What does Uganda offer for someone wanting to go on safari? It is easier to ask what it does not. Uganda offers mountain gorillas, chimpanzees and all the wildlife of the plains from the largest elephant to the smallest shrew. And don’t forget the birds in the sky, where over 450 species fly. This twelve day itinerary offers you the best way to discover Uganda’s wildlife.
DAY 1
Day one of your discovery itinerary. Today, you will drive from Kampala to Murchison Falls National Park, via the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary the journey will take about 8 hours in total, with stops. 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 program, as well as work to educate communities on endangered rhinos, poaching and environmental conservation. Tracking the rhinos will take approximately 1-2 hours and you will have the opportunity to view them at very close range. Look out for one the latest addition, baby Obama (born from a Kenyan father and an American mother!) You will stop for lunch in the small town of Masindi, and then continue for a further 21/2 hours before reaching Murchison Falls – Uganda’s largest national park.
PARAA LODGE – HALF BOARD
DAY 2
After an early breakfast, you enjoy your first game drive through the park. Watch the parade of Elephants, Giraffe, Buffalo, and many species of Antelope pass you by and try to spot a Lion or Leopard relaxing in the sunshine. In the afternoon, you will take a relaxing boat trip along the Nile to the foot of the falls. Here, you will spot Hippos, a dazzling array of birdlife along the banks, and of course, those Nile Crocodiles! Listen out for the thunderous and electrifying sound of the famous waterfall as you approach its base. You disembark from the boat and begin your hike to the top of the falls (approximately 45 minutes). The spectacular sight of the world’s longest river exploding through a narrow cleft in the rock into a frothing pool 43 metres below, is not to be missed!
DAY 3
You go for another early morning game drive in the park, followed by lunch (not included) and an onward journey towards the cozy town of Hoima. You will take a beautiful route through the valleys, enjoying views of Lake Albert, and several local homesteads. You will stay overnight in a comfortable hotel which has a lovely garden!
DAY 4
Today, you will begin your journey to Kibale Forest, stopping for lunch in the friendly town of Fort Portal. The drive is incredibly scenic, passing through tea plantations and the lush green countryside which characterizes so much of Uganda. On arrival at the forest, you will enter a completely different world… some serious monkey business! Although you are here specifically to track Chimps, the forest is home to at least 12 primate species including: the Red Tailed Monkey, Olive Baboon, Black and White Colobus Monkey, and the Blue Monkey. The bird life in the forest is also prolific and includes the beautiful Great Blue Turaco. If you are very lucky, you may even catch a glimpse of the meandering herd of Forest Elephant. You spend the afternoon relaxing at the cottage, from which there is a lovely view of the forest and its wildlife.
DAY 5
Today, you will track Chimpanzees and do a swamp walk. Kibale Forest boasts the highest number of primate species in the world, including our delightful cousins, the
Chimpanzees. At this moment, in Uganda, there are approximately 4,950 Chimps left in the wild, which makes it a perfect place to spot them! Although we cannot guarantee that you see them. During the tracking, your ranger will point out the other species living in the
forest, including birds, flora and fauna. Your swamp 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 3 or 4 different primate species during this walk, though the highlight is catching a glimpse of the Great Blue Turaco!
DAY 6
In the morning you will visit a nearby tea plantation (open: Monday-Saturday), where you will be able to assist the tea pickers, learn about how leaves are selected for the highest quality and perhaps even enjoy a cup of freshly brewed Ugandan tea. After having had lunch in the friendly town Fort Portal (lunch is not inclusive), you continue your journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park. This is Uganda’s second largest park and is located base of the majestic Rwenzori Mountain range, adjacent to Lake Edward and Lake George.
The park has prolific game, including Gazelle, Uganda Kob, Warthog and Waterbuck; Lions are often sighted both in and at the entrance to the park. Be prepared for huge numbers of Hippo and Elephant, and keep your eyes peeled for a Leopard lazing in the sunshine. Your lodge is overlooking the Kazinga Channel and is often visited by Elephants and Hippos. Even Lion sometimes visit the place. But don’t worry the lodge is safe and watched, even by night. Fall asleep to the roaring of Lion and the howling of the Hyena
on the distant savannah. This truly is Africa!
You make your first game drive in the afternoon
DAY 7
Today you will take an early morning game drive (4 hours) in time to see the sun rise, followed by breakfast back at camp at approximately 10.30am. After lunch, you will take a boat trip along the Kazinga Channel. 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.
DAY 8
Today you drive to Kisoro in the south-western part of Uganda, close to the borders with Rwanda and Congo. You cross a beautiful part of the country, where you will see crater lakes, forest, bamboos and great sceneries over the Virunga Mountains. You will stay in a nice middle class lodge with a wonderful view!
DAY 9
Today is the big day… Prepare yourself for an encounter with one of Bwindi’s gentle giants: the rare Mountain Gorilla. For most people this is the absolute highlight of their tour in Uganda. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest boasts both Mountain Gorillas and Chimpanzees – the only
forest in Africa which can make this claim in fact. It also hosts five other species of primate, 113 species of mammal, over 200 butterflies and 360 birds. The Gorillas you will track belong to one of seven habituated family groups who can tolerate the presence of humans for a brief period every day. Your trek will be an exciting journey along forested slopes, entwined vines, bushes and bamboo before you eventually reach the Gorillas’ habitat. En-route, your guide will point out signs of previous Gorilla activity, including dung, nests and chewed bamboo shoots. The time taken to track the Gorillas can take as little as half an hour to as much as 7
hours before one returns to camp! 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’.
DAY 10
After breakfast you will head to Lake Bunyonyi or ‘Place of Little Birds’. You cross a part of Uganda that is often referred to as ‘The Switzerland of Africa”. The lake lies close to the border with Rwanda, and is thought of as one of the most beautiful places in western Uganda. It is the second deepest lake in Africa and also one of the few places in the country where it is considered safe to swim (as it is bilharzias free). The islands on the lake are wonderful for relaxing, trying water sports* and simply immersing yourself in the natural beauty of your surroundings. You stay on one of these islands;
Bushara island. The nearby hills and papyrus swamps offer many opportunities for bird watching and the shady Eucalyptus trees provide peaceful places to sit and read a book.
DAY 11
Today, after an early breakfast, you return to Kampala, stopping at the Equator on the way. This is a perfect photo opportunity and a great place to buy those last minute souvenirs! The drive back to the capital takes approximately 8-9 hours and we expect you to
arrive in the late afternoon
