Uganda

Upon your arrival at the Entebbe International Airport, you will be welcomed by a Rahhalah representative, and will be transferred to the hotel. Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.

Accommodation: Airport Link Guest House or similar.

Today, you will head to the Murchison Falls National Park: Uganda's largest national park, approx. 3,893 sq. km., bisected from east to west by the Victoria Nile. Along the way, you will have the opportunity to admire some of the natural wonders that turn Uganda into the pearl of Africa.

Before reaching Murchison Falls National Park, you will detour into the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, where you will track white rhinos.

Once at the National Park and before crossing to the northern sector, you will visit the top of the falls. There, you will feel your breath taken away by the force, the sound and the speed of the Nile River as it is pushed through a small gap between the rocks. If you are afraid of heights, you may avoid standing close to the edge, but for those who dare, this promises to be a spectacular experience you will never forget!

Driving time: around 7 hours.

Accommodation: Fort Murchison or similar.

You will start the day with an early-morning game drive in the northern circuit of the park. There, among the beautiful, rolling plains, you may encounter lions, giraffes, hartebeest, buffalos, elephants, bushbuck, spotted hyenas, wild cats, leopards as well as many other mammals residing in the park. For the birders, this area hosts secretary birds, black-chested snake eagles, tawny and marshal eagles along carmine and swallow-tailed bee-eaters and many other species.

In the afternoon, you will go for a boat trip to the bottom of the Murchison Falls where you will admire the Nile as it thunders through a small, 7-meter gap down to the delta. The banks of the Nile are home to many animals and bird species. You may see huge Nile crocodiles, hippos and other wildlife that may approach to drink from the river. Keep your camera handy so that you can capture these magical moments!

Game drive: approximately 2-3 hours.
Boat ride to the bottom of the Falls: 2-3 hours.

Accommodation: Fort Murchison or similar.

Early in the morning, you will head to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The distance is relatively long and may feel strenuous; however, it will give you an authentic feel of Uganda’s countryside, and will help you further understand the patience required to observe and study nature. On the way, there will be regular stopovers to admire the Rift Valley escarpments, the lakes, the birdlife and local villages.
Upon arrival, the fatigue from the long drive will disappear, as you will start enjoying the breeze and beauty of the park’s scenery.

Driving time: 8-9 hours.

Accommodation: The Bush Lodge or similar.

Very early in the morning, you will go on a game drive in the Kasenyi plains to see various animals such as elephants, buffaloes and antelopes. Lions are elusive cats and chances of sighting them during the normal game drives are usually limited. To enhance the chances of seeing them, you will track lions during the game drive in the Kasenyi plains. The activity of tracking lions is done with the help of rangers who have devices that help trace lions and other cats such as leopards.

After the game drive and the lion tracking, you will embark on the journey to the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

The drive time from Queen Elizabeth/ Kyambura is about 3-5 hours.

Accommodation: Ride 4 a Woman/ Gorilla Valley Lodge or similar

Early in the morning, you will embark on your gorilla trekking adventure. This unique activity takes you through densely forested, steep hills until you finally meet these tranquil giants. The moment you set eyes on them will be etched in your memory for life, and the emotions cannot be described in words.

While entering the forest, you will first walk on a human-made trail, but later you will veer off to follow tracks left by forest elephants. The canopy will envelop you entirely with rare and exotic flora sprouting from every side. This is a challenging trek since it involves hiking through steep ascents and tangled trails.

Once gorillas are located, you will be allowed a maximum of one hour at their vicinity, before walking out of the dense forest.

In the evening, you will enjoy a cultural experience with the Batwa: former inhabitants of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest who maintained until recently a hunter-gatherer economy. For conservation purposes, they have been relocated outside the forest and are now adapting to their new life. Their lifestyle sheds light to the earliest years of humans on earth before the agricultural revolution. Connecting with them, as they showcase their traditional hunting skills, fire-making techniques, and dances, is not only educational but profoundly exciting.

Gorilla trekking time is usually between 2-6 hours, but may even be longer depending on the behavior of the gorillas and their interactions with other gorilla families.

Accommodation: Ride 4 a Woman/ Gorilla Valley Lodge or similar

After the memorable expeditions of the last few days, it is time to bid Western Uganda goodbye and return to Kampala to catch your flight back home. This time, you will traverse the rolling hills and mountains of Kigezi and Ankole region, passing by valleys, lakes such as Bunyonyi, and forested areas, enjoying magnificent panoramic views.

You will also make a brief stop at the equator crossing to take a few photos and engage in typical, equator-themed experiments (like pouring water in a basin, observing how it swirls in opposite directions above or below the equator line).

Optional: Domestic flight instead of driving is possible and can be arranged at an extra cost.

Driving time: about 8 hours.

Accommodation: Airport Link Guest House or similar.

After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your departure back home.