ULTIMATE UGANDA A unique escorted exploration of Uganda’s wildlife & wonders 25th November to 9th December 2021; 29th January to 12th February & 26th November to 10th December 2022 Queen Elizabeth National Park e are delighted to offer this exclusive exploration of Uganda devised by our field staff member, Pierre Thomas who will Murchison alls W ational Park accompany the tour and share with you his passion for this remarkably UGANDA Ziwa Rhino anctuar beautiful East African country. Despite its recent turbulent past, Uganda Hoima Kiale orest is experiencing a resurgence and emerging as one of the top safari ational Park Kampala destinations and areas that were off-limits in the past have now become ueen Eliaeth Entee ational Park havens for wildlife that might have otherwise perished. Once described Lake Muro Bwindi ational Park by Winston Churchill as the ‘Pearl of Africa’, there is a wealth of unique ational Park 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 moved to Zaire (the in the world including chimpanzees and Queen Elizabeth National 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 no more 10 years. Since 2003, Pierre has lectured and than twelve 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 or best available; all ideal places to unwind after the the natural world. Pierre has led several tours to eventful days and 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 endangered rhinos. After our visit Murchison Falls. Carefully watched make our way to Kibale Forest. THE ITINERARY we continue towards Murchison by crocodiles, hundreds of hippos, Our scenic drive passes through Day 1 London to Kampala, Falls National Park arriving in the buffaloes, water birds, monkeys villages, lush green forests and hills Uganda. Fly by scheduled flight. afternoon at Baker’s Lodge for our and all the other thirsty wildlife dotted with tea plantations which Arrive this evening and transfer to three night stay. Covering an area that the Nile attracts, you will reach characterise this part of Uganda. the Emin Pasha Hotel in Kampala, of over 3840 square kilometres, the base of the 43 metre-high On arrival we will check in to the our base for the next two nights. Murchison Falls National Park falls which approaches you with a Papaya Lake Lodge, located just is the largest conservation area thunderous sound. Upon arriving outside the town of Fort Portal Day 2 Kampala. We spend the in Uganda and its name derives at the base of the falls you will have with amazing views over one of morning exploring Kampala from the famous waterfall. The the option of taking a tough hike the crater lakes in this area. The including Kabaka’s Palace and Nile River divides the park into its (about 1 hour) to the top, from following day we will make our the local markets before visiting north and south sections and, at where you have a perfect view of way to Kibale Forest National a social project in the city’s slums. the spectacular Murchison Falls the impressive falls. Another boat Park which boasts the highest Here we will see some of the the world’s longest river explodes safari will take us to the Nile Delta number of primate species in the projects designed to help the violently through a narrow cleft where the Victoria Nile flows into world, including our delightful local residents. We will return in the Rift Valley escarpment to Lake Albert. This is a “must do” cousins, the chimpanzees. Today, to the hotel for an afternoon at plunge into a frothing pool 43 for every birdwatcher as the banks in Uganda, there are approximately leisure before dinner at the Ndere metres below. of the delta are home to hundreds 5000 chimpanzees in the wild Cultural Centre where we will enjoy of bird species including the rare which makes it a perfect place to a performance of local music and and prehistoric-looking shoebill spot them. An experienced forest dance. stork. Here you will see hundreds ranger will take you chimp tracking of hippo and maybe even bathing and en-route you might also see Day 3 Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary & elephant and huge crocodiles. other monkey species that live in Murchison Falls National Park. There will also be time to relax in this forest. Once located, you will Today we travel north from the comfortable lodge and soak up spend time with the chimps. Since Kampala to Murchison Falls the surroundings. they are wild animals we can never National Park. En-route we will guarantee that you will see them stop at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary Day 6 Hoima. After another so you might have to settle with where we will meet our ranger for a Lioness morning game drive and brunch at hearing their hoots and hollers. safari hike during which we hope to Baker’s Lodge we will proceed to Our walk will take us through see the rhinos at very close range. Days 4 & 5 Murchison Falls Hoima, the centre of the Bunyoro grassland, small communities and Kidepo Valley and Murchison Falls National Park. We have two full Kingdom. The Bunyoro tribe is some beautiful scenery, where the National Parks once had both days in the park and a range of famous for their great hospitality, locals are likely to greet you with black and white rhinos however activities will be on offer including traditions and unique tribe names enthusiastic waves. It is usual to widespread poaching during a dawn game drive to see the – you will probably get one too spot three to four different primate the Idi Amin era resulted in the animals at their most active. A after spending some time with the species during this walk, though disappearance of these majestic drive through the park brings you locals. A BBQ is waiting for us this the highlight is catching a glimpse animals from the wild. Founded in eye-to-eye with the African animal evening at the Kontiki Hotel where of the great blue turaco. 1998, Rhino Fund Uganda works kingdom: elephants, giraffes, we will spend the night. to reintroduce black and white buffaloes, lions, leopards, different Days 9 & 10 Queen Elizabeth rhinos into Uganda and runs a species of antelope and many Days 7 & 8 Kibale Forest National National Park. After breakfast breeding programme, as well as tropical birds. Enjoy a private Park. After an early breakfast we we will continue our journey to work to educate communities on boat safari up the Nile River to will return to our vehicles and Queen Elizabeth National Park Murchison Falls National Park Crane birds Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary Mountain gorilla, Bwindi National Park and check in for our two night stay one of nine habituated family be missed. From footprints and after lunch to Entebbe where we at Mweya Safari Lodge. Queen groups who can tolerate the animal droppings the ranger will join our scheduled indirect flight Elizabeth is Uganda’s second presence of humans for a brief be able to tell you which animal to London. largest park, located at the base period every day. Our track will be has left it and how long ago. It is of the majestic Rwenzori Mountain an exciting journey along forested exciting to approach wildlife at Day 15 London. Arrive this Range adjacent to Lake Edward slopes, entwined vines, bushes such close range. We will continue morning. and Lake George. Here we will and bamboo before we eventually take a private boat safari along reach the gorilla family. The time the Kazinga Channel which joins taken to track the gorillas can be Lake George and Lake Albert.