Desiring to have a vacation yet stuck because of your financial situation; worry not. Here is a rewarding 12-day Budget safari in Uganda (the pearl of Africa) to unique destinations across the country, with an opportunity of enjoying the hospitality, splendid Ugandan dishes, exploring the wildlife territories, reuniting with your closest relatives, glancing at the different bird species; and having fun with the locals.
You will visit Mabamba wetland at the shoreline of Lake Victoria, Murchison fall’s national park; host the world’s most powerful waterfalls, Kibale forest national park; primate world, Queen Elizabeth national park; Medley of wonders, Bwindi impenetrable national park; True African Jungle and paradise to the endangered mountain Gorillas, and the second Switzerland of Africa; Lake Bunyonyi.
Activities in the twelve days include birding, boat cruise, game drive, relaxation, photography, chimpanzee tracking, and cultural experience among others.
Detailed Safari.
Day 1: Arrival and short city excursion
Today, our company representative will meet you at the airport and brief you about the different destinations and rules to follow while in the country. The briefing lasts for about 1 hour with a mix of a mouth-watering glass of juice before, visiting the reptile village to learning about resident reptiles such as snakes, Tortoises and chameleons among others.
Thereafter, you will have a lunch break and then head to the museum and the local markets, before proceeding to the lodge late in the evening for dinner and a nap
Day 2: Visit Mabamba wetland-birding
You will start this day with a tasty cup of coffee, followed by a full day birding experience by the shores of Lake Victoria; the third largest lake in the world. You will meet an experienced birder who will help in identifying the different sounds and sights of the residents and migrants of Mabamba swamp (one of the Ramsar sites in the country) notably the Grey-headed Gull, blue breasted bee-eater, the sought after shoebill stock, the Madagascar bee-eater, yellow-billed duck and the Grey-rumped swallow among others.
Besides catching the rare sights of the birds, you will also enjoy the cool breeze, photography, and breathtaking sceneries by the shorelines before having a captivating drive to your hotel for dinner and happy sleep.
Day 3: Transfer to Murchison falls national park Via Ziwa Rhino sanctuary
Following a peaceful nap, will be a tasty breakfast salute to the intestines early in the morning, before joining the driver-guide for a 5-6 hours’ drive to Uganda’s oldest conservation area, and home to the world’s most powerful waterfalls; Murchison falls.
You will have a smooth drive that reveals the uniqueness of nature in the countryside; starting with the undulating hills, flourishing vegetation to the scattered homestead. There will be two stopovers; one to track the only surviving rhinos in the wild in the country at Ziwa Rhino sanctuary in Nakasongola district, and the other to enjoy a mouthwatering Ugandan meal at Kabalega diners’ restaurant. You will arrive at the lodge late evening, proceeding for dinner and a nap.
Day 4: Game drive and launch cruise
At about 07:00hours, you will depart the lodge to the northern sector of the park to catch the sight of the mammals such as lions, and leopards on a good day; besides the elephants, buffaloes, zebras, giraffes, warthogs, and the different antelope species; birds such as the crested cranes, Egyptian geese, geenefowls, and the sought after shoebill stock; the primates such as baboons and monkeys; and the captivating landscape.
The game drive lasts for about 4-5 hours with bush breakfast, followed by lunch at the lodge.
At 14:00 hours, you will head for a 2-3 hour boat cruise experience to the bottom of the falls. The ride takes you to a point that offers a clear view of the waters squeezing in the 7mtr gauge to the Nile. The thundering sound and captivating sight of the water flow is what the camera delights in, besides the residents such as the Nile crocodiles, Hippos, and several others, inclusive of the shoebill stork. You will sail back to the lodge for dinner and a nap at sunset.
Day 5: Top of the Falls visit and transfer to Kibale forest national park
On this day, you will have an amazing 2 hours’ drive and remarkable visit to the heart of world’s most powerful waterfalls; the Murchison to have the real experience, take photos and relax a bit. Your eyes will get the chance of sighting the devils’ cauldron, a rainbow at a close range, witnessing the bubbles as the water comes out from the ground, and glance at the other sister waterfalls; Uhuru falls.
Thereafter, you will hit the road on a 7-8 hours’ drive to the primate world; the lush jungle of Kibale forest national park. The drive gives you a good view of the landscape, plantation and magnificent landscape in the different districts. Your lunch will be at Uganda’s tourism city; Fortportal, before an evening arrival at the lodge for dinner and a nap.
Day 6: Chimpanzee trekking and Cold springs tour
On this day, you will have an energy-giving cup of coffee at sun rise, followed by a drive to Kibale forest headquarters for registration and briefing, before entering the jungle, hosting over 13 unique primate species; notable the Colobus monkeys, greycheecked monkeys, and chimps among others.
The momentum of tackling the turns and twists around this Jungle in search of your cousins the chimpanzees is simplified by the unique encounters of the birds and several inhabitants here. Upon finding the creatures, one hour of watching the primates play, rest or feed is unforgettable.
After the reunion, you will return to the lodge for lunch, before visiting the cold springs in Isunga village, as well as the top of the world adventure.
Day 7: Depart Kibale national park for Queen Elizabeth national park
You will start your day with a delicious cup of coffee, followed by a scenic drive to Queen Elizabeth national park (Medley of wonders); and the most visited destination in the country.
The drive lasts for about 4-6 hours, with a view of the mountain backdrop, as well as flourishing plantations and homesteads. The driver will stop for an enroute lunch and sightseeing, before entering the park in the evening with an amazing game drive. Dinner and overnight end the day.
Day 8: Morning game drive and evening boat cruise
The first thing today will be having a remarkable 4-5 hours’ game drive after breakfast, in the vast savannah plains of Queen Elizabeth national park. You will look out for the different mammals recorded here; though sighting the cats such as lions and leopards invites luck. The commonly seen include elephants, buffaloes, warthogs, Uganda Kobs, and giraffes among others; Birds such as the crested cranes and Rwenzori Turaco among others; eye-catching landscape; Primates, and Unique tree species.
After the game drive, you will have lunch at the lodge, followed by a 2-4 hour boat cruise at the famous Kazinga channel. The ride exposes you to a school of hippos, crocodiles, different water birds, and mammals quenching their thirst by the river bank. After having the drive, you will return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay
Day 9: Morning lion tracking and depart to Buhoma sector in Bwindi national park
Upon leaving the bed in the morning, you will enjoy breakfast, followed by a drive to the Ishasha sector for a 3-4 hours’ lion tracking excursion. These tree-climbing lions are often fond of roaming in the lush bushes or resting in the tree branches.
Thereafter, you will have lunch as the sector, before proceeding to the Buhoma sector of Bwindi impenetrable national park. You will arrive at the lodge in the evening for some refreshments, followed by dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 10: Gorilla tracking and Batwa encounter
After a peaceful nap and a morning rise, you will have breakfast, followed by a drive to Buhoma sector headquarters for registration, and briefing that leads to the allocation of Gorilla families to track and the highlight of the dos and don’ts of gorilla trekking.
You will traverse the Jungle for about 1-7 hours in search of the Gorilla family of your choice, though encountering birds, other primates, and unique tree species. Relief comes when the echoes in apes’ territory welcome you though at a 7metre distance. You will be rewarded with 1 hour of photography and asking the guide more about these apes, besides enjoying the sights of giant silverbacks, mothers breastfeeding, and the adolescents somersaulting.
Batwa pygmies visit comes after lunch. These are former wanderers and gatherers in the forest and believed to be the shortest people in Uganda. They delight guests with cultural dances, stories, and village tour, before returning to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 11: Relaxation at Lake Bunyonyi
After breakfast, you will check out of the lodge for a 2-3 hours’ drive to Lake Bunyonyi to relax from the days of back to back activities such as gorilla tracking, game drive, and birding among others. Lake Bunyonyi is surrounded by over 27 unique islands, hosting an array of wildlife.
You will arrive for lunch, before having a canoe ride and swimming among other activities. Thereafter, you will enjoy the landscape and spot the different birds soaring to the sky, before sunset sends you back to the lodge for the last meal of the day and a nap.
Day 12: Departure
Today’s program starts with a relaxed breakfast, followed by an exit from the lodge for a 5-6 hours’ drive to Entebbe international airport to find your flight to the next destination after an enroute lunch meal.
