Itinerary

DAY 1 – ENTEBBE: Arrive Entebbe, where you will be met by your local guide and transferred to the colonial 4-star Lake Victoria Hotel to recover from your flight. Overnight here.  (airline meals)
 
DAY 2 – MURCHISON FALLS: Drive to Murchison Falls National Park via the escarpment of The Great Rift Valley, with stunning views of Lake Albert before reaching the valley floor and the southern banks of the Victoria Nile River. Overnight Nile Safari Camp. Driving time: approx. 7 hrs. (B, L, D)

Nile Safari Camp rests on the banks of the Victoria Nile with each tented room overlooking the river. Each room has en suite facilities and a private verandah. The bar and restaurant also overlook the river with beautiful views of the sun setting over the river. A pool is also available for guest use.

DAY 3 – NILE BOAT TRIP: Enjoy an exclusive 3-hr boat trip on the Victoria Nile to the base of Murchison Falls (only our group in the boat, allowing for more photographic freedom and flexibility in the journey), viewing game and birds en route. Nile crocodile and hippo are abundant, as are aquatic birds (there is a good chance of seeing shoebills here). Then, drive to top of the falls for a picnic lunch and hike to an excellent viewpoint where the Nile is forced through a 20-foot wide gap in the rocks and drops 145 feet over the cliff. This is said to be the largest natural force of water in the world creating a ‘boiling’ caldron of water. Overnight at Nile Safari Camp. (B, L, D)
 
DAY 4 – MURCHISON FALLS: Drive, then ferry across the Nile to game drive in the remote northern sector of the park. This is where part of the movie The African Queen was filmed. Game drives are often very exciting including sightings of elephant, oribi, giraffe, waterbuck, hartebeest, topi, buffalo, sitatunga, bushbuck, warthog, bush pig, lion, leopard, mongoose, genet, hyena, jackal and bat eared fox. Overnight at Nile Safari Camp. (B, L, D)

DAY 5 – KIBALE FOREST: After leaving the Rift Valley, pass through beautiful countryside before reaching Kyanjojo, in the lower foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains – ‘Mountains of the Moon’. Then passing through lush tea plantations and into the Kibale rain forest. Overnight at Ndali Lodge. (B, L, D)

Ndali Lodge is situated on a high saddle between two crater lakes. The lodge was built by the late Captain Mark Price, a British tea farmer, and is managed as a working farm by his family today.  The rooms are decorated in local art, and feature high ceilings and four-poster beds with mosquito netting.  The en suite baths have hot and cold running water and flush toilets.  There is no electricity at this lodge, but ample candle and oil lamps are provided in the evening, creating a romantic feel of "old Africa".  
 
DAY 6 – KIBALE FOREST CHIMP TRACKING: Explore the nearby forest and swamp on guided walks to view the rain forest and birds and primates, including the fast-moving chimpanzees. Overnight at Ndali Lodge. (B, L, D)
 
DAY 7 – QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The drive passes through Fort Portal and south along the eastern length of The Rwenzori Mountains, where we may view the glaciated peaks if the clouds cooperate. Finally, descend into The Great Rift Valley and Queen Elizabeth National Park (Q.E.N.P.) to Mweya Lodge. Overnight at Mweya Lodge. Driving time: approx 3.5 hrs. (B, L, D)
 
Mweya Lodge is situated on a peninsula overlooking Lake Edward and Kasinga Channel, offering beautiful views of the park with the Rwenzori Mountains in the background. While the lodge is larger than others we visit in Uganda, the view and setting make it a place to remember. The lodge has been completely renovated to a high standard with excellent rooms, en suite facilities, restaurant, bar area, outside dining area and a swimming pool.

DAY 8 – QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK: Game drives in Q.E.N.P.  including An exclusive launch trip (only our group in the boat, allowing for more photographic freedom and flexibility in the journey) of about two hours on the Kasinga Channel to view some of the largest concentration of hippo in the world (reported to be about 30,000), other wildlife and excellent birding. The park is one of best birding parks in Africa, with 560 recorded species and a record of 296 bird species seen in one 24-hour period. Overnight at Mweya Lodge. (B, L, D)
 
DAY 9 – ISHASHA & BWINDI: Drive through Q.E.N.P. to the Ishasha region. Game drive in search of tree climbing lion (75% success rate) and other species found in the park. Afternoon drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park passing through the scenic area known as The Switzerland of East Africa. Overnight at Gorilla Forest Camp. Driving time (excluding game drives): approx 5.5 hrs. (B,L,D)

Gorilla Forest Camp is a permanent tented camp nestled in the rainforests in the heart of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The exclusive location – one of two properties within the park's boundaries - affords Gorilla Forest Camp the status of being the ideal base for gorilla tracking. The camp is intimate with just eight spacious tents with two queen-sized beds in each, private bathroom with a bathtub and view of the surrounding rain forest. Each tent has a spacious wooden verandah. The camp offers a bar and dining area overlooking the rain forest.
 
DAY 10 & 11 – GORILLA TRACKING IN BWINDI: After breakfast take a short drive to Park Headquarters and meet with excellent local guides and trackers who will give a talk on the etiquette of gorilla trekking. Then, hike into the forest where the gorillas were seen the night before and track from that point.  The trekking can take from 1 to 6 hours and climb to altitudes in excess of 7,500 feet.  The terrain is rough and at times muddy.  Although the hike is physically demanding the beauty of the forest and surrounding scenery make the trekking worthwhile. Once the gorillas are located all fatigue is forgotten, as the experience is often described as being the most profound natural history experience in the world. Tomorrow, enjoy a second day of gorilla tracking. Overnights at Gorilla Forest Camp. (B,L,D)
 
DAY 12 – LAKE MBURO: Drive to Mbarara, pass through the Switzerland of East Africa and into Ankole Cattle country (where the cattle are renowned for their incredibly long horns).  Continue to Lake Mburo National Park for an afternoon game drive. Overnight at Mihingo Lodge. Driving time: approx 6-7 hrs. (B,L,D) Note: Options for horse back riding safaris at Lake Mburo - add an extra night to take full advantage of the activities at Mihingo Lodge.

Mihingo Lodge is a peaceful retreat adjacent to Lake Mburo National Park. It features 10 tented rooms built on wooden platforms with stilts, covered by a thatched roof. Each tent offers en-suite bathrooms with hot showers and flush toilets. The main dining area is a large thatched structure built of rocks, the wood of dead weathered olive trees found on the land. Below the dining area, an infinity swimming pool stretches out from the rocks. From the dining and pool area, guests can enjoy a view of the stunning sunsets over the National Park.

DAY 13 – ENTEBBE: Enjoy a game drive this morning before driving to Entebbe. If time permits, stop in Kampala for shopping and lunch and a visit to the Mpigi Royal Drum Makers. Transfer to the airport for evening departures. Driving time: approx 5 hrs (B,L)

More information from Adventures In Africa:

• View trip on provider's website
  adventuresinafrica.com/destinations/?trip_id=190…
• Company profile, experience, and history
• View all of their trips