Wildlife tour: Primates and the big five trip

Overview

This trip is less hassled, making the traveller stay at a destination for long in order to empathize with the area’s diversity and the surrounding environments. We all know that strolling through the same area as many times as possible will most likely produce more different and unforgettable experiences. Longer stays and mini-siestas between field trips at your luxury safari lodge will make you relish the comforts of lodging in the Ugandan wilderness. We shall take you to see the “big five” and the stunning primates of Uganda.

Destinations

Queen Elizabeth National Park, L. Mburo NP, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest NP and Kibale Forest National Park

Optional extension: Kidepo Valley National Park

Accommodations

L. Victoria Serena Resort Hotel, Gorilla Forest Camp, Mantana Tented Safari Camp, Ishasha Wilderness Camp, Mweya Safari Lodge, Ndali Lodge, Apoka Safari Lodge and Chobe Safari Lodge

Duration: 2 Weeks

Day 1 Arrivals for international visitors

Our driver guide will warmly meet you on arrival at Entebbe International Airport; brief you on the rest of the safari programme, then drive for short distance to your hotel for refreshments.

Overnight: Lake Victoria Serena Resort Hotel

Day 2 Lake Mburo National Park

We shall today travel to L. Mburo National Park arriving there in time for lunch; we have short siesta, and later we depart for our first game drive.

Lake Mburo National Park is a combination of open water with an extensive marsh and wooded grassland comprising of flooded plains bordered with pockets of tropical lowland forests giving the park an oasis setting that greatly draws wildlife in big numbers. The fresh water body attracts big congregations of hippos, crocodiles and shoreline birds. On the observation deck of our boat, we shall, most likely have a good view of pools of Hippos, Crocodiles, birds like the rare African Finfoot, White-backed Night Heron, etc. The wooded grassland section of the park is endowed with large herds of elephants, buffalo and a large numbers of antelopes like zebra, eland, impala, waterbuck, bushbuck, and many others. The entire Lake Mburo Park is a place of breathtaking and magical beauty; “a place where the vision of a deep red sunset silhouetting the thorny acacia scrub along the extensive marshy area, brings the perfect end to a day on safari”.

Overnight: Mantana Luxury Tented Camp for 2nights

Day 3 Lake Mburo

Still in Lake Mburo NP, we shall wakeup this day and enjoy our sumptuous breakfast, then go for a game drive in the wooded savanna till early afternoon. We have lunch at our lodge, have a short siesta and later take a boat along the shoreline of the lake.

Day 4 Travel to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

We start early after breakfast, checkout the camp, and drive to the southwestern part of the country. This journey will take us up to 6hours due to the rough roads. Our ultimate destination will be Buhoma. We shall check in our lodge, have lunch and relax at the lodge for the rest of the afternoon. Optional activity is a village walk to the nearby communities.

Overnight: Gorilla Forest Camp for 2nights

Day 5 Gorilla tracking in the forest

After breakfast we assemble at the park headquarters for briefing prior to our day‟s activity; gorilla tracking. For those who have done this activity before, it is by far rated as number one wilderness experience in the whole world. The Bwindi forest alone hosts more than half of the total world population of the mountain gorillas; the rest being shared among Rwanda and the DR Congo. We shall be guided by the trackers who are very knowledgeable at finding these apes. There are several other primate species in the forest including the beautiful l‟Hoest monkey, blue, black and white colobus, etc. If we are successful early enough, we shall take a walk (optional) around the nearby Buhoma village where we shall have a chance to meet the marginalized Batwa (Pygmies) people, the traditional healer and visit the local brewing site (optional).

Day 6 Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National park

Today we check out our lodge after breakfast and start for a rather teeth-jarring journey on a rough road to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Our destination today will be the famous Ishasha sector of the park, famed for the tree climbing lions. Depending on the time we shall arrive here, we shall do an early check in; do a short game drive as we look to lions and other wildlife before lunch. After lunch, we rest for the whole afternoon, and later do an evening game drive looking for particularly, the Lions and leopards.

The park prides itself as being the most diverse national reserve in the entire Africa due to the rich habitats and the associated wildlife. We are likely to meet herds of elephant, buffalo, warthog, Uganda kob, bushbuck, waterbuck and many more. For centuries, Queen Elizabeth National Reserve has stumped her authority as the „hotspot‟ of wildlife.

Overnight: Ishasha wilderness Camp for 2nights

Day 7 Queen Elizabeth National Park

We shall do an early start for yet another opportunity for the tree climbing lions. We continue our game drive to Kyambura gorge. At the gorge, we shall do a guided walk up to the bottom of the gorge.

We return to our camp later in the evening for refreshments, dinner and overnight stay.

Day 8 Queen Elizabeth National Park – Mweya Peninsula

Still in Queen Elizabeth NP, we check out Ishasha Wilderness Camp, drive slowly as we look for game up to Mweya Peninsula. We do an early check in, have lunch, rest for a while, and later do the most scenic crater lake drive up to the Queen‟s Pavilion. The Queen‟s Pavilion stands nearby at the northern entrance to the Crater Lake drive of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Both the Crater Lake drive and the Queen‟s Pavilion guarantee an excellent panoramic view of some of the parks explosion craters, some filled with lovely lakes, and the snow-capped Rwenzori Mountain Ranges across the rift valley flow. The Queen’s Pavilion, historically, hosted H.M. Queen Elizabeth II in 1954 as a temporary shelter and later the Duke of Edinburgh in 2007

Overnight: Mweya Safari Lodge

Day 9 Launch Cruise along the Kazinga Channel in the morning and afternoon relaxation at the Lodge

This morning, after our breakfast, we shall transfer to the docking area for a launch Cruise. This activity takes utmost three hours.

Kazinga Channel is a natural narrow neck of water connecting lakes George and Edward. It is one of the migratory stopovers in the region attracting both resident and Palearctic visitors like spoonbills, waders, gulls and terns and sometimes flamingos. Along the banks of the channel, we are likely to find giant crocodiles basking in the sun alongside other big herds of elephant, buffalo, giant forest hog, and hippos. Later we return to our lodge lunch and afternoon relaxation.

Located on the peninsula within the heart of Queen Elizabeth national park, Mweya Safari Lodge offers the visitors with splendid accommodation, breathtaking views on the balcony from every room overlooking the Kazinga Channel. One may have a chance to see the occasional Leopard that normally visits the hotel premises in at dusk. This is the palace where the Queen of England lodged in 1954. There is a swimming pool purposefully located for maximum relaxation, the poolside bar, Tembo safari bar and the Kazinga restaurant serving global cuisine, all set to offer a panoramic view of the park and the Rwenzori Mountain Ranges. There is a fully equipped gymnasium, sauna and massage parlour to offer maximum relaxation after long game drives in the park. There is also an open fire place in the compound of the lodge that will give you memorable experiences to gather around in the chilly evenings to watch the local dance groups wriggle their waists and bellies portraying the ancient traditions of hunting and the recent call for conservation. In the evening, when the skies are clear, you will have an opportunity to admire the myriad brilliance of the crystal clear Rwenzori mountain ranges

Day 10 Travel to Fort Portal Area

We check out Mweya Safari Lodge, drive to another Crater Lake zone of Uganda, Fort Portal. We shall have lunch in town. Today, we take some time off to see the natural wonders of this area by visiting the Stalactites and stalagmites of Nyakasura hills, do hill climbing as we enjoy the panoramic views of the crater lakes up to our lodge. We spend the night at the stunning Ndali Lodge.

Day 11 Chimp tracking in Kibale Forest National Park

We start very early, after an early morning breakfast, carry our lunch boxes and head to the Kanyanchu Tourism centre for briefing as we prepare for today‟s activity.

This park is also famous for hosting the highest number primates in Uganda (13 primate species) including Chimps, the Beautiful l‟ Hoest Monkey, black and white colobus monkeys, blue monkey etc.

The movement of the chimps depends upon the availability of food and hopefully they won’t be too far away! As we tour one of the chimps groups, we shall witness the behavioral characteristics of these living closest cousins to human beings demonstrating a distrustful fleeting look at our sudden interruptive visit into their private world, which is comforted by the chuckling made by the knowledgeable tracker guides. The noisy giant male uses loud vocalizations and drumming on large tree buttresses as a means of communicating with the other members of their group.

If we are successful early enough today, we shall talk an afternoon walk to the Bigodi Wetland. Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary is a community owned and managed nature reserve. A 4km trail has been created in the wetland adjacent to the forest. The habitat here consists of a swamp surrounded by low, scrubby secondary forest and cultivation. The walk is most interesting for bird enthusiast; Occasional encounters are chimps; black and white colobus and red- tailed monkeys are also residents here.

We return to our lodge later in the evening for refreshment dinner and overnight stay.

Day 12 Travel to Murchison Falls National Park

This is a very long journey that will probably take us the whole day. We will carry packed lunch; arrive at our hotel late this evening for refreshments, dinner and overnight stay. On this day, we shall drive through the park, cross the Nile River, and continue through northern bank of the river as we view wildlife up to our lodge.

Murchison Falls National Conservation Area is one of the best places in Uganda to relax, and enjoy nature‟s beauty. The park was named after the stunning Murchison Falls which were discovered by Sir Roderick Impey Murchison, who was a Scottish geologist who visited the area in the 18^th century. The scenery is breath-taking; a sight of the virgin expansive open savannah plains, grassland dotted with standing borassus palm trees, tropical rain forest, traversed by the majestic River Nile. Interesting activities here include a boat ride along the Nile up to the bottom of the falls, a game drive to the delta, and a game drive to the top of the falls. Game viewing in the park is so

fascinating with encounters like the lion, Cape buffalo, waterbucks, warthogs, oribi, giraffes, Jackson‟s Hartebeest, Patas monkeys etc

ON: Chobe Lodge

Day 13 Game drive and a visit to the top of the falls

We shall start very early today; we spend most on of our morning in the Northern part of the park. We do a game drive to the delta. Return to the lodge for lunch, and later drive to the top of the falls. At the top of the falls we shall experience the powerful water surge as the Nile River waters plunge down the main pool 43metre below through a narrow 7meters gap!

Day 14 Transfer to Kampala

We bid farewell to Uganda at Ndere Center. We will enjoy a mouth-watering farewell dinner at the centre as we are being entertained by Ndere‟s versatile artists in the Afro Jazz style. There is quite a variety of soft delicacies to sample. During this time we can exchange pleasantries, reflect on the safari experience – moments that carried us away in laughter, joy & amazement. Back home, with your photographs – a capture of the special moments we have had on this tour to immortalize the experience, your memories should last a lifetime and tell all those who have not known about Uganda!

Optional activity here is a stopover on our way to Kampala at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for Rhino tracking.

Note: Ndere Troupe entertainment is always on the evenings of Sundays and Fridays

Overnight: Lake Victoria Serena Resort Hotel Day 12 Flight back home – End of our Tour Optional 4 days trip extension

This trip will have an optional extension to Kidepo valley National Park after Murchison Falls National Park. Accommodation will be at the Luxurious Apoka Safari Lodge.

Nestled in the extreme northeastern corner of Uganda, bordering with Sudan and Kenya, Kidepo Valley National Park is Uganda‟s wildest and most spectacular conservation area. Covering an area of 1,442 sq km, it is cut off from the rest of the country in terms vegetation cover by the sparsely distributed arid badlands of Karamoja region at about 910m ASL and the rugged horizons of Moroto reaching an altitude of 2,750m ASL. From open wooded savannah plains with patches of montane forest, riparian woodland, thick miombo woodland, borassus palms and rocky koppies, to the montain forest supporting dense acacia geradi forest studded with small hills, rocky outcrops and inselbergs, the area provides a unique landscape from which one can obtain stunning views as far as the eye can reach.

The scenic beauty coupled with the unique diversity of wildlife of this park is compared to no other national reserve in East Africa. The Park offers breathtaking Savannah landscapes, rugged mountain scenery horizons, all proving a strong wilderness atmosphere, extraordinary game viewing and bird watching

The park is famed for protecting remarkable wildlife that is not represented in any other Ugandan protected area. . Much of the flora and fauna in the park is typical of northern Kenya. Of the 77 mammal species recorded in the park, over 20 species are not known to occur in any other Ugandan park. Besides the big game like elephants, leopard, lion and buffalo, there other species that are unique to the region like kavirondo bush baby, bat-eared fox, striped hyena, aardwolf, caracal, black-backed jackal, cheetah, and African hunting dogs.

Includes:

Accommodation & meals (as per itinerary).
Private 4×4 safari vehicle with driver-guide.
All park entrance fees and permits (gorilla, chimpanzee tracking).
Game drives, boat cruises, and guided walks.
Airport transfers and bottled water.
Cultural experiences (Ndere Centre, Buhoma village walk).

Excludes:

International flights and visa fees.
Optional activities (Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Kidepo extension).
Personal expenses (tips, drinks, souvenirs, insurance).
Vaccinations and medication costs.

Uganda wildlife viewing and culture experience

Overview

This trip is designed in an exceptional way to experience magnificent and unique Ugandan wildlife, the Ugandan people and their ecosystem; all beautifully blended in the culturally rich and warm-spirited local Ugandans. The natural wonders we take

You are in some of the world’s remotest wildlife reserves, with less concentration by other operators and tourists, staying in eco-friendly and most luxurious safari lodges and camps purposely built to blend people with nature around. You will have a chance to meet with some of the world’s most endangered ecosystems and the most vulnerable tribal groups of people. Kampala City and Jinja (source of the Nile)

Destinations

Murchison Falls National Park, Fort Portal Area (Crater Lake field), Kibale Forest National Park, Mt. Gahinga National Park (Batwa-Pygmies Trail trail experience), and Lake Mburo National Park

Accommodations

Kampala Serena Hotel, Mweya Safari Lodge, Mount Gahinga Volcanoes Lodge, Mihingo Lodge, Ndali Lodge and Para Safari Lodge

Duration

2½ weeks

Day 1 Arrival

Upon arrival, you will be picked up from the airport by your driver guide. Have a short briefing, refresh and have dinner.

Overnight: Serena Hotel Kampala for 2nights

Day 2 Kampala City tour

Have a whole day on a relaxed tour of the City. Today you can do shopping, exchange your currency, and take a short tour of Kampala city. We may decide to visit some sites and places like Kasubi Tombs, Uganda Museum, Nakasero Green Market and Uganda Martyrs Shrine Namugongo, depending on our interests and the time we shall have on this day.

Optional activities today are white water rafting, quad biking, horseback riding and/or bungee jumping in Jinja along the source of the Nile.

Today evening, we shall spend our time at the Multi-award winning Ndere Troupe Centre for a cultural performance and dance.

Ndere Troupe performs a repertoire of all authentic Ugandan and the entire African traditional dances and songs accompanied by various indigenous percussive, stringed and wind instruments. The troupe fuses traditional dance, music, and drama with modern arts by blending traditional instruments with modern ones to produce exhilarating sounds. We shall be ushered this evening to the only true African amphi- theatre or the joy Arena, built on the African philosophy of storytelling around a bon fire in a circular kraal setting, and gaze at these talented Africans wiggle their waists for the rest of our evening. We have dinner here.

Day 3 Travel to Murchison Falls National Park

Today we start early after breakfast, pack a day’s break snack, check out the hotel and drive to Murchison Falls National Park. We shall do a short walk to the top of the falls upon arrival before crossing the Nile to our lodge for lunch and check in. At the top of the falls, we experience the magic power of the Nile River at a point where the river drops downstream 40m below through a narrow gap of about 7metres!

After lunch, we shall have a short siesta and thereafter go for a game drive on the northern part of the park.

Murchison falls NP is Uganda’s largest National Conservation area and it is famous for its big game, spectacular scenery and the falls for which the park was named. Abundant Hippos, Crocodiles, Elephant, Buffalo, Uganda Kob and Waterbuck can be seen along with occasional Lions, Leopard and Patas Monkeys.

Overnight: Para Safari Lodge for 2nights

Day 4 Murchison Falls National Park

Today we spend the whole morning on a game drive once again in the Northern bank of the park. We shall focus our efforts along the delta track looking for cats and other wildlife. Lunch will at the lodge. The game drive takes you through the beautiful sceneries of open savanna dotted with tall borassus palms and acacia woodland inhabiting

herds of buffalo, elephant, giraffes, Uganda Kob, Oribi, Jackson’s hartebeest, waterbuck, bushbuck, occasional lion, and the elusive Leopard which is normally observed in the evenings; etc.

In the afternoon, we jump on a boat for a cruise Nile River up to the bottom of the falls. The boat ride along the Nile River is a very rewarding experience. There are several congregations of buffalo, elephant, hippo and the gigantic Nile crocodiles that throng the banks. Several waterfowls both migratory and resident are abundant here. You will stop at a point where the Nile waters drop to the main pool through a 7meters gap!

Overnight: Para Safari Lodge

Day 5 Travel to Fort Portal Area

Today we shall spend most of our day travelling to Fort-portal. We shall check out Para lodge, have breakfast and carry picnic lunch. We drive through the Rift Valley Escarpment. This is a very scenic drive taking you through the picturesque landscapes characterized by valleys and cliffs; towards Fort Portal, we travel past green tea plantations, rolling hills and valleys and crater lakes. We shall be having numerous stops for stretching legs, nature photography and sightseeing the countryside.

Overnight: Ndali Lodge for 3nights

Day 6 Explore Fort-Portal Area

Here we spend our whole morning touring the stalactites and stalagmites of the Nyakasura Hills and craters; here, we shall do a little bit of hiking along Lake Kigere, pay a short visit to the Early Man Footmarks on the Kigere Rock, and then the royal palace of the King of Toro Kingdom, the youngest ever crowned king in the whole world. We hope to have time to visit the Karambi tombs – the traditional burial grounds for the ancient fallen kings of the Toro Kingdom, before returning tour lodge for an evening relaxation.

Day 7 Chimp Tracking in Kibale forest National Park

We start very early, after an early morning breakfast, carry our lunch boxes and head to the Kanyanchu Tourism centre for briefing as we prepare for today’s activity.

This park is also famous for hosting the highest number primates in Uganda (13 primate species) including Chimps, the Beautiful l’ Hoest Monkey, black and white colobus monkeys, blue monkey etc.

We return to our lodge later in the evening for refreshment dinner and overnight stay.

Day 8 Travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park

We have a very early start, check out the lodge and travel to Queen Elizabeth national park. We spend the whole morning along the Kasenyi trail famous for the Lions.

This park is Africa’s most diverse national conservation due to the rich habitats and the associated wildlife. We are likely to meet herds of elephant, buffalo, warthog, Uganda kob, bushbuck, waterbuck and many more.

We shall check in Mweya safari lodge this afternoon, have lunch and thereafter go for a Launch Cruise along the famous Kazinga Channel.

The Kazinga Channel is a natural narrow neck of water connecting lakes George and Edward. “Plying these waters with comfort, elegance and attentive service, affording superb wildlife viewing from your observation deck, is re- assuring!” It is one of the migratory stopovers in the region attracting both resident and Palearctic visitors like spoonbills, waders, gulls and terns and sometimes flamingos. Along the banks of the channel, we shall find giant crocodiles basking in the sun alongside other big herds of elephant, buffalo, giant forest hog, and hippos. This activity takes about two hours.

Overnight: Mweya Safari Lodge

Day 9 Queen Elizabeth National Park

Today, we shall begin with a tour to one of the salt mining lakes and later do the “crater lake drive” up to the Queen’s Pavilion. We shall visit the Lake Katwe Salt Mining and fishing village and learn how the local people here survive entirely on mining activities as well as fishing by using rudimentary methods of extracting salt.

The Queen’s Pavilion stands nearby at the northern entrance to the Crater Lake drive of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Both the Crater Lake drive and the Queen’s Pavilion guarantee an excellent panoramic view of some of the parks explosion craters, some filled with lovely lakes, and the snow-capped Rwenzori Mountain Ranges across the rift valley flow. The Queen’s Pavilion, historically, hosted H.M. Queen Elizabeth II in 1954 as a temporary shelter and later the Duke of Edinburgh in 2007

Day 10 Transfer to Bunyaruguru Crater Lake zone

We shall check out Mweya Safari Lodge and drive slowly through the park as we look at wildlife around us; branch off to the captivating Kyambura Gorge on our way. This is on the rift valley escarpment portraying one of the wonders of the volcanic activities in the ancient ages. Our ultimate destination today will be the Bunyaruguru area, characterised by quaint green farms and villages, whose charming residents are descendants of Buganda immigrants. The area is carved out of dense, tropical rainforests and hilly landscapes of the fertile volcanic soils dotted with numerous cup-shaped, serpentine-shaped and crater lakes, glazed in different colours including blue, green, black and transparent. These dazzling Bunyaruguru craters embrace tracts of massive volcanic upheavals with inferred Holocene eruptions that occurred about 5000 years ago. Today we shall do crater lakes exploration. We try all our efforts to drive and reach some of the numerous craters in this area.

Overnight: Twin lakes Safari Lodge

Day 11 Bunyaruguru Area

Today we shall spend most of our day at the Nyanz’Ibiri Cultural Village.

We shall take a village walk through the local gardens, homesteads; visit the local museum, the vegetable garden, the cave and the traditional fishpond.

Optional activity: Take part in preparing our dinner! We shall harvest food in the garden, collect fuel wood, process the locally stored grain, do the cooking and any other activities that come along with the process. Dinner will be a local meal.

Day 12 Travel to Kisoro – Mgahinga

We start early for the journey that will likely take us the whole day. The drive from Ntungamo to Kabale takes us through a perch work of scenic Ugandan banana farmlands, papyrus wetlands, isolated pockets of eucalyptus woodland and the rocky grazing lands of Ankole. As we drive from Kabale to Kisoro, we travel on a winding smooth road through undulating beautiful valleys and hills, rural settlements and terraced gardens on the hills providing one of the best scenic drives in Africa before soaring inland on a muddy murram road to the park – just 30minutes drive from Kisoro town. When the skies are clear, we shall have magnificent views of the volcanic peaks of the great virungas on the border of Uganda, Rwanda, and the D.R Congo. Upon arrival, we shall check in our lodge and have a relaxed evening on a camp fire.

Overnight: Volcanoes Mount Gahinga Lodge

Day 13 Whole day on Batwa trail in Mgahinga

Today we start very early and head for a hike through the forest to the Garama Cave. Here we shall spend the whole day on the Batwa trail that runs across the lower slopes of the Muhavura and Gahinga volcanoes in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park contemplating on the life of the local Pygmy – Batwa culture.

Batwa Trail is far from being a conventional nature walk; with the help of Batwa guides, you will see the forest as a larder, pharmacy, builder’s yard, tool kit and above all, a home. Along the trail, one can harvest plants for medicine and food, check hives for wild honey or listen to the legends and learn about Batwa traditions!

The Batwa (Pygmies), comprising of 0.5% of the population around the forest, are fairly a romance between the traditional human and the modern one. Originally hunter gatherers and forest inhabitants, most of them have been resettled and are famed for their melodious music and rhythmic dance and their historic tales.

Interacting with the marginalised tribal group, Batwa – pygmies, as they tell stories of their past, is a memorable experience!

Day 14 Travel to Lake Mburo National Park

Today we check out our camp after breakfast and travel to Lake Mburo National park via Lake Bunyonyi route.

Located 1962m above sea level and surrounded by steep sided heavily cultivated hills of Kabale, Lake Bunyonyi (literary meaning ‘the place of many little birds’) is a beautiful place with 29 islands dotting the centre of the lake and believed to be the 2nd deepest lake in Africa after Tanzania’s Lake Tanganyika. The spectacular scenery makes the place ideal for relaxation and refreshing oneself.

We shall have lunch in Mabara town and continue to Lake Mburo National park for an evening game drive. If time allows, we shall visit the Igongo Cultural Centre for thorough contemplation of the Banyankole culture.

Overnight: Mihingo Lodge

Day 15 Lake Mburo National Park

We shall spend this whole day in the park.

The wooded grassland section of the park is endowed with large herds of elephants, buffalo and a large numbers of antelopes like zebra, eland, impala, waterbuck, bushbuck, and many others. The entire Lake Mburo Park is a place of breathtaking and magical beauty; “a place where the vision of a deep red sunset silhouetting the thorny acacia scrub along the extensive marshy area, brings the perfect end to a day on safari”

Day 16 Travel back to Kampala

Overnight: Serena Hotel Kampala Day 17 Departure

Inclusions

Accommodation: Stays at Serena Hotel, Para Safari Lodge, Ndali Lodge, etc.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner as per itinerary.
Transportation: 4WD safari vehicle with fuel and airport transfers.
Activities: City tours, game drives, boat cruises, chimp tracking, Bigodi Wetland walk, Batwa Trail, cultural visits, and more.
Permits: Park entry and chimpanzee tracking permit.
Guide: Professional English-speaking driver-guide.
Refreshments: Drinking water during transfers and game drives.
Taxes: Applicable government taxes and levies.

Exclusions

International flights and visas.
Optional activities (e.g., rafting, bungee jumping, cooking experience).
Personal expenses: Tips, laundry, drinks, and souvenirs.
Travel insurance.
Extra meals not in the itinerary.
Pre/post-tour accommodation.

Uganda Wildlife trip: Off-the-beaten-track offer 2026-27

Uganda Wildlife and Cultural Trip: Off-the-beaten-track Offer 2026/2027

Overview

Gorillas, Chimpanzees, Batwa/Pygmies, Adventure & game viewing

Key Notes about Uganda

Weather

Uganda has two main rainy seasons: October–November, mid-March– end of May. Overcast conditions are frequent, particularly in the forest and mountain areas. Nights can be mild to warm, cooler at higher altitudes. Mean annual temperatures range from about 16° C in the southwestern highlands to 25° C in the northwest, but in the east and northeast, temperatures may exceed 30°C.

Many of the high-altitude areas in the southwest can be chilly (10-18°C / 50-65°F). The terrain is rugged, and walkways can be challenging. Light, warm, layered clothing, rain gear, and walking shoes (jungle boots) to negotiate the bad trails are recommended.

Accommodation

Accommodations on this trip have been selected carefully. They are all built with an African panache, eco-friendly, and mostly with materials from the surrounding areas. They are in the mid-range category, clean, comfortable, all with en-suite spacious rooms with hot-showers and toilets. The food served includes continental dishes and local cuisine, all prepared with care. They have bars with a wide range of assorted wines and spirits from different parts of the world.

Clothing

Recommended for the field is light-weight, neutral-coloured clothing that can be easily rinsed out and quickly dries. Long-sleeve shirts and long pants will help protect you from insects, thorny plants, and sunburn. Shorts may be appropriate for some occasions; long pants that convert into shorts by unzipping the legs are generally very useful and popular. A sweater or jacket is useful for cooler nights and early mornings (particularly in the Bwindi and Mgahinga area). You may consider bringing rain gear, including a small umbrella. Strong-soled shoes or hiking boots are essential, as we will spend a good amount of time on our feet. Dress is casual throughout. Laundry service will be available regularly during the tour (cost not included), which should help you in deciding what to pack. Making use of laundry service means you will not need to bring many items of clothing. Alternatively, to lighten your load, you may consider bringing some clothes you have planned to discard. These can be worn on tour and left behind; they will be well received by local people we meet on the tour.

Currency

The Ugandan currency is the Shilling; at the time of writing, the exchange rate is approximately 3560 UgShs for US$1. Credit cards are widely used in most hotels and lodges where we shall be staying. They are commonly used in major shopping centres in the capital, Kampala. ATM machines too are available in some towns. In case you want to carry cash for personal expenses, which can be exchanged upon arrival at the airport or while on safari, take note that larger bills ($50 and $100 for US dollars) attract a significantly better rate of exchange than smaller bills. Any local currency can be changed back to your preferred currency at the airport on departure. US Dollar cash notes MUST be dated 2017 or newer and must be in good condition—no ink marks, no stumps, not torn! Euros and British pounds are also widely used and accepted.

Documents

A passport with a tourist visa valid for at least six months after your departure is required to enter Uganda, as well as a yellow fever vaccination certificate. For VISA application, please visit: www.immigration.go.ug

It is very important that your passport, credit cards, and traveler’s checks be on your body at all times. We caution against carrying these items in your backpack or purse, as petty crime is inevitable. If you must leave your valuable items, like cameras, jewelry, etc., in the car or hotel, make sure your driver guide or hotel management is notified about the effect. We shall not take responsibility for any loss of such items whatsoever.

What to pack

An alarm clock, a flashlight, a camera and its batteries, a small backpack for carrying essentials on day activities, insect repellent, and lots of sunscreen. If you have a pair of binoculars, please bring them. Snacks are essential to eat between meals for some people. These can be bought here in local supermarkets.

Health

It is important to note that modern medical facilities and prescription drugs are not common in Uganda, apart from a few private clinics and hospitals in major towns. Thus, one should be in reasonably good health to consider this tour.

Although food hygiene and quality are excellent and we rarely experience serious food-related illnesses, you may want to bring the remedy you prefer or that is prescribed for an upset stomach. Moist toiletries are useful for keeping refreshed and clean during travel and before picnic lunches. If you are taking prescription medication or over-the-counter medicine, be sure to bring an ample supply that will allow you to get through the tour safely. Please consult your physician as necessary. Remember to pack all medication in your carry-on baggage, preferably in original containers or packaging. As airline baggage restrictions can change without warning, please check with your airline for procedures for packing medication.

Malaria is present, including the chloroquine-resistant strain; most areas are at risk. Please consult your physician for the most effective anti-malarial.

As standard travel precautions, you should always be up to date with tetanus shots and strongly consider inoculations against hepatitis types A and B.

All water should be regarded as being potentially contaminated. Water used for drinking, brushing teeth, or making ice should have first been boiled or otherwise sterilized. Recommended is bottled water. It is also recommended that you only eat well-cooked meat and fish, served hot. Pork, salad, and mayonnaise may carry increased risk. Vegetables should be cooked/steamed and fruit peeled.

Safety

Uganda is considered safe and politically stable. Petty crime is minimal. A strong military presence in all the national parks has ensured sufficient security for the tourists and all the communities in and around those areas. All the parks we will be travelling to are well protected by the Ugandan army.

Ugandan people are incredibly welcoming, polite, and friendly!

Uganda Wildlife and Cultural trip: Gorillas Chimpanzees, the Big Five People and Culture. Off-the-beaten-track offer 2026/2027

Itinerary Details

Day of arrival: You will be picked up from the airport by one of our representatives and driven to your lodge not far off from the airport to get over jetlag, refresh, dinner, and an overnight stay.

Early arrivals will give a chance to visit Ndere Cultural Centre for traditional entertainment.

Lodge: Malakai Eco Lodge, Entebbe

Day 1: Today we pay a visit to the Ugandan capital Kampala, particularly the Bulange-Mengo Kings palace, to get a brief history of the country and its people (historical and political administration) with a few horrific incidences in comparison to the present situation. We shall spare time to exchange currency and do a little shopping.

After here, we shall be treated to a sumptuous traditional “Luwombo” meal for lunch at one of the local restaurants in town before heading west to L. Mburo National Park.

On our way, we shall have a brief stop at the equator for photo moment

Lodge: Rwakobo Rock for two nights

Day 2: Our journey will start early at 6 o’clock before breakfast. We shall visit the famous indigenous Banyankole and learn how they derive their livelihood from entirely keeping long-horned cattle. Their culture and tradition are unique to the people in central Uganda.

From here we shall have breakfast and later do a walk/cycling tour in the village, visiting farms of cattle and local homesteads. In the afternoon, after lunch at the lodge, we shall spend most of our time on a walk in the park. The wooded grassland section of the park is endowed with large herds of buffalo and giraffe and a large number of antelopes like zebra, eland, impala, waterbuck, bushbuck, and many others. The entire Lake Mburo Park is a place of breathtaking scenery and magical beauty. Lunch at the lodge and spend the rest of the day on a game drive.

Day 3: today, we check out the lodge, drive through the park again on a morning game drive before travelling further southwest to Kisoro Town. Lunch break will be in Mbarara town or Kabale, depending on our pace.

Check-in Travellers Rest Hotel later this evening

Day 4: Today we shall spend our day on the Mount Mgahinga slopes following the Batwa (Pygmies) trail learning about the past life in the forest.

Mgahinga NP alone, merits a visit simply to appreciate the Scenery. The slopes are covered with a series of distinct altitudinal bands of vegetation. From grass and bush land on the lower slopes, to montane woodland followed by the bamboo zone, montane forest and the ericaceous zone which contains giant tree heathers; ultimately ending with the spectacular alpine zone which occurs only on East African Mountains above 3000m and includes bizarre giant forms of lobelia and groundsel.

The Batwa people also known as pygmies form a small community of marginalized people who lived in the highland forests in Uganda until 1991, when they were evicted by the Ugandan government after gazzeting the forests as national parks in order to conserve the endangered mountains gorillas. The Batwa (Pygmies), comprising of less than 0.5% of the population around the forest, are fairly a romance between the traditional human and the modern one. Originally hunter gatherers and forest inhabitants, most of them have been resettled and are famed for their melodious music and rhythmic dance and their historic tales. Interacting with them as they tell stories of their past, is a memorable experience!

After here, we shall drive direct to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park – Ruhiija sector

Overnight: Broadbill Forest Camp

This evening, one Athanasius Kabande, while on a campfire, will entertain us with his beautiful melodies from the sounds of “African Zithers” and a Flute singing praises of the Bwindi forest, and love songs!

Day 5: Gorilla tracking

Today we start early for the most exhilarating activity in Uganda’s Nature Tourism – Gorilla Tracking.

The Bwindi forest alone hosts more than half of the total world population of the mountain gorillas; the rest being shared among Rwanda and the DR Congo. We shall be guided by the trackers who are very knowledgeable at finding these apes. There are several other primate species in the forest including the beautiful l’Hoest monkey, blue, black and white colobus, etc.

This afternoon, after tracking we shall visit Buhoma sector of Bwindi forest – we stay at Ride 4 a Woman home stay. This facility is a charity that employs and supports over 300 women who are victims of domestic violence, HIV. Their story begun by offering Cycling tours around in community to support their activities, and currently women have developed skills in weaving and tailoring to support their livelihoods economically and socially. The experience interacting with these women as they get along with making African style fabrics, weaving baskets, the traditional dance, is so fascinating.

Day 6: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park

The park prides itself as being one of most diverse national reserve (also referred to a Biosphere reserve) in the entire Africa due to the rich habitats and the associated wildlife. We are likely to meet herds of elephant, buffalo, warthog, Uganda kob, bushbuck, waterbuck and many more. This morning we visit the southern segment that is popular for tree climbing Lions

We shall have a lunch break here and later drive to the northern segment and stay along the Kazinga Channel at Bush Lodge

Day 7: We shall tour one of the salt mining lakes and other explosion craters while on a game drive in the morning, and take a launch cruise along the famous Kazinga channel in the afternoon as we watch the abundant wildlife in the park.

The Kazinga Channel is a natural narrow neck of water connecting lakes George and Edward. Kazinga channel launch cruise is the most luxurious in western Uganda; plying these waters with comfort, elegance and attentive service, affording superb wildlife viewing from your observation deck, is re-assuring! It is one of the migratory stopovers in the region attracting both resident and Palearctic visitors like spoonbills, waders, gulls and terns. Along the banks of the channel, we shall find giant crocodiles basking in the sun alongside other big herds of elephant, buffalo, giant forest hog, and hippos.

After here, we drive to Fort Portal and stay at Kluge’s guest farm or Koi Koi village

Day 8: Morning Visit to the Bigodi Community along the edge of Kibale Forest National Park

Strolling through the village, you will be exposed to a lot of experiences from traditional local brewing, traditional medicine, hand craft plus local projects where the community members derive a livelihood.

In the afternoon, we go to the forest for Chimpanzee tracking activity.

Day 9: Drive to Murchison Falls National Park. Afternoon boat cruise along the River Nile to the bottom of the falls.

The boat ride along the Nile River is a very rewarding experience. There are several congregations of buffalo, elephant, hippo and the gigantic Nile crocodiles that throng the banks. Several waterfowls both migratory and resident are abundant here. You will stop at a point where the Nile waters are forced into a 7meters gap plunging down the river 40m below.

Overnight: Murchison River Lodge

Day 10: Morning game drive, afternoon visit to the top of the falls and later drive to Masindi town

The game drive takes you through the beautiful sceneries of open savanna dotted with tall borassus palms and acacia woodland inhabiting herds of buffalo, elephant, giraffes, Uganda Kob, Oribi, Jackson’s hartebeest, zebra, waterbuck, bushbuck, occasional families of lion, and the elusive Leopard

Stay at Masindi Hotel: Oldest hotel in Uganda built by the British in 1923

Day 11: Drive back to Entebbe Airport for flight back home

Uganda Wildlife and Cultural trip: Gorillas, Chimpanzees, the big five, people and Culture

off-the-beaten-track offer 2026/2027

Costs, inclusions and Exclusions

small groups of 2 – 6 participants

Trip Costs

Per person price for 2 participants sharing a room: USD5,192

Per person price for 4 participants sharing 2 rooms: USD4,107

Per person price for 6 participants sharing 3 rooms: USD3,746

Mode of transportation: Customized stretched 4X4 Toyota Land cruiser

Included:

Private transportation throughout the tour (includes airport transfers), all meals and accommodation, all entrance fees in parks and cultural sites, services of an English-speaking guide, cultural entertainment, launch cruise fees, local site guide fees, bottled drinking water, gorilla tracking fees (USD800 each), Chimpanzee tracking fees (USD250 per person), and any other activity as indicated in the itinerary.

Excluded

Flight charges, visa fees, tips, laundry, alcoholic beverages and any other items of a personal nature

14 Days Uganda nature and wildlife Safaris

Overview

Two Weeks best of Uganda Wildlife Safari

This 14-day best of Uganda tour will give you an overview of the pearl of Africa. Your journey will start with a visit to the most famous avian resident—the shoebill in its marsh along Lake Victoria. You will visit the majestic Murchison Falls NP and have time for boat cruises on the Victoria Nile. You won’t miss the famous Kazinga channel Launch Cruise in Queen Elizabeth NP, experience chimpanzee lifestyle in the beautiful Kibale forest, and track gorillas in the misty forests of Bwindi. Your safari will end with a visit to Lake Mburo National Park before transferring back to Kampala/Entebbe.

Safari Highlights

Mabamba Shoebill Swamp—canoeing
Game drives in Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth and Lake Mburo National Parks
Walk in the woods of Lake Mburo
Boat cruises in Murchison Falls, Lake Mburo and Queen Elizabeth National Parks
Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale National Park
Nature walk in Bigodi community wetland
Crater Lakes and hot springs exploration
Tree Climbing Lions of Ishasha
Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi

Day 0: Flight and overnight stay at hotel near Entebbe

Early arrivals will give you a chance to take a leisurely walk at the porpular Entebbe Botanical gardens

Overnight: Boma Hotel or other

Day 1: Visit the Shobill wetland and later drive to Masindi town

Start early from Entebbe, drive to Mabamba Swamp for the shoebill. We do a convention trip on Lake Vic Marshes for a couple of hours. Lunch in Kampala and later drive to Masindi town

Overnight: Masindi Hotel for 1night

Day 2: Visit the top falls and later take a Boat along the Nile to the bottom of the falls

We start in the morning after breakfast and drive to the park, passing through troupes of baboons in the famous Kanio Pabidi forest section of Budongo. We shall do a midmorning boat to the falls while enjoying schools of hippos thronging the riverbank, crocodiles basking in the sun, and several water fowl. Have lunch at Red Chilli and later drive to the northern bank up to the delta to look for elephants, buffalo, hartebeests, giraffes, Uganda kobs, and many more. Both along the Nile and during the game drive, we are likely to meet spectacular birds too.

We shall later in the evening drive to our lodge outside the park for dinner and overnight.

Overnight: Fort Murchison

Day 3 game drive in the northern bank

We do the northern sector of the park again, starting very early in the morning

Lunch at our lodge or in the park at Pakuba, and later drive to Masindi town

Overnight: Masindi Hotel

Day 4 Drive to Fort portal

We do a long drive that will mostly take the whole morning. Lunch at the Gardens restaurant and later drive to our lodge for check-in. Time to swim, visit a sauna, gym, or steam bath.

Overnight: Mountains of the moon Hotel for 3nights

Day 5: Drive to Kanyanchu Park headquarters for chimp trekking.

Afternoon visit to the Bigodi community wetland. Later, drive back to Fort Portal town. Bigodi Community Wetland Sanctuary is a community-owned and managed nature reserve. A 4 km trail has been created in the wetland adjacent to the forest. The habitat here consists of a swamp surrounded by low, scrubby secondary forest and cultivation. Besides the many species of birds which are shared with the National Park, usual encounters are black and white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, red colobus monkeys, grey-cheeked mangbeys, L’hoest Monkeys, etc.

Day 6: Visit Semliki National Park hot springs

and later return to Fort Portal and take a hike to the Nyakasura hills / a walk in the hills exploring Crater Lakes and the Nyakasura caves (Stalagmites and Stalactites). You may explore Fort Portal town this afternoon or relax at the hotel.

Day 7 Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park

We shall have a relaxed start this morning with breakfast at 8:00am, check out the lodge, and drive slowly for 2–2.5hours up to Queen Elizabeth Park. Our ultimate stop will be at Mweya Peninsula. We have lunch at Mweya Safari Lodge and later go for an afternoon boat along the Kazinga Channel.

Queen Elizabeth National Park is yet another area with some of the highest biodiversity ratings of any National Nature Reserve in the world. Its varied habitats of open savannahs, acacia woodlands, tropical rain forests, dense papyrus swamps, and lakes make it one of the richest parks in Africa. Game in the park includes elephant, buffalo, waterbuck, bushbuck, a profusion of hippos, the elusive giant forest hog, and the handsome Uganda kob, with occasional lion and leopard.

Kazinga Channel is a narrow neck of water body connecting lakes Edward and George and is the most luxurious in the region; plying these waters with comfort, elegance, and attentive service, affording superb wildlife viewing from your observation deck, is far more reassuring! Along the Kazinga Channel, there are chances of large schools of hippos, giant Nile crocodiles, elephants and several species of shorebirds, both migratory and resident

Overnight: Twin Lakes Safari Lodge for two nights—at Kichwamba escarpment with stunning views of the park

Day 8 morning drive along the Crater Drive track and visit to the Katwe salt lakes.

We do the crater drive and visit the queen’s pavilion. The Queen’s Pavilion stands nearby at the northern entrance to the Crater Lake drive of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Both the Crater Lake Drive and the Queen’s Pavilion guarantee an excellent panoramic view of some of the parks explosion craters, some filled with lovely glowing lakes, and the snow-capped Rwenzori Mountain Ranges across the rift valley flow. The Queen’s Pavilion, historically, hosted H.M. Queen Elizabeth II in 1954 as a temporary shelter and later the Duke of Edinburgh in 2007.

After here, we take a tour of Katwe salt mines. Here we shall visit Lake Katwe Salt Mining and Fishing Village, and we learn how the local people survive entirely on mining activities as well as fishing.

Later, drive back to our lodge for lunch and relaxation for the rest of the afternoon.

Day 9: Transfer to Ishasha for the tree-climbing Lions

Ishasha is the southern distant segment of Queen Elizabeth National Park famed for its tree-climbing lions. Normally, when it’s hot in the day, lions tend to find shelter in large, gnarled fig trees. We leave for the sector and search for these with a picnic lunch. We do a game drive here. There are also herds of Kob and Topi.

Overnight: Enjojo Lodge for 1night

Day 10: Morning game drive and afternoon transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable national park

Today is the day we transfer to the home of mountain gorillas. Before we leave for Bwindi impenetrable forest, we have one more chance of searching for the tree-climbing lions before leaving.

Overnight: Ride for a Woman

Day 11: Gorilla trekking

The day for hiking through the impenetrable forest in search of the endangered mountain gorillas. After a briefing from the ranger guide, you start your hike into the forest; however, some gorilla groups are away from the briefing point, so your guide may drive you to the starting point. Enjoy the day in the impenetrable forest; you have up to one hour with the gorillas once you locate them.

Day 12 Journey to the home of Antelopes

After breakfast, start your journey to Lake Mburo National Park and arrive later in the afternoon with stopovers for photo moments and of the great scenery.

A visit to Lake Mburo is a delightful experience, with beautiful scenery and a markedly different fauna from other reserves. This is the best place in the country to see antelopes such as Eland, Zebra, Topi, Impala, and acacia-associated birds. The giraffes are also present.

Overnight: Rwakobo Rock for 2nights BB

Day 13 Lake Mburo NP: Walk in the woods and Boat

After breakfast, we leave for a walk in the woods and later experience the lake with a boat ride on Lake Mburo.

Day 14: Drive to Kampala/Entebbe for your flight

Today marks the end of your Uganda nature and wildlife safari. Transfer to Kampala/Entebbe with stopover at Equator for pictures and lunch.

Cost Per person sharing for a private trip

2 participants: 4956
4 participants, 3999.05
6 participants, 3680.23
Included in the Price
Chimpanzee permit per person
Gorilla permit per person
Park entrance fees, game drives and nature walks
Ground transport in 4WD Land cruiser—custom made for safari
Boat cruises full board accommodations for 14nights as mentioned in the itinerary
Bottled drinking water
Service of an English-speaking driver guide
Park fees for vehicle entry
All mentioned activities except for the optional ones

Excluded:

Flights
Extras like coffee, alcoholic drinks, water, sodas, telephone, laundry, etc.
Airport transfers
Tips to porters and drivers/guides
Insurance