15-DAY TRIP TO WESTERN UGANDA

Please see below the details of my intended 15-day trip to Murchison Falls National Park, Kibale Forest National Park, Semliki National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Bunyonyi, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park complete with accommodation details and activities.

Day 1- Travel from Kampala to Murchison Falls National Park

Set-off from Kampala-Entebbe Airport to Murchison Falls National Park via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for at least a two-hour lunch break at either Amuka Lodge or Ziwa Rhino Lodge and track rhinos then proceed to Murchison Falls National Park through the Kichumbanyobo gate and have accommodation and dinner in any of the following lodges Paraa Safari Lodge, Nile Safari Lodge or Baker’s Lodge.

Day 2- Morning Game Drive and Afternoon Boat Cruise

Early morning game drive viewing on the Buligi Peninsula, expecting to see elephant, buffalo, antelopes, giraffe, lion and leopard Etc.

An afternoon boat cruise upriver from Paraa to see Murchison Falls at the head of the Fajao Gorge and 3-hour return trip passing riverside seeing hippos, Nile crocodiles, elephants and buffalo. Then back to the accommodation facility for dinner and sleep over.

Day 3-Travel to Kibale Forest National Park through Kagadi Town

Travel to Kibale Forest National Park via Hoima with at least 2-hour stop over and lunch break in Kagadi Town at Empango Restaurant. Then proceed to Kibale Forest National Park and have accommodation and dinner in any of the facilities Primate Lodge, Chimpundu Lodge, Kibale Guest Cottages.

Day 4-Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest National Park and Bigodi Community Visit

First activity tracking chimpanzees in the morning then have a lunch break at the lodge.

Afternoon community visit to Bigodi Community Centre where we shall have activities like birding in the Bigodi wetland spotting other animal species like black colobus monkeys, visit KAFRED, Bigodi Women’s group then return back to accommodation lodge in Kibale Forest National Park.

Day 5-Travel to Semliki National Park through Fort Portal city

Travel day from Kibale Forest National Park to Semliki National Park through Fort Portal city with a two-hour break at Café de Forte. Then proceed to Semliki National Park to have an experience of the male (Bintente) and female (Nyansimbi) hot springs not excluding the alluring bird species with Albertine Rift endemics. Have a night rest at any of the accommodations around the park Semliki Safari Lodge or Kyaninga Lodge.

Day 6-Travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park through Kyambura

Travel from Semliki National Park to Queen Elizabeth National Park via Kyambura for a lunch break at Kyambura Gorge Lodge or Kyambura Tented Camp. Have an afternoon crater drive visiting Lake Nyamununka (animal clinic), Lake Buyampaka, Lake Katwe (salt mining) and wind up with Lake Munyanyange viewing the seasonal Flamingo birds that fly from Lake Natron, and Nakuru in Kenya. Then proceed to accommodations like Mweya Safari Lodge, Tembo, Pumba Safari Cottages, Elephant Plains for dinner and a night rest.

Day 7-Early Morning game drive in the Kasenyi plains and an afternoon boat cruise on Kazinga channel

Early morning game drive in the Kasenyi plains viewing resident Uganda Kob, Buffalo, Elephant, leopard, lion and the south most sector Ishasha which offers tree climbing lions.

A 2-hour afternoon boat cruise on the Kazinga channel for a 40km launch voyage between Myeya and the channels entrance into Lake Edward cruises beside banks lined with resident hippos, crocodiles, water birds, visiting elephants, buffalo and antelopes.

Day 8-Travel to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park via Kihihi

Travel to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park via Ishasha with a 2-hour break at Kihihi Travelers Inn and accommodation at any of the following lodges Buhoma Lodge, Mahogany Springs, Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge for a night rest.

Day 9-Morning Gorilla tracking and afternoon Batwa Community walk

Morning mountain gorilla tracking for about 4 hours depending on how far the family has moved with a magical one hour with the gorilla family. This activity will be determined by the trailheads that will have been chosen in northwest Buhoma, Ruhija, Nkuringo and Rushaga.

The afternoon community walks through forest edge villages providing an insight into the lives of the local Batwa (Pygmy) and Bakiga peoples. Then have dinner and an overnight at the specified lodge.

Day 10-Travel to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park via Kisoro Town

Morning travel to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park about an hour drive from Rushaga via Kisoro to the park headquarters at Ntebeko. Follow a trail and have an hour again with a family of gorillas off the slopes of the Virungas.

After a break then have an afternoon golden monkey tracking experience through the bamboo habitat on the slopes of Mt. Gahinga for an hour then proceed to the accommodation facility in any of the following Mount Gahinga Lodge or Mutanda Lake resort for dinner and night rest.

Day 11-Travel to Lake Bunyonyi

Travel to Lake Bunyonyi eastward Mgahinga Gorilla National Park visit islands like the Punishment island, Bwamba island a handcraft center for the disabled in the morning.

Then paddle a dugout canoe in the afternoon hours and spend a night at Bunyonyi Safari Resort have dinner and rest.

Day 12-Travel to Lake Mburo National Park via Ntungamo

Travel to Lake Mburo National Park via Ntungamo and have a two-hour break in Mbarara at Hotel Triangle then proceed to Lake Mburo National Park and have accommodation at either Mihingo Lodge or Rwakobo Rock for dinner and sleep over.

Day 13-Morning horseback safaris and afternoon Mountain biking

Have morning on foot or horseback safaris on the grassy ridges in the eastern part of Lak e Mburo and have chance to see many zebras, Impala and Eland.

Have an afternoon mountain biking experience offered by the Rwakobo Rock and Leopard Tail Rest Camp at the Nshara gate. Then return to Mihingo or Rwakobo Rock lodge for dinner and sleep over.

Day 14-Salt lick walks in Lake Mburo National Park and afternoon birding experience

Still in Lake Mburo, have salt lick walks in the morning exploring the park around Rwonyo, culminating in a visit to a natural Salt Lake where wildlife can be viewed from a timber observation platform and have a lunch break at the lodge.

Visit the prime area for birding to see the African finfoot bird in the Rwonyo launch and the lake’s northern fringe of papyrus wetland. Then back to the lodge for dinner and sleep over.

Day 15-Departure to Kampala via Masaka and Equator monument at Kayabwe

Departure to Kampala via Masaka with a stopover at the Equator monument at Kikutuzi-Mpigi district, Kayabwe with a lunch break at Flamingoz Joint restaurant in Kayabwe. Take photos and buy some souvenirs.

Then proceed to Kampala and then to an accommodation facility in Entebbe before departure.