This 12 day safari-journey to the world¹s richest
country offering an abundance of wildlife is also an
experience into the cultural life style of the remote
areas of Uganda. While Gorilla and chimp tracking is the
highlight of this safari-journey, you will also be
seeing Lions, Hippos, Buffaloes, Leopard, Spotted Hyena,
Elephants, over 900 species of birds and an abundance of
dense green forest. This is a safari-journey for lovers
of nature and natural lovers!
Day One: Arrival – Entebbe –Kampala - 42km.
On arrival
at the airport, you will be warmly welcomed by your
representative from Churchill Safaris who will then
transfer you to Kampala for the overnight at Kampala
Sheraton Hotel (High end/luxurious accommodation),
Metropole (Medium class accommodation) or Sungira
Guest house (Low budget/basic accommodation). B/B.
Day Two: Kampala – Murchison Falls National Park.
300km North West of Kampala (approx. 6 hour drive).
An early departure – but well worth it! After
breakfast, you are on your way North to Murchison
Falls National Park having a break at the Ziwa Rhino
Sanctuary in Nakasongola to view the Rhinos.
Uganda’s Rhinos became extinct in the early 1980s,
after a period of civil unrest and heavy poaching.
This sanctuary has now been established to breed
black and white rhino, and restore Rhino populations
in Uganda’s protected areas in a later stage.
This is a long drive as you travel north through
the country and once you reach the Nile in the heart
of the Park, you will cross on the ferry to Paraa.
The sight of the Nile River, the world's longest
river, winding its way through the park and plunging
through a narrow gap is unforgettable.
Overnight at either Paraa Safari Lodge or Chobe
lodge (High end/luxurious accommodation), Sambiya
River Lodge (Medium class accommodation) or Red
Chilli Rest Camp (Low budget/basic accommodation).
Paraa Safari Lodge overlooks the mighty Nile
where Hippos wallow in the water. The lodge is
located on the North bank, which is the closest
location to the wildlife in the Park. Full Board.
Day Three: Murchison Falls.
After breakfast, you will go for an early morning
game drive to the rolling plains where you have
chances of viewing Lions, Giraffe, Hartebeest,
Buffalo and Elephant as well as many of the other
mammals of the park. For the birders amongst you,
these areas support the Secretary Bird, Black
Chested Snake Eagle, Tawny and Marshal Eagles
Carmine and Swallow Tailed Bee-Eaters, to pick just
a few. This is a beautiful drive across Borassus
Palm Forest and grassland savannah down to Lake
Albert where the Albert Nile heads north to the
Sudan.
In the afternoon, go for a boat trip to the foot
of Murchison Falls where the Nile thunders through a
small 7-meter gap, or down river to the delta where
the Nile empties into Lake Albert. This is an
experience not to be missed! The banks of the Nile
are home to many species. You may see huge Nile
Crocodiles, big Pods of Hippos and other wildlife
that may come down to drink from the river.
Overnight at either Paraa Safari Lodge or Chobe
lodge (High end/luxurious accommodation), Sambiya
River Lodge (Medium class accommodation) or Red
Chilli Rest Camp(Low budget/basic accommodation).
Full Board.
Day Four: Murchison Falls – Kibale.
(Approx. 7 hours drive).
Early game drive to the Top of Murchison Falls
where you can have a close look in to the gorge
where the Nile squeezes in to a 7 meter gorge
dropping 40 meters. The falls are spectacular and
thunderous with a beautiful rainbow displayed on
sunny days. Later head for Kibale Forest National
Park. Kibale Forest is a large protected block of
rainforest, which has the highest number of primates
in Africa such as Chimpanzees, Grey Cheeked Mangabey,
Red Tailed monkey and Red Colobus.
Relax in the
evening have dinner and over night at either Ndali
lodge or Kyaninga Lodge, a location overlooking a
dramatic Crater Lake and the fabled "Mountains of
the moon (High end/luxurious accommodation) or
Chimps Nest Kibale Forest Camp (Medium class
accomodation) or Raja hotel. Full Board.
Day Five: Kibale National Park.
This morning you will go for the morning
Chimpanzee tracking in the forest, get a chance to
see other species like the Grey-Throated Flycatcher,
Masked & Black-Capped Apalis', Chestnut-Winged
Starling, Orange -Tufted & Tiny Sunbirds, a good
infrastructure and variety of interesting activities
which makes this a worthwhile destination returning
in time for a heartily breakfast.
Later in the afternoon, you will have the
opportunity of a guided walk through Bigodi Swamp.
Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary is managed by the Kibale
Association for Rural and Environmental organisation
formed in 1992 with the aim of achieving social and
economic development for local communities. This
swamp is a home to approximately 137 bird species
and its also rich in vegetation, such as wild palms,
polita figs and the dominant papyrus.
There are networks of forest trails that radiate
out from the visitor centre, allowing you to search
for a number of species that shun the vicinity of
the main road.
Dinner and over night at either Ndali Lodge or
Kyaninga Lodge or Chimps Nest or Kibale forest Camp
or Raja hotel. Full Board.
Day Six: Kibale – Queen Elizabeth National park.
(Approx. 2.5 hours drive).
Early morning breakfast and if desired your
coffee will be brought to your tent then head for
Queen Elizabeth National Park having a game drive
while entering the park arriving in the afternoon.
Relax around the pool after lunch and later go for
an early evening game drive.
Its little wonder that Queen Elizabeth boasts one
of the highest bio diversity ratings of any game
park or reserve in the world, - from the open
Savannah to Rain Forest, dense Papyrus Swamps and
brooding Crater lakes to the vastness of Lake
Edward.
Almost 100 mammal species that include Lions,
Hippos, Buffaloes, Leopard, Spotted Hyena, Elephants
and the elusive Giant Forest Hog plus remarkable 606
bird species that include the Black Chested Eagle,
the Swallow Tailed Bee Eaters, to mention but a few.
The Primates include Chimps, Black and White
Colobus Monkeys, Blue, Black Faced Red Colobus, and
Red Tailed monkeys and Olive Baboons.
Reptiles are the amazing huge Rock-Python, Puff
adders, Spitting Cobras, Gabon vipers, Green Mambas,
and Turtles etc. All these are regularly sighted
around the tourist village on the Mweya Peninsula
and all this makes a superb safari territory.
Queen Elizabeth Park has the highest recorded
number of over 600 species of birds including the
Shoebill Stork, Black Bee-Eater, Chappirs Fly
Catcher, Bustards, and craters full of Lesser
Flamingos etc. Over night at either Katara lodge or
Mweya Lodge (High end/luxurious accommodation) or
The Bush Lodge or Ihamba Lodge (Medium class accommodation) or the
Institute of Ecology Cottages (Low budget/basic
accommodation). Full Board.
Day Seven: Queen Elizabeth.
This morning, you will have a game drive to the
Kisenyi area to look for Lion prides and other
wildlife like the Uganda Kob that mate around this
area returning at the Lodge for breakfast.
Then go for the afternoon boat trip along the
Kazinga Channel. Here Hippos huff and spray mere
feet away from the boat, Buffalos linger in the
shallows, a tremendous variety of birds grace the
grasses on the shores. Great White and Pink-Backed
Pelicans, Great and Long-Tailed Cormorants,
Open-Billed Stork, African Jacana, Malachite and
Pied Kingfishers are commonly seen. February and
March offer spectacular sightings of some of the
bird migrants.
Spend the night at either Katara lodge or Mweya
Lodge (High end/luxurious accommodation) or The Bush Lodge or Ihamba Lodge (Medium class accommodation) or the Institute
of Ecology Cottages (Low budget/basic
accommodation). Full Board.
Day Eight: Queen Elizabeth – Ishasha for the
tree climbing lions.
After breakfast you will drive to Ishasha the
southern sector of Queen Elizabeth famed for the
tree climbing lions and have a game drive while
entering the park arriving at the camp in time for
an early lunch. Relax and later go out for another
evening game drive and dinner and over night at
either Ishasha Wilderness camp (High end) Savanaah
Resort hotel (medium class) or Kashunzu Guest house
(budget).
Day Nine: Ishasha - Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
(Approx. 4 hours drive).
TAfter breakfast, you will have a game drive as
you depart Ishasha for Bwindi Impenetrable National
Park passing via Kabale with beautiful scenery and
terrace farming arriving in the afternoon.
Best known for its Mountain Gorillas, the Montane
Forest also attracts spectacular birds. There are 23
of the 24 Albertine Rift endemics including the
African Green Broadbill, Bar Tailed Trogon and other
beautiful forest species.
You will need to have a good night’s rest to get
ready for the following day’s gorilla tracking.
Dinner and over night at either the wonderfully
located Nkuringo Safari Lodge set in a glade of
papyrus and eucalyptus forest on Lake Mutanda's
northern shore. This traditional tented safari lodge
offers accommodation in an unparalleled setting. You
will have opportunity to enjoy the spectacle of a
sunrise and sunset with the volcanoes of Muhavura,
Gahinga and Sabinyo standing like sentinels along
the southern horizon. Or the Bamu hotel (medium
class) or Nkuringo Camp site (low budget). Full
board.
Day Ten: Gorilla Tracking – Bwindi Impenetrable
National Park – Southern part.
This morning you will have to wake up very early
to get ready for Gorilla tracking. Do not forget to
take your lunch boxes and all the necessary gear to
track the rare Mountain Gorilla, perhaps one of the
most exciting wildlife experiences on earth. There
are now only 650 left in the world! The tracking may
take between 2 and 6 hours but its well worth the
effort. There are always park guides with you who
interpret the flora and fauna and the lifestyle of
the Gorillas.
In the afternoon relax at the lodge or go for an
optional Village walk to visit the Batwa community
in Nyakabande or an optional boat trip on Lake
Mutanda for a sun downer returning to the lodge in
the evening.
Dinner and over night at either Nkuringo safari
lodge on the beautiful Lake Mutanda or the Bamu
hotel (medium class) or Nkuringo Camp site (low
budget). Full board.
Day Eleven: Bwindi – Lake Mburo National Park.
(Approx. 6.5 hours drive).
After breakfast, you will proceed to Lake Mburo
National Park passing through the Switzerland of
Uganda (Kabale) with beautiful scenery and terraced
farming arriving at Lake Mburo National Park in the
afternoon.
After lunch, you may decide to go for a boat trip
or relax in your room. Lake Mburo is an extension of
the Tanzanian Plains with big herds of Zebra,
Impala, Eland and other savannah species. For
birders, this is one of the best place to find
African Fin foot, Papyrus, Bush Shrike, etc. Go for
an evening game drive and over night at either
Mihingo Lodge (High end/luxurious accommodation), or
Mburo Arcadia Cottages (Medium class accommodation)
or UWA’s Tents. (Low budget/basic accommodation).
Full Board.
Day Twelve: Lake Mburo – Kampala
After breakfast, proceed to Kampala having a stop
to look at the Royal Drum makers, the Equator -
where you will be able to stand and be on both
hemispheres at once arriving in Entebbe in the
evening to catch your flight back home depending on
the International flight departure times.
Notes:
Please note the gorilla tracking in this
itinerary can be done in Rwanda as well if
permits/accommodation can’t be got in Uganda at the
time of your booking.
Gorilla tracking is dependent on the permits
availability at the time of your booking. Gorilla
permits in all parks are on a very high demand and
we advise that you book them as early as possible.
Note that there is an option of a second gorilla
track at a cost of $500 for each permit.
Quotation:
Let us know your
desired accommodation and we will get back to you with
the best low rate guaranteed!
Accomodation:
Please note that this program is based on basic
accommodation but not camping. Contact us should you
want to upgrade, degrade in any accommodation. We have
a lot of accommodation options starting from 5-star to
low budget hotels at very good rates.
What’s included?
Budget accommodation but not camping, park entry
fees, park ranger fees, game drives, a boat trip on Kazinga Channel and on the source of the Nile,
transportation in a 4x4 wheel drive vehicle, water in
the vehicle, a full time experienced English speaking
driver guide, meals and taxes.
What’s not included?
Gorilla tracking permit ($500), optional chimp
tracking in Kyambura gorge ($50), optional birding fees
($20), optional forest or village walks ($40), Lake
Mutanda boat trip ($25) and Batwa community visit,
drinks, phone calls, laundry, driver’s gratuity and any
other extra requested activities.