12 days pearls of uganda mid-range safari

Day 1 : Welcome to the former capital of Uganda (Entebbe)

After your arrival at Entebbe International Airport, your guide will meet you and take you to your guest house. The small town at the shores of Lake Victoria has just 70,000 inhabitants and scores with its botanical garden. Get ready for your journey and enjoy a traditional, fruity cocktail.

Overnight at The Boma Guesthouse (B&B)

Day 2 : The Wilderness of Uganda and incredible views (Murchison Falls National park)

Today we drive to Murchison Falls National Park, a protected area of more than 4,000 square miles. On the way you will stop at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. This is a reintroduction program that has successfully bred over a dozen white rhinos and is the only place in Uganda where you can see rhinos.

The Nile flows directly through the park, attracting the Nile crocodiles, hippos and the semi-aquatic Sitatunga antelope. Lions, leopards, elephants, buffalos, the Rothschild giraffe, warthogs, the big forest hog, Uganda kob, topi and water buffalo are just a few of the great mammals that you will see here.

If time allows, visit the Top of the Falls and feel the force of the River Nile under your feet as the half a kilometre wide river narrows to just 7 m wide and cascades down through a 45 m drop.

Overnight at Murchison River Lodge (FB)

Day 3 : Search of the Shoebill (Murchison Falls National Park)

Your morning starts with one of the highlights of this safari, the boat trip to the Nile Delta, home of the iconic Shoebill, a really fun bird.

You can choose to have your breakfast with you or enjoy full breakfast on your return to the lodge. Same with your Lunch.

In the afternoon you will go on an extensive game drive. Admire the wildlife and birdlife of Murchison Falls National Park and learn about this area from your guide. You probably will see Lions, Elephants and Buffaloes in this beautiful park.

Overnight at Murchison River Lodge (FB)

Day 4 : Stop at Lake Albert (Kabwoya Wildlife Reserve)

Between Murchison Falls and Kibale Forest National Park, the Kabwoya Wildlife Reserve lies close to the city of Hoima, which is your next destination. The reserve is located in the Albertine Western Rift Valley and covers 225 square kilometres. Your lodge has a swimming pool and offers great views of the Blue Mountains of the Democratic Republic of Congo behind Lake Albert.

During your evening safari, watch out for a variety of antelopes including the cow antelope, the Uganda Kob, Bushbuck and Duikers, and some other primates such as the black and white colobus. Depending on the schedule, you also have the opportunity to venture into nature during an evening walk.

Overnight at Lake Albert Lodge (FB)

Day 5 : Depart to Kibale Forest National Park (Kibale Forest National Park)

Today, your guide will drive you from Hoima to Kibale Forest National Park, a multi-faceted forest of 795 square kilometres. The forest is home to over 335 species of birds (some very rare and only found here), and 13 species of primates including chimpanzees. red colobus monkey, the rare L’Hoest monkey, blue monkey, grey mangabey, black-faced vervet monkeys, baboons, pottos and bushbabies.

You will spend the night in a lodge which is run by a Ugandan-German family. Here you can relax by the pool, relax in a beautiful garden landscape and end the evening at the campfire.

Overnight at der Kluges Guest farm (HB)

Day 6 : Chimpanzee-Tracking in the Jungle (Kibale Forest National Park)

After breakfast, we report to the Ranger Headquarters of the Kibale Forest National Park at 8 AM to set out to find the chimpanzees living there. It's great fun to watch this active apes play and roam in the fruit trees.

The experienced ranger will introduce you to the various family members of the chimpanzee family and show you many more inhabitants of the forest. As you walk through the forest on small trails, you will be told how the locals use the woodland plants, e.g. also to combat some diseases. Even the elusive forest elephant, which is smaller and bears more coat than its brother from the savannah, moves in the Kibale Forest. Sometimes even large mammals such as buffalo, large forest pigs and various antelope species can be admired.

In the afternoon, we will visit the neighbouring Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary. Cleverly constructed walking paths guide you through the papyrus that grows above your heads. With over 130 species of birds, colourful butterflies, eight species of primates and the rare semi-aquatic sitatunga antelope, this area is a showpiece of responsible tourism.

Overnight at Kluges Guest Farm (HB)

Day 7 : Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park (Queen Elizabeth National Park)

Your Guide will drive you through Kasese towards Queen Elizabeth National Park, which is at the foot of the Rift Valley. From time to time even the peaks of the Rwenzori Mountains can be seen on the horizon. The landscape of northern Queen Elizabeth consists of several dozen craters. With more than 600 species of birds, Queen Elizabeth National Park offers even greater diversity than other national parks in Uganda. On the way to the lodge, you can observe a large variety of wildlife such as elephants. Keep your eyes open for the hard-to-find leopards! Today's accommodation is high above the Kichwamba Ridge and offers breathtaking views over the bottom of the Rift Valley. While the foothills of the Rwenzoris are in front of you, the eight mighty Virunga volcanoes rise to the other side.

Overnight at Parkview Safari Lodge (HB)

Day 8 : special game drive with Uganda Carnivore Project and boat safari on Kazinga Channel (Kasenyi Section, Kazinga Channel

Start your day early in the morning and get ready for a very special morning game drive. A well-known route leads through the Kasenyi sector, which is famous for its lions. Elephants, antelopes, warthogs, baboons and sometimes even hyenas can be admired here. Dr Ludwig Seifert and his team of the Uganda Carnivor Project will drive you very close to the lion families and explain everything about their work of protecting the carnivores of this area. If you are very lucky, you will discover the big forest pig, Africa's largest pig. Keep your eyes open!

After your safari, you can either head back to your lodge for a few hours poolside and lunch. Or you can just spend some time at Mweya Lodge where the boats will start from.

 In the afternoon we continue on a boat safari right through the Kazinga Channel, which connects the two lakes Edward and Geoge. This will surely be one of the highlights of your trip! The Kazinga Canal is located in the centre of Queen Elizabeth and many different animals graze on the fertile shores of the canal. The expert Uganda Wildlife Authority guides will identify many of the Channel’s 100 bird species and you’re likely to see African Skimmers, Great White Pelicans, Spoonbill and a number of Bee-eater species. Hippos wallow at the edge of the water, huge Nile crocodiles bask in the sun and elephants come down to drink. The Kazinga Channel boat ride is a brilliant opportunity to take some close-up wildlife shots.

Overnight at Park View Safari Lodge (HB)

Day 9 : In Search of the tree-climbing lions - Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

Today we drive to the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and on the way take a short game drive through Ishasha, the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. On the vast plains of the Ishasha, you will find a famous inhabitant, the tree-climbing lion. A sighting is not guaranteed, however, in the large low-hanging Fig Trees of Ishasha, there are far better chances to see the lion, like in the rest of Africa.

With its south-west position at the edge of the western Rift-Valley, this forest covers 331 km². The treasures of Bwindi are approximately 400 wild Mountain gorillas. They contribute to about half of the world population of these gentle human apes

After a few hours in the car, you can take a relaxing afternoon walk in the village of Buhoma (your home in Bwindi) and visit one of the many craft markets. Or you can visit the Batwa tribe who lives in the middle of the forest. Your current accommodation is elevated and from there you can overlook the breathtakingly beautiful Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.

Overnight at Mahogany Springs (HB)

Day 10 : In touch with the Gorillas (Bwindi Impenetrable National Park)

Get up very early for your gorilla tracking and have a well-balanced breakfast in preparation for the day. After the registration at the Uganda Wildlife Authority Ranger Station and a short briefing, your incredible gorilla tracking starts.

Once you've located the gorilla family you'll be asked to leave all your belongings behind and slowly approach these gentle giants armed with only your camera. The guide interprets the behaviour of the animals for you. Females and their young ones, young males and even the dominant silverback can be seen feeding, playing and interacting with each other or just relaxing! You will never forget this experience with the gorillas. You can be sure that they are very curious to see you. You have exactly one hour with the gorillas before you return to the base station.

After the exciting encounter with the gorillas, you will return to the village. In the afternoon, you will have the opportunity to see the Batwa, the indigenous people of the forest.

Overnight at Mahogany Springs (FB)

Day 11 : Visit of Lake Mburo National Park (Bwindi, Lake Mburo)

A Visit at Lake Mburo National Park is included to shorten the long journey from Bwindi back to Kampala for a rest break. You will leave Bwindi in the morning after breakfast and drive about 200 kilometres to Lake Mburo to arrive in time for lunch. The adventurous drive through the lush green countryside around the city of Kabale. The so-called "Gorilla Highlands" is a perfect example of majestic mountains and deep valleys. Admire the sophisticated management of the steep terrain. At 2,347 meters above sea level, Kabale is one of the highest cities in Uganda. In return, Lake Mburo can be very hot and dry. Burchell's zebras are the most commonly found animals in the park. However, giraffes from Murchison Falls National Park have recently been located to Lake Mburo. In the evening you can go on a night safari. During this game drive, many animals can be viewed from a completely different perspective, which makes the night safari a very special experience!

Overnight at Rwakobo Rock Lodge (FB)

Day 12 : Stop at the Equator (Entebbe)

On the way to Entebbe, we stop to enjoy our picnic lunch and take photos at the equator. After a farewell dinner, your guide will take you to Entebbe International Airport. Take in the great impressions of Africa and let your trip revive. We hope to see you back soon in Africa.

Transfer to the airport (HB)

End of Trip

N.B: The meal plan as per the program is as follows

B&B – Bed and Breakfast

HB – Half board

FB – Full board