Day 1: Kampala city cultural tour.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!After your breakfast, you will be picked by our guide, drive and visit Kabaka’s Lake which is the largest manmade Lake in Uganda; it was constructed by kabaka mwanga II as an escape route to Lake Victoria at Murungo hill near Lake Victoria in case of a war break out. The lake is now known for swimming, spot fishing, canoeing and a home to many bird species. It is located in Ndeeba between ring road and Nabunya road. Visit kabaka’s palace at Mengo which is the official residence of king of Buganda, in Buganda it was customary for a king to choose on which hill he wanted to construct his palace and would name it as he so wishes. Have lunch and then visit Uganda National Museum the biggest and oldest museum in Uganda, it exhibits and displays ethnological, historical and traditional life collections of Uganda’s cultural heritage. Late afternoon, briefly visit kasubi tombs the significant place for the Buganda kingdom and burial place for the Buganda kings like kabaka Mutesa 1, Mwanga II, Daudi Chwa II, Edward Mutesa I who is the father of the current Buganda king Ronald Mutebi II who were put to rest there. And get to learn about different clans like the ngeye clan are the only ones allowed to do thatching, the Ngo clan are the interior decorators and many more clans. You will have dinner and overnight at Kampala Serena Hotel.
Day 2: Visit cultural centres near Kampala
Have your breakfast and visit Nagalabi coronation site in Buddo off Masaka road where the kings of Buganda kingdom were crowned for the past years, it is said that the Buganda ceremonies take place on Buddo hill because it is where king kintu killed his brother Bemba and crowned himself as the king, get to learn more about the Buganda house, Mbonerede tree and also the site offers traditional music, storytelling, dance and drama performances on request. Have lunch and drive to wamala tombs off Wakiso road where sekabaka sunna the 29th king of Buganda was buried, he had 148 wives and 200 concubines and he didn’t have any problem giving out one, learn more from the site and why it was called wamala. Return to Kampala Serena Hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Transfer to Busoga region- sezibwa falls- kagulu hill
After your breakfast transfer to Busoga region, branch off after Mukono town at kayanja trading Centre, drive 1.5km to sezibwa falls a Buganda cultural site with so many birds, cultural stories and traditional healers and also the magnificent falls and how it acquired its name. sezibwa falls on river sezibwa is believed to have been born by a woman called Nakkungu Tebatuusa and flows about 150km long down a set of rocks. Enjoy the beautiful sceneries as the birds sing, transfer to kagulu hill in Buyende district north of Jinja, a solid rock which is 3600ft above sea level. It is believed to be the first migration and settlement area In Busoga region, the hill also comprises of caves, small crater Lakes where the traditional clan leaders used to stay. Dinner and overnight at Jinja Nile resort.
Day 4: Transfer to Mbale district
After your breakfast transfer to Mbale district in Eastern Uganda, tour around the Mbale town. Dinner and overnight at Mt. Elgon Hotel
Day 5: Bagisu Imbalu circumcision ceremony
After your breakfast, drive to the circumcision grounds where circumcision takes place, imbalu is an initial circumcision ceremony that takes place among the Bagisu men. They believe that one to be a man has to be circumcised in a ceremony that consist singing, dancing kadodi dance, drinking local beer, visiting relatives and receiving gifts. The circumcision candidates are not supposed to cry but to be strong which is believed that brings embarrassment to themselves and their families.
Note: The trip is prepared targeting every even numbered year from August to December. Dinner and overnight at day 4.
Day 6: Transfer to Kidepo Valley National Park
Have early morning breakfast and drive to Kidepo Valley National Park in north eastern Uganda via Moroto – kaabong -kotido to kidepo. Dinner and breakfast at Apoka safari lodge.
Day 7: Engage the Karimojong pastoralists
Have your breakfast and visit the karimojong region and get to learn more about the karimojong people, visit their manyatta homesteads and feel the sense of community and togetherness, enjoy the cultural dances , singing as you can also join them and jump as high as you can. The karimojong people are nomadic pastoralists who believe one being rich is determined by the number of cattle one has and they believe to have given to them by their god Akuj. Spend the night in Mayatta.
Day 8: Explore indigenous karimojong in the Mt. Morungole
After your morning breakfast, hike to morungole mountain which is 2749 meters above sea level, a home to the indigenous karimojongs commonly known as ik people of the mountain who are said to have migrated from Ethiopia and first settled in Kenya then from Kenya to Uganda, they were hunters and gatherers and were forced to migrate to morungole mountain because their hunting areas were gazette by the governments. Hike to mount morungole is done by physically fit people and takes the whole day. As your guided around the village, learn about the life styles of loving and welcoming ik people such as paying bride price of 5-10 beehives, chicken, goats instead of cattle many more as you will be asking questions from the local guides. Return to Apoka safari lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 9: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park.
Have your early morning breakfast and set off to Murchison Falls National park. Dinner and overnight at Paraa safari lodge.
Day 10: Encounter the Acholi People
After your breakfast, drive and visit the Acholi people also known as the Acoli an ethnic group from the districts of Agago, Nwoya, Amuru, Gulu, Kitgum and pader in northern Uganda in Acholi land. Learn more about their life styles and how they were known worldwide because of the war insurgency of the Lord’s Resistance Army lead by an Acholi man from Gulu Joseph kony. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 11: Transfer to Hoima and rest
Transfer to Hoima after your breakfast, relax at your hotel, have lunch and move around Hoima town. You will have dinner and overnight at Hoima cultural lodge.
Day 12: Visit the Bunyoro palace and the royal tombs of king Kabalega
Have your breakfast and set off to visit the Bunyoro palace where the current Omukama Solomon Gafabusa seats at Kaziguruka which introduces you to Bunyoro’s history and her people. Learn about the Bunyoro royal regalia museum called Nyamyarro inside the palace; this is where one can see the 1000 year old traditional throne with nine legs, ceremonial spears, ancient arrows, musical instruments among others. Have lunch and visit Mparo tombs the historical burial grounds for the kings of Bunyoroand among them was the Omukama Chwa ii Kabalega who resisted colonial rule in this part of Uganda. If time allows, you can also visit a cave at katasiiha to learn about Kabalega’s escape route from colonialists. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 13: Transfer to Fort portal and rest
After breakfast at any time of your choice, set off to Fort portal also believed to be a land of beauty, lunch, dinner and overnight at Relief Motel.
Day 14: Visit Amabere ga Nyinamwiru and the crater Lakes area
After your breakfast set with long trousers, boots, hats and drinking water set off to the Amabere ga nyinamwiru caves that are believed to be the breasts of the daughter to the Toro king Bukuku after the king himself cut them off because he refused to marry a man he wanted him to marry, so he cut them off and through them in the caves. But geographically, they are calcium carbonate that blends with water and the white substance run down the caves called the stalactites and stalagmites, after hike and visit the explosion crater Lakes including Lake Saka, you can have picnic lunch on top of the hill with views of the crater lakes. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 15: Visit the royal palace of Toro, karambi royal tombs and batoro naming ceremony
After your morning breakfast, drive to visit the royal palace of Toro on karuzika hill with 360 degrees parnoramic views. Learn about the history of the kings and how the kingdom came to be from Bunyoro kitara kingdom. In the same place is the karambi royal tombs where the 2 Toro kings Rukiidi 1 and Rukiidi 2 were buried which is also worth a visit, take a rest during lunch time and attend Batooro naming ceremony called “empaako” a system practiced by the Batoro, Banyoro, Batagwenda, Banyamwenge among others in western Uganda where they name new born babies one of the 11 pet names shared across their communities in addition to their given and family names presided over by the clan head. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 16: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park
After your breakfast, transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park in south western Uganda. Dinner and breakfast at Gorilla Forest lodge.
Day 17: Gorilla trekking
Have your breakfast and move to the park headquarters with your trekking gears, enough drinking water for briefing and embark on the memorable experience of gorilla trekking. Set off through the tropical dense forests of Bwindi impenetrable forest in search for the habituated mountain gorillas for 2-6 hours depending on how far the gorilla family your allocated to is, on encounter with these primates, your give a maximum of 1 hour for observation, photography before you leave the forest. Return to your lodge for late lunch and rest as you wait for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 18: Full day Batwa community tour
After your breakfast, follow the trail with your guide to the Batwa community basically the indigenous group of people with excellent and interactive cultural experiences, through the forests of Bwindi impenetrable national park where the batwa guides will basically teach you about their ancient hunting and gathering ways, you will also be introduced to batwa culture including their traditional dances, clothing and food among others. Return to your lodge for relaxation as you wait for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 19: Transfer to Mgahinga National Park
You will transfer to Mgahinga National Park after your breakfast, Lunch, relax at Mount Gahinga Lodge.
Day 20: Gorilla trekking
After morning breakfast, move to the park headquarters for briefing by the ranger guides on the dos and donts of the gorillas, set off to the forest in search of the mountain gorillas for 2-6 hours depending on how far the gorilla family your allocated to is, on encounter with these great apes, your given 1 hour for observation and photography and leave the forest. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 21: Transfer to Lake Mburo national park- Igongo cultural centre
After your early morning breakfast, transfer Lake Mburo National Park en route visit the Igongo cultural centre a few meters north of Mbarara. Get to visit the Eriijukiro museum for half an hour and then visit Eitaramiro which shows the cultural heritage of the Banyankole. Have lunch at Igongo hotel and hike to the Eclipse monument on the Biharwe hill which was dated by the historians to have taken place in the year 1520AD and after transfer to Lake Mburo National Park for dinner and overnight at Mihingo Lodge.
Day 22: Morning game drive – afternoon boat cruise
After your breakfast, drive off for game drive with your guide and ranger guide to spot the wildlife animals in their natural habitats. As you drive through the grasslands of lake mburo national park you will see the lions, leopards, kobs, zebras, sitatungas, bush duikers, warthogs, water bucks among others, return to your lodge for lunch and go for boat cruise on Lake Mburo as will also be rewarded with views of more water loving mammals like the hippos, Monitor Lizards, crocodiles and so on. Also expect to view animals like buffaloes, Zebras, Kobs, Impalas among others. You will be back to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 23: Transfer back to Kampala/ Entebbe airport
Have your breakfast and transfer back to Kampala/Entebbe airport stopover at the equator for photography, scientific experimentations and last shopping and proceed to Entebbe airport for your flight back to your next destination
End of safari