Day 1: Arrival –Kampala
Meet and greet at the Entebbe International Airport. Our representative will pick you up and introduce you to you driver/guide who will thereafter be in charge of your wellbeing. You will the drive to your lodge/hotel. If your flight arrives in the morning, you will embark on the city tour and visit outstanding and some of Kampala’s historical sites with the help of our driver/guide. This city tour will feature sites like Kasubi Tombs, Wamala tombs, Namugongo Martyrs Shrine, Museums and craft shops. Or Visit Uganda Wildlife Education Centre. Dinner and overnight at your hotel of a good standing.
Day 2: Kampala – Murchison Falls National Park.
After a scrumptious breakfast you will be transferred from your hotel to
Murchison Falls National Park. You will have a break at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary in Nakasongola to view some of the remaining Rhinos in Uganda.
This sanctuary has now been established to breed black and white rhino, and restore Rhino populations in Uganda’s protected areas in a later stage. On arrival, marvel at the Nile, compressing from 50 metres to squeeze through a 6 metre canyon dropping 40 metres with a thunderous roar creating a beautiful rainbow, aplume of spray.
The sight of the Nile River, the world’s longest river, winding its way through the park and plunging through a narrow gap is unforgettable.
Overnight at Paraa Safari Lodge/Nile Safari Camp/ Sambiya River Lodge/Red Chilli Rest Camp.
Day 3: Morning Game drive and a boat trip in the evening.
After breakfast, you will go for an early morning game drive to the rolling plains where you have chances of viewing Lions, Giraffe, Hartebeest, Buffalo and Elephant as well as many of the other mammals of the park. This is a beautiful drive across Borassus Palm Forest and grassland savannah down to Lake Albert where the Albert Nile heads north to the Sudan. After lunch, proceed for a boat trip on the placid Victoria Nile, upstream, to the base of the falls. The banks of the Nile are home to many species. You may see huge Nile Crocodiles, big Pods of Hippos and other wildlife that may come down to drink from the river. Return for dinner and overnight at Paraa Safari Lodge (High end/luxurious accommodation), Sambiya River Lodge (Medium class accommodation) or Red Chilli Rest Camp (Low budget/basic accommodation).
Day 4: Top of the falls – Kibale
Early game drive to the Top of Murchison Falls where you can have a close look in to the gorge. Then head for Kibale Forest National Park. Kibale Forest is a large protected block of rainforest, which has the highest number of primates in Africa such as Chimpanzees, Grey Cheeked Mangabey, Red Tailed monkey and Red Colobus. Relax in the evening have dinner and over night at either Ndali lodge, a stunning location overlooking a dramatic Crater Lake and the fabled “Mountains of the Moon”/ Mantana Tented Camp (High end/luxurious accommodation), Rwenzori View Guest House/ (Medium class accommodation) or Primate Lodge Kibale Bandas (Low budget/basic accommodation).
Day 5: Chimp trekking and Bigodi swamp walk
This morning you will go for the morning Chimpanzee tracking in the forest and look out other primate including L’Hoests, Red colobus, Blues, red tailed and Gary checked mangabey. This afternoon, you will have the opportunity of a guided walk through Bigodi Swamp. Managed by the Kibale Association for Rural and Environmental Organisation formed in 1992 with the aim of achieving social and economic development for local communities, this swamp is a home to approximately 137 bird species and its also rich in vegetation, such as wild palms, polita figs and the dominant papyrus.
There are networks of forest trails that radiate out from the visitor centre, allowing you to search for a number of species that shun the vicinity of the main road.
Dinner and over night at Ndali Lodge / Mantana Tented Camp (High end/luxurious accommodation), Rwenzori View Guest House (Medium class accommodation) or Primate Lodge Kibale Bandas (Low budget/basic accommodation).
Day 6: Kibale – Semliki Valley Wildlife Reserve
Depart early after breakfast for Semliki Wildlife Reserve to catch up the day’s activities
Semliki valley is known as the “Garden of Eden” and has a magnificent view of the River Semliki meandering to Lake Albert. You will stop to visit a local farmer and have a brief tour of his farm then take your picnic lunch at the hot water springs arriving at the Lodge in the afternoon. The hot springs and crown the day in the pygmy villages located near the Ituri Rainforest. The visit to the villages has proven to be an interesting cultural experience. The guide will have lunch arranged for you to be served as a picnic while you experience the “real Africa and it secrets”.
Dinner and over night at Semliki Safari Lodge (High-end accommodation) or Camping (Low budget/basic accommodation).
Day 7: Semliki Valley
After breakfast, you will track the Chimpanzee in the Gallery Forest of the Mugiri River.
After the trekking, you will have lunch and later go for a boat trip on Lake Albert in search for the Shoebill returning to the Lodge in the evening. Dinner and overnight at Semliki Safari Lodge (High-end accommodation) or Camping (Low budget/basic accommodation).
Day 8: Semliki – Queen Elizabeth National park
Have an early morning game drive before heading for Queen Elizabeth National Park arriving in the afternoon. Loosen up around the pool after lunch and later go for an early evening game drive. Dinner and over night at Mweya Lodge or the Institute of Ecology Cottages (basic accommodation).
Day 9: Game drive and Launch cruise
Queen Elizabeth National Park’s diverse Eco system of grassy plains, tropical forest, rivers, swamps, lakes and volcanic craters is home to an incredible abundance of wildlife. A game drive in the park in this park, with massive Rwenzoris as a back drop provides excellent opportunities to see lion, leopard, buffalo, Uganda Kob, bush buck and many more. Return at the Lodge for breakfast.
After lunch, enjoy the unique 2 hour boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel and into Lake Edward. A tremendous variety of birds grace the grasses on the shores. Great White and Pink-Backed Pelicans, Great and Long-Tailed Cormorants, Open-Billed Stork, African Jacana, Malachite and Pied Kingfishers are commonly seen. Spend the night at either Mweya Lodge/ Jacana safari Lodge (High end/luxurious accommodation) or the Institute of Ecology Cottages (Low budget/basic accommodation).
Day 10: Queen Elizabeth – Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
After breakfast, you will have a game drive as you depart Queen Elizabeth for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. You may decide to relax in the afternoon or take a nature walk (at an extra cost of $20 P.P) which will lead you to the Munyaga Waterfall and a chance to see primates such as the Grey Cheeked Mangabey Blue Monkeys and others species. Dinner and overnight at Gorilla Resort/ Buhoma Homestead/the Community Bandas.
Day 11: Gorilla Tracking – Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Tracking the gorillas is the thrill of a lifetime! Early morning departure for the mountain gorilla tracking. After the briefing from the authorities of the park, set off for the trekking into the rain tropical forest searching for the habituated gorilla family. Make sure you carry with you packed lunch and water. The tracking may take between 2 and 8 hours but its well worth the effort. There are always park guides who interpret the flora and fauna and the lifestyle of the Gorillas. In the afternoon relax at the camp or go for a Village walk to visit the Local Batwa Community walk (at an extra cost of $15 per person) returning to the Camp in the evening. Dinner and overnight at Gorilla Resort/ Buhoma Homestead/the Community Bandas.
Day 12: Bwindi – Lake Mburo National Park.
After breakfast, you will proceed to Lake Mburo National Park passing through the Switzerland of Uganda (Kabale) with fine-looking scenery and terraced farming arriving at Lake Mburo National Park in the afternoon.
After lunch, you may decide to go for a boat trip or relax in your room. Lake Mburo is an extension of the Tanzanian Plains with big herds of Zebra, Impala, Eland and other savannah species. For birders, this is one of the best places to find African Fin foot, Papyrus and Bush Shrike. Go for an evening game drive and overnight at Mihingo Lodge / Mantana Tented Camp/ UWA’s Tents.
Day 13: Lake Mburo – Kampala
After an early morning breakfast you will have a guided nature walk. A ranger guide takes you on foot to the bush. Lake Mburo is the only place in this part of Uganda where you can see zebra and Impala and it’s also the best place to see the African Eland, Africa’s largest antelope! You will drive back to having a stopover to look at the Royal Drum makers, the Equator. Over night at Cassia Lodge or Holiday Express Hotel.
Day 14: Depart to Ngamba Island
This morning you will take a short briefing by your guide, you will be driven to the shores of Lake Victoria to meet your 9.00am launch. The boat takes about 45 minutes across to Ngamba Island, crossing the Equator en-route. On arrival at the island, home to 39 chimpanzees, you will be given a short introduction and briefing on the sanctuary. It is fascinating to watch the chimps interact with each other and with their keepers. In the relatively short amount of time you are there you will be able to see such different personalities amongst the group, with some whistling for food and others clapping. Obviously the ideal option would be to re-introduce these orphaned chimpanzees to the wild however this is not possible for a number of different reasons and the sanctuary is not bad for second best. Overnight at NgambaIsland Camp (FB)
Day 15: After breakfast, you will return to the main land to meet you flight back home.