10 days Uganda Classic Wildlife Adventure
Day 1: Arrival
Welcome to Uganda, “Tusanyuse okukulaba” meaning we are happy to see you. Arrive in Uganda following the flight from your respective country of origin. You land at Entebbe International Airport which is the main gateway to Uganda where you will find the company representative dedicated to offering you a courteous welcome. The amazing weather and brightening atmosphere on the shores of Lake Victoria give you a remarkable first impression of Uganda. After briefing about Uganda and the safari, you will connect to the respective hotel for relaxation, dinner and overnight
Day 2: Drive to Fort Portal
After breakfast at your hotel in Kampala / Entebbe, you embark on the drive to Fort Portal Area 300km about 5 – 6 hours’ drive. You will drive through notable scenic landscapes on smooth tarmac viewing before arriving in Mpanga tea estates in the mid-morning and then embark on a cycling experience where you encounter the estate staff plucking tea and you are free to participate in the exercise to gain the exact touch. Retreat from the activity and continue to Fort Portal town where you will settle for lunch after which you will connect to Fort Portal Crater Lake Area. The top of Kyeganywa hill offers the views of Rwenzori Mountains on a clear day. Retreat from the activity and transfer to Kibale National Park 26km from Fort Portal town for relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Chimp trekking experience
Gather for a Chimpanzee tracking briefing at Kanyanchu Tourism Center in Kibale National Park to catch up with Chimpanzee trekking which begins at 8am. After this, you head to the forest in search of the man’s closest relative. Be reminded that apart from chimps, Kibale also supports other 12 Primate Species including the threatened red colobus with the highest population thriving in Kibale, the rare I’Hoest’s monkey, black-and-white colobus, grey-cheeked mangabey, red-tailed and blue monkeys, bush baby, olive baboon and potto which may be viewed during the trek. Retreat from the activity which tend to last 2 – 5 hours and get back to the starting point where you will rejoin your company safari guide, and settle for your packed lunch after which you transfer to Bigodi wetland Sanctuary for fascinating possibilities of sightseeing about 138 bird species. Retreat from the activity and drive back to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Whole day adventure hiking to the Rwenzori Mountains
Gather at Nyakalengija park station early in the morning to embark on the whole day hike to the Rwenzori Mountains. The Rwenzori Mountain rises to 5,109m above sea level with snowcapped peaks despite its closeness to the world’s main latitude – the Equator. Encounter the world heritage site which is greatly known for its impressive flora other than fauna. The impressive giant lobelias and groundsels are lovely to encounter. The sights of the peaks can be viewed at a distance, and the sights of glaciers flowing down the mountain is beautiful not forgetting the savannah landscapes of Queen Elizabeth National Park, the rift valley lakes of George and Edward and Kasese town below. You have lunch on the mountain and retreat in the evening around 5 pm for relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Morning game drive & an afternoon launch cruise.
You get up early for an early morning cup of coffee while taking in the views of the lush savannah before travelling to the park at 7 a.m. for the game drive. Take a game drive through the Kasenyi trails and the Queen’s Mile in search of fantastic wild game such as cape buffaloes, leopards, topis, elephants, kobs, waterbucks, warthogs, lions, and side-striped jackals, among other animals. After a break from the activities for some leisure and lunch, meet at Mweya jetty for an afternoon Kazinga Channel boat ride, which departs at 2 p.m. This trip allows you to observe the biggest concentration of water-submerged Hippos up close, as well as over 60 species of migrating and resident birds, as well as crocodiles drinking and resting at the water’s edge. You retreat from the boat cruise and do an evening game drive along the Channel track to explore the more wild game in their evening moments
Day 6: Transfer to Bwindi
After breakfast, embark on the transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park driving through the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park named Ishasha well known for its tree-climbing lions. The Ishasha sector presents a remarkable encounter with the unique tree-climbing lions which are only existing in two spots in the whole world with the Ishasha sector having the best viewing opportunities. You continue on the drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park arriving in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Day 7: Bwindi Gorilla trekking
This is a special day dedicated for the impressive mountain gorillas. Undertaking the gorilla trekking experience in the hilly forested landscapes of Bwindi is such a lifetime endeavor that will create lasting memories. You gather at the respective park headquarters for briefing in the morning at 8 am where you are also allocated the respective gorilla families to track. The encounter takes 2 – 8 hours depending on the gorilla’s movements and one hour is availed to you to have a direct touch with the gorillas. Upon approaching gorillas, their reaction is not predictable as it can include them giving you a courteous welcome, minding less about you, and charging against you.
Retreat from the activity and embark on the transfer to Lake Bunyonyi driving through the fascinating Kigezi Highlands where locals apply terracing methods to cultivate their slopes deriving an impressive scenic landscape. You arrive at Lake Bunyonyi in the afternoon after which you embark on an optional (depending on the arrival time) thrilling boat ride to explore the Lake of a thousand Islands. The views of the Islands, the surrounding Kigezi Highlands, the bird life on the lake, and the sights of local people with their canoes as they connect to and from the Islands is very magical and impressive to explore before retire for dinner and overnight.
Day 8: Lake Bunyonyi Relaxation
Undertake a recreational boat ride on Lake Bunyonyi dubbed the lake of a thousand Islands because of its 29 Islands. Lake Bunyonyi is given as the second deepest Lake in Africa and is surrounded by the magical highlands of Kigezi present a magical sightseeing experience while cruising on the calm waters. The boat cruise makes various docks allowing you to walk on some of the Islands to explore the local people and their way of life including the traditional foods, the traditional musical performances, the local brew and visit to the local schools. There are a range of other canoes and boat on the lake which offers you an opportunity to interact with the navigators and the fishermen. You retreat from the activity to relax the lodge and eventually overnight.
Day 9: Transfer to Lake Mburo
After breakfast, embark on the transfer to Lake Mburo National Park 199km about 5 – 6 hours’ drive. You drive through impressive countryside landscapes of south western Uganda before approaching Mbarara town – the largest in the sub-region 45km to Lake Mburo NP continuing on the drive to make a stop at Igongo Cultural Center for lunch 12km past Mbarara town also standing as the largest private Museum in Uganda with a range of artifacts featuring the tribes of southwestern Uganda and the 1520AD Eclipse monument.
You visit these sites as optional activities. Continue on the drive to Lake Mburo National Park checking in at your lodge and relaxing until dinner time. At 7pm, you embark on the night game drive in the savannah landscapes of Lake Mburo National Park with possibilities of exploring nocturnal Species including hare, porcupine, Aardvark, white-tailed mongoose, honey badger, side–stripped jackal, bush pig, spotted hyena, serval cat, Jenet cat, civet, thick–tailed Galago and black galago. You also have chances of viewing the day hunters and grazers having in a night’s rest. Retire for overnight.
Day 10: Transfer back to Kampala.
Wake up 6 am and connect to the Enyemebwa center to catch up with the herdsmen getting up to do the milking and their daily routine. You arrive and get the milking equipment including the tying rope and the milking pot to actively participate in the traditional hand milking of the Ankole long-horned cattle, from milking you participate in sick animal treatment, caring for cows like brushing their body using the locally made fiber brush (Enkuyo) and set out to graze in the wilderness. You retreat back and visit the traditional hut where you find the women churning milk in the churning gourd, from here the guide can take you to explore the crop bit of it exploring the extensive banana plantations where you learn about various banana types and their respective use participate in pruning and weeding using local methods and then participate in initial arrangements for traditional lunch. Retreat from the activity and embark on the transfer back to Kampala in the afternoon 240km about 3 – 4 hours’ drive making a stop at Uganda Equator crossing Kayabwe for amazing photo shoots where you have the opportunity to take photos with one leg in the northern hemisphere and another one in the southern hemisphere. Continue to arrive in Entebbe in the evening for your flight back home.
End of safari!
