Winston Churchill dubbed Uganda the “Pearl of Africa” for good reason. This is a diverse country, green and tropical, with savannahs, forests, lakes, branches of the Nile and snow-covered peaks. We’ve partnered with the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) to develop this comprehensive itinerary that reveals wildlife and plants characteristic of both East and West Africa. Plus, seeing wild gorillas in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest has to rank among the greatest thrills in natural history!
10 Days, 9 Nights Guest Capacity 10 Guests
Trip Highlights
- Enjoy the convenience and comfort of scenic bush flights to the remote wildlife savannas of Kidepo Valley, Semliki Wildlife Reserve and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
- Track chimpanzees and gorillas on foot, take game drives among herds of buffalo and zebra and enjoy a boat cruise on Lake Albert, home to the rare shoebill.
- Discover the important work the AWF is doing in Uganda with a visit to an AWF Classroom Africa school in Kidepo Valley
- Take a scenic drive that winds through slopes of ancient volcanoes and offers panoramic views of rural Uganda.
Daily Itinerary
Uganda’s Great Apes & Wild Savannas
- Day 1 Entebbe, Uganda Sep 16 2021Arrive in Entebbe and transfer to the Protea Entebbe, overlooking the shores of Lake Victoria. Meet your AWF leader and fellow travelers for a welcome dinner. D
- Day 2-3 Kidepo Valley Sep 17 2021 to Sep 18 2021Board a bush flight to the serene Kidepo Valley in the northeastern tip of Uganda. Spend your days here enjoying extended game drives through this wildlife-rich habitat. Buffalo, zebra, waterbuck, and warthog are abundant, and so are the lions. The Apoka Safari Lodge is the only one in the park, complete with a waterhole frequented by wildlife. While in the landscape, you will visit the Karamojong tribe and the site of an AWF Classroom Africa school. B,L,D daily
- Day 4-6 Semliki Wildlife Reserve Sep 19 2021 to Sep 21 2021Fly to Kasese and then transfer by road to Kibale National Park where you’ll have an opportunity to trek chimpanzees in their natural habitat, before transferring to Semliki Wildlife Reserve where you’ll spend the next two days. Enjoy a morning boat cruise on Lake Albert in search of the elusive, prehistoric-like Shoebill and an evening game drive in search of wildlife with a sundowner. You will also have the chance to take an exploratory walk along with one of the many forest trails in Semliki – track the rare forest elephants or explore the swamp – this is one of the only places where you can walk extensively. On your final night there will be a night game drive to see the nocturnal species in the area. Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Day 7-9 Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Sep 22 2021 to Sep 24 2021Your private charter flight takes you to the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest — home to half the world’s population of mountain gorillas. A scenic drive winding through the slopes of ancient volcanoes offers panoramic vistas and a glimpse into rural community life. Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, a conservation enterprise lodge developed by AWF and owned and operated by the Nkuringo community, addresses human/gorilla conflict by building income from gorilla tourism. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the home of your two mountain gorilla treks. Tracking gorillas is a life-changing experience. Hike the steep slopes of this mountainous forest, and have an eye-to-eye encounter with these magnificent animals. B,L,D daily
- Day 10 Entebbe Sep 25 2021This morning, fly back to Entebbe and return to the Protea Hotel for lunch and relax in your dayroom before transferring to the airport for your independent homeward flight. B
What’s included in the cost of this safari expedition?
- Intra-tour airfare
- Accommodations on group dates
- Excursions, activities, and meals as listed in the itinerary
- Services of experienced English-speaking guides
- Arrival and departure transfers between the group hotel and airport regardless of day or time
- Selected beverages included with lunch and dinner
- Potable water
- Medical expense coverage and emergency evacuation insurance
- Game drives in 4×4 safari cruisers, with guaranteed window seat and no more than six people per vehicle
Accommodations
Protea Hotel
The 73-room Protea Hotel Entebbe is ideally located on the glistening shores of Lake Victoria and a convenient 1km from Entebbe International Airport. The Tides Restaurant, Terrace and Bar, serves full breakfast, lunch and dinner. Nile perch is a signature dish. Standard rooms include marble bathroom, hair dryer, in-room safe, coffee and tea maker, AC, TV with cable, free Wi-Fi and a mini-bar.
Apoka Safari Lodge
The large, spacious rooms at Apoka were built with comfort in mind. The canvas tents feature handmade furniture created by by local craftsmen, with big hand-carved beds with soft duvets, hand-woven woolen carpets, extra large plush towels, and over-sized dressing gowns. You’ll have plenty of places to relax and enjoy the views, with comfy sitting areas and a private veranda with your own outdoor bathtub! Another unqiue feature at Apoka is the inviting swimming pool that has been carved out of a giant rock.
Semliki Safari Lodge
Semliki Safari Lodge in Semliki Wildlife Reserve is a secluded and intimate lodge, with a maximum of only 18 guests. It is surrounded by trails of riverine forest and savannah where the wildlife is plentiful. The main lodge has a soaring thatched roof and contains a lounge area with inviting armchairs and sofas, as well as the dining area. It is lit by lanterns and open to the elements on one side allowing guests to feel connected to surrounding environment. Guests stay in golden-hued tents with thick thatched roofs and hardwood floors. Each tent features an en-suite bathroom with running water, hot showers and flush toilets. Staying under canvas on safari in Africa is a wonderful experience – hearing the sounds of the wildlife, feeling the wind and even smelling the rain. Tea or coffee is brought to you in the morning so you can start the day sitting on the veranda enjoying the views.
Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge
Set on a forested ridge near the entrance to the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge boasts eight spacious cottages built from volcanic stone. Spectacular views stretch all the way to the Virunga Volcanoes of Rwanda, as well as across the border into the Congo, where the glow of Nyiragongo Volcano can be seen on a clear night. Warm and welcoming, each cottage features a bedroom, ensuite bathroom with walk-in shower and separate lounge. Comfortable chairs on the outdoor verandas provide the perfect vantage point to admire the unforgettable vistas of the forest below. Blazing fireplaces create a cosy glow as evening falls.
Trip Highlights
- Enjoy the convenience and comfort of scenic bush flights to the remote wildlife savannas of Kidepo Valley, Semliki Wildlife Reserve and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
- Track chimpanzees and gorillas on foot, take game drives among herds of buffalo and zebra and enjoy a boat cruise on Lake Albert, home to the rare shoebill.
- Discover the important work the AWF is doing in Uganda with a visit to an AWF Classroom Africa school in Kidepo Valley
- Take a scenic drive that winds through slopes of ancient volcanoes and offers panoramic views of rural Uganda.