best of uganda

Itinerary

Start Planning Your Uganda Safari

Day 1 – Entebbe: Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Overnight at Protea Hotel.

Protea Hotel Entebbe is a newly-built 73-roomed hotel ideally located on the glistening shores of Lake Victoria and is conveniently located one km from the airport. The rooms are spacious and well-furnished with ensuite bathrooms and all modern amenities including complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi, satellite TV and electronic safes.

Day 2 – Kibale: This morning you will be transferred to the airstrip for your scheduled charter flight to Kasese (2–2.5 hours). Upon arrival, you will be met by your private guide and driven to the Kibale Forest area and the Mountains of the Moon (1–1.5-hour drive). In the afternoon, you will take a guided forest trek in search of one of the most popular primate species in the world – the chimpanzee. There are nine diurnal primates living in the forest, including vervet, red-tailed, L’Hoest’s, blue monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabey, red colobus, black and white colobus, olive baboon, and of course, the chimpanzee. Dinner and overnight at Ndali Lodge.

Ndali Lodge is perched 328 feet directly above Nyinambuga Crater Lake and has eight individual cottages set on the hillside. All rooms are privately situated within the forest, sitting on raised on a wooden platform and covered by a grass-thatched roof, perfectly blending with the natural environment. Each has a private veranda with a splendid view of the surrounding forest, queen-sized beds and ensuite bathrooms.

Day 3 – Kibale: This morning, you will take another forest walk in search of primates. While trekking in the depths of the lush green forest, you will be surrounded by bird song and can expect to see at least five or six primate species. The walk is fairly easy due to well-maintained trails and reasonably flat terrain. This afternoon, enjoy a swamp walk in Bigodi, a village situated in the highlands of western Uganda near the Ruwenzori Mountains, the “Mountains of the Moon”. Overnight at Ndali Lodge.

Day 4 – Queen Elizabeth National Park: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park (Q.E.N.P), passing the eastern length of the Rwenzori Mountains, with the hope of viewing the glaciated peaks. Descend into the Great African Rift Valley. Q.E.N.P is Uganda’s most popular and accessible savanna reserve, with a total area of 1,230 square miles. It has one of the highest biodiversity ratings of any game reserve in the world, including a total of 95 recorded mammal species and more than 610 species of birds. In the afternoon, explore the park on a game drive. Dinner and overnight at Kyambura Gorge Lodge.

Kyambura Gorge Lodge has eight spacious and tastefully decorated self‐contained grass‐thatched cottages, featuring bathtubs/showers with views to the park, running hot and cold water and equipped with 220v electricity. Each cottage is privately located and has a lovely wooden balcony from which the diversity of wildlife in the park can be viewed and enjoyed. The lodge also has a beautiful swimming pool.

Day 5 – Queen Elizabeth National Park: Enjoy game drives in Q.E.N.P., including a shared boat trip (about 2 hours) on the Kazinga Channel to view some of the largest concentration of hippos in the world (reported to be about 30,000), as well as other game viewings and excellent birding. Q.E.N.P. is one of the best birding parks in Africa. Meals and overnight at Kyambura Gorge Lodge.

Day 6 – Ishasha: Today, you drive through the park to the Ishasha region. Game drive in search of tree climbing lions and other game. Dinner and overnight at Ishasha Wilderness Camp.

Ishasha Wilderness Camp has ten spacious, framed canvas rooms and is situated in the wooded area beside the river. Rooms each have large mosquito-netted beds and private ensuite bathrooms with running water, hot water ‘bush’ showers and a flushing eco-friendly toilet. Resident troops of Black-and-White Colobus and Vervet monkeys abound and if you are lucky you’ll spot Henry, the lone hippo, wallowing lazily below the viewing deck. Game roams freely through camp, with elephant making frequent guest appearances.

Day 7 – Ishasha/Bwindi: After breakfast, explore the Ishasha region of Q.E.N.P on a game drive. In the afternoon, drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park passing through the scenic area known as the Switzerland of East Africa. Slightly more than half the world’s mountain gorilla population resides in Bwindi. Dinner and overnight at Bwindi Lodge.

Bwindi Lodge has stunning views of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and is one of Africa’s unique lodges. Ten luxury bandas are complete with ensuite bathrooms and a private terrace with scenic panoramic views. The Lodge also has a forest spa and sauna, the award-winning Bwindi Bar and is a great place to spot the monkeys and birds hidden in the surrounding foliage.

Days 8 & 9 – Gorilla Tracking In Bwindi: Enjoy two days of exciting gorilla trekking. Each trek can take from 1-to-6 hours and climb to altitudes in excess of 7,500 feet. The terrain is rough and at times muddy. Although the hike is physically demanding, the beauty of the forest and surrounding scenery makes the trekking worthwhile. Once the gorillas are located, all fatigue is forgotten, as the experience is often described as being the most profound natural history experience in the world. Meals and overnights at at Bwindi Lodge.

Day 10 – Bwindi/Entebbe: This morning you will be driven to Kihihi airstrip (1.5 hours) in time for your scheduled charter flight to Kajjansi. You will be transferred to the Entebbe airport for your international departure flight. Please note, departure flights can be no earlier than 4 pm.

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