GORILLAS AND WILDLIFE OF

PREMIUM ADVENTURE ITINERARY

UGANDA IS REKNOWN FOR ITS ABUDANT WILDIFE AND LUSH FORESTS HOME TO MOUNTAIN AND CHIMPS. THIS TRIP COMBINES AN INCREDIBLE ADVENTURE IN THE WILDERNESS WITH THE COMFORT OF SELECTED LUXURY LODGES, NESTLED IN THE BEAUTIFUL NATURAL SETTINGS OF THE UGANDAN NATIONAL PARKS.

WE VISIT THE REMARKABLE MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK, THE MOST PROLIFIC PARK IN UGANDA WHERE WE WALK TO THE TOP OF THE WATERFALLS AND WATCH THE SUN SETTING OVER THE . IS THE BEST DESTINATION TO TRACK THE ELUSIVE WHILE QUEEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK IS HOME TO HOPPOS, ELEPHANTS, BUFFALO, LEOPARDS AND TREE CLIMBING AS WELL AS A HUGE VARIETY OF . FINALLY, WALKING UP THE DENSELY FORESTED HILLS OF BWINDI, WE ARE REWARDED WITH THE MOST AMAZING ENCOUNTER – WE SEE THE GORILLAS IN THEIR NATURAL HABITAL – THE PERFECT CONCLUSION TO AN UNGORGETTABLE WILDLIFE EXPERIENCE. Day 1

Depart London.

Day 2

Today we arrive at Kampala and those on the group flights will be transferred to the start hotel. Day at leisure to enjoy the hotel facilities or to explore the city.

Day 3

After breakfast we head to Murchison Falls National Park. Arguably one of the most spectacular parks in Africa, Murchison Falls is the largest and one of the oldest conservation areas in Uganda. The park is bisected by the Nile River which forces its course through a narrow gorge, to fall impetuously into an impressive escarpment 43 meters below, forming the famous waterfalls which give the name to the park. Visited by famous people such as Winston Churchill and Theodore Roosvelt, the park has sadly experienced terrible massacres by poachers in the past, but has recovered throughout the last century becoming one of the most prolific areas in East Africa.

Day 4

We start our day with an early morning game drive in the southern area of the park. Murchison Falls NP is home to a healthy population of elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, lions, hippos, Nile crocodiles, primates and a big variety of birds and antelope species and on our long game drive today we try to spot as much wildlife as we can. In the afternoon we go on a boat trip to get another perspective of this spectacular park and to discover the species which inhabit the banks of the mighty Nile River. We then leave our boat and walk on top of the impressive Murchison Waterfalls. This is an easy, pleasant walk which lasts approximately one hour with beautiful views of the falls and the lush forest. Once we arrive on top of the waterfalls, we take some time to relax and enjoy the fantastic scenery, while we wait for the sun to set over the Nile. After sunset, we are transferred back to our lodge.

Day 5

After another early start we get on a ferry and head to Kibale Forest NP. This park is renowned for its incredibly beautiful rainforest and its lush vegetation is home to 13 different species of primates, including the elusive chimpanzees. After our lunch in Fort Portal, we arrive to Kibale Forest NP and have time to relax and enjoy our beautiful lodge or to explore the nearby Crater Lake.

Day 6

Kibale NP is one for the best destinations in Africa to track chimps, the closest relative to humans. On our trek we try to see as many primates as we can and to observe their behaviour in their natural habitat. The trek itself is incredible, as we walk through the beautiful lush rainforest and we hear the sound of the wildlife that inhabits the area. In the afternoon we walk to Bigodi, whose wetland is home to more than 200 species of swamp birds and here we learn about some of the community projects financed by tourism to protect this beautiful ecosystem and help the local communities.

Day 7

After breakfast we head to Queen Elizabeth NP, passing through the rolling foot hills of mount Rwenzori. On our first game drive in the area we hope to spot the lions which inhabit the Kasenyi plains and the abundant wildlife of the Mweya Peninsula. Queen Elizabeth National Park is renowned for its impressive variety of habitats and the ecosystems which range from savannah to rainforest, from swamps to volcanic craters. The and Lake George make the views over the Rift Valley particularly stunning and due to this incredibly vast array of different ecosystems, this park counts one of the highest ratings in the world with approximately 100 species of and a remarkable 600 species of birds. In the afternoon we spot this abundant wildlife as we take a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel.

Day 8

Today we do a morning excursion to Kyambura Gorge, where we have another chance to track the fast moving and elusive chimpanzees. The chimp population is quite mobile and the chances to spot primates are unpredictable, however the walk is enchanting. In the afternoon we go for a game drive or a nature walk in Maramagambo forest

Day 9

We have another early start to maximise the chance to see widlife. Today we head on to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, stopping for a game drive in the southern part of Queen Elizabeth Park known as Isasha sector. This part of Queen Elizabeth is well known for the tree climbing lions, Giant forest hogs, elephants and buffaloes. After the game drive, we have lunch and then drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest passing through the Kihihi villages. Bwindi NP boasts a unique ecosysyem and is renowned to be home to half of the world's population of the endangered Mountain gorillas.

Day 10

Today is spent tracking the Mountain gorillas, certainly one of the highlights of our trip, often described as the ultimate wildlife experience. We walk up steep densely forested hills before finally coming across the gorillas camouflaged in the vegetation, a truly inspiring moment! Tracking in Bwindi requires stamina and can often take most of the day, therefore a certain degree of physical fitness and patience is required for this remarkable trek. We can venture to within eight metres of families with reasonable safety as, in spite of their reputation, they are gentle creatures and are not known to attack unless very severely provoked. Also, we do not venture any closer because the gorillas are very susceptible to human disease. Therefore, please note that anyone with cold or any similar ailment may not be allowed near the gorillas.

Day 11

Today we head back to Kampala, stopping en route in Mbarara for lunch. We arrive at our hotel in the evening.

Day 12

The tour ends in Kampala for the land only clients, those on the group flights will be transferred to the airport for their return flight to London.