The 17 days Uganda safari tour is a 16nights/17 days Uganda tour that entirely comprises amazing adventure, beautiful sightseeing, community culture tours, wild game viewing, and Chimpanzees trekking.
The 17 days safari in Uganda trip takes you through the adventures of the Victoria Nile at Jinja, climbing Mount Elgon to summit Wagagai peak (4,321m) with the views of the largest mountain caldera in the world, sights of Sipi falls, game viewing to see unique animals like Cheetahs, Zebras and lions, sightseeing and Karamojong cultural encounters in Kidepo National Park, wild game like lions, giraffes, elephant, and hartebeest plus relaxing boat cruise in Murchison Falls National Park and full-day Chimpanzee habituation in Kibale National Park.
The first day of this 17-day safari is designated for your arrival in Uganda. It is such a wonderful initiative when you pack your few necessities and set off for a safari in Uganda.
You will arrive at the Entebbe International Airport which is the main gateway to the country where you will be welcomed by our friendly guide who will transfer you to your respective hotel for relaxation from the Aero toxic syndrome and eventually overnight.
Accommodation: Sheraton Hotel (Upmarket/luxury), Cassia Lodge (Mid-range/standard) or the Lodge (Budget/basic).
Kampala city is a destination of its self and thus worth to encounter on Uganda safari. The city is a hub of various attractions ranging from historical to cultural and religious attractions.
On this 11 days safari in Uganda, you will wake for breakfast after which you will set off with the company guide to encounter the city.
You will visit religious attractions like Namirembe and Rubaga Cathedrals, Baha’i temple, Gadhafi Mosque, Cultural attractions like Kasubi tombs, Kabaka’s palace, and Kabaka’s Lake, historical monuments and museums like the Uganda National Museum, National buildings like the parliament, educational Institutions like Makerere University, Traditional hospitals like Mulago hospital, Mengo and Nsambya hospitals.
However, since all these cannot be seen on a single day, you will thus select from this list the possible attractions that you can visit on this day.
Accommodation: You will spend an overnight at your previous lodge.
You will wake up early for breakfast at your place of stay after which you will be transferred by your guide to Jinja 80km about 1-2 hours’ drive from Kampala.
Upon reaching Jinja – the adventure town of Uganda, you will enroll yourself for the white water rafting experience that will see you contain the strength of waters of the Nile as they splash through the rapids.
You will also participate in the bungee jumping that will see you fall from the cliff to touch on the waters of the Nile 140ft below – one of the active adventures you will ever have.
The relaxing boat cruise to the source of the Nile will take you to the point where John Speke, the first European to see the source of the world’s longest river stood.
You will see the Nile starting it 90 days journey to the Mediterranean Sea. Retreat for overnight in Jinja town.
Accommodation: Jinja Nile resort (Upmarket/luxury), Kingfisher Hotel (Mid-range/standard) or Sunset Hotel (Budget/Basic).
After breakfast, transfer to Mount Elgon 175km from Jinja. You will pass through amazing landscapes of the east, rice fields, and sugarcane plantations before arriving in Mbale for Lunch.
After lunch, you will visit the Sipi falls where you will marvel at this magnificent natural feature as it flows down the slopes of rugged rocks that adjoin the Elgon Mountain.
It is a rewarding scenic view to encounter while on Uganda safari.
Accommodation: Mbale Resort Hotel (Upmarket/luxury), Sipi River Lodge (Mid-range/standard) or Sipi falls Resort (Budget/Basic).
After an early breakfast, you will set off for the adventurous Mount Elgon climbing. You will take the shortest Sasa trail which takes four days.
The climb starts at Budadiri where you will follow a direct route to the Wagagai peak. The journey passes through the lovely Bamboo vegetation and Jackson’s pool before summiting the Wagagai peak.
Being a direct route, it involves a relative stiff climb of 1,600m during the first day of your journey. The summit offers views of the largest mountain caldera in the world. The experience is quite rewarding.
After a relaxed breakfast, transfer to Kidepo National Park 505km from Mbale passing through the scenic landscapes of Sironko and Mount Moroto before arriving in Kidepo in the afternoon for relaxation and overnight.
Accommodation: Apoka Safari Lodge (Upmarket/luxury), Nga’ moru Wilderness (Mid-range/standard) or Apoka rest Camp (Budget/Basic).
Wake for an early morning breakfast, and then set off for a game drive to encounter early risers and predators before they disappear from sight.
Have the opportunity to view real African game including; lions, elephants, giraffes, eland, oribi, Zebra, cheetah among others though not wholesomely guaranteed as they are wild animals alongside a number of bird species like Ostrich and other endemics.
Return to the lodge for relaxation and lunch. Take a community walk through the Karamajong villages in the afternoon.
Accommodation: You will have dinner and overnight at your previous lodge.
This day is designed to help you encounter the indigenous Karamojong who dwells on the slopes of the Morungole Mountains.
You will spend much of your day hiking outside the park, viewing the amazing landscapes of the northeastern corner of Uganda franked by the cross border landscapes of Kenya and South Sudan.
The day is a perfect off the beaten track adventure and will enrich your experience on how people have managed to thrive in this semi-arid climate for centuries past without even modern irrigation practices.
Accommodation: You will spend an overnight at your previous lodge.
After breakfast, transfer on the surface drive to Murchison falls National Park passing through the flat open grasslands of northern Uganda as you wonder over the traditional homesteads and their architecture that lie scattered in a vast landscape.
The remains of the LRA rebel activities still stand as you will see the once flourishing trading centers now standing in ruins. Arrive in Murchison falls in the afternoon for relaxation and overnight.
Accommodation: Paraa Safari Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury) Murchison River Lodge (Mid-range/Budget) or Red Chili Rest Camp (Budget/Basic).
Wake up very early for a cup of coffee and then head to Paraa ferry crossing at 7:00 am to the northern sector of the Park where game drives are carried out.
The possible sights of various wildlife including; elephants, buffalo, Jackson hartebeest, Kobs, lion, leopard, giraffe among other wildlife will leave you with a taste of African savannah wilderness.
The activity takes 3 – 4 hours after which you will return to the Paraa ferry crossing at 11:00 am to go back to your lodge for relaxation and memory sharing.
After your stimulating lunch, gather at the Paraa for an after boat cruise on the Nile at 02:00 pm. This boat trip has got captains and guides who have cruised on these waters for years and will be glad to share with you every piece of information that you would wish to gather on this trip including any bird species and wildlife both aquatic and land that might present its self.
The shoe-bill stork can be luckily seen on this boat while the great sights of Nile crocodiles – the second largest reptile in the world and the Hippos would make your trip up to the base of the falls.
The boat takes 3 hours after which you will have marked the end of your day’s adventures.
Accommodation: You will spend an overnight at your previous lodge.
After a relaxed breakfast, hike the top of the falls for amazing scenic views of the falls. The Nile River squeezes itself the 8m ravine before falling the 43m below the devil’s cauldron.
It is regarded as one of the unique features to ever happen on the Nile. It is an amazing encounter to enrich your memories and take countless photos.
You can opt to have a picnic lunch at this site after which you will transfer to Hoima for your overnight.
Accommodation: Hoima Resort Hotel (Upmarket/Luxury), Tresek Hotel (Budget/Basic).
After breakfast, embark on the transfer to Kibale National Park where you will pass through the amazing landscapes of the Ruwenzori Mountains and the western rift valley.
You will arrive in Kibale National Park in the afternoon. After a short relaxation, you can embark on a hike to the top of the world to gain amazing scenic views of the Ndali – Kasenda crater area.
Accommodation: Primate Lodge (Upmarket/luxury), Chimpanzee guest house (Mid-range/standard) or Kibale Forest Camp (Budget/standard).
After taking a heavy early breakfast, you will gather at Kanyanchu Tourism Center at 06:00 am to set off for the full-day Chimpanzee habituation experience.
Unlike Chimpanzee trekking which involves one hour encounter with chimps, the chimpanzee habituation takes a full day as you will have chances of seeing chimps as they get out of their nests, setting out to feed, watch their social moments, playful tactics, and their amazing sounds until they form new nests in the evening for overnight.
It is a comprehensive Chimpanzee encounter that you can have while on safari in Uganda.
Accommodation: You will have dinner and overnight at your previous lodge.
After breakfast, embark on the drive to Kampala 358km about 7 hours’ drive excluding stops en route. You will pass through the forested views surrounding the Kibale forest plus the swamps and marshes that characterize this wet region of Uganda.
The journey breaks at Mubende town where you will branch off a little to visit the Nakayima tree, an ancient tree with a rich Chwezi background.
The locals attach a lot of cultural and religious significance to this site and thus it is used as a shrine. Lunch in Mubende town and continue on the journey to Kampala to arrive in the afternoon.