From Lake Victoria to Bwindi Gorillas

In the morning, we head to the Mabamba Swamps, a wetland with exceptional biodiversity, in search of a unique bird highly prized by ornithologists: the Shoebill, an extraordinary bird with dinosaur-like features that can only be observed here in Ouganda.

The site remains little visited and is well preserved by certain members of the local community who have become eco-tourism guides, leading you by canoe through the swamp to observe birds. In addition to the Shoebill, we may have the chance to encounter the Papyrus Gonolek, the White-winged Black Tern, the Yellow-billed Duck, various herons, kingfishers, and more.

Our route will then take us through Kampala, the very lively capital of Uganda which is home to nearly 3 million inhabitants of diverse origins. This mosaic of peoples is reflected in the city's architecture, which unapologetically blends Muslim, Sikh and Christian influences. You can admire both a mosque with its minaret reaching toward the sky, a Sikh temple with its opulent sculptures, a cathedral with a refined style, and an Anglican temple with strict Victorian rigor.

Further north, the banana and yam fields give way to fields of cassava and corn that require less water. We arrive at the Ziwa private reserve which extends over 7000 hectares of wetlands and wooded savanna where acacias and candelabra euphorbias dominate.

After an early breakfast, we set off accompanied by a naturalist guide and trackers within the sanctuary, in search of Rhinoceroses that we will have plenty of opportunity to photograph. The Ziwa Sanctuary was established to promote the reintroduction of white Rhinoceroses in protected areas.

After lunch, we continue our journey towards the Murchison Falls National Park.

First stop to admire the Murchison Falls. Here the White Nile rushes through a narrow passage before plunging 40 meters down into the Rift Valley.

Dinner and check-in at the hotel, a unique blend of comfort, relaxation and adventure.

We start our day with a Safari to discover the wildlife of the Murchison Falls National Park. If this magnificent park, crossed by the White Nile, is renowned for its waterfalls, it will also offer you a unique opportunity to discover the African bush and its wildlife. Indeed, we encounter here the greatest biodiversity and the largest number of African mammals, such as elephants, buffalo, ibis, warthogs, lions, hippopotamuses, crocodiles… as well as a wide variety of bird species.

In the afternoon, it is a boat excursion on the White Nile that will take us to the base of Murchison Falls. Here the river winds through a narrow gorge forming impressive falls. During our boat ride we will have the unique chance to observe thousands of brightly colored birds, herds of buffalo and dozens of threatening crocodiles bathing in the warm waters of the Nile and watching for their prey.

In the morning, we enjoy a walk to discover the impressive Nile Falls in a different way before taking the road towards the Lake Albert where hippopotamuses cool off. We also meet the proud Alour herders leading their large herds across the lakeside fringe.

We stop at Butiaba, a large fishing village beautifully situated on the shores of the lake where we will enjoy the fishing scenes.

We are now heading to Hoïma where we will turn off for the Kabwoya Reserve, located further south of the Lake.

We spend some time in the morning exploring the Kabwoya Reserve which is an interesting stopover between Murchison and Kibale. The reserve is frequented by buffalo, hippopotamuses, Uganda kobs and warthogs, as well as a beautiful variety of monkeys. Amateur birdwatchers will also be delighted, although here the beauty of the landscapes takes precedence over wildlife observation.

Then we set off without delay across western Ouganda. The laterite track on which we drive that day crosses numerous villages and allows us to observe the daily life of the local population.

Arrival at the end of the day in Kibale National Park.

This is an extraordinary day awaiting us today, discovering the Kibale Forest which has one of the densest primate populations in the world. In the morning, we set off for a walk in the forest where we will be able to observe many monkeys, including the chimpanzee, the red colobus and the blue monkey. 

We continue our journey towards the South-West of the country. The track crosses numerous villages and we will enjoy views of the Ruwenzori mountain range and its snow-capped peaks. After the village of Kasese, we cross the symbolic equator line and the vast plains we encounter are merely a prelude to what awaits us in the Queen Elizabeth National Park and its sublime landscapes composed of extinct volcanoes, crater lakes, marshes and grassy plains. 

This enchanting place, in the middle of the great African rift, also contains within it the Lakes Edward and George which are connected to each other by the natural Kazinga channel.

During this first day in the park, we set off on a boat excursion on the Kazinga channel for an unforgettable moment encountering the birdlife. This latter, which is 36 km long, attracts a large number of migratory and permanent animals and birds (more than 500 bird species are recorded)

We continue our discovery of the Queen Elisabeth National Park, but now explore its southern section.

We leave our accommodation and explore the Kasenyi plains in the morning. These bare plains covered with candelabra euphorbias are the favorite playground of Lions. We also observe large herds of Uganda Cobs, topis, buffalo as well as numerous bird species.

In the afternoon we head to the Ishasha region, well known for its scenes of Lions perched in trees, and where the cactus forests give way to a large savanna dotted with umbrella acacias.

Early morning departure for 4 hours of driving through a hilly region that will take us to the renowned Bwindi Forest where we will meet the Mountain Gorillas. Along the way, the landscape offers us an incredible palette of greens, from the blue-green of eucalyptus trees that separate the countless plots, to the dark green of cypress trees that line the tracks, to the tender green of rice fields at the bottom of steep valleys.

Note: In Uganda, we purchase gorilla permits for a specific group. We purchase permits for 4 sectors distributed across the entire Bwindi park and not for a given group of gorillas. Each of these 4 geographical entities has an office where travelers converge on the morning of the trek and where the coordinator assigns them the group to visit. As a result, hotels and travel time may change depending on the availability of gorilla permits.

Here has finally arrived the long-awaited experience of your trip to Ouganda: the encounter with Mountain Gorillas !

Early morning wake-up, then departure to the Park reception from where we will set off accompanied by trackers and our specialized guide in search of Gorillas. These prefer humid forests and are vegetarians. The clans are composed of 8 to 20 individuals including the dominant male, adult females and adolescents. The male has a silver-colored back and can reach a height of 1m70 and weigh up to 250 kg. Our distant cousins are peaceful and good-natured animals that will observe us while continuing to search for their food in their vegetable world. Intense emotion and sensation guaranteed for all nature lovers!

Early departure towards Lake Bunyoni where we can appreciate the beauty of the landscapes of hills cultivated in terraces descending abruptly into the lake. It extends in sinuous curves at nearly 2000 meters altitude and encompasses 29 islands and islets.

We take a walk in the surrounding areas where we will have the chance to observe some of the 200 bird species recorded in the area and which gave it its name in Rugika: "The place of many birds"

As the lake is perfectly suitable for swimming, why not be tempted by a few strokes in these enchanting waters.

We get back on the road and reach the Mburo Lake National Park, recognized for its ornithological richness that we can appreciate in the marshes covered with papyrus.

Discovery of the Park during a safari where we can admire in their natural environment zebras, buffalo, impalas and other ruminants such as the famous Cape elans.

In the morning, we continue to enjoy Uganda's wild nature, with a final guided walk in the Mburo Lake reserve.

Finally, we head back to Entebbe and make the most of our last moments on Ugandan soil. Transfer to Entebbe airport where you will board your return flight.

See you soon in Ouganda!