11 Days Gorillas, Rwenzoris, Game and Chimpanzees

After breakfast, drive to Murchison Falls national park on the way passing cattle markets, local communities and beautiful landscapes.

The Murchison Falls Conservation Area, about 7,000 sq. km in size, the largest in Uganda, consists of Murchison Falls National Park, Karuma Game Reserve and Bugungu Game Reserve among others. Budongo and Kaniyo Pabidi Forests, with their chimps and birds, are within the Area. It is a stunning habitat for wildlife, birds and vegetation. Crocodiles, hippos, elephants and birds including the rare shoebill stork, can be found on the banks of the Nile. With over 1000 chimpanzees in Budongo and Kaniyo Pabidi Forests, Murchison is thought to have the largest chimp numbers in the region. The launch trip to the bottom of the Falls, lasting about 3 hours, is unforgettable – look at birds, elephant, buffalo, crocodile, and hippo on The Nile banks; experience this mighty river.  On the game drive, Buffalo, leopard, antelope, Rothschild’s giraffe, hartebeest, waterbuck and lion can also be seen.  Over 450 bird species have been recorded. Perhaps the frothiest attraction in the Area is the sterning Murchison Falls. For about 80 kms from Karuma Falls in the East, The Nile is a rushing torrent of water which drops about 300 metres. It spills over the ancient rocks that form the Western Rift Valley wall, gushing through a 7 metre gorge and into the cauldron of turbulent water below, forming the fall.

In the morning after breakfast, go for a morning game drive where you will see numerous wildlife to include lions, elephants and beautiful savanna grasslands. Return to the lodge for lunch.

In the afternoon, depart for a 3 hour boat cruise along the Victoria Nile to the bottom of the mighty Murchison Falls. Along the way, you will be able to view a wide variety of birds and wildlife, including numerous hippos and crocodiles – as well as breathtaking scenery. You will site species such as Martial Eagle, Tawny Eagle, Grey Headed Kingfisher, Grey Hornbill, Grey Kestrel, Helmeted and Crested Guinea fowl, Senegal Coucal. Primate walk in the Kanio Pabidi forest a sector of the Budongo forest yielding sightings of Chimps, Black and White Colobus, Red tailed and blue monkeys and lots of Olive Baboons; birds like White thighed Hornbills, Black billed Turacco, Great blue and Ross’s Turaccos, Afep Pigeons.

Drive south to Fort Portal, past big tea plantations, lunch en route. Proceed to your lodging in Kibale. Either explore a crater lake nearby or relax at your lodging. [Approximate driving time: 6 hour(s)]

Fort Portal, town located in western Uganda. Fort Portal is situated at an elevation of about 5,000 feet (1,500 metres) and overlooks the mountains of the Ruwenzori Range and the Mufumbiro volcanoes. It is linked by road with Rubona, Kyenjojo, and Kyegegwa. It is an important market and processing centre for cotton, peanuts (groundnuts), sesame, corn (maize), coffee, tobacco, castor-oil seeds, tea, tropical fruits, and vegetables. A number of tea estates are concentrated east of the town. Tea, coffee, vegetable oils, leather, fruit, dairy products, meat, cotton, grain, and tobacco are processed. Industrial products include beverages, textiles, furniture, paper, soap, confectionery, shoes, and metal goods. Fort Portal provides a base for mountaineering in the Ruwenzori Range and has the palace of the omukama (“king”) of Toro. The Bwamba Pass, the Hot Springs of Bundibugyo, and the Ileri Forest are nearby points of interest. Pop. (2008 est.) 44,900

The fort may be gone, but this city is definitely a portal to places that offer sublime scenery, abundant nature and genuine adventure. Explore the beautiful Crater Lakes, track the chimps in Kibale National Park or drop into Semuliki National Park with its hot springs and central African wildlife.

Fort Portal is the heartland of a verdant tea-growing area and an important commercial centre. Its pleasant cool climate and central location make it a very convenient base from which to explore the area, so many people end up staying here for a few days

After breakfast, morning choice of optional activities as above.

In Kibale

Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest

Experience wild chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkey, Rotschwanzaffen and many other primates. In groups of 10 people maximum, it goes back to the game. The monkeys great excitedly through the trees and bicker sometimes. You could watch the untwisted animals for hours. In the afternoon, we continue with a walk through the Bigodi Wetlands. About 130 species of birds share their singing skills to the best. A soothing concert, do not you think? Many smaller mammals cross your path

Have Lunch

In the afternoon, drive to Queen Elizabeth park via Kasese.

O/N: Buffalo Lodge, FB

After breakfast, transfer to Rwenzori Park for a guided nature walk on the Rwenzori Mountain. Lunch and Visit kasoga community. Afternoon relax by the swimming pool

O/N: Buffalo Lodge, FB

After breakfast, go for a morning game drive in the park.

In the afternoon 2.00pm, a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel is a rewarding experience because it harbours both aquatic animals and birds which is a good opportunity for you to see what Uganda is both on water and on land and a good spot for photography. Did you know that the channel is a natural waterway between the Edward- and George Lake? An incomparable nature experience awaits you. Hippos cavort on the river banks, waterfowl bask and elephants playing on the edge of the channel. Recognize also one of the well-camouflaged crocodiles?

Queen Elizabeth National Park (QE), below the famous Rwenzori Mountains, is an African savannah park, consisting of plain surroundings. The park which is part of the western arm of the Great East African Rift Valley is centered around Lake Edward and Lake George. The launch trip along the Kazinga Channel linking these two lakes is especially good for viewing hippo, buffalo, elephant and a large host of birds amounting to over 500 species!  Around Ishasha go on the hunt for the famous tree-climbing lions which lounge nonchalantly in the upper branches of high trees! The beautiful steeply forested Kyambura Gorge nearby, is home not only to chimpanzees but also the red-tailed monkey, black and white colobus and many bird species.

O/N: Buffalo Lodge, FB

Drive to Ishasha, for a morning game drive  and thereafter to Bwindi for overnight. Ishasha Sector, too has the tree climbing lions which are a joy if one gets the chance of seeing them. Tree climbing lions are normally in the trees because down below in the savannah, there are insects that make them uncomfortable.

The drive takes you along the mystical Rwenzori Mountain Range with its partly snowy hilltops. Stunning views of the ”Mountains of the Moon” opens up before your eyes.Your driver guide will tell determines the legend of these mountains. The Queen Elizabeth National Park is strongly influenced by glacial melt water. The two large lakes – George and Edward – are the home to many hippos. Open savannah landscape provides habitat for elephants, lions and buffalo. The variety of birds is the largest in all of Africa.

After breakfast, Go gorilla tracking, carrying a packed lunch. You will be accompanied by a guide and porters who will carry your shoulder pack for you.

 You will then set off to the thick forest in search of gorillas. The terrain can be difficult, with steep slopes covered in dense vegetation that gives the park its name. In addition, the altitude of 5200 feet and more means participants do need to be physically fit. The time taken to track the gorillas varies enormously, from as little as half an hour to as much as 8 hours before one return to the hotel. Difficulty, however, is not impossibility and coming face to face with the great primates is well worth it!

Transfer to Lake Kivu.

Boat cruise on Lake Kivu. Rest of the day at leisure or walk around to visit local communities.

You will go for a city tour in Kigali, visiting the Genocide Memorial Museum at Gisozi (only if time permits). Transfer to the Airport for departure.