Wild Wonders Uganda
Experience the pinnacle of Ugandan safari & discover the natural wonders of western Uganda. Float through skies on balloon safari over savannah plains, dine on secluded golden plains & explore the Nile’s thundering waters. Explore the mystical rainforests to meet chimpanzees swinging through trees & rare mountain gorillas in the mist. Imbibe the tranquility of Uganda, to truly sooth your body and soul in premier luxury retreats.
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Itinerary - Wild Wonders 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
Fly to Murchison Falls Savannah
Drive from Kampala to Kajjansi Airfield.
Estimated journey time: 30 mins.
Take to the skies and fly from Kajjansi Airfield to fly to Pakuba Airstrip.
Estimated journey time: 1 hr 30 mins.
Take a break from the heat of the day to unwind at your exclusive riverside lodge. Nile Safari Lodge provides a range of unique architectural spaces for you to relax. A beautiful infinity pool with river views, provides the perfect spot from where you can take a dip and cool off from the heat of the day. Relax your body at the Mtoni Massage house, located on a cloistered cliff overlooking the river Nile, with a range of eco-friendly treatments using 100% essential and natural plant extracts.
Explore the Buligi wildlife tracks, which crisscross the savannah between the branches of the Victoria and Albert Nile. These circuits in the northern sector offer the highest density of wildlife viewing anywhere in Murchison Falls National Park. You’ll have the chance to spot species such as Rothschild giraffes, lions, hippos, elephants, herds of buffalo, Jackson’s hartebeest, bushbucks, Uganda kob, warthog, waterbuck and if you're lucky, spot the elusive leopard! These great wildlife spotting opportunities are set to the backdrop of the park’s stunning landscape of savannah plains dotted with Palmyra palm trees and pockets of Acacia tree woodlands. Towards the end of your wildlife drive you’ll stop off at the hippo pool on the Victoria Nile delta, where you can see hippos wallowing in the shallows and calling to each other across the water, with the Blue Mountains visible in the distance.
Estimated excursion time: 3 hrs
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Nile Safari Lodge, deluxe banda.
Day Three
Water Safari on the Nile & Waterfall Hike
Explore the plains of the northern sector of the park with a focus on the lesser known tracks near to Pakuba. This area has some of the highest concentrations of wildlife in the park with herds of elephant, buffalo, Uganda kob grazing the grasslands, while towers of giraffes browse on the acacia trees. With your Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger and guide you will then take a detour from the typical wildlife tracks to visit the old Pakuba Lodge, Idi Amin’s now derelict state lodge and private residence. These ruins are set in a prime location, offering beautiful views down to the river Nile and Blue Mountains in the distance. The building has long been reclaimed by the wild, now being heavily overgrown by vegetation and is a favourite haunt of the local hyaenas and a resident leopard!
Estimated excursion time: 3 hrs
Embark on a water safari to navigate the course of river Nile to the thundering base of Murchison Falls waterfall. Also known as Kabalega Falls, this waterfall is the most iconic feature in the park and the river cruise offers fantastic wildlife viewing opportunities. As you meander upstream passing hippo pods lazing in the water, you’ll seek out crocodiles basking on the riverbanks, as well as buffalo, waterbuck and Uganda kob. If you’re lucky you’ll also meet elephants bathing in the river to cool off from the heat of the day! A multitude of birds can be spotted including the Red-throated and Northern-carmine Bee-eaters nesting on the Nyamusika cliffs while performing a colourful display. On reaching the base of the falls you’ll marvel at the spectacle of the White Nile surging through a 7 metre wide gap in the rock face, cutting through Fajao Gorge and falling 43 meters into the river below, before it meanders off through the savannah plains of the park.
Estimated excursion time: 2 hrs
Upon reaching the base of Murchison Falls, you’ll disembark from the boat and be guided up the trail to the top of the falls. From the path you’ll get fantastic views from several vantage points over the Murchison Falls and twin seasonal waterfall, Uhuru Falls. Upon reaching the top you can marvel at the splash and rainbows of the Nile crashing through a seven-metre gap in the rock face, with cooling sheets of spray being given off by the falls.
Estimated excursion time: 1 hr
Drive from the top of the falls to Nile Safari Lodge.
Estimated journey time: 30 mins.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Nile Safari Lodge, deluxe banda.
Day Four
Monkey Spotting
Take to the skies and fly from Pakuba Airstrip to Kasese Airstrip.
Estimated journey time: 1 hr 5 mins.
Drive from Kasese Airstrip to Fort Portal.
Estimated transfer time: 2 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 Five
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 Six
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 Seven
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 Eight
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 Nine
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 Ten
Rainforest Waterfall Ramble
Explore 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 Eleven
Fly from the Gorilla Highlands
Drive from Buhoma, Bwindi Impenetrable NP to Kihihi Airstrip.
Estimated journey time: 1 hr 30 mins.
Take to the skies and fly from Kihihi Airstrip to Kajjansi Airfield.
Estimated journey time: 1 hr 20 mins.
Drive from Kajjansi Airfield to Entebbe.
Estimated journey time: 30 mins.
Meals included: Breakfast, Packed Lunch.
Accommodation: Not included.
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