The great Uganda trip

After breakfast, you will set off in a north-westerly direction  to the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. On the way, you will get your first impressions of the Ugandan landscape and the life of the population in the small towns and villages.  In the course of the afternoon you will reach your lodge in the Sanctuary.

Today, after breakfast, we continue north via Lira and through the Karamoja region to Kidepo National Park. We make a stop in Lira and you have the opportunity to visit the local market. In the late afternoon you reach your destination for the day, your lodge on the southern edge of Kidepo National Park.

This morning you will head into the park for your first game drive. Kidepo National Park has so far been relatively untouched by tourism due to its location. The park is characterized by its great biodiversity. There are 28 animal species that are not found in any other park in Uganda. Most game drives take place along the Narus Valley, where the park’s wildlife congregates almost all year round and you have the opportunity to experience the animals up close.

Today you can choose between another game drive and a walking safari. Together with an armed ranger, you go on an exploration tour into the savannah. The hike takes you along dry riverbeds, over rocky climbs and through scrubland to reach the animals. Most of the hike takes place in the Lamoj Mountains, just a few kilometers from the park’s headquarters. This area is located in the Narus Valley, a prime viewing area for the animals.

After breakfast you continue your journey. Today’s destination is Murchison Falls National Park, and on the way you will have the opportunity to visit the Karamoja nomads . In one of their villages you will gain an insight into the way of life of this centuries-old tribe. After reaching Murchison Falls Park, you will take your first game drive on the way to the Nile ferry. Once you arrive at your lodge, enjoy the view of the Nile from the terrace and listen to the hippos.

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.

Today  you leave Murchison Falls NP and continue your journey along Lake Albert via Hoima to Fort Portal. You will soon recognize the peaks of the Rwenzori Mountains from afar. Once you arrive in Fort Portal, you have the opportunity to shop at the market and take a break in one of the cafés. You then continue to Semliki National Park where you reach your lodge directly on the shores of Lake Albert in the evening.
 

Today you set off on a game drive in Semliki National Park. The park with the Semliki River is home to 53 mammals, 27 of which are large mammals. These included the rare pygmy antelope and two species of flying squirrel. There are also forest elephants and buffalo here. Hippos and crocodiles can be found along the Semliki River.

Today you will return to Fort Portal, do some shopping if you feel like it and then head to the Crater Lake area with its more than 50 crater lakes. Here you have the opportunity to go on a short hike or you can drive to your lodge in Kibale Forrest and relax there.

Today you will visit the chimpanzees in the rainforest. Follow the tracks of the primates in the jungle with an experienced guide. Soon, with a bit of luck, you will reach the first animals, observe their way of life and have the opportunity to take photos. You will be back at the lodge around midday, after lunch you will set off on your journey towards Queen Elisabeth National Park.

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.

After breakfast, you will go on another game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Around 3000 elephants live in the park. The tour then continues to the south of the park, to the Ishasha region. This area is known for its tree-climbing lions. Ishasha also provides a habitat for leopards, hyenas and hippos

Today’s drive takes us to the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The endangered mountain gorillas live here. The population of animals has increased from around 800 to 1100 in the last 9 years. This is largely thanks to tourism, whose payments contribute to the protection of these unique animals. The gorilla families are carefully guarded and their names such as Otaka, Elsa or Nyakina will soon be familiar to you.

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.

Today you have various options to organize the day, you can take part in a guided hike to one of the surrounding villages, or you can go on an approx. 6-hour excursion, start with a boat tour on Lake Mutanda, go on a hike to one of the surrounding villages, learn about the everyday life of the villagers. Alternatively, you can book a canoe tour on the lake or simply enjoy a day at the lodge.

After breakfast, we continue to Lake Mburo National Park.  Numerous rocks and hills alternate with small valleys. Once in the park, you will go on a game drive. Here you will find zebras and antelopes together with the impressive Ankole cattle.

It is possible to go on a walking safari in Lake Mburo National Park. Together with an armed ranger, you set off to observe the animals at close range. Your guide will show you the tracks of the animals and explain their way of life.   After 2-3 hours you return to the lodge and after lunch you start your return journey to Entebbe. At the equator you have the opportunity to take a few souvenir photos before you reach your guesthouse in Entebbe in the evening.

Today, depending on the time of your return flight, you can relax at the lodge or go on a city tour of Kampala with our driver. Our driver will take you to your return flight or to your connecting stay, e.g. in Zanzibar or at Lake Victoria, in good time.