5 Day Kidepo Valley Safari & Ziwa Rhino Tracking

Your safari begins with an early pick-up from your hotel in Entebbe or Kampala. Meet your driver guide and travel north through Uganda's countryside towards Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary in Nakasongola District.

The journey takes you through towns, rural communities and agricultural areas before arriving at the sanctuary.

After lunch, meet your ranger guide for a rhino tracking experience on foot. Following a safety briefing, walk through the sanctuary in search of its white rhinos while maintaining the required viewing distance and following your ranger's instructions.

The experience provides an opportunity to observe rhinos away from a safari vehicle while also learning about rhino conservation in Uganda.

After tracking, transfer to your accommodation and spend the remainder of the evening at leisure.

After breakfast, leave Ziwa and continue northeast towards Kidepo Valley National Park.

This is a substantial road journey, but it is also an important part of the Kidepo experience. As you travel farther into northern and northeastern Uganda, the scenery changes, with increasingly open and drier landscapes as you approach the Karamoja region.

Pass through towns and rural communities along the route, stopping for lunch before continuing towards Kidepo.

Arrive at the park later in the day and transfer to your accommodation. Depending on arrival time and lodge location, spend the remainder of the afternoon or evening relaxing and taking in your surroundings ahead of the following day's game drives.

Rise early for a morning game drive in the Narus Valley, one of Kidepo's principal wildlife-viewing areas.

Explore the valley with your driver guide, watching the open plains for buffaloes, elephants, giraffes, zebras and different antelope species. Your guide will also search for predators such as lions and other wildlife associated with Kidepo.

The park's open landscapes and surrounding mountains provide a very different safari setting from Uganda's western national parks.

Return to your lodge for lunch and some time to relax.

Later in the afternoon, head out again to explore more of Kidepo Valley National Park. Depending on conditions, timing and your guide's recommendations, the drive may take you through different habitats and viewpoints within the park.

As always, wildlife moves freely, so individual sightings cannot be guaranteed. Part of Kidepo's appeal lies in exploring a large, relatively remote landscape and seeing what each game drive brings.

Return to your accommodation for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, take part in a guided cultural experience with a local Karamojong community.

The visit offers an opportunity to learn about aspects of Karamojong life, including the importance of cattle, traditional homesteads and customs that have shaped communities in the Karamoja region.

Rather than simply observing from a distance, use the experience as an opportunity to listen, ask questions and gain a better understanding of the people and traditions of northeastern Uganda.

After the visit, return to your lodge for lunch and some time to relax.

Later in the afternoon, head back into the park for another game drive. Your guide will search for wildlife across the savannah as temperatures begin to cool, giving you another opportunity to encounter species you may have missed during the previous day's drives.

Return to your lodge for dinner and your final night in Kidepo.

After an early breakfast, check out and begin your return journey from Kidepo.

Guests travelling entirely by road will make the long journey south towards Kampala or Entebbe, with appropriate stops along the route.

For travellers who prefer to reduce the amount of time spent on the road, a domestic flight from the Kidepo area to Entebbe may be arranged where scheduled services and availability allow. The flight is optional and should be quoted separately unless specifically included in your confirmed package.

Your safari ends with drop off at your agreed location in Kampala or Entebbe.