16-Day Exceptional Uganda Flyin Circuit: A Beginner’s Safari
Detailed Safari: Exceptional Uganda Flyin Circuit
Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe
Welcome to the pearl of Africa! Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be met and greeted by your English-speaking guide. He will warmly welcome you and then transfer you to your hotel in Entebbe for relaxation and overnight stay.
Accommodation: Entebbe forest lodge (Luxury)/ Papyrus guest house (Midrange)
Meal plan: Bed & breakfast
Day 2: Fly to Pakuba, top of the falls hike & evening game drive
After breakfast, you will check out of the hotel and head to Entebbe airport for the flight to Pakuba. Upon arrival at Pakuba airstrip, the driver guide will pick you up and transfer you to the lodge for lunch. After lunch, you drive to the top of the falls. You will hike to the top of the falls for a picnic lunch. At the top of the falls, you will have an astonishing experience as you watch the picturesque falls squeezing into the rocks in an 8m gorge. Please ensure that you take as many pictures as possible for memories.
After the top of the falls hike, you will enjoy a short but amazing game drive with a lot of sightings.
Accommodation: Nile safari lodge (Luxury)/ Pakuba safari lodge (Midrange)
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 3: Morning game drive, afternoon boat cruise & night game drive
After an early breakfast, you will get into your safari vehicle and setoff for another exciting game drive to search for lions, giraffes, leopards, elephants, antelopes among other animals if you are lucky. The game drive usually takes approximately 3-4 hours depending on what nature has to offer that day. After the game drive, you will head back to the lodge for lunch and relaxation.
After lunch, you will go for a boat cruise along the Nile. During the boat cruise, you will have the capability of spotting numerous animals such as Nile crocodiles, buffaloes, hippos, African elephants relaxing along the Nile banks and several bird species like the bee-eaters, African jacana among others. This launch cruise will take you up to the bottom of Murchison falls and while there you will have the ability of seeing these beautiful falls clearly for picture moments.
After the game drive, you will return to the lodge for relaxation and early dinner. At night, you will head back to the park for a night game drive in search of the nocturnals.
Accommodation: Nile safari lodge (Luxury)/ Pakuba safari lodge (Midrange)
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 4: Full day game drive
After an early breakfast, you will get into your safari vehicle and setoff for another exciting game drive to search for lions, giraffes, leopards, elephants, antelopes among other animals if you are lucky. The game drive usually takes approximately 3-4 hours depending on what nature has to offer that day. After the game drive, you will head back to the lodge for lunch and relaxation.
After lunch, you will head back to the park for yet another exciting game drive. During the game drive, you will search for wildlife and will see animals such lions, giraffes, leopards, elephants, antelopes among others.
Accommodation: Nile safari lodge (Luxury)/ Pakuba safari lodge (Midrange)
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 5: Fly to Kasese and transfer to Kibale with a top-of-the-world experience
After breakfast and depending on your flight schedule, will check out of the lodge and transfer to Pakuba airstrip for the flight to Kasese. Upon arrival at Kasese airstrip, you will be pick up by the driver guide and then transferred to Kibale Forest National Park. You will have hot lunch at the lodge upon arrival at the lodge. You will head out for the top of the world experience which will take you to the crater lakes around Kibale. You will have a panoramic view of all the crater lakes.
Accommodation: Tabebuia Safari Resort (Luxury)/ Kibale tourist lodge (Midrange)
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 6: Chimpanzee trekking & Bigodi wetland visit
After an early breakfast, you will be transferred to Kanyanchu at for briefing about the code of conduct during the chimpanzee trek. Chimpanzee trekking at Kibale Forest national park starts as early as 8am.
Chimpanzees are the closest relatives to human beings and they share 98% of their DNA with human beings. During the search for these charming chimpanzees, you will get a golden opportunity of seeing numerous more animal and primate species like L’Hoests monkeys, black- red-tailed monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, bush babies, and many bird species such as the yellow-spotted nictor, the rampant puppet, and the crowned eagle, as well as elephants, which are mammals.
Kibale forest national park is situated on an altitude of 3,300 feet and this tropical rainforest is a home to countless chimpanzee communities. There are more than 100 members in each chimpanzee group offering creating a highly competitive social structure. The adult males dominate the groups and it’s their responsibility to protect the chimpanzee community from any harm. You will have the chance of observing them playing, feeding, socializing, and jumping through the trees. After the trek, you will return to the lodge for relaxation and in the evening, you will go for the Bigodi wetland visit.
Accommodation: Tabebuia Safari Resort (Luxury)/ Kibale tourist lodge (Midrange)
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 7: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park with lake Katwe
After breakfast, you will checkout of the lodge and get into the safari vehicle for the 3 hours journey to Queen Elizabeth national Park. Along the way, you will enjoy the magnificent landscapes of the country side and the nature of this country. Your first stopover will be at Lake Katwe and this lake is very salty and aquatic life cannot survive in it. Lake Katwe has been a source of income for the local community since the 16th century. The local community spends most of their time getting salt from milk like waters of this lake. You will explore the tedious and yet captivating procedure of local salt excavation. After the lake Katwe visit, you will be transferred to the lodge for relaxation and lunch.
Accommodation: Bufalo safari lodge (Luxury)/ Acacia wilderness Mweya (Midrange)
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 8: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise
Wake up early, have breakfast and then get into the safari vehicle for the transfer to Kasenyi plains and mweya peninsular for the 3-4 hours game drive. You will search and have incredible sightings of animals like lions, elephants, cape buffalos, waterbucks, hyenas, warthogs, Kobs. If you are lucky enough, you will also spot the leopard. This park is also a home to over 606 bird species and most of them can be sighted along Kazinga channel. After this exciting game drive, you will return to the lodge for hot lunch and relaxation.
After lunch, you will be transferred to the docking point of the boat in preparation for the boat cruise. This unique boat cruise along Kazinga channel lasts between 2 to 3 hours. During the launch cruise, you will sight animals like the Nile crocodiles, hippos, buffaloes, elephants relaxing along the banks, buffaloes among others and you should as well expect to spot numerous bird species. The launch cruise will also grant you a golden opportunity for photography and please ensure that you take as many pictures as possible.
Accommodation: Bufalo safari lodge (Luxury)/ Acacia wilderness Mweya (Midrange)
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 9: Transfer to Kasese airstrip for the flight to Kisoro
After breakfast, you will checkout of the lodge and transfer to the Kasese airstrip for the flight to Kisoro. Upon arrival at Kisoro, the driver guide will pick you up and transfer you to Bwindi impenetrable national park. The transfer from Kisoro to Bwindi (Rushaga sector) takes approximately 2 hours driving. Upon arrival, you will check-in at the lodge for lunch as you contemplate on the gorilla trekking adventure the following day.
Accommodation: Sanctuary gorilla forest lodge (Luxury)/ Ichumbi gorilla lodge (Midrange)
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 10: Gorilla trekking & Batwa cultural tour
After an early breakfast and with a lunch box, you will be transferred to the park headquarters for briefing about the code of conduct during gorilla trekking. After briefing, you will be allocated a gorilla family and then enter the forest in company of armed ranger guides. You will enjoy the beauty and freshness of this impenetrable forest. Bwindi is a home to the half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. You will continue through the thick vegetation to trek these gentle giants and the distance to be walked will be determined by where they slept the previous night. After spotting the gorillas, you will only be allowed to spend with the one hour and this is done for conservation reasons. Watch these endangered species as they socialize, feed, play, feed and train their young ones. You will head back to the lodge for refreshment and relaxation.
In the evening, you will visit the Batwa community where you will interact with them and acquire more knowledge about their ways of life.
Accommodation: Sanctuary gorilla forest lodge (Luxury)/ Ichumbi gorilla lodge (Midrange)
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 11: Boat ride along lake Mutanda and transfer to Mgahinga
After breakfast, you will checkout of the lodge and transfer to lake mutanda for a relaxed boat ride. The boat ride along the tranquil lake mutanda will last between 2–3 hours. As you are fascinating each and every tranquil moment on the boat, you will view the distinctive attributes of Lake Mutanda. After the boat ride, you will continue with your journey to Mgahinga gorilla national park.
Accommodation: Mount Gahinga lodge (Luxury)/ Ichumbi hotel (Midrange)
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 12: Golden monkey trekking and transfer to lake Bunyonyi.
After an early breakfast, you will get ready get ready for the exciting golden monkey trekking experience. You will be transferred to the park headquarters for briefing and allocation of ranger guides. You will enter the forest you will to search for these cheerful golden monkeys. You will watch them as they jump from one tree to another, feed, play, interact and socialise. After your trek, you will head back to the lodge for lunch. After lunch, you will checkout of the lodge and transfer to lake Bunyonyi famously known as the ‘’Switzerland of Africa”.
Accommodation: Arcadia Bunyonyi (Luxury)/ Bunyonyi overland (Midrange)
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 13: Boat ride along the islands
Have breakfast at leisure and then transfer to the docking point of the boat. The boat will take you to the numerous islands of the beautiful lake Bunyonyi. Lake Bunyonyi is among the deepest lakes has 29 islands which include the punishment island. During the boat ride, you will see some of the islands and learn more about the unique stories behind their names. After the boat ride, you will return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation.
Accommodation: Arcadia Bunyonyi (Luxury)/ Bunyonyi overland (Midrange)
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 14: Transfer to lake Mburo national park with evening game drive
After breakfast, you will get into the safari vehicle for the 5 hours journey to Uganda’s smallest savannah national park. Along the way, you will spot the long-horned cattle and if interest, you can stop and take pictures with them. Upon arrival, you will pay par entrance fees and proceed to the lodge for lunch as you prepare for the game drive. In the evening, you will go for a game drive to search for zebras, giraffes, buffaloes, and impalas in the open landscapes. This national park does not have large predators s you are free to get out of the vehicle and take pictures.
Accommodation: Kigambira safari lodge (Luxury)/ Hyena hill lodge (Midrange)
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 15: Walking safari & afternoon game drive
Have breakfast and then head to the park for the walking safari. During the walking safari, you will have an opportunity of approaching wildlife on food. The animals you will watch include zebras, giraffes, elands, warthogs among others. Walking safaris are done in lake Mburo national park because there are very few dangerous predators. After the walking safari, you will return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation.
In the afternoon, you will go for a game drive to search for zebras, giraffes, buffaloes, and impalas in the open landscapes.
Accommodation: Kigambira safari lodge (Luxury)/ Hyena hill lodge (Midrange)
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 16: Morning game drive & transfer to Entebbe.
After breakfast, you will checkout of the lodge and go for a short game drive. After the game drive, you will transfer back to Entebbe for your flight back home. You will have a stopover at the equator for pictures and lunch.
End of tour.
Inclusions
Transportation
English speaking driver guide
Accommodation
Meals as mentioned above
Gorilla permit
Chimpanzee permit
Golden monkey permit
Rhino permit
Batwa cultural tour
Bigodi wetland visit
Game drives
Boat cruises
Park entrance fees
Walking safari
Boat ride along lake mutanda
Boat ride along lake Bunyonyi
Top of the falls hike
All transfers
All activities mentioned above
Excludes
Visa fees
International flights
Tips & gratuities
Personal expenses