“Where the journey into the wild begins…” “SECRETS OF THE NORTH” SAFARI 2016 In support of Eco-Tourism! Eco-Tourism! Go off the beaten track and explore the unknown east and north of Uganda. Travel to Uganda’s most remote national park Kidepo Valley and meet the local Karamojong tribe. Combine a true jungle experience in Budongo Forest with a visit to Uganda’s sole rhino sanctuary. This is a unique safari that combines Uganda’s most beautiful national parks with authentic community experiences and traditional safari lodges. ●●● Safari Highlights ●●● Exploration of Sipi Falls and its famous coffee Excellent game viewing in Kidepo and Murchison Falls NP Authentic community visits Track the chimpanzees in Budongo Forest Visit to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary Traditional safari lodges with possibilities for upgrading www.safari-uganda.com “Where the journey into the wild begins…” ●●● Your Safari at a Glance ●●● Day Destination Accommodation Type of room Meal plan 1 Arrival in Entebbe The Boma Standard - 2 Sipi Falls Sipi River Lodge Cottage B-L-D 3 Sipi Falls Sipi River Lodge Cottage B-L-D 4 Kitgum Fugly’s Guesthouse Standard B-L-D 5 Kidepo Valley NP Nga’Moru Wilderness Camp Safari tent B-L-D 6 Kidepo Valley NP Nga’Moru Wilderness Camp Safari tent B-L-D 7 Murchison Falls NP Paraa Safari Lodge Standard B-L-D 8 Murchison Falls NP Paraa Safari Lodge Standard B-L-D 9 Murchison Falls NP Budongo Eco Lodge Forest Cabin B-L-D 10 Jinja The Haven Luxury bungalow B-L-D 11 Jinja The Haven Luxury bungalow B-L-D 12 Departure B B = Breakfast L = Lunch D = Dinner ●●● Detailed Itinerary ●●● DAY 1 Arrival Welcome to the Pearl of Africa! Arrival at Entebbe Airport where you will be welcomed and transferred to your hotel. Overnight at The Boma. ** Note: the airport pick up will be arranged by your guesthouse. ** DAY 2 Entebbe – Sipi Falls 7-8 hours / 510 km Today we will leave depart to the unknown east. Via Jinja we proceed to Mbale, a charming town at the foot of the Mount Elgon. This area is full of rich heritage and fascinating culture. We will have a lunch stop at Mbale and with beautiful viewpoints on our way we will reach Sipi Village, nestled between mountains and waterfalls. Dinner and overnight at Sipi River Lodge. (B-L-D) www.safari-uganda.com “Where the journey into the wild begins…” Mount Elgon is an extinct volcano of 4321 meters high, located on the Uganda-Kenya border. The mountain straddles into Kenya but its peak Wagagai lies within Uganda and is best ascended from this side. This often neglected national park represents spectacular scenery with hidden caves, clear waterfalls, mysterious historic rock sculptures and impressive peaks. The park also boasts a variety of mammals and 300 bird species. Mount Elgon is the fourth highest mountain in Africa with a relatively easy climb. The nearby Sipi Falls is a series of three waterfalls north of Mbale. Beautiful nature walks are arranged to the bottom of the famous waterfall, followed by a steep climb to a series of caves and continue to the other waterfalls, while passing banana plantations and small African villages. This area also provides panoramic views over the Karamoja plains. DAY 3 Sipi Falls In the morning you will enjoy a hike to the lovely Sipi Falls. It is a beautiful walk to the bottom of the famous waterfall, and then continue with a steep climb to a series of caves. As you follow the challenging trail to the other waterfalls, you will pass maize fields, banana plantations and typical bandas. Return to the lodge for a delicious lunch and some relaxing. In the afternoon you will visit a Coffee Project and find out why Sipi Falls is home to one of the finest coffees in the world. Talk to the farmers, see the plantations and learn more about the process behind coffee making. Then enjoy your freshly brewed cup of coffee as you relax and watch the sunset... Dinner and overnight at Sipi River Lodge. (B-L-D) DAY 4 Sipi Falls – Kitgum 8 hours / 450 km After breakfast we continue our journey and head to the north. It is a long but beautiful drive as we pass different types of landscapes and traditional villages. This area is really off-the-beaten track and not visited by many tourists yet. You will witness what the many years of civil unrest have done to this region, but also how it is slowly but steadily developing again. It is completely safe to travel and with a lunch stop en route you will arrive in the late afternoon in Kitgum. Dinner and overnight at Fugly’s Guesthouse. (B-L-D) www.safari-uganda.com “Where the journey into the wild begins…” DAY 5 Kitgum – Kidepo Valley National Park 3 hours / 150 km In the morning we will visit a primary school in the surroundings of Kitgum. Then we continue towards the border with Sudan and enter Kidepo Valley National Park. Have lunch at your accommodation in the middle of the national park, with beautiful views over the vast plains and go for a game drive in the afternoon for a first introduction with the wildlife. Dinner and overnight at Nga’moru Wilderness Camp. (B-L-D) Kidepo Valley National Park is one of the most spectacular but also most remote national parks in Uganda. Hidden in the northeast corner of the country, on the border with Sudan and Kenya, Kidepo ranks among Africa’s finest wildernesses. The landscape ranges from rolling hills and rocky kopjes to vast savannah plains, with the peaks of the Lotukei and Morungole Mountains rising at the horizon. The Narus Valley, split from the Kidepo Valley by two rivers, is teemed with wildlife including some of the rarest species that are not found anywhere else in Uganda. The park boasts an extensive bird list of 465 species and another 26 unrecorded species. DAY 6 Kidepo Valley National Park A full day in one of the most beautiful and certainly most remote national parks in Uganda! Early in the morning you will explore the Narus River Valley by game drive or safari walk. Go in search of giraffes, ostriches, zebras, elephants and lions. The park is also a birders paradise as it boasts a bird list with over 475 species. Have lunch and relax before going on a visit to one of the local Karamojong communities. The Karamojong tribe is well known for their unique nomadic lifestyle and rich traditions of storytelling. Dinner and overnight at Nga’moru Wilderness Camp. (B-L-D) Optional: Upgrade to Apoka Safari Lodge At a supplement you can opt to stay at Apoka Safari Lodge, a top end safari lodge surrounded by grassy plains and abundant wildlife. www.safari-uganda.com “Where the journey into the wild begins…” DAY 7 Kidepo Valley – Murchison Falls National Park 7-8 hours / 410 km Today we head south to Murchison Falls National Park. We will enter the park from the north and with a game drive continue south towards the famous river Nile. Look out for buffaloes, hartebeests, Uganda Kobs and elephants while we pass the savannah dotted with Borassus palm trees. Dinner and overnight at Paraa Safari Lodge. (B-L-D) Murchison Falls National Park is the largest conservation area in Uganda and without a doubt one of the most beautiful and spectacular national parks in Africa. The landscape is extremely diverse, with palm-dotted hills and vast savannah plains in the north, and riverine woodland and forested slopes in the southern part of the park. Apart from the wildlife, which includes different types of antelopes, elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, lions, patas monkeys and much more, the national park is also a paradise for birders with 450 different bird species. It is one of the best places to find the rare Shoebill Stork. Chimpanzees can be tracked in Budongo Forest while large hippo families and crocodiles are observed on the shores of the Nile. The biggest attraction of the park, however, is the Murchison Falls, where the world’s longest river is forced into a 7 meter crevice to thunder 45 meters below. DAY 8 Murchison Falls National Park After an early breakfast we start the day with another game drive on the northern banks of the Nile. In the afternoon the safari will be continued with a boat cruise on the river Nile for game viewing at close quarters. Dinner and overnight at Paraa Safari Lodge. (B-L-D) Optional: Upgrade to Bakers Lodge At a supplement you can opt to stay at Bakers Lodge, a recently opened safari lodge on the shores of the river Nile in Murchison Falls National Park. www.safari-uganda.com “Where the journey into the wild begins…” DAY 9 Murchison Falls National Park In the morning we will visit the magnificent Top of the Falls where you can marvel at the mighty Nile. Watch how the fall is being forced into a seven meter crevice to thunder 45 meters below in a series of cascades. After this spectacular scenery we continue to the southern part of the national park, Budongo Forest Reserve. Here you will go for a guided chimp tracking in the forest. Together with your guide you will look out for tracks well hidden in the forest in search of the habituated chimpanzee family. Dinner and overnight at Budongo Eco Lodge. (B-L-D) DAY 10 Murchison Falls National Park – Jinja 7 hours / 430 km After a delicious breakfast in the midst of the tropical rainforest we calmly depart the national park and drive towards the south.