9 DAY KIDEPO WILDLIFE, CULTURAL ENCOUNTER AND WATERFALLS SAFARI

Depart after early breakfast eastwards to Jinja, which is about 2 hours from Kampala. You will stop en route in Mukono district to visit the beautiful Ssezibwa Falls and enjoy the traditional folklore of how they came into existence. Thereafter, proceed through the dense Mabira Forest to Jinja where you will take a boat ride to see the source of the longest river in the world – the River Nile. Go for lunch, and afterward, visit the Kyabazinga Royal Palace to learn about the Busoga culture, plus enjoy scenic aerial views of the Nile and Jinja before driving to your lodge in the Sipi Falls area. Accommodation: Rafiki Lodge Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

After breakfast, hike to the three falls that make up the Sipi Falls, enjoying stunning views of Mountain Elgon, coffee plantations, and the Kenya border. You will take scenic photos before returning to your lodge. Optional: If you are interested in an adrenaline-pumping activity, you can abseil to the bottom of the tallest Sipi falls that plunge 100m below. In the afternoon after lunch, you will go to a coffee farm and learn the whole process of how coffee is harvested to processed, savoring a cup of tasty coffee at the end. Return to your lodge and relax around a campfire.  Accommodation: Rafiki Lodge Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Have an early morning breakfast and depart for Kidepo Valley National Park, arriving in time for lunch at the lodge verandah while enjoying panoramic views of the valley. This remote park with its unspoiled breathtaking wilderness lies in the North-Eastern part of the country. Kidepo N.P. is also said to be the most beautiful park in Uganda because it has sprawling mountains in its backdrop and endless savannah plains. Relax at your after lunch, and later in the afternoon, go on a game drive along the Naurus River valley to see buffaloes, lions, elephants, jackals, and other mammals.  Accommodation: Apoka Safari Lodge/Kidepo Savannah Lodge/Apoka Rest Camp Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Wake up early to have breakfast before departing to climb Morungole Mountain on a whole day trip. Your guide will drive to the bottom of the mountain where you will hike up to its top to meet the endangered small IK tribe, who will welcome you with traditional songs and dances. Experience how they live in their homesteads called Asaks before returning to your lodge. Accommodation: Apoka Safari Lodge/Kidepo Savannah Lodge/Apoka Rest Camp Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Take a ride to the Kidepo Valley where the park’s seasonal river flows to spot 4 of the big five animals and several ostrich. The area makes up for its lack of much big game, like in the Narus Valley with its spectacular scenery.   After lunch, you will enjoy a cultural experience with the Karamojongs – a people with a colorful culture that’s uninfluenced by modernity in their homesteads called Manyattas. Get to participate in their traditional dances and listen to their folklore.  Accommodation: Apoka Safari Lodge/Kidepo Savannah Lodge/Apoka Rest Camp Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Set off to Murchison Falls National Park after breakfast. You’ll stop along the way to see the striking Aruu Falls in the Pader district and enjoy photo moments. Have lunch in Gulu City before proceeding to your lodge in Murchison Falls Park to check in and unwind. Accommodation: Nile Safari Lodge/Murchison River Lodge/Red Chilli Rest Camp Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

After early breakfast, go for a game drive north of R. Nile in search of elephants, lions, leopards, buffalo, giraffes, and other wildlife. Alternatively, you can take a hot air balloon tour to spot the animals from above while enjoying spectacular views of the park. You can even take both safaris if you want. Return to the lodge for lunch, and afterward, take a boat trip along the Nile to view the Murchison Falls – Africa’s second largest waterfalls from below while cruising past crocodiles, hippos, and aquatic birdlife. Thereafter, hike to the top of the falls to relish their beauty and that of the park from that elevated level, plus take photos with loved ones before your driver takes you back to the lodge. Accommodation: Nile Safari Lodge/Murchison River Lodge/Red Chilli Rest Camp Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Early in the morning after breakfast, you will drive to the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to track the white rhinos with an expert ranger who knows where to find them. This sanctuary was created to reintroduce rhinos in the country after they had become extinct in the 1980s due to poaching, and currently, it’s the only place in Uganda where you can track these big animals. After, proceed to Entebbe to wait for your flight back home. Safe Journey!