10 Days Exclusive Uganda

Adventure Safari, Kenya

Highlights

Shoebill excursion at Mabamba Wetland
Rhino experience at Ziwa White Rhino Ranch
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Forest
Chimp trekking in Kibale
Cultural Experience

Day 1 & 2: Karibu Guest House, Entebbe/ Wakiso District

(Shoebill excursion)

Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will proceed to clear with immigration and custom formalities. Thereafter, met by our representative just outside the baggage hall area and be transferred to your hotel, check in and have the rest of the day at your leisure.

The next day, you will be picked from your hotel after breakfast and be transferred to the jetty for your shoebill excursion to Mabamba wetland. You will get an opportunity to birds such as: Shoebill Stork, Lesser Jacana, Papyrus Gonolek, Northern Brown-throated Weaver, Orange Weaver among others. Mabamba Wetland is the only place and site, best in the whole world for sighting the Shoebill Stork after Murchison Falls National Park. This makes is a haven for bird lovers. The Shoebill can be spotted at any one time of the day in the year on a birding tour at Mabamba. The wetlands boost of a 260-bird species record, with seven of the 12 Lake Victoria Basin biome species that occur in Uganda being available.

Day 3 & 4: Pakuba Safari Lodge, Murchison Falls National Park (Approx. 6hours drive)

Breakfast at the hotel then check out. You will be picked at approximately 0700hrs from the hotel by our safari driver-guide. Drive via the Entebbe-Kampala express highway and through Ugandan’s remote villages towards Murchison Falls National Park. You will be transferred to the Ziwa White Rhino ranch and track the Rhinos on foot. Thereafter, proceed for lunch at Kabalega dinner and later drive to Murchison’s National Park. Time permitting, you have an option to hike to the top of the falls and later proceed to check in at your Lodge for dinner and overnight.

Morning game drive in the northern bank of river Nile as we look out for the elephant, lion, Cape buffalo, Rhod’schild giraffe, hartebeest, Oribi, bushbuck, Bohor reedbuck, spotted hyena and if lucky you could even spot the leopard. We will be back in time to have breakfast and lunch at the lodge. In the afternoon we take a boat cruise at 1400 hours upstream to the “bottom of the falls”. The Nile here gets calm at the base of the falls, we stop a few meters from the “Devil’s Cauldron”, where it compresses 47 mt to squeeze through a 6-meter canyon dropping 40 mt with a thunderous roar. En-route, marvel at the, hippos, crocodiles and over this 17 km stretch you may see elephants as well as a lot of bird species like Goliath heron, pelican bee– eater, kingfisher, hornbill, cormorant and the rare shoebill stork. Return to the lodge to freshen up for dinner and overnight

Day 5 & 6: Turaco Treetops, Kibale National Park – approx. 6hours drive

(Chimp trek + Swamp walk)

This day we drive to Kibale Forest Reserve via Hoima and Fort Portal, in a breathtaking landscape that forms the Albertine western Rift Valley passing traditional homesteads and farms. We will have our packed/picnic lunch on the way arriving at the lodge late afternoon. Check in and relax for the rest of the evening.

Today, after breakfast you will proceed to the Uganda Wildlife Park headquarters where you will be briefed on how to behave in the forest while in the presence of the cheeky chimps. Thereafter enter the forest in search of the cheeky chimpanzees as well as other primates, later return to the base where your driver will be waiting and have lunch. After lunch you will go for a swamp walk in the Bigodi area where you will sight various bird species and other primates. Return to the lodge in the evening to freshen up for dinner and overnight.

Day 7: Ishasha Wilderness Camp, Queen Elizabeth – approx. 4hours drive

After breakfast, drive to Ishasha sector of the park; check in at Ishasha Wilderness camp for lunch. Late afternoon game drives in search of Tree climbing Lions and later returning before dusk, freshen-up ready for dinner and overnight

Day 8 & 9: Mahogany Springs Lodge, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Reserve – approx 6hrs drive

(Gorilla trek)

Depart Kibale and leisurely drive to Kasese Town, passing through fertile agricultural land and the lower slopes of one of Africa’s largest mountain ranges – namely the Rwenzori Mountains. On the way to Kasese Town you will go through the little road-side town of Hima, famed throughout Uganda for its Cement Factory. From Kasese, you will cross the equator as the road passes though the Queen Elizabeth National Park. Proceed to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park home to half of the world’s endangered mountain gorillas arriving at the lodge in the afternoon. Check in and have the rest of the day at your leisure

Early morning departure from the lodge to the trailhead at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for your mountain gorilla trekking experience. After the briefing (touches on aspects of gorilla behavior, details on the gorilla family you’ll trek as well as safety precautions) your adventure will start! Gorilla trekking can be strenuous, and a certain level of fitness is required. Trekking can take from 30 minutes to three-quarters of the day, so one needs to prepare for both. Coming face-to-face with a mountain gorilla is one of the most memorable wildlife encounters in Africa, if not the world. Mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) are a critically endangered species. At least 400 mountain gorillas inhabit the Bwindi Mountains and live at altitudes from 1,160m – 2,607m above sea level. There is a feeling of mutual understanding as you watch them in their home, going about their daily business. Youngsters will often show off, jumping to demonstrate their motor skills. Silverbacks may beat their chests as a sign of dominance, an exhilarating experience! Or they may sit peacefully as a family, chomping on bamboo and grooming each other, watching you with the same intrigue you are showing them. Gorilla trekking is for sure a life-changing and once-in-a-lifetime experience. Daily visits have an impact on gorilla activity patterns and are a source of animal stress – therefore the firm justification for the “only spend one-hour” rule. This is adequate time for photography and observing these great primates in their natural habitat. Afterwards, return to base where your driver will be waiting to transfer back to your lodge.

Day 10: End of your safari

Continue exploring Serengeti with game viewing and safari experiences.

Package inclusions:

Full board accommodation
Airport / airstrip transfers
Exclusive transport in custom-made 7-seater safari land cruiser driven by an English-speaking driver/guide
Gorilla permits, Chimp permits, Swamp walk in Bigodi area & Park entrance fees
Ishasha Wilderness Camp includes: Full Board accommodation, 3 multiple course meals per day, all hot beverages and bar snacks, house drinks and other lodge services provided at Ishasha Wilderness Camp.
Mahogany Springs Lodge includes; Accommodation on full board basis, laundry services, a glass of cask wine or a local beer or a soft drink at dinner time, a visit to the Ride 4 a Woman and Buhoma hospital.
Scheduled one-way flight Kihihi/Entebbe (Luggage allowance of 15kgs per person inclusive of carry on)
All transfers mentioned
Limited laundry
All known Government taxes
AMREF Flying Doctors’ cover

Package Exclusions:

International flights and visa fees;
Travel and health insurance;
Drinks (sodas, beer, wine, spirits…) unless indicated
Additional activities not listed;
Ugandan visas: single entry visa costs US$ 50 and it is required for all countries that require visas for Ugandans (principle of reciprocity). MUST BE APPLIED ONLINE PRIOR TO ARRIVAL.
All statutory increases beyond our control; and
Staff gratuities and any other extras.

Know your seasons

Regular

Jan

Regular

Feb

Regular

Mar

Green

Apr

Regular

May

Regular

Jun

Regular

Jul

Regular

Aug

Regular

Sep

Green

Oct

Green

Nov

Regular

Dec

The “regular” or “dry” safari season in East Africa generally offers optimal game viewing due to reduced rainfall and vegetation, making it easier to spot wildlife. These months offer a balance between lower prices, fewer tourists, and decent game viewing.

Animals are concentrated around water, vegetation is low and sparse, and predators are circling. But at this time of year, the famous wildebeest migration is in Tanzania’s Serengeti, moving southwards following the end of year rains. Witness the Serengeti dramatic birthing season: it’s one of the best times to watch predator/prey interaction.

It’s green because it’s wet. This is the time of the ‘Long Rains’ and some of the more remote and wild reserves in East Africa are worth avoiding; accommodations may be closed anyway. Gorilla trekking becomes more difficult, and in Kenya and Tanzania’s reserves, wildlife tends to disperse across wider areas, making animals more difficult to see.

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