TOUR DESCRIPTION
This adventure holiday takes you to Uganda and Rwanda, one of the few destinations with abundant wildlife, birds & beautiful nature. Once you finally arrive in Uganda, you will feel the beautiful fresh air and surrounding beauty.
Starting off with adrenaline activities along the Nile like rafting, kayaking, bungee jumping. Next you will try out the rhino trekking at Ziwa while on your way to Murchison falls park, which is Uganda’s largest national park, with a number of attractions like the dramatic Murchison falls, Victoria Nile etc. Visit the primate capital of the world – Kibale, with a number of primate species like chimpanzees, collobus monkeys etc.
Heading south, this trip gives you a chance to view the Rwenzori Mountains while on a game viewing safari in Queen Elizabeth Park. Expect a lot of birdlife & wildlife and many other attractions including the Kazinga channel, crater lakes etc. You will also get to trek the endangered gorillas in Bwindi – one of Africa’s ancient forests. Later passing through the hilly areas of Kabale, you will enjoy a day relaxing at Lake Bunyonyi, a beautiful place with many birds.
This trip then takes you to Rwanda – first visiting the Dian Fossey grave site before heading to Kigali to visit the Genocide memorial center. You will also enjoy a great canopy walk in Nyungwe forest there after which you head to Kigali to see the Nyanza palace and that will be the end of your 15 days trip.
Wildlife & Activity Holiday
Start/End: Kampala
Duration: 9 Days
Activities: Rhino Trekking, Game drives, Boat cruise, birding, Chimp tracking, Gorilla Trekking
Destinations: Ziwa rhino sanctuary, Murchison falls, Kibale forest, Queen Elizabeth Park, Bwindi Forest
This activity holiday is one of the most recommended tours for a lifetime wildlife experience in Africa. You will get to see Uganda’s beautiful scenery and remarkable attractions.
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
- Kampala City
- Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
- Murchison falls national park
- Kibale forest national park – Chimpanzee tracking
- Queen Elizabeth national park
- Bwindi impenetrable forest park – Gorillas
- Mpigi royal drum makers & the Equator
INCLUDED
- Transport in a 4WD vehicle with pop-up roof.
- All fuel for the tour
- English speaking Ugandan driver/guide.
- Accommodation and Meals on Full Board (Breakfast Lunch and Dinner)
- Park-entrance fees for all National parks
- All activities described in the itinerary
- Drinking water throughout the safari.
NOT INCLUDED
- International air fares
- Entry visa Uganda
- Meals that are not part of your accommodation.
- A porter for during the gorilla tracking’s (someone who carries your daypack).
- Personal (medical/travel) insurance
- Tips and gratuities to rangers, driver/guide, porter, hotel staff, etc.
- All expenses of personal nature (e.g. drinks, laundry, optional activities, souvenirs etc.)
TOUR ITINERARY
Day 1: Entebbe Airport to Kampala
Your tourist guide/ driver will pick you up from Kampala and begin a panoramic drive north-west passing through the MMeet with your tour guide / driver at Entebbe International Airport. Transfer to Kampala for the first night in the capital city of Uganda.
Accommodation at Cassia Lodge (Comfort), Serena Hotel (Luxury)
Meal plan: Lunch & Dinner
Day 2: Kampala to Murchison
Today your guide will begin the Safari with a panoramic drive to Murchison located in north-west part of Uganda. Passing through the famous Luwero Triangle you will stop by the Ziwa Wildlife Sanctuary for Rhino Trekking. Later continue to Masindi Town for lunch before proceeding to Murchison Falls National Park. Enter the park from the southern entry gate and get a chance stop at the spectacular ‘Top of the falls’ where you can see the River Nile! This great river compresses from 50 meters through a 7 meter canyon which drops 50 meters with a thunderous roar and a beautiful rainbow – the Murchison falls. Later check in to your lodge for dinner & enjoy the sunset.
Accommodation at Murchison River Lodge (Comfort) , Paraa Safari Lodge (Luxury)
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 3: Murchison falls Game Safari
Early morning, your guide will take you to enjoy a game drive on the northern bank of the River Nile. This will give you an opportunity to spot some of the wildlife like the Elephant, Lion, Cape buffalo, Rothschild’s giraffe, hartebeest, Waterbuck, Oribi, Bushbuck, Bohor reedbuck, hyena and if you are lucky, the leopard. After lunch, head for a boat cruise upstream on the calm Victoria Nile to the base of the falls stopping just tens of meters away from the “Devil’s Cauldron” (Murchison falls). You will see a large number of toothsome hippos, crocodiles, birds and other animals on the banks of the river. Key birds found include Goliath heron, Egyptian goose, Brown pelican, Red-throated bee-eater, various kingfishers, Fish eagles, cormorant and the rare shoebill stork.
Accommodation at Murchison River Lodge (Comfort) , Paraa Safari Lodge (Luxury)
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 4: Murchison to Kibale
Your guide will drive you to Kibale forest today passing Hoima and Fort Portal town through a verdant countryside and past traditional homesteads & farms. The town of Fort-Portal rests in the shadow of the fabled Mountains of the Moon. Check in your lodge in Kibale.
Accommodation at Kibale Forest Camp(Standard), Mountains of the Moon Hotel (Comfort), Papaya Lake Lodge (Luxury)
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5: Kibale forest – Primate Walks & birding
Drive through the “Switzerland of Africa” area known as the Kigezi Highlands, with its terraced hillside and winding Early morning, visit the primate capital of the world – Kibale Forest. Enjoy a guided nature walk in search of chimpanzees and 10 other primates including l’ Hoestes, Red collobus, blue, red-tailed monkeys, brown monkeys and gray-cheeked mangabey. The guide will provide detailed explanations, not only on primates, but on all the forest fauna and flora and will ensure that your walk is informative and enjoyable. This walk is excellent for viewing bird life and seeing primates at close quarters. In the Evening proceed to Queen Elizabeth National Park following the mystical Rwenzori Mountain range for much of the journey.
Accommodation at Kasenyi Safari Camp (Comfort), Mweya Safari Lodge(Luxury)
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 6: Queen Elizabeth Park – Wildlife attractions
An early morning game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park to see the medley of wonders including grassy plains, tropical forest, rivers, swamps, lakes, wildlife and volcanic craters. The massive Rwenzori mountains acting as a backdrop provides excellent opportunities to see lion, leopard, giant forest hog, cape buffalo, elephants, defassa waterbuck, Uganda Kob, Topi and bush buck. In the afternoon, you will enjoy a unique 2 hour boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel and into Lake Edward. This trip passes through possibly the highest concentration of hippos and many animals may be seen drinking at the water’s edge. This launch cruise offers an excellent platform for photography, bird watching and game viewing. The prolific bird life is colorful and stupendous with well over 600 resident species.
Accommodation at Kasenyi Safari Camp (Comfort), Mweya Safari Lodge(Luxury)
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 7: Drive to Bwindi forest national park
Today your guide will transfer you to Bwindi forest – home of the mountain gorillas, passing through one of the most beautiful parts of the country – the Kigezi Highlands, with its terraced hillside and winding roads.
Accommodation at the Bunyonyi Overland Resort (Standard), Rushaga Gorilla Camp (Comfort), Silverback Lodge (Luxury)
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 8: Gorilla Trekking
Early morning, your guide will transfer you to the park headquarters for briefing by the park authorities. Make sure you have carried along the perfect gear for this experience like jungle boots, a raincoat etc. On entering the forest, you will be in a group (8 tourists maximum) led by a guide who will help get close to the gorillas. The time taken on the trekking varies according to how far the gorillas might have gone. The forest offers a dramatic steeply forested landscape and is incredibly dense, crisscrossed by numerous animal trails allowing access to tourists. The thrill of observing the gorillas is a rare, moving, awesome and exciting adventure. You will only be allowed 1 hour to access the gorillas after which your trekking will end, also you receive a certificate from Uganda Wildlife Authority.
Accommodation at the Bunyonyi Overland Resort (Standard), Rushaga Gorilla Camp (Comfort), Silverback Lodge (Luxury)
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 9: Bwindi to Kampala
Today your guide will drive back to Kampala with a stop-over at the Mpigi Royal Drum Makers where you will be able to watch ceremonial drums being crafted using methods passed down through generations. You will also be able to stop at the equator for snacks and some photography. Arrive in Kampala early evening and transfer to your accommodation or to Entebbe airport if you have an evening flight.
Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch