Best of Uganda Scheduled Safari

Tour Highlights: 

• Gorilla trekking
• Queen Elizabeth National Park
• Boat cruise on Kazinga Channel
• Chimpanzee trek in the Chamburu (Kyamburu) Gorge

Day 1

On arrival at Entebbe International Airport you will be met by a Wild Frontiers representative and transferred to Entebbe Hotel.

Set on the shores of Lake Victoria, Entebbe is a small town that is easy to explore on foot or local boda bodas (motorbike taxis). Explore the markets, hunt for souvenirs or crafts, meander through the Botanical Gardens or enjoy a boat cruise on Lake Victoria. You’ll find a wide variety of restaurants, bars and clubs where you can sample the local beer, catch a game of football and meet the friendly locals.

Nestled in the leafy suburbs of Entebbe, Hotel No.5 is a stylish boutique hotel. With all luxurious rooms opening onto the garden and swimming pool, this is a great option for guests looking for an intimate stay in a tranquil setting. Make yourself at home – unwind beside the swimming pool, pamper yourself with a spa treatment, or work up a sweat in the hotel gym. Attention to detail, outstanding dining and an attentive guest experience are synonymous with Hotel No 5.

Overnight at Hotel No.5 (www.hotelnumber5.com) or similar, with breakfast included.

Day 2

Transfer after breakfast to the airport for your scenic light aircraft charter flight to Kihihi airstrip. A roughly 90 minute drive through local villages and along mountain roads brings you to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, a World Heritage site.

Bwindi is one of the richest ecosystems in East Africa and home to over 120 mammals, 345 species of birds, 200 species of butterflies and 160 species of trees. The park contains an estimated one half of the world’s population of the endangered Mountain Gorilla, making it an extremely valuable conservation site.

Set within the National Park, just steps away from the Gorilla Trekking headquarters, Buhoma Lodge offers cosy accommodation in wooden chalets with uninterrupted views of the pristine rain forest. Well loved for its warm welcome and attentive service, Buhoma is an eco friendly lodge operating on solar power, constructed using sustainable local materials. Each of the ten wooden chalets offers a private verandah and enchanting forest views.

Awaken to chattering forest birds, and watch out for the occasional mountain gorilla that has ventured right in to visit the lodge.

Overnight at Buhoma Lodge with all meals and local drinks included (www.ugandaexclusivecamps.com)

Day 3

It’s up early today as one of the most humbling and enthralling wildlife experiences imaginable awaits your discovery. Coming face to face with an endangered mountain gorilla is something words cannot aptly describe. Please note that gorilla trekking is strenuous with treks ranging from 45 mins up to eight hours, at high altitudes in hot African conditions. The thrill of the hour you spend quietly observing these gentle giants once you find them is well worth the hike to get there! Although mountain gorillas are wild animals and it should be noted that sightings cannot be guaranteed, viewing success rates are well over 95%.

Head back to Buhoma Lodge for a complimentary massage after your trek, or explore the surrounding Bwindi community.

Overnight at Buhoma Lodge with all meals and local drinks included

Day 4

Those with pre-purchased permits will depart for a second gorilla tracking experience. Guests not tracking have the day free to explore the Bwindi area – optional activities include forest walks, a visit to a local school/orphanage/hospital or Batwa pygmy village, and some local curio shopping.

Overnight at Buhoma Lodge with all meals and local drinks included.

Day  5

Continue this morning onto southern Queen Elizabeth National Park (a 2-3 hour drive), with a brief stop enroute at the Ishasha Community Uplift project.

Immerse yourself in Agartha’s ‘Taste of Uganda’tour – it’s a fun, educational experience for the inquisitive visitor who wonders how a rural Ugandan lady lives. Watch how the local crops are transformed into local staples such as millet porridge and kalo bread. It’s a fascinating interactive experience.

Located in the western arm of the Great Rift Valley, the park is home to a wide variety of wildlife including elephants, leopard, lions, hippos, buffalo, Uganda kob, baboon, and many species of birds. The southern Ishasha area includes the massive Maramagambo, one of the largest surviving natural forests in Uganda, and is home to the tree climbing lions typically found in the area.

Enjoy afternoon game drives, looking out for the huge herds of buffalo, elephant and Uganda kob.

Overnight at Ishasha Wilderness Camp including all meals and local drinks www.ugandaexclusivecamps.com

This exclusive tented camp offers the only luxury accommodation in the remote southern sector of Queen Elizabeth. With all ten spacious tents set on the banks of the Ntungwe River, the eco-friendly Ishasha Wilderness Camp is an idyllic retreat for people who truly enjoy remote wilderness. The thatched central lounge and dining area offers a comfortable space for guests to enjoy wholesome dining, although meals are often served ‘al fresco’ next to the river.

The outdoor fireplace is the perfect place for guests to relax with sundowners and wind down after an exciting day’s game viewing.

Day 6

Spend the day enjoying game drives in the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, rounding things off with scenic bush sundowners including drinks and snacks. This is what memories are made of!

Overnight at Ishasha Wilderness Camp including all meals and local drinks.

Day 7

Head north toward the ‘Mweya’ sector of the park to enjoy a leisurely boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, a 32-kilometre long natural channel linking Lake Edward and Lake George. Kazinga’s shores are dotted with herds of lazy buffalo, pods of hippos wallowing without a care, and countless bird species. Drift past local fishing villages, and soak up the peaceful tranquillity of this beautiful African day.

Overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge, located on a peninsula overlooking the Kazinga Channel on one side and the spectacular Rwenzori Mountains on the other. (www.mweyalodge.com)

Day 8

Early morning start today, with the highlight being your Chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge.

The forest is alive with noise! Chimpanzees can be quite active and may move quickly through the forest canopy… or, if you are lucky, you may find them resting or eating near the forest floors. It’s an exhilarating walk, in beautiful scenery. As with gorilla trekking, sightings cannot be guaranteed.

After this activity, we depart to the nearby Mweya airstrip for your return flight to Entebbe.

Includes:

• Meet & greet at Entebbe airport
• Airport transfers throughout
• 1 night accommodation at Hotel No.5 or similar including breakfast
• Return domestic flights from Entebbe to Kihihi/ Mweya on a scheduled flight (light aircraft)
• 4×4 transport with English speaking local driver/guide as above
• Bottled water in safari vehicle
• 3 nights accommodation at Buhoma Lodge including all meals and local drinks
• Community visit en route from Bwindi to Ishasha
• 2 nights accommodation at Ishasha Wilderness Camp including all meals and local drinks
• 1 x Sundowner drinks and snacks at Ishasha
• 1 night accommodation at Mweya Safari Lodge including all meals (no drinks)
• All park entrance fees
• Boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel
• Game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park
• Full liability insurance cover
• 24 hour emergency contact

Excludes:

• Gorilla Permit of USD600 per trek Bwindi (Permit price to increase to USD 700 from Jul 2020)
• Kyambura chimpanzee permits USD 50 each
• All international flights and airport taxes
• Personal expenses such as porters, drinks, tips, visas and travel insurance
• Services/activities/meals not included above

Please note – two gorilla trekking options are available on this itinerary. Please specify your permit requirements at time of booking.

POPULAR TRIP EXTENSIONS:

MURCHISON FALLS: River Nile, game drives, chimpanzee trekking, fishing, bird-watching.  Suggested add on 3-4 nights.

KIBALE: Chimpanzees and other primates, forest walks, crater lakes.  Suggested add on 2 nights.

JINJA: Source of the Nile, adventure activities including white water rafting, bungi jumping, quad biking. Suggested add on 2-3 nights.

ENTEBBE: City life and local craft shopping, boat cruises or fishing on Lake Victoria, Botanical Gardens, Uganda Wild Life Education Centre/ Ngamba Island.

We offer 6, 8 and 10 day small group set departures as well as combination Uganda/Rwanda trips. We are also experts at designing your own tailor made trip to meet your exact personal interests.

HEALTH REQUIREMENTS: 

Yellow fever inoculation is compulsory & malaria prophylactics are recommended. For gorilla trekking it is imperative that you are healthy and free of any disease or virus – officials do have the right to refuse entry if you are found to have or show any signs of communicable illnesses.  Should you opt to spend time participating in any UWEC Wildlife Integration programme, you may require additional inoculations and health clearances.

VISA REQUIREMENTS: 

Most nationalities require a visa to enter Uganda. All visitors who require a visa should apply through the online application system prior to arrival at https://visas.immigration.go.ug.  Cost is USD 50,single entry.  Passports must be valid for a minimum of 6 months after return date of travel, or 12 months in the case of UK nationals, and have at least 3 blank pages in it.  The newly established EAC Visa allows entry into Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya for one fee of USD100 – handy if you are visiting all three regions.

TRAVEL INSURANCE: Is compulsory for all guests travelling with Wild Frontiers.