Luxury Holidays Uganda

Covering some 330 square kilometres of primeval forest in the Virunga Mountains on Uganda’s wild south western border, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is one of the largest natural forests in East Africa. Home to over 50% of the world’s total remaining population of the highly endangered mountain gorillas, it is an area of staggering natural diversity and one of the best places in Africa to experience a unique face to face encounter with these magnificent primates.

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Richard Wende, Bales Africa Specialist Reporting to the ranger station at 8.00 am, the guides will then take you through the bush, slashing at the undergrowth, parting thick creepers, to track the gorillas. The trek can take from half an hour to 6 hours and a reasonable degree of fitness is required as well as a sturdy pair of walking/hiking shoes. Sit in the forest among the gorillas, listening to them grumble to each other and marvel at the sheer size of the dominant male – the silverback. Amazing to think that there are just over 700 left in the world! The number of visitors permitted to view the gorillas is restricted to a total of 24 per day. We will request permits on your behalf, but they must be paid for at the time of booking and are non-refundable.

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Home to the highest concentration of primates in the world, the equatorial rainforests of Kibale cover a rich landscape of lakes, marshes and expansive grasslands to the south of Fort Portal. This spectacular national park is a haven for 12 different species of primate and an astonishing 335 types of birds. The park’s most famous inhabitants though are the 500 or so habituated chimpanzees that are a regular feature of any hike through the forests.

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Established in 1998, in association with the Jane Goodall Trust, Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary was set up to care for orphaned primates rescued from poachers and illegal trappers. Today it provides a home for more than 30 chimpanzees and offers a remarkable opportunity to view these fascinating animals in a wholly natural environment.

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Set within the remote northern expanses of Kidepo Valley National Park, Apoka Safari Lodge offers 10 spacious cottages of wood, canvas and thatch, built around a dramatic rocky kopje. Perfectly in tune with its natural surroundings, the lodge is beautifully appointed throughout in natural colours and ethnic decor, with private veranda views across the plains, large luxurious beds and distinctive secluded outdoor bathtubs carved from the surrounding rock.

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The Emin Pasha is a luxury boutique hotel in the heart of Kampala nestled in two acres of beautifully landscaped gardens and offering 16 rooms and 4 suites. All the rooms are individually decorated with vibrant fabrics, deep armchairs, artwork in hardwood frames, antique desks and natural slate bathrooms. The hotel opened its doors in March 2005. Part of the hotel is in a restored old colonial house built in the 1920s, while the rest is a modern interpretation of an old-style hotel with courtyards, open spaces, pergolas and terraces. The hotel features elegant public areas, like the Fez Brasserie, a small restaurant with a varied menu offering the best of continental fusion cuisine. The wine cellar is stocked with wines found nowhere else in Uganda, specially imported for the hotel. The swimming pool offers relief from the heat of the day.

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The camp has 8 double rooms, each with 2 queen-sized beds, private bathroom, including a bathtub with a view of the forest, and a private wooden deck - a great place to sit and listen to the sounds of the mountain rainforest. There is a central dining and bar area and the camp has 240V power for lighting and recharging of video equipment. Set on a slope with views towards the forest where the gorillas reside, it is within walking distance of the meeting point for gorilla trekking. As well as being home to its mountain gorillas, the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest also attracts spectacular birds. There are 23 of the 24 Albertine rift endemics including the African green broadbill and the bar tailed trogan

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Mweya Safari Lodge is located on a peninsula within the heart of the spectacular Queen Elizabeth National Park. Rooms are luxurious and come complete with a balcony overlooking the Kazinga Channel and Lake Edward, private bathrooms and electricity. Other facilities include a beautiful swimming pool, a poolside bar, the Tembo Safari Bar, the Kazinga Restaurant serving global cuisine, and a souvenir shop. Queen Elizabeth National Park is a remote and beautiful area famed for its tree-climbing lions.You will also see buffalo, topi and hippo among other species.Mweya Lodge is the perfect base for taking a Chimpanzee safari in the Kyambura Gorge.

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The only accommodation in the vast Semliki Reserve, offering a truly private experience. Large canvas tents with permanent thatched roofs include ensuite bathrooms with running water and private verandas with stunning panoramic views. Hand carved four-poster beds, Persian carpets and other soft touches ensure that this is far from roughing it in the bush. Sofas are piled with cushions, there is plenty of space for relaxation and many books to read. All the food at the lodge is home made; from the bread baked daily, to the soups, the relishes and chutneys. While at the lodge you may choose to do nothing more that relax by the pool,which overlooks the Blue Mountains of the Congo, or partake in a number of activities that are run from the lodge. These include evening game drives with spotlights.

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LAND OF THE GORILLA Uganda is a land of contrasts. In half a day you can drive from mist-shrouded volcanic mountains to hot hazy savannah, dappled with wildlife. Serene undulating hills of tea plantations, lush but ordered, give way to tangled jungle and rainforest with the musical accompaniment of chaotic, cacophonous birdlife. Uganda is alive with these contrasts: The tiniest sunbirds, iridescent in the morning light, the massive lumbering yet silent elephant, disappearing like a vapour behind the trees, the chimpanzees crashing about the forest canopy, the lugubrious gorilla, chewing thoughtfully in the bamboo thicket. There’s the Nile, twisting its way north like a shimmering ribbon, through arid semi-desert scattered about with rocky kopjes. Snow capped peaks, tropical, sandy, freshwater beaches, and smiling faces everywhere. It’s all here, a feast for all the senses. British Airways flights as shown in economy class Medium to First class accommodation where possible, the best available elsewhere (based on two people sharing a twin room) Full programme of game viewing as shown Full time safari guide National Park Fees Gorilla trek and permits Chimpanzee trekking Ranger guide fees Guided forest walks Boat trips Private transfers throughout Airport taxes Departures on Tuesdays and Sundays throughout the year Day 1 Evening departure on British Airways from London Heathrow to Entebbe. Day 2 On arrival your safari guide will collect you from the Entebbe International Airport and then depart by road through Uganda’s rolling green hills to Lake Mburo National Park where you will spend the night at Mantana Lake Mburo Tented Camp (the drive will take approximately 3-4 hours). On the way, you will have a short stop at the Equator for a morning cup of coffee or tea, as well as an informative talk.Spend the afternoon relaxing or take a late afternoon game drive before returning to the camp for dinner. Day 3 An early start and a wonderful chance to take a guided bush walk. Return to the lodge for breakfast, after which you will head through the highlands to Kabale, where you will stop for lunch. Continue on your journey, which offers excellent views including the triangular peaks of the Virunga volcanoes of Rwanda and the Congo. The road then drops down into a valley, to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, home to the mountain gorilla. Although best know for its mountain gorillas, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest also attracts spectacular birds. There are 23 of the 24 Albertine rift endemics including the African green broadbill, bar tailed trogan and other beautiful forest species. Spend 2 nights at Gorilla Forest Camp. Day 4 Up relatively early for a hearty breakfast to give you the energy needed for gorilla tracking. Before 8:00 am report to the ranger station for registration and a talk by one of the rangers; the guides will then take you through the bush pushing your way through the undergrowth, parting thick creepers, to track the gorillas.Should you have the energy this afternoon, take a guided walk on the Munyaga River trail, which is an ideal short walk. This trail leads to three delightful crystal clear waterfalls, and there is a profusion of tree ferns, epiphytic ferns, orchids and Bwindi’s colourful array of butterflies. Here you may also see birds and primates from the forest edge. Alternatively, how about a guided village walk – see how the Ugandans live, visit a local bar and meet the local medicine man! Day 5 Today we will leave Bwindi early and depart towards Queen Elizabeth National Park where you will spend 3 nights at Mweya Safari Lodge.On our way we will pass through the southern sector of the park known as Ishasha, famed for its tree-climbing lions. We will see buffalo, topi and hippo among other species. It is a fabulous sight to see the lions draped from the trees and nowhere in Africa do you stand a better chance of seeing this than in the large low limbed fig tree of Ishasha. We will have our packed lunch along the way before heading towards Mweya Safari Lodge.Depending on time you can check in at the lodge and then head out for an afternoon game drive. We often spot elephants, waterbucks, warthogs, hippos and others along the way. Day 6 This morning we will leave for the 07.30 am forest walk in Kyambura Gorge. Besides the amazing setting of a rainforest amidst the savannah landscape in a gorge you will possibly encounter black and white colobus, red-tailed monkeys and with a bit of luck even chimpanzees! These delightful apes, more closely related to humans than to any other living creature, are tremendous fun to watch as they squabble and play in fruiting trees. We will return to the lodge for lunch.In the afternoon a boat trip along the Kazinga Channel will give you the opportunity to view wildlife up close: hippo’s huff and spray mere feet away from the boat, buffalo linger in the shallows. The shores of the channel are also home to an array of birds including pink backed pelicans, fish eagles, pied and malachite kingfishers, saddle billed stork and many others. After this wonderful afternoon we return to the lodge.If you do not chose to take the boat trip you may wish to take a guided walk in the mysterious Maramagambo Forest. This feels prehistoric – strangler figs, giant screw palms, and wildlife of its own: There is a bat cave, housing thousands of Egyptian fruit bats, brightly coloured lizards and geckos and for those not too squeamish: the possibility of seeing large African rock pythons that come to feed on the bats. There is also a beautiful deep cobalt blue lake in the forest. Day 7 This morning starts with a game drive to the Kasenyi area to look for lion prides and other wildlife. Uganda kobs mate around this area and this gives you a chance to see their breeding behaviors. Head back to the lodge for lunch and later an evening game drive to the Northern crater area. This is a beautiful part of the park and you can see the snow – capped “Mountains of the Moon”. Or take it easy and relax by the pool while watching the game down by the Kazinga Channel. You will then return to Mweya Lodge for dinner. Day 8 Today after breakfast we will depart for Kampala and your guide will transfer you to the Emin Pasha Hotel, a luxury boutique hotel nestled in two acres of beautifully landscaped gardens. With ‘A La Carte’ restaurant, top quality wine bar, swimming pool and masseuse, you will soon recover from your drive and be ready to investigate the sights and sounds of Kampala should you so desire. Day 9 After breakfast you will depart for Entebbe International Airport for your outbound flight.

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Suggested Itinerary 1 Uganda is a land of contrasts. In half a day you can drive from mist-shrouded volcanic mountains to hot hazy savannah, dappled with wildlife. Serene undulating hills of tea plantations, lush but ordered, give way to tangled jungle and rainforest with the musical accompaniment of chaotic, cacophonous birdlife. Uganda is alive with these contrasts: The tiniest sunbirds, iridescent in the morning light, the massive lumbering yet silent elephant, disappearing like a vapour behind the trees, the chimpanzees crashing about the forest canopy, the lugubrious gorilla, chewing thoughtfully in the bamboo thicket. There’s the Nile, twisting its way north like a shimmering ribbon, through arid semi-desert scattered about with rocky kopjes. Snow capped peaks, tropical, sandy, freshwater beaches, and smiling faces everywhere. It’s all here, a feast for all the senses. British Airways flights as shown in economy class Medium to First class accommodation where possible, the best available elsewhere (based on two people sharing a twin room) Full programme of game viewing as shown Full time safari guide National Park fees Gorilla trek and permits Ranger guide fees Guided forest walks Boat trips Private transfers throughout Airport taxes Departures on Tuesdays and Thursday throughout the year Day 1 Evening departure on British Airways from London Heathrow to Entebbe. Day 2 On arrival your safari guide will collect you from the Entebbe International Airport and then depart by road through Uganda’s rolling green hills to Lake Mburo National Park where you will spend the night at Mantana Lake Mburo Tented Camp (the drive will take approximately 3-4 hours). On the way, you will have a short stop at the Equator for a morning cup of coffee or tea, as well as an informative talk. Lake Mburo National Park is an extension of the Tanzanian plains with big herds of zebra, impala, eland and other ungulates. Bird viewing opportunities are excellent - for birders, this is one of the best places to find African fin foot, papyrus bush shrike. The Park has about 68 different species of mammals. Common sightings are Zebra, Impala, Buffalo, Topi, and Eland as herbivores not to leave out the rare slightly chance of seeing Roan antelopes, leopards, hyenas and jackals. Spend the afternoon relaxing or take a late afternoon game drive before returning to the camp for dinner. Day 3 An early start and a wonderful chance to take a guided bush walk. Return to the lodge for breakfast, after which you will head through the highlands to Kabale, where you will stop for lunch. Continue on your journey, which offers excellent views including the triangular peaks of the Virunga volcanoes of Rwanda and the Congo. The road then drops down into a valley, to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, home to the mountain gorilla. Although best know for its mountain gorillas, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest also attracts spectacular birds. There are 23 of the 24 Albertine rift endemics including the African green broadbill, bar tailed trogan and other beautiful forest species. Spend 2 nights at Gorilla Forest Camp. Day 4 Up relatively early for a hearty breakfast to give you the energy needed for gorilla tracking. Before 8:00 am report to the ranger station for registration and a talk by one of the rangers; the guides will then take you through the bush pushing your way through the undergrowth, parting thick creepers, to track the gorillas. (This trek can take from half an hour to 5 hours – a reasonable degree of fitness is required as well as a sturdy pair of walking shoes). Sit in the forest among the gorillas, listening to them grumble to each other, and marvel at the sheer size of the dominant male; the silverback. It is an extraordinary feeling sitting in the dense rainforest knowing you are with a few of the last remaining mountain gorillas. It’s amazing to think there are only about 650 of these beautiful creatures left! You must follow the instructions of the local guides at all times. You are not allowed to approach the gorillas closer than 5 metres; this is for your and their safety.We must stress that, while you have a very good chance of seeing gorillas, success is NOT guaranteed. They are wild creatures with no fixed routine, and finding them requires the skill and experience of your tracker sand guides, as well as luck. The trackers and guides have helped to habituate the gorilla groups and know them intimately. They will take you to the area where they left the gorillas the day before. Before leaving they may be able to suggest how long the hike might be. You will be accompanied by armed guards which guarantee your safety in an area where wild buffaloes are sighted. While walking, please feel free to ask guides to slow down if they are going too fast and if you need a rest.Should you have the energy this afternoon, take a guided walk on the Munyaga River trail, which is an ideal short walk. This trail leads to three delightful crystal clear waterfalls, and there is a profusion of tree ferns, epiphytic ferns, orchids and Bwindi’s colourful array of butterflies. Here you may also see birds and primates from the forest edge. Alternatively, how about a guided village walk – see how the Ugandans live, visit a local bar and meet the local medicine! Day 5 Today we will leave Bwindi early and depart towards Queen Elizabeth National Park where you will overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge. This second largest National Park of Uganda (1,978 sq KM) lies north and south of the equator to the south west of Uganda. It is a world bio-sphere reserve (UNESCO, 1979) includes a RAMSAR wetland site and is a classified Important Bird Area (IBA) by Birdlife International. From open savannah to rainforest, from dense papyrus swamps and brooding crater lakes to the vastness of Lake Edward, it is little wonder that Queen Elizabeth National Park boasts one of the highest biodiversity ratings of any game reserve in the world.Almost 100 mammal species and a remarkable 606 bird species makes this superb safari territory, with elephant, a profusion of hippos,, the elusive giant forest hog and handsome Uganda kob all regularly sighted around the tourist village on the Mweya Peninsula - which also boasts a marvellous waterfront setting in the shadow of the Rwenzori Mountains.On our way we will pass through the southern sector of the park known as Ishasha, famed for its tree-climbing lions. We will see buffalo, topi and hippo among other species.It is a fabulous sight to see the lions draped from the trees and nowhere in Africa do you stand a better chance of seeing this than in the large low limbed fig tree of Ishasha. We will have our packed lunch along the way before heading towards Mweya Safari Lodge.Depending on time you can check in at the lodge and then head out for an afternoon game drive. We often spot elephants, waterbucks, warthogs, hippos and others along the way.In the afternoon a boat trip along the Kazinga Channel will give you the opportunity to view wildlife up close: hippo’s huff and spray mere feet away from the boat, buffalo linger in the shallows.The shores of the channel are also home to an array of birds including pink backed pelicans, fish eagles, pied, and malachite kingfishers, saddle billed stork and many others. Day 6 Today after breakfast we will depart for Kampala and your guide will transfer you to the Emin Pasha Hotel, a luxury boutique hotel nestled in two acres of beautifully landscaped gardens. With ‘A La Carte’ restaurant, top quality wine bar, swimming pool and masseuse, you will soon recover from your drive and be ready to investigate the sights and sounds of Kampala should you so desire. Day 7 After breakfast you will depart for Entebbe International Airport for your outbound flight.

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Suggested itenerary 2 Uganda is a land of contrasts. In half a day you can drive from mist-shrouded volcanic mountains to hot hazy savannah, dappled with wildlife. Serene undulating hills of tea plantations, lush but ordered, give way to tangled jungle and rainforest with the musical accompaniment of chaotic, cacophonous birdlife. Uganda is alive with these contrasts: The tiniest sunbirds, iridescent in the morning light, the massive lumbering yet silent elephant, disappearing like a vapour behind the trees, the chimpanzees crashing about the forest canopy, the lugubrious gorilla, chewing thoughtfully in the bamboo thicket. There’s the Nile, twisting its way north like a shimmering ribbon, through arid semi-desert scattered about with rocky kopjes. Snow capped peaks, tropical, sandy, freshwater beaches, and smiling faces everywhere. It’s all here, a feast for all the senses. British Airways flights as shown in economy class Medium to First class accommodation where possible, the best available elsewhere (based on two people sharing a twin room) Full programme of game viewing as shown Full time safari guide National Park Fees Gorilla trek and permits Chimpanzee trekking Ranger guide fees Guided forest walks Boat trips Private transfers throughout Airport taxes Departures on Tuesdays, Thursday and Sundays throughout the year Day 1 Evening departure on British Airways from London Heathrow to Entebbe. Day 2 On your arrival at Entebbe International Airport you will be met by your safari guide who will transfer you to Kijjansi Air strip for your charter flight to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, home of the mountain gorilla. On arrival you will be meet and driven to the lodge.Should you have the energy this afternoon, take a guided walk on the Munyaga River trail, which is an ideal short walk. This trail leads to three delightful crystal clear waterfalls, and there is a profusion of tree ferns, epithytic ferns, orchids and Bwindi’s colorful array of butterflies. Here you may also see birds and primates from the forest edge. Day 3 Up relatively early for a hearty breakfast to give you the energy needed for gorilla tracking. Before 8:00 am report to the ranger station for registration and a talk by one of the rangers; the guides will then take you through the bush pushing your way through the undergrowth, parting thick creepers, to track the gorillas. Day 4 Today we will leave Bwindi early and depart towards Queen Elizabeth National Park where you will stay 2 nights at Mweya Safari Lodge.On our way we will pass through the southern sector of the park known as Ishasha, famed for its tree-climbing lions. We will see buffalo, topi and hippo among other species. It is a fabulous sight to see the lions draped from the trees and nowhere in Africa do you stand a better chance of seeing this than in the large low limbed fig tree of Ishasha. We will have our packed lunch along the way before heading towards Mweya Safari Lodge.Depending on time you can check in at the lodge and then head out for an afternoon game drive. We often spot elephants, waterbucks, warthogs, hippos and others along the way. Day 5 This morning we will leave for the 07.30 am forest walk in Kyambura Gorge. Besides the amazing setting of a rainforest amidst the savannah landscape in a gorge you will possibly encounter black and white colobus, red-tailed monkeys and with a bit of luck even chimpanzees! These delightful apes, more closely related to humans than to any other living creature, are tremendous fun to watch as they squabble and play in fruiting trees. We will return to the lodge for lunch.In the afternoon a boat trip along the Kazinga Channel will give you the opportunity to view wildlife up close: hippo’s huff and spray mere feet away from the boat, buffalo linger in the shallows. The shores of the channel are also home to an array of birds including pink backed pelicans, fish eagles, pied and malachite kingfishers, saddle billed stork and many others. After this wonderful afternoon we return to the lodge. Day 6 After an early rise and a pre-breakfast “sunrise game drive”, return to the lodge for a hearty breakfast. We often see numerous elephant as well as water hog, lion, hyena, Uganda kob, waterbuck and bushbuck.We will then depart, game viewing en-route, for Ndali Lodge where you will stay for 2 nights. We will depart the park via the northern crater area; with beautiful lakes and rich grasslands which are set deep into volcanic craters, this is truly the most breathtaking scenery in the park.Once out of the park we continue on up to Fort Portal and then down to Ndali Lodge, where we will stay prior to our chimpanzee trekking tomorrow. This is a charming lodge situated on the edge of a crater lake with stunning views of the Rwenzori Mountains from the individual verandas. Day 7 A relatively early morning start to report to the ranger station in Kibale National Park at 08.00am to track habituated chimps – these delightful apes, more closely related to humans than to any other living creature, are tremendous fun to watch as they squabble and play in fruiting trees. Return to the Lodge and spend the afternoon either relaxing or going for a walk around the estate. Day 8 Today after breakfast we will depart for Kampala and your guide will transfer you to the Emin Pasha Hotel, a luxury boutique hotel nestled in two acres of beautifully landscaped gardens. With ‘A La Carte’ restaurant, top quality wine bar, swimming pool and masseuse, you will soon recover from your drive and be ready to investigate the sights and sounds of Kampala should you so desire. Day 9 After breakfast you will depart for Entebbe International Airport for your outbound flight.

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