20 day Uganda safari gorilla and batwa trails

Jinja is the second largest town in Uganda. It is characterized by the Asian quarters, the brewery industries, and the colorful gardens. Visit the Source of the Nile on Lake Victoria, the monument of Gandhi, and then proceed to the spectacular Itanda Falls and Bosowoko falls on the river Nile a few kilometers from the source. Try the unforgettable emotion of white water rafting, which is one of the main attractions in Jinja.

The activities for this day start with the nature walk to the spectacular waterfalls on the river Sipi, which originates from Mount Elgon. The starting point is at Crow’s Nest, a camping and lodging site. You will see the caves, plantations of coffee, matooke, and sugarcane plantations along the way.

Its around 5 hours from sipi falls to moroto, we have pass by pian reserve, as we do proceed to moroto district, visit various local markets and other attractive features, we shall have our lunch on the way and dinner later in the evening at our booked hotel.

Have breakfast at your Lodge and after leave for a cultural experience with the Karamajong people culture; they are a people proud of their native culture. Their great love for rearing cattle is matched to that of the renowned Masai people in Kenya as well as Tanzania. These proud warriors live a very unique lifestyle and in fact they believe that God gave them the right to own cattle so all that cattle even that owned by other people, the Karamajongs believe is theirs. You will observe their lifestyle, how they cook their food, see them enjoy life; dance their traditional dances, and also their compassion for the cattle.

After a wonderful breakfast, you will set off for to check out the terrain and wildlife in this very remote part of Uganda whereby you will go for a fascinating game drive in the Savannah grasslands, the dry river bed, hills and small forests. Animals like buffaloes, elephants, warthogs, lions, cheetahs as well as birds will be seen, plants plus trees will stun you as you will keep wondering how they have managed to survive in semi-arid part of the country. You will also drive to the Karankorog Hot Springs seeing several wild animals on the way. Each game drive will be very unique though you take the exact same route two times, there will always a new thing to see and find. The birds, scenery and animals, will surprise you and we recommend that you have your camera near so as to take all the good shots. and transfer to kidepo np

After a wonderful breakfast, you will set off for to check out the terrain and wildlife in this very remote part of Uganda whereby you will go for a fascinating game drive in the Savannah grasslands, the dry river bed, hills and small forests. Animals like buffaloes, elephants, warthogs, lions, cheetahs as well as birds will be seen, plants plus trees will stun you as you will keep wondering how they have managed to survive in semi-arid part of the country. You will also drive to the Karankorog Hot Springs seeing several wild animals on the way. Each game drive will be very unique though you take the exact same route two times, there will always a new thing to see and find. The birds, scenery and animals, will surprise you and we recommend that you have your camera near so as to take all the good shots.

After breakfast drive northwards to the renowned Murchison Falls national park. Later arrive in Murchison falls national park also Uganda's largest well protected wildlife area covering 3,840 Sq km. Move to the top of the Falls to view the natural beauty of these falls. At this place, the river squeezes itself through a 7 meter narrow gorge from a width of more than 1 km and drops below with a thunderous roar forming a water spray that rainbow that results into a stunning rainbow the wonders of Nile River! Dine and slumber.

This game drive offers great opportunities for photography of elephants, lions, Uganda kobs, buffaloes, giraffes, water-bucks as well as hippos, and in case you are fortunate even the leopards, In addition to a big number of bird species. Visitors to the sanctuary are allowed to track the rhinos and see them up close. You can approach the Rhinos on foot. The animals are not that dangerous if you follow instructions. The White Rhinos (the ones at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary) are gentle giants – approaching them on foot poses no danger to you. You will have the guidance and company of a sanctuary ranger who is knowledgeable about the behavior of the rhinos. Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary gives you a rare opportunity to see the Rhinos not from a vehicle but from up close and on foot, you have some great and unusual photo opportunities here as you encounter the White Rhinos of Ziwa. later transfer to kibale forest

Breakfast, head to the park head offices for briefing and after set out for Chimpanzee tracking through the forest. Remember that only 1 hour is given to trackers when they meet with the chimpanzees. On seeing chimpanzees, other primates can be spotted such as the Red Tailed Monkeys, Blue Monkeys, Black & White colobus Monkeys among others and also elephants, antelopes, buffaloes can be spotted in the forest. Go back to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon go for a walk through the Bigodi wetland where you will see birds, baboons, bush babies among other wildlife species. Later in the evening we depart for queen Elizabeth Immediately after breakfast set off for a 4 hours drive to Queen Elizabeth which is one of Uganda's outstanding wildlife National parks such as over 600 bird species, mammals like elephants, buffaloes among others. During the journey you will enjoy great views including the Rwenzori ranges.

Today after breakfast go for an early morning game drive through the park where you will see different wildlife species like water-bucks, lions, elephants, hartebeests, giraffes, antelopes, buffaloes, leopards, warthogs, also view different crater lakes. After the 3 hour drive, head back for lunch as you prepare for the afternoon 2 hour boat cruise on Kazinga channel which is home to over 550 hippos; also you will birds and other animals like crocodiles, elephants, antelopes among others. Return and have dinner and overnight.

Waking up so early and set out to again see these animals in their distinctive clans, families and groups, this game drive can be taken through the Kasenyi plains looking out for elephants, leopards, buffaloes, water bucks, and various colorful birds. Later, take a 2 hours drive to Ishasha which is a home to tree-climbing lions. With the help of skilled park rangers you will also such out for these lions and imagine how amazing it is to watch the lions in trees. Transfer to bwindi for gorilla tracking.

After an early morning breakfast, walk to the park headquarters for briefing on the dos and don’ts during this activity and thereafter you will proceed for gorilla trekking. Gorilla tracking normally lasts between 2 to 8 hours or even a day to encounter the gorillas. However, you will be allowed to stay in the presence of these awesome apes for at least an hour. It is advisable that you carry packed lunch as one cannot determine how long it may take to encounter the mountain gorillas. If time and energy allow, you may take a community tour to the Batwa community after the gorilla tracking. Return to your accommodation, enjoy your evening, dinner and overnight.

The Batwa are an indigenous tribe that lived in the forests of the Virunga volcanoes and depended on it for livelihood before they were turned into national parks to help in conservation of the gorillas, golden monkeys, and other fauna and flora. They were hunter-gatherers co-existing with these wildlife. Today you will meet some of the Batwa and they will take you through the forest and share how they lived and depended on the forest and survived attacks from the animals. This tour will take you on the ‘Batwa trail’ which was developed together with Uganda wildlife authority to share their experience on how they co-existed with the wildlife and raised families in this jungle. The proceeds from this goes into a fund which is used to purchase land and build for the different Batwa families.

Golden monkeys are found in the Virunga volcanoes shared between Uganda, Rwanda and DR Congo. Today you will leave your lodge after an early breakfast and your driver guide will transfer you to the briefing point where the golden monkey trekking starts. A ranger guide will receive you and offer information on what to expect while in the park as you search for the golden monkeys. After this short brief, you will start your hike up in search of the golden monkeys. You are encouraged to take with you a porter because the hike can be steep in some areas and they will be helpful. You will be joined by enforcement officers to help in case you meet the wild buffaloes and Elephants which can be dangerous. The golden monkeys are generally more active than the gorillas and you will follow them as they move all over the place and feed. Just like gorilla trekking, you are only allowed to spend 1 hour with the golden monkey before you start your descent back to the starting point and your lodge. They love feeding on bamboo shoots among other foods like fruits, vegetation and sometimes ants.

Today you will leave your lodge after an early breakfast and your driver guide will transfer you to the briefing point where the golden monkey trekking starts. A ranger guide will receive you and offer information on what to expect as you search for the golden monkeys. After this short brief, you will start your hike up in search of the golden monkeys. You are encouraged to take with you a porter because the hike can be steep in some areas and they will be helpful. The Batwa are an indigenous tribe that lived in the forests of the Virunga volcanoes and depended on it for livelihood before they were turned into national parks to help in conservation of the gorillas, golden monkeys, and other fauna and flora. They were hunter-gatherers co-existing with this wildlife. Today you will meet some of the Batwa and they will take you through the forest and share how they lived and depended on the forest and survived attacks from the animals. Later we depart for lake bunyonyi.

Take your breakfast having amazing views from surrounding hills, forests and the beautiful rays of the morning sun. After head out for a canoe ride on the lake which harbors 29 islands and almost every island with a history such as the Punishment Island – enjoy the stories from the guides on this boat ride. Return to the lodge, have lunch and in the afternoon, take a walk, or hike up the hills to enjoy more spectacular views of forests and lakes, or watch birds, or read a book while relaxing by the lake shores, or swim in the lake which is Bilharzia free and safe for swimming.

After breakfast, embark to the 4 hours and 30 minutes drive to Lake Mburo National Park- among Uganda's smallest parks with lunch en route you will be passing through stunning sceneries, farms, and plantations. The park is home to a big number of Zebras, also impalas, oribis, buffaloes, warthogs, water-bucks and also over 332 bird species made it their home. When you arrive in the park- in the afternoon go on a boat cruise along Lake Mburo, take enough photographs.

What sets Lake Mburo Park apart from others is that Nature walks can be taken anywhere within the park with an armed Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger. On an early morning guided walk you often encounter hyenas that are returning to their dens after a night of being on the prowl – at the same time you can often see hippos returning from grazing during the night and returning to Lake Mburo to keep cool during the day and protect their sensitive skin from the sun. On a nature walk you will often see Zebras, Giraffes, Eland, Topi and other antelopes, buffalo. Birds, butterflies. Take the Trail to the top of the hills and see Lake Mburo and beyond, from this vantage point you have a great view of 9 of the regional lakes found in the area. In the afternoon, a boat ride on Lake Mburo gets you in touch with the flora and fauna of the lake. Along the bank, you will see lots of animals coming to water especially during the dry season. There are hippos, crocodiles, buffaloes, antelopes, zebras.

Enjoy an early breakfast, after do a game drive as you continue to Kampala, have a stop at the Equator line; take photos and also buy some souvenirs from craft shop. Enjoy lunch still at the Equator or in Kampala depending on the time you arrive there. If you have to go back on the same day your guide will transfer you to Entebbe as you bid farewell to Uganda We believe you had a great time in this 20 days Uganda safari with both different people and also in the wild.