Uganda Explorer Safari Tour, 13 Days 12 Nights

Where to go : this safari takes you all around Uganda to visit Murchison Falls,  Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi and Lake Mburo National Parks. Furthermore you can see the Source of the Nile and Bujagali Falls, and enjoy the scenery of Lake Bunyonyi in Kabale.

What activities & attractions: during the safari expect to take the Gorilla tracking walk. At the Source of the Nile you can try out the white water rafting. You will do a lot of birding and game drives in private vehicles along the parks trials. The boat cruise is organized in Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth, Lake Bunyonyi and Lake Mburo.

Who can do it: anybody can join this tour itinerary, though the gorilla tracking can be generally the most demanding activity in terms of readiness to walk many hours in the rain tropical forest. You are expected to enjoy nature walk in original forests and trials. If you are an adventurer and sport person, you can enjoy the rafting on the Nile.

When to go: generally all the year long is possible to undertake gorilla tracking and game drives in Uganda. The dry seasons are most likely to guarantee a better road conditions in the parks.

Day 1:
On arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be met by our representative and tour guide who will transfer you to your hotel, either Humura Resort or Holiday Express Hotel, for overnight.

Day 2:    The Rhinos of Ziwa and Murchison Falls
After breakfast, leave for Murchison falls national park. On a panoramic drive northwest you stop at Ziwa Rhinos Sanctuary for a nature walk to see rhinos in their wild, a unique experience of Uganda. Stop over for lunch in Masindi. In the afternoon proceed to the Park. The journey is long but enjoyable as you go through the typical Ugandan countryside on your way to the largest protected area in Uganda. The park covers an area of 3,840sq.Km and is named after the falls on the Victoria Nile. Relax a bit at the top of the falls, where you can see the Nile’s perfected beauty and marvel as it compresses and squeezes itself from over 1 kilometer wide down through an 8 meter canyon. The 43 meter drop of the falls creates a thunderous roar and a beautiful rainbow in a plume of spray. Dinner and overnight in Paraa Safari Lodge or Red Chili Rest Camp accommodation

Day 3: The Boat Cruise on river Nile
After a cup of coffee, embark on an early morning game drive in the park. Return to the lodge for breakfast. Relax at the swimming pool side. After lunch, you will safari upstream by boat to the calm Victoria Nile and the base of the falls just  ten meters from the ‘Devil’s Cauldron’. There you can marvel at toothsome hippos, crocodiles and over the 17 km strech you may also see elephants, waterbucks and Uganda kobs. This is also the habitat of many bird species including goliath herons, Egyptian geese, pelican bee-eaters, kingfishers, hornbills, cormorants and the rare shoebill stork. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 4: Fort Portal at the foothills of the Mountains of the Moon
After breakfast drive from Murchison Falls Southwest via the Albertine Escarpment of the Western Rift Valley. We ensure that you have packed lunch,  drive through Hoima, the town of the Bunyoro kindgom, passing though verdant countryside, tea plantations and traditional homesteads. You arrive in the colorful and pretty town of Fort Portal, the capital of the Tooro kingdom, in the shadow of the fabled “Mountains of the Moon” (Rwenzori). Dinner and overnight at Nyinabulitwa Country Resort.

Day 5 :Chimp Trekking in Kibale National park
After breakfast, go for a nature walk in Kibale Forest to meet the chimpanzees in their environment and for birding.the park rangers will guide you in a group through the forest trails. The terrain is not difficult. Other primates you may see include black and white colobus monkey, re-tailed monkey and mangabeys. After lunch you will proceed to Queen Elizabeth National Park, following the mystical Rwenzori mountain range. You will stop at the equator for a photograph enroute. Dinner and overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge or Hippo Hill Camp.

Day 6 : The boat cruise on Kazinga Channel
After a cup of coffee embark on an early morning game drive along Kasenyi tracks and Queens mile in the park and expect to see lions, elephants, cape buffalos, warthogs, spotted hyenas, mongoose, waterbucks, kobs and, if lucky, the leopard, plus a lot of small animals and birds. Drive back to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, enjoy the unique two hour boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel and into Lake Edward. This trip goes through possibly the highest concentration of hippos and many  other animals may be seen drinking at the water's edge. This launch cruise offers an excellent platform for photography, bird watching and game viewing. The prolific bird life is colorful with well over 550 resident species. Dinner and overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge or Hippo Hill Camp
 
Day 7: The tree climbing lions of Ishasha sector
After breakfast drive to the Ishasha Sector of Queen Elizabeth via Maramagambo Forest. Have a game drive in a search of the rare tree-climbing lions which you can see only in this area of Uganda. Here lives a population of lions that enjoy resting on the fig trees when the day is warm. The landscape is open savannah with a variety of acacia trees.Lunch. Game drive in the afternoon and dinner and overnight in Savannah Hotel.

Day 8 :Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
 After breakfast, proceed to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Lunch. The afternoon is optional choosing between a village walk visiting  the local community or to the pygmies. Dinner and overnight in Gorilla Resort or Buhoma Community.
 
Day 9 :The encounter with mountains gorillas

After break fast , there is an early morning entry into the gorilla sanctuary of Bwindi Forest. The rainforest is spectacular as it offers a dramatic, heavily forested and dense landscape crisscrossed by numerous animal trails, allowing access for tourists. This park is best known for the fascinating mountain gorillas, where the time taken and terrain varies according to the movements of these marvelous primates. The thrill of spending time with and observing the gorillas is a rare, moving, awesome and exciting adventure. The gorillas are shy and peaceful animals and it is an unforgettable experience to watch and photograph them as they interact with each other. Dinner and overnight in Gorilla Resort o Buhoma Community.

Day 10: The wonderful Lake Bunyonyi

Take breakfast before making a scenic journey to Kabale through the beautiful terrain of the rolling hills with terraced landscape. An area referred as the "Switzerland of Africa”. Stopover at the Bakiga Museum in Kabale to discover the culture of the people living in the area. Arrival at Lake Bunyonyi, the deepest lake in Uganda. Lunch and depart for afternoon boat ride on the lake to various islands for bird viewing and sight seeing. Dinner and overnight in Arcadia Cottages or Jajama Hotel.

Day 11 :Lake Mburo National Park
  
After breakfast, you will drive go to Lake Mburo National Park, the smallest park in Uganda. Lunch at Agip Motel in Mbarara. Afternoon game drive in search of the beautiful impalas, zebras, cape buffalos, elands, oribi and topi. Along with the game drive, many visitors also enjoy a boat trip on Lake Mburo. The park is a very good opportunity for bird watchers, who will enjoy more than 250 species of birds found here, including Papyrus gonoleks, Brown-faced lapwings, Carruther’s cisticolas, the extraordinary White winged Warbler and Bare-faced Go-away bird. Dinner and overnight in Mihingo Lodge or Arcadia Cottages

Day 12 :The Source of the river Nile
After breakfast go for a nature walk in the park guided by the rangers. Lunch at the lodge. In the afternoon, drive to Jinja, which is the second largest town in Uganda. It is characterised by the Asian quarters, the brewery industries and the colourful gardens. Dinner and overnight in Jinja Nile Resort or Sunset International Hotel.

Day 13 :Departure
After breakfast visit the Source of the Nile on lake Victoria, the monument of Gandhi, and then proceed to the “Bujagali Falls”, to view the spectacular rapids on the Nile, a few kilometres from the source. (Optional):Try the unforgettable emotion of the white water rafting, which is one of the main attractions here). Lunch in Jinja. Return to Kampala and the evening is reserved for departure.
Hotels: hotels and lodges standard categor, double room accommodation.

The tariff includes:
-Airport transfer
-Full board accommodation, excluding drinks
-Ground transportation by 4x4 tourist Land Cruiser or minibus
- English speaking Driver/Guide
- Entrance fees, taxes and “gorilla permit”
 The tariff does not include:
- Air ticket.
- Health Insurance $ 50 with A.A.R.
- Entrance visas: 50 USD directly from Entebbe Int. Airport.
- All drinks and tips.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS
RESERVATIONS
We require a 40% deposit of the total tour cost upon confirmation of the safari in low season period and to secure gorilla permits. 
In peak seasons from July to September we require a deposit of 50% of the total tour cost for the clients to safeguard the reservations and gorilla permits.
The balance 2 weeks prior to the arrival.
For bookings coming one month before departure we shall require the full payment of the tour costs.
The payment is made by international money transfer to the company bank account in Uganda.
CANCELLATIONS
- All cancellation penalties depend on the number of days before tour departure:

- Before 60 days: Full refund

- Between 60 days and 30 days:Refund of 70% of the deposit

- Less than 29 days:No refund
- There is no refund of any unused portion of your safari once commenced.
Please note that Gorilla Permits in Uganda and Rwanda are not refundable when already booked.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION
- Tour tariffs are based on all known costs and rates of exchange at the time of the transfer, any significant changes beyond our will be immediately communicated to our clients.
- We also retain the right to alter any arrangements due to local conditions. We also retain the right to refuse any person from participating or continuing any tour if that person causes or is deemed to cause hazard or inconvenience to other clients and to our environment and ecosystems.
- Please note that in Uganda US dollar banknotes series before year 2000 are accepted only with a low exchange rate, therefore clients are advised to travel to Uganda with more recent banknotes series.  The same applies to banknotes below 50 USD.