Game Safari in Uganda, Sightseeing and Game Drives

Day 1: Entebbe
Meet and greet at the Airport by your guide. You will be transferred to your hotel in Entebbe. Overnight at the Boma Guest House.(D)

Day 2: Entebbe - Mubende - Fort Portal- Kibale
After breakfast we drive to Fort Portal via Mubende. This is a long trip to Western Uganda with a break for a picnic after Mubende. A stop is also foreseen at Fort Portal. After some shopping we will drive another hour to reach the Kibale area for an overnight at Ndali Lodge. A visit to Uganda would not be complete without experiencing the stunning views and the special atmosphere of Ndali! Overnight at Ndali Lodge. (BLD)

Day 3 : Kibale NP- Mweya (Queen Elizabeth NP)
After breakfast you leave for Kibale Forest NP renowned for the greatest variety and the highest concentration of primates in East-Africa. The visitor’s center of Kanyanchu is 45 minutes away from Ndali lodge. At the visitor’s center the rangers are ready to escort different groups of maximum 6 persons. They will brief you about your guided nature walk in the tropical forest in search of the wild chimpanzees. This is one of the great moments of your safari!The rangers are very knowledgeable and will answer all your questions about the forest and the chimps. Jane Goodall Institute has been assisting Uganda Wildlife Authority with the training of the rangers. A pic-nic lunch is foreseen at Kanyanchu before heading to Mweya QENP via Fort Portal.On your way to Mweya after leaving Fort Portal, you might have a good view of the Rwenzori Mountains. It’s during the wet season that you will have the best chances to enjoy a clear view of the Rwenzories. On our way to Mweya you will pass Kasese town and stop at the equator for a traditional picture. You will entrer Queen Elizabeth NP at the Kabatoro gate and have a short game drive on our way to Mweya Lodge, which lies on a peninsula. You will enjoy during three nights one of the best Lodges of Uganda! Overnight at Mweya Lodge.(BLD)

Day 4: Mweya (Queen Elizabeth NP)
The best time for game-viewing is early in the morning! Taking the channel track which runs parallel with the Kazinga Channel, we drive slowly towards the Katunguru gate. The channel track is particularly rewarding with warthog, bushbuck, waterbuck and elephants. There are some chances in the morning hours to see the spotted hyena and leopard. We will cross the Mbarara-Kassese-Fort Portal road and drive to Kasenyi an area near Lake George which is an interesting gameviewing area. The wetlands surrounding the lake are of international importance and protected by the Ramsar Convention.Later on , you visit the Uganda Kob Mating Ground which is a defined area specifically used by Uganda Kobs for challenging, enticing and mating. Adult rams defend a circular territory (30 meters in diameter) and depending on the season the mating ground can have 20 and more of these small territories each defended by a male. Ewes enter the territories for mating and move freely between rams. Watch the spectacular fights as kobs defend their territories, look for lions as well because the high concentration of kobs attracts their predators. After the game drive we also visit the fishing village and the salt works at Kasenyi village near to Lake George. Both sites are part of Queen Elizaberh NP and local communities can develop some of their activities. It will be an opportunity for your guide to explain the conservation policies and the relationship with the local communities. (Fishing is an important activity among the local residents.) We continue our game drive and we take the Kasenyi track when returning to Mweya lodge for lunch. In the afternoon you will take the launch trip on the Kazinga Channel which many consider as a highlight of the safari. The launch trip takes 2 hours. The Kazinga Channel is a natural channel of 36 km long between Lake George and Lake Edward. The launch trip is the most popular activity at Mweya. From the safe boat you can see elephants, hippo, nile crocodile and many water birds. After the launch trip you will enjoy from your lodge the splendid views of the channel. Alternatively your driver guide will take you for a late afternoon game drive! Overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge.(BLD)

Day 5: Mweya (Queen Elizabeth NP)
This is the second day spent exploring Queen Elizabeth NP’s northern sector. After an early morning breakfast we take another track driving to the Kabatoro main gate and we take the Katwe road to visit the Uganda kob mating ground again. In the raining season the area around Lake George is also a very rewarding area to see some birds and to have a nice view of the Rwenzories. After our morning game we will drive to Katunguru and cross the Kazinga channel to visit Maramagambo Forest, which lies on the southern part of Queen Elizabeth. There, enjoy a guided nature walk into the forest. A ranger will take you to the bats cave to observe the fruit bats and the rock pythons. On the way back you will pass by the Blue Lake which is the smallest lake of the area. After the guided nature walk we drive back to the lodge along the Channel track for another game drive. After lunch at the Lodge, you may opt to while away the afternoon by the lodge swimming pool and/or and have a late afternoon game drive. Overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge.(BLD)

Day 6: Kyambura - Ishasha (Queen Elizabeth NP)
An early wake up because of the long drive to Kyambura WR and the southern sector of the park. You will take the Channel track trying the last chance to see leopard. The Kyambura River, about 16 km long, flows into Kazinga Channel. On arrival, the rangers will lead us and we drive to the nearest point, where rangers usually know the chimpanzees are approximately located. The rangers will give you a briefing before descending into the depths of the gorge. The nature walk takes a few hours and lunch will be served at Kyambura fig tree campsite before heading to Ishasha. Ishasha is about 3 hours away from Kyambura and you will have a short game drive on your way to the camp. You will spend two nights at Ishasha Wilderness Camp, the only fixed tented camp in this unspoilt remote southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park famous for it’s tree climbing lions. The first night at Ishasha is always the most impressive one for visitors. At night you might have a concert of black-and-white colobus monkeys, baboons, hyena, hippos and the roaring lions!(BLD)

Day 7: Ishasha (Queen Elizabeth NP)
You will explore Ishasha, the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth considered by some experts as one of the most aluring game viewing area of East Africa. It’s an off-the-beaten-track destination that you will surely enjoy. We wake up early, since this is the best time for observing nature. You start from the southern circuit in search of the elephants and we will drive over the plains of Ishasha in the open savannah. The southern circuit has usually large herds of buffalo, Uganda kob and topi. Near to the swamps of the southern circuit you might see even leopard. We continue and drive to the northern circuit, which is the area near the main road known for its tree climbing lions. We look particularly at the many fig trees where lions like to stay. After this initial scouting expedition, we return to the camp for to have lunch, relax, observe the hippos and take time for a shower or siesta in the shadow of the woods. In the afternoon you will have another game drive and during the dry season we will drive you to the Edward’s flats to see elephants, large herds of buffalo and different waterbids. Occasionaly we might find in this area the shoebill stork and by surprise some hunting lions. We return late in the afternoon to enjoy the last moments of the day on the Ntungwe river. After diner we sit around the campfire and enjoy the nature sounds of the woods. Overnight at Ishasha Wilderness Camp. (BLD)

Day 8: Ishasha - Buhoma (Bwindi Impentrable NP)
This is our last game drive in Queen Elizabeth. If you have missed the lions the previous days it will be the last opportunity to try again. You will start again with the northern circuit and finish your game drive with the southern part. When returning from the morning game drive you will enjoy you last moment in the wilderness. After lunch we depart to Bwindi a journey that can take a max. of 2 hours. We stop on the way in Kihihi for refueling and some shopping at the local stores. The Muzungu (the white visitors) are an attraction for the children of the village! Bwindi is not far away and you will arrive at Buhoma in the afternoon. Bwindi has a unique rich and varied ecosystem and has lowland rainforest and afromontane forest. It’s considered as one of the most unique and important forests of Africa. UNESCO declared it as a Natural World Heritage site for Humanity for his many values and because it is vital to the survival of many endangered species. Buhoma Homestead has recently been upgraded with very comfortable chalets built on wooden platforms overlooking Bwindi’s rainforest. Time for cool drink and to enjoy the sight and sounds of the rainforest. (BLD)

Day 9: Gorilla trekking - Bwindi Impenetrable NP
Bwindi Impenetrable NP is a natural world heritage site. Hikers will love it, with the gorilla excursion as a high point of your safari! Gorilla trekking is unpredictable. It’s difficult to foresee how many hours you will hike. The gorilla excursion can take from 2 up to 8 hours. Expect to walk along distance in steep and muddy conditions, sometimes with rain overhead, before you encounter any gorillas. A good physical condition is recommended. For conservation purposes, time spent with the gorillas is limited to one hour. A ranger will brief you on how to behave with the gorillas.
Once you are back from trekking before 5 pm, you can be entertained by orphans of the Buhoma village, with their traditional Bakiga dances. For participants who want to contribute to the orphans, we advise them to bring some used clothes or school pencils/pens. Second overnight at Buhoma. (BLD)

Day 10: Bwindi - Kisorro (Cyanika) - Kinigi)
This is a long day: after breakfast, we depart for Kabale and Kisorro, meandering along the Kigezi mountains. The Kigezi mountains offer another unique scenery with their terraced hillsides and winding roads. Before Kabale we will take the road to Kisorro and expect to arrive in the afternoon at Kisorro which is not far from Cyanika, the Rwanda border. After the formalities it will take us another hour to get to Kinigi. Kinigi lies at the foothills of the Volcanoes. Overnight at Mountain Gorilla Nest.(BLD)

Day 11: Gorilla Trekking - Kigali
After breakfast, you will depart for the headquarters of the Park where your driver-guide will accomplish the necessary formalities for you. You will meet your ranger guide(s) for a briefing about the greatest animal experience ever! After being assigned your gorilla group, you will be taken by road to the slopes of one of The Virunga volcanoes for your trekking. Your driver-guide will wait for you. After the trekking, lunch at Ruhengeri and transfer to Kigali. On your way to Kigali, several stops will be made to admire the scenery. Rwanda is the country of the thousand hills! Overnight at the Milles Collines Hotel. (BLD)

Day 12: Kigali - Kabale - Mbarara - Lake Mburo
After breakfast, we leave for Lake Mburo NP. After crossing the border we will stop in Kabale for lunch before continuing to Lake Mburo via Mbarara. The arrival is foreseen in the afternoon just on time to have a boat excursion on the lake. For bird lovers this will be the best place to see the African Finfoot in Uganda! Overnight at the newly and wonderful Mihingo Lodge. (BLD)

Day 13: Lake Mburo NP - Entebbe
After an early morning breakfast you will have a guided nature walk. A ranger guide takes you on foot to the bush. Lake Mburo is the only place in this part of Uganda where you can see zebra and Impala and it’s also the best place to see the African Eland, Africa’s largest antelope! You will arrive at Entebbe in the late afternoon. Overnight at the Boma Guesthouse. (BLD)