Western Uganda a la Carte – 15 days

Your driver/guide will welcome you at the airport after landing in Entebbe and you will drive to your lodge in Kampala. The colorful life on the roadside gives you a first impression of Uganda.  Your guide will discuss the next few days with you and answer any questions you may have.

After breakfast, you set off on well-maintained country roads in a westerly direction to Fort Portal. On the way you will get a first impression of Uganda. You drive through small villages and enjoy the view of the lush vegetation and the constantly changing, hilly landscape. We stop at the equator for a few photos and then continue past huge tea plantations to your lodge.

Today you have the opportunity to hike around Lake Kyaninga. The fantastic view of the Rwenzori Mountains in the background and the green hills of the surrounding area will inspire you. Afterwards, take a refreshing dip in the lake or in the pool at your lodge.

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.

This morning you will head to the Kibale Forest where you will follow the tracks of the chimpanzees in the rainforest accompanied by an experienced guide. The silence is interrupted by the unfamiliar sounds of a few birds. The chimpanzees also report you loudly. With a bit of luck, you will soon spot the first primates! Watch the chimpanzees as they play, eat, louse, cuddle or even mate.

After breakfast, you will travel towards Queen Elizabeth National Park. The hilly crater landscape with its more than 50 lakes and green pastures is reminiscent of the landscape of the Swiss Alps.  The slopes of the Rwenzori Mountains on the right-hand side of the road complete the magnificent picture. Kasese, the last town before Queen Elisabeth National Park, offers the opportunity to do a little shopping, after which your first game drive begins. After an exciting game drive, you will reach your lodge in the evening

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.

Bwindi Impenatrable NP is home to around 500 mountain gorillas, half of the world’s remaining population.  The primates belong to the endangered animal species despite the number of 1,100 that have now been recorded. Tourism has contributed significantly to the fact that the animals are no longer persecuted by the local population but are protected. After a short briefing, you hike into the densely forested jungle with an experienced guide, a ranger and a few porters. Your guide will show you the  tracks of the animals, answer your questions about the vegetation and soon you will be up close to the mighty animals. You have one hour to follow the primates, observe them and take photos. In the afternoon you are back at your lodge and have time to relax and reflect on the day’s experiences.

Today we continue  through a particularly impressive landscape with great views of Lake Bunyonyi and the Virunga volcanoes. After breakfast, we head towards Kisoro, a small town in the far southwest of Hungary. In the afternoon you will reach your lodge at the foot of Mount Gahinga.

Today you have the opportunity to choose your own program for the day. There is the possibility to climb the surrounding volcanoes, which is a 6-8 hour tour. Alternatively, you can visit a Batwa community or simply take a day off 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.

Lake Mburo National Park offers the opportunity to go on a walking safari. An experienced ranger takes you on an exploration tour, teaches you to read footprints and animal droppings and shows you which animals are nearby. You will be amazed when you see the wild animals up close. Around midday you start your return journey to Kampala / Entebbe. We stop at the equator for a souvenir photo.

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.