Day 1

USA / ENTEBBE / KAMPALA

Arrive at Entebbe where we will be met and transferred to Kampala city where we are going to spend the next night at CASSIA LODGE   

Day 2

KAMPALA / MURCHISON FALLS    

AM: After breakfast, we will start our journey by driving north to  Murchison Falls National Park, which is considered Uganda’s largest National Park whose palm-studded grassland support dense population of lion, buffalo, elephants, Rothschild’s giraffe, hippos and birds can be observed from morning to late afternoon. Lunch will be provided en-route.

PM: Arrive at Murchison Falls where we will proceed to spend the next two nights at NILE SAFARI CAMP:  

Dinner and overnight.  BB, L, D

Day 3

MURCHISON FALLS – Game drive and boat trip

Early morning, enjoy a cup of tea or coffee at the camp, and then we will board our safari vehicles for our early morning game drive in the northern sector of the park. Most of the game is to be found in the area north of the Victoria Nile River and East of the Albert Nile and Lake Albert. This is where part of the movie – The African Queen- was filmed. The game often seen includes elephant, oribi, giraffe, waterbuck, hartebeest, topi, buffalo, sitatunga, bushbuck, warthog, bush pig, lion, leopard, mongoose, genet, hyena, jackal, and bat-eared fox.  Mid-morning: return to the camp to enjoy your breakfast. Relax at the camp. Read a book or enjoy the pool. Lunch will be served.

After lunch, get ready for the highlight of your day: we are going on a boat ride to view this magnificent spectacle from down below where the Nile River is forced through a 21-foot wide gap in the rocks and drops 145 feet over the escarpment. This is said to be the largest natural force of water in the world creating what appears to be a boiling cauldron of water. This boat trip will allow you to get up-close and personal with the animals. Along the stretch of the River, there are reported to be around 4,000 hippos in addition to some enormous Nile crocodiles. The boat will take us to the base of the falls which only adds to their impressiveness. Return to our Lodge. Dinner & overnight.    BB, L, D

Day 4

MURCHISON /  (FORPORTAL) KIBALE FOREST 

Following breakfast, we start our 8 hours drive to Kibale Forest. We will be leaving the Rift Valley passing through the beautiful agricultural countryside where every type of fruit and vegetable imaginable is grown. Upon reaching Kyanjojo, in the lower foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains (Mountain of the Moon), we drive through beautiful tea plantations and into Kibale tropical rain forest where we will be spending the next two nights at the Beautiful Ndali Lodge. Ndali Lodge:  is situated, on a high saddle between two crater lakes.  The late Captain Mark Price, a British tea farmer, built the Lodge. The 8 luxury bandas offer views over the dramatic Rwenzori Mountains. The rooms are decorated in local crafts and materials and feature high ceilings and four posters beds with mosquito netting. The en-suite baths have hot & 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.  

Dinner & overnight.   BB, L, D 

Day 5

KIBALE FOREST- Chimp trek and Bigodi Swamp walk

Breakfast, followed by our forest & swamp walks to see the rain forest and view birds and primates, including chimpanzees. Walking is not difficult; paths have been made in the forest and all walks are with excellent English speaking local guides.  This morning we are going to track habituated chimps – these delightful apes, more closely related to humans, are tremendous fun to watch as they squabble and play in fruiting trees. The forest is home to over 13 species of primates including red Colobus monkey, the rare L’Hoest, blue monkey, grey mangabey, pottos, black-faced vervet monkeys, baboons and also bush babies. Birders are in for a treat with 335 species recorded including the endemic Prirogrin’s ground thrush. The elusive forest elephant, smaller and hairier moves seasonally into the developed part of the park while other terrestrial mammals include: buffalo, giant forest hog, and half dozen antelope species. Later, we go for a nature walk in Bigodi Swamp. 

Dinner and overnight.  BB, L, D

Day 6

KIBALE FOREST / QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK

After breakfast, our guides will take us in a Maramagambo Forest walk, visiting bat caves where you can see thousands of bats and possibly pythons and Monitor Lizards catching bats. After lunch, we will start our 4 and a half hours drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Park (A World Heritage Site) passing through the scenic area known as The Switzerland of East Africa. 

Arrive at Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park: This ancient rainforest – one of the few in Africa to have flourished throughout the last Ice Age – is home to roughly half of the world’s mountain gorillas. Also, the park has 90 mammal species, including 11 primates, of which the black - and – white colobus, with its lovely flowing white tail, is prominent – where we will be spending the next two nights at Gorilla Forest camp: 

The camp (4-star quality) true luxury in the rain forest.  Each room has two queen-sized beds and all the furnishings for comfort with en suite bathrooms with hot and cold running water.    

Dinner and overnight.    BB, L, D

Day 7

BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST  –  (Gorilla Trekking)

After breakfast, meet with the local guides and trackers who will give a talk on the etiquette of gorilla trekking and viewing.  LET’S GO!! Hike into the forest to where the Gorillas were seen the previous day, and then begin tracking with your expert local guide/tracker. The trek can be from one to seven hours, including at least one hour with the Gorillas, and may climb to altitudes in excess of 7,500 feet. The terrain is rough and at times muddy. The hike can be physically demanding at times but it is through a very beautiful tropical forest.  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! Picnic lunch is provided and it’s very important to take plenty of water. Cameras and plenty of memory cards are recommended. It can rain at a few minute's notice; hence waterproof clothing is a good essential including zip lock bags for cameras & films. 

Dinner & overnight. BB, L, D  

Day 8

BWINDI / ENTEBBE

After breakfast, we will be transferred to Savannah airstrip for our short charter flight to Entebbe. Arrive at Entebbe where we will be met and transferred to spend the next night at Lake Victoria Hotel. 

A completely renovated colonial-style hotel with beautiful gardens and a swimming pool, and 4-star qualities. Meals are served inside or on the terrace overlooking Lake Victoria

Day 9

ENTEBBE / USA

Buffet breakfast at the hotel. Morning at leisure.  Transfer to Entebbe International airport for your flight back home.