18 Days of Exclusive Mountaineering and Classic Safari of the Big Five in Uganda

Welcome to Africa! This is where the finest of nature begins and memories created for a lifetime!

Little is known about Uganda but most that have made it here, leave satisfied and surprised on how the world is not aware of her beauty!

Day 1

Arrival and drive to Lake Mburo National Park

Your Tourist Guide will be waiting for your arrival at the International Airport of Uganda; Entebbe. He will be carrying a placard written your names. From the Airport, the journey will resume to lake Mburo National Park. A long the way, you will stop for the Equator Experience and Lunch. Farmlands, herds of cattle, Impalas and Zebras are among the attractions to encounter.

Accommodation

Rwakobo Rock Lodge

Day 2

Nature walk, Morning Game drive and Night Game drive

Nature walk

Led by an armed ranger, nature walk in Lake Mburo national park is one of the best activities that nobody should miss. The activity involves walking in the wilderness in search of mammals.  It resumes early in the morning while wildlife is still active hence connecting you closer to nature as you enjoy the sounds of the jungle while viewing mammals like zebras, buffaloes, giraffes, Elands, Topis, impalas, Hippos and many bird species.

Morning Game drive

After nature walk, the morning game drive is to resume so as to compliment on the list of mammals to view. It is very understandable that while on foot the distance covered is incomparable to driving. Other mammals and bird species are to be discovered during the drive.

Accommodation

Haven Lodge

Night Game drive

Viewing wildlife at night in their natural habitat is another level of experience! You are exposed to rare behaviors of some animals during the night like their feeding habits, defensive mechanisms and hunting skills. There are always higher chances of encountering nocturnal mammals like Leopards, serval cats, Janet cats, Hares, Hyenas and birds like Owls, Night jars, water thick-nees and many more. During the night safari, an armed ranger guide will accompany you in an open safari jeep with spot lights. The activity takes 2-3 hours.

Day 3

Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

The journey to Bwindi Impenetrable national park may take 5-6 hours from Lake Mburo National Park. It is totally a different environment ranging from the climatic conditions, terrain and the vegetation cover. The temperatures are lower and the region is mountainous with a thick tropical rain forest for which the mountain Gorillas call home.

On arrival, you are recommended to relax so as to prepare for the next day’s Gorilla Tracking.

Accommodation

Buhoma Haven Lodge

Day 4

Gorilla Tracking and Community experience

The Highlight of the trip to Uganda is definitely tracking Gorillas! Early in the morning you will meet the ranger guide that will be accompanied by other armed rangers, get briefed and head to the forest. In most cases, every group of gorillas is allocated eight tourists. Viewing Gorillas after locating them is one hour. Therefore gorilla tracking may take an hour to five depending on how long it takes to locate them.

A potter or helper is necessary while tracking so that he or she could give you a push or pull since the terrain is rough and steep. He also carries your luggage during the trucking. The cost for his job is 15 to 20 dollars. More about the dressing code and briefing throughout the trip can always be explained on a daily basis after dinner.

Community experience

Batwa and Bakyiga cultures dominate in the land of Gorillas. Spending time with them would expose you to a completely different lifestyle away from the one you are used to.

The Batwa community still hold onto their primitive lifestyle that they used to live before their eviction from the forest in 1991. Sharing their cultural experiences with the rest of the world gives them joy since it earns them a living. They showcase different herbs that cure different kinds of illnesses, hunting skills, and traditional dances, storytelling of their previous life, cuisines, local beer, juice and Banana wine making.

Day 5

Queen Elizabeth National Park

Game drive

Its 2-3 hours’ drive from Buhoma sector in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to the southern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Along the way, a game drive in Ishasha will be conducted. This will majorly focus on the search of tree climbing Lions. Other animals to encounter are Topis, Elephants, Leopards and many more. Later in the day, the drive will continue to the northern part of the park.

Accommodation

Enganzi safari Lodge

Day 6

Morning Game drive and Boat Cruise

Your day starts early in the morning as you are driven in the park for wildlife viewing. During your safari, animals to encounter are Lions, hyenas, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, water bucks, and Uganda Kobs among others.  A variety of colorful bird species are to be encountered in case you have interest in birds. Such birds are; African fish eagles, Red naked spur fowls, Grey crowned cranes, cormorants, Pelicans, Herons and flamingos among others.

Boat cruise

The afternoon will get better as you head out for a sunset boat cruise on the kazinga channel. Different species of wildlife are sighted on the shores as they are cooling off, drinking water and feeding. Animals to encounter are hippos, Crocodiles, Buffaloes, a variety of bird species like Kingfishers, Eagles, Pelicans, cormorants, Herons, Storks among others. Kazinga Channel is regarded to be one of the longest natural channels in the world stretching 40 kilometers from lake George to Lake Edward with one of the highest population of hippos. The boat cruise takes 2 hours.

Accommodation

Enganzi safari Lodge

7 days Mount Rwenzori hiking

The day is to resume early in the morning with breakfast before embarking on the journey to Mount Rwenzori.

Rwenzori mountain is the third highest in Africa after Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya. It’s uniqueness lies on being a block mountain, made up of various peaks for which the highest is Margharitta peak with an elevation of 5109 meters above sea level. It is a snow capped mountain with the equator crosseing through it yet the glaciers have never been depleted!

At the commencing station, you will be briefed and the 5 days hike resumes. Through the central circuit, you will be accompanied by porters, chefs, guides and security. You will be required to carry rain Jackets, rubber hiking boots, warm jackets or coats, heavy stockings, gloves, head socks and drinking water cans. Your first day hike is to start from Nyakalengija and end from Nyabitaba Camp. Every day is to resume after breakfast and end at the next camp which may take five to seven hours depending on your walking pace. Camps are Nyabitaba, John Matte, Bujjuku valley, Kitandara lakes, Guy Yeoman camp and end the hike at the highest elevation in Uganda which is 5109 meters above sea level at Margharita peak. You are to go through trails of dense tropical rainforests, Bamboo zones, scenic craters lakes, water falls, valleys, Rivers, heather vegetations and unique alpine plants that are endemic to the rwenzoris. Wild animals like buffaloes, Duikers, chameleons various primate species and birds are to be encountered!

Day 13

Destination:FortPortal

Activity: Relaxation

On arrival from Hiking Mount Rwenzori, it is understable that the body needs to rest. You will therefore be transfred to Fortportal. It is chosen because of the close distance and being on the route to our next destination. The city is also known for her scenic views and unique culture. Fortportal is home to the youngest King in the world that was corronated on the throne at the age of 3 years. Currently, he is 27 years old. Optional activity is to visit the King’s Palace and local markets.

Accommodation

Aramaga Rift valley Lodge

Day 14

Destination: Murchison Falls National Park

Today, the road leads to Murchison Falls National Park. It is 6-7 hours drive and therefore we expect to stop enroute for lunch. A long the way, plantations of Tea, scenic areas of lake Albert escarpment and wildlife will be encountered. Murchison falls National Park is the oldest and largest Park in Uganda covering an area of 3893 kilometers squared. It is famously known for most powerful falls in the world, for which her name is derived. A variety of wildlife like Giraffes, Leopards, Elephants, Chimpanzees and birds like Shoebill stork, Abyssynian ground hornbills and many others are inhabitants.

Accommodation

Pakuba Safari Lodge

Day 15

Morning game drive and sunset cruise.

For most of the safaris to be successful, an early wake is mandatory! By 6:30 Am, we start our game drive in search of the lions, leopards, Elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, hyenas and many others before they get into their hideouts. Half of the day will be spent in the wild and therefore with us, we will carry packed lunch.

Boat cruise

Boat cruise, will be next on the agenda for which you will enjoy another action packed of wildlife while cruising on the mighty river Nile. On the shores of the Nile, there is always abundance of mammals that come to swim and drink water when it’s hot. Crocodiles, elephants, Hippos, Nile monitor lizards, Giraffes and so many bird species are most likely to be encountered.

Viewing Murchison falls from the bottom while on the cruise is one of the highlights of the trip not to miss out! Murchison falls are regarded to be the most powerful falls in the world. Imagine the roaring of the violent water from river nile forcing it’s way through a narrow gorge of 7 meters wide and plunging forty three feet beneath for which it always leaves a trade mark of a rainbow as it continues with the Journey to the Mediterranean sea!

Accommodation

Pakuba Safari Lodge

Day 16

Top of Murchison Falls, Rhino Tracking and kampala Night Life

After breakfast, we will drive to the top of the falls before heading to Ziwa Rhino sanctuary for Rhino tracking.

The Top of the falls are regarded as the most powerful falls in the world and therefore one of the highlights of the trip not to be missed! The falls are 7 meters wide and 43 feet deep, for which the water of the Nile River congests itself in the narrow gorge as it continues its long journey to the Mediterranean Sea hence living a trade mark of a rainbow in the water.

Rhino tracking.

The journey is to continue to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary after visiting the top of Murchison falls. On arrival, the ranger guide at Ziwa rhino sanctuary will brief you about the activity before walking in the wild in search of the Rhinos. There are always higher chances of their sighting since they are monitored. Other animals to encounter are the bushbucks, waterbucks, warthogs, monkeys and a variety of colorful birds. Tracking is conducted on foot. After the activity, you will have lunch and we drive to Kampala to pass a night.

Accommodation

Kampala Golf Course Hotel

Day 17

City Tour and Kampala Night life

After a long trip throughout the country, visiting Uganda’s capital City; Kampala is highly recommendable. Optional activities can be visiting the Uganda Martyr’s shrine. These are religious sites of Catholic saints that agreed to be murdered than give up on their faith, on the orders of the local King. They are always remembered on the third of June by the Catholic Church. The celebrations attract Catholics all throughout the World to Namugongo in Uganda where millions of people attend.

You are to visit the local markets within the city that sell local products like agricultural products, artifacts, among others.

Kampala Night life

Uganda’s capital city kampala is well known in East Africa as the hub of entertainment that celebrates every day as a holiday! Revelers from different regions around the world come to enjoy with the locals in Bars, Night clubs and other re-creative centers of live band music and traditional dances.

Street food is always a delicacy that one ought not to miss! You will definitely mix with locals and share the fun of Kampala revellers!

Accommodation

Kampala Golf Course Hotel

Day 18

Destination: Mabamba Swamp

Activity: Shoebill Search

Mabamba swamp is an extension of Lake Victoria drainage system for which the prehistoric Shoebill Stork inhabits. It is at Mabamba wetland where there are higher chances of viewing this majestic bird in East Africa. The narrow ways through the wetland on a locally made speed boat makes the trip more fascinating! A variety of other bird species are to be encountered like the Goliath Heron, African Jacana, Malachite Kingfisher and cormorants among others. Depending on the tie of your flight, a day room will be availed until it’s time for departure.

Thank you for travelling with Bukiire Africa Wildlife Safaris.