8-Day Ajai Rhino Tracking & Kidepo Wilderness Safari

• You'll be collected from the airport.
• Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Transfer from Entebbe to Arua

Your safari begins with an early morning departure from Kampala as you journey northwest towards the vibrant city of Arua in Uganda's West Nile region. The drive offers a fascinating glimpse into the country's changing landscapes, from bustling towns and fertile farmland to expansive savannahs and the mighty River Nile. Pause en route for lunch before continuing through rural trading centers and scenic countryside.
As you approach West Nile, the landscape transforms into gently rolling hills dotted with traditional homesteads and cultivated fields. Arrive in Arua in the late afternoon and check in to your hotel. Spend the remainder of the evening relaxing and preparing for the exciting wildlife adventure ahead.

Main Destination:

Arua

Accommodation:

White Castle Hotel Arua

• Mid-range hotel located the park

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Rhino Tracking in Ajai Wildlife Reserve

After an early breakfast, drive to the nearby Ajai Wildlife Reserve for an extraordinary conservation experience. Named after the legendary local chief Ajai, the reserve occupies an important section of the White Nile ecosystem and has become the focus of Uganda's ambitious rhino reintroduction program. Upon arrival, receive a briefing from Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers before setting out on foot to track rhinos through their natural habitat.

Accompanied by experienced guides and armed rangers, learn about the reserve's restoration efforts, rhino behavior, habitat management, anti-poaching initiatives, and the importance of rebuilding Uganda's northern rhino population. Along the way, keep an eye out for different wildlife, primates, and numerous bird species that thrive within the reserve. Following your tracking experience, enjoy lunch before taking a leisurely guided nature walk. Return to Arua in the evening for dinner and
overnight.

Main Destination:

Ajai Wildlife Reserve

Accommodation:

White Castle Hotel Arua

• Mid-range hotel located the park

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Transfer from Arua to Kidepo Valley National Park

Following breakfast, depart Arua and embark on one of Uganda's most scenic road journeys as you travel northeast through the remote landscapes of the Karamoja region. Enjoy spectacular views of rugged hills, open grasslands, seasonal rivers, and traditional pastoral communities before arriving at Kidepo Valley National Park in the afternoon.

After checking into your lodge, enjoy a short evening game drive in the Narus Valley, where wildlife frequently gathers around permanent water sources. Watch the golden African sunset illuminate the vast plains while searching for elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, and antelope before returning to the lodge for dinner.

Main Destination:

Kidepo Valley National Park

Best Time To Visit September to March (Dry season)

High Season September to March (The park rarely gets crowded)

Best Weather September to November (End of the rains)

Wildlife in Kidepo Valley NP

ElephantCommon

BuffaloAbundant

ZebraCommon

GiraffeOccasional

LionOccasional

LeopardOccasional

Show more

HyenaOccasional

White RhinoRare

CheetahRare

Wild DogRare

Black RhinoNone

WildebeestNone

HippoNone

Accommodation:

Kidepo Savannah Lodge (Safari Tent)

• Mid-range tented camp bordering Kidepo Valley NP without fences

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Morning Game Drive & Guided Bush Walk

Rise before sunrise for a rewarding morning game drive through the wildlife-rich Narus Valley. This section of the park supports the highest concentration of wildlife and offers excellent opportunities to encounter lions resting after the night's hunt, large herds of buffaloes, elephants, Rothschild's giraffes, zebras, Jackson's hartebeests, elands, oribis, reedbucks, and, with luck, the elusive cheetah.

After lunch and a brief rest at the lodge, venture into the bush on foot with an armed Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger. The guided walking safari provides a completely different perspective of the African wilderness, allowing you to identify animal tracks, birdlife, insects, medicinal plants, and the smaller creatures often missed during vehicle-based game drives. Return to the lodge in time to enjoy sunset views over the valley.

Main Destination:

Kidepo Valley National Park

Accommodation:

Kidepo Savannah Lodge (Safari Tent)

• Mid-range tented camp bordering Kidepo Valley NP without fences

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Kidepo Valley & Kanangorok Hot Springs

Today takes you deeper into one of Africa's last true wilderness areas. Drive across the expansive Kidepo Valley towards the remote Kanangorok Hot Springs, located close to the South Sudan border. The route traverses dry riverbeds, open savannahs, and striking rocky outcrops that support unique wildlife adapted to this semi-arid environment.

Look out for ostriches, secretary birds, bat-eared foxes, jackals, and a variety of raptors soaring overhead. Upon reaching the hot springs, enjoy a guided walk while learning about the area's fascinating geology and cultural significance. Pause for a picnic lunch before slowly making your way back through the park, maximizing opportunities for wildlife viewing and photography. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

Main Destination:

Kidepo Valley National Park

Accommodation:

Kidepo Savannah Lodge (Safari Tent)

• Mid-range tented camp bordering Kidepo Valley NP without fences

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

IK Community Cultural Experience

Following breakfast, set off for the foothills of Mount Morungole to visit the IK people, one of Uganda's smallest and most distinctive indigenous communities. Accompanied by local guides, enjoy a scenic hike to the village where you will gain first-hand insight into the IK's remarkable history, traditional architecture, subsistence farming, folklore, music, dance, and enduring cultural traditions.

Learn how thecommunity has adapted to life in this mountainous environment while preserving its unique identity.
After sharing in cultural performances and interacting with community members, return to the lodge for a relaxing evening.

Main Destination:

Mount Morungole

Accommodation:

Kidepo Savannah Lodge (Safari Tent)

• Mid-range tented camp bordering Kidepo Valley NP without fences

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Transfer from Kidepo Valley National Park to Gulu

After breakfast, bid farewell to Kidepo and begin your journey south through the scenic Karamoja region towards Gulu, the vibrant commercial hub of Northern Uganda. Enjoy lunch en route as you travel through changing landscapes of rolling hills, open plains, and rural communities. Arrive in Gulu during the late afternoon and check in to your hotel. The evening is at leisure to relax after the day's drive.

Main Destination:

Gulu (City)

Accommodation:

Bomah Hotel Gulu

• Mid-range hotel located in Gulu (City)

+2 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Transfer from Gulu to Entebbe

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before beginning the final leg of your journey back to Kampala. Travel through northern Uganda's fertile countryside with opportunities to stop at local markets for fresh fruits, handmade crafts, and memorable photographs. Pause for lunch along the way before continuing to Kampala.
Arrive in the late afternoon, bringing your remarkable adventure through Uganda's northern wilderness to
a memorable conclusion.

Main Destination:

Entebbe (City)

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

• Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
• You'll be dropped off at the airport.