This 12-day private safari gives you an opportunity to encounter two incredible primates; the gentle mountain gorillas in the jungles of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and the elusive chimpanzees in Kibale forest National supplemented by game viewing in Queen Elizabeth. Enjoy bush breakfasts, sundowners on the Nile River, exploration at Murchison Falls National Park and interacting with the warm locals whose smiles will shape your journey!
Hotels:
- Hotel No 5
- Kalagala Tented Camp
- Bakers Lodge
- Ndali Lodge
- Mazike Lodge
- Mahogany Springs
Included:
Meals:
- 11 Breakfasts
- 10 Lunches
- 11 Dinners
Activities:
- Sundowners and bush-breakfasts
- Water rafting down The Nile River
- Chimpanzee Tracking
- Games drives in Murchison Falls National Park
- Enjoy lunch with a local family
- Embark on a private boat cruise on Kazinga channel
- Mountain Gorilla Tracking at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Other Services:
- Fueled 4x4 safari vehicle and English speaking guide
- Scheduled flights described in the program
- Sundowners and bush-breakfasts
- Park entrance fees and primate tracking permits
- Boat cruises and ferry crossing fees
- Unlimited safe drinking water in vehicle and drinks at the lodge
- All transfers
- All accommodations as described in the program
- Emergency rescue insurance package
- In case of a health emergency, insurance will cover evacuation from the field or bush to a nearby hospital or to Kampala. Rescue insurance package does not cover international travel
Not Included:
- Meals not mentioned in the program
- Tips for porters, guide and driver- the value of the tip is up to the client
- All other services not mentioned as included
- International airfare throughout the program
- International airport taxes, airport porter and extra baggage
- Hotel early check-in and late check-out
- Premium alcoholic drinks, personal expenses or entrance fees for any extra sightseeing or optional activities
- Any expenses of personal nature such as telephone, laundry, alcohol, etc.
- Travel Visa
- Travel insurance
- Excess baggage
Note:
- International flights should arrive and depart out of Entebbe International Airport
1007978
Day
1
Arrive in Uganda through Entebbe International Airport
Upon arrival in Entebbe, we will transfer to the beautiful Hotel No. 5. This stylish boutique hotel offers luxurious rooms opening onto the garden and swimming pool and offers you an intimate stay in a tranquil setting. Here, the menus are carefully planned and paired to an expansive wine list.
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel No 5
Day
2
Transfer to Jinja
After breakfast, you'll be transferred to the Eastern town of Jinja, the home and source of the River Nile, the world’s longest river, as it departs Lake Victoria to an upward long journey into Egypt. Jinja is East Africa’s adventure travel hub with a cocktail of water activities, including bungee jumping and rafting. While here, you will experience the beauty of the Nile river. Later in the afternoon, we will cap off a fantastic day with a wellness class on the banks of the Nile. After the activity, you will freshen up and enjoy a wonderful meal at your hotel before spending the rest of your evening at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Kalagala Tented Camp
Day
3
Water Activities on the Nile
After a leisurely breakfast, you’ll transfer to the banks of the Nile to encounter this mighty river. The Nile is a classic pool-drop river with deep, calm pools interspersed between powerful and exciting rapids and multitudes of different channels.
Jump in rafts where you will be accompanied by highly trained safety staff as you navigate down the rapids ahead. Once you complete the trip down the river, we will return to the lodge for lunch and relive the incredible morning. An optional bungee jumping excursion is available this afternoon. The rest of the evening is at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Kalagala Tented Camp
Day
4
Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park
After breakfast, we will drive to Entebbe International Airport where you will catch an afternoon flight to Murchison Falls National Park. Upon arrival, a champagne toast welcome awaits you. From here, we will transfer to nearby Baker’s Lodge, a luxury lodge perched on the South bank of the mighty Nile River. This intimate lodge is set within a large private area with direct river access, large shady trees, and a host of bird life along the water’s edge. From your lodge, elephants can be seen watering and bathing across from hippos. This area is known to have almost all of Africa’s major mammals. Before dinner, you will take in the culturally immersive show with a beverage and sit by the fire to toast another amazing African day.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Bakers Lodge
Day
5
Morning Game Drive and Boat Cruise on the Nile
After an early breakfast, we will drive to the ferry crossing area to cross to the northern bank and discover its open plain and incredible wildlife. Through an educative game drive, you will have the chance to spot lions, hyenas, elephants, buffaloes, kobs, and an incredible number of giraffes as the park hosts the largest population of Rothschild giraffes in Africa. You will have a stop for a mid-morning break in the bush where your guide will serve you a cup of hot coffee or tea with snacks. After your stop, we will cross the Nile and return to the lodge.
After lunch, we will transfer to the riverbank where you will take a cruise to the base of the falls. This cruise presents an astonishing display of wildlife as animals come down for watering at the Nile’s edge. The Nile Supports the largest concentration of hippos and crocodiles in Africa and a dazzling variety of water birds, including the most entertaining pied kingfisher. Upstream is the centerpiece of the park—the spectacular Murchison Falls; at this point, the Nile plunges an incredible 40-meters over the remnant rift valley wall, forming a magnificent and powerful waterfall. You will be treated to cold drinks on the Nile as you sail up and down stream being entertained by different animals and birds all around you.
To enhance your experience, you can take an optional hike to the top of the falls, which will give you a commanding view, or cruise back to the docking point and return to the lodge for a cold drink around the fireplace before dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Bakers Lodge
Day
6
Game Drives and Sundowner on the Nile River
Early this morning we will pick up a warm beverage at reception and head out in search of the big five.
After searching for lions, hyenas, elephants, giraffes, and antelopes, we will stop for a magnificent bush breakfast at the hippo pool. We will return to the lodge mid-morning for some time at leisure before a delightful lunch. After lunch we will head to the riverbank where you will catch a cruise on the Nile in search of crocodiles, birdlife, and glimpse hippos basking in the sun. In the heart of the park, the river forces itself through two surviving rocks to generate the world’s most powerful waterfall. This river has kept most wildlife trapped in the northern bank, which is a hub for game drives, and provides victors with one of the most authentic and intimate wildlife experiences on earth. We cap off the day with an intimate sundowner as you watch animals and the sun go over the ridges that separate Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Bakers Lodge
Day
7
Fly to Kibale Forest National Park
After breakfast, we will check out of the lodge and drive to the nearby airport for a bush flight to Kibale Forest National Park. You will be welcomed by your guide and transferred through picturesque green villages and banana plantations to Ndali Lodge.
Kibale Forest National Park sits in the shadow of the Rwenzori Mountains and on arrival, you will be checked into your room at the exclusive Ndali Lodge, a beautiful small lodge that sits on the ridge of a crater lake. It is surrounded by the Ndali Forest, a verdant expanse of indigenous trees and home to a diverse array of birds and monkeys. Spend the evening enjoying this beautiful lodge, swim, or sit at the main area. You can also choose to enjoy your private balcony and a serenade by local bird life. In the evening, enjoy a sunset yoga class overlooking the lake before a beautiful locally inspired dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Ndali Lodge
Day
8
Chimpanzee Tracking and Community Experience
We will start our day off with an early breakfast and depart for a morning of chimpanzee tracking in the Kibale Forest. This area is the primate capital of the world and boasts over 1,000 chimps. While on your tracking experience, you may encounter gray-cheeked mangabey, red colobus, black-and-white colobus, and red-tailed monkeys, among others. This chimpanzee tracking experience gives you an opportunity to spend at least one hour with the chimpanzees watching them feed, socialize, and nurse their little ones. Once you finish up, we will drive for two kilometers to a Tinka’s home for a family lunch where you will gain an appreciation for the area, its culture, and be moved by stories from the past. After lunch, we'll drive back to Ndali for a relaxed evening and dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Ndali Lodge
Day
9
Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Boat on Kazinga Channel
After breakfast, we will transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park, where you will be checked into Mazike Lodge. This lodge sits on the edge of Kyambura Gorge, which hosts an underground rainforest in the middle of the savannah plain. From the comfort of your luxury cottage, you can unwind and listen to different bird calls and enjoy views that will leave you speechless. After lunch, you will be transferred to the nearby docking area in the park for a private boat cruise on the Kazinga channel for great wildlife viewing, including elephants, crocodiles, hippos, buffalos, and hundreds of birds. After the boat cruise, drive through the Kasenyi plains and catch a glimpse of kobs, and chance encounters with lions as they start their hunt. Return to the lodge this evening for leisure time and dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Mazike Lodge
Day
10
Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
After breakfast, we will drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National park through the Ishasha sector, home to the famous tree-climbing lions.
After your beautiful drive through the green villages of south-western Uganda, you will arrive at Mahogany Springs lodge. This small luxury lodge faces the dense Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and is home to half of the world’s endangered mountain gorillas. Upon arrival, enjoy the evening at leisure or take part in a wellness activity at the lodge.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Mahogany Springs
Day
11
Mountain Gorilla Tracking Experience
Make sure you have extra batteries and camera storage for this monumental day where you will have a rare encounter with the Uganda mountain gorilla. This is the absolute highlight of a tour to Africa for most visitors. It is a humbling experience to stand meters from these gentle giants as they eat, rest, play, and bond with their young ones. After a briefing by park authorities, you will embark on a forest trek lasting between one to five hours, depending on the location of the gorillas. There are ten habituated gorilla families that you will have the opportunity to encounter. During your visit, you will spend time with one family, which can be visited by only one group of 8 per day! You will enjoy an exciting journey along forested slopes, bushes, and bamboo before you ultimately reach the gorilla family. Coming face-to-face with a mountain gorilla is an awe-inspiring and emotional experience that will be remembered for a lifetime.
Afterwards, you will return to your lodge to relax for the evening or visit the nearby Ride 4 a Woman project. This charitable organization is set up to economically and socially empower women of the area. Here you will learn about daily life and pick up souvenirs and gifts for your family and friends.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Mahogany Springs
Day
12
Fly to Entebbe and Depart
After breakfast, you can enjoy a wellness experience by the river or relax at the lodge. After checking out, we'll have an early lunch before heading for the airport and saying goodbye to Uganda.
Meals: Breakfast
The activity Level for this tour is:
Average - Some tours may include hiking or potential higher elevation hiking, biking, SUP, rafting, or kayaking in addition to walking on uneven surfaces or for longer periods of time.
Itinerary
Day
1
Arrive in Uganda through Entebbe International Airport
Upon arrival in Entebbe, we will transfer to the beautiful Hotel No. 5. This stylish boutique hotel offers luxurious rooms opening onto the garden and swimming pool and offers you an intimate stay in a tranquil setting. Here, the menus are carefully planned and paired to an expansive wine list.
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel No 5
Day
2
Transfer to Jinja
After breakfast, you'll be transferred to the Eastern town of Jinja, the home and source of the River Nile, the world’s longest river, as it departs Lake Victoria to an upward long journey into Egypt. Jinja is East Africa’s adventure travel hub with a cocktail of water activities, including bungee jumping and rafting. While here, you will experience the beauty of the Nile river. Later in the afternoon, we will cap off a fantastic day with a wellness class on the banks of the Nile. After the activity, you will freshen up and enjoy a wonderful meal at your hotel before spending the rest of your evening at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Kalagala Tented Camp
Day
3
Water Activities on the Nile
After a leisurely breakfast, you’ll transfer to the banks of the Nile to encounter this mighty river. The Nile is a classic pool-drop river with deep, calm pools interspersed between powerful and exciting rapids and multitudes of different channels.
Jump in rafts where you will be accompanied by highly trained safety staff as you navigate down the rapids ahead. Once you complete the trip down the river, we will return to the lodge for lunch and relive the incredible morning. An optional bungee jumping excursion is available this afternoon. The rest of the evening is at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Kalagala Tented Camp
Day
4
Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park
After breakfast, we will drive to Entebbe International Airport where you will catch an afternoon flight to Murchison Falls National Park. Upon arrival, a champagne toast welcome awaits you. From here, we will transfer to nearby Baker’s Lodge, a luxury lodge perched on the South bank of the mighty Nile River. This intimate lodge is set within a large private area with direct river access, large shady trees, and a host of bird life along the water’s edge. From your lodge, elephants can be seen watering and bathing across from hippos. This area is known to have almost all of Africa’s major mammals. Before dinner, you will take in the culturally immersive show with a beverage and sit by the fire to toast another amazing African day.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Bakers Lodge
Day
5
Morning Game Drive and Boat Cruise on the Nile
After an early breakfast, we will drive to the ferry crossing area to cross to the northern bank and discover its open plain and incredible wildlife. Through an educative game drive, you will have the chance to spot lions, hyenas, elephants, buffaloes, kobs, and an incredible number of giraffes as the park hosts the largest population of Rothschild giraffes in Africa. You will have a stop for a mid-morning break in the bush where your guide will serve you a cup of hot coffee or tea with snacks. After your stop, we will cross the Nile and return to the lodge.
After lunch, we will transfer to the riverbank where you will take a cruise to the base of the falls. This cruise presents an astonishing display of wildlife as animals come down for watering at the Nile’s edge. The Nile Supports the largest concentration of hippos and crocodiles in Africa and a dazzling variety of water birds, including the most entertaining pied kingfisher. Upstream is the centerpiece of the park—the spectacular Murchison Falls; at this point, the Nile plunges an incredible 40-meters over the remnant rift valley wall, forming a magnificent and powerful waterfall. You will be treated to cold drinks on the Nile as you sail up and down stream being entertained by different animals and birds all around you.
To enhance your experience, you can take an optional hike to the top of the falls, which will give you a commanding view, or cruise back to the docking point and return to the lodge for a cold drink around the fireplace before dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Bakers Lodge
Day
6
Game Drives and Sundowner on the Nile River
Early this morning we will pick up a warm beverage at reception and head out in search of the big five.
After searching for lions, hyenas, elephants, giraffes, and antelopes, we will stop for a magnificent bush breakfast at the hippo pool. We will return to the lodge mid-morning for some time at leisure before a delightful lunch. After lunch we will head to the riverbank where you will catch a cruise on the Nile in search of crocodiles, birdlife, and glimpse hippos basking in the sun. In the heart of the park, the river forces itself through two surviving rocks to generate the world’s most powerful waterfall. This river has kept most wildlife trapped in the northern bank, which is a hub for game drives, and provides victors with one of the most authentic and intimate wildlife experiences on earth. We cap off the day with an intimate sundowner as you watch animals and the sun go over the ridges that separate Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Bakers Lodge
Day
7
Fly to Kibale Forest National Park
After breakfast, we will check out of the lodge and drive to the nearby airport for a bush flight to Kibale Forest National Park. You will be welcomed by your guide and transferred through picturesque green villages and banana plantations to Ndali Lodge.
Kibale Forest National Park sits in the shadow of the Rwenzori Mountains and on arrival, you will be checked into your room at the exclusive Ndali Lodge, a beautiful small lodge that sits on the ridge of a crater lake. It is surrounded by the Ndali Forest, a verdant expanse of indigenous trees and home to a diverse array of birds and monkeys. Spend the evening enjoying this beautiful lodge, swim, or sit at the main area. You can also choose to enjoy your private balcony and a serenade by local bird life. In the evening, enjoy a sunset yoga class overlooking the lake before a beautiful locally inspired dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Ndali Lodge
Day
8
Chimpanzee Tracking and Community Experience
We will start our day off with an early breakfast and depart for a morning of chimpanzee tracking in the Kibale Forest. This area is the primate capital of the world and boasts over 1,000 chimps. While on your tracking experience, you may encounter gray-cheeked mangabey, red colobus, black-and-white colobus, and red-tailed monkeys, among others. This chimpanzee tracking experience gives you an opportunity to spend at least one hour with the chimpanzees watching them feed, socialize, and nurse their little ones. Once you finish up, we will drive for two kilometers to a Tinka’s home for a family lunch where you will gain an appreciation for the area, its culture, and be moved by stories from the past. After lunch, we'll drive back to Ndali for a relaxed evening and dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Ndali Lodge
Day
9
Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Boat on Kazinga Channel
After breakfast, we will transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park, where you will be checked into Mazike Lodge. This lodge sits on the edge of Kyambura Gorge, which hosts an underground rainforest in the middle of the savannah plain. From the comfort of your luxury cottage, you can unwind and listen to different bird calls and enjoy views that will leave you speechless. After lunch, you will be transferred to the nearby docking area in the park for a private boat cruise on the Kazinga channel for great wildlife viewing, including elephants, crocodiles, hippos, buffalos, and hundreds of birds. After the boat cruise, drive through the Kasenyi plains and catch a glimpse of kobs, and chance encounters with lions as they start their hunt. Return to the lodge this evening for leisure time and dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Mazike Lodge
Day
10
Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
After breakfast, we will drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National park through the Ishasha sector, home to the famous tree-climbing lions.
After your beautiful drive through the green villages of south-western Uganda, you will arrive at Mahogany Springs lodge. This small luxury lodge faces the dense Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and is home to half of the world’s endangered mountain gorillas. Upon arrival, enjoy the evening at leisure or take part in a wellness activity at the lodge.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Mahogany Springs
Day
11
Mountain Gorilla Tracking Experience
Make sure you have extra batteries and camera storage for this monumental day where you will have a rare encounter with the Uganda mountain gorilla. This is the absolute highlight of a tour to Africa for most visitors. It is a humbling experience to stand meters from these gentle giants as they eat, rest, play, and bond with their young ones. After a briefing by park authorities, you will embark on a forest trek lasting between one to five hours, depending on the location of the gorillas. There are ten habituated gorilla families that you will have the opportunity to encounter. During your visit, you will spend time with one family, which can be visited by only one group of 8 per day! You will enjoy an exciting journey along forested slopes, bushes, and bamboo before you ultimately reach the gorilla family. Coming face-to-face with a mountain gorilla is an awe-inspiring and emotional experience that will be remembered for a lifetime.
Afterwards, you will return to your lodge to relax for the evening or visit the nearby Ride 4 a Woman project. This charitable organization is set up to economically and socially empower women of the area. Here you will learn about daily life and pick up souvenirs and gifts for your family and friends.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Mahogany Springs
Day
12
Fly to Entebbe and Depart
After breakfast, you can enjoy a wellness experience by the river or relax at the lodge. After checking out, we'll have an early lunch before heading for the airport and saying goodbye to Uganda.
Meals: Breakfast
The activity Level for this tour is:
Average - Some tours may include hiking or potential higher elevation hiking, biking, SUP, rafting, or kayaking in addition to walking on uneven surfaces or for longer periods of time.
Have Questions? Email Us or call us at 754-457-9870
Terms, conditions and restrictions apply; pricing, availability, and other details subject to change and/ or apply to US or Canadian residents. Accommodation names are subject to availability. Should accommodation mentioned on specific itinerary not be available, a similar or higher rated accommodation will be substituted. Single room allotments are subject to availability and booked on a FCFS basis. Fit4Travel will work with each vendor or supplier to secure as many single rooms as possible to accommodate each traveler.
