Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will proceed to clear with immigration and customs formalities; thereafter, met by Primate Expeditions Ltd representative and transferred to No 5 Boutique hotel for overnight.
After breakfast, you will check out and drive via Kampala through the remote countryside to Wildwaters lodge nestled on a private island on the river Nile as it snakes it way up! You will be transferred on a traditional hand peddled boat for approx.… 20 minutes to the island, check in for lunch. Rest of the afternoon at leisure enjoying the serenity of the island. All meals and overnight at the lodge (the last boat transfer is at 1630 hours).
After breakfast, you will drive to visit Itanda Falls. Packed lunch. Afternoon, enjoy visit to the source of river Nile. Later, drive back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
After an early breakfast embark on your journey to the Western circuit; enjoy the stunning countryside. A stop at Ziwa Rhino sanctuary for a guided walk-in search of the Rhinos here, proceed for lunch at Masindi. Thereafter proceed to Murchison Falls National Park - approx. 6 hours. We drive in a beautiful landscape; land gets flat towards the north as you head to the bottom of the Victoria Nile. Proceed to Nile Safari lodge, check in for dinner and overnight.
Another day in the park!
Morning game drive in the northern bank of river Nile as we look out for the elephant, lion, Cape buffalo, Rothschilds giraffe, hartebeest, Oribi, bushbuck, Bohor reedbuck, spotted hyena and if lucky you could even spot the leopard. We will be back in time to have breakfast and lunch at the lodge. In the afternoon we take a shared waterfall & sundowner boat cruise at 1530 hours upstream to the “bottom of the falls”. The Nile here gets calm at the base of the falls, we stop a few meters from the “Devil’s Cauldron”, where it compresses 47 mt to squeeze through a 6-meter canyon dropping 40 mt with a thunderous roar. En-route, marvel at the, hippos, crocodiles and over this 17 km stretch you may see elephants as well as a lot of bird species like Goliath heron, pelican bee– eater, kingfisher, hornbill, cormorant and the rare shoebill stork. Upon return at the jetty, your driver will pick us from the top and then drive back to the lodge.
Another day in the park!
Today, you may opt for an early morning shared scheduled delta safari down the Victoria Nile – your guide meets you at the other end and enjoy a mid-morning game drive enroute to the lodge. Lunch at the lodge.
Another afternoon game drive.
This day we drive to Kibale Forest Reserve via Hoima and Fort Portal, in a breathtaking landscape that forms the Albertine western Rift Valley. You will have a few stops on the way - sightseeing as we pass verdant countryside, traditional homesteads and farms. Lunch at a local restaurant in Fort Portal town, proceed to Ndali Estate – Kasenda area and check-in at Ndali lodge – remainder of the afternoon at leisure, enjoy the calmness of the forest, birds singing.
After an early breakfast, drive to Kibale Forest – approx. 45 minutes each-way.
Today the forest opens its doors for an exhilarating chimpanzee trekking experience. Kibale Forest is reputable for having the greatest variety and highest concentration of primates in East Africa. Enjoy a guided nature walk in the tropical rainforest in search of the chimpanzee, red-tailed monkey, black and white colobus monkey and many others. Upon sighting the chimpanzees, you will spend an unforgettable hour with them as they go about their daily life - feeding, playing, grooming, taking care of their young, howling and screeching, in their natural habitat. Some of our birding at Kibale will be done from the road which bisects the forest, but most of our time will be spent on the network of small trails which pierce the forest interior. Kibale Forest is a prime birding spot with over 375 bird species. Packed lunches. Proceed for a guided walk at the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary also possible. Later drive back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
A leisurely morning, check out mid-day and drive to Lake Mburo National Park, check in at Mihingo lodge located inside the park for lunch. Late afternoon game drives returning back to the lodge before dusk for dinner and overnight.
Early morning game drives or optional guided nature walk or a house-back safari (extra costs).
An early breakfast, check out and drive via Mbarara “the cattle capital” of Uganda through the Kigezi highlands, through the dusty villages to Bwindi Bwindi Impenetrable NP, home of the endangered mountain gorilla. Check in at Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp for lunch. Rest of the afternoon at leisure – you may opt for a guided community walk by the camp representative.
Early morning departure from the lodge to the trailhead at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for your mountain gorilla trekking experience. After the briefing (touches on aspects of gorilla behavior, details on the gorilla family you’ll trek as well as safety precautions) your adventure will start! Gorilla trekking can be strenuous, and a certain level of fitness is required. Trekking can take from 30 minutes to three-quarters of the day, so one needs to prepare for both. Coming face-to-face with a mountain gorilla is one of the most memorable wildlife encounters in Africa, if not the world. Mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) are a critically endangered species. At least 400 mountain gorillas inhabit the Bwindi Mountains and live at altitudes from 1,160m - 2,607m above sea level. There is a feeling of mutual understanding as you watch them in their home, going about their daily business. Youngsters will often show off, jumping to demonstrate their motor skills. Silverbacks may beat their chests as a sign of dominance, an exhilarating experience! Or they may sit peacefully as a family, chomping on bamboo and grooming each other, watching you with the same intrigue you are showing them. Gorilla trekking is for sure a life-changing and once-in-a-lifetime experience. Daily visits have an impact on gorilla activity patterns and are a source of animal stress – therefore the firm justification for the "only spend one-hour” rule. This is adequate time for photography and observing these great primates in their natural habitat. Afterwards, return to base where your driver will be waiting to transfer back to the Camp.
Check out and drive through the forest to the Southern end, continue past Kisoro local shopping center to Cyanika border post for immigration and customs formalities. Continue to Ruhengeri area, check in at Volcanoes Virunga lodge in time for lunch. Rest of the afternoon at leisure to enjoy the breathtaking views of the Virunga volcanoes and the twin lakes of Bulera and Ruhondo.
Breakfast at the lodge, check out at 1100 hours – you will stay around the lodge, lunch on own account. Later drive to Kigali, upon arrival check-in at The Retreat by Heaven for dinner and overnight.
An early breakfast, check out and drive to Akagera North Gate, handover to Magashi Classic Camp representative who will be with the clients for the next 2 nights.
You will be picked up by our driver-guide at 1130 hours and drive back to Kigali, shopping in Kigali City. Later drop off at the Kigali Int’l Airport for your onward Brussels Airlines flight SN 465 departing at 2120 hours to Brussels via Entebbe.
