Day 1
LONDON HEATHROW / ENTEBBE, UGANDA
Depart London for Entebbe.

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Day 2
ENTEBBE
Upon arrival in Entebbe you are met and transferred to your hotel which is surrounded by beautiful gardens and considered to be one of Uganda's finest.

If time allows, visit the Botanical Gardens which are a tropical paradise of Ugandan plant life. Discover several unusual trees and shrubs, a variety of bird species and most importantly vervet monkeys and black and white colobus monkeys.

Days 3-5
ENTEBBE / MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK
After breakfast on Day 3 you are driven to Murchison Falls National Park (approximately 6 hour drive with stops) which is the most spectacular park in Uganda. Here are the awe-inspiring Murchison Falls (second only to Victoria Falls) where the Victoria Nile hurls itself in a magnificent torrent of gushing water and spray through a narrow crevice, and then plunges 40 meters in one breathtaking leap.

Spend the next few days on game drives to watch for elephant, giraffe, warthog, leopard, lion, and aardvark. The park also boasts over 450 bird species and the river is home to vast numbers of large crocodile and hippo. You also take a boat trip up the Victoria Nile to the base of Murchison Falls for a picnic lunch... in the style of The African Queen!

You also visit Budongo Forest (also known as Kaniyo Pabidi) which is home to the largest chimp population (approximately 600-700) in Uganda. The forest is quite unique for the many tall, ancient Mahogany and Ironwood trees which still remain.

Your tented camp is located on the banks of the Victoria Nile with each room perched high above the river.

Days 6-8
KIBALE FOREST
After breakfast on Day 6 you are driven to the Kibale Forest (approximately 7.5 hours) on mostly dirt roads. The road passes through villages and farmland where every imaginable fruit and vegetable of the tropics thrives.

For the next two days, take forest walks to see the rainforest and view primates (including chimps). This recently established reserve is home to the most diverse and the highest concentration of primates in all of Africa! There are 11 species of primates located here including the red colobus monkey, black-and-white colobus monkey, red tail monkey, L'hoest's monkey, blue monkey, mangabey and the olive baboons. The main attraction, however, are the 500 chimpanzees which you may find throughout the huge fig trees where they spend the day feeding on the sweet ripe fruits. The forest is also home to Uganda's third largest population of elephants.

The lodge is situated on a high saddle between two crater lakes creating breathtaking views. The rooms are decorated in local crafts and materials, featuring high ceilings and four-poster beds with mosquito netting. The en-suite baths have hot and cold running water and flush toilets.

Day 9
QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK
This morning drive on to the Queen Elizabeth National Park (approx 2 and 1/2 hours) and check into the main hotel in the park which is charming and offers African ambiance and beautiful views of the park with the Ruwenzori Mountains in the background.

Most of the big mammals of Africa are here - lion, leopard, buffalo, and elephant as well as members of the antelope family such as waterbuck, reedbuck, bushbuck and duiker. One may also find rare giant forest hog here and the more common warthog and bushpig.

Day 10
QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK
This morning take a forest walk in the Chambura Gorge which marks the northeastern boundary of Queen Elizabeth National Park. The gorge appears suddenly in hills of rolling savanna to reveal a deep slice of tropical rain forest containing a wealth of primate species. During your time here tour the area of Kyemango, the park's great crater where one can gain an overview of the main features of the park; the lakes, the Kazinga Channel, the other craters and the Nyamagasani River. After a picnic lunch take the Kazinga Channel cruise and view Lake Edward. This Channel has some of the largest population of hippo in the world (30,000 +!).

Day 11
QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK
Morning at leisure. In the afternoon drive across the valley to arrive at the edge of Maramagambo Forest for a walk around the Blue Lake and the Bat Caves in search of forest dwellers such as the colobus monkey, baboons, and many more.

Day 12
BWINDI
This morning drive to Bwindi to relax and prepare for gorilla trekking. The forest is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is home to about half of the world population of 630 mountain gorillas.

Here you stay at an intimate luxury tented camp situated inside the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. The camp offers comfortable rooms and attached bathrooms with hot and cold running water as well as a private verandah. Each room also has its own private forest bath and shower where you can luxuriate in the unique forest surroundings.

Day 13
BWINDI
After breakfast, take a short drive to Park Headquarters and meet with excellent local guides and trackers who will give a talk on the etiquette of gorilla trekking. You then hike into the forest where the gorillas were seen the night before and track from that point. The trekking can take from 1 to 6 hours and climb to altitudes in excess of 7,500 feet. The terrain is rough and at times muddy. Although the hike is physically demanding, the beauty of the forest and surrounding scenery make the trekking worthwhile. Once the gorillas are located all fatigue is forgotten, as the experience is often described as being the most profound natural history experience in the world!

Day 14
BWINDI
Today take another trek in search of these gentle giants.

Day 15
ENTEBBE
This morning drive to Ishasha region of the Queen Elizabeth National Park for a game drive in search of tree climbing lion and other game. From here take a charter flight to Entebbe and transfer to the hotel for overnight.

Day 16
ENTEBBE / LONDON
After breakfast depart for the airport to board your international flight homeward.

NOTE: This is just one example of many custom itineraries we can do for you in this diverse country.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Tour Cost:
Please call EXPLORE, Inc. for an estimated cost.

Tour Includes:
All ground transport upon landing in Africa; all air charters in Africa; accommodation; gorilla permits at Bwindi; all meals (except in Entebbe); bottled water throughout; park fees; guides throughout.

Tour Excludes:
Intercontinental airfare; all commercial internal African air; medical immunizations; passport fees; accident/baggage/cancellation insurance; individual transfers; excursions deviating from the scheduled tour; all beverages; excess baggage charges; medical expenses; laundry; visa fees; gratuities; airport departure fees and taxes; telephone or fax charges; room service; and other items of a purely personal nature.

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