Uganda Gorillas, Wildlife & Waterfalls

This morning, you enjoy a short guided walking safari around Lake Mburo National Park. You have the chance to encounter animals such as spotted hyena, hippo, common duiker, oribi, eland, topi, klipspringer, bushbuck, Defassa waterbuck, Bohor reedbuck, Cape buffalo, warthog, side-striped jackal and the elusive sitatunga. Then, embark on a private transfer southwest to the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (approx. 6hr drive). Stay 2 nights in an ensuite cottage at Buhoma Community Haven Lodge, 2 Nights, all meals included.

Today, you enjoy your once-in-a-lifetime experience, visiting the magnificent Silverback Gorillas, is a must do in any wildlife enthiast's lifetime. You will track the gorillas in the Buhoma sector of Bwindi, just a short walk away from your lodge. After an early breakfast you will be taken to the park Head Quarters for a briefing on conduct during gorilla tracking. You will then be allocated to a team of experienced ranger-guides who will take you into Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, to seek out one of the resident, habituated Gorilla groups. Time taken to reach the Gorillas varies from as little as 45 minutes to a few hours. Once the Gorillas are located, you will be allowed a maximum of one hour with them. This is one of the most memorable and awe-inspiring wildlife experiences to be had anywhere in the world – superlatives simply fail to convey just how impressive it is. You don’t have to be an athlete to take on Gorilla tracking, but you do have to be physically fit, wear suitable footwear and prepared to traverse fairly steep, rough, muddy, slippery and uneven terrain for what could be a lengthy period of time, anything from 4hr return trip to 9hr return trip. Rangers and porters always go at the speed of the slowest walker, and you will be able to make several stops for drinks or snacks (NB. permits are sold on a first-come-first-serve basis and there are only a limited number per day).

After an early breakfast, you are met by a representative from the lodge, for your private transfer to Kihihi Air strip (approx. 1.5hr drive), in time to catch your light aircraft flight to Kasese Airport. Upon arrival, you are met by your private professional English speaking driver guide and private 4x4 vehicle, for a private transfer to your lodge (approx. 2hr drive with the opportunity of enjoying panoramic views of the Rwenjuba and the Ndicho Crater Lakes en-route. In the afternoon, enjoy an excursion to the Bigodi Wetlands, generally good for birds, monkeys and butterflies. Stay 2 nights in a Luxury Forest Cottage at Turaco Treetops Lodge, all meals included.

Today, you have the rare opportunity of enjoying an extended ‘Chimpanzee Habituation Experience’ in Kibale Forest National Park. After an early breakfast, your guide will introduce you to the resident team of researchers. You will be able to accompany them and learn about their ongoing work to habituate Kibale's Chimpanzees. As such, you will be following the Chimpanzees for much of the duration of this excursion - it is a fascinating experience. Look out also, for various species of forest-dwelling monkeys, and a wealth of Afro-tropical forest birdlife.

After breakfast, embark on a private transfer in your 4-wheel drive vehicle to Murchison Falls National Park (approx. 7hr drive), enjoying a lunch break around the Hoima area en-route (possible lunch stop at the Hoima Cultural Lodge). Time permitting, if you arrive early enough, you have the opportunity to enjoy a private game drive in the northern sector of Murchison Falls National Park in search of the resident African lions, Leopard, Hyena, Elephants, Giraffes, Cape buffalo, hippos, Warthog, and a huge wealth of antelope and birds. Stay 3 nights in a Thatched Cottage at Murchison River Lodge, 3 Nights, all meals included.

This morning, savour an exciting private game drive in the northern sector of Murchison Falls National Park in search of the wonderful wildlife such as African lions, Leopard, Hyena, Savannah elephants, Rothschild's giraffes, Cape buffalo, Hippos, Warthog, Defassa Waterbuck, Bushbuck, Jacksons Hartebeest, Uganda Kob and more. An afternoon boat trip on the Nile gives you the opportunity to explore the park from a different perspective. Steering upstream towards the falls, you search for the animals and birds that inhabit this lush riverine area. You might encounter large pods of Hippo and huge Nile Crocodiles basking along the riverbanks. Elephant are frequently observed playing in the water, often within a few metres of the boat. Defassa waterbuck, Warthog, Bushbuck, and Cape buffalo frequent this area. Troops of Olive baboons and Black and White Colobus monkeys also inhabit the riverine woods. In sight of the falls, you have the opportunity to depart the boat at the base of the falls to begin a hike to the top of the falls (approx. 90min walk). This is a breath-taking natural spectacle as the River Nile thunders down a 7-meter wide ravine. During this hike, you enjoy spectacular views, and experience the cooling sensation of the gentle spray and listen to the crashing of the water. From this vantage point, you will see the powerful, churning waters force through a narrow gorge before dropping to the depths below. If you enjoy history, you may be interested to learn that you are following in the footsteps of Winston Churchill and the explorer Samuel Baker, who also explored the area around the waterfall. The 1951 film ‘The African Queen’ starring Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn, was filmed at Murchison Falls.

This morning, you are met and transferred to Kaniyo Pabidi in Budongo Forest Reserve (an approx. 1½hrs drive). Budongo Forest Reserve is home to the largest population of chimpanzees in Uganda with a population of about 800, but is also home to array of birds and other animals. At Kaniyo Pabidi, a community project exists where local guides take guests out chimpanzee tracking or on birding walks through the forest. It is home to 9 different species of primates, over 360 species of birds, over 290 different types of butterflies and some of the oldest trees in Uganda. Your morning is spent enjoying a half-day chimpanzee trek in the Kaniyo Pabidi sector of Budongo Forest Reserve, where you have the opportunity of spending up to 1hr watching their behaviour as they move through the forest. This afternoon, you venture out for a wonderful late afternoon game drive in the national park in search of the African lion, Leopard, Hyena, Rothschild's giraffe, Savannah elephant, Cape buffalo, Warthog, and an impressive array of antelope and birds, etc.

After a relaxing breakfast, take a private road transfer to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary (approx. 3hr drive), for a Rhino tracking excursion. At the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, you enter the territory of the Southern white rhinos on foot and get the opportunity to watch these endangered, magnificent creatures in their natural habitat. After the excursion, which lasts about 2 hours, continue in your private 4-wheel drive vehicle back to Entebbe to stay overnight at Papyrus Guest House with breakfast included.

After a relaxing breakfast, you venture to the Mbamba Wetlands/Swamp, located on the shores of Lake Victoria. After a morning pick-up from the guesthouse, you have a short road transfer to the boat landing. From here, you enjoy a private speedboat ride to the entrance of the wetlands (approx. 30min boat ride), where you enter into a traditional dug-out canoe and head into the marshes looking out for the iconic Shoebill and the other birdlife that inhabit this area. This is a great excursion for anyone with a keen interest in birds and exploring the narrow river channels. Finally, you head back to the boat landing and transfer back to the guesthouse. In the afternoon, you will be transferred to Entebbe Airport to check in for your international flight journey back home.

Arrive back home off your international flight after an epic holiday!