CULTURAL GALORE SAFARI

Day 1: Arrival

Wajolo wu! Welcome to Uganda. On arrival at Entebbe International Airport, your personal driver/guide will be waiting for you outside arrivals. So just look out for DustTrack safaris. He will drive you to your Hotel in Kampala for the night.

 Day 2: City Tour

Today, will be a more relaxed day so rest up well after the long flight yesterday. Your driver/guide will pick you up from your hotel and take you on a city tour of Kampala the Capital City of Uganda. Among the sights to visit will the Gadhafi mosque right in the middle of the busy city, a standing testament in Uganda of the fallen former president of Libya Colonel Muammar Gadhafi since he is the one that financed the building of the most. You will also visit the main Cathedrals in the country as well as the only Bahai Temple in Africa. Break off to sample the local cuisine. Then before returning to the hotel, visit the Martyrs Shrine, a permanent monument to celebrate human endurance even in the face of persecution. These are a few of the places you will visit.

Day 3: Transfer to Jinja, Mabira Forest walk, Nile Boat Cruise

Now that you have adjusted to being in Uganda, at 7:00 am, your driver will pick you up and drive you East towards, Jinja, Uganda’s once industrial town but now the adventure capital of Uganda. Along the way, enjoy the sights of roadside towns, markets, tea and sugarcane plantation. As you drive out of the city, you will realize that the traffic become less crowded giving way to clear roads and greener scenery. Stop at Mabira forest and take a nature walk in this Equatorial Rain forest guided by an onsite guide. Expect to see primates, butterflies, birdlife, reptiles if lucky and a feel of fresh air surrounded by nature. The 1 to 2 hours walk will also give you the opportunity to stretch your legs. Return to the car where your driver will be waiting to continue the drive to Jinja. On arrival, check in to your accommodation and then go for lunch. In the afternoon, take a boat on the Nile all the way to the supposed source of the Nile as you take in the cool breeze from the waters and views of the birdlife. Visit the Reptile village before retiring for the night.

Day 4: Community visit, Transfer to Mbale

Take package breakfast start drive from 6:30am to ATV offices where you will meet your guide. After briefing, you will start the guided community walk. Some of the places to visit include Sabirwa village and Bujjagali village. The tribe here is mostly Basoga and Balamogi families in some areas. The walk takes between 3 to 5 hours.  Lunch in Jinja Town (Local lunch), afternoon drive to Mbale, check in at Hotel and have dinner at hotel then rest.

Day 5: Canoe Ride, Village Tour, Nyero Rock paintings

Have packed breakfast, 5:30 AM departure Mbale to Kumi (30min drive), from 6:00-9:00 AM Dugout Canoe Shoebill Trekking, then from 10AM-12PM visit the Teso Fisherman Village Tour + Local Lunch (clients to pay for lunch). After lunch 12-2PM visit the Nyero Rock Paintings believed to have been done by the Batwa a hunter-gatherer pygmy tribe around 1250CE but first documented in 1913. After exploring the rocks, drive back to Mbale

Day 6: Transfer to Sipi Falls, Water falls visit, Coffee tour

This morning, start the drive to Sipi Falls at 8:00am. The drive is enchanting especially as you approach the hilly country of Sironko and Kapchorwa. Let us just say that some things are better seen and described. Check in to your hotel then go for guided scenic 4 – 5 hours walk, to visit the 3^rd, 2^nd and 1^st Sipi water falls. Return to the hotel for a lunch break then continuing on for the coffee tour to discover why this region is the best coffee producer in Uganda. The aroma from the coffee alone will convince you to buy some if you are a coffee lover. Later in the evening, drive to the Sebei Cave in Kapchorwa for a cultural experience. Return later to your hotel.

 Day 7: Transfer to Moroto, Pian Upe game drive

While having breakfast, have your lunch packed for you will have a picnic lunch on the drive. Your guide will pick you up at 6:00am to join the Moroto road via Namalu game reserve so that you can stop for a game drive at Pian Upe game reserve, one of the unsung gems of Karamoja region. The reserve is home to some rare animals like the Cheetah, side-stripped Jackal, Roan Antelope, mountain Redbuck and over 43 other mammals. The game drive will take you all the way for yet another cave tour with ancient drawings. The Karamoja region has spectacular landscape of rocks, hills, mountains and savannah land. The sight is simply amazing, even better on a sunny day with thick white clouds blanketing the sky. You will not only enjoy the game drive but the drive to the reserve as well. Proceed to Moroto own, seated right at the base of Mount Moroto.

Day 8: Karamojong Museum, Tepeth Tribe Hike

Today we shall have a leisurely day. So, after a late breakfast at about 9:00am visit the Karamoja Museum and Ateker Cultural Center. This visit is very educative about the Karamojong culture, history and peoples as well as very interesting archeological finds to view. Return to the hotel for lunch. In the evening go for the Mount Moroto, Tepeth Tribe Hike.

Day 9: Village cultural ceremony, Traditional Cattle Camp

The Morning today is free, At 2PM-6PM Cultural Ceremony in Village then from 6-9PM Traditional Cattle Camp Experience. Return to the hotel to catch up on a good nights’ sleep.

Day 10: Transfer to Kidepo Valley National Park

After an early breakfast have your lunch packed and check out so that by 9am you are on the road to Uganda’s most remote and beautiful national Park, Kidepo National park. The park stretches all the way to the Uganda/Sudan border. The drive will take you through small roadside towns along which you will see Karamojongs herding their cattle, farming and if you are lucky, some of the young girls dressed in colorful traditional attire. Expect to arrive at the Park early evening or late afternoon.

Day 11: Morning Narus valley drive, Evening Lion Rock drive

Have a very early breakfast or have your breakfast packed for you will have a picnic breakfast while on the game drive; so that at 6:30am, you start your morning game drive along the Narus valley where most wildlife congregates most of the year. This off the beaten track Park is always teaming with wildlife and birdlife. Return to the hotel for lunch then later at 4:30pm, drive out for an evening game drive. If you are lucky, your guide might be able to locate Lions sunbathing on top the Lion rock as the sun goes down. Kidepo is one of the most interesting National parks to visit. The landscape of vast savannah land and animals that cannot be found in any other park in Uganda like the cheetah and elusive Eland make it particularly attractive. Expect to view herds of Zebra, Elephants, Giraffe, Antelopes, Buffalos as well as the big cats depending on the luck of the day as well as birdlife.

Day 12: Transfer to Gulu

Take one last look of Kidepo on another morning game drive after a hearty breakfast before driving off through Kitgum to Gulu town where you will spend the night. You might see some wildlife, birds and reptiles that you were not able to see the day before.

Day 13: Rhino Tracking, Transfer to Entebbe

Now that you are coming to the end of your cultural galore safari, today your driver will be waiting for you at 8:00am. Check out of the hotel after breakfast and off you go back on the road towards, Entebbe. The drive will take you past Karuma falls where troops of Baboons languish along the road waiting snack handouts. Proceed to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for a 2-hour tracking of the endangered White Rhinos. This sanctuary is the only place where you can see the Rhinos in the wild. After tracking, drive on to Kabalega Diners for a lunch before you continue on the drive through Kampala to Entebbe. You will surely want to rest up after the days’ travel and activity.

Day 14: Shoebill canoe ride, Departure

Leave the hotel with your driver at 8:00am to Mabamba Swamp, popular for birders and especially the peculiar looking Shoebill stork bird. After the insightful boating, return to the hotel and prepare for your departure.

End of Safari