8 Days Classic Uganda Wildlife, and Birding Safari

8 Days Classic Uganda Wildlife, and Birding Safari : This 8 Days Classic Uganda, Wildlife, and Birding Safaris takes you to through Uganda’s fascinating destinations featuring Sipi falls on the foothills of Mount Elgon, Pian Upe wildlife reserve which is one of Uganda’s newly recognised tourist destinations with raw and beautiful scenery joined to other two wildlife protected areas in the North-eastern part of Uganda, Kidepo national park which is the most remote national park rich in wildlife experience as compared to any other national park in Uganda. Murchison falls national park is a home of the most powerful and strongest falls in Africa. These are the most adventurous destination in Uganda that is blended with interesting cultural experience from the people of Karamojong who have a similar origin with the Masai people of Kenya and Tanzania. This 8 Days Classic safari covers 30% of Uganda’s national parks and wildlife reserves exploring the animals that can only be found in remote areas

Safari highlights

Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Sipi falls
Day 2: Transfer to Pian Upe wildlife reserve
Day 3: Explore the reserve on a game drive and community tour
Day 4: Transfer to Kidepo national park – evening game drive
Day 5: Explore Kidepo national park
Day 6: Transfer to Murchison falls national park
Day 7: Morning game drive and boat cruise and hike to the top of the falls
Day 8: Rhino tracking – transfer to Kampala/Entebbe

Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Transfer to Sipi falls

Early morning, meet your safari guide at a location you will advise in Kampala/Entebbe and embark on your journey to Sipi falls in Kapchwora district, it’s a 6-7 hours’ drive passing through Mabira forest, Jinja and different sugar plantations. Arrive for early lunch in Mbale town then connect to Sipi falls is located in the foothills of Mount Elgon just at the edge of Mount Elgon national park nearing the Kenya border and the falls consist of 3 waterfalls with the highest fall dropping at 100m. Depending on your ability, you can hike 2 of the waterfalls or hike all the 3 falls. Before nightfall return to your lodge for dinner and overnight

Luxury accommodation option – Sipi River Lodge
Mid-range accommodation option – Lacum lodge
Budget accommodation option – Casa Sipi falls lodge

Day 2: Transfer to Pian Upe wildlife reserve – evening game drive

After breakfast, transfer to Pian Upe wildlife reserve. It is about 2-3 hours’ drive form Sipi falls of Kapchowra district located on foothills of Mount Elgon. Have en-route lunch in one of the close towns to the reserve. Proceed to the reserve and connect for an evening game drive the connect to your accommodation for dinner and overnight stay at your own set up tent near the park headquarters or Uganda Wildlife Authority Bandas for budget option or stay at Karamojong Overland Camp for mid-range option.

8 Days Classic Uganda Wildlife, and Birding Safari

Day 3: Explore the reserve on a game drive and community tour

After your breakfast, set off for a morning game drive in the savannah plains to search for reserve residents including the cheetahs, Uganda’s only population of the Roan antelopes, the Elands, Zebras, Hartebeests, Oribis, Gunther’s Dik Dik, Uganda Kobs, Buffaloes, blue and Common Duiker and Impalas to mention a few. Return for lunch and later afternoon; visit a local Karamoja community close to the park for a rare cultural experience in dance and drama performances and also be able to learn more about the community. Before nightfall, return to your camp for dinner and overnight stay

Day 4: Transfer to Kidepo national park – evening game drive

After your breakfast, check-out of the lodge and embark on your journey to Kidepo valley national park. The park is located in the far North Eastern part of Uganda taking about 5-6 hours’ drive. The drive is spectacular with great views of the countryside and as you approach Karamonja region. You will have lunch upon check-in your lodge , you will be cleared at the entry and proceed to your accommodation for check-in. Kidepo national park is very beautiful with incredible views of the mountains and hills. Connect for an evening game drive in Narus valley to find some of the animals like the elephants, zebras, buffaloes and many more. Return to the lodge for dinner will be served at your convenience

Accommodation and meals (En-route lunch and half board)

Luxury option – Apoka Safari lodge/Adere Safari lodge
Mid-range option – Kidepo Savannah lodge/Nga Moru Wilderness Camp
Budget option – Apoka Rest Camp

Day 5: Game drive in Kidepo valley and hot springs visit

After breakfast, drive to the wild for your morning game drive and explore the park in Narus valley. After lunch, drive for a game drive in Kidepo valley in anticipation of seeing some of the animals, the Ostrich birds and also visit the hot springs of Kanangorok before you return to your lodge. Spend the rest the rest of the evening at leisure. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above

Day 6: Transfer to Murchison falls national park

After your cup of Coffee, check-out of the lodge and drive to Murchison Falls National Park-Uganda’s largest national park. The park is a habitat for big 4 game and the great Murchison falls. Have lunch en-route then proceed to enter the park with en-route game drive. Check-in your lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay

Accommodation and meals (Full board)

Luxury option: Paraa Safari lodge/Nile Safari lodge
Mid-range option: Pakuba Safari lodge/Murchison River lodge
Budget option: Heritage Safari Lodge/Red Chill Rest Camp

Day 7: Game drive and boat cruise and hike to the top of the falls

After an early breakfast at your lodge, you will go for a morning game drive on the delta area which is the best place to find most of the animals that reside in the park. The activity takes about 2-3 hours spending on the availability of the animals such as the Savannah Elephants, Rothschild Giraffes, Cape Buffaloes, Lions, Hartebeest, Uganda kobs, Oribis and Waterbucks. After the game drive, you will return to the lodge for lunch.

Later afternoon, go for a launch cruise on the along the Nile which will give you an exciting panoramic view at the bottom of the mighty Murchison falls. Along the cruise, you will encounter crocodiles, hippos, and birds on the river banks like kingfisher, cormorants and bee-eater. After viewing the falls at the bottom, hike to the top of Murchison falls for better views of the falls. The mighty Murchison falls are the most powerful falls in Africa that force into a narrow gorge of about 7 meters deep creating a strong sound and forming a rainbow occasionally. While at the top, you will meet your driver who will transfer you back to your lodge as above

Day 8: Ziwa rhino tracking – transfer to Kampala/Entebbe

After breakfast, check-out of the lodge and embark on your journey back to Kampala/Entebbe. It’s a 5-6 hours’ drive with en-route stop at the Ziwa rhino sanctuary for about 2 hours for rhino tracking given that rhinos can only be seen at this sanctuary. With en-route lunch, process to Kampala where you will either be dropped off at your own booked hotel or be dropped at Entebbe airport for your onward flight back home.