DAY 0- OCT.6: DEPART CLARK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IN THE EVENING AND ENJOY INFLIGHT SERVICES VIA ONE OF THE BEST AIRLINES IN THE WORLD, QATAR AIRWAYS

DAY 1- OCT.7: ARRIVE AT ENTEBBE INTERNATION AIRPORT

You will be picked up by a Native expedition’s representative for the airport meet and greet before meeting your safari guide at the airport exit. Meet and great with a welcome drink before and later, dinner and overnight at Upmarket: Boma Guest House – Entebbe / Best Western Premier Hotel – Entebbe

DAY 2- OCT 8: ZIWA RHINO SANCTUARY – MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK

After breakfast on the second day, you will be driven to North-Western Uganda on our way to Murchison Falls National Park. Our first stop will be the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. The rhinosanctuary is 7,000 hectares with Savannah and wooden vegetation species. Apart from whiterhinos, the sanctuary is a habitat for many other animals that include bushbucks, reedbucks,monkeys, oribis among others, countless birds that include a shoebill stork, and reptiles. Enjoy a 3 hour guided safari walk in the sanctuary as you come very close to the rhinos on foot. The sanctuary experience will last for a maximum of 3 hours and thereafter we will proceed to Murchison Falls National park. Dinner and Overnight Stay at an accommodation of your choice at Upmarket: Paraa Safari Lodge – deluxe Tent

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

DAY 3- OCT. 9: GUIDED SAFARI DRIVE – BOAT SAFARI ON RIVER NILE (PRIVATE SUNDOWNER CRUISE)

Enjoy freshly made breakfast and thereafter, depart for an early morning game drive across the rolling plains of Uganda’s largest National Park. The Murchison Falls National Park, covering 3,893 sq km park is home to a range of animals, and you will have a chance of viewing some of the lions, giraffes, hartebeest, buffaloes, and elephants. If you love birds, be sure to look out for the rare secretary bird, the black chested snake eagle and many other surprise residents at this park. You will enjoy this game drive until it is time for lunch and a little relaxation. Later in the afternoon, we will head out for the boat cruise on the mighty River Nile up to the bottom of the falls. During this 3-hour boat trip which departs at 3pm, you will be encircled by luscious greenery and rugged rocks, peppered with holes created by the rough waters of the falls, and witness the power of Murchison as water surges through a narrow 7-meter gorge. Enjoy drinks and snacks as you take in the landscape of Uganda along the River Nile. Carry a camera or at least have your phone battery fully charged because you would not want to miss the photo opportunities during this amazing cruise experience. Dinner and overnight stay at an accommodation of your choice. Upmarket: Paraa Safari Lodge – deluxe Tent

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

DAY 4- OCT. 10: ONWARDS TO KIBALE FOREST NATIONAL PARK

Wake up to a nice hot cup of Ugandan coffee and later, after breakfast, we will head to Kibale Forest National Park. Kibale Forest National park, this fascinating primate capital of the world is 766 sq km and is located near Fort Portal and Kasese towns in Western Uganda. The journey traverses the west of Uganda while you enjoy views of the Rift valley and from a distance the Rwenzori mountain ranges. Kibale Forest National park can be visited all year round and is one of the last remaining expanses to contain both lowland and montane forests and forms a continuous forest with Queen Elizabeth National Park. It is a bird watcher’s paradise and the Green-breasted pitta which is one of the highly thought after birds, is here. The park is most popularly known for its Chimpanzees but apart from chimpanzees, there are about 13 other primate species which include the black and white colobus monkeys, red colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkey, L’Hoest’s monkeys among others. Transfer options include local flights from Pakuba airstrip departing at 12pm and arriving in Kasese airstrip at 0130pm before taking a road transfer up to the lodge for another 30 minutes. In this case, Lunch will be enjoyed at the lodge in Kibale forest. Road transfers start at 8am and last up to 6 hours including a stop for Lunch break en-route the journey. By evening, you arrive in Kibale Forest and enjoy a nice welcome drink before dinner and overnight at Upmarket: Tabebuia Spa & Safari Lodge / Papaya Lake Lodge

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner with all house drinks

DAY 5- OCT.11: CHIMPANZEE TEK – LOCAL COMMUNITY VISIT ENGAGEMENT (KAFRED)

After your breakfast on Day 5, you will be transferred to the park headquarters for a briefing about chimpanzee tracking or chimpanzee habituation experience. Most tourists will argue that a Ugandan safari is not complete without tracking the chimpanzees that are the closest to man in relation to DNA sharing of 98.7%. Chimpanzee tracking is literally a visit with our biological equivalents. The half day activity ends with a tour to one of the local community visits to learn and support the conservational initiatives by the local community in the area of Bigodi. The visit is managed under KAFRED and aimed to bring awareness for tourist about the conservation initiatives pioneered by the local community. The Bigodi is a paradise for bird watchers and skilled birders can spot up to fifty new species on a bird list. Today, 138 species of bird have been recognized within the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary. Among the major bird species within the sanctuary is the grand Blue Turaco. You will have the opportunity of visiting and interacting with the local communities in the bigodi area as well as learn about the different conservation and livelihood projects that visits like yours are making possible for both the animals and the locals. Enjoy the rest of the evening relaxing by the poolside or take a massage to relax your body. Dinner and overnight at Upmarket: Tabebuia Spa & Safari Lodge / Papaya Lake Lodge

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner with all house drinks

DAY 6- OCT. 12: ONWARD TO QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK (THE MEDLEY OF WONDERS)

Prepare to depart Kibale forest National Park and the journey now proceeds to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Queen Elizabeth National park is one of the most popular national parks in Uganda and is home to over 95 mammals and 600 bird species, with a background of the Mighty Rwenzori Mountains. This is a National Park where you can enjoy many safari activities all through the day from sunrise. The birdlife includes the pied and malachite kingfishers, African fish eagle, spoon-billed stork, yellow-billed stork, pink-backed pelicans, marabou stocks and saddle-billed storks. We will arrive in time for lunch and then embark on an afternoon private cruise along the Kazinga Channel. The boat safari on the Kazinga channel attracts lots of big and small game like elephants, buffalos, crocodiles, hippos, monitor lizards, and lots of birds more than you can possibly imagine. If you are still up for it, you can also enjoy an evening game drive on this day as you enjoy the evening sunset back to the lodge. Dinner and overnight stay at an accommodation of your choice at Upmarket: Katara Lodge / Mweya Safari Lodge – deluxe rooms

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner and drinks

DAY 7- OCT. 13: ONWARD TO QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK / ONWARD TO ISHASHA SECTOR

Enjoy freshly made breakfast and your holiday now takes you on a typical African safari in Uganda. This guided safari drive in the park takes you along the tracks of the national park, towards the northern sector and towards Lake George and Kasenyi village. You might see lions, elephants, buffaloes, spotted hyenas, waterbucks, Uganda kobs, perhaps the leopard which is a rare sight. Queen Elizabeth enjoys unique landscapes and views of crater lakes and the Albertine Rift Valley, which make this area special and unforgettable. Lunch and afternoon relax. The journey now descends south of the park to the endless plans of Ishasha after crossing River Ntungwe and River Ishasha. This sector in the southern part of Queen Elizabeth National park is famous for tree-climbing lions. You will be treated to a game drive in the Ishasha area for an opportunity to spot these lions. Apart from tree-climbing lions, other animals like topis, buffalos, and elephants can be seen on this day in Ishasha plains. We will then retire to your lodge for relaxation, dinner, and overnight stay at Upmarket: Ishasha Wilderness Camp

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner with all house drinks