The ”Jewel in Uganda’s crown” has been a destination for the discerning traveler since the days of living stone and Speke. Murchison Falls National park offers everything you would expect of a top class Africa holiday and much, much more. Here you will be able to experience enthralling game drives to see lion, elephant, giraffe and antelope, you will be able to take enchanting jungle walks to see chimps and baboons among the ten species of primates, you will be able to see the amazing birdlife, over 250 species including the rare exotic shoebill stock and constantly glimpse wonderful and prolific butterflies.
But, more importantly, you will be able to enjoy the Victoria Nile herself, as, on her journey from her source at Lake Victoria to join with Lake Albert, she provides a unique and spectacular show case of the enormous diversity of Uganda wild life. Here, pods of hippo languish on sandbanks, crocodile rest in river side vantage points, water buffalo stand watching at the edge of the water, baboons play in the groups of the shore, families of elephant trundle to the water for a drink. And, to say the least, the birdlife is extravagant, in the course of a short boat trip along the river you will see dozens of fish eagles, hundreds of pied kingfishers, scores of bee- eaters and even, maybe a lone shoebill stork.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: We’ll leave after breakfast to take the journey from Kampala through Uganda’s beautiful green undulating countryside to Masindi, where lunch will be available at the local colonially designed Masindi hotel. After lunch we’ll travel to the Nile, sporting game en route. The ferry trip takes us to paraa for arrival at the paraa safari lodge. Relaxing dinner and overnight close to the Nile.
Day 2: In the morning, we’ll experience our first game scenic drive in the park. Our ranger will help us to view the extraordinary variety of wildlife living here, including Uganda cob, elephant, lion, giraffe, antelope, a vast variety of eagles and much more. After substantial lunch, we’ll make the amazing launch trip to the Murchison falls, described by Churchill as being like Regent’s park Zoo and Kew gardens combined. We’ll pass pods of hippo, crocs, vast numbers of exotic birds and butterflies in Murchison there are over 300 varieties and myriad wildlife coming to the water to drink often including herds of elephants. We may see the legendary shoebill stock. The fall itself is one of Africa’s wonders, the whole of the Victoria Nile bursting majestically through a sixty meter drop. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight
Day 3: After early morning breakfast head to the West to Kibale National Park in Fort Portal. Its a very long journey and you we shall reach there in the evening have a break and relax before dinner and overnight at Toro Resort.
Day 4: Early morning, set off for Chimp tracking and we shall be able to see other wildlife like black and white Columbus monkeys, bush babies, bush pigs gray cheeked mongabay among others. In the after noon we shall visit the Bigodi swamp for the nature walk. Returning in the evening for dinner and overnight at Toro Resort.
Day 5: After breakfast, we shall set off for Queen Elizabeth national park arriving in the early morning and check in at Mweya safari Lodge. Any visitor to the Queen Elizabeth National park cannot fail to be impressed by the park’s amazing diversity. Set in the west of the Great East African Rift Valley, and bordered by the Rwenzori Mountains the legendary mist capped "Mountains of the Moon" Queen Elizabeth incorporates a variety of lakes from freshwater Lakes and inland salt Lakes to mirror surfaced Crater Lakes. Here, you will find marshland, broad Savannah, Wetlands, gallery and lowland forest. You may imagine such an enormous variety of habitats could support an enormous variety of wildlife. And you’d be right. The bird list alone runs to over 550 species - the largest of any protected area in Africa, there are over 95 mammal species and hundreds of butterfly. The Queen Elizabeth National park provides an ultimate feast for all senses. You will never forget the sight of Crater Lake full of glorious flamingos, the bat cave in the extraordinary Maramagambo forest, the chance of legendary shoebill Stork or the amazing vista from the Mweya Peninsula.
We’ll take a morning game drive in the park. Look out for the prides of lion and herds of elephant. Buffalo, bushbuck and cob are common quite here, but not so common in the spectacular and elusive Giant Forest Hong and a sighting is a real triumph!
In the afternoon, we’ll take the launch trip to explore the Kazinga channel, here we’ll see the scores of hippos, buffalo close to the waterside often elephants and the rare leopard prowling. The birdlife on the water is fascinating and we’ll see dozens of bee-eaters and pied kingfishers. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 6: After breakfast we’ll take a tour to Queen Elizabeth’s extraordinarily scenic crater lakes area. Mirror-surfaced and tranquil, each has its individual character providing a home for a myriad of creatures. In the afternoon we’ll visit yet another of the divert local habitats and take a walk in the Maramagambo Forest, here we’ll look for chimpanzees and other monkeys and visit the bat caves and the outstanding blue lake. Dinner at the lodge. Optional evening cruises.
Day 7: Early set off and head to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park passing through Ishasha and you will have the opportunity of seeing the tree climbing Lions en route. You will arrive in Bwindi late in the evening and have dinner and overnight at Gorilla Resort Lodge.
Day 8: Uganda is a home to half of the world’s population of mountain Gorillas. Extensive efforts at conservation have led to a number of the families being habituated to human contact. It is indeed a great privilege to be able to visit these enormously powerful and gentle creatures in their spectacular and natural habitat-the tropical forest bordering the Virunga Volcanoes. We will visit either Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park a treasure chest of flora and fauna and the richest forest in East Africa or Mgahinga Gorilla National park – one of Uganda’s most scenic parks with its dramatic volcanoes.
Without doubt, your first impression of the forest will be its almost audible silence but gradually, you will become aware that the jungle is alive. The whole ecosystem of millions of living organisms is watching and waiting. You pick your way through the dense undergrowth, along the scenic forest tracks with great anticipation perhaps your prayers will be answered and you’ll meet a whole family of gorillas, even if you don’t, your whole massive experience of the forest and its many inhabitants is a memory that will live on. Dinner and overnight at Gorilla Resort Lodge.
Day 9: Early morning we shall go for the village walk and here you will be amazed at what the village has got to offer. You will be able to learn how local alcohol can be brewed from bananas, visit the crafts shops around, visit the butterfly loop, visit a traditional healer, and visit the batwa dancing community among others. You will return to the lodge for the overnight and dinner.
Day 10: After breakfast we shall set off for Kabale, The journey is long and will arrive in the afternoon, check in at Bushara Island, rest, have dinner and overnight.
Day 11: After breakfast, we shall set off for a canoe boat ride to other islands on the lake, visit the local market,in the after noon we shall the local community inhabiting on the island, we shall be returning in the evening for dinner and overnight at Bushara Island camp.
Day 12: This morning we shall head for lake Mburo We’ll leave Kabale after breakfast for the journey to Lake Mburo National Park. The lovely landscape is complemented by Lake Mburo itself and four small lakes, beautiful and tranquil surroundings where you will see impala, eland, klipspringer, waterbuck, zebra and buffalo. After a picnic, lunch we’ll take a canoe trip in the afternoon to see a variety of water birds, your guide will give you a safe distance from the hippos and crocodiles! Dinner and overnight at Mihingo Lodge.
Day 13: In the morning we shall go for the Morning game drive after which we shall set off for Kampala on our way we shall be able to visit the Equator line and take some time to relax there for a mug of coffee. Proceed and make another stopover at Mpabire Royal drum makers arriving in Kampala early evening check in at Botanical Beach Hotel.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- Transport in a 4x4 wheel drive vehicle
- Full board meal plan
- English speaking driver/guide
- Accommodation
- Gorilla permits and any other park entry fees.
- This cost will however exclude insurance, airfares, visas and expenditure of any personal nature not included above.
Also see tour packages in:
Africa
Uganda
National Parks
Wildlife Viewing
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