Highlights of Uganda

Day 1 – Arrival and Kampala Exploration

Your day will depend on the time of your arrival at the airport and whether you choose to spend a night in Kampala. We could embark on the famous Kampala city tour for four hours before you relax and begin your safaris the following day. We may even attend a cultural show in the evening. This show occurs only three times a week, so we’ll check the day of your arrival and I will advise accordingly. The same goes for Walter’s famous boda boda city tour of Kampala.

Day 2 – Safari to Lake Mburo National Park

Your safari to the countryside begins. Lake Mburo, lying 250 km from Kampala, is one of Uganda’s best-kept game drive secrets. It’s among Uganda’s smallest but most unique national parks. It is the most accessible and one of the few parks where you can see zebras in Uganda. It is also the only game park that supports a population of impala, the antelope creature after which Kampala is named. You’ll have options available in the park to take a rare opportunity to see game on foot or by bicycle and stay overnight at one of the lodges of your choice, as per the plan. We can also do bicycle tours here and nature walks to track all the animals. Lake Mburo is the park where you can freely walk and even see all the animals that inhabit it.

Day 3 – Exploring Lake Bunyonyi

We’ll head to Lake Bunyonyi, often referred to as Africa’s Magical Lake. This is around 400 km from Kampala but only 150 km from Lake Mburo NP, where we’ll be staying. Lake Bunyonyi is one of the most fertile and scenic regions of Uganda, featuring blue lakes, terraced slopes, rain-forested mountains, and a volcanic chain. Lake Bunyonyi is believed to have formed 8000 years ago due to local lava flow and is rumored to be anywhere from 450 to 900 meters deep. You’ll have the opportunity to explore why “bunyonyi” means “place of little birds,” take a relaxing canoeing trip around its small and big islands, and visit viewpoints. It’s also possible to track mountain gorillas in the thick forests of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or the bamboo slopes of Mgahinga National Park. Please note there’s an altitude difference of 1500 meters between these locations, which can be important if you’re newly arrived in Uganda.

Day 5 – Gorilla Tracking Adventure

Wake up early in the morning and head to the gorilla tracking point. Gorilla tracking typically begins around 8 am and lasts until mid-day or longer, depending on the gorillas’ location and our fitness level. Since you are fit, we will opt for a more challenging trek. Later in the evening, we’ll drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Day 6 – Chimp Tracking and Wildlife Viewing

We’ll start the day early with a chimp tracking adventure in the forest. Later, we’ll begin animal viewing on game drives and enjoy an afternoon famous boat cruise on the channel, making it a busy day. After the boat cruise, we’ll go on a short safari game drive before returning to the lodge. Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to the greatest variety of mammals in Uganda, and it’s bordered by the Rwenzori Mountains and Lake Edward. Don’t worry about it being a busy day; I’ve mentioned lots of options, and we can take it one step at a time with plenty of flexibility.

Day 7 – Scenic Drive to Fort Portal

We’ll start the day with a morning game drive before taking a scenic drive to Fort Portal. We’ll visit crater lakes and the Nyinamwiru Healing Waters or take a break from four wheels to explore the region by bicycle and engage in some short hikes. You’ll also have the option to take walks around the slopes of Rwenzori mountains and explore crater lakes, offering rewarding views of the Mountains of the Moon and the rift valley. We’ll return to the lodge.

Day 8 – Journey to Murchison Falls

We’ll drive to Murchison Falls National Park, enjoying views of Lake Albert and the Albertine Rift Valley along the way. The drive typically takes 5 to 6 hours, with a lunch stop in Hoima town, where oil was discovered in Uganda. We’ll pass through the park and enjoy some views and encounters with animals, making it a short game drive.

Day 9 – Murchison Falls Safari Experience

Enjoy the great safari experience of Murchison Falls National Park, which is Uganda’s largest national park, spread around the Victoria Nile. In Africa, the “Big Five” game animals are the lion, African elephant, Cape buffalo, leopard, and rhinoceros. It’s all made easy these days, and you’ll be able to go in pursuit of all the Big 5 on a comfortable 4WD game drive. Off the road, we’ll take a boat ride to the famous waterfalls (the strongest in the world) and get surrounded by crocodiles and hippos. In the evening, we’ll return to the lodge for dinner, campfire, and sleep.

Day 10 – Departure Day

You can wake up at your preferred time since Kampala/Entebbe airport is only 5-6 hours away. Once we arrive in Entebbe or Kampala, we can find a place for refreshment or spend a short night before your departure flight.