Day 1: Welcome to Uganda!

You will be picked up from the airport by a representative of your accommodation for tonight. You will meet your driver/ guide from Mgahinga Walking Safaris tomorrow morning when he picks you up from your accommodation in Entebbe.

Depending on the time of your arrival, you might be able to explore Entebbe. All activities today are at your own expense and can be arranged via your accommodation.

Journey Time	60 min to hotel
Accommodation	As listed in the programme.
Meal Plan	No meals included

Day 2: To Murchison Falls N.P.

Today you continue your journey to Murchison Falls National Park, one of the oldest conservation areas in Uganda. This is a long but rewarding journey through various landscapes of Northern Uganda.

Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda’s best-known and biggest nature reserve. With the impressive and powerful Murchison waterfall and its remarkable animal populations, this is a must visit in the Pearl of Africa. There are superb activities on offer such as a boat safari or Delta safari on the Nile. The river divides the park between a Northern and Southern section as it makes its way through multiple rapids and waterfalls to Lake Albert. Unfortunately, during the war years poachers and troops wiped out the majority of wildlife. Except for the park’s rhino population, fortunately all other wildlife has recovered fast since. A game drive in the park allows you to be eye-to-eye with the African animal kingdom and you will be amazed by the amount of elephants. Also giraffes, lions, antelope, waterbucks, buffaloes, hippos and crocodiles can all be spotted. Game drives take place on the tracks in the northern section which you reach by taking a ferry across the river. This park guarantees adventure!

Journey Time	7 hours
Accommodation	As listed in the programme.
Meal Plan	Bed and breakfast.

Day 3: Murchison Falls National Park

After an early breakfast, it is time to explore the park. On your Game Drives you of course need a fair share of luck and very good eyes to try and spot as many animals as possible. While driving through the park you can come eye-to-eye with the African animal kingdom. Hopefully you see them all; elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, lions, leopards, different species of antelope and many tropical birds. They are all there! A professional ranger with extensive knowledge on the park and its inhabitants will join you in your car. The park is especially known for its massive elephant population, huge array of bird species and big herds of buffalo. You will discover some of the parks ecosystems and different scenery with dense woodland, extensive savannahs and rolling grasslands. As this is a private game drive you can ask your guide to tailor your trip towards specific birdlife and/or wildlife if you like.

 

The afternoon boat safari towards the Murchison Falls is a very special activity, it takes approximately 3 hours and goes along the Victoria Nile to the base of the Falls. You can imagine; this boat safari will show you breathtaking scenery. Cold drinks are for sale on board for when you get thirsty for a local beer or a soda. Carefully watched by crocodiles, hundreds of hippos, buffaloes, water birds, monkeys and all the other (also thirsty) wildlife that the Nile attracts you go to the bottom of the powerful Murchison Falls. If you like hiking, the boat can drop you near the waterfalls and you can hike up to the top (this takes around 1 or 1,5 hours). The views are amazing!

 

Accommodation	As listed in the programme.
Meal Plan	Bed and breakfast.

 

 

Day 4: Murchison Falls National Park

The Nile Delta is the area where the Victoria Nile flows into Lake Albert. The banks of the delta are home to hundreds of bird species including the rare and prehistoric-looking shoebill stork and papyrus endemic species.

A boat safari through the delta is a “must do” for every birdwatcher. During this (approximately) 5 hour boat tour you enjoy a breakfast while enjoy the peaceful scenery and while approaching Lake Albers you may see more fishermen in canoes catches of tilapia fish and local people fetching water from the Nile and if lucky wild game along the banks. You may also see many hippo, crocodile and if lucky you can witness elephant bathing in the river. Also keep an eye on the treetops as you can often spot monkeys such as eastern fringed monkeys and baboons. The boat trip starts early in the morning during the soft light, golden hours for photographers. This lights lasts till about 10 am when the light becomes brighter. Relax, sit back & enjoy!

 

In the afternoon your guide will take you to the top of the waterfalls for the beautiful view. See where the world’s longest river explodes violently through a narrow cleft in the Rift Valley escarpment to plunge into a frothing pool 43m below.

You will have some time to walk around and enjoy the views.

Accommodation	As listed in the programme.
Meal Plan	Bed and breakfast

Optional activity: Rhino Tracking

At the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary you will go for a safari hike to the rhinos together with an experienced range. This is a wonderful opportunity to see the endangered rhinos from up close! These magnificent creatures are hard to find in their natural habitat nowadays. This sanctuary provides the rhinos with 7000 hectares of land. Both Kidepo Valley and Murchison Falls National Parks once had both black and white rhinos.

However widespread poaching during the Idi Amin era resulted in the disappearance of rhinos in Uganda. Rhino Fund Uganda works to reintroduce black and white rhinos into the wild in Uganda and therefore they run a breeding program. Besides this, this also work to educate communities on endangered rhinos. While at the sanctuary you may also encounter a range of other wildlife species including Uganda kobs, oribis, bush bucks, water bucks among others and a number of other bird species.

This activity is optional at an additional cost of $40 us dollar per person.

 

Optional activity: Chimp tracking Budongo forest

Budongo Forest is located in the southern part of Murchison Falls National Park. This is the biggest Mahogany forest found in the whole of East Africa as well as habitat to the largest number of chimpanzees in Uganda. The habituated groups are located in Kaniyo Padibi, where you can go for chimpanzee trekking. Budongo Forest has an incredible biodiversity that – beside the chimpanzee – includes several other species like the Blue monkeys, Red-tailed monkeys, Vervet monkeys and Olive baboons.

This activity is optional at an additional cost of $95 us dollar per person in high season and $85 us dollar per person in low season

 

Optional activity: Hot air balloon safari

Discover Murchison Falls from the air! Sign up for this optional activity and enjoy to unique experience with the most amazing views over the river Nile, Lake Albert, the great Murchison Falls and of course spot lots and lots of animals. The scenes up there are enchanting and the air fresh and soothing. You will start early morning (when it is still dark) in order for you to see the sun rise over the park. After your balloon safari you will have a champagne bush breakfast in the park (inclusive).

This activity is optional at an additional cost of $380 us dollar per person

Day 5: To Fort Portal & Kibale Forest

After an early breakfast, you pick up your packed lunch, and time has come to leave Murchison Falls National Park and travel to Fort Portal. The drive to Fort Portal is long, but incredibly scenic. You’ll pass through villages, lush green forests and hills dotted with tea plantations which characterize this part of Uganda.

Surrounded by the evergreen landscapes of the Great Crater Lakes region and with stunning views over the majestic Ruwenzori Mountain Range you’ll find an oasis of luxurious cottages situated on the extinct volcano crater’s slope. Enjoy the breath-taking views over the turquoise waters of Lyantonde Lake in complete privacy. Papaya’s fine cuisine combines culinary traditions from all corners of the world, prepared using only top quality and fresh products. This lodge is established with great passion, esteem for local culture and the high attention detail.

 

Journey Time	9 – 10 hours
Accommodation	Rweteera safari park
Meal Plan	Breakfast, packed lunch, dinner

Day 6: Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest

Chimpanzees share 98% of human genes making them our closest living relatives. They are found in 21 countries throughout Africa, but are most easily sighted in Uganda due to their dense populations. Today, in Uganda, there are approximately 5,000 chimpanzees left in the wild. The Chimpanzee Trekking experience here is done on several well maintained walking trails. There is also a wonderfully diverse concentration of other primates, more than any other forest in East Africa, in fact. Besides our delightful cousins, the chimpanzees, you can find red colobus, red-tailed guenon, white-nosed monkey, gray-cheeked mangabey, blue monkey, L’Hoest’s monkey, and the black and white colobus monkey. In addition, you may see olive baboons, bush babies and nocturnal pottos.

The aim for your trekking through the jungle under the care of professional guide, is 1 hour of eye to eye contact with the chimpanzees. We can however cannot guarantee 100% for you to see them as they are still wild animals, nevertheless your chances are very good.

Your next activity will take you to the Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary which features 8 primate species, over 200 bird species and many reptiles. During the walk – which takes 2 to 3 hours – you have a chance to many animals but the highlight is catching a glimpse of a famous bird; the Great Blue Turaco.

Instead of the swamp walk in Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary, you can also choose to go for a creater-lake hike.

Journey Time	1 hour each way
Accommodation	Rweteera safari park
Meal Plan	Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 7: Queen Elizabeth National Park

Scenic Queen Elizabeth National Park is located in south western Uganda and is most often included in visitors’ itineraries. It is the second largest park in the country and located at the base of the majestic Rwenzori Mountain range, next to Lake Edward and Lake George which are joined by the Kazinga channel. Few reserves in the world have such a high biodiversity with landscapes including savannah, bushland, wetlands and lush forests. On your first game drive, it is time to explore the Queen Elizabeth National Park with her 200 kilometers of well-maintained game viewing tracks. We advise for you to be alert and pro-active on your game drive to help the ranger spot as many animals as possible.

You’ll stay at Mweya Safari Lodge, a unique luxurious encounter in the heart of Queen Elizabeth National Park, surrounded by the ‘Mountains of the Moon’ and endless wilderness. From your private deck terrace, the restaurant and the infinity pool, a panoramic view over the Kazinga Channel awaits to be marvelled accompanied with a carefully selected cocktail or choice from a range of exquisite Continental, Indian and International cuisine.

Journey Time	3½ hours
Accommodation	As listed in the programme.
Meal Plan	Bed and breakfast.

 

Day 8: Game drive – To ishasha (Tree climbing lions)

After an early breakfast, you go for a long game drive in time to see the sun rise. The morning is the best time for a game drive as the African animal kingdom tends to me most active when during the golden hours of the first sunlight touching the savannah. You will continue the search for all the wildlife. With an astonishing 5000 hippos, 2500 elephants and over 10,000 buffalo thriving in its grasslands and shorelines, this park guarantees sightings of some of Africa’s most iconic species. All being well you see elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, different species of antelope and just maybe some of the exciting predators such as; lion, leopard, civet, genal and serval cats. Ten species of primates enjoy the park’s diverse habitats

After lunch, you will take a boat safari along the Kazinga Channel. Here, you will see a lot of hippos (more than you can possibly imagine), as well as a variety of other animals which come to the waterhole to drink or bathe. You can expect to see: Buffalo, Crocodile, bathing Elephant, and a range of beautiful birds. This will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of your tour. After the boat-safari you game drive back to the lodge.

Accommodation	As listed in the programme.
Meal Plan	Bed and breakfast.

Optional activity: Chimp tracking Kyambura Gorge

Early in the morning you will go for a hike in the Kyambura gorge; another gem in the far eastern corner of Queen Elizabeth National Park. This gorge is also called the “Valley of Apes” and is another world on its own. Drained by River Kayambura it now has a rich wildlife bio-diversity, including a family of 16 chimpanzees and many bird species. The view from the top is very impressive as you look down a gorge filled with lush green tropical vegetation amidst an impressive valley. A hike through the gorge gives you the opportunity to see chimpanzees and other types of primates including red-tailed monkey, black-and-white colobus, baboons and vervet monkeys. This green-riverine forest also offers shelter to several forest birds. Although the chance of spotting chimpanzees is not as high as on an official trekking in Kibale or Budongo forest, this landscape is among the most impressive in Uganda and absolutely worth visiting.

The additional cost for this optional activity is $50 per person

Day 9: Tree climbing lions Ishasha

After breakfast you will drive in about 3 hours to the southern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park. This part is famous for its’ tree-climbing lions. While lion cubs around the world frequently climb trees for fun, adults rarely do. However, these lionesses enjoy spending the hot afternoons snoozing in fig trees to get away from the tsetse flies and to enjoy a cool breeze. This is the most memorable sight in the park as you have never seen such photogenic lions posing for your camera before. During a game drive you will try your luck! Meanwhile don’t miss the stunning scenery and superb birdlife in this southern remote section of the park either.

 

Beautifully situated within the Southern Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, you’ll find Ishasha Wilderness Camp being an idyllic retreat where you will enjoy true wilderness. This unspoiled remote sector of the park gives room for superb quality accommodation and service, offering spacious canvas tents with a private veranda overlooking the Ntungwe River.  Although it’s not guaranteed, wildlife is free to pass through the camp.

Accommodation	As listed in the programme.
Meal Plan	Bed and breakfast.

Day 10: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

You will game drive on your way out of the park for a last chance at spotting those tree climbing lions. Lunch will be at the lodge in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest; home of the Mountain Gorillas.

For the coming two nights you’ll stay at the remarkable and intimate Buhoma Lodge, which has spectacular uninterrupted views over the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Being one of the only two lodges located in the park, this truly is a unique location. You’ll stay in one of the ten chalets which are carefully and spaciously designed using locally sourced materials. Among others, the private veranda, en-suite hot rain-shower and complimentary massage should give you all that you need to unwind and relax during your stay.

 

Journey Time	3 hours
Accommodation	As listed in the programme.
Meal Plan	Bed and breakfast.

Day 11: Gorilla Trekking

Today is the big day… Prepare yourself for an encounter with one of Bwindi’s gentle giants: the rare Mountain Gorilla. For most people this is the absolute highlight of their tour in Uganda.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a highlight for many visitors as this is where they will be visiting the home of the gentle giants. The park lies in southwestern Uganda on the edge of the Rift Valley. Uganda’s oldest and most biologically diverse rainforests lies on the mist-covered hillsides. This magnificent forest dates back over 25,000 years, even surviving the last Ice Age (most forests disappeared). Bwindi forest has an incredible diversity of flora and fauna and is the only forest in Africa which can make claim to host both mountain gorillas and chimpanzees. In fact, half the worlds’ population of gorillas live here divided over nine habituated family groups. Also 5 other primate species, 120 species of mammal, over 220 butterflies and 360 birds species call Bwindi home. This it THE place to see the critically endangered mountain gorillas up close for your very own ‘Gorillas in the Mist’ moment.

 

The gorillas you will trek belong to one of nine family groups who can tolerate the presence of humans for a brief period every day. Your trek will be an exciting (for some also challenging) journey along forested (sometimes slippery) slopes, entwined vines, bushes and bamboo before you eventually reach the gentle giants. En-route, your guide will point out signs of previous gorilla activity. Think of dung, nests and chewed bamboo shoots. The time to complete the gorilla trekking can be as little as 2 hours to as much as 7 hours! Once the the family of gorillas has been located, you will be allowed a maximum of one hour observing them. Coming face-to-face with the mountain gorillas is a truly humbling and emotional experience. This is a fantastic part of your tour you will definitely remember for the rest of your life.

Accommodation	Bed and breakfast.
Meal Plan	Breakfast and packed lunch

 

 

Day 12: Lake Mburo National Park

Lake Mburo is a small national Park (on the route from Bwindi National Park back to Entebbe) but should certainly not be underestimated. This is the only place in southern Uganda to see zebras and the only park in the country with impalas, slender mongoose and giant bush rats. You can also look for hyenas, leopards, topis, elands and the beautiful Rothschild’s giraffes, not to mention the lake itself which is teeming with hippos and crocodiles!. There are a lot of wonderful activities on offer, such as horse-riding, bush walks, boat safari on the lake and a mountain bike safari. It is exciting to approach the wildlife at such close range, especially combining the fresh air with the beautiful scenery of Lake Mburo National Park.

 

 

Find yourself in the magical setting of Mihingo Lodge adjacent to Lake Mburo National Park overlooking the vast savannah landscape. The environment-friendly design of the lodge blends in perfectly with its fragile surroundings. You’ll be able to see buffalo, eland, impala, zebra, bush buck and warthogs from the infinity pool overlooking the waterhole in the uninterrupted valley. Dine, relax and enjoy the charm of this magical place.

Journey time	6 hours
Accommodation	As listed in the programme.
Meal plan	Bed and breakfast.

Optional activity: Night game drive

A whole new world of animal species (nocturnal) await you on a night game drive. It gives you a different perspective of the park and wildlife. You probably already know that it is not a common occurrence to spot the elusive and solitary Leopards. However, you should keep your eyes peeled on the night game drive because whenever you find eyes glowing in the dark this could be one of those rare cats! Your night safari is either just before dinner or just after dinner and takes about 2 hours.

This activity is optional at an additional cost of $40 us dollars per person

Day 13: Bush walk – Airport Transfer

Lake Mburo N.P. is one of the two parks in Uganda where it is permitted to go for a safari walk with an experienced ranger. Footprints and animal droppings tell which animal has been here and how long ago. It is exciting to approach the wildlife at such close range. This activity is included this morning.

If you prefer to explore Lake Mburo by mountain bike instead of walking, you can choose to upgrade this activity. It’s very exciting to make a safari by mountain bike. Get active and get close to zebra, gazelle, Eland and sometimes even giraffe!

You can upgrade your walking safari to a mountainbike safari at an additional cost of $30 per person

 

After brunch at the lodge, you will drive back to Kampala or Entebbe (Airport) stopping at the equator for the requisite snapshot and a bit of souvenir shopping.

Accommodation for tonight is not inclusive in the program. If you wish to depart tonight from Entebbe Airport, make sure your flight is at 10 pm or later. If you want us to book one (or more) nights in Kampala and/or Entebbe, please let us know contact us at info@mgahingawalkingsafaris.com

Journey Time	6 hours
Accommodation	Not included
Meal Plan	Breakfast, (packed) lunch

 

 

 

end of safari.