Idyllic Uganda
A blend of Uganda’s luxurious lodge stays for peace and tranquillity on your safari travels. Combined with the truly memorable experiences of observing wild families of chimpanzees and the rare mountain gorillas in their mystical rainforest homes. With threads of the enchanting savannah of Ishasha Plains home to tree-climbing lions lazing in giant fig trees and of Lake Mburo’s shores, home to dazzles of zebra & graceful giraffes.
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Itinerary - Idyllic Uganda [TACP10-004]
Day One
Welcome to Uganda
Transfer from Entebbe International Airport to Kampala.
Estimated transfer time: 1 hr.
Unwind at your cosmopolitan hotel and indulge yourself in their offering of luxury amenities. The hotel provides a swimming pool, range of lounges and rooftop bars from which to relax, so take in those fantastic views across the city and out to Lake Victoria. Feast your eyes and stomach in one of the hotel's fine restaurants serving some of the capital’s culinary highlights. Work up a glow in a modern gym with personal trainers of hand to assist you. Or pamper yourself with some true relaxation at the hotel’s spa with a range of treatments to make you feel truly revitalised before you begin your safari.
Meals included: not included
Accommodation: Latitude 0°, room.
Day Two
Monkey Spotting
Drive from Kampala to Fort Portal.
Estimated transfer time: 6 hrs.
Stop for lunch at your lodge perched on the rim on an idyllic crater lake.
Drive from Fort Portal to Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary.
Estimated transfer time: 30 mins.
Explore the tranquility of Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, in Magombe Swamp, situated on the edge of Kibale National Park. Here you’ll meet a local guide who will take you on your walk around Magombe Swamp, a protected RAMSAR site. The path meanders along the edge of the swamp and along a raised boardwalk through dense clusters of papyrus, taking a couple of hours to complete. This community run project offers the chance to spot up to 138 bird species including the Great Blue Turaco, a variety of butterflies and perhaps what the swamp is best known for; its population of monkeys. As you ramble around the swamp your guide will be able to identify the local flora and fauna as well as the seven species of monkey found here including red colobus, grey-cheeked mangabey, L’Hoest, vervet, black and white colobus, blue monkeys and baboons.
Estimated excursion time: 2 hrs 30 mins
Drive from Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary to Fort Portal.
Estimated transfer time: 30 mins.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Kyaninga Lodge, cottage.
Day Three
Chimpanzee Tracking
Drive from Fort Portal to Kibale National Park.
Estimated transfer time: 30 mins.
Meet with your Uganda Wildlife Authority tracking team for a briefing on tracking the chimpanzees. Kibale National Park is one of East Africa’s premier destinations to chimp track with a 95% successful tracking rate. This ancient rainforest is also home to one of the highest concentrations and diversities of primates found anywhere on the continent. The tracking team will be escorting you throughout your time in the rainforest and will be able to identify and give more information on the species found here including the 325 species of birdlife, 250 tree species and over 80 species of mammals as you trek. Groups of chimps live in communities containing between 10 and 100 members and once you’ve found your group, amongst the dense rainforest you will spend one hour with them. You will be able to observe their natural behaviour in the rainforest as they play, eat, socialise and display their prowess before making the return hike along the rainforest paths.
Estimated excursion time: 3 hrs (including 1 hr viewing)
Drive from Kibale National Park to Fort Portal.
Estimated transfer time: 30 mins.
Relax at Kyaninga Lodge, your quintessential lodge perched on the rim of a crater lake with views toward the Rwenzori Mountains. Unwind by the swimming pool, enjoy a game of tennis or croquet. A beautifully landscaped garden offers the chance for a short stroll or you can settle back, relax and enjoy the views from the lodge terrace. However you spend your time here you're sure to relax in the tranquility of Kyaninga Lodge.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Kyaninga Lodge, cottage.
Day Four
Water Safari on the Kazinga Channel
Drive from Fort Portal to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Estimated transfer time: 3 hrs.
Stop for lunch at your lodge perched on an escarpment marking the park's southern boundary..
Drive from Kyambura Gorge Lodge to the Mweya Peninsular.
Estimated transfer time: 1 hr.
Embark on a water safari to explore the Kazinga Channel, which flows from Lake Edward to Lake George through the heart of Queen Elizabeth National Park. The channel is set in picturesque scenery, with acacia and euphorbia tree covered slopes, cliff heads protruding above you and grassy clearing allowing for excellent wildlife viewing. As you meander your way along the channel you’ll seek out buffalos, warthogs and waterbucks on the riverbanks. If you’re lucky you’ll even meet elephants bathing as they cool off from the heat of the day! The channel is also a prime location to view crocodiles basking on the riverbanks and hippo pods, calling to each other across the water. After a couple of hours you’ll reach a fishing village positioned on the end of the channel. Here you can view a diverse array of birds which often congregate here, sunning themselves on the riverbanks, before you make the return journey to the docks.
Estimated excursion time: 2 hrs 30 mins
Drive from the Mweya Peninsular to Kyambura Gorge Lodge.
Estimated transfer time: 1 hr.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Kyambura Gorge Lodge, room.
Day Five
Tree-climbing Lions
Drive from Kyambura Gorge Lodge to Ishasha Plains, Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Estimated transfer time: 5 hrs.
Ishasha Plains covers the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, and is renowned for its iconic population of tree-climbing lions. Lions are only recorded to exhibit this behaviour in a few locations across Africa, believed to be a learned behaviour specific to a few prides. It’s been speculated that this behaviour is to avoid the hottest part of the day by catching the cooling breezes in the trees, while allowing them to dodge the biting insects found in the grasses below. On entering the savannah you will track through the African bush on a wildlife drive to seek out these impressive cats. Seek them out in the branches of huge fig trees, as they laze away in the shade, sheltered from the heat of the day. If you still have time after tracking the lions you can explore the various tracks for other wildlife species found on the savannah here including elephants, topi, Uganda kob, buffalo and hyaenas.
Estimated excursion time: 3 hrs
As the sun begins to sink in the sky you’ll drive through the savannah to a viewpoint over Ishasha Plains. Here you will find a table has been laid out for you, with snacks and a selection of beverages. Enjoy a drink and watch the sunset light up the savannah around you, as you reflect on your day on safari amongst the tranquil sounds of the savannah. Trust us that this sunset can be spectacular! It’s the perfect way to end the day, then as darkness seeps across the savannah you’ll be driven to your lodge for the evening.
Estimated excursion time: 1 hr
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Ishasha Wilderness Camp, room.
Day Six
Dawn Wildlife Drive on Ishasha Plains
Rise early before the sun to watch it light up Ishasha Plains and cast a golden hue across the savannah. Dawn wildlife drives give excellent photo opportunities due to the soft early morning light, and when the wildlife is more active before the heat of the day sets in. These plains allow you to take a wildlife drive in relative seclusion compared to the rest of the park, due to the limited number of lodges in the area. The early morning is the best time to scour the plains for clans of hyaenas, known residents of the Ishasha sector. If they are feeling shy there are also good chances of seeing elephant herds, Uganda kob and the beautiful topi, an antelope common to the area. Of course if you failed to find the tree-climbing lions so far here is another chance to seek out these top savannah predators.
Estimated excursion time: 3 hrs
In a secluded spot in the heart of the savannah a breakfast camp has been set up for you, with a stunning view over Ishasha Plains. You will be served a selection of freshly baked bread, local fruits, tea, freshly brewed coffee, tropical juices and your chef will prepare eggs to your liking on their portable stove. From the dining table and safari chairs all set under a shaded canopy, you can relax in comfort to the sounds of the wild and stunning savannah panorama playing out around you.
Estimated excursion time: 1 hr
Drive from Ishasha Plains to Buhoma, Bwindi Impenetrable NP.
Estimated journey time: 2 hrs.
Meet up with your guide to explore the area around Buhoma village. You’ll be visiting some of the local handicraft shops where the local craftspeople are making a variety of crafts including fabrics, beeswax candles and hand carved wooden ornaments, a great place to pick up an authentic souvenir from your travels. Your guide can help with what is authentic. You will then walk on to meet the neighbouring community of Batwa where they’ll give you a demonstration of traditional songs and dances, giving you an insight into their former life in the rainforests and a glimpse into their culture. You will meet other local residents of Buhoma including a traditional healer who will share with you their secret use of medicinal plants and learn how the locally produced bananas are used to make a variety of juices, gins and beers, you can even try and taste if you choose.
Estimated excursion time: 3 hrs
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Gorilla Forest Camp, room.
Day Seven
Gorillas in the Mist
Experience Uganda’s greatest natural wonder, an intimate meeting with one of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park’s gorilla families! Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is an incredibly important conservation site as it protects around 460 mountain gorillas, roughly half of the population left in the wild. Dating back over 25,000 years, Bwindi is one of Uganda’s most biologically diverse and most ancient rainforests, with an amazing 400 species of plants present and 350 species of birds, including 23 Rift Valley endemic species recorded. The rangers accompanying you will be able to identify the local plants, birds and wildlife as well as the general ecosystem of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park as you trek. This morning you will rise early and your driver / guide will escort you to the trailhead into the rainforest. Here you will receive an orientation on tracking the gorillas from the Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers who will then guide you through the dense forest. The trek length varies, depending on where the gorillas spent the night, ranging from thirty minutes to seven hours. Once you find these incredible creatures you will spend one hour with them. We think you’ll agree - to experience this unique family feed, socialise, nurse their young, patrol and display their prowess - is the most magical experience you can see in nature. After tracking you will make your way back to the edge of the rainforest where you’ll meet your driver guide.
Estimated excursion time: 2 - 8 hrs (including 1 hr viewing).
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Gorilla Forest Camp, room.
Day Eight
Rainforest Waterfall RambleExplore the misty rainforest of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park by hiking the Ivi-Nkuringo river trail. On the edge of the rainforest you’ll meet your Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger for a briefing on your hike. They will also be guiding for the duration of your time in the rainforest, detailing the ecosystems and identifying the many species of birds, butterflies and monkeys as you walk. This is an excellent way to gain further insight into the rainforest. This idyllic trail culminates by reaching the Muyanga Waterfall, a stunning waterfall that tumbles 33 meters down the rock face in the heart of the rainforest. You’re sure to be impressed by the crash of the falls as the calls of the rainforest echo around you! After basking in the tranquility of the rainforest you’ll make your way back to the trailhead at Buhoma.
Estimated excursion time: 4 hrs
*This excursion can be replaced for an additional gorilla trek, please request the quote for this.
Unwind in comfort to the sights and sounds of the rainforest from your luxury lodge retreat. Relax in peace and seclusion under the dappled light of the rainforest at your private porch or find a comfy spot in the lodge’s communal lounge and enjoy a good book. Pamper yourself at the lodge's private spa with a therapist on hand providing herbal massages, hydrating facials, foot massages and manicures, with all eco-friendly products created from pure natural ingredients. The perfect remedy for tired muscles after your trek in the rainforest.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Gorilla Forest Camp, room.
Day Nine
A Walk on the Wild Side
Drive from Buhoma to Lake Mburo NP.
Estimated journey time: 6 hrs.
During the cooler hours of the day you will be driven into the heart of the park to meet a Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger. Your knowledgeable guide will be escorting you throughout the walking safari in Lake Mburo National Park and be able to give you detailed information on the wildlife inhabiting the park. You’ll have the option of walking along the banks of Lake Mburo itself or out onto the savannah plains of the park. Walking safaris are an excellent way to view the park and get up-close-and-personal with the animals which includes warthogs, zebras and impala. If you’re lucky you will also be able to find the giraffes which were reintroduced to the park in 2015. Tracking on foot and watching these graceful animals grazing on the acacia trees will give you a different perspective than game driving in your vehicle and is a truly special experience. Don’t worry, you’re perfectly safe with your Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger from the wilder animals in the park!
Estimated excursion time: 3 hrs
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Mihingo Lodge, room.
Day Ten
Nocturnal Wildlife Drive
Lake Mburo National Park protects an idyllic patchwork of rolling hills and acacia woodland studded with rocky outcrops, creating an alluring backdrop to view the park's game herds. On your wildlife drive you’ll have the chance to spot some species rarely seen in other parts of Uganda, including large herds of impala, Burchell’s zebra and eland; Africa’s largest antelope species, which in Uganda is only found here and in Kidepo Valley National Park. More common species grazing on the grasslands also include families of warthog, buffalo, oribi, waterbuck, reedbuck and with a bit of luck the Rothschild giraffes. These graceful giants were reintroduced to the park landscape from Murchison Falls National Park in 2015 and can often be found grazing on the park's acacia trees. This small population of giraffes is successfully growing and further protecting this endangered subspecies.
Estimated excursion time: 3 hrs
Relax at your luxury lodge perched high on a rocky outcrop overlooking the savannah. Enjoy a dip in the infinity pool, with idyllic views over the park and relax in the surrounding comfortable seating from which you gain sight over the waterhole below frequented by wild game. The lodge’s tower catches a cooling breeze and provides a lovely area to relax, with large comfy sofas from where you can enjoy unparalleled 360 degree views of the park. Then there is also the bush baby platform from where you can watch the sunset across the tranquil scenery and also have the chance to spot bush babies after dark. However you spend your downtime at Mihingo Lodge you will be able to find a way to relax in nature.
As darkness falls across the savannah, set out to explore the network of tracks criss-crossing the landscape to observe the secret lives of the wildlife. You’ll be accompanied by an expert Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger, who will be scanning the savannah forest with their spotlights to search for a variety of species including the genet cat, bush pigs and hippos grazing amongst the acacia trees. This nocturnal game drive also provides an excellent opportunity to seek out some of the park's top predators including spotted hyena and one of the highest chances of seeking out the solitary leopards of anywhere in Uganda! After several hours scouring the park and hopefully some top wildlife sightings, you’ll be returned to your lodge for the remainder of the evening.
Estimated excursion time: 2hrs 30 mins
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Mihingo Lodge, room.
Day Eleven
Heading Home
Enjoy a slow start to the day with breakfast from the lodge restaurant and watch the panorama of the park play out below you. You can spend the morning enjoying your final time at this very special family owned lodge, until you depart after lunch.
Drive from Lake Mburo NP to Entebbe.
Estimated journey time: 30 mins.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch.
Accommodation: Not included.
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