Itinerary: |
Sunday, May 27: USA/Entebbe
In flight.
Monday, May 28: Arrive Entebbe, Uganda/Kampala
Arrive in Entebbe, where you are met and transferred to your hotel in nearby Kampala. Set on two acres of leafy landscaped gardens, the hotel is a tropical version of a country house. Amenities include a swimming pool, massage rooms, restaurant featuring fusion cuisine, and a wine bar offering a selection of South Africa's finest wines. Emin Pasha Hotel L, D
Tuesday, May 29: Kampala/Entebbe/Kampala
Today, return to Entebbe and travel by speedboat to the Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary on Lake Victoria, the second-largest fresh water lake in the world. The sanctuary, set on a 97-acre tropical rainforest island, is run by the Jane Goodall Institute for orphaned chimpanzees rescued within Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. View staff members feed the chimps and enjoy lunch on the island before returning to Kampala, when the remainder of the day is at leisure. Emin Pasha Hotel B,L, D
Wednesday, May 30: Kampala/Kasese/Kibale Forest National Park
Transfer via small aircraft and safari land cruiser to Ndali Lodge, perched on the rim of an extinct volcano which, since its demise, has filled with water to become the breathtaking Lake Nyinambuga. This afternoon you drive to Kibale Forest National Park, a tropical rain forest that is the natural habitat for its population of habituated chimpanzees and 12 other species of primate, the highest primate density of any area on earth. Here, during a chimp walk, you may find families of chimpanzees and red colobus monkeys chattering and swinging through the ancient forest trees. Some trees are 150 to 180 feet in height, and provide a majestic canopy for the profusion of rain forest life, including some 325 bird species. Even though you only rarely see them, the park is home to the largest population of forest elephant in Uganda. Buffalo, Uganda kob, genet, civet, waterbuck and bushbuck also populate the forest. Ndali Lodge B, L, D
Thursday, May 31: Kibale Forest National Park
This morning you drive to Kibale Forest National Park to take a second guided walk on the well-marked trails through this fascinating forest. After lunch you visit the Bigodi forest swamp, excellent for viewing more primates, birds and other forest animals. Ndali Lodge B, L, D
Friday, June 1: Kibale Forest National Park/Ishasha/Queen Elizabeth National Park
Early this morning, board your 45-minute private charter flight to Ishasha, a much more remote and less-travelled section of Queen Elizabeth National Park with a sense of exclusivity. This region has reported some of the largest herds of elephant anywhere in Uganda. Here you find prolific plains game – primarily topi and Uganda kob, buffalo, hippo and of course, elephant; plenty of smaller plains game and a number of primate species and their predators. Spotted hyena are common visitors, and leopard are occasionally sighted. However, Ishasha’s prime attraction is its large lion population; the frequency of sightings of this magnificent animal is higher here than anywhere else in Uganda. In addition, these are the only lions, apart from those in Tanzania’s Lake Manyara National Park, known to climb trees. Ishasha Wilderness Camp B, L, D
Saturday, June 2: Queen Elizabeth National Park
You have the day to explore the area on both morning and evening game drives. Ishasha Wilderness Camp B, L, D
Sunday, June 3: Queen Elizabeth National Park/Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Following an early morning game drive and breakfast, journey further south to the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. This is a leisurely drive as you climb out of the Rift Valley at first, and then travel through the Kigezi Highlands of southwestern Uganda. The scenery is increasingly more breathtaking as you approach the mist-swathed mountains of the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the most biologically diverse areas in the world. On arrival, you are welcomed to Gorilla Forest Camp with hot towels and a welcome drink. Retire to your enormous tents for a hot shower or bath, then meet around the campfire to recount the day’s activities and enjoy dinner. Later, retire for the night, lulled to sleep by the sounds of one of Africa’s most incredible natural environments. Gorilla Forest Camp B, L, D
Monday-Tuesday, June 4-5: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
These two days activities may be among the most exciting and challenging of your entire expedition. The mountain gorillas in Bwindi are part of a worldwide population of only 600 individuals. The gorillas you are allowed to track belong to either one of two habituated family groups that, for up to five years, have undergone an extremely delicate process that has gradually brought them to tolerate the presence of humans for a brief period every day and allowed a few privileged visitors to interact with them in the wild. The gorillas are by no means tame – they are completely wild animals. However, experienced guides accompany you on your tracking, many of whom have been involved in the habituation process themselves. The guides use their knowledge of the gorillas’ habits and information from the previous day to locate the group’s whereabouts.
Because of this, the time taken to track the gorillas varies enormously, from as little as half an hour to as much as nine hours, when you return to camp. Once the gorillas are located, your group is allowed a maximum of one hour with them. This is one of the world’s truly memorable experiences – observing these magnificent creatures exemplifies the bond that exists between them and us. It also brings home the poignant fact that they are on the edge of extinction, and that our presence here contributes to ensuring their continued survival. The hour is often over too quickly, and you slowly make your way back to camp to recount the day’s outstanding adventures. Gorilla Forest Camp B, L, D
Wednesday, June 6: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park/Ishasha/Entebbe/Nairobi/Departure
This morning, fly back to Entebbe, enjoying exquisite views from your window of the hills and plains of Rwanda and Tanzania and the Rift Valley dropping away from you towards Lake Edward and the Congo. Below, rolling ranchland soon gives way to dry scrub and gigantic wetlands, just before your final approach over Lake Victoria. On arrival in Entebbe, you are transferred to the nearby Boma Guesthouse for a farewell lunch. Return to the airport to board your flight home. B, L
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