18-Day Best of Rwanda and Uganda
- Uganda
(16)
5/5
Overview
his amazing adventure takes you to the mighty jungles of Uganda for a breathtaking experience; encounter mountain gorillas, chimpanzees and golden monkeys on guided treks and see a wide range of other wildlife including the Big Five on game drives, boat trips and nature walks. Get to know the friendly people of Uganda and the country’s cultural features.
Itinerary
After clearing customs at the airport, you will be warmly welcomed by a representative from Oikos Safaris who will then transfer you to your hotel in Kampala or in Entebbe depending on your flight arrival time. If you arrive very late in the night, we recommend you overnight in Entebbe as opposed to Kampala.
Overnight at Airport View Guest House (Bed and breakfast)
Today you depart Kampala for Murchison Falls National Park, having a break at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary in Nakasongola to view the rhinos. Uganda’s rhinos became extinct in the early 1980s after a period of civil unrest and heavy poaching. This sanctuary has now been established to breed black and white rhinos, and restore rhino populations in Uganda’s protected areas in a later stage.
Today is a long drive as you travel north of the country. Once you reach the Nile in the heart of the park, you will cross on the ferry to Pakuba Safari Lodge. 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. You will have an evening game drive, then later head to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Overnight at Pakuba Safari Lodge (Breakfast, lunch and dinner)
Enjoy a morning game drive and in the afternoon take the launch cruise to the bottom of Murchison Falls. There’s an option to walk up the top of the falls. Sundowners will be served on the boat.
Overnight at Pakuba Safari Lodge (Breakfast, lunch and dinner)
After breakfast at the lodge, you will embark on an early morning drive with picnic lunch to Kibale Forest National Park, which is home to some 13 species of primates including the red colobus monkeys, chimpanzees and L’Hoest’s monkeys as well as 70 mammal species.
Overnight at Chimpanzee Forest Guest House (Breakfast, lunch and dinner)
Today you go chimpanzee tracking along the network of forest trails. Seeing habituated chimps squabbling and swinging from the trees is an exhilarating experience. Later in the afternoon you will have the opportunity to visit Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, which is rich in bird species, vegetation and wildlife. This is also a great opportunity to support local tourism initiatives which benefit social and economic development in the area.
Overnight at Chimpanzee Forest Guest House (Breakfast, lunch and dinner)
This morning you will drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park through volcanic crater lakes. On a clear day you can see the famous ‘Mountains of the Moon’, the Rwenzori Mountains. This park, which boasts one of the highest biodiversity ratings of any game park or reserve in the world, is Uganda’s second largest national park at 1,978 sq km park, with everything from open savannah to rain forest. Queen Elizabeth has over 100 mammal species and an astounding 606 bird species, making it a premier safari destination. Enjoy a game drive while entering the park and later go for another evening game drive. Overnight at your lodge.
Overnight at Baboon Safari Resort (Breakfast, lunch and dinner)
Overnight at Chimpanzee Forest Guest House (Breakfast, lunch and dinner)
Enjoy morning game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park with its diverse ecosystems including sprawling savannah, shady, humid forests, sparkling lakes and fertile wetlands, which make it the ideal habitat for classic big game, primates and over 600 species of birds. Set against the backdrop of the jagged Rwenzori Mountains, the park’s magnificent vistas include dozens of enormous craters carved dramatically into rolling green hills and the panoramic views of the Kazinga Channel.
Return to the lodge for lunch and later take a boat trip on the Kazinga Channel, 32 km long followed by a game drive. This water system has the highest concentration of hippo in the world and you will get quite close to them. See also crocodile, buffalo and other game that drink from the channel as well as marvel at the abundant ornitho-life that is supported here. Have a game drive before heading to the lodge for dinner.
Overnight at Baboon Safari Resort (Breakfast, lunch and dinner)
Today you will continue to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest for two nights, home to over half of the world’s mountain gorilla population. Interacting with these gentle giants is one of the most moving experiences that Africa has to offer and should not be missed! The ancient rainforest of Bwindi spans 321 sq km and boasts 90 mammal species, a range of primates, as well as 23 Albertine Rift endemic bird species, including the African green broadbill, the bar tailed trogon and many others. Relax in the evening and get ready for the following day’s gorilla tracking.
Overnight at Rushaga Gorilla Camp (Breakfast, lunch and dinner)
Today after an energizing breakfast, you will embark on your gorilla trek. Before 8 am report to the ranger station for registration and briefing by one of the rangers. The guides will then lead you through the undergrowth, parting thick creepers, to track the gorillas. The trek can take anywhere from half an hour to 7 hours. A reasonable degree of fitness is required as well as a sturdy pair of walking boots. It is an extraordinary feeling sitting in the dense rainforest knowing you are with a few of the last remaining mountain gorillas – sadly enough there are only about 650 of these beautiful creatures left.
If time permits, there are additional activities, unique to Bwindi, which you can engage in for the afternoon. These include the Batwa community trail, community visits or waterfall hike.
Overnight at Rushaga Gorilla Camp (Breakfast, lunch and dinner)
After your breakfast, you will embark on a journey to Mgahinga National Park. Relax and get ready for the next day’s golden monkey tracking.
Overnight at Lake Chahafi Resort (Breakfast, Lunch and dinner)
Today you go tracking for golden monkey in Mgahinga National park. The very beautiful golden monkey has a golden body, cheeks and tail with contrasting black limbs, crown and tail-end. Not much is known about their behavior; other than they live in social groups of up to 30 individuals and their diet consists mainly of leaves and fruit – it is believed they eat insects too.
Restricted to the highland forest of the Virungas especially near bamboo, they share this habitat with their big brother, the mountain gorilla, inhabiting a small area that overlaps the territory of one of the gorilla families. Together, they face the same threats; snares, human encroachment etc. and are listed on the IUCN Red List of critically endangered species. Tracking usually takes from 2 to 4 hrs. Once you come to the habituated families, you will spend the allowed one hour with them as they go about their daily life; adult monkeys frolic in plain view, feeding on bamboo leaves and leaping from perch to perch while females carry their young, completely oblivious of on-lookers.
Later in the afternoon, you may choose to either relax at the lodge, enjoy a canoe trip on the lake or go for a nature walk through the surrounding communities.
Overnight at Lake Chahafi Resort (Breakfast, lunch and dinner)
This morning after breakfast, you will drive to Lake Bunyonyi, the perfect place to stop for a break. The serene lake, ‘place of many little birds’, is rumored to be the deepest in Africa, reaching depths of 900 m. The lake stretches around 25 km in length and 7 m 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 that you can do in the afternoon.
Overnight at Arcadia Cottages (Breakfast, lunch and dinner)
The adventure continues as you spend one night at Lake Mburo National Park. The 371 sq km park is an extension of the Tanzanian Plains and has distinctly different fauna compared to other Ugandan parks. It is the best place in the country to see eland antelope, zebra, topi, impala and acacia. The five lakes within the park attract hippos, crocodiles and a variety of water birds, while fringing swamps hide black and yellow papyrus gonalek. Arriving in the park for lunch you can rest before exploring the park on a game drive for the rest of the afternoon. There’s an option to take a boat safari, cruise along Lake Mburo which is home to dense populations of hippos and crocodiles.
Overnight at Rwakobo Rock (Breakfast, lunch, dinner)
This morning you will have breakfast and then proceed to Entebbe having lunch en route. You will stop at the Equator where you will be able to stand in both hemispheres simultaneously. You will arrive in Entebbe in the afternoon and later catch your flight back home.
Overnight at Rwakobo Rock (Breakfast, lunch, dinner)
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