Safaris

Small group tailor made safari exploring all of my favourite places in Uganda "The Pearl of Africa". Travelling in Land Cruisers with a pop-up tops making wildlife viewing and photography easy and comfortable. Experienced guides. Small group means our itinerary is flexible giving us the chance to make the most of any opportunities that arise. This itinerary is jammed packed with adventures with more inclusions than any other trip I know of. You will experience 6 National Parks, many morning and afternoon game drives, a night game drive, walking safari, walking with rhino, four boat trips, tracking lion, chimpanzee and gorilla, a typical luwombo african meal and a range of accommodation to add to your experience and all meals whilst on safari.

Gorilla permits are issued in a capped daily number. Therefore it is a first in basis. Booking as soon as possible is advised to avoid disappointment. The cost of the permit is US$700 (included in the price) and is non refundable.

Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions.

Day 1 ARRIVAL IN TO ENTEBBE

Arrival at Entebbe International Airport. You will be welcomed and transferred to your hotel.Orientation meeting will be held this evening with our guide. No meals are included on this day as everyone will be arriving at different times. Meals will  be available at our hotel restaurant if needed. There is also the option of going to a pork joint for dinner if everyone agrees.

Accommodation Boma Hotel Entebbe

Day 2 ENTEBBE – WALKING WITH RHINO - MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK

After breakfast our safari begins as we make our way to Murchison Falls NP, on the way we visit the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary where we have the amazing experience of walking up close with the Rhino. We walk with a guide who informs us about the rhino and their habitat. After lunch we continue on our way to MFNP and our lodge for the next few days. Pakuba Safari Lodge is located with in the park. It is not unusual to see the wildlife walking through the grounds. The lodge is on elevated land with views of the river. The lodge has a swimming pool. Murchison Falls National Park is the largest conservation area in Uganda.

(B,L,D) Accommodation Pakuba Safari Lodge

DAY 3 MORNING GAME DRIVE &  AFTERNOON BOAT CRUISE TO MURCHISON FALLS - AFTERNOON GAME DRIVE

After an early morning breakfast, we will enjoy a half-day game drive on the northern bank of the Nile. Game includes to name a few elephant, giraffe, hartebeest, leopard, lions, antelope, waterbucks, warthog, buffalo, hippo, crocodile and a variety of savannah woodland and water birds just to name a few.

After lunch we will go on a Nile River cruise to the base of the Murchison Falls for game viewing at close quarters. Watch hippos resting out of the sun, elephants coming to drink and crocodiles lying at the shores line. We will continue with an afternoon game drive enjoying sundowners on the way.

(B,L,D) Accommodation Pakuba Safari Lodge

Day 4 MORNING DELTA CRUISE & MORNING AFTERNOON AND NIGHT GAME DRIVES

Up early to see the sunrise and take an early morning Delta cruise along the Nile River. Along with the viewing of life on the river bank the highlight is the chance of seeing the mysterious and elusive Shoebill. The rest of the day gives us time to fully explore the rest of the park to search for the elusive leopard. Head out after dinner for a night game drive you never know what we will see with nocturnal behaviour.

(B,L,D) Accommodation Pakuba Safari Lodge

Day 5 MURCHISON FALLS NP – KIBALE FOREST NATIONAL PARK

After breakfast we will depart Murchison Falls NP and head west to Kibale National Park via Fort Portal. It is a full day drive but with plenty of wildlife and changing landscape to see on the way.

(B,L,D) Accommodation Chimpanzee Guest House

DAY 6 KIBALE FOREST – CHIMPANZEE TRACKING - QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK

Today the forest opens its doors for sensational chimp tracking. Kibale Forest is reputable of having the greatest variety and highest concentration of primates in East Africa. Enjoy a guided nature walk in the tropical rainforest in search of the wild chimpanzee, red-tailed monkey, black-and-white colobus monkey. Time with the chimpanzee is 1 hour and the trip can take 3-4 hours depending where in the forest they are. For this activity you will need long pants tucked in to long socks. Good hiking boots. Long sleeved top (and usually a lightweight rain jacket).

We will then transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park with lunch on the way. Again the scenery will change offering yet another side to Uganda.

(B,L,D) Accommodation Bush Lodge QENP

Day 7 QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK - ALL DAY GAME DRIVES

Queen Elizabeth National Park is overwhelming and diverse: green savannah plains with small acacia and euphorbia trees, crater lakes, salt pans and swamps, bounded by the snow-covered peaks of the Rwenzori Mountains. The park is home to 95 types of mammals and over 600 bird species,

The day begins early as we start with a morning game drive as the park wakes up. Lion and Leopard can often be seen sleeping in the Euphorbia. In the afternoon we will explore the crater lakes and salt pans. Afternoon game drive before heading back to the lodge.

(B,L,D) Accommodation Bush Lodge QENP

DAY 8 QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK MORNING GAME DRIVE TRACKING LION AFTERNOON KAZINGA CHANNEL CRUISE SALT PANS

Starting the day with an early morning game drive tracking the lions of Queen Elisabeth with a lion researcher. This enables us to go off track as we pick up the signals from the lion’s collars. Often spotting evidence of the nights hunting.

In the afternoon we take a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, a natural channel between Lake Edward and Lake George. The boat travels close to the shore line giving us fantastic photographic opportunities. Thanks to the abundant birdlife, elephants, crocodiles, buffaloes and hippos that are cooling off at the shores edge this cruise will definitely be one of the highlights of our safari. Afternoon game drive back to our lodge for dinner.

(B,L,D) Accommodation Bush Lodge QENP

DAY 9 QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK - TREE CLIMBING LIONS – BWINDI NATIONAL PARK

After an early breakfast we head south, passing through the southern sector of the national park known as Ishasha. Ishasha is famous for the tree climbing lions an amazing sight if we are lucky. We will take a packed lunch and eat it by the hippo pools. After a game drive filled with the anticipation of seeing these famous lions we continue to Bwindi, home of the endangered mountain gorillas. Tonight, we ensure our camera batteries are fully charge as the excitement builds for tomorrows encounter!

(B,L,D) Accommodation Gorilla Lodge

DAY 10 BWINDI IMPENETRABLE NATIONAL PARK - GORILLA TRACKING

An absolute highlight of your safari. A meeting with the gentle giants of Bwindi gorilla tracking in the beautiful ecosystem of the Bwindi National Park. Expect to walk a long distance in steep and muddy conditions, sometimes with rain overhead before you encounter any gorillas. (that is as bad as it gets but still very doable. I have done this tracking in all conditions and everyone’s fitness level is catered for) But it will definitely be worthwhile as you observe them closely while they eat, play and rest. A unique and unforgettable experience! For this activity you will need long pants tucked in to long socks. Good hiking boots. Long sleeved top and a rain jacket. We use local porters as a way of supporting the community which has reduced poaching in the park. They carry our back packs which will have our lunch, water and give us a push or pull if needed along the way. We will also take a walking pole, which we can borrow from our lodge. Tracking time is variable from my own experiences it can take from 30mins to 4 hours to find the gorillas. The time it takes to find them has no bearing on the time spent with them which is 1 hour. A good level of fitness is needed – please send me an email if you have any questions about this and I can put your mind at rest. Being with the gorillas is one of the most peaceful experiences.

(B,L,D) Accommodation Gorilla lodge

I just want to emphasise the point that limited permits are issued daily for the gorilla and chimpanzee tracking.  The number of people allowed interaction is controlled for the benefit of the animals.

DAY 11 BWINDI NATIONAL PARK –  LAKE MBURO NATIONAL PARK - GAME WALK - AFTERNOON GAME DRIVE

Breakfast and then we head to our 6th National park on this trip. Lunch today will be an authentic Luwombo African meal. This afternoon we head out with a ranger for a game walk. Possibly seeing zebra for the first time. It’s a wonderful experience walking amongst the wildlife. An afternoon game drive takes us to our lodge for dinner.

(B,L,D) Accommodation Eagles Nest Lodge

DAY 12  MBURO NATIONAL PARK - MABAMBA SWAMP – ENTEBBE

After breakfast we make our way back to Entebbe. First stopping at the equator where you can see water running both clockwise and anticlockwise. Then this afternoon we head out in wooden boats through the Mabamba swamp to search for shoebill. It’s a beautiful location and the perfect way to end the trip. We then make our way back to Entebbe for our last night of the safari filled with amazing memories.

(B,L,D) Accommodation Boma Hotel Entebbe

Day 13 DEPARTURE

After breakfast – we will then check out and be transferred to the Entebbe International Airport for our International Flights back home. (B)

Trip Notes

Pricing for this trip is US$6595.00 per person on twin share basis. Single supplement is available at US$850.00

A deposit of 40% is payable to secure your spot on this safari. This buys our gorilla and chimpanzee permits, other activities and puts a hold on our accomodation. The balance is due no later than 1st September 2023.

If you are happy to share accommodation with someone (same sex) just let me know and I will try and match up people to save this additional cost – I am always looking for someone to share with.

The price includes

• transfers to and from airport on arrival and departures days in Uganda

• Land cruiser safari vehicles

• the services of an experienced guide

• 12 nights accommodation – any changes to lodges will be notified two weeks before first day of the safari.

• all meals as stated in itinerary

• water in the land cruisers for drinking throughout the day

• entry and national park permits to 6 National Parks

• all morning and afternoon game drives listed in itinerary

• Night game drive

• Gorilla tracking permit US$700.00

• Porterage whilst gorilla tracking

• Chimpanzee tracking permit US$200.00

• Rhino game walk experience

• Murchison Fall cruise

• Nile Delta cruise

• Kazinga Channel cruise

• Lion tracking drive experience

• Searching for the Ishasha Tree Climbing Lions

• Lake Mburo game walk experience

• Luwombo African lunch

• Swamp wooden boat ride to search for shoebill

At the end of the trip it is expected that we will collect a tip for the guide we have had for the safari this is solely based on whatever amount you wish to give. A standard guide is US$10-15 a day/per person but this is only a guide and the tip is completely voluntary. It can be given individually or as a group.

NOT INCLUDED

Please note that international flights to and from Uganda are not included. You will need to fly in to Entebbe International Airport on Day 1 of the trip and depart on day 13 of the trip.

Not included – alcohol/drinks with meals, personal expenses, snacks, travel insurance, visa, airfares, vaccinations, meals not stated in itinerary, laundry.

You will also need to provide a copy of your travel insurance for this trip. This is to be supplied before departure. Travel insurance is compulsory. Any client not able to provide insurance details will not be permitted to travel on the tour.

A yellow fever certificate is mandatory for entry and exit to Uganda. This certificate also needs to be presented when entering your home country.

A visa is needed for travel to Uganda for most countries. This can now be done easily online. It is currently US$50. Please make sure this is done at least three weeks before departure just in case there are problems. https://visas.immigration.go.ug/

Bookings for any trip is dependent on the  availability of the Chimp and Gorilla permits. A set number is issued each day so booking early will ensure you can do these activities. Please do not book your flights until the permits have been confirmed. If there is an increase in the price for gorilla and chimp permits by the Ugandan Government the difference will need to be paid by the client.

All prices for this trip are quoted in US$.

Accomodation is a guide and will be confirmed before departure and you will receive a list of accommodations and contact information.

If you have any questions at all big or small, please do not hesitate to call me 61 0437 893 932 or email inspiredbymichelle@gmail.com If you would like to book, then just let me know. I will arrange for an invoice to be sent to you. On confirmation of booking I will send through a suggested packing list.