Experience the Pearl of Africa Beautiful landscapes, roaming wildlife, and welcoming locals make Uganda a destination not to be missed. See Gorilla Families ...
Arrival into Uganda and pickup from the Entebbe international airport by our company representative for the trip and later transferred to Entebbe for an overnight. Based on the time of arrival of the clients, a half day visit to Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary can be organized at an additional cost, this requires advance communication. Entebbe is a very quiet town located on the shores of Lake Victoria and can easily be explored by anyone on foot, cycling ( pre-booked) or on motorbikes known as boda boda. The town offers a wide variety of craft shops where clients can purchase souvenirs or clients can head out to relax in the Botanical gardens with an opportunity to see some monkeys that are always playing in the forest. Clients may also opt for a sunset cruise on Lake Victoria, the largest lake in Africa and the second largest freshwater lake in the world. Clients will have some snacks and beer during the cruise which can be planned at a cost. At night we shall head out for a group dinner at Cafe Javas with the guide for the safari where clients will have a briefing about how the trip is to flow. Accommodation: K Hotel Estimated travel time from Airport: 10 minutes Meal Plan: Dinner
Early in the morning at 8:00 am, transfer to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary from Kampala. The journey to Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary runs through community markets and homes where clients will experience a typical local market. We shall have an opportunity to stop at one of the local markets to purchase some fruits. Uganda is known for growing some of the sweetest fruits in the world. ZZiwa is dedicated to protecting endangered Rhinos by giving them a home just like in the wild and currently the sanctuary has 22 southern white Rhinos. Enter the territory of the Rhinos with a well-trained ranger who will guide you through the paths in the bush to where the Rhinos are. The Rhinos are allowed to freely move in their habitat and sometimes based on where they are located, you may have to drive for a distance before you get out of the car. The Rhino tracking takes roughly 1 - 2 hours based on the location of the Rhinos and clients are advised to have long pants, closed shoes, water and insect repellent. After the Rhino tracking, transfer to Kabalega Dinners for lunch before proceeding to Murchison Falls National Park which is roughly 3- 4 hoursí drive. Accommodation: Murchison River Lodge (Thatched Safari Cottage) Estimated travel time: 7- 8 hours Meal Plan: Full board ñ breakfast, lunch & dinner Lunch: Kabalega dinners
Wake up to an early morning Game drive in the park after breakfast starting at 6:30 am. There is wildlife aplenty including 76 mammal species and 451 bird species. It is Uganda's biggest conservation area, covering an expanse of 3,840km that comprises dense tropical forests, open Savannah with towering Borassus palm trees. The game drive allows you to see Lions, Elephants, Buffalos and many other animals hidden away in the beauty of nature (nature can't be tamed, provided the day is good, we shall see all the animals). Clients will have an opportunity to have a fruit break during the tour. Clients will later have a lunch break before proceeding for the boat cruise that starts at 2:00 pm. A 3 hours boat cruise on River Nile offers a great way to enjoy the birdlife flitting along the banks of the world's longest river, the River Nile. This includes fish eagles and kingfishers dive-bombing into the water from overhanging tree branches. This is where to get that photo of a hippo yawning. You will also see lots of elephants, buffalos and giraffes cooling off with a refreshing splash in the water. This refreshing cruise offers you a better perspective and experience of the park. You will witness a change in scenery, from tropical forest to freshwater to savannahs with rolling hills. You can’t miss taking pictures of the Murchison Falls known as the World's most powerful waterfalls where the Nile from 50 metres squeezes through a 6-metre gorge falling 40 metres with a thunderous roar. For the safety of the clients, boats are not allowed to sail close to the falls. Once at the falls, clients will board off the boat to start their hiking up the Falls where the driver will meet them. The hiking takes 1-2 hours and offers a spectacular view of the falls. Note: Clients should have in mind that nature can’t be tamed so we can’t assure you of what kind of animals you will see during the tour. Meal Plan & Full board: breakfast, lunch & dinner
On this day, clients will have an opportunity to have an early morning breakfast while cruising on the Nile. Later return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation or take up an optional Game Drive in the afternoon.
Early in the morning, clients will start their journey to Kibale National Park with their lunch boxes. The drive combines both dusty and tarmacked roads. Clients will have a lunch break in Hoima before they continue to Kibale through Fort Portal, the tourism city of Uganda. Accommodation: Turaco Tree Top Estimated travel time: 8+ hours including the lunch stopover Meal Plan: Full board - Breakfast, lunch & Dinner Lunch: Kolping Hotel Hoima ( packed lunch boxes)
Clients will have their early morning breakfast before setting off at 7:00 am to the park offices for briefing in preparation for Chimpanzee tracking that takes roughly 45 minutes. The Chimpanzee tracking takes about 1-2 hours or less depends on the location of the Chimps. The walk in the Kibale Forest, at times, takes a slippery path and some bit of climbing and therefore you should have good hiking shoes, enough drinking water, a rain jacket, long pants and long-sleeved shirts. Clients will spend 1 hour observing and taking pictures of the Chimps in the forest for a worthwhile moment. Based on the time clients finish their Chimpanzee tracking, we return to the lodge for a hot meal or having it at a new lodge in case the chimpanzee tracking took long. In the afternoon, we shall head out for a community experience to see how locals in the area live their lives and this will involve a run through how local beer is made, local coffee processing at home, visit the local medicine man who is one of the most respected man in the community and local cow milking methods. Dinner will be at the lodge again. Meal Plan: Full board - Breakfast, lunch & Dinner
After breakfast, we start your journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park at 10:00 am. One of the common features we shall be able to see during the drive is the famous ranges of Mountain Rwenzori with the highest peak Magherita Standing at 5109M. Clients will check into the lodge, have lunch and the rest of the afternoon to relax either at the pool or enjoy the beautiful views from the lodge. The lodge is located outside the Park and roughly 15 - 20 minutes to the main gate Later in the afternoon, head to the park for a scenic crater drive experience and sundowner. Accommodation: Twin Lakes Lodge Estimated travel time: 4+ hours including the lunch stopover Meal Plan: Full board - Breakfast, lunch, & dinner
In the morning, at 6:30 am, start your game drive in the park. Queen Elizabeth boasts of one of the highest biodiversity ratings of any game park or reserve in the world. Located on the floor of the Albertine Rift Valley southwest of Kasese, its vegetation comprises savannah, acacia, euphorbia trees and large papyrus swamps. Over 100 mammal species and 500 bird species make this territory a great tourist destination. The maramagambo forest houses a large selection of monkeys and birds with flamingos on the crater lakes. The morning Game drive provides an excellent opportunity to see lions, elephants, Leopards, Topi and many other animals (remember these are wild animals and nature can’t be tamed, so we can’t be 100% sure of seeing all the animals). After the Game Drive, head for lunch at around 12:30 pm before transfer for the boat cruise at 1:30 pm. The boat trip on the Mweya Peninsula along the Kazinga channel which is a 41 km stretch of water and believed to be the longest natural water channel connects Lake Edward and Lake George. Here you have an opportunity to see crocodiles, hippos and birds that inhabit the Shoreline. The boat cruise takes roughly 2 hours. After the boat cruise, transfer back to the lodge through the magnificent crater lakes in the park. Meal Plan: Full board - Breakfast, lunch, & dinner
After an early morning sunrise breakfast, start the journey to Bwindi Impenetrable national park at 8:00am through savannah grasslands in Queen Elizabeth National Park. It takes roughly 3 hours on unpaved roads to reach the Ishasha area. We shall do a drive for approximately 1 hour in search of the tree climbing lions and if we are lucky we shall be able to find a pride. Later we head for lunch at Savanah before proceeding to Buhoma. The journey leads out of the savannah. It gets hillier. Guests pass mountain villages, green hills, tea terraces, banana and pineapple growing areas. Then the road leads into the rainforest. It will take you approximately 4 hours to reach the lodge, Accommodation: Buhoma Havens Lodge Estimated time of travel: 7-8 hours including stopovers. Meal Plan: Full board- Breakfast, lunch & Dinner Lunch: Savanah hotel
After an early breakfast, at 7:20am drive to the information center 10 minutes from the lodge with packed lunch boxes to prepare for the Gorilla tracking. After briefing from the Ranger guide, traverse to the Gorilla sanctuary to start tracking these lovely creatures. It takes approximately 1-2 hours or less to find the gorillas based on where they are located and after you spend 1 hour observing and taking pictures. The time you spend observing these endangered species is worth a trip to any part of the world and can never be forgotten. Clients are expected to have enough drinking water, good hiking shoes, rain jackets in case it rains, gloves if necessary, long sleeved clothes. Time spent with these Gorillas is very priceless. After we retire back to the lodge to rest or take part in some community activities that can be organized by the lodge at a cost.
After breakfast, start your journey to Lake Bunyonyi. It takes us roughly 2 hours and 30 minutes to reach Arcadia Cottages in Bunyonyi. Lake Bunyonyi is undoubtedly the loveliest lake in Uganda with 29 islands surrounded by steep terraced hillsides reminiscent of parts of Nepal and also appears on the 5000 Shilling note for Uganda. Bunyonyi becomes more magical in the morning as the mist rises off the placid water. Accommodation: Arcadia Cottages Bunyonyi Estimated travel time: 2 -3 hours Meal Plan: Full board - Breakfast, lunch, & dinner. Note: Optional activities such as community tours, island tours and quad bikes can be arranged at a cost
After an amazing time exploring the Pearl of Africa for 7 nights, clients will embark on their journey back to Entebbe with a stop at the Equator for some pictures. Accommodation: K Hotel Estimated travel time: 8 to 9 hours Meal Plan: Full board Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
It's always sad to say goodbye, but now will be the time to say goodbye to our clients after their amazing time in Uganda. Clients will be taken to the airport for their international flights back home. Accommodation: NA Estimated travel time: 15 minutes to the airport Meal Plan: Breakfast Only
