Drifters: Uganda Overland Explorer

Itinerary

• Day 1: Entebbe - Lake Mburo National Park

  Departing from Cassia Lodge near Entebbe, we make our way through the outskirts of the vibrant capital city – Kampala before starting our journey west. On our route today we will visit the drum market, a fruit market, and we will stop at the Equator. This afternoon we enter the Lake Mburo National Park, known for its plains game and large Hippo population – we camp the night on the Lake shore.

• Day 2: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

  We start the day with a game drive / walk and then exit the park to travel through a landscape of rolling hill’s littered with banana plantations and herds of impressive long-horned Ankole cattle. This afternoon we travel on rough mountain roads, passing remote villages – often shrouded in mist, toward the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Our camp for the night is at the edge of the forest.

• Day 3-4: Bwindi Gorilla Trek

  On one of these days we will partake in what is undoubtedly the highlight of the tour – Gorilla Trekking! We split up into small groups and with local guides, trek up into the forest to locate and spend time with a family of these few remaining wild Mountain Gorillas. As the Gorilla permits are limited we will allow two days for all of the group to partake, should all permits be available on day 4 we would visit Lake Bunyoni on Day 3. Whilst not Gorilla trekking we will enjoy village walks and will spend time searching for the magnificent birds inhabiting the fringe of the forest.

• Day 5-6: Queen Elizabeth National Park - Ishasha

  Crossing Leaving the mountains and forests behind us, we drop down to the grasslands of the Queen Elizabeth National Park, here we will spend two nights camping at a remote camp. Besides abundant mammal, reptile, and bird species, Ishasha is renowned for its huge tree climbing lions. We will game drive extensively searching the tall fig trees for lions, and the savannah for other game.

• Day 7: Queen Elizabeth National Park - Chimpanzee's

  Packing up early, we travel across the park and through the Maramagambo Forest where we hope to encounter wild chimpanzee and an amazing variety of birdlife. Arriving at Kyambura Gorge this afternoon, we hike down into the gorge with a local guide and hope to spend some time with a habituated family of wild chimpanzee. (Because visitors are limited some of our group may do this activity the following morning.) Tonight we camp in the vicinity.

• Day 8: Rwenzori Mountains

  This morning we travel through the Park before continuing north to the Rwenzori - “Mountains of the Moon”. After setting up camp at a local community center, we will enjoy a lengthy walk through numerous rural villages and up into the forest to the Rwenzori lookout point. Rising some 5000 meters above sea level, the slopes of these mountains are covered in tropical forest and yet the peaks are often snow-capped, a bewildering sight considering their proximity to the equator.

• Day 9: Murchison Falls National Park

  An early start, we leave the Mountains behind us and descend into the luminous green tea plantations surrounding Fort Portal. We cover vast distance today and mostly on rough roads. Our destination tonight is the Kaniyo-Pabidi camp in Murchison Falls National Park, managed by the Jane Goodall Institute - clients may opt for a 2nd trek with the chimps here (own expense).

• Day 10: Murchison Falls / Victoria Nile

  Our first stop today is above the Murchison Falls, a narrow gap though which the Nile River falls 40m into the Rift Valley. We will spend some time here exploring the falls. Next we travel downstream where we board a boat that carries our group and equipment on a game cruise down the Nile to our campsite near the junction of the Victoria and Albert Nile. We will wild camp tonight in a big game area. (At times it may not be possible to travel by boat – we will then drive by road).

• Day 11: Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

  A leisurely morning, we will enjoy the river before returning to our vehicle. This afternoon we exit the Park and travel to the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, established to reintroduce rhino into their original habitat in protected areas. Camp the night.

• Day 12: Jinja

  This morning, clients who wish to, may partake in tracking rhino on foot through the thick bush (own expense). After packing up camp for the last time, we set off for Jinja where we spend our last night in relative comfort at Adrift camp. Tonight we enjoy an own expense dinner at the restaurant to celebrate our adventures (dinner own expense).

• Day 13: Jinja

  Tour ends this morning after breakfast, however the Nile River offers some of the wildest one day white water rafting in the world – a day’s adventure not to be missed. From the Adrift camp clients are also able to spend a day working in a local community project. Both of these activities are optional and own expense. We advise those that wish to enjoy either, or those who simply wish to relax at the “Source of the Nile” to book an extra night at the camp with us.

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