Ultimate Uganda
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ULtimate UGanda A unique escorted exploration of Uganda’s wildlife & wonders 15th to 29th November 2018 & 16th February to 2nd March 2019 Queen Elizabeth National Park e are delighted to offer this new and exclusive exploration Wof Uganda devised by our field staff member, Pierre Thomas Murchison Falls National Park who will accompany the tour and share with you his passion for this UGANDA Kabwoya remarkably beautiful East African country. Despite its recent turbulent Wildlife Reserve Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary past, Uganda is experiencing a resurgence and emerging as one of the Kibale Forest National Park Kampala top safari destinations and areas that were off-limits in the past have Queen Elizabeth Entebbe National Park now become havens for wildlife that might have otherwise perished. Lake Mburo Bwindi National Park Once described by Winston Churchill as the ‘Pearl of Africa’, there is a National Park wealth of unique and awe-inspiring sights on offer: bustling cities; game- filled national parks, scenic lakes; prolific birdlife; lush forests and of course the big draw, the mountain gorilla. YOUR TOUR LEADER Highlights of the itinerary will include the spectacular Murchison Pierre Thomas Falls, Kibale Forest, boasting the highest number of primate species Born in Belgium, Pierre in the world including chimpanzees and Queen Elizabeth National moved to Zaire (the former Belgian Congo) Park with its incredibly rich biodiversity. Here we can expect to see with his family in 1978 big game including buffalo, lions and the rare Uganda kob as well as where he lived and hippos, crocodiles, waterbuck, elephants and leopard along the shores attended the Belgian School until 1989. of the Kazinga channel. We also visit Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, one Promising himself he of Africa’s most ancient and magnificent habitats and home to an would return to Africa after his studies, he incredible diversity of flora and fauna, many bird species and over half moved to Ghent, Belgium to study tropical animal husbandry, specialising in tropical fish of the world’s remaining mountain gorilla population. No amount of farming. His studies took him to Rwanda where travel books or documentaries can prepare you for your first up close he completed a five week apprenticeship encounter with one of these elusive mammals - this a powerful and in Butare, and then to Ecuador where he worked with an Aquaculture Research Centre. intimate experience only experienced by the lucky few. This second apprenticeship allowed him to discover the Galapagos Islands, and soon With fewer visitors than neighbouring Kenya and Tanzania, Uganada after he moved there permanently to work as a Naturalist Guide and Expedition Leader for offers a wonderful feeling of seclusion and, in the company of just 10 years. Since 2003, Pierre has lectured and twelve or so fellow travellers you will be able to enjoy game viewing worked within the travel industry. Nowadays and the raw beauty of the African wilderness at its most endearing. Pierre still works as a lecturer on board our expedition cruises and organises high end Added to this, we have personally selected the finest luxury lodges and motorbike expeditions and fine explorations of accommodations; all ideal places to unwind after the eventful days and the natural world. Pierre has led several tours to from which to enjoy the wonderful African hospitality. Uganda in recent years. www.noble-caledonia.co.uk Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Chimpanzee, Kibale forest Zebra, Lake Mburo National Park Hippo pod, Murchison Falls National Park Elephants THE Itinerary Day 1 London to Kampala, we continue towards Murchison where you have a perfect view of Our scenic drive passes through Uganda. Fly by scheduled flight. Falls National Park arriving in the the impressive falls. Another boat villages, lush green forests and hills Arrive this evening and transfer to afternoon at Baker’s Lodge for our safari will take us to the Nile Delta dotted with tea plantations which the Emin Pasha Hotel in Kampala, three night stay. Covering an area where the Victoria Nile flows into characterise this part of Uganda. our base for the next two nights. of over 3840 square kilometres, Lake Albert. This is a “must do” On arrival we will check in to the Murchison Falls National Park for every birdwatcher as the banks Papaya Lake Lodge, located just Day 2 Kampala. We spend the is the largest conservation area of the delta are home to hundreds outside the town of Fort Portal morning exploring Kampala in Uganda and its name derives of bird species including the rare with amazing views over one of including Kabaka’s Palace and from the famous waterfall. The and prehistoric-looking shoebill the crater lakes in this area. The the local markets before visiting Nile River divides the park into its stork. Here you will see hundreds following day we will make our a social project in the city’s slums. north and south sections and, at of hippo and maybe even bathing way to Kibale Forest National Here we will see some of the the spectacular Murchison Falls elephant and huge crocodiles. Park which boasts the highest projects designed to help the the world’s longest river explodes There will be time to relax in the number of primate species in the local residents. We will return violently through a narrow cleft comfortable lodge and soak up the world, including our delightful YOUR TOUR LEADER to the hotel for an afternoon at in the Rift Valley escarpment to surroundings or, the adventurous cousins, the chimpanzees. Today, leisure before dinner at the Ndere plunge into a frothing pool 43 may wish to take an optional hot in Uganda, there are approximately Cultural Centre where we will enjoy metres below. air balloon ride above the park with 5000 chimpanzees in the wild a performance of local music and views to the Nile, Lake Albert and which makes it a perfect place to dance. Days 4 & 5 Murchison Falls Murchison Falls and lots of wildlife spot them. An experienced forest National Park. We have two full to spot. ranger will take you chimp tracking Day 3 Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary & days in the park and a range of and en-route you might also see Murchison Falls National Park. activities will be on offer including Day 6 Kabwoya Wildlife Reserve. other monkey species that live in Today we travel north from a dawn game drive to see the After breakfast we will depart for this forest. Once located, you will Kampala to Murchison Falls animals at their most active. A Lake Albert Safari Lodge which spend time with the chimps. Since National Park. En-route we will drive through the park brings you is situated on the banks of Lake they are wild animals we can never stop at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary eye-to-eye with the African animal Albert in the Kabwoya Wildlife guarantee that you will see them where we will meet our ranger for a kingdom: elephants, giraffes, Reserve and is a convenient place so you might have to settle with safari hike during which we hope to buffaloes, lions, leopards, different to break our journey to Kibale. hearing their hoots and hollers. see the rhinos at very close range. species of antelope and many During an afternoon game drive we Our walk will take us through Kidepo Valley and Murchison Falls tropical birds. Enjoy a private will look for some of the resident grassland, small communities and National Parks once had both boat safari up the Nile River to animals including waterbuck, some beautiful scenery, where the black and white rhinos however Murchison Falls. Carefully watched duiker, buffalo, monkeys and locals are likely to greet you with widespread poaching during by crocodiles, hundreds of hippos, chimpanzees and the keen birders enthusiastic waves. It is usual to the Idi Amin era resulted in the buffaloes, water birds, monkeys may see African fish eagle and spot three to four different primate disappearance of these majestic and all the other thirsty wildlife giant kingfisher. On our return species during this walk, though animals from the wild. Founded in that the Nile attracts, you will reach we enjoy dinner at the lodge this the highlight is catching a glimpse 1998, Rhino Fund Uganda works the base of the 43 metre-high evening. of the great blue turaco. to reintroduce black and white falls which approaches you with a rhinos into Uganda and runs a thunderous sound. Upon arriving Days 7 & 8 Kibale Forest National Days 9 & 10 Queen Elizabeth breeding programme, as well as at the base of the falls you will have Park. After an early breakfast we National Park. After breakfast work to educate communities on the option of taking a tough hike will return to our vehicles and we will continue our journey to endangered rhinos. After our visit (about 1 hour) to the top, from make our way to Kibale Forest. Queen Elizabeth National Park Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Murchison Falls National Park Crane birds Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary Mountain gorilla, Bwindi National Park and check in for our two night stay boasts both mountain gorillas and Day 14 Lake Mburo National Park has left it and how long ago. It is at Mweya Safari Lodge. Queen chimpanzees - the only forest in to London. Lake Mburo National exciting to approach wildlife at Elizabeth is Uganda’s second Africa which can make this claim. Park is one of two parks in Uganda such close range. We will continue largest park, located at the base It also hosts five other species of where it is permitted to go for a after lunch to Entebbe where we of the majestic Rwenzori Mountain primate, 113 species of mammal, bush walk with an experienced join our scheduled indirect flight to Range adjacent to Lake Edward over 200 butterflies and 360 birds.