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Entebbe, Uganda
5th Nov 2024: Pick up from your hotel - Transfer to Murchison Falls En route Rhino sanctuary
Today's journey will take you north from Kampala to Murchison falls national park. En route, you will visit Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary where you will go for guided rhino tracking with an experienced ranger, which gives you a unique opportunity to view the rhinos from a close distance.
Kidepo Valley and Murchison Falls National Parks once had both black and white rhinos; however, widespread poaching during the Idi Amin era resulted in the disappearance of these majestic animals from the wild. Founded in 1998, Rhino Fund Uganda works to reintroduce black and white rhinos into Uganda and runs a breeding programme.
Murchison Falls National Park is the largest conservation area in Uganda covering an area of over 3,840 km², The Park’s name derives from its famous waterfall: the mighty Murchison Falls, which are formed where the Victoria Nile powerfully forces its way through a narrow cleft before plunging 43m down with a thunderous roar
The mighty Nile River divides the park into its north and south sections. At the spectacular Murchison Falls the world's longest river explodes violently through a narrow cleft in the Rift Valley escarpment to plunge into a frothing pool 43m below. As the river attracts large numbers of game, a boat safari up the Nile provides the perfect opportunity to see and photograph the animals. You will be watched by crocodiles, hundreds of hippos, buffaloes, water birds, monkeys and all the other thirsty wildlife that the Nile attracts, you go to the bottom of the Murchison Falls, which approaches you with a thunderous sound. By car or after a short hike you can reach the “Top of the falls” from where you have a perfect view of the extraordinary falls and the river snaking below.
You will be staying at a great mid-range lodge, overlooking the River Nile. Here you can relax during the rest of your day.
Journey Time: 6 Hours
Accommodation: Murchison River lodge – non self-contained tents
Meal plan: All meals
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Murchison Falls National Park Uganda, Uganda
6th Nov 2024: Morning game drive, Boat safari & Hike to the top of falls
Today you will wake up very early. In the early morning hours animals are the most active, the sun is not yet so bright and temperatures are cooler. It offers the best time to spot wild animals. After an early breakfast you will go on a game drive to explore the northern part of the park.
You will be eye-to-eye with the African animals like elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, lions, leopards, different species of antelopes and many tropical birds may all be spotted during the game drive. So keep your eyes open.
In the afternoon you will take a boat safari up the Nile River to Murchison Falls. You will be watched by crocodiles, hundreds of hippos, buffaloes, water birds, monkeys and all the other thirsty wildlife that the Nile attracts, you will reach the base of the 43-meter high Falls which approach with a thunderous sound.
After the boat safari you will hike to the top of the falls. From here you will have a wonderful view and fantastic photo opportunities.
Accommodation: Murchison River lodge – non self-contained tents
Meal plan: All meals
Optional activities:
1. Night Game drive
If staying in the northern part of the park, you can go for a night game drive, with your safari guide and a ranger guide from Uganda Wildlife Authority. The night game drives may start from 4pm returning at 10pm latest. A spotlight is used to spot the different animals.
Night game drives offer a whole new perspective to a Uganda safari and allows travellers to experience the mysteries of the African bush after dark. Travellers will get a chance to see the nocturnal life such as porcupines, mongoose, leopards and other animals that love the dark.
Costing: 250 USD per vehicle
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Kibale National Park, Uganda
7th Nov 2024: Transfer to Kibale National Park
Today you will begin your journey to Kibale Forest N.P. The long drive is incredibly scenic, passing through tea plantations and the lush green countryside which characterizes so much of Uganda.
Kibale Forest National Park is located in west-central Uganda just east of the Rwenzori Mountains, near the town of Fort Portal. The 766 Km² Park predominantly covers evergreen rain forest and ranges between 1100 and 1600m in elevation. Kibale Forest is one of the last remaining expanses to contain both lowland and montane forests and forms a continuous forest with Queen Elizabeth National Park.
You will have packed lunch en route, arriving in the evening for overnight and dinner
Journey Time: 7 hours
Accommodation: Kibale Forest Camp- non self-contained
Meal Plan: All meals
8th Nov 2024: Chimpanzee tracking – Bigodi swamp walk
Today you will wake up early to go to the park head offices to be briefed about your chimp tracking experience. Kibale Forest National park boasts the highest number of primate species in the world, including the chimpanzees. Approximately 5,000 chimpanzees live in the wild in Uganda, which makes it a perfect place to see them
An experienced ranger will take you chimp tracking chimp in the morning or afternoon; you might also see other monkey species that live here. Once you locate the chimpanzees you will have a full hour of eye-to-eye contact with them. Since they are wild animals, we can never guarantee you to see them and might have to settle with hearing their hoots and hollers.
In the afternoon after lunch, you will go for the guided swamp walk. The walk (2-3 hours) will take you through grassland, small communities and some beautiful scenery, where the locals are likely to greet you with enthusiastic waves. It is usual to spot three to four different primate species during this walk, though the highlight is catching a glimpse of the great blue turaco.
Optional Activities:
• Crater Lakes Hike:
Formed by ancient volcanic activity, the crater lakes of Uganda are located near Fort Portal, and are a great hiking option. Typical hikes take you through local villages and tea plantations, to the base of several of these incredibly serene and beautiful lakes. With the Rwenzori Mountains in the background, this is by far one of Uganda’s most peaceful and extraordinary sights
Journey Time: 5 minutes
Accommodation: Kibale Forest Camp – non self-contained rooms
Meal Plane: All meals
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Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda
9th Nov 2024: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
In the morning, you can relax at your lodge. You will then continue your journey to Queen Elizabeth National park.
Queen Elizabeth National park is Uganda’s second largest park, located at the base of the majestic Rwenzori Mountain range, adjacent to Lake Edward and Lake George. The park has game including Uganda kob, warthog and waterbuck. Lions are often sighted both in and at the entrance to the park. Be ready to see huge numbers of hippos and elephants, and keep your eyes on the lookout for a leopard lazing in the sunshine.
In the late afternoon you will relax at the lodge. You will stay in a nice lodge, overlooking Queen Elizabeth National park.
Journey Time: 4 hours
Accommodation: Bush Lodge- non self-contained rooms.
Meal Plan: All meals
10th Nov 2024: Game drive & Kazinga channel boat safari
Today you wake up early and have breakfast. You will search for all the wildlife in the park and are likely to come across Elephant, Buffalo, Lion, Waterbuck, Leopard, Uganda Kob, and many Warthogs.
In the afternoon you will take a boat safari along the Kazinga Channel which joins Lake George and Lake Edward.
Here, you will see a lot of hippos (more than you can possibly imagine!), as well as a variety of other animals which come to the waterhole to drink or bathe. You can expect to see buffalo, crocodile, bathing elephant, and a range of beautiful birds. This will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of your tour.
After the boat-safari you game drive back to the lodge.
Accommodation: Bush Lodge
Meal Plan: All meals
Optional activity: Chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura Gorge
Another optional activity in Queen Elisabeth N.P. is to visit the Kyambura Gorge. A hike through the gorge gives you the opportunity to see habituated chimpanzees and other types of primates including red-tailed monkey, black-and-white colobus, baboons and velvet monkeys. Although the chance of spotting chimpanzees is only 50%, the landscape is among the most impressive in Uganda and is absolutely worth it!
Cost: $50 US Dollar p.p.
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Kazinga Channel, Uganda
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Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda
11th Nov 2024: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Today after breakfast, you will be transferred to Lake Mutanda in the south-western part of Uganda; close to the borders with Rwanda and Congo. You cross a beautiful part of the country often referred to as ‘the Switzerland of Africa’. You will see a great country-side, bamboo forest and have great views over the Virunga Mountains. For lunch you will stop at a local restaurant on the road
Journey Time: 7 hours
Accommodation: Bweza Gorilla Lodge
Meal plan: All meals
12th Nov 2024: Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi Forest
Today after early breakfast, you will be transferred to the park head quarters for briefing about gorilla tracking. You will encounter one of Bwindi’s endangered mountain gorillas. For most people this is the absolute highlight of their tour in Uganda.
Bwindi Impenetrable national park boasts both mountain gorillas and chimpanzees - the only forest in Africa that can make this claim. It also hosts five other species of primates, 113 species of mammals, over 200 species of butterflies and 360 species of birds. The gorillas you track are habituated and can tolerate the presence of humans for a brief period of time, every day.
The time taken to track the gorillas can be as few as 2 hours to as many as 7 hours. Once the gorillas have been located, your group will be allowed a maximum of one hour with them. Coming face-to-face with a mountain gorilla is a truly humbling and emotional experience. This is a fantastic and privileged opportunity to get up close and personal with Uganda’s very own ‘Gorillas in the Mist’.
Journey Time: 20 minutes each way
Accommodation: Gorilla Valley Lodge
Meal plan: All meals
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Lake Bunyonyi, Uganda
13th Nov 2024: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi – Boat ride on the lake
Today after breakfast, you will be transferred to Lake Bunyonyi. Lake Bunyonyi (“Place of many little birds”) is the perfect place to stop for a break. The serene lake is rumored to be the deepest in Africa, reaching depths of 900 meters. The lake stretches around 25 km in length and 7 meters wide, with 29 islands scattered throughout. Although it can be very tempting to just sit by the water and soak up the sun, there are many different activities available, including a boat ride to the different islands, bird watching, and bike riding.
You will go for a boat ride and learn about the different islands that include the Punishment Island, and all the history of the area
Journey Time: 2 hours
Accommodation: Paradise Bunyonyi
Meal plan: All meals
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Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda
14th Nov 2024: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park
After breakfast, you will travel to Lake Mburo National Park, one of Uganda’s smallest parks, but certainly not to be underestimated. It is the only Ugandan national park (besides to Kidepo Valley N.P.) which is home to zebras, elands and impalas, as well as to an abundance of other wildlife - not to mention the lake itself, which has lots of hippos and crocodiles. Last but not least: The Uganda Wildlife Authority recently brought 15 giraffes from Murchison falls to lake Mburo (1st July 2015)!
You will stay just outside the park boundaries, but it will feel like being in the middle of the park. From your veranda and restaurant, you have a great view over the park and its wildlife.
Journey time: 5 hours
Accommodation: Rwakobo Rock – Hornbill house
Meal plan: All meals
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Entebbe, Uganda
15th Nov 2024: Guided bush walk and transfer to Entebbe
Today after breakfast, you will go for a guided bush walk. Lake Mburo N.P is one of two parks in Uganda where bush walks with an experienced ranger are permitted. This opportunity should not be missed. From footprints and animal droppings the ranger will be able to tell you which animal has left it and how long ago. It is exciting to approach wildlife at such close range.
Note: Instead of going for the bush walk, you can go on a horseback riding safari in the park (US $80 p.p. extra for 2 hours).
After, you will drive back to Kampala or Entebbe (Airport) stopping at the equator for the requisite snapshot and a bit of souvenir shopping.
Accommodation for tonight is not inclusive in the program. If you wish to depart tonight from Entebbe Airport, make sure your flight is at 10 pm or later. If you want us to book one (or more) nights in Kampala and/or Entebbe, please let us know.
Journey Time: 5 hours to Entebbe
Accommodation: Not included
Meal plan: Breakfast and lunch