Day 1: White water rafting – Nile river

Embark on a journey east of Kampala city to Jinja (1 hr) ride. As you leave the busy central district stop off at Namugongo martyrs shrine and Mabira forest, a good birders site and continue to Jinja near Lake Victoria and its here that we find the source of the Nile River, Rippon Falls. When you reach, prepare for a wild adventure, guess what water rafting. With the biggest rafts on the river, you will see how professional rafters are able to handle and conquer carefully the most challenging rapids. After a full demonstration, it’s your turn to get on water and try your water rafting skills. Watch the local fishermen and the rich birdlife. Watch out for a series of wild rapids in the “Bad place.” After wards you can visit the town and recognize certain vital buildings such as Nile Breweries. Dine and rest in Gately on the Nile/Sunset Hotel/Hotel Triangle.

Day 2 Murchison Falls Park Tour

After your breakfast say bye to Jinja and head to Murchison Falls another delightful destination with lots to appreciate about Uganda. It’s a 6hr ride. Stop over on Kampala for lunch. When you get there drive straight away to the Top of the fall such sight to appreciate the staggering power of the falls and the river Nile. Dine and rest in Paraa Safari Lodge/ Nile Safari Camp/ Red Chili camp.

Day 3: Game drive in the delta circuit.

Early morning go for a game drive in the Northern Nile delta circuit, quite a sight for checking out a high concentration of wildlife. You will spot the leopards along the leopard track, the Jackson’s hartebeest, large concentrations of Uganda Kobs because of the many breeding grounds and large families of the Defassa waterbuck, together with giraffe herds, groups of the dainty oribi and buffalo herds. The high supply of Kobs called for an inevitable prides of lions to the delta too. The delta also attracts birders with specials like the Abyssinian ground hornbill, shoebill (herons, waders and egrets around small pools of water) Senegal thickknee and
Denham’s bustard. What’s not there? In the evening head out for a launch trip on the famous Nile River and appreciate God’s creation of the Murchison Falls, the largest crocs, Hippos and elephants playing in the water. After such a lovely encounter rest and dine in Paraa Safari Lodge/ Nile Safari Camp/ Red Chili Camp.

Day 4: Transfer to Semuliki national park.

This morning leave Murchison Falls and drive to Semuliki national park (8hrs) stop over in Hoima district for lunch. You will pass through Masindi, Hoima towns and capture the view of Lake Albert. Reach and check in at Semuliki Safari Lodge/ Rwenzori Guest view house. Go for
Night game drive; this is the only park which offers a spot-lit night game drives. It is full of surprises. Often the giant cats are seen as well as tiny genet and serval cats. Bizarre night dwellers also show up, such as white tailed mongoose and slender mongoose depending on the time of year. Return to lodge for rest.

Day 5: Sempaya hot springs.

After taking breakfast, head for a short guided trail near Ntandi, Sempaya hot springs, and the most exciting activity in Semuliki national park. These have an evocative sight featuring hot water oozing out from a wide opening in the ground while shooting up at 100 (Celsius degree). After wards we could get to a boat trip on the Lake Albert quite a sight to even appreciate nature. There are clearer views of the Rwenzori Mountains. There are hippos a rich birdlife like the shoebill and get to visit the fishing villages. Return to your lodge after wards for overnight. Or you can visit Semuliki reserve on the south of Lake Albert. The oldest national reserve in Uganda since 1932. Some of its attractions involve primates like the vervet Monet, black and white colobus, red-tailed monkey, olive baboon. Other animals include over 10.000 Uganda Kobs, lions, large herds of buffalos, elephants, Defassa waterbuck, Jackson’s Hartebeest. There are birds also like Abyssinians ground hornbill and a grantee place for you to see the rare and sought aver African shoebill. Return to Semuliki Safari Lodge.

Day 6: Transfer to Kibale national park.

Since this a long journey, take breakfast early and leave for Kibale national park (3hrs). So much to appreciate on your way such as Lake Albert, the peaks of mountain Rwenzori among others. Go for chimpanzee excursions in the afternoon after relaxing and see how these relatives of behave. Not only that there are the primates like the grey-checked mangabey, olive baboons, L’Hoest monkey and red colobus alongside the black and white colobus. After taking lunch you can leave for Kampala reaching late afternoon. Dine and rest in Primates Lodge/ Crater Valley Resort CRK.

Day 7: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park.

After early breakfast, you will be off to Queen Elizabeth National Park. You will drive via the Albertine Escarpment of the western Rift valley via Kasese-Katwe route. This will be a short drive (4 hrs), seeing the views of Lake George and Lake Edward. The park lies at the foothills of the legendary “Mountains of the Moon.” Check in at Mweya Safari lodge/Mweya Hostel/Simba Safari Lodge. After relaxing, head for an afternoon game drive in the Mweya Peninsular where you will see buffaloes, warthogs, antelopes, and elephants along the way as you drive slowly. Visit the Lake Katwe town with its gorgeous exhibit of crater lakes. Check out salt mining. Return back to lodge and rest.

Day 8: Game driving and boat rip.

Rise up early, take breakfast thereafter head for a game view to Kasenyi. You will be able to see black and white colobus, bush buck, Uganda Kob, topi, Defassa waterbuck, and Cape buffaloes. A collection of birds like Cassin’s grey flycatcher, broad billed roller, black bee-eater along the banks of Lake Edward. This can take you 2-3 hrs. Head back to lodge for lunch then in the evening go for a launch cruise on Kazinga channel (2hrs) along lake George-lake Edward, come eye-eye with yawning hippos, crocodiles, leopards though sporadic. Watch birds for birders with over 550 resident species like flamingos, red chest, papyrus Gonolek, pink backed pelicans, malachite kingfishers, yellow crown, pink backed pelicans, water thick-knee, yellow billed stork, shoebill stock. Don’t forget your camera. Return to Mweya Safari Lodge/ Institute of Ecology/Simba Safari.

Day 9: Chimp tracking.

Go for chimp trekking in the Kyambura gorge early morning after taking your breakfast. Go take a look at our lovely cousins, the chimps since they have so much in common with us (humans). Spend an hour with them. Next we connect to Bwindi national park a world wide recognized habitant for the mountain gorillas. Sleep in gorilla nest/ Buhoma community bands/ Gorilla Forest Camp/Lake Kitandara lodge.

Day 10: Gorilla tracking in Bwindi.

At dawn wake up and take breakfast, get ready for gorilla trekking by 0800hrs. You trek thought the huge Bwindi forest as you search for the mountain gorillas to observe their behavior, this can be half day or longer. After tracking, go for briefs visit to Munyanja trail or the local community. Then retire back to lodge.

Day 11: Rwanda Tour - Parc National Des Volcans (PNV).

Early morning after breakfast in Bwindi continue to Rwanda, (7hrs). You may stop over in Kigali for a city tour and here you will spot the genocide memorial site which holds a lot of memories for the Rwandese natives. Reach Ruhengeri, rest and dine at Gorilla’s Nest Hotel/Kinigi Guest House.

Day 12: Gorilla tracking in PNV:

Wake up early and enjoy a hearty breakfast followed by tracking of gorillas in the thick forest of PNV. Tracking may take 8hrs of a full day. You may visit the famous Lake Kivu, Rwanda’s’ main and biggest freshwater body. Retire back lodge for dinner and rest.

Day 13: Gorilla tracking (2nd time)

Again go for gorilla morning and check out on the things you might have missed the fist time. Spend an hour with the gorillas and check out the silverback’s nature. Afterwards visit the Dian Fossey grave or go for golden monkey tracking.

Day 14: Return to Uganda

Drive back to Uganda all the way to Lake Mburo which is about 7hrs. Stop over in Mbarara for lunch. Drive through the lovely Kigezi Highlands “Switzerland o Uganda and past the beautiful lake Bunyonyi and islands. Reach Mbarara and straight into Lake Mburo national park. Dine and rest in Mantana Tented camp/ Rwonyo Camp.

Day 15: Salt lick

After breakfast go for morning game drive; check out the “impalas” which are not easily observed anywhere else in Uganda. Kampala was named after these beautiful antelopes. Check out the big herds of Burchell’s zebra, sitatunga, waterbucks, elands, lions, and topi around Sanga and Nshara gates especially in the wet season. Along the Kigambira loop are lakes Mburo, Kigambira and Kibikwa and klipspringers are frequent on the Kazuma track. Near Bisheshe gate there’s a rewarding site for birders. Later go for a boat trip which is cool for good sightings of hippos, crocodiles, buffalo, bushbuck, and the resident otters which are not spotted anywhere else in Uganda. Also the striking birds which may be seen is Abyssinian ground hornbills, egrets, Ross’ Turaco, Narina trogon and herons plus the elusive African finfoot associated with still water below floating branches. Drive this evening back to Kampala.