23 DAYS CULTURAL, PRIMATE, GORILLAS & WILDLIFE SAFARI
Day 01: Arrive Entebbe Air port and transfer to your Hotel.
Meet and greet at Entebbe International Airport by Go see Africa safari Guide who will warmly welcome you and help you at the arrival and departure. After a short while transfer you to your hotel and you will be briefed about your safari.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel of your choice.
Day 02: Kampala City Tour.
After morning breakfast you go for a tour around Kampala visiting the different cultural sites starting from Naggalabi Coronation Site which has the real history and origin of the Buganda Kingdom from there, proceed to St. Mary’s Cathedral Ribaga located on the hilltop of Rubaga, previously the site of the royal palace of Kabaka Mutesa. Then visit St. Paul’s Cathedral Namirembe-Since 1892 churches have been built on top of Namirembe Hill. With a spectacular view of Kampala, St Paul’s Cathedral (Anglican) was constructed between 1915 and 1919. proceed to Kasubi Tombs a burial place for the Buganda Kings, Kabaka’s Lake-this lake was dug on orders of kabaka Mwanga in the 1880’s as an escape corridor, Kabaka’s palace-the interesting feature consist of two large palaces, by a straight road to the Buganda seat of Government the Bulange, the Baha’I Temple the only temple of this religious sect in Africa, began in May 1957 and it was opened to public in January 1961. National Museum a unique collection of ethnological exhibits and great collection of the traditional musical instruments.
Dinner and overnight at your hotel.
Day 03: Drive to Jinja
After morning breakfast head to the Namugongo shrines where the Uganda Martyrs were burnt under the orders of King Mwanga, proceed on to Ssezibwa falls which is reported to have been a favorite spot of king mwanga and Mutesa 11 both of whom planted trees there, that still flourish today this is a site known for its spectacular falls that subsides into two small rivers that were borne by a lady (Nakangu) and they smartly split. Continue through Mabira forest which extend more than 300km, the forest is primarily compose of most semi-deciduous forest in which more than 200 tree spp have been identified, continue to the mighty Nile that is seven times the volume of the Zambezi, then visit the Bujagali falls, watch the real sparkling white water of the Nile as it forces its way through the stones to the Mediterranean Sea, see the white water rafters.
Dinner and overnight at Jinja Nile Resort.
Day 04: Source of the Nile and boat ride, traditional entertainment
After morning breakfast, visit the Source of the Nile where a British expedition led by Richard Burton and John Speke set out to find the great lakes shown on Ptolemy’s map. After Lake Tanganyika, the two men split up because Burton was ill. Traveling on for another month, Speke discovered Victoria Nyanza and was convinced that the White Nile flowed from it, After the boat ride on the source of the Nile, receive cultural entertainment by the orphans of Balifunaki group and spend the whole afternoon at palace of Kyabazinga-the king of Busoga learning more about the Basoga and the death of Bishop Hannington, dinner and overnight at Resort.
Day 05: Visit Abayudaya
After morning breakfast visit and learn about the fascinating story of the Abayudaya (simply meaning-Jews ) which started with Semei Kakungulu, a prominent military and political figure in Ugandan history, who in the 1890’s helped the British conquer territory and establish their rule in Eastern Uganda. Kakungulu became disillusioned with the British when they refused to install him as a king of the newly conquered territories and so he joined the Malaki Christians, a dissident group that incorporated Jewish ideas into their religious practice.
Dinner and overnight at Mbale Resort Hotel.
Day 06: Morning drive to Sipi Falls
After morning breakfast drive and visit the Sipi Falls which is a stunner and arguably the most beautiful waterfall in Uganda. The falls are about 55km north of Mbale, in the foothills of Mt Elgon and not far from the town of Kapchorwa.
Not only are the falls spectacular, so too are the views of Mt Elgon above them, and the wide plains of eastern and northern Uganda disappearing into the distance below. There are three levels of falls, but the two upper levels are fairly small compared with the main drop. Its well worth spending a night or two in this peaceful and appealing place.
There are some excellent walks on a network of well-maintained local trails, and beautiful scenery in every direction.
Dinner and overnight at Kapkwai Forest Cottages.
Day 07; Elgon – Murchison falls
Early morning breakfast, start along drive to Murchison Falls National Park this drive takes 8-9 hours.
Dinner and overnight at Paraa safari lodge or Red Chili Camp.
Day 08: Morning game drive and afternoon Launch Cruise
Wake up early morning for breakfast; set for a game drive on the northern Bank of the River Nile in search of Rothschild Giraffe, Elephant, Leopard, Jackson Hartebeest, Lions, Waterbucks and a variety of Savannah woodland birds. Take lunch and go for an afternoon Launch Cruise along the Victoria Nile. Expect Hippos and Crocodiles along the River banks as you take this ride to the bottom of the fall.
Dinner and overnight at Paraa safari lodge or Red Chili Camp.
Day 09: Drive Hoima for Mparo visit
After the morning breakfast proceed to Hoima stop for lunch. In the afternoon visit the Mparo, this place was chosen as the capital of Omukama (king) Kabalega of Bunyoro in 1872. After here visit the Katasiha Fort.
Dinner and overnight at Kolping Hotel.
Day 10: Hoima –Fort portal
After morning breakfast, drive to Fort Portal this drive will take you through verdant countryside and traditional homesteads and farms. Meet and greet Fort Portal which lies in the shadow of the enchanted Mountains of the Moon, stop for lunch. In the afternoon visit the Toro Kingdom the youngest of Uganda’s traditional kingdoms, ruled-aptly-by the world’s most youthful monarch, He was four years old when he took the throne in 1995, visit the Karambi Tombs a burial ground for the kings of Toro, then entertainment by the Batoro cultural dancers.
Dinner and overnight at Tooro Resort.
Day 11: Drive to Semliki National Park and visit the pygmy villages
Early morning breakfast, and drive to Semliki National Park situated in western Uganda and it covers an area of 221sq km within the remote semliki valley .this park is the home of the unique Sempaya Hot Springs and has particular interest to birders with 40 essentially Congolese species found nowhere else in Uganda. This park has many mammals, ranging from widespread forest dwellers such as Elephant and chimp. To the rather more localized De-Brazza’s monkey and Pygmy. Visit the hot springs and the forest came back for lunch. In the afternoon visit the pygmy villages then later drive back to Tooro Resort.
Day 12: Drive to Kibale and evening guide nature walk
Breakfast then drive to Kibale Forest National Park contains the largest population of Primates in Uganda. Although they’re rarely seen, and dangerous, presence is abundant. However kibale’s claim to fame is its enormous variety of primates and its families of habituated chimpanzees-its home to an astonishing 13 species of primate and provides one of the highest primate densities in the world! Here, on a daytime or evening guided forest walk, you may find families of chimpanzees and red colobus monkeys chattering and swinging through the ancient forest trees. Kibale with the ancient trees up to 55 meters in height is a wonderful place to experience the extraordinary diversity of life in a tropical rainforest. In the afternoon visit the Bigodi swamp eco-tourism site is amazing, as shall encounter rare and beautiful flora and fauna.
Dinner and overnight at Ndali lodge or Primates Lodge
Day 13: Chimpanzee trekking and afternoon village walk
Early breakfast, and report to Kanyanchu Tourist Centre where the Chimpanzee tracking begins from. Set out in the forest in search for the man’s closest animal brothers the endangered Chimpanzee! Here chances of viewing the chimps are over 90% but not a guarantee and it can take you 4-6 hours. Other primates in this forest that you will encounter are the threatened Red colobus monkeys, the rare L’Hoest’s monkeys, the red-tailed monkeys, Blue monkeys, Grey Cheeked mangabeys, velvet and many others not leaving out Butterflies. Came back for lunch, in the afternoon a guided village walk dinner and overnight.
Day 14: Transfer to Queeen Elizabeth and wildlife viewing
This day you wake up very early in the morning for breakfast and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park. This drive will take you along the Rwenzori ranges and Savanna grasslands, and we enter via the Northern Crater Area. With beautiful lakes and rich grasslands which are set deep in the crater valley, this is truly the most breathtaking scenery in the park. Queen Elizabeth is the host to a large variety and volume of wildlife. It boasts one of the highest bio-diversity ratings of any game park in the world, from the open Savannah to Rain forest, dense swamps and beautiful crater lakes to the vastness of Lake Edward. Almost 100 species that include Hippos, Lions, Buffaloes, Leopard, Spotted Hyena and the elusive Giant Forest hog. There are over 606 species of birds found here including the martial eagle, black-rumped buttonquail, Verreaux’s eagle owl and African skimmer to name but a few. The primate include chimps, black and white
olobus, and Red-tailed monkeys and Olive Baboon.
Dinner and overnight at Mweya safari lodge or Jacana Safari Lodge or Mweya Hostel
Day 15: Morning game drive and afternoon Launch cruise
Early morning cap of coffee, then you go for the morning game drive this provide excellent opportunities to see Lions, Leopards, Giant Forest Hogs, Cape Buffaloes, Elephants, Defassa Waterbucks, Uganda Kobs, Topi and Bush bucks and many more. Came back for lunch. In the afternoon you enjoy the unique 2-hours Boat Cruise on the Kazinga Channel and into Lake Edward. This trip passes through possibly the highest pods of Hippos and many animals may be seen drinking at the water’s edge. This launch cruise offers an excellent platform for photography, bird watching and game viewing, ideal for the Uganda safari. The prolific bird life is colorful and stupendous with over 550 resident species.
Dinner and overnight at Mweya safari lodge or Jacana Safari Lodge or Mweya Hostel
Day 16: Chimpanzee trekking and Maramagambo forest nature walk
After morning breakfast, you leave for the 08.00am chimp trek in Kyambura Gorge. These delightful apes, more closely to humans than to any other living creature, are tremendous fun to watch as they squabble and play in the fruiting trees.
In the afternoon you visit the bat cave and hunters cave where we take a close look at the bats, rock python and forest cobras. The same walk will provide a chance of seeing birds, primates, tree species, Etc.
Dinner and overnight at Hippo Hill Camp or Jacana Safari Lodge or Kyambura Safari Camp.
Day 17: Drive to Bwindi through Ishasha for tree climbing lions
After early morning breakfast you leave for Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. This drive will take you through the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth called Ishasha. The Ishasha sector is known for its tree-climbing Lions you do a game drive before continuing on to Bwindi, the home of the few remaining mountain gorillas. Bird life and primate life in Bwindi is quite superb, and there is an incredible variety of flora. Bwindi is the Bird watchers haven! It holds 348 species of birds and supports 24 of 26 Albertine Rift Endemics that occur in Uganda; and seven red data book species. Once continuous with the forests of the virunga Volcanoes (Dian Fossey’s stomping ground), Bwindi is now an ecological island, surrounded by cultivation on the rich volcanic soil.
Dinner and overnight at Kitandara camp, Buhoma homestead, Engagi Lodge or Buhoma community Rest camp.
Day 18: Mountain gorilla trekking
This is one of the awaited days with one of the highlight activities of this tour. Well prepared with your packed lunch, cameras, water, rain jackets, long pair of trouser and jungle boots on, you assemble for briefing from the rangers about gorilla tracking the great adventure and experience! The time taken to encounter these peaceful primates is unpredictable for it may take 3-9 hours. Never the less, on encounter, one may be forced to say, they are the one!!
Dinner and overnight at your lodge
Day 19: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi. and canoe
After breakfast, Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi. This mountain tarn is surrounded by terraced hills. Enjoy bilharzias free swimming, dug out canoeing, hilly walks or bike riding and craw fishing.
Dinner and overnight at Arcadia Cottages.
Day 20: Visit the many Islands on Lake Bunyonyi and drive to Lake Mburo
After breakfast, we shall walk to the island villages and see the real village life. We can organize with the pygmies and have a visit to their island villages then return for lunch.
In the afternoon proceed to Lake Mburo National Park is situated in rolling hills and open grassy valleys. This lovely landscape is complemented by Lake Mburo and four smaller lakes, beautiful and tranquil surroundings where you’ll see Impala, Eland, Waterbuck, and the rare Topi, Zebra and Buffalo. Bird watchers will enjoy more than 250 species of birds found in Lake Mburo including papyrus Gonoleks, Brown-faced lapwing, Caruthers’s cist colas, the extraordinary white winged warbler and many more.
Dinner and overnight at Mantana lodge or Rwonyo camp
Day 22: Morning game drive kin Lake Mburo and boat ride
After breakfast, you go for a game drive will take you along the lakeshore track, and with its own system of game trails and cleared walkways, the Kigambala Loop offers interesting guided lakeside walk. Here you find herds of zebra, Cape buffalo and eland, and oribi, topi are easy to approach. Along with the game drive many visitors also enjoy a boat trip on lake Mburo and self-guided nature trails. Drive back for lunch and in the afternoon you go for the boat ride on Lake Mburo, dinner and overnight at L Kitandala.
Day 23: Drive to Kampala.
Take breakfast and drive to Kampala. Along the road you will take a stopover at the Equator for photographs and drive to Mpigi Royal Drum maker. Here you will be able to watch the ceremonial drums being crafted using different methods in reference to the different generations; you arrive in Kampala before lunch. In the afternoon drive to the Airport for your flight back home. A note for Trekkers: Remember to bring heavy leather gloves, stout hiking boots, long sleeved shirts, long trouser, a light back-pack, and water-bottle.
For more, Contact Us, Go See Africa Safaris Ltd
Plot 75/76 Lugogo Bypass P.O Box 31811 Kampala-Uganda
Tel: +256 414 591500, Mob: +256 772 663158
E-mail: sales@goseeafrica.com
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