14 days in Uganda: “Lions climbing” special

Table of contents

Trip map

Travel itinerary

Please note:

Each element can be tailored to your needs and interests, from duration to type of accommodation and activities.

Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe and transfer to Ziwa

Upon arrival at the airport you will be met by our English-speaking driver (or Italian- speaking on request). We will transfer north to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary; arrive in the afternoon and together with a private guide, we will do a short trek that will take you to see
the rhinos up close.

The Ziwa sanctuary, which is currently home to around 25 ‘white’ rhinos, is intended to enable their future reintroduction into Uganda’s National Parks: the two native subspecies, the northern white rhino and the eastern black rhino, have both been extinct in the wild since 1982.

• Low cost accommodation: Overnight at Ziwa guest house
• Medium/high category accommodation: Amuka lodge
• Meals included low cost: breakfast and dinner – half board
• Meals included medium-high: breakfast, lunch and dinner – full board
• Hours spent on the road: about 3 hours and 30 minutes – 210 km
• Planned activities: rhino trekking

Day 2: Entebbe – Ziwa Rhino Ranch – Murchison Falls NP

In the morning we will drive north, stopping half way at Ziwa Rhino sanctuary, where we will trek with rhinos; stop for lunch and in the afternoon we are expected to arrive at Murchison falls National Park where we will have a photo safari before checking in at the lodge.

The Ziwa sanctuary, which is currently home to around 25 white rhinos, is designed to allow them to be seen in their natural habitat. The two native subspecies, the northern white rhino and the eastern black rhino, have both been extinct in the wild since 1982. The area on which Murchinson Falls National Park is located is the largest in Uganda, about 5000 square kilometres, and also includes the Bugungo, Karuma and Bugongo reserves. The Park is characterized by typical savannah and forest vegetation. The name of the Park comes from the beautiful waterfalls that rise at a point where the Victoria Nile crosses a crack in the rocks and falls about 45 metres, creating a spectacle of power and rare beauty. In the Park there are about 76 species of mammals: elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, lions, leopards, antelopes, Uganda kobs and many others; there are also about 450 species of birds, some of which are very rare.

• Low cost accomodation: Fort Murchison Lodge, fixed tent, shared bathroom
• Mid-range accomodation: Pakuba Safari lodge
• High-end accomodation: Paraa Safari lodge
• Meals included low cost and medium level: breakfast and dinner – half board
• Meals included high level: breakfast lunch (at ziwa rhino ranch) and dinner – full board
• Hours spent on the road: 6 hours and 15 minutes approximately – 420 km
• Planned activities : Rhino trekking – Game drive Murchison Falls

Day 3: Game drive – Boat ride – Trekking to the falls

Wake up at dawn and photo safari to the north side of the Nile. Here you will find Ugandakobs, buffaloes, elephants, waterbuks, Uganda kobs, hyenas, hippos, giraffes, different types of monkeys and birds, and if you are lucky lions and leopards. You will also enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Savannah and the Albert Nile. Packed lunch on the banks of the Nile.

In the afternoon at about 2 p.m. you will take a ‘cruise’ on the Victoria Nile. Here you can expect to see many hippos, crocodiles, buffalo, antelopes, elephants bathing in the river and many species of birds. This boat tour will take you about 500m from where the Murchison Falls flow into the river and you will be able to admire their power and beauty; from there you will disembark and together with a specialist guide you will go on a trek that will take you along the falls to the highest point and allow you to admire the second hidden falls, the “freedom falls”; our driver will pick you up at the highest point and take you back to the lodge.

• Low cost accommodation: Fort Murchison Lodge, fixed tent, shared bathroom.
• Mid range accommodation : Pakuba Safari lodge
• High-end accommodation : Paraa Safari lodge
• Meals included low cost and medium level: breakfast and dinner – Half board
• Meals included high level : breakfast lunch (at the lodge) and dinner – full board
• Meals included high-level : breakfast, lunch (at the lodge) and dinner – full board
• Planned activities : Game drive at Murchison Falls NP – “Boat trip” Victoria Nile – Trekking to Murchison Falls

Day 4: Murchison Falls – Fort Portal

Departure in the morning in direction of Fort Portal, you can choose a packed lunch or otherwise you’ll be able to eat at a restaurant near Hoima; the road will be long but absolutely scenic: you will admire the beautiful views of Lake Albert and the Albertina Rift Valley, tea, coffee and tobacco plantations and many local villages. Arrival at Fort Portal in the afternoon. Full day dedicated to the transfer. If time permits, upon arrival in Fort Portal we will have the opportunity to visit a local market.

• Low cost/medium cost accommodation : Rwenzori view Guest House
• Medium/high category accommodation: Mountains of the moon
• Meals included Low/cost Medium : breakfast and dinner – half board
• Meals included medium/high: breakfast, lunch (box lunch) and dinner – full board
• Meals included medium/high: breakfast, lunch (box lunch) and dinner – full board
• Hours spent on the road: 6 hours 30 minutes – 340 km
• Optional activities: Visit to Fort Portal market

Day 5: Fort Portal – Queen Elizabeth National Park

In the morning transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park, we will drive along the crater area near Kibale Forest, arrival at the lodge for lunch; In the afternoon you will take a cruise on the Kazinga Channel, which connects Lake Edward and Lake George. During these three hours we will observe many hippos, buffaloes, elephants, antelopes and rare birds; your journey will end when the canal flows into Lake Edward. This is definitely one of the most exciting activities of the trip, as seeing the bustling savannah life near the waterways is spectacular.

There are about 95 species of mammals, including lions, elephants, leopards, Uganda kobs (impala), hyenas, buffalos and several species of primates, including chimpanzees, blue, red, white, black and baboons. There are also some 600 species of birds, one of the highest concentrations in Africa, and many pink flamingos along the volcanic Katwe Lake.

• Low cost accommodation: Bush lodge, fixed tent, shared bathroom
• Mid-range accommodation: Bush lodge, bandas, private bathroom
• High-end accommodation : Kyambura Gorge lodge
• Meals included low cost-medium : breakfast and dinner – half board
• Meals included high level: breakfast, lunch (box lunch) and dinner – full board
• Meals included high level: breakfast, lunch (box lunch) and dinner – full board
• Hours spent on the road: about 2 hours – 115 km
• Planned activities: “Boat trip” Kazinga channel

Day 6: Chimpanzee trekking Kyambura – Game drive Queen Elizabeth NP

In the morning we will trek with the chimpanzees in the Kyambura Forest, a cleft in the Savannah of the Park that offers an incredible variety of vegetation, a forest rich in biodiversity still different from those you’ll discover the next days and that hosts a large community of Chimpanzees that you’ll be able to see very close. Lunch at the lodge. In the afternoon photographic safari through the routes of the Park, we will scour the “Kaseny and Kazinga track” in search of elephants, buffaloes, leopards, lions, antelopes and many other
species.

• Low cost accommodation: Bush lodge, fixed tent with shared bathroom
• Mid-range accommodation: Bush lodge, bandas with private bathroom
• High-end accommodation: Kyambura Gorge lodge
• Meals included low cost-medium: breakfast and dinner – half board
• Meals included high level: breakfast, lunch (at the lodge) and dinner – full board
• Planned activities: Chimpanzee trekking Kyambura gorge – Game drive Queen Elizabeth NP

Day 7: Transfer and Game drive Ishasha sector Queen Elizabeth NP

In the morning we will move to the south of the Park through the forest of Maramagambo, we will arrive in the sector of Ishasha in the late morning, with a little luck, in this area, you can admire the “climbing lions”, lions climbing on the “fig trees”, trees that branch out a few meters high and that the lions use as their “personal offices” in the hottest hours of the day
.

• Medium/low cost accommodation : @at the river Ishasha
• High-end accommodation: Ishasha Wilderness camp
• Meals included low cost-medium : breakfast and dinner – half board
• Meals included high level: breakfast, lunch (at the lodge) and dinner – full board
• Hours spent on the road: about 2 hours and 20 minutes – 80 km
• Planned activities:Game drive Ishasha Queen Elizabeth NP

Day 8 : Game drive Ishasha – trasfer to Bwindi Ruhjia

Game drive in the southern sector of the Park, with two game drives we have more chances to find the climbing lions. Lunch will be packed or at a restaurant in Kihihi; afterwards, we will start to admire the spectacular mountain views of Bwindi Impenetrable forest before reaching Ruhjia, where our mountain gorilla trek will start the next day; in the afternoon you can take a walk in the village or we can arrange a visit to an orphanage.

This park is located in the south west of Uganda at an altitude of between 1160 and 2607 metres. It is a true tropical forest spread over mountains and valleys and is considered one of the richest forests in Africa in terms of biodiversity, and has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the local language, “Bwindi” means “dark place” in reference to its impenetrable nature. The Park is home to around 350 species of birds, 200 species of butterflies, 324 different types of trees, 14 of which are only found in this park. This makes it possible to go on bird watching excursions through unspoilt nature to meet the Pygmy communities living in the Park.

• Low-cost accommodation: Broadbill rest camp
• Mid-range accommodation: Gorilla mist camp, private bathroom bandas
• High-end accommodation : Asyanut gorilla safari lodge
• Meals included low cost-medium : breakfast and dinner – half board
• Meals included high level : breakfast, lunch (box lunch) and dinner – full board
• Hours spent on the road: about 2 hours and 35 minutes – 80 km
• Planned activities: Game drive ishasha sector Queen Elizabeth NP
• Optional activities: visit to little angels orphanage

Day 9: Gorilla trekking

Breakfast at first light, proceed to the Bwindi Impenetrable forest headquarters for a briefing with the rangers, you will be placed in groups of maximum 8 people, before proceeding into the forest. Make sure you bring the Box lunch (mandatory and delivered by the lodge) and at least two litres of water, hiking shoes, k-way in your backpack.
The duration of the Gorilla trek varies from day to day and from one Gorilla family to another. You will be able to stay with them for an hour from the time you’ll see the first gorilla and it will be a unique experience to see these animals just a few steps away.

• Low-cost accommodation: Broadbill rest camp
• Mid-range accommodation: Gorilla mist camp, private bathroom bandas
• High-end accommodation : Asyanut gorilla safari lodge
• Meals included low cost-medium : breakfast and dinner – half board
• Meals included high level : breakfast, lunch (box lunch) and dinner – full board
• Hours spent on the road: about 4 hours and 45 minutes – 160 km
• Planned activities: Game drive ishasha sector Queen Elizabeth Np

Day 10: Transfer to Lake Mutanda or Lake Mulehe – Lake boat ride

In the morning transfer to Lake Mutanda, located in the extreme south-western part of the country, you will enjoy spectacular views of the volcanoes national park, you will have in front of you the peaks of three extinct volcanoes, Muhavura, Sabinyo and Gahinga that vary from heights of 3500 meters to 4200. In the afternoon you will take a boat trip to one of the islands in the lake to visit local communities.

• Low cost accommodation: Mucha hotel Kisoro
• Mid-range accommodation : Lake Mulehe Safari lodge
• High-end accommodation: Mutanda Lake Resort
• Meals included mid-range and low cost: breakfast and dinner – half board
• Meals included at high level: breakfast, lunch (at the lodge) and dinner – full board
• Hours spent travelling: about 2 hours and 20 minutes – 65 km
• Planned activities : Lake boat tour

Day 11: Golden Monkey trekking – transfer to Lake Bunyonyi

Wake up at dawn for the transfer to Mghainga National Park where the 3/4 hour Golden Monkey trek will take place. You will enjoy wonderful views of the peaks of the Volcanoes National Park; be prepared to take photos of bird species such as the Ruwenzori Turaco, the Colobus and especially the golden monkeys that you will encounter en route. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight. After the trek we will transfer to Lake Bunyonyi.

Lake Bunyonyi, nicknamed the “Little Switzerland of Africa” is the second deepest lake in Africa, with an archipelago of 32 islands.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is a National Park in southwestern Uganda, located near the town of Kisoro in the Virunga Mountains. It is adjacent to Volcanoes Park (Rwanda) and Virunga Park (DRC). The Park area includes three of the eight volcanoes in the Virunga range: Muhavura, Gahinga (from which the Park takes its name) and Sabinyo.With Bwindi Park, Mgahinga is one of only two parks in Uganda that is home to Mountain Gorillas. There are two groups of gorillas in the Park that are used to human presence and can
therefore be observed by tourists.

In this park it is possible to spot the Golden Monkey, which is endemic to this area adjacent to Virunga.

• Mid-range/low-cost accommodation: Lake Bunyonyi eco resort
• High-end accommodation: Bird nest resort
• Meals included low cost/medium level: Breakfast and lunch half board
• Meals included at a high level: Breakfast, lunch (box lunch) and lunch full board
• Hours spent travelling: Approx. 2 hours – 80 km
• Planned activities: Trekking to the golden monkeys

Day 12: Transfer to Lake Mburo – boat trip on the lake and photo safari

In the morning, transfer to Lake Mburo National Park; lunch at the lodge and photo safari on the way to the lake in the afternoon, where we will take a boat trip. You will find many fish eagles, birds of various kinds and hippos.

Lake Mburo National Park is a savannah-dominated park, inhabited by around 350 species of birds as well as zebras, impalas, eland, buffalo, oribi, waterbuck, leopard and red buck. In the western part of the park the savannah is interrupted by very large rocks and steep forests that have formed numerous swamps. There is a two-hour boat ride on the lake where you will see many birds, some of which are only found at Lake Mburo, as well as hippos, crocodiles and lots of African fish eagles.

• Low cost accommodation: Eagle nest
• Mid-range Accommodation: Rwakobo rock
• High cost accommodation: Mihingo lodge
• Meals included mid-range and low cost: breakfast and dinner – half board
• Meals included high cost: breakfast, lunch (at the lodge) and dinner – full board
• Hours spent travelling: about 4 hours – 220 km
• Planned activities : Boat ride on the lake – photo safari

Day 13: Transfer to Entebbe

Transfer to Entebbe in the morning, the departure time will be decided according to the flight schedule that you have chosen; stop for lunch on the equator line where you can buy souvenirs.

• Meals included low cost / medium level: Breakfast and lunch half board
• Meals included high level : Breakfast, lunch (box lunch) and lunch full board
• Hours spent travelling: about 7 hours – 410 km

Day 14: Shoebill search at Mamamba – Return flight

Departure at dawn with a pirogue together with an expert guide in birdwatching, we will go to the Lake Vittoria, near the island of Mamamba, in search of the shoebill. This bird is very difficult to find, it nests in these areas and with a bit of luck we’ll be able to take some pictures of this bird of prehistoric origin. Return flight to be scheduled in the afternoon.

• Meals included low cost / medium level: Breakfast
• Planned activities: search for the Mamamba shoe beak

Prices and services included

Terms of payment:
50% at the time of booking, 50% 40 days before departure.

Cancellation terms:
– up to the second payment tranche full refund except for gorilla and
chimpanzee permits;
– after making the final payment and up to 10 days before departure, 50% refund;
– from 10 days to departure date nothing is refundable.

Please note:

Each element can be tailored to your needs and interests, from duration to type of accommodation and activities. Ask for a quote for this trip

Ask for a quote for this trip

Sea getaway – Possible extension