ET24

12 DAYS ULTIMATE UGANDA CULTURAL SAFARI

DAY 1

Arrival at Entebbe Airport and travel to Fort portal When you arrive at Entebbe International Airport from an early morning flight, you will be met by the company’s guide who will then transfer you to the west of Uganda via Mubende having lunch en route. The route travels through breathtaking scenery and delightful rolling tea plantations, arriving at Fort Portal in the evening. ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS AVAILABLE (FULL BOARD) UPMARKET: NDALI LODGE MODERATE: MOUNTAINS OF THE MOON HOTEL BUDGET TOURIST: KIBALE FOREST CAMP

DAY 2

Kibale National Park and Guided Walk Following a good breakfast, you will go to Kibale Forest National Park home of habituated Chimpanzees – it harbors 12 species of Primates and provides one of the highest Primates densities in the world! Here on a guided walk, you may find families of Chimps and Red Colobus Monkeys. After you will have the opportunity to go for a guided walk through Bigodi Swamp. Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary is managed by the Kibale Association for Rural and Environmental organization which was formed in 1992 with the aim of achieving social and economic development for local communities. You will then be taken around the swamp for a guided walk. This area harbours approximately 137 bird species which include the Snowy Headed Robin Cat, Black and White Casqued Hornbill, Emerald Cuckoo and a variety of Weavers, Warblers, Greenbuls and Sunbirds. There's also an abundance of Butterflies. It's also rich in vegetation, such as wild palms, polita figs and the dominant papyrus. ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS AVAILABLE (FULL BOARD) UPMARKET: NDALI LODGE MODERATE: MOUNTAINS OF THE MOON HOTEL BUDGET TOURIST: KIBALE FOREST CAMP

DAY 3

Visit to the Royal Tombs and Village Walks You will wake up for an early breakfast and leave for Fort portal to visit the Kings Royal tombs known as Karambi Tombs. You will also visit various cultural groups which include the Burungu community, rooted in Traditional Toro culture that will entertain you with music, dancing and story telling. You will spend the whole day with the local community and on village walks and return to the lodge in the evening. ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS AVAILABLE (FULL BOARD) UPMARKET: NDALI LODGE MODERATE: MOUNTAINS OF THE MOON HOTEL BUDGET TOURIST: KIBALE FOREST CAMP

DAY 4

Travel to Semliki Equipped with a packed lunch we head out for an exciting day in the Semliki Valley National Park. Located in this National Park are the Sempaya Hot Springs - ringed by forest and palm trees and veiled in a cloud of steam, these springs are almost primeval. The largest spring is a geyser shooting up from an 8m-wide opening in a low salt sculpture. The emerging water has a temperature of more than 100ºC! We shall also visit the local Pygmy community – some years ago, a group of pygmies forsook their traditionally nomadic lifestyle to settle near Ntandi. You can learn more about their live style and culture. ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS AVAILABLE (FULL BOARD) UPMARKET: NDALI LODGE MODERATE: MOUNTAINS OF THE MOON HOTEL BUDGET TOURIST: KIBALE FOREST CAMP

DAY 5

: Exploration all the way to Queen Elizabeth National Park After an early breakfast, we proceed to the Bakonjo village at Ruboni near the foot hills of Rwenzori mountains and spend time with the Bakonjo Community, visit the traditional healer (Chesesa) receive their entertainment and later transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park’s Katwe Salt Works. It’s fascinating to see how since the 14 century, salt has been mined by traditional methods and it is still in use today. The salt mine have been sub divided and distributed to various tribes in Uganda. ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS AVAILABLE (FULL BOARD) UPMARKET: MWEYA SAFARI LODGE MODERATE: KATARA LODGE BUDGET TOURIST: QUEEN ELIZABETH BUSH LODGE

DAY 6

Safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park We set out early in the morning for a game drive in the northern part of the park on the Kasenyi Track in search of lions, elephants, solitary buffaloes. This is the best time for opportunities of viewing the cats in action owing to the vast population of Uganda Kobs. We have an excellent chance to view just about every animal here at very close range. In the afternoon we go for a launch trip along the Kazinga Channel. This gives you the opportunity to view wildlife up close: hippo’s huff and spray at a mere feet away from the boat, buffalo linger in the shallows. The shores of the channel are also home to an array of birds including pink backed pelicans, pied and malachite kingfishers, saddle billed stork and many others. ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS AVAILABLE (FULL BOARD) UPMARKET: MWEYA SAFARI LODGE MODERATE: KATARA LODGE BUDGET TOURIST: KATARA LODGE

DAY 7

Drive to Bwindi Have break fast to game drive enroute as you drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National park. The park is known to harbour half of the world’s endangered mountain gorillas. It is situated in a hilly country side, together with some remnant lowland forest outside the boundary. You will reach Bwindi late in the afternoon. Upon arrival you can rather be interested in rural African culture we suggest you take a guided village walk in Buhoma Village– see how Ugandans live, visit a local bar and meet the local medicine man! ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS AVAILABLE (FULL BOARD) UPMARKET: GORILLA FOREST CAMP MODERATE:ENGAGI LODGE BUDGET TOURIST:BUHOMA BANDAS

DAY 8

Gorilla trekking Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a natural world heritage site. Hikers will love it, with the gorilla excursion as a high point of your safari! Gorilla trekking is unpredictable. It's difficult to foresee how many hours you will hike. The gorilla excursion can take from 2 up to 8 hours. Expect to walk along distance in steep and muddy conditions, sometimes with rain overhead, before you encounter any gorillas. A good physical condition is recommended. For conservation purposes, time spent with the gorillas is limited to one hour. A ranger will brief you on how to behave with the gorillas. ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS AVAILABLE (FULL BOARD) UPMARKET: GORILLA FOREST CAMP MODERATE: ENGAGI LODGE BUDGET TOURIST: BUHOMA BANDAS

DAY 9

Drive to Kampala via Mbarara Today you drive east to Mbarara, now one of Uganda’s major towns, but formerly capital of Ankole kingdom for over 400 years until disbanded by independence in 1962. In the days before modern Uganda came into being, the area had a series of fiercely independent tribal states. The once nomadic Bahima people, part of Bantu-speaking Ankole kingdom, are renowned for the particular bond they forge with their unique, long-horned Ankole cattle. These hardy cattle respond to their individual names when called by their male herder; he in turn lives in close harmony with them. From here you continue to Kampala with stopovers at the Drum making centre at Mpambire. ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS AVAILABLE (FULL BOARD) UPMARKET: SHERATON HOTEL MODERATE: MOSA COURTS BUDGET TOURIST: HOLIDAY EXPRESS

DAY 10

Tour of Buganda cultural sites and travel to Jinja After breakfast, the guide will meet you at the hotel and drive to the Uganda Museum on Kamwokya hill to have a close encounter with Uganda’s history and culture. Continue to the Bahai Temple surrounded by beauty and tranquility. Further west, you will visit the Kasubi Tombs, the eternal resting place of the kabaka (kings) of the legendary Buganda Kingdom. Call at the Namirembe and Lubaga cathedrals as well the Old Kampala mosque – a meeting corner of faiths and civilisations. As we drive to Jinja you also call at Namugongo Martyrs shrine, and then proceed to Ssezibwa falls. It takes about 1.5 hours to get to the Source of the Nile because of the stops you have to make. You will explore the Nile and later drive up to the Spectacular Bujagali Falls. You will see how those people rafting are able to safely conquer the most challenging rapids, you will watch the local fishermen and the fantastic bird life. ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS AVAILABLE (FULL BOARD) UPMARKET:JINJA NILE RESORT HOTEL MODERATE: NILE PORCH BUDGET TOURIST:PARADISE ON THE NILE

DAY 11

Cultural Tour and transfer to Kampala We may l go for a brief tour around Jinja town and have a look at those old beautiful colonial buildings before our departure to Kampala. ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS AVAILABLE (FULL BOARD) UPMARKET: SHERATON HOTEL MODERATE: MOSA COURTS BUDGET TOURIST HOLIDAY EXPRESS

DAY 12

Transfer to Entebbe for your out bound return flight Your tour guide will transfer you in due time to the Entebbe International Airport for your outbound flight. Please note that check-in for international flights should be done 2 hours prior to departure of the flight. In the departure hall (after check-in) you will find a small restaurant, a sitting area and several duty-free shops for your convenience. The Tour price includes gorilla permit($500) 1) UPMARKET: US$8431 for 1 single traveller on tour only (staying in a single room) US$5422 per person for two persons only (sharing in 1 room) US$4776 per person for three persons only(1 Twin & 1single) US$4448 per person for four persons only (sharing in 2 rooms) US$4254 per person for five persons only (2 Twin $ 1 single) US$4123 per person for six persons only (3 twin rooms) US$1044 single room suppliment 2) MODERATE (MEDIUM PRICE): US$6833 for 1 single traveller on tour only (staying in a single room) US$4415 per person for two persons only (sharing in 1 room) US$3766 per person for three persons only(1 Twin & 1single) US$4015 per person for four persons only (sharing in 2 rooms) US$3264 per person for five persons only (2 Twin $ 1 single) US$3499 per person for six persons only (3 twin rooms) US$462 single room suppliment 3) BUDGET (LOWER PRICE): US$6126 for 1 single traveller on tour only (staying in a single room) US$3818 per person for two persons only (sharing in 1 room) US$3168 per person for three persons only(1 Twin & 1single) US$3417 per person for four persons only (sharing in 2 rooms) US$2648 per person for five persons only (2 Twin $ 1 single) US$2901 per person for six persons only (3 twin rooms) US$426 single room suppliment *Price includes meals indicated on programme, experienced driver/guide, accommodation as per programme, park fees for the various parks and activities, transport on tour as well as hotel transfers, entrance fees for tours mentioned in the programme. **Besides the dates availed below, you can book to join this tour anytime. Please contact us for more information.