17 Days , Uganda and Rwanda
HOGLMGQKM17

Day One:

Arrive and transfer to hotel in Entebbe Windsor Lake Victoria for dinner and overnight.

Day Two:

After breakfast, start on a tour headed for L.Mburo National Park. The park is a beautiful Landscape of rolling hills and grasslands. Arrive afternoon and check in at Mantana Luxury Tented Camp. After settling in, take an evening game drive during which you will see Zebra, Impala, Topi, Eland, buffalo and waterbucks.Hippos can also be seen and with good luck, the leopards. The bird life in the park is spectacular. Hornbills, rollers, bee-eaters and weavers flit among the acacia trees while crowned cranes patrol the grasslands.

Day Three:

After breakfast, check out and take a game drive out of the park as you head for Kinigi in the Republic of Rwanda on the gateway to Volcanoes National Park and the Mountain gorillas. On the way, you will see the famous long horned cattle of Ankole, beautiful terraced hills of Kigezi highlands commonly referred to as the "Switzerland of Africa". The volcanic virungas can also be seen on a clear day. Continue to cross the boarder and drive to Kinigi for dinner and overnight at Gorilla Nest Hotel at Kinigi.

Day Four:

After breakfast, set off with your guides for a day's trek to see the endangered mountain gorillas. Spending time with gentle giants is a unique and uplifting experience. The time allowed to view the gorillas is one hour maximum each day. Return to the hotel for overnight.

Day Five:

Although the gorillas are the main attraction, the surrounding forest is incredibly diverse. It is especially rich in primates and birds. You may encounter rare golden monkeys and birds such as turacos and sunbirds. Because the park is situated on the Congo border, many of the Albertine Rift Valley endemic birds are found here. You will spend most part of the day hiking in the forest and perhaps even pay a visit to Karisoke - Dian Fossey's former residence and burial site for both she and Digit (OPTIONAL). Overnight at the Gorilla Nest Hotel.

Day Six:

After breakfast, you will depart for Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda. Queen Elizabeth National Park is located on the western end of West Africa's Great Rift Valley and is home to an amazing variety of wildlife. The drive takes you through the (southern part of Queen Elizabeth National park) Ishasha sector where, if you are lucky we can see the tree-climbing lions. It takes you through the unique western rift valley escarpment. Drive along the deep and wide dry craters that are occupied by savanna grasses and acacia. Dinner and overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge on the peninsular overlooking Lake Edward and the lush Kazinga channel.

Day Seven:

Early morning go for your game drive to catch-up with the early risers and predators returning to their hideouts. You will be likely to meet grazing hippos, elephants, lions, spotted hyenas and leopards, bushbuck, water buck and of- course the several warthogs. If you are lucky, you may see giant forest hog and leopard. Queen Elizabeth contains a myriad of birds including the huge martial fish eagle and the saddle bill stork. After lunch, have a launch cruise on the Kazinga Channel one that joins Lakes Edward and George. The cruise is wonderful way to see groups of hippo, buffalo, kob, and occasional Nile crocodile (which until recently did not inhabit this area) and a spectacular bird watching on the water bank. Return to the Mweya Safari Lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day Eight and Nine:

This day will be spent on morning and afternoon/ early evening game drives to experience more of Queen Elizabeth's remarkable wildlife. You will spend time visiting the Uganda kob mating ground to watch this fascinating behavior. The spot is also a great place to observe predators as they are drawn to the abundant, and often preoccupied antelope. You will spend another night at Mweya Safari Lodge. Mweya offers an unparalleled view from its vantage point high above the Kazinga Channel. Sitting on the veranda with a cool drink watching the wildlife activity near the water is a magical experience. After an early morning game drive and late breakfast we will depart for Kibale Forest National park. Nestled in the shadows of the Rwenzori Mountains (the famed mist shrouded "Mountains of the Moon") Kibale Forest is one of the most beautiful forest parks in Uganda. It is probably best known for its chimpanzees and contains 13 primate species; and abundant forest birds. These include; Black-and -white colobus, blue monkey, Grey -cheeked mangabey, Red-tailed monkey, bush babies and pottos. Kibale is famous for its chimpanzees and has more concentrations than any other forest. Ndali Lodge is a working farmhouse with a long colonial history. Dramatic views of the surrounding crater lakes or the Rwenzori Mountains envelope you while relaxing on your private porch. Each of the eight bungalows feature local weavings, crafts and brightly colored décor. Hot and cold running water provided in each bungalow.

Day Ten:

After early breakfast, report at Kanyanchu Tourist Centre where tourist activities begin and set out to track chimpanzee in the forest. Chances of viewing the chimps are over 90% but not a guarantee. Kibale National Park is one of the beautiful and stunning forests in Uganda. This is a home of our closest living relative the endangered Chimpanzee, the threatened Red colobus monkey and the rare I'hoesti monkey. The forest also boasts of having one of the highest diversity and density of primates in Africa totaling 13 species including the Black and white colobus, Blue monkey, Grey-cheeked mangabey, Red tailed monkey and Bush babies and pottos.

Day Eleven:

In the morning you will probably hike around the Ndali crater in search of wildlife. In the afternoon you will check out of Ndali lodge and travel to Fort portal to get a jump-start on the long journey to Murchison Falls National park. In Fort Portal you will stay at the Rwenzori View Guest house.

Day Twelve:

After breakfast, start on your long drive to Murchison Falls National park (6-7 hours). Experience the endless stretch and beauty of savannah grassland that disappears in a mirage. Have a lunch break en route and proceed to Murchison falls National Park to enter through the Bugungu gate. Cross by ferry to Paraa Safari lodge on the northern bank of the river Nile for dinner and Overnight.

Day Thirteen:

Start the day with an early morning game drive on the Buligi, Albert or Queen tracks north of the river Nile. You are able to view those animals that are unique to the African Savanna like giraffe, antelope, lion. elephant, and the Uganda Kob. After lunch, you will go for a launch cruise on the Nile River. The cruise takes to the Bottom of the thundering falls where you will see huge crocodiles, schools of hippos, buffaloes, elephants, and a variety of water birds like herons, cormorants, ducks, bee-eaters, Kingfishers, skimmers, fish eagle, and sometimes the rare shoebill. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day Fourteen:

More game drive as each day is different and provides unique opportunities to observe a diversity of species. Overnight at Paraa Safari Lodge.

Day Fifteen:

Murchison Falls National Park is named for the famous waterfalls that form as the Nile River constricts and thunders over an escarpment. You will have a chance to see the falls close up, as you drive back to Kampala via the top of Murchison Falls. Return to Kampala with picnic lunch enroute. Once in Kampala, you will be dropped off at your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day Sixteen:

Leisure stay in Kampala, activities on this day are optional. Clients can spend a day in Jinja doing white water rafting or visit Ngamba Island where orphaned chimps have been relocated, or visit Kasubi Tombs of Buganda Kings, the national museum, Cathedrals, and the bustling Nakasero market during the city tour. Overnight in Kampala.

Day Seventeen:

After breakfast, drive to the airport for home bound flight.

End of tour.