Luxury/mid-range Wildlife, Nature and Cultural Photographic Safari

Safari highlights: Rhino Tracking-1, Game Drives -3, Boat Cruise-1, and Cultural Tours-1 Equipment to bring: Camera, wide angle lens, 200+ mm lens, Tripod, waterproof protection for equipment, spare batteries and charger.

What you need: Closed shoes, long pants, water and insect repellent.

Itinerary summary:
Day 1: Airport- Kampala
Day 2: Kampala – Rhino tracking- Murchison Falls National Park.
Day 3: Murchison – Game drive and Boat cruise.
Day 4: Drive to Kidepo Valley National Park.
Day 5: Kidepo Game Drive
Day 6: Game and Cultural Tours
Day 7: Game Drive and fly to Kampala
Day 8: Tour and shopping in Entebbe, departure.

About Kidepo Valley National Park
Kidepo Valley National Park lies in the rugged, semi-arid valleys between Uganda’s borders with Sudan and Kenya. Gazetted as a national park in 1962, it has a profusion of big game and hosts over 77 mammal species as well as around 475 bird species. Read More

Detailed Programme

Day 1: Airport- Kampala
You arrive at Entebbe International Airport and a representative from Snap Uganda Tours will meet you and drive you to Sheraton Kampala Hotel (luxury) {1hr} or to Cassia Lodge (mid-range). Please feel free to ask questions about Uganda along the way. Dinner and overnight at Sheraton Kampala Hotel- Luxury Dinner and overnight at Cassia Lodge – Mid-range

Day 2: Kampala – Rhino tracking- Murchison Falls National Park
Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch located in Nakasongola, 176km north of Kampala {2hrs, 20min} on the Gulu high way towards Murchison Falls National Park is home to the only wild rhinos in Uganda. Presently the sanctuary is home to twenty two (22) southern white rhinos.

As these rhinos are free to move around on 7 000 hectares of land, it is often necessary to drive to the areas where the rhinos before tracking them on foot. While at the sanctuary you may also encounter a range of other wildlife species including Uganda kobs, oribis, bush bucks, water bucks among others. You will need 1½ to 2½ hours depending on the location of the rhinos. After Rhino Tracking, you will have lunch and Proceed to Murchison Falls National Park,{1hr 40min} and cross the ferry and check in at Paara Safari Lodge (Luxury) or at Murchison River Lodge ( Mid-range) to relax or take an evening nature walk to look out for yawning hippos along the Nile.

Dinner and overnight at Paraa Safari Lodge- Luxury
Dinner and overnight at Murchison River Lodge- Mid-range

Day 3: Murchison – Game drive and Boat cruise
Wake up early have a quick cup of coffee/tea and at 6.00 am you go for a game drive with packed breakfast. Murchison Falls National Park is bisected by the Rive Nile and is composed of woodland, wetland, savannah as well as tropical forest. The game drives are done in the savanna plains on the northern bank up to the delta where the Nile powers its waters in Lake Albert up to lunch time. Among the mammals to look out for are: lions, Cape buffalo, Uganda kob, Jackson’s hartebeest, elephants and Rothschild’s giraffe.

Murchison hosts the biggest number of the Rothschild’s giraffe species in the world. After lunch you go for boat cruise. A boat cruise to the bottom of Murchison Falls is another rewarding experience to view wildlife and birds. Hippos, waterbucks, crocodiles, buffaloes and elephants can be seen along the banks of the Nile. Birds usually seen during the cruise include: Cormorants, African fish Eagles, Spur-winged goose, African darter, Giant Kingfisher, Red-throated Bee-eater, Water thick knee among the many.

At the bottom of the falls, you leave the boat and take 20 minute hike to the top of the falls for sunset pictures over River Nile. At the top of the falls, you will see the Nile waters forced into a narrow gap 7m wide as they plunge down in a 35m drop in a majestic cascade that has been named the “Cradle of the Nile”. Your driver will pick you and drive you Paraa where you will cross to the hotel by boat.

Dinner and overnight at Paraa Safari Lodge- Luxury
Dinner and overnight at Murchison River Lodge- Mid-range

Day 4: Drive to Kidepo Valley National Park
After an early breakfast, you do a game drive while on the way to Kidepo via Kitgum. In northern Uganda, you will pass through the villages of Acholi areas and have a stop in Gulu Municipality you may visit to Bakers Fort at Patiko and lunch stop at Kitgum{5hrs} then proceed to Karamonja- the home of Kidepo and the Karimojong. Once in the park {2hrs 30min} you will be checked in at Apoka Safari Lodge (Luxury) or at Kidepo Savannah Lodge (Mid-range) and have dinner. As you relax and sip your drink at night, look out for starts in the sky.

Dinner and night at Apoka Safari Lodge- Luxury
Dinner and night at Kidepo Savannah Lodge- Mid-range

Day 5: Kidepo Game Drive
After an early breakfast, it will be time for a game drive via the Borassus palm lined Kidepo River, to the hot springs from where you can have a nature walk and enjoy your packed lunch. During the game drive to the hot springs look out for Ostriches and leopards and Leopard tortoises along the way. After lunch you will have our guided nature walk through the park and return to the Lodge to rest.

In the evening, you will do another game drive in the wildlife rich Narus valley. Be on the lookout for lions, big buffalo herds and elephants. A lot of care will be taken to find a good spot for sunset pictures.
Dinner and night at Apoka Safari Lodge- Luxury
Dinner and night at Kidepo Savannah Lodge- Mid-range

Day 6: Game and Cultural Tours
After breakfast, you will do another game drive in the Narus Valley and have lunch. In the evening, visit community groups to learn the life of the Karimojong.

Dinner and night at Apoka Safari Lodge – Luxury
Dinner and night at Kidepo Savannah Lodge – Mid-range

Day 7: Game Drive and fly to Kampala
After breakfast, you will do another game drive in the Narus Valley and then return to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon you fly to Entebbe and check in at Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort & Spa- Luxury Or at Gately on the Nile- Mid-range

Night at Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort & Spa- Luxury
Night at Gately on the Nile- Mid-range

Day 8: Tour and shopping in Entebbe, departure
After breakfast you go for shopping in Entebbe Municipality and have Lunch at a restaurant of your choice thereafter you are transferred to Entebbe International Airport for your departure flight.

Tour Prices
This is a private Photographic Safari and can be booked by an individual or a group of a maximum of 4 people per vehicle.

Cost Includes

  • Airport transfers
  • Transport in a 4×4 Safari Vehicle
  • Services of an English speaking driver guide
  • Fuel for the whole safari
  • All park entry fees
  • Boat Cruise and Game Drives
  • Meals and accommodation
  • Nature walks
  • All locally produced alcoholic and soft drinks at Apoka Safari Lodge
  • Meals and accommodation
  • Drinking water in the Vehicle

Cost excludes
Visa fees, Air ticket and tips

Thank you for choosing Snap Uganda Tours. We will be pleased to hear your comments after the Photographic Safari