12 Days Rift Valley circuit Uganda
12 DaysOverview
You are spending your 12 days’ vacation exploring in the rift valley circuit of Uganda. Uganda is one of
the premier safari destinations in the east of the continent of Africa. 2 days at Murchison Falls National
park, two days at Semiliki national park; a day at Queen Elizabeth national park; a day at Lake Mutanda;
two days at Kibale forest national park; and two days of Bwindi impenetrable national park; take
advantage of your vacation time to relax, discover wildlife, and meet new people in new places. This is
the most visited circuit in Uganda; with the sought after Mountain Gorillas; chimpanzees; the tree
climbing lions; 40% of the bird species in the country; Africa’s Big5 cats (Rhinos, cape Buffaloes, lions,
leopards, and the African elephants) and the world’s most powerful waterfalls-Murchison Fall national
park. You will do game drive, Gorilla trekking, bird watching, nature walk, boat cruise, cultural tours, and
city tours. This is a road trip, starting and ending at Entebbe international airport/Kampala city.
When you arrive at Entebbe international airport, you will meet and greet our company representative
who will be ready with your placard. After briefing, you will transfer to the hotel for a check-in and rest.
In case you land early, then you will have a Kampala city tour; exploring the craft markets, local markets,
city historical attractions like the independence monument and more. At sunset, you will return to the
lodge for dinner and a nap. Kampala city is the capital of Uganda in East Africa. It is located in the central
part of the Uganda.
After breakfast, you will checkout of the lodge for a 5-6 hour drive to Murchison Fall national park. This
is Uganda’s oldest and largest national park; with four of the five big five cats (elephants, Buffaloes, lions
and leopards). You will have a stopover for a one hour Rhino trekking at Ziwa Rhino trekking. Uganda
has about 39 white Rhinos, all found at Ziwa Rhino sanctuary. These where orphaned and some rescued
from the hands of poachers. After the tracking time, proceed to Masindi town for Lunch, and then a
scenic drive to your lodge at the park or around the town, while enjoying the beautiful views of the
landscape, lush plantations and more. Arrive and check-in at the lodge late in the evening for
refreshment, dinner and a sweet slumber.
Wakeup very early in the morning for a cup of coffee. After, get to the safari vehicle for a 3-4 hour game
viewing at the northern part of Murchison national park. Follow the trails while capturing the stunning
landscape, flora and fauna. Lions, leopards, Giraffes, Oribis, waterbuck, warthogs, African elephants, the
cape Buffaloes, hartebeests, Uganda Kobs, the crested cranes, geenefowls, and more are among others
compose your check-list. It is time to uncover and learn what is in the wilderness, take nature photos,
and relax with Mother Nature. Murchison falls National Park is divided between the northern and
southern region; with the game drive taking place in the northern region.
After game drive, you will have a break for Lunch. From 14:00 hours, there is a bottom of the falls cruise
Launch. This will last for approximately 3 hours, looking out for the hippos, the giant crocodiles, water
ducks, king fisher, the elephants along the river bucks, and more. You will draw close to the beautiful
thundering waterfalls (the world’s most powerful waterfall), take photos, and thereafter return to the
lodge at sunset for dinner and a nap.
After breakfast, you will depart Murchison Fall national park for Semiliki national park; a true birders
haven. This Journey lasts for about 7-8 hours, with an enroute stopover at fort portal city to have Late
Lunch. The route to semiliki national park is marked by rolling hills, plantations, and busy towns. The
scenic Mount Rwenzori backdrop will take your attention, with a beautiful sunset ushering you to the
lodge for check-in, dinner and overnight. Semiliki national park is a true birders haven, with over 450
bird species, and 40% of Uganda’s bird species.
At day break, you will have breakfast, and the go bird watching and guided nature walk at the forest to
the Sempaya hot springs. The park harbors over 450 bird species; about 40% total species unique to
Uganda. Some of those bird species are; the Cranes, Nkulengu rail, shoe bill and marabou storks, dwarf
honey guides, orange weaver, serpent eagle, owls, Sassis olive green bull, long-tailed hawk, Kori-
bustards, sunbirds, eagles, guineafowl, lesser flamingos, king-fishers, pelicans, water duck and more.
You will walk through the forest is to the Sempaya hot springs; identifying plants, forest mammals, and
nests. The Sempaya hot springs are stunning, and evoke the spirit of imagination to all the visitors to
them. You will have Lunch, and then spend the time taking photos, boil an egg at the gyst hot steam,
and ask the ranger guide all that must be known. It is reported that the hot spring is used by the local
natives for rituals.
After breakfast, you will checkout of the lodge for a transfer to Kibale forest national park; a short drive
that comes with amazing views of the backdrop of the great snowcapped mountain Rwenzori; the THIRD
tallest mountain in Africa. This drive takes approximately 2 hours, and then you will get to the lodge at
fort portal city. Lunch will be served, and in then in the evening hours, you will visit Isunga cultural
community. At Isunga cultural community, you will have a community tour experience, visiting the
plantations and called springs. Kibale forest National Park is the primate capital of Africa, with over 13
primate species, dominated by the chimpanzees. Research states that chimpanzee’s poses about 98%
human like DNA, thus a close relative to Man. The Apes are so playful and feed on vegetables. End this
day with dinner and a peaceful nap.
Start this day with a cup of coffee and then go for chimpanzee trekking pretrekking briefing at the park
headquarters. Chimpanzees have a 98% human like DNA, after the Bonobos. On a close range, you get
to approve these resemblance, uncover their social life, and appreciate some of their knowledge how
they use sticks to pick ants from the halls, eat insects and nurse each other. Chimpanzee trekking takes
about 1-4 hours; while you walk through the forest. You will keep your eyes on the plants, birds and
other park residents. There are other primates in Kibale forest national park notably; the white and
black Columbus monkeys, grey-checked monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, baboons, and more.
Upon finding the chimpanzees, you will have an hour of photography, time to listen to the ranger guides
and watch your cousins feed, play, and rest. Afterword’s, you will bid farewell to the forest for your
lodge to relax and have Lunch. In the evening, you have a choice of relaxing at the lodge, or Visit Bigodi
swamp where you get to uncover several other primates such as the baboons, birds and the local
natives carrying on with their daily choice. End this day at sunset with dinner and a sweet slumber.
At 08:00 hours, you will depart Kibale forest national park for Queen Elizabeth national park, with the
views of the plantations, homesteads and the backdrop of the snowcapped mountain Rwenzori (Africa’s
third highest mountain summit). Queen Elizabeth national park is the second largest conservation area
and the most visited national park in Uganda. It is one of the only destinations in the world you find the
rare tree climbing lions in East Africa.
You will arrive at the lodge in the early afternoon hours; check-in at the lodge for refreshment, and
Lunch. From 03:00 hours, you will go on a 2 hour boat cruise at Kazinga channel to lookout for aquatic
residents such as the hippos, crocodiles, birds, elephants and more. Afterword’s return to the lodge for
dinner and a nap.
At 7:00 hours, you will go for a sunrise drive at the open savannah park. This is the best time to chance
the night hunters return to their territory, grazers get to the field, and the birds make their song. The
open queen Elizabeth national park offers asylum to among others, warthogs, lions, leopards, African
elephants, the cape Buffaloes, Uganda Kobs, waterbucks, and the Oribis. More to count on are the birds,
plants and trees. Enjoy photography moments, and narrations from your ranger guide who will explain
about the park, flora and fauna. There will be Bush breakfast after a 3-4 hour game viewing.
Thereafter, return to the lodge to check-in and embark on a Journey to Bwindi impenetrable national
park-home to the endangered mountain Gorillas. You will exit with a Game drive at Ishasha sector,
which harbors the rare tree climbing lions. Lunch is at Ishasha sector, and an evening arrival at one of
the four sectors in Bwindi Impenetrable national park for check-in, dinner and overnight stay.
At 05:00 hours, wake up well rested, clad on your hiking attire, and energies with a cup of coffee. At
07:00 hours, all trekkers have to be at the park headquarters for document verification and pretrekking
briefing. The session takes approximately 30 minutes, with the ranger guide explain the trekking dos and
don’ts. The Gorilla species in Bwindi are the Mountain Gorillas in the family of the eastern Gorillas which
can only be found in the continent of Africa. The ranger guide will assign you to a troop and the take the
lead in search. This can last for approximately 1-8 hours from the place the apes depending on how far
the Apes have moved and trekkers pace.
You will first visit the place the Apes were last spotted, and then follow the broken leaves, fallen fruits
and sound. Hours in the forest, tackling the slippery slopes, hills, thorns, insects, yet focused. No the
birds, mammals, or other primates that can come your way deters the love for your cousins the Gorillas.
Upon finding them, you will spend an hour in their presence, taking photos, watching the silver backs
and mothers feeding the active infants, and more. You will have Lunch in the Jungle, and later after
studying the habits of the Gorillas, you will return to the lodge for refreshment, dinner and a nap.
After breakfast, you will transfer to Lake Mutanda to explore it and the surrounding. A drive from Bwindi
to Lake Mutanda takes approximately 30 mins (19kms), while traversing the lush vegetation cover, rocks
and more. Upon reaching, you will have a 30 minute sail on the lake, using a steady traditional dug-out
canoe, as the local fishermen do. The ride takes you to a designated trail along the swamp and up the
hills. The Nature walk will last for approximately 3 hours. Lake Mutanda is surrounded by 15 islands, and
only one (Mutanda island having people).the others are the Punishment Island, Python Island, and
more. Birds here include among others; the pelicans, sacred ibis, hawks, African spoonbill, kites and
more, primates and the stunning scenery. There is a picnic Lunch planned, and then at sunset, you will
return to your lodge at Bwindi Impenetrable national park for dinner and a nap
Wakeup to a mouthwatering breakfast meal at the lodge. Thereafter, you will checkout for a transfer to
Kampala/Entebbe international airport. The 7-8 hour drive has an enroute stopover at the Equator point
for Lunch and to watch the magical demonstration at the point where the earth is divided between the
northern and southern hemisphere. Thus route is marked by breathtaking landscape, rolling hills, and
diverse plantations. At some point of the Journey, you will have a stopover in the busy towns to refresh
and know places.




