Day 1 Arrival in Entebbe
At Entebbe International Airport, our Gonja Safaris guide will be waiting to pick you up and transfer you to your lodge.
Overnight at Boma Guest House (BB)
Its rooms are befitting for people who are happier being treated to modern conveniences they would find in a city hotel; air conditioners, tiled rooms, sofa chairs.
You may take advantage of the lodge’s swimming pool to having a refreshing swim and blow off some steam. While at it, you might see Grey Hornbills and Silverbird or at least hear their songs.
Day 2: Drive Murchison Falls National Park
Depart for Murchison Falls National Park, a habitat of 76 mammal species and 451 bird species. River Nile runs through the park and along its riverbanks lies lots of Nile crocodiles, hippos and the rare semi-aquatic Sitatunga antelopes.
Lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and Rothschild’s giraffes are just a few of the big Five mammals you may see during your visit to the park.
Overnight at Paraa Lodge (FB)
The lodge is located on the Northern part of the river. As such, you can get up early and be virtually alone with lions after a short drive.
Having been established in 1954, it is one of the oldest hotels in Uganda. Each of its rooms is decorated with an emphasis on classy finishing. They are complete with serene balconies and private bathrooms.
Day 3: Morning Game drive and afternoon boat cruise on the Nile
Early morning game drive. On your game drive, you will see a variety of the wildlife and birdlife of Murchison Falls National park including the Elephants, Lions, Giraffes, Antelopes, Warthogs and much more.
After the morning game drive, you will have boat cruise on a 24kilometer stretch of river Nile that dissects that park into two major territories, North and South. Stretches of white water rapids dot the river beautiful. They are created as aresult of the resistance that the river encounters as it forces its way downstream. The shoreline is alive with lots of lush vegetation that provides lions a perfect place to camouflage as they wait to ambush prey.
Overnight Paraa Safari Lodge (FB)
DAY 4 Depart for Kibale National Park
Depart for Kibale Forest National park, an incredibly diverse forest that is home to over 335 bird species (some rare or endemic) and 13 species of primates including chimpanzee, red colobus monkey, the rare L’Hoest monkey, blue monkey, grey mangabey, black faced vervet monkeys, baboons, pottos and bush babies.
Overnight at Ndali Lodge (FB).
It is beautiful built using local materials that are dear to the eco-system like stones and grass thatch. The lodge’s 8 rooms, are spread out to offer each guest privacy. There is complete order on the compound.
DAY 5: Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale National Park
Wake up early morning and head to the briefing station for your chimpanzee trekking.
In Kibale Forest National Park you will track habituated Chimps. These hyper apes are the close relatives to human beings. During the one hour that you will spend with them, experienced rangers will introduce you to the different members of their(chimp families), as well as the birds and plant life of the forest.
Overnight at Ndali lodge (FB)
DAY 6: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Depart for Queen Elizabeth National park. The landscape of northern Queen Elizabeth comprises dozens of ancient craters carved into gentle rolling hills. Queen Elizabeth National Park has over 600 bird species.
Overnight at Elephant Plains Lodge (FB)
This Lodge is a true place of imagination. You don’t have to worry about noise as the lodge is distant from the main road.
DAY 7: Game drive and boat cruise.
Early morning game drive. A popular route you may take for the game drive is the Kasenyi sector, well-known for its lions that prey on Queen Elizabeth’s large population of Uganda Kob (antelope). Wildlife to look out for includes elephants, antelope, warthogs, Baboons and occasionally a hyena. Later, you will take a boat for a water safari on the Kazinga Channel at Mweya.
Overnight at Ihamba Lakeside lodge (FB)
Day 8: Chimp Trekking Kyambura George
The forest of Kyambura Gorge is home to a diversity of birdlife and a small number of chimpanzees, and other primates such as black-and-white Colobus and vervet monkeys. You will be on the lookout chimpanzee and other primates while on your trek.
Overnight at Ihamba Lakeside Lodge (FB)
DAY 9: Depart for Rwanda
We will enter Rwanda at the Ugandan-Rwandan border known as Kyanika. Here, you will get first impressive view of the volcanic mountains of the Virunga complex. Later we will cross the border to Rwanda.
Overnight Gorilla Nest Lodge (FB)
Upon arrival, you will be greeted by vibrant traditional African dances and songs as performed by dancers with colourful costumes.
Day 10: Gorilla Tracking in Parc National des Volcanoes
After a briefing by the rangers, your gorilla trek will start. The rangers will guide you through the village gardens and into the jungle to locate gorilla families. The hike takes average five hours, during which your time with the habituated apes is limited to one hour. You will move from place to place, meeting each member of the family and appreciating their uniqueness. A little infant might frolic in front of you to show off new climbing skills he has learnt. If in the mood, he might reach out to you and touch your leg. It’s such an emotional encounter that has left many in tears of joy.
Overnight Gorilla Nest Lodge (FB)
Day 11: Drive to Lake Bunyonyi
This is the day after your mountain gorilla trek, you will return to Uganda and drive to Lake Bunyonyi, a lake of 22 islands, exquisite birdlife, otters, and optional activities such as canoeing and community tourism experiences.
Overnight at Bird’s Nest (FB)
Day 12 Depart to Lake Mburo National Park
Lake Mburo the smallest of Uganda’s savannah national parks can be hot and dry. It is known as the home for the Zebra, and other animals like the giraffe, water bucks, Eland and much more, which you will see. Here, you will have horseback rides, bush walks, boat cruises and game drives.
Overnight at Rwakobo Rock (FB)
The staff here go to the greatest lengths to make you feel relaxed like you are at home. If you asked the chef if he could do something for your birthday or romantic treat, he will gladly organize an unforgettable feast for the eyes, nose and tongue. You will never forget!
Day 13: Lake Mburo National Park
Lake Mburo is one of the few national parks in Uganda where you can do a walking safari, to see some of its 350 bird species, and impala, eland, buffalo, oribi, Defassa waterbuck, leopard, hippo, hyena, topi and reedbuck. Burchill’s zebra and giraffes are Lake Mburo’s most striking inhabitants.
Overnight at Rwakobo Rock (FB)
DAY 14: Depart for Entebbe
After breakfast, our guide will drive you to Entebbe with an Equator stopover in Masaka. Picnic lunch enroute, after which you will be in time for your outbound flight.
