UGANDA UNTAMED: SMALL GROUP ESCORTED TOUR NOVEMBER 2019

 

Fondly referred to as the ‘Pearl of Africa’ Uganda is a relatively small country, but one that is bursting with diverse landscapes, snow-capped mountain ranges, immense lakes, and an abundance of wildlife including the world’s last remaining Mountain Gorillas.

In November 2019, we will be taking a small group of Equatours guests to Uganda to uncover some of the many highlights on offer, and you’re invited to join us!

 

A fabulous 12-night itinerary including Entebbe, Murchison Falls, Lake Albert, Kibale Forest National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, it promises to be an African adventure of a lifetime.

 

DAY 1:  Arrive Entebbe

Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, our tour guide will be waiting to transfer us to our accommodation for the evening. On route, he will stop at a secure ATM where we can withdraw cash (if required) and pick up any drinks/snacks needed.

If our flight arrival time permits, we will enjoy a beach BBQ in the evening.

Overnight: 2 Friends Beach Hotel

 

DAY 2: Entebbe – Murchison Falls National Park  

After breakfast today, we will enjoy a briefing about Uganda before setting off to the beautiful Murchison Falls National Park. We will stop on route for lunch (to own account), before continuing to our lodge. After checking in, we’ll have the afternoon at leisure to relax and prepare for our great Ugandan adventure.

Overnight: Murchison River Lodge 

Meals Included: Breakfast and Dinner

 

DAY 3: Murchison Falls National Park  

Morning Safari, Boat cruise, Water Fall Hike 

After an early breakfast, we will embark on a sunrise safari that offers endless photo opportunities. Afterwards, we’ll take an amazing boat trip along the River Nile to the bottom of the falls, where we will discover hippos, a vast variety of birdlife, and of course, the infamous Nile crocodiles! As we approach the lower base of Murchison Falls, prepare for the thunderous and electrifying sounds of Uganda’s most famous waterfall.

At the base of the falls, we will disembark our boat and begin our hike to the top of the falls with our ranger. The views from the top are simply spectacular, and we will have the unique opportunity to see the world’s longest river fall from a 7m crevice into a foaming pool 43m below.

At the top of the falls, we will be collected by our guide, and transferred back to our lodge for dinner and overnight.

Overnight: Murchison River Lodge 

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

 

DAY 4: Murchison Falls National Park – Lake Albert - Kabwoya Wildlife Reserve

Sunrise Safari and Fishing Village on Lake Albert

After breakfast today, we will enjoy a Sunrise Safari before heading to Lake Albert and its magnificent Fishing Village. Lake Albert, also referred to as Mobutu Sese Seko Lake, is considered to be the most fish-abundant lake in all Africa with over 45 different species.  After vising the Fishing Village on the lake, we will continue to the Kabwoya Wildlife Reserve, the last remaining ecosystem on the Lake Albert shoreline between Semliki National Park to the south and Murchison Falls National Park to the north.

Overnight: Lake Albert Lodge 

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

 

DAY 5: Lake Albert – Kibale Forest National Park

Today’s adventure will start with a drive to Kibale Forest National Park – a dream come true for primate fans, where we will enjoy a guided hike.  80% of Kibale Forest National Park is covered with evergreen forests, the remainder of the park consists of swamps and grasslands. Due to the high proportion of forest, more than 1,000 chimpanzees live here, along with Black and White Colobus Monkeys, Red Colobus Monkeys and the rare Red-Tailed Monkey. Kibale Forest is also rich in birdlife, and if we’re lucky, we may even see a herd of elephants as they make their way through the forest.

Overnight: Isunga Lodge

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

 

DAY 6: Kibale Forest National Park Bigodi Swamp Walk

Optional Chimpanzee Tracking

After breakfast, you have two options to choose from this morning. You can spend the morning relaxing at the lodge, or you can head off on an optional Chimpanzee Tracking Tour (payable onsite).

In the afternoon, we will regroup for our 3-hour swamp walk, where we will visit local pasture lands, tea plantations, and friendly local villages where we can learn more about the people of Uganda. A scenic walk with endless photo opportunities, don’t forget your camera! We can expect to see three or four different monkey species on this tour, and the views of the Great Blue Turaco Lake are simply breathtaking.

Overnight: Isunga Lodge

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

 

DAY 7: Kibale Forest National Park - Queen Elizabeth National Park

Crater Lakes Hike and Game Drive

Our last activity in Kibale Forest National Park is an unforgettable hike to the top of the crater where we will enjoy spectacular vistas.

After lunch, we’ll say “good bye” to the forest and take a short drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park where we’ll start our next chapter immediately with a game drive, where we’ll search gazelles, warthogs, water bucks, lions, hippos, elephants, and buffalos. Afterwards, we’ll continue to our lodge for dinner and overnight.

Overnight: Marafiki Safari Lodge

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

 

DAY 8: Queen Elizabeth National Park  

Safari & Boat Tour on the Kazinga Channel 

Today we start our day with another safari through the National Park. We need to keep our eyes open and the camera set, as the chance of meeting a pack of lions in this part of the world is big! After lunch, we will embark on our Boat Cruise along the Kazinga Channel, which connects Lake Edward and Lake George. Here, we will see vast amounts of hippos, and if we’re lucky, we could see a herd of elephants or two as they bath in the channel. A highlight of any trip to Uganda, this is a boat tour you’ll never forget.

Overnight: Marafiki Safari Lodge

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

 

DAY 9: Queen Elizabeth National Park – Ishasha Sector

Game Drive

Another highlight awaits us today: Ishasha, which is located in the southern part of the Queen Elizabeth National Park. This area is famous for its tree climbing lions; a phenomenon which has only been observed in one other place in the world - Tanzania. Scientists cannot explain the behaviour of these lions as they have no genetic differences to lions living elsewhere on the continent. It is believed the Ishasha lions climb the trees to relax and escape the afternoon sun, after viewing them yourself, you may well come up with your own theory! Overnight: Enjojo Lodge 

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

 

DAY 10: Ishasha to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After breakfast today, we will enjoy a morning game drive in the Ishasha Sector before driving to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park – home to the world’s last remaining wild mountain gorillas. We can expect a bumpy ride as we make our way to our lodge, but the scenery is simply breathtaking, with expansive lakes, tropical rainforests, and the mighty Virunga Volcanoes.

In the afternoon, we will arrive at our exquisite lodge overlooking Lake Mutanda.

Overnight: Chameleon Hill

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

 

DAY 11: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Optional Activity: Gorilla Tracking – Advanced Booking Essential

While this is a costly activity ($600 per person – not included in tour price) we strongly recommend the Gorilla Tracking Tour. Not only does it allow you to get up close and personal with the world’s last remaining mountain gorillas, but it also helps protect them.

 

Overview of the Tour

Prepare yourself for an encounter with Bwindi's gentle giants: the rare mountain gorillas. For most visitors, this is the highlight of their Uganda trip! The Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is the living space for both mountain gorillas and chimpanzees. It is the only forest in Africa where these two species share their territory. Additionally, it homes five other primate species, 113 mammal species, over 200 butterfly species and 360 species of birds. The gorillas that you will see today belong to one of the ten gorilla families in Uganda who accept the presence of humans. Your tour will be an exciting journey into the unknown - along the wooded slopes, tangled vines, bushes and bamboo plants before you finally get to the gorillas.

Once you have located the gorillas, you will spend up to 1 hour with them, before leaving them in peace and returning to the lodge with the most magical memories.

 

Should you prefer to skip this activity, you can spend the day at the lodge, or participate in one of many activities available including:

 

The Best of Chameleon Hill (US$ 150 per person)

Includes 2hrs Mountain Biking, Bodaboda ride to Coffee farm, 2hrs at the Coffee farm, Bodaboda ride to the southern Lake shore of Lake Mutanda, Boat trip to Chameleon Hill Lodge and visit to 2 Islands.

Golden Monkey Tracking (US$ 110 per person)

Batwa Trail (US$ 100 per person)

Overnight: Chameleon Hill

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

 

DAY 12: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Free Day

Optional Activities: Best of Chameleon Hill, Batwa Trail, Golden Monkey Tracking, Volcano Climbing

Today is yours to do whatever you please. You can spend the day relaxing at the lodge or opt for one of the many activities available.

Overnight: Chameleon Hill

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

 

DAY 13: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park – Kigali / Rwanda 

Kigali City Tour and Optional Visit to Genocide Memorial (depending on flight departure time)

After leaving Chameleon Hill, we will cross the border to Rwanda where we will take a city tour. Time permitting, we will also visit the genocide memorial.

Afterwards, we will transfer to the airport for our return flight home. ***End of Services***

Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

 

Minimum Group Size: 8

Maximum Group Size: 12

Price Per Person: £2955.00 per person 

Flights from: £550.00 per person

Single Supplement: £405.00