Exclusive African Safaris

Uganda Highlights – 14 Days

Day 1: Murchison Falls National Park [L, D]
From Kampala, start the scenic drive north-west to Murchison Falls National Park via the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Covering 3,840 sq kms of savannah, rainforest and hills, this is Uganda's largest park.  In the afternoon we will visit the "top of the falls" for your chance to view the magnificence of the Nile. The park is cut into half by the famous River Nile where it has to squeeze itself through the legendary Murchison Falls, an impossibly narrow 7 m gap in a cleft rock creating a powerful explosion of white water. The Falls are believed to be the most powerful natural flow of water anywhere on earth. Lookout for the Rock pratincole and African Skimmery.
Overnight Sambiya Bandas / Paraa Safari Lodge / Nile Safari Lodge

Day 2: Murchison Falls [B, L, D]
Enjoy the early morning game drive via the Nyamsika Plateau, where you may see elephant, lion, buffalo, giraffe, hartebeests and many other animals. Afternoon boat cruise upstream to the foot of the mighty falls. En route, you will see hippos, crocodiles, waterbuck and lookout for the dazzling redthroated bee eaters, goliath heron, and if fortunate, the very unusual shoebill stork. The boat stops just tens of meters from the "Devil’s Cauldron". Take pictures of the photogenic and majestic Murchison Falls.

Overnight Sambiya Bandas / Paraa Safari Lodge / Nile Safari Lodge
Day 3: Kibale Forest National Park [B, L, D]      
All day drive south via Hoima to Fort Portal through verdant countryside and past traditional homesteads and farms. Fort-Portal rests in the shadow of the fabled Mountains of the Moon.
Afternoon visit to Bigodi swamp to search for smaller mammals and primates. Highlights are finding the rare red colobus monkey and the sitatunga.
 
Overnight Kibale Forest Bandas / Primate Lodge / Ndali Lodge
 
Day 4: Kibale Forest [B, L, D] 
All day search of chimpanzee and 10 other primate including l' hoestes, red colobus, blues, red tailed 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 both informative and enjoyable. This walk is excellent for viewing bird life and seeing primates at close quarters.
 
Overnight Kibale Forest Bandas / Primate Lodge / Ndali Lodge
 
Day 5: Queen Elizabeth National Park [B, L, D]   
Morning visit to Bigodi swamp to search for smaller mammals and primates. Highlights are finding the rare red colobus monkey and the sitatunga..
Proceed to Queen Elizabeth National Park following the mystical Ruwenzori Mountain range for much of the journey. A game drive en route may be rewarded with views of lion, elephant, leopard, buffalo, hyena and a variety of antelope species. Enjoy the 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 colourful and stupendous with well over 550 resident species. 
 
Overnight Mweya Hostel / Mweya Safari Lodge / Jacana Safari Lodge
 
Day 6: Queen Elizabeth [B, L, D]    
Two game drives today. Queen Elizabeth National Park's diverse eco-system of grassy plains, tropical forest, rivers, swamps, lakes and volcanic craters is home to an incredible abundance of wildlife. Game drives in this park, with the massive Rwenzoris as a backdrop provides excellent opportunities to see lion, leopard, giant forest hog, cape buffalo, elephants, defassa waterbuck, Uganda Kob, Topi and bush buck. These two game drives and the boat trip (taken prior) are a memorable method of discovering a vast array of Ugandan wildlife 
                                   
Overnight Mweya Hostel / Mweya Safari Lodge / Jacana Safari Lodge
 
Day 7: Ishasha Sector Queen Elizabeth [B, L, D]
Early morning transfer to Ishasha Area of Queen Elizabeth national park. Game drives in Ishasha sector, home to the famous tree-climbing lions and the large herds of game. The scenic beauty, the size of the euphorbias and combination of riverine forest, Savannah plain and equatorial forest makes this a memorable day, only found in Africa.
 
Overnight Savannah Resort Hotel / Ishasha Wilderness Tented Camp
 
Day 8: Ishasha Sector Queen Elizabeth [B, L, D]
Game drives in Ishasha sector, home to the famous tree-climbing lions and the large herds of game. The scenic beauty, the size of the euphorbias and combination of riverine forest, Savannah plain and equatorial forest makes this a memorable day, only found in Africa.
 
Overnight Savannah Resort Hotel / Ishasha Wilderness Tented Camp
 
Day 9: Bwindi National Park [B, L, D]      
Drive through the "Switzerland of Africa" area known as the Kigezi Highlands with its terraced hillside and winding roads to Bwindi. 
 
Overnight Buhoma Bandas / Gorilla Resort / Gorilla Forest Camp
 
Day 10: Bwindi, Gorilla Tracking [B, L, D]  
Early morning entry into Gorilla sanctuary. This rainforest is spectacular. 
It offers a dramatic steeply forested landscape and is incredibly dense, but criss-crossed by numerous animal trails allowing access to tourists. Mammals recorded include the endangered mountain gorilla, rare golden monkey, buffalo, elephant, black-fronted duiker, bushbuck, leopard, giant forest log and others. This park is best known for the fascinating gorillas. The time taken and the terrain varies according to the movements of this marvelous primates. The thrill of spending time and observing the gorillas is a rare, moving, awesome and exciting adventure. The gorilla is a shy and peaceful animal and it is unforgettable experience to watch and photograph them as they interact.
Overnight Buhoma Bandas / Gorilla Resort / Gorilla Forest Camp
 
Day 11: Lake Bunyonyi [B, L, D]
Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi. This mountain tarn is surrounded by terraced hills. The setting is truly beautiful. Enjoy Bilharzia – free swimming, dug out canoeing, sunbathing, hilly walks or mountain bike riding and cray fishing.
 
Overnight Overland Resort / Arcadia Cottages / Heritage Lodge
 
Day 12: Lake Bunyonyi [B, L, D]
This mountain tarn is surrounded by terraced hills. The setting is truly beautiful. Enjoy Bilharzia – free swimming, dug out canoeing, sunbathing, hilly walks or mountain bike riding and cray fishing.
 
Overnight Overland Resort / Arcadia Cottages / Heritage Lodge
 
Day 13: Lake Mburo National Park [B, L, D]
After an early breakfast, you will and drive to Lake Mburo National Park. Enjoy the boat ride on Lake Mburo and get quite close to crocs and hippos. This is the only park where you are not entirely imprisoned in a vehicle. Rather refreshing !!
Birdwatchers will enjoy the more than 250 species of birds found in Lake Mburo including Papyrus Gonolek, Brown faced Lapwing. Carruther's Cisticola, the extraordinary White winged Warbler and Bare-Faced-Go- Away bird. Evening game drive along the Lakeshore track. With its own system of game trails and cleared walkways the "Kigambara Loop" offers interesting guided lakeside walks. Find here herds of zebra, Cape buffalo and eland. Oribi and topi are easily approached.  
 
Overnight Rwonyo Rest Camp / Lake Mburo Tented Camp / Mihingo Safari Lodge
 
Day 14: Kampala [B, L]
After breakfast, proceed for a game drive or a safari walk under the escort of an armed ranger. The Kopjes are particularly interesting and camouflage kilpspringers and topis. Due to cattle herding in the area it is amusing to see zebra grazing alongside the long horned Ankore Cattle peaceably. Return for lunch which should be taken leisurely enjoying the view of the lakes in this park. After lunch, drive back to Kampala stopping at the Mpigi Royal Drum Makers en route where you will able to watch the ceremonial drums being crafted using methods passed down through generations. There will also be time to stop at the equator for photographs. You arrive Kampala in the early evening.