Day 1: Shoebill experience in the afternoon, Botanical gardens in the morning
After breakfast, we will drive about ten minutes to our boat station at Lake Victoria. In the dense papyrus swamp today, we want to find a bird that looks like a pelican, a flamingo and a goose crossed together which exists as a species only once on earth – the shoebill!
In small a boat you will drive for about an 3-4 hours round trip to untouched edge of the lake. In the past there were almost no more of these birds existed. It was considered to bring bad luck, and whenever a shoebill was seen, the curious bird was killed. Since people can earn money by observing them, this view has changed and the number of these birds are increasing from year to year. With a little luck you will observe one of more relaxed pursuing his exciting hunting behaviour, without disturbing him.
we shall spend the whole afternoon birding around the Botanical gardens
After the great trip in the Mabamba swamps, we shall drive straight to Botanical gardens for the great experience.
At the end of the tour we will have lunch and drive to the botanical garden of Entebbe. Here the very old
Tarzan movies were filmed and we have our first contacts with the black and white monkeys, vervet
monkeys, hornbills, turacos and grey parrots.
The botanical garden is supposed to become a building site, but we are advocating for the preservation
of the Botanical Garden. Tourism helps to keep the greenness of this place.
Travel time approx. 10 minutes(3km)
Your program today includes:
* Qualified, English speaking tour guide
* Botanical gardens and Shoebill search
* Breakfast
*Overnight in Entebbe
Day 2:Transfer to Kibale forest national park
Afterwards, you will continue to the next highlight of Uganda – the chimpanzees in Kibale Forest. On the way there you can see how the savannah slowly changes into a jungle. Depending on the time, you go for the Bigodi swamp walk.
Travel time approx. 6 hours(330km)
Your program today includes:
* Qualified, English speaking tour guide
* Breakfast
* Overnight in Kibale
Day 3: Chimpanzee tracking and drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Today you will need to unpack your sturdy footwear again as we head into the jungle. After a briefing by an experienced ranger the chimpanzee tracking starts. Since the chimpanzees move freely in the jungles of Uganda, there are no fixed paths to them. So, you have to go through the undergrowth. The ranger goes with his machete and shows us how and where you should walk along. Depending on how far the apes are from the starting point, our trekking is sometimes longer and sometimes shorter. But when they are finally in front of us, all the strains and efforts are forgotten. Chimpanzees are the apes that are genetically most similar to us humans. Their facial expressions and gestures will seem strangely familiar. Often the older chimpanzees just lie comfortably on the ground, while the younger ones swing playful through the treetops – a truly incredible experience. We will come back to our lodge for lunch and Later drive to Queen Elizabeth national park.
Travel time approx. 3hours (approx. 80 km)
Your program today includes:
* Qualified, English speaking tour guide
* Chimpanzee tracking
* Breakfast
* Overnight in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 4: Game drive and boat trip on the Kazinga Channel
We drive from our lodge to the Kasenyi plains (about half an hour). The plains are known as “the vast open savannah grassland” and for nature lovers, is an absolute highlight, which you should not miss if you are here in Queen Elizabeth National Park. A unique habitat for animals, which you can observe here from your jeep. There is even a lion population, which is in our focus today.
Elephants and Uganda’s heraldic animal, the crowned crane, are at home here. The game drive lasts about 3 hours and again you will drive through the national park to our lodge for lunch.
In the afternoon you will board a boat and cruise along the Kazinga Channel. This 32 km long natural channel connects the large Lake Edward and the smaller Lake George. Watching the African wildlife from the water is an extraordinary and spectacular experience. In addition to hippos and crocodiles, you can see all kinds of animals drinking and playing. Especially baby elephants love bathing in the channel and run excitedly back and forth. Also, the bird world seems to change completely suddenly you see birds like kingfishers, ospreys and nesting bee-eaters.
Drive time approx. 4 hours (approx. 50 km of game drive).
Your program today includes:
* Qualified, English speaking tour guide
* Game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park
* Boat trip on the Kazinga Channel
* Breakfast
* Overnight in Queen Elizabeth national park
Day 5: Ishasha sector for the extensive game drive and drive further down to the south
Lion-Experience: On another game drive in the Ishasha Sector in the southwest of the Queen Elizabeth National Park you can especially admire the unique savannah landscape, which is broken up by a few fig and acacia trees. But also, the typical African animals like elephants, tops and buffalos can be observed here. Famous for its “tree-climbing lions” – this habit is otherwise only known from lions in one region of Tanzania and is used to escape the heat on the ground. In the trees rather, a fresher wind blow and from up there they can better spot potential prey. The duration of today’s game drive depends on how quickly you find the animals. The chance is very high.
Then it’s time to go: even further south is Buhoma, our destination today. After arriving at our camp, we can relax a bit and prepare for the coming day. Because in the nearby Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park tomorrow you will be searching for the gorillas – one of the absolute highlights of our trip! which is gorilla trekking you will do depends on the permits and the accommodation. But tonight, you will get to learn a lot about the shy and rare forest elephants.
Travel time approx. 4-5 hours (approx.170 km)
Your program today includes:
* Qualified, English speaking tour guide
* Breakfast
* Information about the rare forest elephants of the region
* Overnight in Bwindi National Park
Day 6: Visiting the gorillas in the Bwindi Forest
The time has finally come for gorilla tracking. As with the chimpanzees, you will need sturdy shoes and long clothes, because you will fight your way through the jungle again. Also, here the experienced ranger plays an important role. He explains to you, how to behave when facing the gorillas, and a few other important things before you start. Through the dense undergrowth you make your way to the imposing apes. The gorillas in their natural environment is something very special. Of course, the animals are used to people, but they behave in a very relaxed way – as if we were not there. They give you an intimate insight into their lives. After this unique experience, you continue to your accommodation at Lake Bunyonyi Eco resort. You will arrive there approximately in time for dinner.
Driving time approx. 2 hours (approx. 50-110 km).
Your program today includes:
* Qualified, English speaking tour guide
* Gorilla tracking
* Breakfast
* Overnight at Lake Bunyonyi
Day 7: Drive to Lake Mburo National Park
Today we will drive to the Lake Mburo National Park and stop whenever something interesting appears, this park consists of mainly wetlands and savannah, so mammal and bird sightings can be great as these two habitats can be find here. In the savannah, we can find big buffalos, zebra, eland, Uganda giraffe, and topi herds, as well as Blue-napped Mousebird, Teardrop and Red-faced Barbet, Rosy Turaco, Orange-headed, Nubian Woodpecker, etc… Later you will go on foot into nature in the park with a trained ranger.
Your program today includes:
* Qualified, English speaking tour guide
* Nature walk in the afternoon
* Breakfast, lunch and dinner
* Overnight in Lake Mburo National Park
Day 8: Drive to Entebbe
Today is a driving as we end our Uganda trip in environment good enough to reflect on the days spent in Uganda before flying back home.
Driving time approx. 8hours (450 km)
Your program today includes:
* Qualified, English speaking tour guide
* Breakfast
Included services:
– Transfer in four-wheel drive jeep with safari roof during the round trip.
– Qualified, English speaking tour guide
– 7 nights’ accommodation as described
– Activities, national park fees and entrance fees as per detailed program (including gorilla Permit at 800$ and chimpanzee at 250$)
– Meals as per detailed program: breakfast in all days
– Transfers from and to Entebbe airport (Uganda)
– On-site support by TTN Safaris East Africa ltd agency
Services not included:
– Partial Meals-Lunch and dinner
– Intercontinental flights
– Additional services flights: Rail & Fly ticket, seat, special meals, etc
– visa for Uganda
– optional excursions and entrance fees
– travel insurances
– increase of public fees e.g. for national park entrances.
– Possibly required antigen or PCR tests (our tour guide will of course be happy to help you with the
organization)
– Personal expenses, tips for guides, souvenirs etc.
Other
Changes that do not affect the character of the trip are not foreseen, but we reserve the right to make them. Please keep in mind that you are traveling in East Africa, take the detailed program as a suggestion, but not as a checklist of what must happen every day. The program can be rearranged, but the character of the trip will remain the same. If the trip is rearranged, it will be for your benefit!
