Main Info
This combo safari will follow an anti-clockwise route around the country, starting from Entebbe or Kampala, with Jinja/Source of the Nile as the first destination ushering you on the Eastern Route, then on to Mbale (Mount Elgon), Kapchorwa/Sipi Falls and Pian Upe game reserve. The safari will proceed further on to the North Eastern tip of the country to Kidepo National Park through Moroto Town. From Kidepo National Park you will drive to the Northern Part and that is through Kitgum and have a stop over in Gulu City. From Gulu City you will be driven to Murchison Falls National Park – where you will be welcomed by the world’s greatest waterfall. The safari will head further on to Fort Portal and then to a Kibale National Park for Chimpanzee tracking combined with a quick visit to Semiliki Valley National Park and the Sempaya Hot Springs.
From Kibala Valley National Park, you will visit yet another national park – also identified as the medley of wonders, and the most popular national park in the country.
Slow down to savour the last stage of your Ugandan Safari by visiting the home to our gentle giants – the endangered mountain gorillas, tucked away in the forests of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park; Lake Mburo National Park will be your last national park before heading back to Kampala through the western route.
Highlights of the 21 day Combo Safari of the best of Uganda
Day Prior to Safari Kick-Off: (For our guests arriving from outside the country): Our safari team will be at the Airport to welcome you and transfer to your hotel for overnight stay and preparation for the 3 weeks safari the following day.
Safari Includes;
- Accommodation and meals as per the itinerary.
- Park entrance fees.
- Airport transfer.
- Ground transfers.
- Vehicle use for game drive.
- Game drives.
- Nature walk.
- Cultural visit.
Safari Excludes
- International Air Flight tickets
- Visas
- Optional Activities not included on the Itinerary
- Life Insurance
- Expenses of personal nature such as; buying souvenirs, crafts, drinks, laundry services, hiring a porter, tips among others.
Interested in this Combo Safari? Please send a request and we shall share a quote
Itinerary
Our team leader and driver/guide will meet you at your hotel. You will be briefed about the safari before embarking on the journey to your first destination. After breakfast, your driver will start on the trip to your first destination in Jinja, where you will visit the source of the Nile. The source of the Nile is the spot where the Nile starts its long Journey to the Mediterranean through Central and Northern Uganda and Sudan and Egypt. A boat ride on the source of the Nile will be an activity together with a tour of the ancient town before setting off to Mbale City for your overnight stay.
Accommodation and Full Board: Mbale Resort
After Breakfast at your hotel, you will meet your driver/guide, who will drive you to the spot where you get to do a half-day hike up the Mountain. This activity will be managed by the officials in charge of Mount Elgon National Park. After the half-day hike, your driver will transfer back to your Hotel for an over night stay.
Accommodation and Full Board: Mbale Resort
After breakfast and check out of the Hotel, your driver will transfer you to Sipi Falls. After Lunch at Rafiki Lodge, you go for a guided walk to see three of the water falls close up and experience the local coffee ceremony with the Sabiny Tribe.
Accommodation and Full Board: Rafiki Lodge Sipi
On day four of your best of Uganda safari, you will be transferred to your first wildlife destination. Pian-Upe is the second largest conservation area in the country after Murchison Falls National Park. Set strategically in northeastern Uganda, Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve is one of a kind safari destination that still offers authentic African experiences. It is that one protected area that has not been fully explored by many and therefore paying a visit here means a great opportunity for you to get the best of an African experiential safari holiday.
Accommodation and Full Board: Rafiki Lodge Sipi
After breakfast and check out of Rafiki Lodge, your driver will start on the journey to Kidepo National Park, and you will drive through Moroto.
Kidepo is Uganda’s most isolated national park, but the few who make the long journey north through the wild frontier region of Karamoja would agree that it is also the most magnificent, for Kidepo ranks among Africa’s finest wildernesses. From Apoka, in the heart of the park, a savannah landscape extends far beyond the gazetted area, towards horizons outlined by distant mountain ranges.
Accommodation and Full Board: Kidepo Savanah Lodge
Day starts with an early morning breakfast at 6 am. Then your driver will take you on a game drive allowing you an opportunity to encounter the fauna and flora of this pristine destination - home to a variety of wildlife species such as Ostriches, Cheetahs, Aardwold, Bat-eared Fox, the Buffalos – which are seen in huge numbers and many more animals. Not to mention the over 450 bird species for the bird lovers.
Thereafter head to the Kidepo Valley in the north of the park, which is dry compared to the south that has more wildlife. Nevertheless the northern part has attractions such as dry riverbeds, the hot springs and beautiful picturesque mountain ranges.
Accommodation: Kidepo Savanah Lodge
Meal Plan: Full Board
After breakfast at 8 am, go for another short game drive to see more of the animals that could have been missed yesterday. You will also see the unique birds that are endemic to this National Park. Your Safari Ranger will point these out for you.
Return to the Lodge for Lunch and Refresh.
In the afternoon, visit a large Karamojong homestead, which is known as “Manyatta” for cultural encounters. The Karamojong people, who are closely related to the Masai of Kenya, continue to practice their traditional way of life, unaffected by modernization. There is a lot to learn about their traditions, culture, homestead and their beautiful traditional dance.
Optional Activities – while on Safari
- Night Game Drive in the Park
- Visit the IK people
- Nature Walk in the Park
Accommodation: Kidepo Savanah Lodge
Meal Plan: Full Board
This is your last day in Kidepo National Park. On this day you will check out of Kidepo Savanah Lodge and your driver/guide will transfer you to Gulu city for an over night stay, as you prepare to embark on your next wilderness destination. Relax and Recoup while in Gulu city.
Accommodation Option: Churchhill Courts Hotel
Meal Plan: Full Board
After breakfast at 9:00am, you will head out for your next destination – Murchison Falls National Park. The drive to this gorgeous and largest national park in Uganda, will take you through the northern part of the countryside, where you get to see and appreciate a diversification of cultures. You will have a stop over for Lunch at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Tracking of the Rhino will be a key highlight at the Sanctuary.
After Rhino Tracking, you will set off for your hotel in Murchison Falls National Park.
Accommodation Option: Sambiya River Lodge
Meal Plan: Full Board
Your day will start very early at 6am in order to catch a glimpse of the predators. The early morning game drives allows for an opportunity to see a variety of animals as they scamper around to close in on their meal. With luck, you might see the Lions that are the cause of the Kobs’ discomfort or identify an alien shape in a distant tree as a leopard resting with its kill. The Afternoon session will be dedicated to a Boat ride to the bottom of the magnificent falls – where the park derives its name. A trek to the top of the falls will wind up the day’s activities.
You will be transferred back to the Lodge for your over night stay.
Accommodation Option: Sambiya River Lodge
Meal Plan: Full Board
This day you will check out of your hotel at Murchison Falls, destined for Kibale National Park. This journey will be through Fort Portal City – where you will have a lunch break. After Lunch, we continue to Kibale – straight to the Lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation Option: Turaco Treetops Lodge/Chimpundu Lodge
Meal Plan: Full Board
After an early morning breakfast, you will link up with our driver/guide for transfer to Kanyanchu Visitors Center for briefing by the National Park’s staff. The briefing is about the rules, regulations and expectations of Chimpanzee trekking. After the briefing you will be allocated a Chimpanzee family to track and a park guide/staff who is conversant with the forest. Trekking takes about 30mins to 4 hours depending on the location of the animals. Once the Chimps have been identified, the tourists have up to 1 hour to spend in their natural habitat, which gives you the opportunity to learn about their behavior. Pictures and Video recordings can be taken but ensure there is no flash. After tracking, you will go for a cultural tour and nature walk, to interact with the communities in the area.
Accommodation Option: Turaco Treetops Lodge/Chimpundu Lodge
Meal Plan: Full Board
On this thirteenth day of the safari, your driver/guide will transfer you to Fort Portal in preparation to visit Semiliki National Park. The afternoon session of this day will be dedicated to visiting a Stalactite cave formation commonly know as Amabere ga nyinamwiru – great place for birding and tour of the crater lakes!
The rest of the evening is for rest and recoup as we prepare for the next National park excursion
Accommodation Option: Papaya Lake Lodge/Ndali Lodge
Meal Plan: Full Board
After breakfast, your driver/Guide will take you to yet another National Park Destination – Semiliki National Park. The 85km drive from Fort Portal to Semiliki National Park is one of the most breathtaking in Uganda. The park is highly alluring to visitors interested in watching birds: more than 430 species have been recorded and is one the best places in Uganda to see the Shoebill.
A lunch break will be at the Semiliki Safari Lodge, and thereafter to a visit of the famous Male and Female Hot Springs.
Drive back to your hotel in Fort Portal for you over night stay.
Accommodation Option: Papaya Lake Lodge/Ndali Lodge
Meal Plan: Full Board
This is the day you check out of Fort Portal, destined for Queen Elizabeth National Park. Queen Elizabeth National Park is the second largest, joint-oldest and most visited national park in the country. Lots of activities to engage in while at this park.
Most popular activities will be the Game Drive and Boat Cruise on the Kazinga Channel.
Over Night stay at Ihamba Safari Lodge.
Accommodation Option: Ihamba Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: Full Board
Another of those days when you will be required to get up very early for your morning game drive. After an early morning breakfast, your driver will take you to start on your game drive. Be ready to be welcomed by the splendor and lushness of the park. In terms of wildlife, this park is home to the hippopotamus with approximately 6,000 living along the shores of Kazinga Channel and the adjourning lakes. The tree climbing lions are found in this park. Expect to see elephant, buffalo, waterbuck, kob and warthog. The chances of finding Lions on an early morning game drive in the Kasenyi grasslands are good. The afternoon session will be for a boat cruise on Kazinga Channel.
Retire in the evening to the Lodge.
Accommodation Option: Ihamba Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: Full Board
Check out of your Lodge and transfer to Bwindi National Park for gorilla tracking. You will start on your journey to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, one of the world’s oldest and most biodiverse terrestrial environment with remarkably varied flora and fauna, making it one of the richest habitats in Africa. Your driver/guide will take you to your hotel for an over night stay.
Accommodation Option: Bwindi Lodge/Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge
Meal Plan: Full Board
After your breakfast, you will be transferred to the gorilla tracking information office for a pre-gorilla tracking briefing by the park warden and rangers. After briefing, the rangers will then lead you into the forest to track these gentle giants (Mountain gorillas). The thrill of spending time observing the gorillas as they interact with each other is a pleasing and unforgettable one, you are allowed an hour witnessing the interaction of these close relatives of ours. You are advised to carry with you packed lunch for the time spent tracking the gorillas varies from 3 to 8 hours. Time permitting; you may go for a late afternoon community walk to see the local people’s way of life and cultures.
Accommodation Option: Bwindi Lodge/Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge
Meal Plan: Full Board
This day will be for rest and recoup. Activities on this day will be at your discretion. Perhaps a day to recollect on your safari and engagements so far, and to compile your memoirs of the experience, as we get to a close of the 21 days nationwide circuit. An afternoon visit to Lake Bunyonyi could be one of those on-the-side leisurely activities to peruse.
Accommodation Option: Bwindi Lodge/Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge
Meal Plan: Full Board
Today’s destination is Lake Mburo National Park, the last Game Park on our circuit. This park is strategically positioned for a final stopover. Given it’s small size, a game drive will be short and brief, yet scenic and varied due to the several unique species endemic to this park. The Impala and eland are one of those endemic species. The Park is famous for its horse back safaris where you get close to the animals. You will also visit the Biharwe Eclipse Monument.
Accommodation Option: Igongo County Motel
Meal Plan: Full Board
Final day of your Ugandan safari! Today marks the last day of your 21-day anti-clockwise safari around the country. Your driver/guide will transfer you back to Kampala or Entebbe to catch your flight back home. Other interesting options are available along the route back to Kampala, but will require time and flexibility on your part. Other last minute spillovers out of your safari include a quick visit to Mabamba – for an opportunity to see the Shoe Bill, a bird that is on top of the list for bird enthusiasts.
Three options are available on this day.
- One is to head straight into Kampala, to catch up with the life that comes with the city that is highly rated as the most friendly on the African Continent.
- The other is to follow the Expressway south and straight to Entebbe International Airport to be in time to catch your flight back home.
- The third possible option is to follow the Northern Bypass on the outskirts of Kampala towards Jinja and do the Safari/Circuit all over again. The Anti-clock wise Combo Safari would be different on every circuit.
