9-Days- 8 Nights Fly-in Kidepo Valley National Park & Bwindi Gorilla Safari
Safari Highlights
It is the Gorilla one! an epic safari spread over the two ends of Uganda through Southwestern Uganda up to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for the gorillas and far Northeastern up to Kidepo Valley National Park to explore pure “Africa unspoilt.”
This 9 day safari presents you the opportunity to fly to this distant locations for an encounter with the giants of the wild- the Mountain Gorilla and traverse the beautiful Kidepo valley National Park.
Safari Summary
Day 01: Entebbe arrival and transfer to accommodation of choice
Day 02: Fly to Bwindi Impenetrable Nation Park for the Gorillas
Day 03: Gorilla tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 04: Return to Entebbe for overnight by the Lake side
Day 05: Catch another flight to Kidepo Valley National Park
Day 06: Commence morning and afternoon game drives in Narus Valley
Day 07: Another morning game drive and a visit to the Karamojong Manyattas
Day 08: Trip and game drives/ visit the IK people
Day 09: Return flight back to Entebbe Airport
Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Entebbe Motel
Our driver guide will be on hand to meet you at Entebbe International Airport on your arrival. You will then be transferred to your pre-booked hotel and then after settling in, you will have a debriefing session from the guide about your 9- day Kidepo Valley National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park gorilla fly- in safari. You have the options of exploring the city or Lake Victoria today
Drive time: Approximately 10 minutes/ One hour
Accommodation: Rafiki Guest House/ Airport Guest House
Meal Plan: Bed and Breakfast
Day 2: Transfer to Entebbe Airport for your flight to Bwindi
In the morning, you will transfer to Entebbe Airport for your scheduled flight to Kihihi Airstrip in Southwestern Uganda. You will be met by our guide on your arrival and immediately transferred to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Free afternoon and a chance to enjoy this beautiful alluring scenery of tropical rain forest, greenery and tranquil through an optional forest or village walk. You can also opt to interact with the world famous Batwa community.
Return to Lodge for dinner and overnight.
Flight time: Approximately 1 hour flight
Accommodation: Silverback lodge/ Buhoma Lodge or Mahongany Springs
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 3: D-Day-Gorilla tracking in Bwindi National Park
It is D-day! Preparations begin quite early with a quick breakfast to enable you catch up with the tracking groups. You will then be debriefed about the dos and don’ts of the gorilla tracking experience.
Immediately, you will head to the gate to commence your tracking. The hiking and tracking is both beautiful, tiresome and adventurous.
The terrain can be treacherous and muddy while the tracking can take anywhere from two hours to eight hours. But it is all worth it as you come face to face with these dinosaurs of the wild described as the amazing “Gentle Giants.”
The gentle habits of these incredible creatures defy their size. You will be guided on how to behave in their presence as well as how to capture your lifetime memorable photos while in their presence. You are restricted to only one hour with the gorillas because of safety and habituation reasons. But again, it is all worth it.
You may also see other primates as well as monkeys, butterflies, birds and the incredible mist covered terrain.
After tracking, you will head back to the park headquarters to pick your certificates that confirm your gorilla tracking experience and then return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Return to Entebbe Town
After a rather relaxed breakfast, you will driver to Kihihi Airstrip and catch the return flight back to Entebbe International Airport. Our representative will be waiting at the airport to transfer you to your accommodation.
It is a free afternoon- but Entebbe is full of options starting with the world acclaimed “Close-up’ experience with wild animals in the Uganda Wildlife Education Center or a causal visit to the Botanical gardens for birding and nature walk or even just take a walk by Lake Victoria, Africa’s largest fresh water Lake.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Lodging: Papyrus Guest House/ Boma/ Sunset/ Airport Link
Day 5: Fly to Kidepo valley National Park
The next phase of your detour of Uganda starts early today again after breakfast.
Using either a chartered or scheduled flight, you will depart to Kidepo Valley National Park. While enroute, you will be treated to beautiful sceneries of lush green landscapes and terrain for the next two hours. You will land at Kidepo Valley Airstrip where our representative will pick and transfer you to Apoka Safari Lodge.
After settling in, you will enjoy your lunch and then after a short siesta, you will embark on your afternoon game drive in Kidepo valley. The drive will see you encounter some of the great wildlife like elephants, large herds of buffaloes, hippos and antelopes. If you are lucky, you will see lions and leopards.
Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Apoka Safari Lodge/ Kidepo Savanah Lodge
Flight time: Approximately 2 hours
Day 6: Game drive 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. Overall, game drives in Kidepo Valley National Park 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 for lunch
In the afternoon, head to the Karamojong homesteads known as Manyattas and experience a bit of their lifestyles and 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 view or visit the Uganda-South Sudan boarder
Return to Apoka Safari Lodge for dinner and overnight.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accomodation: Apoka Safari Lodge/ Kidepo Savanah Lodge
Day 7: Visit to the IK people
This is a full day activity. You depart early and return late in the evening.
You will take a detour of the IK village. Immerse yourself in the pure African culture of the IK from dressing, head gear, housing, dancing and eating among others. The IK possess special hunting and gathering skills of wild game, edible fruits, flowers, leaves and tubers. They reside on the Mountain ranges and you also have the opportunity to enjoy the magnificent view downhill of Africa’s greatest savannah grassland. Also, experience the efforts made at integrating the IK in everyday life activities like hygiene, health, education and farming.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Apoka Safari Lodge/ Kidepo Savanah Lodge
Day 8: Game safari and relaxation
You may choose to do a morning game drive. Kidepo Valley National Park has endless variety on offer and another excursion takes you deeper to the park. Today’s drive will take you to the area where you are likely to sport great bird varieties including the endangered ostriches before returning to the Lodge for Lunch, Dinner and overnight.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Apoka Safari Lodge/ Kidepo Savanah Lodge
Day 9: Return flight to Entebbe
We have come to the end of our 9-day safaris. Today, you will have breakfast and head for the airstrip and then transfer to Kidepo valley Airstrip for your flight back to Entebbe. If you have a connecting flight back, book for flights 20:00 hours and onwards. If you have spare time, we will be happy to arrange for you special excursions at the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC) for a special interaction with wildlife called “close and personal” or just detour Lake Victoria- Africa’s largest fresh water Lake.