16 Days Uganda Tanzania Safari is a 15-night/ 16 days Uganda and Tanzania safari tour offering primate tracking Gorillas and Chimpanzees, a Wildlife viewing tour and beautiful amazing scenery views plus unique African culture adventures of the Masai people and Uganda’s local communities is one of the long term combined East Africa Safari packages featuring extensive wild game viewing experience and Primate watching including Mountain Gorillas and Chimpanzees.
The Safari involves both domestic and regional flights to reduce long surface transfers. The destinations featured include Bwindi, Queen Elizabeth, Kibale, and Murchison Falls National Parks for Uganda and Lake Manyara and major Tanzania Wildlife safari parks of Serengeti National Parks along with Ngorongoro Conservation Area for Tanzania.
You land at Entebbe International Airport and pass through the Immigration arrivals before teaming up with our representative who will be waiting from the arrivals waiting section.
After meet and greet, you pack the luggage in the vehicle and transfer it to the hotel for check-in and freshening up.
The briefing about the safari will be conducted when you eventually settle for a cup of coffee or a cool bottle of your selected beverage to make sure that all is well for the subsequent journey.
Accommodation: Upmarket / Luxury: Lake Victoria Serena Resort / Sheraton Hotel Kampala, Mid-range / Standard: Cassia Lodge / Boma Hotel Entebbe, Budget / Basic: Banda Inns / Airport Guesthouse
Following an early breakfast, you connect to Entebbe International Airport catching up with a scheduled domestic flight to Kisoro Airstrip enjoying the Aerial landscapes of south western Uganda including the fascinating Kigezi Highlands.
The professional driver guide will be set at the Airstrip along with the vehicle waiting to pick you up and transfer to the lodge.
You can opt to take a community walk exploring the local traditions and mode of settlement. If you choose to stay at Lake Mutanda, a boat ride can be arranged up to Skeleton Island exploring the magical scenery of this lava dammed lake overlooking the Virunga Volcanoes.
Accommodation: Upmarket / Luxury: Chameleon Hill Lodge, Mid-range / Standard: Gorilla Mist Camp, Budget / Basic: Broad-bill Forest Camp
Mountain Gorilla trekking does not only mark your re-union with the long lost cousins but also contributes greatly to their conservation.
You assemble at the trekking point by 8 am to attend a briefing conducted by the Uganda Wildlife Authority Park rangers.
After which you set off to the forest in search of these species that are critically endangered the world over.
You traverse the dense jungle of Bwindi walking on steep slopes and descending down the steep slopes before crossing the narrow valleys and streams which mark the ecosystem of Bwindi.
The actual Mountain Gorilla Viewing experience lasts for one hour offering unlimited photographic opportunities and viewing experience.
The duration of the gorilla trekking is unpredictable but can range from 2 – 8 hours depending on how far they have moved that day.
You retreat to the lodge for freshening up. The local Bakiga performance at the lodge can be arranged in the evening.
Accommodation: Upmarket / Luxury: Chameleon Hill Lodge, Mid-range / Standard: Gorilla Mist Camp, Budget / Basic: Broad-bill Forest Camp
This is dedicated to another Mountain Gorilla Trekking experience to have other lasting moments with these gentle giants.
The routine is the same but you can opt to trek a new gorilla group for a diversified experience. From the activity, you embark on the transfer to Lake Bunyonyi driving through the beautiful landscapes of Kigezi Highlands dubbed the Switzerland of Africa. The evening at Lake Bunyonyi gifted with 29 Islands can be spent doing canoe paddling on the lake.
Accommodation: Up market / Luxury: Birdnest @Lake Bunyonyi Resort, Mid-range / Budget: Lake Bunyonyi Eco – Resort
Following breakfast, set off for the drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park and upon entering its southern gate of Ishasha, you embark on the game drive in search of the tree-climbing lions.
This is one of the very few places where these animals can be viewed in the world. They appear very fascinating as they hang on the branches of fig trees in the Mid-morning sun.
Sights of other wildlife may not be missed like elephants, Water-bucks, Uganda Kobs among others. Proceed to the north of Queen Elizabeth National Park for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.
Accommodation: Upmarket / Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge / Katara Lodge, Mid-range / Standard: Enganzi Game Lodge / Kasenyi Safari Camp, Budget / Basic: Pumba Safari Cottages
Set off for a game viewing experience commencing at 7 am to the northern stretches of the park known as Kasenyi where good wild game viewing possibilities have been recorded.
The chances of viewing four of the Big five including Elephants, Lions, Buffaloes, and leopards, Other wildlife like Water-bucks, Uganda Kobs, Bush-bucks, Topis, Spotted Hyenas, side stripped jackals among others.
Queen Elizabeth National Park features over 600 species of birds some of which might be viewed during the game drive encounter including; African White-backed Vulture, Palm-nut Vulture, Grey Kestrel, Temminck’s Courser, Martial Eagle, Long-crested Eagle, Crowned Plover, Ruppell’s Griffon Vulture, Wahlberg’s Eagle, Bateleur, African Wattled Plover, Brown Snake Eagle among others.
The game drive lasts 3 – 4 hours after which you gather at Mweya jetty for an afternoon boat ride commencing at 2 pm returning at 4 pm offering possibilities of viewing aquatics like Nile crocodiles and Hippos, birds like Yellow-billed stork, African Skimmer and Kingfishers.
The wild game can also be viewed as drinking on the channel side. From the activity, you do a game drive along the channel track for more wild game viewing before settling for dinner and overnight
Accommodation: Upmarket / Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge / Katara Lodge, Mid-range / Standard: Enganzi Game Lodge / Kasenyi Safari Camp, Budget / Basic: Pumba Safari Cottages
Following a relaxed breakfast, set off for the drive to Kibale National Park 157km around 3 hours enjoying scenic views of Rwenzori Mountains rising to 5,109m above sea level becoming the third highest in Africa.
You reach Kibale for lunch and in the afternoon; you set off for the hike in the Ndali – Kasenda crater field which is one of the largest explosion craters in Uganda offering remarkable scenic views of the area including 300 lakes, primates like Black and White Colobus and Vervet Monkeys along with bird species. Retire for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.
Accommodation: Upmarket / Luxury: Primate Lodge – Luxury Cottages / Ndali Lodge, Mid-range / Standard: Kibale Forest Camp – Safari Tent, Budget / Basic: Rwenzori View Guesthouse
Following breakfast, you congregate at Kanyanchu Tourism Center for briefing at 8 am about the Chimpanzee trekking conduct.
Kibale Forest standing as a tropical moist forest presents a soothing morning environment making the trek to the Chimpanzees exciting.
The forest is home to 351 species of trees, 375 bird species along 13 species of primates. The eventual encounter with the Chimpanzees is set for one-hour offering opportunities to explore them as they feed, copulate, play, hunt, and make pant hooting calls among others.
The whole activity can last between 2 – 5 hours. You walk back to the starting point and embark on the drive to Fort Portal where you can opt to spend the afternoon at leisure or take a cycling encounter in the Mpanga tea estates for sightseeing and experiential encounters like tea plucking and processing.
Accommodation: Upmarket / Luxury: Kyaninga Lodge, Mid-range / Standard: Mountains of the moon Hotel, Budget / Basic: Rwenzori View Guesthouse
Following breakfast, set off from Fort Portal driving to Murchison Falls National Park. It’s a long drive but offers remarkable views of the countryside landscape with a lunch stop at Hoima town. The local settlements and physical features make the journey rewarding.
Accommodation: Upmarket / Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge / Bakers Lodge, Mid-range / Standard: Murchison River Lodge, Budget / Basic: Heritage Safari Lodge
The game drive commences at 7 am in the northern section of Murchison Falls National Park exploring the magical landscapes of this area dotted with a great count of wild games including; Elephants, Rothschild Giraffes, Buffaloes, Lions, Leopards, Jackson’s Hartebeest, Uganda Kob and the Oribis.
The activity tends to last 3 – 4 hours after which you get back to the lodge for relaxation and lunch. Gather at Paraa jetty in the afternoon for a Nile launch cruise departing at 2 pm for a 3-hour ride to the bottom of the falls.
The cruise offers possibilities of viewing Nile crocodiles, Shoe-bill stork, the Hippos along with the wild game drinking on the riverside like Rothschild Giraffes, Elephants, Water-bucks, Buffaloes, Uganda Kobs among others.
Upon reaching the bottom of the falls, you embark on the hike to the top of the World’s powerful waterfall.
The challenging hike brings along the magical sights and sounds of the Nile where it squeezes itself to pass through a less than 7m gorge before dropping 43m below the Devil’s Cauldron deriving a plume spray marked with a trademark rainbow.
You join the driver and the vehicle on the top of the falls to transfer back to the lodge.
Accommodation: Upmarket / Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge / Bakers Lodge, Mid-range / Standard: Murchison River Lodge, Budget / Basic: Heritage Safari Lodge
Transfer to Pakuba Airstrip to board a flight from Murchison Falls National Park to Entebbe International Airport.
You keep around Entebbe till the check-in time for the flight connection to Kilimanjaro National Park. Upon arrival in Tanzania, you drive to Arusha for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Impala Hotel / Iiboru Safari Lodge
Following breakfast, connect to Lake Manyara National Park where you will first encounter the Mto wa Mbu Eco-community which is a diverse ethnic concentration of various tribal groups with complex customs and traditions.
You explore the various foodstuffs and their preparation, the local beer brewing, the architectural design, and the famous Wood Carvings.
In the afternoon, you connect to the park for a game drive experience gaining possibilities of viewing tree climbing lions, Warthog, Zebras, Baboon, Elephant, Hippos, Wildebeest, Impala, and Giraffe among others. Retreat for relaxation, dinner, and overnight
Accommodation: Upmarket / Luxury: Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge, Mid-range / Standard: Manyara Kirurumu Camp, Budget / Basic: Manyara Wildlife Safari Camp
Proceed on the drive to Serengeti National Park which is one of the popular wildlife destinations on the African continent.
With over 1.5 Million Wildebeest, hundreds of thousands of Zebras, counts of Nile crocodile, and honey badger, the Serengeti National Park has a lot to offer to generate great African safari memories.
You take up a game drive in the evening upon entering the park for an extensive wild game viewing experience.
Accommodation: Upmarket / Luxury: Serengeti Sopa Lodge, Mid-range / Standard: Serengeti Kati Kati Camp, Budget / Basic: Kijereshi Tented Camp (Bungalow)
Also referred to as the world’s famous wildlife safari park, Serengeti National Park’s endless plains feature the great count of the animal population on earth including the great big cats like thousands of lions, Tanzanian Cheetah, leopards, Jackal species among others, Herbivores like millions of Wildebeest, hundreds of thousands of elephants, Zebras, Thompson Gazelles, Buffaloes not forgetting bird species.
Accommodation: Upmarket / Luxury: Serengeti Sopa Lodge, Mid-range / Standard: Serengeti Kati Kati Camp, Budget / Basic: Kijereshi Tented Camp (Bungalow)
After a cup of coffee, you set off for the drive to Ngorongoro Crater exploring the beautiful countryside. You can make an optional stop at Olduvai Gorge – the cradle land of mankind following the discovery of the early man skull by Dr. Leakey.
Ngorongoro Crater stands as the World’s largest intact, inactive and unfilled Volcanic Caldera and also a World Heritage site as declared by UNESCO.
The afternoon is spent on sightseeing and game drive on the crater floor where the possibilities of exploring the Big five including the Black Rhinos exist.
Accommodation: Upmarket / Luxury: Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge, Mid-range / Standard: Rhotia Valley Tented Lodge, Budget / Basic: Karatu Simba Lodge
You set off from Ngorongoro and transfer to Arusha to mark the end of the safari. From Arusha, you can consider an extension to Zanzibar or take a flight back home.