11-Days - 10 Nights Chimpanzee- Kidepo Valley NP, Murchison Safari
Safari Highlights
During this 11 day safari, you will come face to face with one of Uganda’s great apes- the Chimpanzee in Budongo. You will also climb and see the top of the greatest water falls in the world- the Murchison Falls. You will also see amazing conservation efforts which your visit here will be helping with as you track the endangered wild whiter rhinos in their natural habitat. But it will all start with a journey to the purest “unspoilt” National Park in the World- Kidepo valley National Park for scenic views and unmarched wildlife encounters and unique cultures. This road trip allows you see Africa like you have never experienced it before.
Safari Summary
Day 01: Arrival and check in at pre-booked accommodation
Day 02: Depart for Gulu Town
Day 03: Connect to Kidepo Valley National Park
Day 04: Game drives-Morning and afternoon in Narus Valley
Day 05: Game drives-Morning and afternoon in Narus Valley
Day 06: Depart for Kidepo Valley National Park, Hot springs and visit to the Manyatas
Day 07: Depart for Murchison Falls National Park
Day 08: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise
Day 09: Morning boat to the Delta region and top of the falls hike
Day 10: Morning chimp trekking in Budongo and drive to Amuka Lodge
Day 11: Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary and transfer to Entebbe Airport
Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Accommodation
You will head straight to Kampala with the journey outside the airport offering you the first opportunity to see Africa’s largest fresh water Lake-the Victoria. It will take you about one hour to reach Kampala City Centre. Check in and then depart for an optional city tour to see some of the highlights of the city.
Drive time: Approximately One hour
Accommodation: BushPig
Meal Plan: Bed and Breakfast
Day 2: Depart Kampala for Gulu Town
After breakfast, embark on your 11 Day/10 nights safari taking the Gulu- Karuma highway route. After about three hours, you will stop over at Kabalega Diners for a meal and then proceed. Occasional stopovers at Kafu where you will find enterprising young men preparing roadside barbecues and other snacks. Proceed to Karuma water Falls which is part of the fast flowing great River Nile.
Arrive in Gulu town.
Drive time: Approximately 6-7 hours
Accommodation: Boma Hotel- Gulu
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 3: Enter Kidepo Valley National Park.
Today, you will enter the proper African terrain of Kidepo with the great savannah landscape, short shrubs, occasional rivers and artificial water dams for cattle. You will also begin to see great culture expressed in housing units and dressing of the great Karamojong people as you enter Kidepo Valley.
Drive time: Approximately 3 hours
Accommodation: Apoka Safari Lodge/Kidepo Savannah Lodge/ Ngamoruw Wilderness Camp/Apoka Rest Camp
Day 4: Game drives in Narus Valley
After a relaxed morning breakfast, you will head straight to the popular Narus Valley for a morning game drive. In Narus, you will see the largest herds of buffaloes ever and on a lucky day, big cats and cheetahs hunting as well. Narus Valley is a permanent water and feeding point which attracts many large size elephants, zebras, buffaloes, giraffes, antelopes and birds. Game drives in Kidepo Valley are quite unique taking you to a vast, unspoilt terrain and national park with stunning valleys and hills.
Return to Apoka Safari Lodge/ Kidepo Savanah Lodge/ Ngamoru Wilderness Camp for lunch. In the afternoon, head to the Karamojong homesteads known as Manyattas and experience a bit of their lifestyles and delve into their culture of dance, and cattle keeping. You will also visit the hot springs and the guide will be delighted to explain to you the cultural attachments to these hot springs and the indigenous people. You may also visit the Uganda-South Sudan boarder
Return to Apoka Safari Lodge for dinner and overnight.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Apoka Safari Lodge/Ngamoru Wilderness Camp/Apoka Rest Camp
Day 5: Morning and afternoon game drive
This is another treat of the expansive Kidepo Valley National Park and its great allure and offer of endless scenic views, wildlife and culture. So, today you will head deeper into the park to explore more terrain, wildlife and nature.
Accommodation: Apoka Safari Lodge/Ngamoru Wilderness Camp/ Kidepo Savannah Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 6: Game drive in Kidepo Valley and visit the ostriches
Today, you will visit the other valley- Kidepo Valley where you will encounter some of the great wildlife like elephants, large herds of buffaloes, hippos and antelopes large bird groups. If you are lucky, you will see lions and leopards and then take a short detour of the habitat of the endangered ostriches. You will also visit the hot springs and the guide will be on hand to explain to you the cultural attachments to these hot springs and the indigenous people. You may view or visit the Uganda-South Sudan boarder before returning to the Lodge for Lunch, Dinner and overnight.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Apoka Safari Lodge/ Savanah Lodge/ Ngamoru Wilderness Camp
Day 7: Depart Kidepo for Murchison Falls National Park
After breakfast, you will depart Kidepo Valley National Park for the next phase of your safari to Murchison Falls National Park. You will enter the park starting with an evening game drive on the Paraa northern section of the park.
Drive time: Approximately 5-6 hours
Accommodation: Paraa Safari Lodge/Murchison River Lodge/ Pakuba Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 8: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise
Commence the day with an early morning breakfast against the backdrop of the glorious African sun!
Embark on a memorable game drive where you will see, Rothschild’s giraffe, buffaloes, hartebeest, Uganda Kob and warthogs among others in the open savannah plains. Enjoy the wide variety of wildlife in Murchison Falls.
Day 9: Hike to the Top of the Mighty Falls and a cruise on the Delta
Today, you will hike to the top of the greatest waterfalls on earth.
You will commence the day with more game drive along the largest conservation area in Uganda- the Murchison Park.
After lunch, embark on a boat cruise around the delta and then down to the base of the Murchison Falls where you will trek to the top of the falls. This is the highlight of your visit to Murchison which comes with the most dramatic view of the waterfalls- Top of Falls where the sight and sound of the Nile crashing down the falls makes an everlasting impression. Enroute you will encounter wildlife (hippos, crocodiles etc and other bird species) coming down to drink and bathe.
You can opt for leaving the boat at Fajao Gorge, climb to the top of the falls and ask your driver to pick you up. It is at this point that you will have great opportunity to take memorable photos as well.
This side of the river is very active with many animals among them elephants, hippos, and crocodiles and if lucky, you may spot the much sought after shoebill stock.
Accommodation: Murchison River Lodge/ Paraa Safari Lodge/Pakuba Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 10: Budongo chimps tracking
Today, we will go see the chimpanzees. After a relaxed morning and breakfast, you will drive to Budongo Forest, another richly diversified area. Budongo Forest has a high concentration of birds and wild chimps- all habituated for human interaction in the wild.
Your guide will meet and debrief you about their way of life and how you should conduct yourself while in their presence. You will have one hour with the chimpanzees as they dangle and sway around tree branches and the dense terrain of African tropical rainforest. You will have one hour of great interaction and memorable photography before departing for Ziwa Rhino sanctuary, Nakasongola, home of the White Rhinos for overnight.
Drive time: Approximately 4-5 hours
Accommodation: Amuka Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 11: Ziwa Rhino tracking and transfer to Entebbe Airport
After breakfast, you will begin your detour white wild rhinos in Ziwa Rhino sanctuary in Nakasongola District which is home of the only wild white rhinos in Uganda.
You will then be briefed by the sanctuary guides on safety- please pay maximum attention because while they are generally gentle beings, the Rhinos can be very dangerous when provoked. After briefing, you will then commence your foot trekking for between one and a half hours to two hours in the presence of these giants.
Depart Ziwa for Kampala and onwards to Entebbe
Drive time: Approximately 4 hours
Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch
End of Safari