13 Day Exclusive Safari

• Visit some of Uganda’s most spectacular places in a comfortable way. Your accommodation for this private luxury tour is provided in some of Uganda’s very best lodges. Gorilla and chimpanzee tracking permits are included!. 

High season rates 2018/2019:

No. of Persons              Rates Per Person

        2                                              US$ 6650

        3                                              US$ 6490

        4                                              US$ 5850

Low season rates 2018/2019 (April – May – November)

No. of Persons              Rates per Person

        2                                              US$ 6350

        3                                              US$ 6050

        4                                              US$ 5550

Single Supplement:

• One single supplement is included when traveling with 3 persons. Any other single supplement is US$ 1150.

Easter & Christmas supplements:

• Some lodges and hotels charge extra fees during the festive season. For example the Easter and Christmas period. Please ask us for the rates when you wish to travel on these dates.

Dates:

• Since this is a private tour, departure can be organized for anytime throughout the year subject to the availability of accommodation and transport.

Day 1: Welcome to Uganda!

• You will be picked up from the airport by a representative of your hotel. He will transfer you to your hotel. You will meet your driver/ guide tomorrow morning when he picks you up from your hotel.
• The Boma Hotel is set in tropical gardens in a leafy suburb, a few minutes’ drive from Entebbe International Airport. The rooms combine the modern comforts one expects today with the charm and character of an original 1940’s home.

Journey Time:                   45 minutes

Accommodation: Boma guesthouse

Meal Plan:             No meals are inclusive

Day 2: To Murchison Falls N.P.

• Today’s journey will take you north from Kampala to Murchison Falls National Park. 
• Covering an area of over 3,840 km², Murchison Falls National Park is the largest conservation area in Uganda.
• The park’s name derives from its famous waterfall: the mighty Murchison Falls.  The Nile River divides the park into its north and south sections. At the spectacular Murchison Falls the world’s longest river explodes violently through a narrow cleft in the Rift Valley escarpment to plunge into a frothing pool 43m below.
• A game drive in the park allows you to be eye-to-eye with the African animal kingdom featuring elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, lions, leopards, different species of antelope and many bird species.
• After lunch, you will drive three more hours to the southern side of Uganda’s largest national park, Murchison Falls N.P.
• You will stay at Bakers Lodge at the southern bank of the Nile. This new lodge offers a unique blend of comfort, relaxation and adventure. Each room has full facilities. There is an impressive restaurant with remarkable views over the Nile and a swimming pool too.

Journey Time:             7 hours

Accommodation:       Bakers Lodge

Meal Plan:                  Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 3: Murchison Falls National Park

• You will need to rise for breakfast and an early start on your game drive while the animals are the most active.
• A drive through the park brings you eye-to-eye with the African animal kingdom: elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, lions, leopards, different species of antelope and many tropical birds. They are all there!
• Covering an area of 3,840 km², Murchison Falls National Park is the largest conservation area in Uganda. The park’s name derives from its famous waterfall; the mighty Murchison Falls!
• In the afternoon you will make a privateboat safari up the Nile River to Murchison Falls. Carefully watched by crocodiles, hundreds of hippos, buffaloes, water birds, monkeys and all the other thirsty wildlife that the Nile attracts, you will reach the base of the 43-meter high Falls which approaches you with a thunderous sound.
• Upon arriving at the base of the falls you will have the option (not inclusive) of taking a tough hike (about 50 minutes) to the top, from where you have a perfect view of the impressive falls.

Accommodation:                   Bakers Lodge

Meal Plan:                              Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Optional activity: Rhino Tracking:    Possible on day 2

• At the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary you will go – together with an experienced ranger for a safari hike to the rhinos. You will see the rhinos in a very close range!
• Kidepo Valley and Murchison Falls National Parks once had both black and white rhinos; however widespread poaching during the Idi Amin era resulted in the disappearance of these majestic animals from the wild.
• Founded in 1998, Rhino Fund Uganda works to reintroduce black and white rhinos into Uganda and runs a breeding program, as well as work to educate communities on endangered rhinos.

Costing: $40 us dollar p.p.

Optional activity: Chimp tracking Budongo forest

• Budongo Forest is located in the southern part of Murchison Falls NP., and has the highest number of wild chimpanzees of Uganda.
• The habituated groups are located in Kaniyo Padibi, where you can go for chimpanzee tracking. Budongo Forest has an incredible biodiversity that – beside the chimpanzee – includes several other species like the Blue monkeys, Red-tailed monkeys, Vervet monkeys and Olive baboons. 

Costing: $95 us dollar pp. in high season and $85 us dollar p.p in low season

Optional activity: Hot air balloon safari – Possible on day 3 or 4

• Discover Murchison Falls from the air! Sign up for this optional activity and enjoy to unique experience of flying over Murchison Falls NP in a hot air balloon.
• You will have the most amazing views over the river Nile, Lake Albert, the great Murchison Falls and of course this is thé best way to spot lots and lots of animals.
• You will start early morning, so you will see the sun rise over the park. After your balloon safari you will have a bush breakfast in the park (inclusive). 

Costing: $380 us dollar p.p.

Day 4: Murchison Falls National Park

• The Nile Delta is the area where the Victoria Nile flows into Lake Albert. A boat safari down the river towards Lake Albert is a “must do” for every birdwatcher as the banks of the delta are home to hundreds of bird species including the rare and prehistoric-looking shoebill stork.
• As well you will see hundreds of hippo and maybe even bathing elephant and huge crocs!

* The delta Boat safari will be in an exclusive boat with a maximum of 12 persons

In The afternoon you will make another game drive in the park. You can as well choose to relax from your lodge.

Accommodation:       Bakers Lodge

Day 5: To Fort Portal & Kibale Forest

• After an early breakfast, you will pick up your packed lunch and exit the park to the south. The drive is long, but incredibly scenic, passing through villages, lush green forests and hills dotted with tea plantations which characterize this part of Uganda.
• You will stay at a wonderful lodge, just outside the town of Fort Portal, with spacious rooms and amazing views over one of the crater lakes in this area!

Journey Time:                         8 hours

Accommodation:                   Papaya Lake Lodge

Meal Plan:                              Breakfast, packed lunch, dinner

Day 6: Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest

• Kibale Forest National Park boasts the highest number of primate species in the world, including our delightful cousins, the chimpanzees.
• Today, in Uganda, there are approximately 5,000 chimpanzees in the wild, which makes it a perfect place to spot them!
• An experienced forest ranger will take you chimp tracking in the morning or afternoon. En route you might also see other monkey species that live in this forest.
• Once located, you will spend a full hour with the chimps. Since they are wild animals we can never guarantee that you will see them. You might have to settle with hearing their hoots and hollers.
• Your swamp walk (2-3 hours) will take you through grassland, small communities and some beautiful scenery, where the locals are likely to greet you with enthusiastic waves.
• It is usual to spot three to four different primate species during this walk, though the highlight is catching a glimpse of the great blue turaco!

Journey Time: 1 hour each way

Accommodation:       Papaya Lake Lodge

Meal Plan:      Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 7: Queen Elizabeth N.P.

• After breakfast you will continue your journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
• Queen Elizabeth is Uganda’s second largest park, located at the base of the majestic Rwenzori Mountain range, adjacent to Lake Edward and Lake George.
• You stay overnight at the beautiful Mweya Safari Lodge, located in the heart of Queen Elizabeth National Park on the Mweya peninsula.
• Watch wildlife from your private verandah and fall asleep to the roaring of lions on the distant savannah. This truly is Africa!
  • You will not stay in the standard rooms, but in the very exclusive and private luxury safari tents
• In the afternoon, you will take a privateboat safari along the Kazinga Channel which joins Lake George and Lake Albert.
• Here, you will see a lot of hippos (more than you can possibly imagine!), as well as a variety of other animals which come to the water to drink or bathe. You can expect to see buffalo, crocodile, bathing elephant, and a range of beautiful birds. This will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of your tour.

Journey Time:             3½ hours

Accommodation:       Mweya Safari Lodge, Luxury tent

Meal Plan:                  Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Optional activity: Lion Tracking: Possible on day 8

• For visitors who yearn to get up close to wild African fauna, a research trip is a rewarding adventure. This new and unique experience allows visitors to actively participate in monitoring some of lions in the park, using locator devices and learn habituation calls, as well as monitoring weather, surroundings and behavior. The results are added to researchers’ databases, contributing valuable information to the overall understanding of wildlife ecology – and helping to conserve this wonderful ecosystem. This will as well give you a 95% chance to see the lions!
• The number of people on each outing is limited in order to reduce stress on the animals and to increase the quality of the experience for visitors. 
• The experiential tourism activities currently available are Mongoose Tracking, Lion Tracking, Hippo Census, and Bird Counts. The number of people on each outing is limited in order to reduce stress on the animals and to increase the quality of the experience for visitors.
• Experiential tours lasts between one and three hours. They usually take place in the early morning or evening, or occasionally at night. All activities must be booked through the Visitor Information Centre in Mweya at least 24 hours in advance.

Costing: $85 US Dollar p.p.

Day 8: Game drive – to Ishasha (Tree climbing lions)

• This morning you wake up early. A little before sunrise coffee, tea and donuts will be served in the lounge before we head out for a long game drive in time to see the first rays of light.
• You will search for all the wildlife in the park and are likely to come across Elephant, Buffalo, Lion, Waterbuck, Leopard, Uganda Kob, and many Warthogs.
• Instead of this activity you can as well choose to do one of the optional activities listed below.
• After breakfast you will proceed to the southern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park, to an area called Ishasha. If you are lucky you might spot a few during your game drive.
• You will stay at Ishasha Wilderness Camp, a very luxurious lodge with wonderful views over the savannah and a river packed with hippos!
• Each of the ten spacious framed canvas rooms, situated in the wooded area besides the river, is comfortably furnished and has its own private en suite bathroom and dressing area providing a hot water ‘bush’ shower and a flushing eco-friendly toilet.

Journey Time:             2½ hours

Accommodation:       Ishasha Wilderness Camp

Meal Plan:                  Breakfast, (packed) lunch, dinner

Day 9: Tree climbing lions Ishasha

• To escape from the heat during the day, the lions here have learned how to climb the fig trees. If you are lucky you might spot a few during your game drive, so keep your eyes open and look up! Besides these famous lions, there is other interesting wildlife to be seen, like buffalo and the Uganda kob.
• Today, you can discuss with your guide how many game drives you wish to make

Accommodation:       Ishasha Wilderness Camp

Meal Plan:                  Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 10: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

• After breakfast you will game drive on your way out of the park for a last chance at spotting those tree climbing lions.
• Lunch will be provided at the lodge in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest; home of the Mountain Gorillas.
• Bwindi Safari Lodge eight bandas overlook the forest canopy, each with a private terrace from which guests can watch birds and monkeys in the tree tops.
• The main lodge building also maximizes on the beautiful views of the forest canopy, with both open and covered terraces providing optimum viewing platforms facing the forest. 
• Get a good night’s sleep because tomorrow you have to be fresh for the Gorilla trekking.

Journey Time              3 hours

Accommodation        Buhoma Lodge

Meal Plan                   Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 11: Gorilla Tracking

• Today is the big day… prepare yourself for an encounter with one of Bwindi’s gentle giants: the endangered mountain gorilla. For most people this is the absolute highlight of their tour in Uganda.
• Bwindi Impenetrable Forest boosts both mountain gorillas and chimpanzees – the only forest in Africa which can make this claim. It also hosts five other species of primate, 113 species of mammal, over 200 butterflies and 360 birds.
• The gorillas you track belong to one of nine habituated family groups who can tolerate the presence of humans for a brief period every day.

Face-to-face with a Mountain Gorilla

• Your track will be an exciting journey along forested slopes, entwined vines, bushes and bamboo before you eventually reach the gorilla family.
• The time taken to track the Gorillas can be as few as 2 hours to as many as 7 hours. Once the Gorillas have been located, your group will be allowed a maximum of one hour with them.
• Coming face-to-face with a mountain gorilla is a truly humbling and emotional experience. This is a fantastic and privileged opportunity to get up close and personal with Uganda’s very own ‘Gorillas in the Mist’.

Accommodation:       Bwindi Lodge

Meal Plan:                  Breakfast, packed lunch & Dinner

Day 12: Lake Mburo National Park

• After breakfast, you will travel to Lake Mburo National Park, one of Uganda’s smallest parks, but certainly not to be underestimated. It is the only Ugandan national park (besides to Kidepo Valley NP) which is home to zebra, eland and impala, as well as an abundance of other wildlife – not to mention the lake itself, which is teeming with hippos and crocodiles!
• Last but not least: The Uganda Wildlife Authority recently brought 15 giraffes from Murchison falls to lake Mburo (1st July 2015)!
• Mihingo Lodge features ten rooms built on wooden platforms with stilts. From the dining and pool area, you can enjoy the view of a west-ward oriented valley and its stunning evening sunsets over Lake Mburo N.P.

Journey Time: 7 hours

Accommodation:       Mihingo Lodge

Meal Plan:      Breakfast, packed lunch, dinner

Optional activity: Night game drive

• A night game drive in Lake Mburo national park is absolutely great! You have chances of seeing Hyena, different nocturnal animals and it’s probaply your best chance to spot a leopard.
• Your night safari is either just before dinner or just after dinner and takes about 2 hours.

Costing: $40 us dollars p.p.

Day 13: Bush walk – Airport Transfer

• This morning you will go for a bush walk. Lake Mburo N.P. is one of two parks in Uganda where bush walks with an experienced ranger are permitted.
• This opportunity should not be missed. From footprints and animal droppings the ranger will be able to tell you which animal has left it and how long ago. 
• It is exciting to approach wildlife at such close range.

Optional activity: Mountain bike Safari

• It’s very exciting to make a safari by mountain bike. Get active and get close to zebra, gazelle, Eland and sometimes even giraffe! 

Costing: US$ 30 pp extra. 

• After brunch at the lodge, you will drive back to Kampala or Entebbe (Airport) stopping at the equator for the requisite snapshot and a bit of souvenir shopping.
• Accommodation for tonight is notinclusive in the program. If you wish to depart tonight from Entebbe Airport, make sure your flight is at 10 pm or later.

Journey Time:             6 hours

Accommodation        Not included

Meal Plan:                  Breakfast, (packed) lunch