Uganda
13 DAY OVERLAND EXPLORER
10 NIGHTS CAMPING 2
NIGHTS CABIN
“The Pearl
of Africa” - Uganda offers a unique diversity of
wildlife, natural beauty, and friendly inhabitants
that all combine to make the country one of Africa’s
hidden gems. This tour includes the obvious
attractions of trekking in indigenous forests to see
wild Gorilla’s and Chimpanzee’s, as well as
exploring vast water-ways, mystical villages hidden
in mist, and the lesser known sights of Tree
Climbing Lions, huge pods of Hippopotamus, and of
course the endless variety of plains animals.
This tour
endeavors to explore the scenic beauty of Uganda,
its people, and its wildlife. We will cover approx
2000km, some of it on extremely bad roads but the
rewards are unequalled.
Weather,
road, and other local conditions will influence the
route chosen on each tour and we may run the tour in
reverse if required, clients should be flexible in
this regard. Clients should be equipped with an open
mind and a spontaneous disposition in order to best
enjoy the superb offerings of Uganda.
(Clients fly into / out of
Entebbe airport and transfer to Jinja. Transfers
and pre tour nights can be booked through
Drifters at Adrift Camp. Meals are available.)
DAY 1: JINJA - LAKE
MBURO NAT. PARK
Departing
Jinja at 08h00, we make our way through the vibrant
capital city – Kampala before starting our journey
west. On our route today we will visit the drum
market, a fruit market, and we will stop at the
Equator. D
This afternoon we enter the
Lake Mburo National Park, known for its plains
game and large Hippo population – we camp the
night on the Lake shore.
DAY 2: BWINDI
IMPENETRABLE FOREST
We start the day with a game
drive / walk and then exit the park to travel
through a landscape of rolling hill’s littered
with banana plantations and herds of impressive
long-horned Ankole cattle. This afternoon we
travel on rough mountain roads, passing remote
villages – often shrouded in mist, toward the
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Our camp for the
night is at the edge of the forest. BLD
DAY 3 + 4: BWINDI
GORILLA TREK
On one of these days we
will partake in what is undoubtedly the highlight of
the tour – Gorilla Trekking! We split up into small
groups and with local guides, trek up into the
forest to locate and spend time with a family of
these few remaining wild Mountain Gorillas.
As the Gorilla permits are
limited we will allow two days for all of the
group to partake, should all permits be
available on day 4 we would visit Lake Bunyoni
on Day 3. Whilst not Gorilla trekking we will
enjoy village walks and will spend time
searching for the magnificent birds inhabiting
the fringe of the forest. BLD
DAY 5 +6: QUEEN
ELISABETH NAT. PARK - ISHASHA
Leaving the mountains and
forests behind us, we drop down to the
grasslands of the Queen Elisabeth National Park,
here we will spend two nights camping at a
remote camp. Besides abundant mammal, reptile,
and bird species, Ishasha is renowned for its
huge tree climbing Lions. We will game drive
extensively searching the tall fig tress for
Lion, and the savannah for other game.
BLD
DAY 7: Q. E. NAT.
PARK – CHIMPANZEE’S
Packing up early, we travel
across the Park and through the Maramagambo
Forest where we hope to encounter wild
Chimpanzee and an amazing variety of birdlife.
Arriving at Kyambura Gorge this afternoon, we
hike down into the Gorge with a local guide and
hope to spend some time with a habituated family
of wild Chimpanzee. (Because visitors are
limited some of our group may do this activity
the following morning.) Tonight we camp in the
Park. BLD
DAY 8: RWENZORI
MOUNTAINS
This morning we will explore
the Park further before continuing north to the
Rwenzori – “Mountains of the Moon”. After
setting up camp at a local community center, we
will enjoy a lengthy walk through numerous rural
villages and up into the forest to the Rwenzori
lookout point. Rising some 5000 meters above sea
level, the slopes of these mountains are covered
in tropical forest and yet the peaks are often
snow-capped, a bewildering sight considering
their proximity to the Equator. BLD
DAY 9: MURCHISON
FALLS NAT. PARK
An early start, we leave the
Mountains behind us and descend into the
luminous green tea plantations surrounding Fort
Portal. We cover vast distance today and mostly
on rough roads. Our destination tonight is the
Kaniyo-Pabidi camp in Murchison Falls National
Park, this camp is managed by the Jane Goodall
Institute and clients may opt for a second trek
with the Chimpanzee’s here. (Own expense).
BLD
DAY 10: MURCHISON
FALLS / VICTORIA NILE
Our first stop today is above
the Murchison Falls, a narrow gap though which
the Nile River falls 40m into the Rift Valley.
We will spend some time here exploring the
Fall’s. Next we travel downstream where we board
a boat that carries our group and equipment on a
game cruise down the Nile to our campsite near
the junction of the Victoria and Albert Nile. We
will wild camp tonight in a big game area. (At
times it may not be possible to travel by boat –
we will then drive by road.) BLD
DAY 11: ZIWA RHINO
SANCTUARY (Wednesday)
A leisurely morning, we will
enjoy the Delta before returning to our vehicle.
This afternoon we exit the Park and travel to
the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, a project established
to reintroduce Rhino into their original habitat
in protected areas. Camp the night. BLD
DAY 12: JINJA
This morning, clients who
wish to may partake in tracking Rhino on foot
through the thick bush (own expense). After
packing up camp for the last time, we set off
for Jinja where we spend our last night in
relative comfort at Adrift camp. Tonight we
enjoy an own expense dinner at the restaurant to
celebrate our adventures. BL(Dinner own
expense)
DAY 13: JINJA
Tour ends this morning
after breakfast, however the Nile River offers some
of the wildest one day White Water Rafting in the
world – a day’s adventure not to be missed. From the
Adrift camp clients are also able to spend a day
working in a local community project. Both of these
activities are optional and own expense. We advise
those that wish to enjoy either or those who simply
wish to relax at the “Source of the Nile” to book an
extra night at the camp with us. B
IF NECESSARY, WE MAY RUN
THIS ITINERARY IN THE REVERSE DIRECTION.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
For this tour, an open and
flexible mind is essential to deal with the
detours, delays and other inconveniences
encountered in Africa. We may on occasion run
this itinerary in the reverse direction. A
sleeping bag, towel and pillow are required for
this tour. Visas are required by most
nationalities for Uganda and clients are
responsible for obtaining these. Precautions
against malaria are advisable and Yellow fever
inoculations are required. A small daypack is
advisable for the treks. The recommended
currency for this tour is the US Dollar, in
small denominations - all currency notes should
be dated 2000 or later. Our price includes all
transport, accommodation, entry fees and
permits, one Gorilla trek and one Chimpanzee
trek, game drives and walks, group equipment,
professional guides and most meals. Alcohol,
soft drinks, curios, tips, visas, taxes and
optional excursions are for the clients own
expense. Before departure clients will be
required to enter into an agreement agreeing to
our booking conditions and general information.
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