HIGHLIGHTS: TOUR INCLUDES: +44 (0)

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "HIGHLIGHTS: TOUR INCLUDES: +44 (0)"

Esther Cain
5 years ago
Views:

+44 (0)20 8741 7390 Encompassing some of western Uganda s most scenic landscapes, this stunning adventure takes you deep into the fascinating world of East Africa s endangered primates.

against the spectacular backdrops of Uganda s rich panoramas.

A visit to its renowned Chimpanzee Habituation Experience is then followed by a chance to explore its spectacular crater lakes before continuing on to the Queen Elizabeth National Park.

1 +44 (0) Encompassing some of western Uganda s most scenic landscapes, this stunning adventure takes you deep into the fascinating world of East Africa s endangered primates. From the rich forests of Kibale National Park, to the vast open plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park, you ll have a chance to search out rare golden monkeys and magnificent mountain gorillas against the spectacular backdrops of Uganda s rich panoramas. Beginning on the shores of Lake Victoria, your journey takes you on to Kibale National Park, home to the country s largest population of chimpanzees. A visit to its renowned Chimpanzee Habituation Experience is then followed by a chance to explore its spectacular crater lakes before continuing on to the Queen Elizabeth National Park. Here you will split your time between stunning games drives and boat trips on the Kazinga Channel. Continue south for what will surely be the highlight of your trip, to the rich forest of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Home to nearly half the world s threatened mountain gorillas, your time here provides a chance to see these majestic animals up close and in their natural environment. HIGHLIGHTS: Immerse yourself in a chimpanzee habituation experience Visit the beautiful crater lakes around Kibale National Park Enjoy a nature trek through the rich forests of Mount Rwenzori Admire the stunning wildlife of Queen Elizabeth National Park on jeep and boat safari Spend time with Uganda s iconic mountain gorillas TOUR INCLUDES: 7 nights in traditional safari lodges, 1 night in a 4* hotel and 1 night in a wilderness safari camp 9 breakfasts, 8 lunches and 8 dinners Private driver-guide Safari activities as indicated in the itinerary Chimpanzee habituation experience in the Kibale National Park Gorilla trekking permit in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Park and conservation fees *Please note, the above price is per person and based on two persons sharing a twin or double room

3 ITINERARY DAY 1: ENTEBBE Arriving into Entebbe today, you will be met and driven on to your hotel for check in. After a chance to freshen up, your guide will take you to a local fishing village where you can learn more about the life of the fishermen on Lake Victoria. Return to your hotel for the evening. DAY 2: ENTEBBE - MABAMBA SWAMP - KIBALE NATIONAL PARK After breakfast this morning your journey through Uganda gets underway, beginning first amongst the rich forests of Kibale National Park, home to the country's largest population of chimpanzees. The journey takes you past verdant tea plantations where you will have an opportunity to stop and sample some of the rich variety of teas on offer, as well as stopping at Mabamba swamp where you can witness the diverse and beautiful array of birdlife as you gently canoe around the area. (B,L,D) DAY 3: KIBALE NATIONAL PARK Encompassing some of the loveliest and most diverse tracts of tropical forest in the country, Kibale is a haven for some 13 different species of primates. One of its most rewarding encounters is a visit to its unique Chimpanzee Habituation Experience. Witnessing the full spectrum of chimp behaviour, you'll spend the day in the company of experts, gaining a fascinating insight into the lives and habits of one of our closest relatives. For lunch you will then set out with your guide to the local market where you can collect fresh produce to cook alongside your instructor back at the lodge, learning more about the traditions and importance of food in Uganda. Later in the afternoon you will visit the stunning crater lakes. (B,L,D) DAY 4: KIBALE NATIONAL PARK - MOUNT RWENZORI - QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK After breakfast you will be driven to Kasese to begin your day's hike on Mount Rwenzori. Following the diamond trail, you can enjoy views of Baker and Portal Peaks as you pass through rich forest that is home to chameleons, vervet monkeys and numerous bird species. The nature walk will take around 5-6 hours as you cover 10km, climbing from around 1,650m - 2,650m. From here you will then be driven to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda's most beautiful game reserve, and inhabited by 96 species of mammals, including lions, elephants, hippos and leopards. (B,L,D)

DAY 5: QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK Aside from its primates, Queen Elizabeth is also home to a stunningly rich diversity of wildlife, including a staggering array of birdlife.

4 DAY 5: QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK Aside from its primates, Queen Elizabeth is also home to a stunningly rich diversity of wildlife, including a staggering array of birdlife. After spending the morning on a traditional game drive, you'll then return to the lodge for lunch before heading out this afternoon to cruise along the waters of the Kazinga Channel. Offering a totally different perspective of the park, these abundant waters are a paradise for bird watchers and a regular haunt for elephant, hippo and crocodiles. (B,L,D) DAY 6: QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK Today you will be driven to the southern part of the national park, to Ishasha. Here you can enjoy another game drive in search of the unique tree-climbing lions, one of the very few places in the world where you can witness such a phenomenon. (B,L,D) DAY 7: QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK - BWINDI IMPENETRABLE NATIONAL PARK This morning you can enjoy another game drive in the Ishasha Plains, before moving on to the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, home to around half of the world's last remaining mountain gorillas. This afternoon you will get the chance to visit Batwa village and learn about life in the forest for the communities who have lived here for centuries, before returning to the lodge for an early night before tomorrow morning's gorilla trek. (B,L,D) DAY 8: BWINDI IMPENETRABLE NATIONAL PARK There are estimated to be around 340 Mountain gorillas living amongst the rainforests of southwestern Uganda and today you will head out after an early breakfast to track them. Heading out to the start of the trek for a safety briefing, you will follow your guide into the dense rainforest in search of the gorillas, the trek taking anything between 2-6 hours in total. Once located you'll spend an incredible hour with these gentle giants, so savour every moment. Return to the lodge for a rest before setting out later this afternoon on a walk through some local villages on to Lake Mutanda where you can enjoy a leisurely ride in a dugout canoe. (B,L,D) DAY 9: BWINDI - LAKE MBURO NATIONAL PARK Today you will complete the final leg of your tour as you make your way to Lake Mburo National Park, the only place in the south that is home to zebras and the only park in the country where you will see impalas. With only a handful of big predators, the park allows for more walks, horse-riding and cycling, and so after settling in this afternoon you can enjoy a leisurely evening cycle as you take in the stunning wildlife and nature around you. (B,L,D)

5 DAY 10: LAKE MBURO NATIONAL PARK - ENTEBBE After breakfast you can enjoy a nature walk through the park, before driving back to Entebbe in time for your return flight home. (B)

ACCOMMODATION BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST BUHOMA LODGE Buhoma Lodge is one of just two lodges located within the confines of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and is just a short walk from

The lodge itself is made up of 10 chalets, including a larger chalet with separate living area which is used for families and honeymooners.

6 ACCOMMODATION BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST BUHOMA LODGE Buhoma Lodge is one of just two lodges located within the confines of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and is just a short walk from the meeting point for the area s activities, including gorilla tracking. The lodge itself is made up of 10 chalets, including a larger chalet with separate living area which is used for families and honeymooners. Inside the chalets are all very spacious and comfortable with hardwood floors and insect proof screens on the windows. The en-suite bathrooms are well-appointed with all amenities provided some of the bathrooms also boast freestanding baths in addition to walk-in showers. The main part of the lodge consists of a large open air bar and lounge area with a terrace offering stunning views out across the forest. You can relax here in the afternoons and enjoy the sights and sounds of the forest rising up from below you. There is a small spa at the lodge and all guests will receive one complimentary massage during their stay. They also offer a free boot cleaning service which is much appreciated by guests after a long and often muddy trek to see gorillas. Overall, this is an excellent lodge, favoured by many guests for the fact that it is so close to the gorilla trek meeting point but also for its excellent food, friendly service and lovely comfortable rooms. ENTEBBE BOMA GUEST HOUSE Only a few minutes drive from Entebbe Airport, the Boma Guest House is set within a leafy suburb of Entebbe. Enter the flower filled garden to reach an intimate atmosphere characterful of an original 1940 s home. The colonial building is adorned with English-colonial furniture and African fabrics. You will see the lounge and reception area, where you use the Wi-Fi and the hotel computer to connect with friends and family. The restaurant and bar, serving European, Indian and Mediterranean cuisine, leads onto the terrace overlooking the gardens and Lake Victoria, the perfect spot for afternoon tea. KIBALE NATIONAL PARK

PAPAYA LAKE LODGE A short drive along a dirt road from Fort Portal is the Papaya Lake Lodge, surrounded by lush, evergreen landscapes of the Ugandan Great Crater Lakes region.

There are nine luxury cottages on site, each with a fireplace living room, stone-decorated bathrooms and sit out verandas.

7 PAPAYA LAKE LODGE A short drive along a dirt road from Fort Portal is the Papaya Lake Lodge, surrounded by lush, evergreen landscapes of the Ugandan Great Crater Lakes region. The lodge is set between two extinct volcanoes, close by the turquoise waters of Lyantonde and Kifuruka lakes which can be viewed from your own private cottage. There are nine luxury cottages on site, each with a fireplace living room, stone-decorated bathrooms and sit out verandas. The most luxurious cottage has a two-floor villa boasting three bedrooms, a fireplace-lit living room, a spacious bathroom and a large terrace. The restaurant and bar are designed to ensure you can sip on a refreshing drink as you watch the sunset over the wild Ugandan landscape. The restaurant uses the freshest of ingredients from the gardens and serves a mirage of different cuisines from around the globe. In the evening the common area is lit by kerosene lamps, their orange glow warming the whole interior. Enjoy a dip in the pool, which features panoramic views of the surrounding crater lakes, mountains and fruit and spice plantations. From the lodge there is the option of Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale National Park, embarking on a safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park, visiting the hot springs in Semuliki National Park, trekking the fabled Monutains of the Moon or gorilla trekking in Bwindi National Park. MGAHINGA GORILLA NATIONAL PARK MOUNT GAHINGA LODGE The small and intimate Mount Gahinga Lodge sits within the confines of the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and is the ideal spot from which to enjoy gorilla trekking in the less celebrated of Uganda s two parks with these incredible primates. There are six traditionally built stone bandas set around the grounds of the lodge, all of which are very spacious and comfortable. Fireplaces are built into each room and these are very welcome as evenings can get cool up here. The ensuite bathrooms have hot and cold running water as well as flush loos. At the front of each room there is a veranda where guests can relax in the afternoon and take in the sights and sounds of the forest. The main part of the lodge is an intimate lounge area with a large central fireplace which leads through to the restaurant and bar area. Being a small lodge there is a strong focus on personalised service here and guests are welcome to dine privately or with other guests depending on their preference. There is a small gift shop at the lodge and all guests will receive one complimentary massage during their stay. Naturally the main focus of a visit here is to trek to see gorillas, although with only one habituated group in the park it is a more difficult place to trek than Bwindi. On top of this, golden monkeys are found in strong numbers in Mgahinga and a variety of walks can also be enjoyed as well as trips to see the local Batwa pygmies. QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK

ISHASHA WILDERNESS CAMP Boasting a wonderful location in the Southern sector of the Queen Elizabeth National Park, Ishasha Wilderness Camp is a wonderfully traditional lodge and an ideal base for

8 ISHASHA WILDERNESS CAMP Boasting a wonderful location in the Southern sector of the Queen Elizabeth National Park, Ishasha Wilderness Camp is a wonderfully traditional lodge and an ideal base for safari purists looking to explore this iconic Ugandan National Park. There are ten spacious tents here, all of which look out across the waters of the Ntungwe River. Inside the tents are very comfortable with mosquito net draped beds, en-suite bathrooms with full amenities and small verandas at the front where guests can relax in the afternoons. The social hub of the lodge is the large thatchroofed main area which houses the lounge, dining room and bar. The lounge is open sided so guests can gaze out across the bush to the river and take in the sights and sounds of the African wilderness. There is a small curio shop at the lodge where guests can by a range of locally crafted gifts. Activities here can be arranged and paid for locally, with guests able to enjoy a wide range of things to do. Chief amongst these activities are game drives, with early morning and late afternoon departures to spot the abundant animal life of the park. In addition to this boat cruises, community visits, hot air ballooning and chimpanzee trekking can all be arranged. Wild Frontiers Adventure Travel Ltd Tel +44 (0) info@wildfrontierstravel.com Website wildfrontierstravel.com

HIGHLIGHTS: TOUR INCLUDES: +44 (0)

HIGHLIGHTS: TOUR INCLUDES: +44 (0) +44 (0)20 8741 7390 Uganda s extraordinarily rich wildlife is not only limited to its primates. Its national parks are filled with a staggering variety of fauna, from tree-climbing lions to magnificent