TOUR PACKAGE-UGT002

_{GORILLAS, CHIMPANZEES, CULTURE & BIRDS WITH CRUISES ON LAKE VICOTRIA TOUR : CODE-UGT002}

 _{Gorillas, Cruises and relaxing on a Lake Victoria beach, Chimpanzees & Birds, Wildlife and Primates, Murchison, Queen Elizabeth, Kibale, Bwindi gor gorillas, Ssese Islands - 13 Days}

This is one of our best safaris, for honeymooners or other travellers wishing to enjoy the comforts and luxuries of a honeymoon type of holiday. This tour combines game, birds, gorillas with the comforts of relaxing in pristine environment on a beach on Lake Victoria at the end of the tour. Visit 4 of Uganda's 10 National Parks: Murchison Falls, Kibale, Queen Elizabeth, and Bwindi are in the Western arm of the Great East African Rift Valley! Your trip starts with Murchison Falls Conservation Area, the largest in the country, with chimps, birds, crocodile, and game. Visit the dramatic Falls from which the park derives its name. Drive westwards to Lake Albert, for unusual game and wildlife before proceeding to Kibale Forest, home to thirteen species of primates – the highest in tropical Africa. Animal species such as red, black and white colobus, blue monkeys and baboons and a large number of chimpanzees can be seen. Continue to Queen Elizabeth National Park, passing the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains: a half day walk into the mountains is possible. The launch trip along the Kazinga Channel in QE is especially good for viewing hippo, buffalo, elephant and a large host of birds. The beautiful steeply forested Kyambura Gorge nearby, is home not only to chimpanzees but also the red-tailed monkey, black and white colobus and many bird species. Around Ishasha go on the hunt for the famous tree-climbing lions which lounge nonchalantly on old fig trees. Further south in Bwindi go gorilla tracking and see other primates, birds and butterflies. Have an opportunity to track gorillas again or climb a volcano, go birding or take in the breathtaking landscape. Your trip ends with Ssese Islands in Lake Victoria, to relax and unwind after the eventful African safari.

ITINERARY FOR HONEYMOON TOUR ON LAKE VICTORIA WITH GORILLAS

DAY 1, Arrival
Arrive Entebbe airport. Meet, greet and transfer to Entebbe or Kampala for overnight (BB)

DAY 2, From Entebbe or Kampala to Murchison
Briefing from your guide before taking a gentle drive for Murchison Falls Conservation Area. Drive through Luwero. Lunch en route and continue to the park. Visit the top of the stimulating Murchison Falls, crashing through a narrow gorge. [Approximate driving time: 6 hours].

DAY 3, In Murchison
An early morning game viewing north of the Nile. Launch trip to the bottom of the mighty exciting Falls, with crocodiles, and a vast array of birds including the rare shoebill stork, lounging on the banks of the Nile. Hippos are everywhere! Evening game drive.

 DAY 4, Murchison to Lake Albert
Drive to the stimulating Lake Albert. Arrive in time for lunch, view fishing villages, local communities and local fishermen; or do a short game drive, a launch cruise (subject to boat availability) or simply relax at Lodge.

[Approximate driving time: 5 hours].

DAY 5, Hoima to Fort Portal
Drive south to Fort Portal, past big tea plantations, lunch en route. Proceed to your lodging in Kibale. Either explore a crater lake nearby or relax at your lodging. [Approximate driving time: 5 hour(s)] O/N: Nyinabulitwa Country Resort (FB).

DAY 6, In Kibale Forest
A guided nature walk in Kibale Forest, which has the highest number of primates in Africa - including red, black and white colobus, blue monkeys and baboons and a large number of chimpanzees. A forest walk provides a high possibility of seeing and hearing a vast number of chimps and other primates crashing around through the forest. Birdlife is also fabulous, with over 300 species recorded in the forest. An afternoon walk in Bigodi wetland gives the opportunity of seeing the unusual birds, baboons, chimpanzee and other primates which live around the swamp.

DAY 7, Kibale to Queen Elizabeth Park
Leave for Queen Elizabeth Park, passing via the Rwenzoris, or Mountains of The Moon as they are sometimes called. Continue to QE. Evening game drive. [Approximate driving time: 4 hours] .

DAY 8, In Queen Elizabeth Park
Visit Kyambura gorge to track chimpanzees, man's closest relation. In the afternoon, a game drive on your way out of the park. A boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel is a rewarding experience.  

DAY 9, Queen Elizabeth Park to Bwindi
Leave for Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. We may drive via Ishasha, weather conditions permitting where you may see tree-climbing lion - or drive through farmland to Buhoma. [Approximate driving time: 4 hours]

DAY 10, Bwindi gorilla tracking
Go gorilla tracking (subject to availability of gorilla permits at time of booking), carrying a packed lunch. You will be accompanied by a guide and porters who will carry your shoulder pack for you. You will then set off to the thick forest in search of gorillas. The terrain can be difficult, with steep slopes covered in dense vegetation that gives the park its name. In addition, the altitude of 5200 feet and more means participants do need to be physically fit. The time taken to track the gorillas varies enormously, from as little as half an hour to as much as 8-9 hours before one returns to camp. Difficulty, however, is not impossibility and coming face to face with the great primates is well worth it!

DAY 11, Bwindi to Ssese Islands on Lake Victoria
After breakfast, a gentle drive to Kampala via Masaka and onto Bukatata, a small town on Lake Victoria, take the aternoon boat to Ssese Islands.

DAY 12, In Ssese on Lake Victoria
After breakfast, relax at lodge or explore local communities, do fishing.

DAY 13, Return and fly out
Board the ship at 08h00 for Entebbe Mainland, arrive at 1100. Gentle drive to the airport in time for your flight (HB). [Approximate driving time: 30 minutes]

This 13-day safari allows visitors to see the gorillas of Bwindi, see Chimpanzees & Birds, Wildlife and Primates in Kibale, see game and do launch cruises in Murchison, Queen Elizabeth, and on Lake Albert . See the chimpanzees in Kyambura Gorge and Kibale Forest. Also see birds and enjoy a visit to the islands of Lake Bunyonyi. Tour ends with Lake Victoria's Ssese Islands, and a visit to the Source of the River Nile in Jinja can be added at the end.  

Tour Ends