This 16 days Uganda game drive safari entails of game drive in Pian Upe game reserve the second biggest game reserve after Murchison falls National park located in northeastern Uganda and north of mountain Elgon National park, game drive in Kidepo valley National park in northern Uganda, game drive in Murchison falls National park in North western Uganda, game drive in Queen Elizabeth National park in western Uganda, game drive in Toro Semuliki in Semuliki National park located in Ntoroko and Bundibugyo district and game drive in Lake Mburo National park in western Uganda Kiruhura district.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe airport
Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be welcomed by our tour guide who will later drive you to your hotel, check in and rest. Kampala Serena Hotel, Sheraton Hotel, Emin Pasha Hotel.
Day 2: Transfer to Pian Upe Game Reserve
After your breakfast, you will be briefed by your guide on the entire game drive trip and after transfer to Pian Upe Game Reserve in north eastern Uganda and north of Mount Elgon National park, stopover in Mbale town for lunch and proceed to Pian Upe game reserve for 7-8 hours drive. Dinner and overnight in Pian Upe Game Reserve.
Day 3: Morning game drive – Game viewing
Wake up to early morning game drive in Pian Upe game reserve to catch up with the early morning risers getting out looking for food. A guided game drive along the vast plains of Pian Upe offers chances to view rare animals like cheetahs, ostriches, Roan antelopes and other wild animals including leopards, lions, elephants, giraffes among others. The Roan antelope is only found in Pian Upe game reserve, enjoy the variety of wild animals and over 240 bird species including the giant ostriches being the major bird attractions in Pian Upe game reserve, cranes, African Eagles, Egrets, Hawkers, pelicans, Horn bills, Turacos, Owls, ventures and weaver birds among others. Return to lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 4: Transfer to Kidepo valley National park
Have your early morning breakfast and drive off to Kidepo Valley National park in northeastern corner of Uganda in Kaabong district covering an area of 1442 square kilometers. The distance from Pian Upe game reserve to Kidepo National park may take 230kms via Moroto, Kotido and Karenga then to Kidepo in Karamoja region. Dinner and overnight Apoka safari lodge, Kidepo Savannah lodge, Nga Moru Wilderness camp.
Day 5: Morning game drive in the Narus Valley
Set off for a game drive after your heavy breakfast, head out to the Narus valley where wildlife is more active during morning and afternoon times. View wild animals including elephants, buffaloes, leopards, antelopes, warthogs, bush bucks, bush duiker, bush pigs, Burchell’s zebra which is only seen in Kidepo National park and Lake Mburo National park, Rothschild giraffes and many more which are found in these water logged areas of Narus valley that flows from Narus river. Have lunch and go for a cultural tour to the Karamojong community and enjoy their cultural dances, storytelling, hand crafts and so on, return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 6: Game drive in Kidepo Valley
Drive to Kidepo valley for a game drive after you breakfast, for game drives in Kidepo valley it is advisable to go with a game ranger to help you spot the lions that stay on the valley’s rocks and other wild animals like elephants, leopards, ostrich, jackals, bush duiker among others. Return to your lodge for lunch and rest as you wait on for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 7: Transfer to Murchison Falls National park
Drive to Murchison Falls National park in North western the biggest National Park in Uganda covering an area of 3840 square kilometers and with over 76 mammal species and 450 bird species. Distance from Kidepo National park to Murchison Falls National park may take 7-8 hours drive. Dinner and overnight at Paraa safari lodge, Pakuba safari lodge, Sambiya River lodge.
Day 8: Morning game drive
In the morning after your early breakfast, drive to the northern bank of river Nile where you will view the unique wild animals in the savannah grasslands like buffaloes, elephants, lions, Rothschild giraffes, antelopes, elands, duiker, hyena, Uganda Kob, bushbucks, leopards among others. Return for lunch and also enjoy the boat cruise on the river Nile to the bottom of the falls as you watch more animals like crocodiles, hippos, elephants, buffaloes and so on. Diner and overnight at day 6.
Day 9: Drive to Toro Semuliki Game Reserve
Have your early morning breakfast and drive to Toro Semuliki game reserve situated in Ntoroko and Kabarole districts in western Uganda. It covers an area of 542 square kilometers along the rift valley. The distance from Murchison Falls National park to Toro Semuliki may take 7-8 hours drive via Kyenjojo Hoima road then Toro Semuliki game reserve. Dinner and overnight at Semuliki safari lodge.
Day 10: Game drive
Set off for your early morning game drive to catch up with the early morning risers that come out to look for food. Game viewing in Toro Semuliki game reserve is the most rewarding activity which offers the visitors to watch wild animals like elephants, buffaloes, giant forest hogs, warthogs, water bucks, Uganda Kobs, bush pigs, lions, leopards among others. Night game drives can also be conducted to spot nocturnal animals that come out at night including white tailed mongoose, bush babies, leopards and so on. After lunch you can enjoy the boat cruise on Lake Albert which also offers opportunities to observe more water loving animals like crocodiles, hippos, many bird species like shoebill stork, eagles, African jacana, kingfishers and so on. Dinner and overnight at day 8.
Day 11: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National park
Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National park situated in western Uganda and second biggest National park in Uganda. The distance from Toro Semuliki game reserve to Queen Elizabeth National park is 3-4 hours drive via Fort Portal Mpondwe road. Reaching on lunch time and go for boat cruise on Kazinga channel where you will also view the crocodiles, hippos, elephants, buffaloes, antelopes among others. Dinner and overnight at Mweya safari lodge, park view hotel, Elephant plains lodge.
Day 12: Morning Game Drive
Set out for early morning game drive to catch up with the early morning risers in the trails of Kasenyi plains, mweya peninsular where you come along the leopards, lions, elephants, bush bucks, common duiker, elands, bush pigs among others, come back for lunch at your lodge and after relax. In the late evening go for a night game drive guided by the ranger guides and view nocturnal animals that come at night to look for food like bush babies, the night game drive helps you get close to the animals since at night they tend not to fear humans. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 13: Game Drive in Ishasha sector
In the morning continue with game drive through the Mweya Peninsular as you drive to Ishasha sector for tree climbing lions. This lion specie is so unique in a way that the tree climbing lions are only found in Ishasha sector in Queen Elizabeth National park not anywhere else in Uganda. Enjoy the lions up in the fig and acacia branch trees where they run away from insect bites and too much heat on the ground. Watch other wild animals too in the savannah like elephants, leopards, buffaloes, hyenas, warthogs and so on. Dinner and overnight at Ishasha Wilderness camp, Topi lodge, Enjojo lodge, Tree climbing lions lodge.
Day 14: Transfer to Lake Mburo National park
Set off for lake Mburo National park In western Uganda in Kiruhura district, stopover in Mbarara for lunch at Igongo cultural centre and latter proceed to lake Mburo National park the smallest savannah park in Uganda for 3-4hours drive. Dinner and overnight at Mihingo lodge, Leopard Rest Camp, Mburo Eagle’s Nest.
Day 15: Morning Game Drive
Start off with early morning game drive through the various game trails and spot animals like Zebras, impalas, Elands, common duiker, Topis, lions, leopards, giraffes, antelopes, Uganda Kobs, Hyenas among others as they move in the savannahs looking for what to feed on. Best game drive time can be early in the morning and afternoon and night game drives that offers you chances to view the nocturnals that usually come out at night looking for what to feed on. Return to your lodge for lunch and go for boat trip on Lake Mburo where you will also watch the crocodiles, hippos, buffaloes, antelopes on the water shores and after return to lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 16: Transfer back to Kampala
After your heavy breakfast, drive off back to Kampala or Entebbe airport, stopover at the equator for lunch, photography and lastminute shopping and proceed to Entebbe airport for your flight back to your next destination.
End of Safari.