Day 1 - Arrive in Entebbe

Arrive Entebbe Airport where you will disembark and clear customs and immigration. You will then be met by our representative and transferred to Hotel No. 5 – mere minutes away.

Huddled within the verdant suburbs of energetic Entebbe, Hotel No. 5 enhances these charming surroundings with its own style and comfort. The hotel has been completely cocooned by a well-maintained garden, which can be enjoyed from one’s private terrace or balcony, available in all rooms and apartments. The gardens are so lush that several indigenous birds have made themselves at home amongst the trees – including African Grey Parrots. A swimming pool, spa and gym help guests to sink deeper into the hotel’s atmosphere of complete relaxation. Hotel No. 5 also offers a creative menu which has been extremely well-reviewed, and from the terrace a lovely sunset view can be admired whilst sipping on cocktails. With its great location – only 10 minutes from Entebbe International Airport and very close to the city’s best attractions – and exceptionally accommodating staff, Hotel No. 5 is a must for those visiting Entebbe. .

Overnight: Hotel No. 5

Meal Plan:

Day 2 - Fly to Murchison Falls National Park

After breakfast you will be transferred back to the airport in time to catch your flight to Murchison Falls National Park.

Once you land you will have a short game drive to Bakers Lodge where you will check in in time for lunch.

Baker’s Lodge sits unassumingly on the bank of the Nile River Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda. It is named after English explorer Samuel Baker, the first European to visit the Murchison Falls. Thatched cottages are shaded by the abundant trees and each has a view of the river, which regularly includes egret birds, elephants and hippos. Beyond their elegant rooms, guests enjoy wining and dining on the raised decking of the bar and restaurant, which offers 180 degree vistas of the Nile. The serenity of Baker’s Lodge is contrasted against its dramatic settings, and guests can take a safari around the National Park, a boat to the Murchison Falls – where, incredibly, the Nile squeezes through an 8-meter gap in the Rift Valley escarpment -, go chimpanzee trekking in Budongo Forest, take a hot air balloon over the Victorian Nile Delta – and later relax on the river’s shore with drink in hand.

In the afternoon there is time to explore the national park on an afternoon game drive before setting out on the water on a sunset cruise.

Enjoy this two-hour sunset cruise down the Nile as you sip on your favorite cocktail. Cheese and wine, beer and nachos or even champagne can be arranged with prior notice. Enjoy the sublime tranquility of the natural surroundings. The boat ride gives you the opportunity to see hippos up close and crocodiles basking on beds of the river. Take your birding book out to identify the plethora of birdlife soaring above. Don’t forget to snap pictures with your camera as the suns orange and red hue cover the glistening water and landscape around you. This activity is perfect for those who want to wind down after a long day.

Overnight: Baker's Lodge

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 3 - Murchison Falls National Park

This morning, go for a game drive in the park. Located in Northwest Uganda, the Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda's largest national park. and the only one in Uganda to host all of the "Big 5". It also protects intense populations of the Uganda Kob, Rothschild's giraffe and Patas monkey as well as massive concentrations of hippos and birds.

In the afternoon it is back on the water where you will cruise upriver from Parra to Fajao Gorge to view the Murchison Falls. As you get closer to the falls the sound of the water thundering through the tiny eight meter gap becomes a roar – this truly is a spectacular sight. On the way keep an eye out for rare bird species such as the shoebill and papyrus gonoleks. As you drift down the Nile, notice the cliff-sides full of birds; red-throated Bee-eaters make their nests on vertical cliff walls where you can see them sitting in large numbers. Be sure to snap photos of hippos poking their heads above the water and crocodiles bathing on the banks. Once you reach the base of Murchison Falls, there is an option to hike to the top. Otherwise, continue to relax and enjoy the scenery as you coast along the waters.

Overnight: Baker's Lodge

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 4 - Fly to Kidepo Valley National Park

After breakfast, meet your driver guide at the lodge reception and transfer to the airstrip for your private charter flight to Kidepo Valley National Park. On arrival at Kidepo airstrip, you will be met by an Apoka Safari Lodge driver guide and transferred to the lodge.

Apoka Safari Lodge is the only lodge found within this pristine park and offers an exclusive experience second to none. Overlooking the Narus river, this luxury lodge comprises ten expansive rooms with sitting areas, private balconies and even outdoor baths from where guests can view game at a distance. The swimming pool has been carved out of a big rock and is a great place to relax after a day in the bush.

Overnight: Apoka Safari Lodge

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 5 - Kidepo Valley National Park

After breakfast meet your driver guide at the hotel reception and go on a full day exploration of the park.

Kidepo Valley National Park is in the rugged, dry country between Uganda's borders with Kenya and the Sudan. Located in the northeast of Uganda, the park is sprawling savannah, dominated by the impressive massif of Mount Morungole and traversed by the Kidepo and Narus rivers.

Identified as a national park in 1962, Kidepo Valley is Uganda's most remote and least explored national park, but those who take the trouble, wrote one travel editor, 'are rewarded with phenomenal wildlife sightings and a level of exclusivity that can rarely be got at any cost in neighboring countries'. 

Kidepo is home to almost 90 mammal species, 28 of which are not found in any other park in Uganda: striped hyena, aardwolf, caracal, cheetah, greater and lesser kudu, klipspringer, Bright’s gazelle and Chandler’s mountain reedbuck to name a few. The park is rich in birdlife - 475 species - and considered to have an outstanding population of birds of prey.

Overnight: Apoka Safari Lodge

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 6 - Kidepo Valley National Park

This morning, venture out to meet the local community.

The original inhabitants of the park are the lk community, a small hunter-gatherer ethnic group that has closely guarded its unique culture and language so much so, that neighboring communities don’t understand it too! Spend some time with an elder who will let you in on all the tribe's secrets.

Also found at the outskirts of the park are the Karamoja people, a pastoralist community similar to the Maasai in Kenya. Kidepo offers a perfect serving of an exclusive safari experience with amazing wildlife and fantastic cultural interaction.

Overnight: Apoka Safari Lodge

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 7 - Fly to Jinja

After a leisurely breakfast you will be transferred to the airstrip where you will catch your private charter to Jinja. On arrival you will be transferred to Wildwaters Lodge and arrive in time for lunch.

Jinja Town is best known as the source of the mighty Nile, the world’s longest river, which winds its way through Uganda, Sudan and Egypt before disgorging its waters into the Mediterranean Sea. In recent times however the town has come to be recognized as one of the best white-water rafting locations in the world. Apart from rafting, guests can also go bungee jumping, horse riding and quad biking.

Overnight: Wildwaters Lodge

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 8 - Jinja

Jinja is all about adventure! Set out this morning on a white-water rafting adventure on the mighty Nile river.

Jinja is home to the source of the Nile and true adventure starts with white water rafting down this immense body of water. Rafting is available year-round (with the water temperature staying a comfortable 27°c degrees). The Nile rapids are graded, giving guests the opportunity to select how calm / adventurous they would like to be when rafting down the Nile. Choose between half or full day rafting trips based on your level of comfort. Our commitment to quality and safety will ensure guests have an experience of a lifetime. You won’t be disappointed in this activity if adventure is what you truly seek.

In the afternoon you can relax and enjoy the wonderful lodge facilities or you can explore the surrounding area on ATV’s / Quadbikes. This activity gives you the best opportunity to explore Ugandan rural life. No previous experience driving a vehicle is necessary. Quad biking can run between one to four hours depending on your preference. One important tip that must be noted is that this activity is for those who aren't afraid to get dirty as red soil and mud is part of the terrain. Trips are tailored to suit the riders' needs to provide the best possible adventure during your stay in Jinja!

Overnight: Wildwaters Lodge

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 9 - Drive to Entebbe and depart

After breakfast, your driver will drive you back to Entebbe. A day room has been reserved for you at a convenient airport hotel. Later you will be transferred to Entebbe Airport for your departure flight home.

Overnight:

Meal Plan: B