full or half day depending on your choice and also visit Jinja town and some craft shops for your souvenir shopping.
Accommodation at Cassia Lodge or Kazi Beach resort
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 3: Drive to Kibale forest
Today, after an early morning breakfast, your guide will transfer you to Fort Portal town; a 5 hours’ journey from Kampala with stop-overs along the way. This town nestles in the shadow of the Rwenzori Mountains so be sure to have that amazing view.
Accommodation at Kibale Forest Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 4: Kibale forest national park
Early morning after breakfast, you will visit the Kibale forest to track the Chimpanzees and 10 other primates including l’host, red colobus, blue, red-tailed and gray-cheeked Mangabey. The guide will provide detailed explanations on primates, the forest fauna and flora. This primate walk is both informative and enjoyable. In the afternoon, visit the Bigodi swamp and community around the Kibale forest National Park.
Accommodation at Kibale Forest Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 5: Amabere ga Nyina Mwiru Caves, Tooro Palace, Crater Lakes – Queen Elizabeth Park
Today after breakfast early in the morning, we will have a cultural tour to the ‘Amabere ga Nyina Mwiru’ caves located 10 km from Fort Portal tourism city and also hike to the explosion craters surrounding this area. Return back to fort portal town for lunch, in the afternoon visit the ‘Tooro’ Kingdom palace. In the evening we drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park for about 2 hours following the mystical Rwenzori Mountain ranges for much of the journey.
Accommodation at Kasenyi Safari Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 6: Game Drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park
After breakfast, you will go for an early morning game drive in the park with the massive Rwenzori Mountains as a backdrop provides excellent opportunities to see lions, leopards, giant forest hog, Cape buffalo, elephants, defassa waterbuck, Uganda Kobs, Topi and bushbuck. Queen Elizabeth National Park’s diverse Eco-system of grassy plains, tropical forest, rivers, swamps, lakes and volcanic craters is home to an incredible abundance of wildlife. In the afternoon, your guide will take you for a unique 2hour boat cruise on the famous Kazinga Channel and into Lake Edward. This boat trip passes through possibly the highest concentration of hippos. Many animals may be seen drinking at the water’s edge. This will give you excellent opportunities for photography, bird watching and game viewing. The prolific bird life is colorful and stupendous with well over 550 resident species.
Accommodation at Kasenyi Safari Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 7: Drive to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park
Today we drive through the Kigezi highlands region of Uganda also known as the “Switzerland of Africa” providing views of terraced hillsides and winding roads to Bwindi Impenetrable forest which is a 4 hours’ journey.
Accommodation at Rushaga Gorilla Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 8: Bwindi Impenetrable forest national park
The Bwindi forest is a spectacular and incredibly dense rain forest which offers a dramatic steeply forested landscape. You will arrive at the park headquarters early in the morning (7:00am) for briefing by the UWA staff before going to trek. Don’t forget to carry along your tracking gear which includes raincoats, jungle boots and more. The trekking will take a couple of hours (2 -7 hrs) depending on how far the gorillas might have moved. In groups of 8 people, your guide will lead you through the numerous pathways created for the tourists and eventually you’ll find your way to the rare & shy gorillas. A certificate is awarded by UWA at the end of every gorilla trekking experience. Later relax at your lodge which will give breathtaking views of the park.
Accommodation at Rushaga Gorilla Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Day 9: Drive to Lake Mburo National Park
Check out after breakfast in the morning for a 4 hours’ drive to Lake Mburo National Park with a stopover in Mbarara town for Lunch. This is the best place in the country to see zebras. Lake Mburo has 5 lakes and is mainly savanna with scattered acacias trees. The park features animals such as impalas, elands, roan antelopes, reedbucks, klipspringers and topis, as well as buffaloes and hippos. Adjacent to the park are the ranches of the Bahima (Ankole) tribe, who herd the famous long-horned Ankole cattle that are a common sight here. Take an afternoon boat ride on the Lake & see a variety of birds and hippos too.
Accommodation at Rwakobo Rock
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Day 10: Transfer back to Entebbe
Early morning after breakfast, go for a safari walk in the park accompanied by your guide and later return to your lodge for Lunch. Check out in the afternoon and depart for Kampala which is 3 hours away with a stop-over at the Equator line. Your guide/ driver will later drop you in Kampala or at Entebbe International airport for your evening flight.
Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch.
Day 11: Nairobi to Ol Pejeta Conservancy
Pick up from your Nairobi Hotel or at the airport by latest 0800 hrs. Board your safari land cruiser and drive through the lush central Kenya highlands, before proceeding north towards Mount Kenya.
Check in and lunch at your tented camp, followed by afternoon game drives. Ol Pejeta Conservancy is home to the BIG 5. However, its mainly Rhinos and Chimpanzees that are protected here which are the main attractions. Besides visiting Baraka, the Black Rhino and enjoying game drives, one can also visit the Chimpanzee sanctuary.
Accommodation at Serena Sweet Waters Camp
Meal Plan: Lunch & Dinner
Day 12: Ol Pejeta to Lake Naivasha
After breakfast, board your safari vehicle and enjoy game drive before departing to Lake Naivasha. Check in followed by lunch. Afternoon at leisure by the lake shores. You may book for a guided nature walk at the Crescent Island or a scenic boat ride that offers breathtaking scenery. Overnight stay at Lake Naivasha Country Club
Accommodation at Lake Naivasha Country Club
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 13: Lake Naivasha /Masai Mara
Depart after breakfast for Masai Mara. Check in, lunch and afternoon game drives when you begin your search for the wildlife found in Masai Mara.
Accommodation at Ashnil Mara Luxury Tented Camp / Base Camp Masai Mara (similar)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 14 and 15: explore Masai Mara
You will spend the whole day exploring this world renown reserve during your game drives. Your expert safari driver / guide with in-depth knowledge of the vast reserve will help you locate Lions, Elephants, Rhino, Leopard, Buffalo, Burchell’s Zebra, Hippos, Elands, Spotted Hyena, Topi, Hartebeest, Warthog, Black Backed Jackal, Mongoose, Masai Ostrich, Secretary Bird, Marabou Stork, Martial Eagle, Vultures, Egrets among several other mammal and bird species that call Masai Mara home. You simply need to have your animal checker guide ready, and get ready for the adventure. Between the months of June and September, Masai Mara hosts the world’s biggest wildlife spectacle; the annual wildebeest migration when over 1.2 million wildebeest and Zebra cross over from northern Serengeti into Masai Mara in search of greener pastures, especially the red oat grass which is a delicacy to the marauding Gnus. If you travel during these months, your guide will dedicate time to trailing the migrating herds both in the savannah and along the banks of the Crocodile infested Mara River.
Accommodation at Ashnil Mara Luxury Tented Camp / Base Camp Masai Mara (similar)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 16: Masai Mara to Northern Serengeti
After breakfast, collect your picnic lunch and depart for the seemingly endless plains, The Serengeti. You enjoy a three-hour drive to the Isebania border crossing point, clear with immigration’s and proceed to northern Serengeti. You will enjoy en route game viewing in search of the BIG CATS that reside here.
Accommodation at Ole Serai Luxury Camp (Kogatende) / Mara Kati Kati Tented Camp / similar.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 17: Northern Serengeti
You will spend two full days exploring the northern part of the Serengeti as you search for major wildlife sightings. This is where you can witness the great migration between June and October as they graze in the savannah woodlands and along the shores of the crocodile infested Mara River with frequent River crossings between the south and north being witnessed regularly. After the calving season in southern Serengeti between February and March, the migration moves to Seronera in Central Serengeti between April and May, before arriving north from June. Big predators like Lion, Cheetah, Leopard, and scavenging opportunists like jackals, hyenas, vultures, Marabou Storks are always trailing the migration so you also have a chance of catching them in action.
Accommodation at Ole Serai Luxury Camp (Kogatende) / Mara Kati Kati Tented Camp / similar.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 18: North to Central Serengeti
You will enjoy your breakfast, and then depart for Central Serengeti about 4 hours. drive with en route game viewing. This afternoon, you will explore the most popular part of the Serengeti- Seronera. The abundance of both predator and prey here will amaze you as you cover different habitat and geographical areas during your game drives.
Accommodation at Ole Serai Luxury Camp (Turner Springs) / Serengeti Kati Kati Tented Camp / similar
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 19: Serengeti – Ngorongoro Crater – Karatu
After breakfast, you depart to the Ngorongoro Conservation area. En route, you may visit the Ol Dupai Gorge, the museum where archaeological collections by Louis and Mary Leakey are displayed insitu. This is an optional opportunity to learn about human evolution and the early man. This afternoon, you descend down the steep walls of the caldera for game drives along the crater floor. Lions, Elephants (including huge bulls), Cheetah, Spotted Hyena, Black Rhino, Gnus, Jackals, Baboons, Buffalos, Flamingos (on the crater lakes), Hippos and even the rare Caracal are some of the animals you might spot here. You will then proceed to Karatu along the Ngorongoro highlands where you enjoy your dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation at Ngorongoro Oldeani Mountain Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 20: To Arusha Airport
You depart at Leisure for Arusha airport on a scheduled flight back Home.
Meal Plan: Breakfast
INCLUDED
NOT INCLUDED