Highlights of Uganda
H I G H L I G H T S O F U G A N D A
E N T E B B E | S E M L I K I | Q U E E N E L I Z A B E T H | B W I N D I
1 1 D a y s | 1 0 N i g h t s
Uganda is a land of contrasts. In half a day you can drive from mist-shrouded volcanic mountains to hot hazy savannah, dappled with wildlife. Serene undulating hills of tea plantations, lush but ordered, give way to tangled jungle and rainforest with the musical accompaniment of chaotic, cacophonous birdlife. Uganda is alive with these contrasts: The tiniest sunbirds, iridescent in the morning light, the massive lumbering yet silent elephant, disappearing like a vapor behind the trees, the chimpanzees crashing about the forest canopy, the lugubrious gorilla, chewing thoughtfully in the bamboo thicket. There is the Nile, twisting its way north like a shimmering ribbon, through arid semi-desert scattered about with rocky kopjes. Snow-capped peaks, tropical, sandy, freshwater beaches, and smiling faces everywhere. It is all here, a feast for all the senses.
I T I N E R A R Y O V E R V I E W
Day 1 – Arrival Entebge
Arrive at Entebbe International Airport off Kenya Airways at 3h30 pm. Meet and greet by The Uganda Safari Company (TUSC) representative to take you through immigration and help you with luggage handling. Later she will hand you over to your driver guide outside the terminal building who will transfer you to your accommodation (Driving time: -/+ 15 minutes – Private transfer). Overnight at Hotel Number 5 (Bed and Breakfast only.
Day 2 – Semliki
Start the Uganda Safari by driving to Semliki Wildlife Reserve, your safari guide shall be linking up with you at your hotel in Entebbe at 08:00. Most of the morning today is spent driving to our first destination (approx. drive time 6-7 hours). Semliki Wildlife Reserve was established as a game reserve in 1926 and was among the first protected areas to be gazetted. The main reason was to protect the large numbers of Uganda Kobs in the area. Semliki Safari Lodge is situated in the Semliki Valley wildlife reserve and is the only accommodation in over 500 km² of wilderness, offering a truly private experience. Semliki is secluded and intimate. The lodge promises excellent service and attention to detail. While at Semliki Safari Lodge, you can enjoy game drives, game walks, Lake Albert boat trips (Shoebill encounters), chimpanzee walks, and bush meals. The accommodations include large canvas tents with permanent thatched roofs. Each tent is spacious and extremely comfortable with hand-craved four-poster beds, Persian carpets, and soft fleece blankets on the beds. Even though you will be sleeping under canvas, there is no ‘roughing it’ in this lodge. Each tent has en-suite bathrooms with hot and cold running water, electric lighting, and a private balcony, each with a stunning panoramic view of the reserve. There is a homely feeling in the main building with sofas piled high with soft cushions, loads of books to read, and hospitable staff. The food at the lodge has been described as the ‘best in Uganda’. The chef prides himself on the fact that all food at the lodge is homemade, from the bread that is baked daily, to the soups and down to the relishes and chutneys. Overnight at Semliki Safari Lodge (Meal Plan: Lunch box, Diner, and Non-premium drinks)
Day 3 – Semliki
Have a morning breakfast to enjoy a primate walk, this walk takes 3 to 4 hours and is conducted near Semliki Safari Lodge where you will meet our experienced researchers and get a chance to learn more about primates. Key primate species on this walk include chimpanzees, Red-tailed, vervet, Black and white colobus monkeys, and Baboons. Angulates encountered are Waterbucks, Warthogs, Bushbucks, Buffaloes, Uganda Kobs, and Elephants. You will return to the lodge for lunch and later in the afternoon enjoy a game drive with a sundowner. There are three tracks across the savannah grassland of Toro Semliki Wildlife Reserve. Smaller forest and larger savannah elephants are regularly seen, along with Buffalo, Waterbucks, Warthog, and Uganda Kob. With luck, you may even see leopards and elusive Bush babies. After dark, visitors may come across curious nocturnal species such as the white-tailed mongoose. Overnight at Semliki Safari Lodge (Meal Plan: Lunch box, Diner, and Non-premium drinks)
Day 4 – Lake Albert
Morning boat cruise on Lake Albert in search of the famous Shoebill (Activity duration: -/+ 3 hours), this is conducted on Lake Albert and the main attractions are Shoebills, African Pygmy Goose, Blue-breasted and Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters, and Blue-headed Coucal. After lunch, enjoy a 3-hour guided nature walk that goes through a variety of habitats ranging from savannah woodland to riverine forest and sundowner. Species encountered on this walk include; Ground Hornbills, Warthogs, Uganda Kobs, baboons, Black and White Colobus, and Vervet Monkeys. Overnight at Semliki Safari Lodge (Meal Plan: Lunch box, Diner, and Non-premium drinks)
Day 5 – QENP
Drive from Semliki to Queen Elizabeth National Park to our new bush camp Honey Bear. On the way, you will have a stop en route at the lovely Rwenzori Bronze Founders and the Rubona women’s cooperative - a group of women who grow their own herbs and forage in the hills for wild plants and roots to make their own natural dyes for the most gorgeous baskets.. Drop off after lunch in Queen Elizabeth and arrive at Honey Bear by boat. (Total drive from Semliki to Honey Bear is +/- 3 hours plus 20 minutes by boat). Check in and enjoy the rest of the evening at leisure. Honey Bear is right on the river, full of hippos and elephants, nighttime hyena visits, and nearby lions. Overnight at Honey Bear Bush Camp (Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and Non-premium drinks)
Day 6 – QENP
After breakfast, you will go for your morning lion predator game drive with Dr. Ludwig or his team (Activity duration: -/+ 2- 3 hours). Return to the lodge to enjoy a sunset boat trip along the Kazinga Channel and sundowner with drinks and snacks Overnight at Honey Bear Bush Camp (Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and Non-premium drinks)
Day 7 – QENP
Have an early cup of coffee to transfer to the Kyambura visitors’ reception center for your morning briefing on how to track the chimpanzees. This is a half-day activity and later you will return to the lodge for lunch and walks around the crater lakes, and explore the upper crater lakes. Overnight at Honey Bear Bush Camp (Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and Non-premium drinks)
Day 8 – South QENP
After your morning breakfast, take your boat to the mainland to drive from Kyambura to Ishasha, the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth. (total journey time +/- 3 hours, all within the National Park). Ishasha sector is well known for tree climbing lions, game drives are lovely in this very different part of the park. Camp is simple but lovely. You will arrive in time for lunch and later enjoy an evening game drive with a sundowner. Overnight at Ishasha Wilderness Camp (Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and Non- premium drinks)
Day 9 – Bwindi
Morning drive if desired and then drive down to Buhoma, the southern sector of Bwindi (Driving time: +/- 2 hours). Can stop for lunch in Buhoma (or baked lunch) and hike up through Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to Nkuringo, home of Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge (the hike is not difficult – the trail is well marked and well trodden, but there are some ups and downs but the forest is fabulous and such a treat to hike through it without the pressure of finding the gorillas. Hike time +/- 4 hours). At Nteko, you will meet with the lodge vehicle to transfer for the next 10 km to the lodge. On this same day, your luggage will be carried by porters through the forest and your guide will be driving back to Kampala. Set on a forested ridge near the entrance to the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge boasts eight spacious cottages built from volcanic stone. Spectacular views stretch all the way to the Virunga Volcanoes of Rwanda, as well as across the border into the Congo, where the glow of Nyiragongo Volcano can be seen on a clear night. Warm and welcoming, each cottage features a bedroom, an ensuite bathroom with a walk-in shower, and a separate lounge. Comfortable chairs on the outdoor verandas provide the perfect vantage point to admire the unforgettable vistas of the forest below. Blazing fireplaces create a cozy glow as evening falls. Meals are prepared using the freshest local ingredients and served in front of a roaring fire in the dining area or in the privacy of your stone cottage. The lodge is situated within easy walking distance of the trail where guests can begin their gorilla trekking adventure. Guided forest walks and birdwatching expeditions explore the surroundings, while local community visits give a glimpse of traditional life. Overnight at Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge (Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch box, Dinner, and Non-premium brand drinks)
Day 10 – Gorillas!
Full-day Gorilla tracking in the Rushaga area, depending on gorilla permits availability. After the tracking, return to your accommodation for relaxation. Overnight at Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge (Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch box, Dinner, and Non-premium brand drinks)
Day 11 – Departure or onward travels
After an early breakfast, you will be picked up by a lodge representative and transferred to Kisoro Airstrip. Stay at the airport as you wait for your international outbound flight.
* Contact us for customized trip, availability and rates. &B24
