Uganda Exploration Tour

Your Hornbill adventure begins today as you set off from Kampala and make the lovely journey to Murchison Falls National Park.  Along the way, you’ll stop at the Ziwa Rhino sanctuary for an opportunity to track the White Rhino. The White Rhinos are being reintroduced in Uganda after their extinction in the 70s.  Afterwards, proceed to Masindi for lunch before continuing your journey to Murchison Falls.   

Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner

Transit time: About 5 hours to the park

Enjoy an early breakfast before embarking on a game drive to the delta in search of the exquisite wildlife Murchison Falls has to offer. You may decide to take a game walk, escorted by a park ranger, to track wildlife in the region. Wildlife includes lion, hyenas, African elephants, Rothschild giraffes, buffaloes, and hartebeest, among many others. 

After lunch, see river life at its best as we take a leisurely cruise up the Nile, resting near the bottom of the waterfall for the best view of Murchison Falls. Wildlife on the Nile includes Nile crocodiles, buffalo, hippo, and a variety of birds. Other animals like the elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks also frequent the river to cool off. At the bottom of the falls, disembark from the boat and hike up to the Top of the falls for a chance to take in the view. Your driver guide will be waiting from the top to drive you back to your lodge.  

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

After breakfast, head south along the western escarpment overlooking Lake Albert to Kibale Forest National Park, home to one of Uganda’s astounding major rainforests. Along the way, enjoy a picnic lunch and a tour across the village and farmlands of the region. Kibale Forest is home to at least thirteen primate species, including the red colobus and L’Hoest’s monkey. If this weren’t enough, Kibale also boasts a remarkable opportunity to track habituated chimpanzees. More closely related to humans than any other living creature, chimpanzees are captivating to watch as they swing from the fruiting trees in the depths of the rainforest. Arrive in time for dinner and an overnight stay at your accommodations.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Transit time: About 7 hours

In the morning, set out on your chimpanzee trek in the rainforest. The trek, which may last two to four hours, offers the chance of watching chimps in their natural habitat. Bird lovers are also in for a treat, as the rainforest also hosts an astonishing 335 bird species. After the trek, return to your accommodations for lunch. A visit to the Bigodi swamp will give you a closer to nature encounter. Bigodi is rich in biodiversity and accompanying bird-life like the Blue Turaco. The wetland offers surprises like the endangered swamp antelope Sitatunga, mongoose, civet cats and bushbucks.
Enjoy dinner and an overnight stay at your accommodations.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Enjoy breakfast at your leisure before heading to Queen Elizabeth National Park.  Along the drive look out for the sight of the snow-capped Rwenzori Mountains, also known as “Mountains of the Moon,” in the landscape. This is the third highest mountain in Africa and the highest mountain ranges in East Africa. 

Upon arrival in Queen Elizabeth National Park, enjoy lunch at your lodge before heading on a late afternoon game drive.  Queen Elizabeth National Park is the most decorated park in Uganda. The park has the highest number of animal species and the highest number of bird species you can find anywhere in an African park with over 612 bird species. Be on the look for the different wildlife species like the elephant, lion, leopard, Cape buffalo, among others. 

Meal Plan – Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner   

Transit Time: 3 hours.

Meet the day before sunrise with hot coffee and tea as you head out on an early morning game drive.  The game drive offers the chance to see lions at hunt, hyenas, Cape buffalo, Ugandan Kob, warthog, elephant, leopard, and waterbuck.  Return to your accommodations for a relaxing lunch and a swim in the hotel’s pool.  In the afternoon, explore the Kazinga Channel by boat for an opportunity to see a stunning variety of wildlife at the water. The 32 kilometres stretch that joins Lake Edward to Lake George is believed to hold the largest concentration of hippos in the entire world. Elephants, solitary buffaloes and waterbucks are among the animals normally sighted at the banks. On a lucky day lions and other predators are also sighted in the hideouts waiting to catch their prey as it goes for a drink at the channel.  The channel is also rich in bird life, including both indigenous and migratory species. 

Meal Plan –Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

After breakfast, take a drive to the Ishasha region of Queen Elizabeth National Park, famous for its tree-climbing lions. A game drive in Ishasha takes us in search of the large cats as they lounge in the park’s trees; only in this region of East Africa are you likely to witness these incredible animals. Other species in this area of the park include buffalo, topi, Uganda Kob, baboons, and leopards.

Meal Plan –Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Transit time: About 2 hours

We shall take an early morning game drive in the Ishasha plains, where the tree-climbing lions hide in the trees, ready to pounce on herds of unsuspecting Uganda Kob. Other game here includes elephant, buffalo, topi, hippos among others.  

From there, proceed to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, the home to half of the endangered and nearly extinct mountain gorillas. The Impenetrable rainforest is also blessed with over 200 tree species, approximately 350 bird species, 200 butterfly species, and 88 moths, and has been in existence for the last 25,000 years.

Meal Plan – Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner 

Transit time: About 1 hours

After breakfast we will meet the park rangers who will be our guides for the day, and then we will start the trek in search of the exquisite mountain gorillas of Uganda.  Trekking can last between thirty minutes and eight hours, but once you discover the gorillas, you will be able to spend one unforgettable hour with them.  Looking into the deep animated brown eyes of the gorillas is sure to be the most exciting wildlife encounter that Africa has to offer.  Gorilla trekking begins where the gorillas were last seen the previous day.  Enjoy a picnic lunch in the midst of the Impenetrable Forest before returning to your accommodations.  Back at the lodge, relax by watching the magical motions of traditional Ugandan dances, or enjoy a cocktail by the campfire as you listen to the sounds of Bwindi.   

Meal Plan – Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Today after an early breakfast we shall depart for Lake Bunyonyi. Lake Bunyonyi is believed to be the second deepest lake in Africa and probably the deepest crater lakes in Africa.  You won’t stop marveling at the breath-taking panorama this area has to offer. 

“Bunyonyi” actually means “the place of many little birds”. Uganda is known as the premier birding destination in Africa and is home to over 1,000 species of bird varieties. Bunyonyi is home to 200 of these bird species, such as the grey–crowned cranes, herons and weaver birds. The lake’s altitude is 1,950 m, and it is surrounded by hills that are 2,200 to 2,478m high and intensely cultivated. The data on the lake’s maximum depth varies from 44m to 900m in different parts of Lake Bunyonyi. The temperature on the surface rises to 25 degrees Celsius. You might opt to spend the early morning relaxing or set out by traditional dugout canoe on the calm lake waters or try your hand at Cray fishing around the lake’s evergreen islands. Each of the 29 islets on Lake Bunyonyi is associated with a legend and you will be able to catch all the history associated with the different islets. Take a nature walk through the local villages to see Uganda’s culture from a different perspective. 

Meal Plan – Breakfast, lunch and Lunch.                                                                                                          

Transit time: About 3 hours

The day holds a chance to unwind and relax in one of East Africa’s most gorgeous locations. At 7,000 ft above sea level, the world is yours to see! Go for a swim or take a trip on Lake Bunyonyi, or take a walk through the local villages to see Uganda’s culture from a new perspective. Alternatively, you might visit the Batwa community a member of the pygmy family indigenous to the Congo Basin Rain Forest. The Batwa culture is facing extinction after since their removal from the forest and integrated in the community. One of the ways to preserve the rich culture of former forest hunters and gatherers is through community tourism. Watch the magical motions and rhythms of Batwa dances and feast your eyes on local invaluable craftworks of the community on sale.  Enjoy dinner and an overnight stay at your accommodations.

Meal Plan – Breakfast, lunch and Lunch.

After breakfast, we set off to Lake Mburo National Park, refreshed and relaxed. Lake Mburo National Park is considered the best place in the country to witness the enormous Eland Antelope, zebra, Topi, Impala, and the numerous birds drawn to the Acacia tree. Explore the park with an afternoon game drive.

Transit time: About 3 hours

Explore the wilderness one last time with a morning game drive through the Acacia savanna and woodlands of the park. Wildlife here includes Zebra, Impala, Eland Antelope, buffalo, Topi, warthog, and the occasional leopard. The park also offers an abundance of savanna bird species, including the Cocqui Francolin, Lapwings, and Hornbills. Take in a late breakfast at your accommodations before departing for Kampala. Along the way back to Uganda’s bustling capital city, we will stop at the Ugandan Equator for pictures and if time allows we shall also visit the local drum maker at Mpambire to see the traditional craft of drum-making. On arrival in Kampala in the afternoon, relax in your accommodations.

Transit time: 5 hours

After breakfast, we head to Jinja, home to the source of the longest river in the world, the Nile. En route we shall visit the Sezibwa Falls. Enjoy a boat ride on lake Victoria as we witness the starting point of the River Nile that will make its 6,4000 kilometer journey all the way to the Mediterranean. Stop in downtown Jinja for lunch and probably the best cup of Ugandan coffee before heading back to Kampala. 

Transit time: About 2 hours to Jinja

Enjoy a day in Kampala: relax at your accommodations or take a tour of this bustling capital city. Visit local craft markets, unwind over a cup of spiced African tea or rich coffee, and take in the sights of Kampala. Depending on your departure plans, you may wish to arrange a cultural event in the area, as well. Your driver guide will take you to Entebbe International Airport and see you off as you head home with the memories of this incredible trip.

Meals include breakfast.