Overview
On this 16 days Uganda Safari with Rwenzori Hiking Adventure, visitors are introduced to Uganda’s top safari destinations – Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth and Lake Mburo National Parks for game viewing experiences and boat cruises in addition to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for mountain gorilla trekking adventure, Kibale Forest National Park for Chimpanzee trekking, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park for golden monkey tracking as well as Batwa Cultural Experience. Also get a chance to hike the “Mountains of the Moon”.
Detailed Itinerary.
Day 1: Airport Arrival (at Entebbe International Airport) and hotel drop-off.
Arrive in Uganda, via Entebbe International Airport and find our representative at the Airport for a drive to your Hotel in Kampala. The friendly people, beautiful weather and lush vegetation show the amazing impression of the country.
Depending on your arrival time, you can add a brief city tour on this day before continuing to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 2: Connect to Murchison Falls National Park, in north-western Uganda.
Your safari driver will pick you from the Hotel in Kampala and continue to Murchison falls National Park in north-western Uganda. The highlights of your tour in this Park are jaw-dropping rapids, thundering Murchison falls, sweeping plains of the country’s largest and oldest National Park where you will encounter Cape buffaloes, lions, Bush elephants, leopards, spotted hyenas, Jackson’s hartebeests, Uganda Kobs, Rothschild giraffes, Defassa waterbucks, warthogs, Oribis and surely be amazed by the high concentration of Nile crocodiles and Hippos, as well as over 450 species of birds.
Lunch break at Kabalega Divers and arrive at Murchison falls National Park in the late afternoon for refreshment, dinner and overnight stay.
Day 3: Murchison falls National Park – game drives and boat Cruise.
Breakfast and leave the Lodge for a game drive across the extensive savannah plains of the country’s oldest and largest Conservation Area where you are likely to spot the Rothschild giraffes, warthogs, Cape buffaloes, lions, Jackson’s hartebeests, elephants, leopards, Oribis and spotted hyenas among others.
For the bird lovers, this Park also shelters numerous bird species that can also be encountered during a game drive and get back to the lodge for lunch.
In the afternoon head for a boat cruise to the bottom of the Murchison falls where you will catch-up with the high population of Hippos and Nile crocodiles as well as aquatic bird species. Proceed for the hike to the top of the falls to have clearer views of Murchison falls and the adjacent Uhuru falls. Find your driver at the top for a transfer to the Lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 4: Leave the beautiful Murchison falls N/Park and continue to Kibale Forest National Park.
After breakfast at your Lodge in Murchison falls National Park, depart for Kibale Forest National Park. This journey is long (over 7 hours) and involves traversing verdant countryside, tea and banana plantations as well as rolling hills before breaking the journey at Hoima Town for Lunch. Be in Kibale Forest National Park in the evening for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 5: Kibale Forest National Park; Chimp trekking adventure and drive to Kasese Town.
Start your day with breakfast and head to Kanyanchu Visitor Center for short briefing on the guidelines of Chimp trekking. Later begin the search for the allocated Chimpanzee troop in the jungles of Kibale Forest and this will be done in the company of experienced Park Rangers, porters and other trekkers.
Once the chimpanzees are found, you will have a whole hour to be in their presence and retire to the lodge for lunch. Later pack your bags for a drive to Kasese Town at the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains. Straightaway be checked in a Lodge/or Hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 6: Hike to Sine Camp (2,596 meters) on the Rwenzori Mountain.
Enjoy breakfast and be transferred to the trailhead for briefing on the Rwenzori Mountains Hike. Start the hike to Sine Camp (at 2596 meters) while traversing the giant trees of the Afro-montane forest zone. This gradual hike is about 6 kilometers towards Sine Camp/Hut with views of numerous flowers, plants, birds and primates (blue monkeys as well as the black and white colobus monkeys). Overnight camping and dinner at Sine Hut.
Day 7: Climbing to Mutinda Camp (at 3688meters) via Kalalama Camp (at 3147 meters above sea level).
Have breakfast and begin the hike at 8:00am as you approach the Bamboo forest zone. This hike is steep and features high steps, with 1.8 kilometers to approach Kalalama Hut at 3147 meters above sea level.
This is where the heather-rapanea zone is found and from here you will relax with a hot cup of tea/coffee. From Kalalama Hut you continue through the Heather zone while traversing streams and waterfalls. Set Camp at Mutinda Camp (named after Mutinda Peaks) while enjoying views across the snow-capped Rwenzori Mountains, Kasese Town as well as the beautiful Lake George.
Day 8: Continue from Mutinda Camp to Bugata Camp (4062 meters).
On this day you will continue from Mutinda Camp (at 3688meters) through the boggy and wet vegetation as well as tussocks, entering the Alpine Vegetation zone with giant Lobelias (Lobellia gibberoa), groundsel (Senecio adnivalis) and cross Mutinda Valley. Continue hiking the steep Namusangi Valley (at 3840meters) where you will relish the jaw-dropping views of Mutinda Peaks.
From Namusangi Valley transverse several bog lands as you hike to Bugata Camp at 4062 meters. This is where you will rest for the day and enjoy views of Weismann’s peak of Mount Luigi of Savoy. This point is blanketed by snow and covered by everlasting flowers, giant lobelia, tussock grass and giant groundsel as well as views of 9 stunning Lakes down the Valley. Also look-out for views of Lake Nusuranja and many others.
Day 9: Climbing to Weismann’s Peak at 4620 meters and descend back to Kiharo Camp at 3460meters.
Breakfast and continue hiking to Weismann Peak at 4620meters. This Climb begins by walking across the hillside below the high cliffs above Lake Bugata. Proceed around the Ridge to the spectacular Lake Kopello where you will hike along the shores of the Lake with jaw-dropping views of the four glacier lakes along the valley below.
On a clear day you will be treated to the awe-inspiring views of the main peaks of Rwenzori Mountains-Mount. Baker, Mount Stanley and Mount Speke. Visit the Stella Peak before descending to the Camp, then down Nyamwamba Valley to Kiharo Camp (at 3,460 meters) for dinner and overnight Camping.
Day 10: Descend the Rwenzori Mountains and drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Enjoy breakfast and continue descending down to the Base Camp where you will find your safari driver for a transfer to the booked Safari Lodge in Queen Elizabeth National Park. This Park is a medley of wonders with over 95 species of mammals as well as over 600 species of birds.
Day 11: Queen Elizabeth National Park: Game drive and Boat cruise.
Be up early for breakfast and continue to undertake the morning game drive through the northern Kasenyi area. You will come across Cape buffaloes, Defassa waterbucks, warthogs, elephants, Bushbucks, duikers, Uganda Kobs, Giant forest hogs, spotted hyenas, leopards and many others then retire to your Lodge for short relaxation and Lunch.
In the afternoon after an amazing Lunch head for a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel connecting Lakes George and Edward. While here, you will be moved by the high concentration of huge Hippos and Nile crocodiles as well as numerous bird species on the shores and nearby wetlands. In the evening retire to your Lodge for dinner as you recollect memories of the day’s phenomenal activities and overnight stay.
Day 12: Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and en-route Game drive within Ishasha sector
Have breakfast and continue to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park with a game drive through the northern and southern sectors of Queen Elizabeth National Park. The latter is known for sheltering the tree-climbing lions with 80% chance of spotting them in addition to Uganda Kobs, Topis, buffaloes and warthogs among others.
Proceed to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park with a Lunch break at Savannah Resort Kihihi and arrive in the evening for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 13: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park – gorilla trekking adventure and unwind at Lake Chahafi Resort.
Early breakfast and continue to the Park Headquarters for briefing by UWA Park Ranger. At 8am enter the forest to search for the allocated gorilla group, with whom you will spend one hour for observation and photography.
The total time spent trekking the mountain gorillas is 1-5 hours, depending on the movement of the mountain gorillas and terrain. Once you find the habituated gorilla group, you will have one hour to study their behavior and retire to your Lodge for Lunch and some rest. In the afternoon transfer to Lake Chahafi Resort for unwinding, dinner and overnight stay.
Day 14: Mgahinga Gorilla National Park – Golden Monkey Tracking and Batwa Cultural Tour.
Breakfast and continue for Golden Monkey Tracking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. First, be transferred to Ntebeko Visitor Center for registration and briefing on the activity that lasts 1-3 hours in the Bamboo forest. Later descend to the edge of the forest for Lunch after spending time in the presence of the golden monkeys.
In the afternoon head for the Batwa Cultural Tour to learn about the life of the Batwa pygmies. These people relied on the forest for food, shelter and medicine before being evicted and for this tour, you will learn more about their ways of life. Later retire to Lake Chahafi Resort for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 15: Continue to Lake Mburo National Park and undertake a boat cruise
On this day have breakfast and embark on a drive to Lake Mburo National Park. Transverse through the terraced hills of Kigezi to Lake Mburo National Park. Arrive on-time for Lunch and boat ride on Lake Mburo. While on this boat ride, expect to see Hippos, Nile crocodiles and several species of birds. At sunset return to your booked accommodation for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 16: Lake Mburo National Park game drive and drive back to Kampala.
Breakfast and continue for a game drive in an open-roof vehicle where you are like to encounter spotted hyenas, common elands, Rothschild giraffes, warthogs, Cape buffaloes, Topis, Defassa waterbucks, Burchell’s zebras, leopards, Oribis and many others. Drive through the Valleys where most animals are found, to the salt licks and shores of Lake Mburo.
These are excellent game viewing spots and later return to the Lodge for Lunch then proceed to Kampala or Entebbe International Airport. This marks the end of our 16 days Uganda Safari with Rwenzori Hiking Adventure.
