Luxury safari through Uganda – 18 days

After a hearty breakfast, you leave Kampala and drive on well-maintained roads towards Lake Mburo National Park. In the capital, you will experience the hustle and bustle of traders on the roadside and in the small stores. You will find everything the locals need for their daily needs, fruit, fish and much more. Outside the city, it becomes quieter and ever greener. After a stop at the Equator, you will reach your lodge at Lake Mburo National Park in the afternoon.

Today you set off on your first game drive. In Lake Mburo NP, the Ankole cattle with their horns are particularly striking. Zebras, impalas and reedbucks can often be seen outside the park boundaries. The lake after which the park is named is home to crocodiles, hippos and a large number of rare birds. Here in Lake Mburo National Park it is permitted to go on a foot safari. Together with an experienced ranger, you go on an exploration tour. The guide will show you the footprints and tell you which animal was on the move here. Alternatively, you can go on a boat safari on the lake, where you will be amazed by the many hippos, crocodiles and birdlife. The lodge offers the possibility of a riding safari for an extra charge.

After a relaxing night and a good breakfast, you set off today in the direction of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.  You pass Lake Mburo NP once again and have the opportunity to see more animals and take photos. Back on the highway, we continue towards Mbarara and then on to Kabale. The well-maintained mountain roads to Kisoro wind their way through the landscape. Steep slopes characterize the landscape and the view of Lake Bunyonyi and the Virunga volcanoes in the background will inspire you. In the afternoon you reach your lodge at Bwindi NP.

Today you have the opportunity to go gorilla tracking. Here in Bwindi Impenatrable NP, the gorillas and chimpanzees have their common habitat – nowhere else will you find both primate species so close together. After a briefing by the rangers at the entrance to the national park, you start your hike in the rainforest. To begin with, you will walk with your guide and a ranger on a well-maintained hiking trail slightly uphill into the park. On the way, the guide will answer your questions about the impressive vegetation of the rainforest and the way of life of the primates. Depending on the location of “your” gorilla family, you then head off the beaten track and cross-country through the bush. The ranger leads the way, you follow him and then suddenly you are standing in front of the gorilla family. You have 1 hour to observe and photograph the animals before heading back. Alternatively, you have the option of going on a hike in the surrounding area or visiting a Batwa community. But you will certainly regret it if you don’t visit the gorillas.

We now continue north through the Bwindi Impenetrable NP. The next destination is the southern part of Queen Elisabeth National Park, the Ishasha area. Surrounded by game reserves, Ishasha is home to a striking number of large mammals, including elephants, lions, buffalo and leopards. The road leads through the rainforest with its mist-shrouded valleys and gigantic tree population. In the afternoon you reach the savannah of the Ishasha region.

Today we set off on a game drive in the Ishasha area. The golden savannah of this region lies on the southern edge of Queen Elisabeth National Park and is known for its large herds of elephants and tree lions. Topi antelopes and Uganda kobs live here, in addition to numerous bushes where bee-eaters and the African hoopoe like to stay, some fig trees stand out in particular. These are the favorite places of lions and leopards. With a bit of luck, you might spot an entire pride of lions or a leopard in one of the treetops.

After a hearty breakfast, you will continue your journey to the north of Queen Elisabeth National Park. There are two lakes in the park, Lake George and Lake Edwrd, both connected by the Kazinga Canal.  There are very different natural areas on the almost 2000 km², lake landscapes, savannahs, swamps and the crater land in the north of the park are home to almost 100 species of mammals. In addition to a large elephant population, lions, zebras, antelopes and buffalo can also be observed. Arrive at your lodge in the early afternoon and enjoy the view of the Bark and the Rwenzori Mountains in the background.

Today you start early for a morning game drive in Queen Elisabeth National Park. The extensive park lies at the foot of the Rwenzori Mountains, also known as the Mountains of the Moon. Lake Edward and Lake George are located within the park. In the national park you will go on an adventurous game drive with all that the African animal world has to offer. You will find lions, buffalo, hyenas and also the Kobe antelope, which is native to Uganda. The Kazinga Canal connects the two lakes. Crocodiles and hippos live here, as well as a large number of bird species, some of which can only be found in this area. In the afternoon you go on a boat safari on the canal where you have the opportunity to see these animals at close range.

Today you will follow the tracks of the chimpanzees into the jungle of the Kibale Forest with an experienced guide. With a bit of luck, you’ll soon spot the first primates! You observe the chimpanzees and follow them through the rainforest. In the afternoon, we set off on a tour through the Bigodi Swamp. In addition to the countless tropical birds, this swamp landscape is also home to various species of monkeys such as the colobus monkey. The hike ends in a small village on the edge of the swamp, where you will visit a school and have the opportunity to visit a local family.

Today we are going to Semliki National Park. After breakfast, we first drive to Fort Portal. There you will have the opportunity to visit the market. The colorful fruits and the hustle and bustle are a stark contrast to the European supermarket. A centrally located café offers good internet and tasty snacks, fresh salads and juices. After you have fortified yourself, you will continue to Semliki National Park where you will reach your lodge in the afternoon.

Semliki National Park with its unique primate species, numerous bird species allows you to go on hikes, game drives, game and bird watching. One of the main attractions in the Semliki Wildlife Reserve are the hot springs. A short, guided hike from the information center takes you to the hot springs in Sempaya. This place has its largest geyser spouts up to 2 meters high from a low-salt sculpture opening. Be careful with the hot spring water, it can have a temperature of more than 100 degrees. On the way to the hot springs, you will encounter the very common red-necked monkeys, gray-cheeked monkeys and colobus monkeys. You can also see birds such as the Forest Hornbills, Blue-Breasted Kingfisher, Red-Rumped and Yellow-Throated Tinker.

Today we set off early in the morning on our first game drive in the park. Murchison NP offers a wide variety of different animals.  Lions, leopards, elephants, giraffes, hartebeests, oribis and of course the Uganda kobs are the best known. Your guide will take you to the most beautiful places and will never tire of answering your questions. The vegetation with the savannah and the riverside forest will inspire you. After lunch, you will set off on a boat safari towards Murchison Falls. Crocodiles, hippos and water birds accompany you on your trip on the Nile to the impressive waterfalls. Just before the thundering spray of the waterfalls, the boat moors on a rock, you enjoy the view of the river and take your photos. If you wish, you can hike along a steep path to the top of the waterfalls from where your guide will pick you up. Alternatively, you can return by boat.

Murchison Falls National Park has a special attraction to offer. A few specimens of the rare prehistoric-looking pairs of shoebills still live here today. Upright, the shoebill measures an impressive 1.20 meters in height. You start today on a boat tour By boat to the Albert Nile Delta and, with a bit of luck, you will come across rare animals. Lake Albert is the 7th largest lake in Africa. Papyrus lines the shore. Whistling ducks like the wobbly plant islands and gray kingfishers drill their nests into the earth of the shore. After lunch at the lodge, you leave the park and drive towards Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.

This morning you will visit the rhinos. Together with a ranger, you set off on foot to see the impressive animals. You should always remain calm. You can observe the magnificent animals at close range. You will then start your journey towards Kampala. In the course of the afternoon you will reach your comfortable hotel directly on Lake Victoria.

Today, on the last day of your Uganda trip, depending on your departure time, you have the opportunity to visit the Botanical Gardens in Entebbe or take a city tour in Kampala with a visit to the Royal Tombs or the Ethnological Museum. (Optional) Or you can enjoy one of the resort’s offers. (Optional). Your driver will take you to Entebbe Airport or to your connecting program, e.g. on Zanzibar, in time for your departure flight.