UGANDA’S WILD HEART SAFARI
8days /7 nights
This is an 8-day, 7-night adventure exploring Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Lake Bunyonyi, and the Kazinga Channel. Enjoy thrilling game drives, gorilla trekking, boat safaris, and stunning landscapes for an unforgettable wildlife experience.
Into the Wild
We’ll pick you up from your hotel in Kampala early in the morning for a scenic 305 km drive to Uganda’s largest and oldest national park, Murchison Falls National Park. The journey winds through rolling countryside and scattered homesteads as we head toward the savanna woodlands of northern Uganda.En route, stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, the proud home of Uganda’s only white rhinos, for lunch followed by a guided walking safari that allows you to safely approach these magnificent creatures on foot.Afterwards, continue to the park, arrive, and check in at your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
River of Life
Start the day with an early pre-breakfast game drive across the northern sector of Murchison Falls National Park, focusing on the Buligi Peninsula near the Nile Delta. As the sun rises over the savanna, keep your camera ready because you might sight elephants, lions, giraffes, buffalo, waterbucks, bushbucks, hyenas, and, with some luck, leopards.Return to the lodge for a hearty breakfast, followed by some time at leisure.In the afternoon, embark on a boat cruise along the Victoria Nile, sailing upstream to the base of the powerful Murchison Falls. Along the riverbanks, you might spot hippos,and a rich variety of birdlife. After the cruise, continue on a guided hike to the Top of the Falls, where you’ll witness the Nile forcefully squeezing through a narrow 7-meter gorge before plunging 43 meters into the valley below, a breathtaking display of nature’s raw power.Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Queen Elizabeth National Park
After breakfast, depart Murchison Falls for a full-day drive south through the Albertine Rift Valley, passing rolling hills, tea plantations, and rural villages. En route, visit Bugoma Forest Reserve, home to chimpanzees, Ugandan mangabeys, and diverse birdlife, for a short nature walk.Continue to Hoima for lunch and a brief cultural stop at the Bunyoro Royal Tombs (Mparo Tombs), an important historical site of the Bunyoro Kingdom.The journey continues along the base of the towering Rwenzori Mountains, also known as the "Mountains of the Moon," before finally arriving in Queen Elizabeth National Park by late afternoon or early evening..Check into your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Big Game & Kazinga Channel Cruise
The day starts early with a game drive across the Kasenyi Plains, the mating grounds of the Uganda kobs, where lions often hunt near the herds. Look out for elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks, spotted hyenas, and, with some luck, leopards. The drive also offers sweeping views of crater lakes, Lake George, and the Albertine Rift Valley.Return to the lodge for lunch and a short rest. In the afternoon, head to Mweya Peninsula for a boat safari along the Kazinga Channel, which links Lake Edward and Lake George. Spot large pods of hippos, elephants, buffaloes, and abundant birdlife including pelicans, fish eagles, kingfishers, and African skimmers.After the cruise, return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
After breakfast, depart Queen Elizabeth National Park towards Bwindi, a journey of approximately 150–160 km (4–5 hours) making a stop in the Ishasha sector to search for its famous tree-climbing lions resting in fig trees. Continue through the scenic Kigezi Highlands, with their terraced hills, tea plantations, and winding mountain roads. Lunch will be served en route.Before reaching Bwindi, take in panoramic views of Lake Bunyonyi, one of Africa’s deepest lakes, beautifully dotted with forested islands.Arrive at Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, home to nearly half of the world’s mountain gorillas. Check into your lodge, and if time allows, visit the Batwa community for a rich cultural experience.Later, enjoy dinner and overnight stay at your accommodation.
Into the Mist – Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi
This is the moment you’ve waited for. After breakfast, set out with ranger guides into the misty Bwindi rainforest for your gorilla trekking adventure. In groups of up to eight, you’ll follow the trackers through steep, muddy trails that can take anywhere from two to eight hours, depending on the gorillas’ movements.When you find a habituated gorilla family, you’ll spend a magical one hour observing their behavior, the silverback’s gaze, playful juveniles, and mothers nursing their young. Bwindi is home to nearly half the world’s mountain gorilla population (around 420 individuals).. After the trek, return to your lodge for a well-earned rest.
Lake Bunyonyi
After breakfast, depart Bwindi for a scenic 3–4 hour drive to Lake Bunyonyi, known as the “Lake of Little Birds” and Africa’s second-deepest lake, framed by terraced hills and dotted with 29 islands.Upon arrival, embark on a dugout canoe tour, gently gliding across the calm waters to explore islands like Punishment Island and Bwama, while enjoying panoramic views and spotting abundant birdlife including kingfishers, fish eagles, and grey crowned cranes.Return to your lodge in time for a lakeside lunch with sweeping views of the lake. Spend the afternoon swimming, kayaking, or simply relaxing on the peaceful shores.As evening falls, take in a beautiful sunset before enjoying dinner and settling in for your overnight stay.
Return to Kampala via the Equator
After a relaxed breakfast, begin your journey back to Kampala. En route, stop at the Equator for photos, curio shopping, and the classic “water swirling” experiment.
INCLUDED IN THIS PACKAGE
- Transport
- English speaking community guides
- Accommodation on full board basis
- All Acholi Experiences & activities
mentioned in the itinerary - Hiking
- Local Souvenirs
EXCLUDED IN THIS PACKAGE
- Airfare to and from Uganda
- Visa’s
- Travel Insurance
- All beverages except tea, coffee or juice taken at breakfast where breakfast is
included. - Tips, gratuities and items of a personal nature
- Any activity, meal or accommodation
NOT mentioned in the itinerary.
WHAT TO BRING?
- There is no power supply in the village so please charge you cameras and phones to the brim before departure.
- Comfortable walking and hiking shoes.
- Sunglasses, hats and sunscreens.
Spending money for additional activities, there are no banks where we are going. - Beddings and toiletries for personal use during the trip.
- Additionally, carry a torch or a solar-powered light for nighttime, as there is no power supply in the area.
- Camping tents and sleeping bags. (Optional)
BASIC TERMS
This is a conscious tourism experience that will have your perspectives challenged and broadened as you experience a new culture and hopefully gain fresh insights. Here are a few things you should know;
- We do our absolute best to keep to the Programme and timings but sometimes the weather/animals/roads/slow rhythm of village life gets the better of us!
- Respect of the community and local culture is paramount. We recommend modest clothes that covers the knees for the ladies to avoid discomfort for the locals and some very long uncomfortable stares.
- Taking of photos with consent from parties involved is also to be observed. We do not recommend taking photos of children during the experience
- Hill trail can be rough and the rock is pretty sun exposed during dry seasons, we recommend wearing long sleeve shirts and pants
- In the rural area , only pit latrines (hole in the ground) are available.
