Day 1 : Arrival
Warm welcome at Entebbe International Airport and transfer to your hotel. Overnight at Airport Guesthouse.
Day 2 : Ngamba Island
A visit to the island of the chimpanzees! You will depart from Entebbe for a close encounter with our relatives. After a pleasant boat ride you reach Ngamba Island, where you will be directed to the visitors centre to learn more about the chimps and their lifestyle. You will be able to view and photograph these fascinating apes in their natural environment from only a few metres away! Later you will take a boat ride back to Entebbe and be transferred to your hotel. Overnight at Airport Guesthouse.
Day 3 : Entebbe – Murchison Falls National Park
Today we will depart for the most beautiful protected area in Uganda: Murchison Falls National Park. Enjoy a lunch stop before we enter the park. We will visit the magnificent falls where you will enjoy and marvel at the mighty Nile. The famous waterfall is being forced into a seven meter crevice, to thunder 45 meters below in a series of cascades. This spectacular scenery can be viewed from different points up at the baler\'s summit. Dinner and overnight at Red Chilli Rest Camp.
Day 4 : Murchison Falls National Park
After an early morning breakfast you will enjoy a half-day game drive on the northern bank of the Nile, escorted by a ranger. Game in this part includes the elephant, Rothschild giraffe, Jackson hartebeest, lions, oribis, waterbucks and a variety of savannah woodland birds. After lunch embark on the Madi Gras boat that will take you to a hidden world with abundant wildlife, while drifting quietly downstream. Late in the afternoon arrival at Bush Camp where your tent will be pitched. As night falls you will enjoy a delicious barbecue meal, surrounded by the sounds of Africa at night. Overnight at Bush Camp.
Day 5 : Murchison Falls National Park
Early in the morning you will go with a ranger for a safari walk in the surrounding area. Return to the boat and enjoy breakfast while we slowly return to Paraa. The rest of the afternoon you have the opportunity to relax and enjoy the beautiful nature. Dinner and overnight at Red Chilli Rest Camp.
Day 6 : Murchison Falls National Park – Kibale Forest
We depart Murchison Falls and head towards Fort Portal. The drive is almost eight hours but will provide you with some stunning views as you pass small African villages and banana plantations. The lovely town of Fort Portal rests in the shadow of the fabled Mountains of the Moon and is famous for the many tea plantations. From Fort Portal we continue directly to the dense jungle of Kibale Forest National Park. Dinner and overnight at the cottages of Primate Lodge Kibale.
Day 7 : Kibale Forest – Queen Elizabeth National Park
Early in the morning visit to Kibale Forest National Park, reputable of having the greatest variety and highest concentration of primates in East Africa. Enjoy a guided nature walk in the tropical rainforest in search of the wild chimpanzees, red-tailed monkeys, black-and-white colobus monkeys and many others. After lunch we will transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Dinner and overnight at Simba Safari Camp.
Day 8 : Queen Elizabeth National Park
The day begins early as we take on a morning game drive and head for the mating ground of the Uganda Kobs. We search for lions, elephants, buffaloes and other wild animals in their natural habitat before returning for lunch. In the afternoon we will go for a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, a natural channel between Lake Edward and Lake George. Thanks to the abundant bird life that is sighted, and the elephants, buffaloes and hundreds of hippos that are cooling off at the shores, this cruise will definitely be one of the highlights of your safari. Dinner and overnight at Simba Safari Camp.
Day 9 : Queen Elizabeth – Bwindi National Park
After breakfast you may choose for the optional activity of exploring Kyambura Wildlife Reserve (not included). Driving through a grassland area, all of a sudden we come across an amazing gorge of one hundred meters deep, covered with tropical rainforest. You will hike into the gorge of the Kyambura River in search of the wild chimpanzees. It is a beautiful walk through the river valley, home to many birds and butterfly species. Later we will leave Queen Elizabeth National Park and head towards Bwindi National Park. The scenic route runs through a verdant countryside while you pass traditional homesteads and farms. Dinner and overnight at Buhoma Community Bandas.
Day 10 : Gorilla Tracking
Another highlight of your safari: a meeting with the gentle giants of Bwindi! Especially hikers will love the tracking in the beautiful ecosystem of the park. It is difficult to foresee how many hours you will hike, it may take two to eight hours. Expect to walk a long distance in steep and muddy conditions, sometimes with rain overhead, before you encounter any gorillas. But it will definitely be worthwhile as you observe them closely while they eat, play and rest. A unique and unforgettable experience! Dinner and overnight at Buhoma Community Bandas.
Day 11 : Bwindi National Park – Lake Bunyonyi
After breakfast we depart to Lake Bunyonyi, the deepest lake in Uganda. This area is often called \"Little Switzerland of Uganda\" and boosts one of the most beautiful parts of the country. Relax or go for a canoe trip while you watch the beautiful sunset. Dinner and overnight at Bunyonyi Overland Camp.
Day 12 : Lake Bunyonyi – Nshenyi Village
Departure for Mbarara where you will have lunch before continuing to Nshenyi Village. A beautiful route will take you to this hidden, rural farm where you can experience the traditional way of living. Dinner and overnight at the farm Nshenyi Village.
Day 13 : Nshenyi Village
The morning starts early as you will go to the field to milk the long horned Ankole cows. Return to the farm for breakfast, before we take a short walk to the village of a Bahima tribe. In the afternoon you may want to go for a nature walk along the River Kagera, the natural border with Tanzania. A non-professional local group will entertain you in the evening with traditional dances and songs. Dinner and overnight at the farm Nshenyi Village.
Day 14 : Nshenyi Village – Jinja
After breakfast we depart Nshenyi Village. Enjoy the magnificent views one more time as we head back to the capital city. On our way we will pass Lake Mburo National Park and cross the Ugandan Equator. From Kampala we continue directly to Jinja, the Source of the Nile. Dinner and overnight at Adrift Nile High Camp.
Day 15 : Jinja
A full day to relax and unwind at the origin of the Nile! We will visit the true Source of the Nile, where the famous river starts its long journey through Africa. Also the spectacular waterfalls of the Bujagali Falls will be visited and and you will have the opportunity to take a stroll in the calm centre of Jinja. Real adventurers can decide to go rafting on the challenging rapids of the Nile or explore the surroundings by a quad bike safari (not included). Dinner at overnight at Adrift Nile High Camp.
Day 16 : Departure
Time to say goodbye to the Pearl of Africa. Take some extra moments to enjoy the peace and beautiful nature at the origin of the Nile, before we head back to Entebbe. In time you will be dropped off at the airport for you flight back home. We are looking forward to seeing you again!
Included in the price:
- Ground transport per comfortable 4WD safari vehicle
- English speaking driver/guide
- Overnight in the budget accommodation as mentioned in the itinerary, based on a double room
- All meals except for your stay in Entebbe and Kampala (B&B)
- Bottled mineral water throughout the safari
- Park entrance fees and ranger fees
- Activities as described in the program
- Permit for chimp tracking in Kibale Forest National Park
Exclusions:
- International flight
- Visa
- Gorilla permit (USD $500 per person)
- Chimp tracking in Kyambura Gorge (USD $50 per person)
- Meals and drinks not mentioned above
- Laundry and tips
- Items of personal nature
Note:
Optional is a chimp walk at Ngamba Island. Together with the caregivers you will accompany a group of juvenile chimpanzees on their walk through the forest. The forest walks are offered twice a day and require overnight at the Island. A unique opportunity to enter the world of the chimps and get in close contact!
Please note that demand is very high and only 8 persons per day are allowed to see the gorillas. Therefore we advise you to book permits at least 4 months in advance.
If you wish to stay in luxury accommodation please notify so we can inform you about the upgrade fees. Rwanda!
