The great Uganda trip


19 Days


participants: 1 – 6

19 days safari in the "Pearl of Africa"

This 19-day Uganda Private Tour shows you the country between Lake Victoria and the Rwenzori Mountains with its fantastic landscapes, its great diversity of animals and its friendly people. You will see the most beautiful national parks, the still untouched Kidepo, the Murchison Falls NP, the Semliki with the Hot Springs, the Kibale Forrest with the chimpanzees, the Queen Elisabeth NP with the BIG 5, the Bwindi where you will experience the gorillas up close and the Lake Mburo NP where you will go on a foot safari. You will stay in selected very good lodges and travel with your driver/guide in your 4×4 Landcruiser. A journey that will inspire you and be unforgettable.

inclusive

Accommodation and meals according to the itinerary
All transfers according to the itinerary of the tour
Rides in a 4×4 Landcruiser off-road vehicle with window seat
All park entrance fees & activities
1x Chimpanzee Permit
professional, English-speaking guide/driver
Drinking water
Binoculars

exclusive

Gorilla Permit ($700)
Tips
Visas
Flight

hints

• English-speaking driver on request
• We are happy to book international flights from Frankfurt, Dusseldorf, Stuttgart, Munich, Berlin, Dresden, Vienna or Zurich.
Price per person:
2 participants: 6950 Euro
with 4 participants: 6035 Euro
6 participants: 5910 Euro
Trip starts: daily

Itinerary

Day 1: Transfer from Entebbe Airport to Kampala

Our driver will be waiting for you at the airport in Entebbe and will take you to your hotel in Kampala. If you arrive early, there is the possibility of a city tour in Kampala. The driver/guide will discuss the itinerary with you and answer your questions.

Day 2: Kampala – Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

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.

Day 3: Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary – Kidepo National Park

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.

Day 4: Kidepo National Park, game drive

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.

Day 5: Kidepo National Park, 2nd game drive

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.

Day 6: Kidepo National Park – Murchison Falls National Park

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.

Day 7: Murchison Falls National Park, game drive and boat safari

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.

Day 8: Murchison Falls National Park – Semliki National Park

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.
 

Day 9: Semliki National Park, game drive

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.

Day 10: Semliki – Kibale Forest

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.

Day 11: Kibale Forest National Park, chimpanzee tracking – Queen Elisabeth National Park

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.

Day 12: Queen Elisabeth National Park, game drive and boat safari

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.

Day 13: Queen Elisabeth NP – Game drive and tree lions in Ishasha

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

Day 14: Ishasha – Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

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.

Day 15: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, gorilla tracking

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.

Day 16: Activities at Lake Mutanda

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.

Day 17: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park – Lake Mburo National Park, game drive

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.

Day 18: Lake Mburo National Park, Walking Safari – Entebbe

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.

Day 19: Departure day – Airport Entebbe (EBB), Uganda

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.

Accomodation

Cassia Lodge

stay: 1 night

Location: Cassia Lodge is located in Kampala on a hill with a fantastic panoramic view of Lake Victoria. The outdoor pool and rooms also have views of the lake. Facilities: The rooms at Cassia Lodge are air-conditioned, have a mosquito net, a seating area and a desk. The rooms have a bathroom with shower and free toiletries, a flat-screen TV and a balcony. Free Wi-Fi is offered. Restaurant: Here guests can enjoy national and international cuisine.

Amuka Safari Lodge

stay: 1 night

Location: Amuka Lodge is located in a pristine forest area deep in the heart of the Ziwa Rhino Sancturary in Nakitoma with a swimming pool, bar and open restaurant. Amenities: The tasteful lodge has ten cottages constructed of hardwood and stone with a large private veranda. All chalets are located in the forest. Restaurant: The open restaurant serves local and European cuisine in buffet style. Cooking and baking takes place in the kitchen and in the open air. The bar is the perfect place to end the day.

Kidepo Savannah Lodge

stay: 3 nights

Location: On the northern border of Hungary, on the edge of the Kidepo Valley National Park, lies the Kidepo Savannah Lodge. This is located on a hill from which you can enjoy a fantastic view over the surrounding Narus Valley. Facilities: Guests of the accommodation are accommodated in eight spacious safari tents, each with its own bathroom, shower, sink and toilet – and some tents with a private terrace or balcony. Kidepo Savannah Lodge also offers eight tented accommodations with shared showers. The lodge has a restaurant and bar that offer beautiful views of the stunning countryside. Restaurant: For dinner, a 3-course menu is offered. Special dietary requirements can be addressed in advance and clarified with the lodge. The bar is well stocked with different types of wines and local Ugandan beer.

Murchison River Lodge

stay: 2 nights

Location: Murchison River Lodge is located right on the banks of the Nile. From here you can enjoy a direct view of the river and Africa’s safari world with the papyrus islands and the hippos. In the beautiful surroundings you can relax and enjoy your safari. Accommodation: The cottages are scattered around the grounds of the lodge. They are all straw safari tents with en-suite bathrooms and terraces. In the evening you can enjoy the beautiful atmosphere around the fire pit. Restaurant: Under the large thatched roof there is an open restaurant, bar and terrace, the breathtaking view of the Nile will delight you. While enjoying your breakfast or dinner, you can spot elephants, hippos, and more from this magnificent vantage point.

 

Semliki Safari Lodge

stay: 2 nights

Location: Semliki Safari Lodge is located in the middle of Semliki National Park with its overwhelming pristine nature, about 2 hours from Fort Portal. Facilities: The complex offers space for a maximum of 18 guests in detached tented cottages. The rooms have a large double bed, a comfortable bathroom and a terrace with a seating area. Restaurant: In the main building there is a restaurant serving international and local dishes, a bar and a cozy lounge area.

Kibale Forest Camp

stay: 1 night

Location: Kibale Forest Camp is located in the area of the evergreen forest, just outside the national park. The camp is adjacent to the Magombe Swamp, also known as the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary. The starting point of the chimpanzee trekking is only a 10-minute drive away. Accommodation: Kibale Forest Camp offers 10 classic safari tents with single or double beds, each with a private bathroom and hot water shower. Restaurant: The open and spacious restaurant offers excellent cuisine.

 

Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge

stay: 2 nights

Location: Surrounded by the Queen Elisabeth National Park and located on the edge of the Kazinga Canal, this lodge offers a unique ambience. The nocturnal bush sounds of hippos and hyenas will certainly be remembered for a long time. Accommodation: The lodge has 12 rooms on a raised platform, built from canevas and local woods. The huge windows with mosquito nets allow for a 180 degree view and make for a natural experience. Each room has a private terrace overlooking the river. The rooms have a bathroom with toilet and an outdoor shower. Restaurant: If the weather permits, a 4-course menu will be served in the evening in a cozy atmosphere outside the restaurant around the campfire.

Enjojo Lodge

stay: 1 night

Location: Enjojo Lodge is located in the Ishasha Distict of Queen Elizabeth NP just a few hundred meters from the Park Gate. The lodge property is located in an acacia forest with lush vegetation. Accommodation: The thatched cottages are connected by a wooden walkway. The rooms have a private bathroom and an outdoor shower with hot and cold water. Guests can relax on the large veranda. Restaurant: In the restaurant and bar, guests can enjoy homemade food and alcoholic beverages. In the evening there is a campfire with a view of the waterhole in front of it. Activities: Walks, Game drives

 

Chameleon Hill Lodge

stay: 3 nights

Location: Chameleon Hill Lodge is located on a hill with a fantastic view of Lake Matunda and the Virunga volcanoes. Accommodation: The lodge in Hundertwasser style surprises with 10 uniquely furnished chalets. Each chalet has a bathroom and a terrace. The lodge offers canoe trips on Lake Matunda. Restaurant: In the spacious restaurant and on the terrace, Euro-African dishes are offered with many home-grown ingredients.

Rwakobo Rock

stay: 1 night

Location: Rwakobo Rock Lodge is located 1 km north of the Nshara Gate of Lake Mburo National Park.
The pool, located on a hill, offers great views over the national park. Facilities: The tastefully furnished
Lodge has 8 individual, spacious cabins with rooftops. The cabins offer great views for watching the sunset on your own
Veranda. Restaurant: Food is served as a buffet or set menu. Depending on the weather, a campfire will be lit.
– a great opportunity to exchange ideas with other travelers.

Carpe Diem Guesthouse

stay: 1 night

Location: Carpe Diem is located above Entebbe with a fantastic view of Lake Victoria. In the quiet garden you can enjoy the sunset over the huge lake.  Facilities: The cosily furnished rooms have a private bathroom, each room can be booked as a single, double or triple room. Wifi is available in all rooms and in the garden. Restaurant: Breakfast is served and international cuisine with French accents is served throughout the day.  Activities:  Excursions to the surrounding area, e.g. to the Entebbe Botanical Garden, can be arranged

 

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