Itinerary

DAY 1~TUESDAY~OCTOBER 9
CHICAGO/EN ROUTE
Your journey begins as you board your American Airlines overnight flight to London. (Meals Aloft)

DAY 2~WEDNESDAY~OCTOBER 10
LONDON/EN ROUTE
Arrive in London's Heathrow Airport this afternoon, where you will have a few hours to shop, grab a bite to eat or relax
before your evening flight to Nairobi via Kenya Airways. (Meals Aloft)

DAY 3~THURSDAY~OCTOBER 11
NAIROBI / ENTEBBE
This morning you land in Nairobi where you change planes
for your short flight to Entebbe International Airport. Upon
arrival you will be welcomed by your Classic Escapes
representative and driver/guides who will escort you to your
hotel. The recently renovated Lake Victoria Hotel is a
charming colonial hotel with beautiful gardens and a
swimming pool. After check-in, visit the Uganda Wildlife
Education Center (EWEC). The center is not a traditional zoo
as the animals here have all been rescued from poachers,
illegal trade or accidents. Here you will be able to observe
many of the indigenous species to be found in Uganda and
also to receive comprehensive information on the species, their natural habitats and the complex ecologies of the region.
After this innovative introduction to the wildlife of Uganda, return to your hotel for a welcome dinner.
Overnight at the LAKE VICTORIA HOTEL. (D)

DAYS 4/5~FRIDAY/SATURDAY~OCTOBER 12/13
ENTEBBE/KIBALE
Spend the next two days in the enchantment of
Kibale Forest National Park. Kibale, with ancient
trees up to 180 feet in height, is a wonderful place to
experience the extraordinary diversity of a tropical
rainforest. The park is comprised of pristine
lowland tropical rain forest, montane forest, and
mixed tropical deciduous forest as well as grassland
and swamp. Join forest and swamp walks led by
excellent local guides. You may see a Crowned
Crane (Uganda’s national bird) nesting and feeding
site, or you may climb up a tree-house viewing
platform to see the exotic looking Dura River screw
palms. You will certainly be more than impressed
by the grandeur of the forest and the abundance of
exotic life forms in this thriving and ancient
environment. Occasionally, at clearings, buffalo and
antelope can be viewed. Walking is not difficult, as
paths have been made in the forest. The sightings of birds in the forest are quite impressive – there are at least 325 species,
many of which are found nowhere else.
In spite of the impressive bird life, the stars of the show here are the primates. You may find families of chimpanzees
chattering and swinging through the ancient forest canopy. Intelligent and lively, the sociable chimpanzee shows an
ability to learn as well as act instinctively. The chimpanzee is the animal
that resembles man most closely. It shares familiar human characteristics
such as problem solving abilities, a high degree of parental care and a
variety of facial expressions. They use and even make tools; for example,
they use sticks as weapons and to dig out the contents of insect nests. Also,
sick chimps have been seen eating plants that have medicinal properties.
Many primatologists now attribute culture to chimpanzees, noting learned
variations in such skills and habits among different groups. Its behavior
could provide a clue to that of our early ancestors. Although incapable of
speech beyond their own simple vocalizations, captive chimpanzees have
been taught to communicate in a language using visual rather than verbal
symbols. Chimpanzees suffer from many human diseases, including
malaria. Because of their close evolutionary relationship to man, they are
often used for medical and behavioral experimentation.
Full grown chimpanzees usually measure up to 5-ft tall and weigh about
150 lb, they have an arm spread of up to 9 ft and are much stronger than
humans. They are covered with long, black hair over most of the body and
have naked faces ranging in color from nearly white to nearly black.
Chimpanzees spend much time on the ground, where they walk on all
fours, using the soles of the feet and the knuckles of the hands; they can
also stand on two legs and sometimes walk this way for short distances.
They climb trees in pursuit of food and for nesting and can swing by their
hands from branch to branch. Their diet consists largely of fruit and other
plant matter, but they also hunt and eat small animals, including monkeys. Chimpanzees move about the forest in bands
of varying composition, usually numbering six to ten individuals. The males of a group engage in dominance contests
involving much screaming and stamping. Family groups consist of mothers and offspring; females mate with many
males during their fertile periods. A single infant is born every three to eight years. Under ideal circumstances
chimpanzees may live 50 years.
Your accommodations for the next two nights will be at Ndali Lodge,
situated on a high saddle between two crater lakes. The breathtaking
views and cooler climate at Ndali are just some of its best features.
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, decorated in local crafts and materials, feature high ceilings
and four-poster beds with mosquito netting. The en suite facilities
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 ambiance of “old Africa”.
Overnights at NDALI LODGE. (B,L,D Daily)

DAYS 6/7~SUNDAY/MONDAY~OCTOBER 14/15
QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK
Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda’s second largest national park at 764 square miles. Your journey offers
a panoramic view over rolling, cultivated countryside. Continue your gentle descent into the great African Rift Valley
and the park. You will enjoy three full days of wildlife viewing in Queen Elizabeth National Park, a world biosphere
reserve (UNESCO, 1979), which includes a RAMSAR wetland site. There are 66 species of mammal with exceptionally
large populations of hippopotamus, lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, Uganda kob, topi, bushbuck, waterbuck, rare giant
forest hog, aardvark, porcupine, pangolin, bush pig, warthog, hyena and civet. Birdlife is also abundant. Queen
Elizabeth
National Park is a classified Important Bird Area (IBA) and has
568 of Uganda’s 1,017 species of birds (over a quarter of Africa’s
bird species), more than any other park in Africa.
A morning will be spent on a nature walk through the
Maramagambo Forest, one of the largest forests in Uganda. Here
you will visit some of the bat caves where you can see
thousands of bats and possibly pythons and monitor lizards
hunting these creatures. After lunch, resume your exploration of
the park via a wildlife drive. After getting your fill of elephants
and lions your drives will take you to the leks, or mating
grounds of the Ugandan kob.
Although still numerous in western Uganda, the kob is far less
common now in other areas of East Africa. Kobs do still range
across sub-Saharan Africa. It is similar in appearance to the
impala, but the two species are not related. Kobs often
associate with larger animals such as hippos, buffalos, topis
and hartebeests. These animals help keep the grass short, as
the kob prefers. Like reedbucks and waterbucks, kobs develop
attachments to particular localities, returning to the same
grazing areas and watering places each season. The social
structure of the kob is based on small herds that come together
into larger groups of up to 1,000 animals. These large groups
will contain 30 to 40 breeding males that hold territories. Like
many other antelope species, breeding only occurs within
areas controlled by an individual territorial male. But the kob,
unlike other antelopes, has taken the system a step further by
establishing permanent breeding grounds called leks, some of which have been in continuous use for at least 50 years.
Similar to an impala, the male kob avidly defends his harem against other male intruders. It’s not unusual to see a fight
break out and the victor the happy possessor of the females.
Besides your drives you will also embark on a two-hour launch
trip on the Kazinga Channel and Lake Edward to view some of
the largest concentration of hippo in the world, reported to be
about 30,000. Nile crocodile, African rock python, monitor
lizard, and snakes can also be sighted. The boat ride will also
afford excellent birding opportunities.
You will spend the next two nights at Mweya Lodge, which is
built on a peninsula offering stunning views of Lake Edward,
Kazinga Channel, and the park with the Rwenzori Mountains in
the background. It is a luxury lodge in the old style with a
restaurant, bar, terrace, and swimming pool. The comfortable
rooms have en suite facilities.
Overnights at MWEYA LODGE. (B,L,D Daily)

DAYS 8/9/10~TUESDAY/WEDNESDAY/THURSDAY~OCTOBER 16/17/18
QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK/BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST NATIONAL PARK
Today’s long drive takes you to your next destination where you will
have a wildlife drive to look for the elusive tree-climbing lions, en route
to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. You will pass through
Fort Portal and then south along the eastern length of the Rwenzori
Mountains (Mountains of the Moon) with the hope of seeing the
glaciated peaks. The drive is a full day in the great African rift valley,
continuing to Bwindi, passing through the scenic area known as the
Switzerland of East Africa. A designated UNESCO World Heritage Site,
Bwindi's Impenetrable Forest is a true African “jungle,” so called
because of the dense undergrowth, vines and other vegetation which
make it almost “impenetrable.” It is both mysterious and awe inspiring.
The lowland rainforest and Montane forest vegetation constantly
struggle to reach heights that will allow it to receive more light. Huge
trees are festooned with creepers and parasitic plants such as mistletoe
and orchids. Giant thickets of bamboo thrive in the humid atmosphere
and, where sunlight breaks though, the elegant heliconia or lobster claw
spreads its colorful petals. At least 120 species of mammals make their
home here in one of the richest ecosystems in Africa. Besides the 10
species of primates, elephant, bush pig, giant forest hog, many species of
bats and rodents, at least 346 species of birds including rare forest birds,
14 species of snakes, 27 species of frogs and toads, 6 chameleons, 14
lizards, skinks and geckos, and at least 202 species of butterflies are
resident in the Forest. There are also several endangered species of birds
with limited ranges.
Ugandan authorities are fiercely protective of this natural treasure and
permit only a maximum of 18 passengers per day (currently) to visit the
gorillas. Your group will have the opportunity for one trek per person to
view the mountain gorillas during your stay. A second trek is possible
at additional cost, based on availability of permits. At park headquarters
meet with your local guides and porters, who will carry your personal items
and assist you during the trek. Dense bamboo thickets give way to a
combination of large meadows and dense herbaceous vegetation zone
highlighted by moss-laden hagenia and hypericum trees. Your treks will
take you through a fairyland forest, an experience that in of itself is thrilling.
As you venture forth, you will spot evidence that the gorillas have been
present. The treks can last from four to seven hours (or more) depending on
when you spot the gorillas. Once spotted they instantly capture your full
attention with their acrobatic antics and cacophony of grunts, screeches and
chest beating.
Without doubt, your first impression of the dense jungle will be its almost
audible silence. Jungle creatures are very, very shy, but, as you pick your
way along the trail, through the dense undergrowth, you'll realize that the
jungle is alive. Thousands of living organisms are discreetly watching and
waiting as you pass through their home and, from time to time, the
complete tranquility will be shattered by a darting forest bird or group of
chattering monkeys leaping through the stands of ancient trees, disturbing
the secretive residents and setting up a chain reaction. Now, the ever-wary jungle comes to colorful and noisy life for a
moment, until silence reigns again. As you walk among the shadows of the leafy canopy, this rainforest reveals the
smells and sounds of Africa, just as it has been for centuries. Your guide will take you along river trails with delightful
waterfalls, up steep slopes and into forest clearings in search of these gentle giants. 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. There are three habituated families within the forest and you will be viewing the Mubare and Habinyanja
families. Approximately 98% of the gorilla treks are successful but there is no guarantee that you will see the gorillas.
Your accommodations for the next three nights will be at the Gorilla Forest Camp, an intimate luxury tented camp
exclusively situated inside the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. The eight custom-designed rooms all have their
own private verandah, en-suite bathroom facilities and private forest bath and shower, offering guests the opportunity to
luxuriate in the unique forest surroundings. The bar, lounge and dining area, where you will enjoy superior dining and
cuisine, overlook the rain forest. Electricity is provided for lighting and recharging of video camera batteries and similar
appliances. Gorilla Forest is an eco-sensitive camp, constructed to have as little impact as possible on the surrounding forest
and its diverse ecosystem.
Overnights at the GORILLA FOREST CAMP. (B,L,D Daily)

DAY 11~FRIDAY~OCTOBER 19
LAKE MBURO NATIONAL PARK
Drive to Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda's fourth national park, designated in 1982, and situated between the towns
of Masaka and Mbarara. It is the only park to contain an entire lake. The attractive acacia-dotted savanna (158 square
miles) is home to huge herds of impala, as well as the uncommon topi, eland, klipspringer and other antelope. Zebra and
buffalo also graze these peaceful acres. At the lake there are hippo and crocodile and a wonderful diversity of birds.
Because of the different habitats of the lakeshore and the broad savannah, the variety seems endless. Catch a glimpse of
water birds diving for fish, the marabou stork, bee-eaters and bronze-tailed starling, as well as the majestic crowned
crane.
Mihingo Lodge is a peaceful and exclusive retreat adjacent to
Lake Mburo National Park. It features ten rooms which are built
on wooden platforms with stilts, covered by a thatched roof.
Suspended under the thatched roof is a spacious and comfortable
tent equipped with en-suite bathrooms, including hot and cold
running water, showers, and flush toilets offering stunning
views. Each luxury tented room is nestled on a private piece of
the lodge's property, enabling guests to enjoy the tranquil
environment in complete seclusion. Placed in varied settings,
some rooms are situated in a forest, some with a lake view, and
some on rocky outcrops.
The main dining area is a large thatched structure built of rocks,
the wood of weathered olive trees found on the land, and native grasses. Below the dining area, an infinity swimming
pool stretches out from the rocks and seems to disappear into the vast landscape beyond. From the dining and pool area,
enjoy views of the valley and its stunning evening sunsets over the park.
Overnight at MIHINGO LODGE. (B,L,D)

DAY 12~SATURDAY~OCTOBER 20
ENTEBBE/NAIROBI/EN ROUTE
Drive to Entebbe where

More information from Classic Escapes:

• Company profile, experience, and history
• View all of their trips