12-Day Big Cat Adventure – 12 Days

An extensive tour of all of Uganda’s main savannah national parks and conservation areas and all the variety they offer. You will search out leopards by day and night, and lions in the marshes, rocks, plains, on foot, and even trees of Uganda. You will also seek the elusive cheetahs of Kidepo and Pian Upe. This safari is available at a budget to suit you and will include catered luxury camping in some locations as we seek to give you the very best opportunities to spot these magnificent beasts.

Arrival

• You’ll be collected from the airport (or hotel).
• Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Entebbe to Lake Mburo NP and a night game drive in search of leopard – 1st day

Morning departure through the forests and wetlands of southern Uganda. You will stop at the equator for a photo opportunity and coffee before heading on to Lake Mburo national park and your lodge in time for lunch. Lake Mburo is a delightful small park with a healthy population of leopard and occasionally lions and hyena. It also has zebra, impala, topi, reedbuck, eland, hippos, oribi, giraffe and a wide variety of birds. During the afternoon you will have time to enjoy the view from the lodge perched high above the park, or from the rock top swimming pool. You can also stretch your legs around the lodge grounds. In the evening as the sun sets you’ll head into the park in search of these animals and with the hope of sighting a leopard emerging for its night patrol. You will return from your game drive in time for dinner.

Main Destination: Lake Mburo National Park
Best Time to Visit June to August and December to February
High Season June to September (Peak time for Uganda)
Best Weather June, July and January to February (Little rainfall)

Accommodation: Rwakobo Rocks
• Mid-range lodge bordering Lake Mburo NP without fences
Meals & Drinks:
• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Game drives at Lake Mburo and Ishasha – 2nd day

You will be up in time for sunrise as you head first through Lake Mburo National Park in search of the morning game activity. You will then head west through the farms and tea plantations to the volcanic highlands of the south west stopping for lunch en route. You will arrive at your lodge in the late afternoon in time for an evening game drive in the Ishasha sector of the park on the look out for it’s famous tree climbing lions and healthy population of hyena and leopard as well as topi, buffalo, elephant and hippos. The evening will be spent in the tranquil surrounds of your delightful lodge.

Main Destination: Ishasha Sector (Queen Elizabeth NP)
Best Time to Visit January to February and June to July (Dry seasons)
High Season June to September (Peak time for Uganda)
Best Weather June to July and January to February (Less rainfall)

Accommodation: Enjojo Lodge
• Mid-range lodge located in or near Ishasha
Meals & Drinks:
• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Ishasha and the Kazinga Channel – 3rd day

hippos, topi, buffalo and more. You will then take the route through the conservation area to the main sector of Queen Elizabeth NP where you will have your packed lunch. After lunch you will cruise the Kazinga channel enjoying the wildlife such as buffalo and elephants on it’s banks and the hippos and crocodiles within the water. In the evening you will be taken to your lodge in time for dinner.

Main Destination: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Accommodation: Marafiki Safari Lodge
• Mid-range tented camp bordering Queen Elizabeth NP without fences
Meals & Drinks:
• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

Lion Tracking and Research Experience – 4th day

You will be up at dawn for this rare opportunity to track lions on foot. You will be aided in locating the lions through electronic GPS systems and the whole trek normally takes two to three hours. During the trek you will help record data on weather and environment as well as learning calls. The information is used to learn more about and consequently protect the ecology of the area and the habitat of the lions and is a brilliant opportunity to not only experience lions in a totally different way, but to contribute to their conservation. After your trek you will head back to the lodge for lunch and have a couple of hours to relax and enjoy the stunning views from your room. In the evening you will head onto the Kasenyi plains for a game drive which will include the search for more big cats and a drive along the famous “leopard drive”.

Main Destination: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Accommodation: Marafiki Safari Lodge
• Mid-range tented camp bordering Queen Elizabeth NP without fences
Meals & Drinks:
• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Queen Elizabeth NP to Murchison Falls NP, Budongo Forest – 5th day

An early start and long drive through some lovely scenery, starting with the Rwenzori mountains in the distance, through Fort Portal for coffee and on through the farmland, sugar cane and tea estates, and forests of western Uganda. You pass through the burgeoning town of Hoima and onto Masindi before you enter Murchison Falls NP. Immediately you will be in Budongo Forest, the oldest surviving forest in East Africa having always been conserved initially as Royal Hunting grounds, then as forest reserve and now as de facto National Park. You will shortly arrive at your lodge for the night, nestled right in the heart of the forest. Depending on the road conditions en route and the consequent journey time, you may be able to enjoy a two our walk within the forest which is home to a huge variety of birds, small antelope, reptiles and a wide variety of primates, including Chimpanzees. You will have dinner at the lodge before falling asleep to the cacophony of forest noises.

Main Destination: Budongo Forest
Best Time to Visit Dec to March and June to July (Easy chimp trekking)
High Season June to September (Peak time for Uganda)
Best Weather June and July (Less rain and lower temperatures)

Accommodation: Budongo Eco-Lodge
• Mid-range cottage located inside Budongo
Meals & Drinks:
• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Game drives, Nile River Cruise and Luxury Camping at the Top of Murchison Falls – 6th day

Awake to the sounds of chimpanzees and an early start heading for a game drive on the secluded “honeymoon track” in the wilderness of the Rabongo sector, near the top of the falls. (Alternatively you can opt for a walk in the forest or a chimpanzee trek). After lunch you will take your scheduled launch to the foot of the falls. It takes an hour and a half to reach the falls and on the way you’ll scour the riverbanks for wildlife. You will see hippos and crocodiles naturally and a wide variety of spectacular waterbirds and on the banks there’s a chance of seeing buffalo, warthog, elephant and various antelope. Once at the foot falls we moor briefly to a large rock to wonder at the power of the mighty river before disembarking and the steep walk to the top of the falls, where your guide will be waiting for you to take you to your already established camp where your chef will be preparing dinner. This is prime leopard territory so we’ll have a quick scout around in the evening for them.

Main Destination: Murchison Falls National Park
Best Time to Visit December to February (Easier to spot animals)
High Season June to September (Peak time for Uganda)
Best Weather June and July (Less rain and lower temperatures)

Accommodation: Budget camping
• Inside Murchison Falls NP
Meals & Drinks:
• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Murchison Falls – 7th day

An early light breakfast followed by a game drive then something more substantial. Around lunchtime you cross the Nile at Paraa before driving into the delta area where the Victoria Nile briefly enters Lake Albert turning northwards into the Albert Nile. The huge variety of landscapes within Murchison Falls NP gives rise to a similar variety of animals including leopard, lion, kob, hartebeest, elephant, buffalo, crocodiles and the world’s largest population of Rothschild giraffe as well many species of birds. In the late afternoon you will go on a game drive in search of some of these before returning to camp, where again your chef will be preparing dinner. Our camps are unique in Uganda, using spacious 4 metre bell tents which are fully furnished with raised mattresses and all bedding and solar lighting. We prepare our own bush facilities and you will be catered for by your own camp chef.

Main Destination: Murchison Falls National Park
Accommodation: Budget camping
• Inside Murchison Falls NP
Meals & Drinks:
• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Murchison Falls NP to Kidepo Valley NP – 8th day

The great advantage of camping in the delta area of Murchison is that you wake up in the action areas. Today you will be on your game drive as the sun rises and return to camp after two to three hours. You will have breakfast before leaving Murchison and heading into northern Uganda. As you head north through Acholiland you will notice that the terrain and the people change. You first head to the bustling market town of Gulu, the capital of the north, before moving on to Kitgum through an inspiring landscape of rocky outcrops and villages recovering with dignity from the ravages of the past. You stop for lunch in the dusty outpost of Kitgum before turning to the east towards Kidepo. Gradually the flat plains give way to a more mountainous terrain before climbing through the stunning mountain pass, finally emerging to view its secret: the beauty of Kidepo Valley NP. Once inside the park you will head to your campsite and then a short scramble up Amapuis rock viewpoint for a sun downer.

Main Destination: Kidepo Valley National Park
Best Time to Visit September to March (Dry season)
High Season September to March (The park rarely gets crowded)
Best Weather September to November (End of the rains)

Accommodation: Budget camping
• Inside Kidepo Valley NP
Meals & Drinks:
• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Kidepo Valley NP – 9th day

Wake up in the middle of the action and watch the sunrise over the Morongole mountains with a coffee and some fresh fruit. Then we begin our day of game viewing with a visit to the Narus valley in search of lion, elephant, giraffe, eland, zebra, and leopard and to marvel at the sight of the huge herd of buffalo grazing in the wetland. We return to camp for a more substantial breakfast before heading towards the seasonal Kidepo river in search of cheetah and ostrich. We take a packed lunch among the Barassas palms at the Kidepo river, from which the area take their name before returning to camp in the mid afternoon. You can find a nice shady spot to relax or take the optional nature walk or community visit before a traditional African poike stew around the campfire in the evening.

Main Destination: Kidepo Valley National Park
Accommodation: Budget camping
• Inside Kidepo Valley NP
Meals & Drinks:
• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Kidepo Valley to Pian Upe Reserve and stunning Karamoja – 10th day

Another stunning sunrise over the Morongole mountains and breakfast at camp before packing up and heading east through the park on one final game drive en route to the eastern most gate. It is a long but beautiful drive through and over the rocky ridges and outcrops of Karamoja and through endless acacia woodlands inhabited only by cattle herders and their charges. You’ll arrive at Pian Upe in the evening, in time to enjoy a cold drink as you watch the sun go down over this little visited reserve, with the view of Mount Elgon in the distance.

Main Destination: Pian-Upe Wildlife Reserve
Accommodation: Budget camping
• Inside Pian-Upe WR
Meals & Drinks:
• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Pian Upe Reserve to Jinja – 11th day

You’ll again rise early to go for a game drive in this reserve. Pian Upe is home to cheetah and hyena as well as ostrich, eland and various other antelope. The accessible area is quite small so you will return to camp mid morning and then head south towards Mount Elgon and Mbale for lunch. After lunch you will continue on to Jinja and then on to your lodge on the banks of the River Nile. After some long journeys and nights under the stars, you will spend your final night in a little bit of luxury.

Main Destination: Jinja
Accommodation: The Haven
• Mid-range lodge located in or near Jinja
Meals & Drinks:
• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Jinja to Entebbe – 12th day

Depending on your flight times you may have some time to enjoy one of the adventure activities Jinja is famous for (not included in price) such as horseback safari, quad biking, kayaking, or white water rafting. You may prefer just to spend a lazy morning taking in the stunning views of the Nile from your room, or, if your flight is early, you may just have to regretfully make your way to the airport!

Main Destination: Entebbe
Accommodation: No accommodation (End of tour)
Meals & Drinks:
• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

End of tour

• Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
• You’ll be dropped off at the airport (or hotel).

Included

• Park fees (For non-residents)
• All activities (Unless labeled as optional)
• All accommodation (Unless listed as upgrade)
• Camping equipment (Sleeping bag excluded)
• A professional driver/guide
• All transportation (Unless labeled as optional)
• All Taxes/VAT
• Roundtrip airport transfer
• Meals (As specified in the day-by-day section)
• Drinks (As specified in the day-by-day section)
• Bed linen
• Bath towels

Excluded

• International flights (From/to home)
• Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
• Tips (Tipping guideline US$10.00 pp per day)
• Personal items (Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
• Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
• Some meals (As specified in the day-by-day section)