African Wildlife and Isolated Peoples of North-Eastern Uganda

Early departure for Jinja, the source of the White Nile. We travel through Kampala, the very lively capital of Ouganda with nearly 3 million inhabitants from diverse backgrounds. This mosaic of peoples is reflected in the architecture of the city 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 refined style or an Anglican temple with its strict Victorian rigor.

Arrival in Jinja where we discover the falls located downstream of Bujagali. From there, we take a boat excursion that will take us to the source of the White Nile.

We then drive towards eastern Ouganda, to the town of Mbale, located at the foot of Mont Elgon, a stone's throw from the Kenya border.

It's a beautiful day on African tracks that awaits us today to reach the remote regions of North-East Ouganda. The track will take us through a lush agricultural region dotted with many prosperous villages. The banana fields and rice paddies will gradually give way to a vast savanna. We stop in the Pian-Upe wildlife reserve, the country's 2nd largest protected area.

We arrive in Karamojong land, a proud people with a pastoral lifestyle who have managed to preserve their centuries-old traditions, while remaining open to foreigners who rarely venture into this region of Ouganda. We arrive at the village of Moroto.

After passing the Bokora Reserve, we arrive in a semi-arid area scattered with acacia forests, euphorbia groves and sisal plants running along the slopes of extinct volcanoes. The endless plains form the habitat of rich bird fauna. We will be able to observe hornbills, turacos, bustards and other kingfishers.

We visit a Karamojong kraal before arriving in the small town of Kotido where we will spend the night.

It is after one last morning on the trail, and a stop for supplies in the village of Kaabong, nestled at the foot of an impressive rocky hill, that we finally reach Kidepo Valley National Park, one of Ouganda's greatest wonders, with its wild landscapes and rich wildlife.

Accommodation at Kidepo Savannah Lodge for 3 nights.

A thrill of adventure awaits us during these 2 days discovering Kidepo National Park. Far from the beaten path, our discovery of the park's rich and wild fauna will be all the more rewarding.

Located 800 km north of Kampala, on the border with Kenya and South Sudan, Kidepo National Park differs indeed from other parks in the country. The mountainous region is magnificent, alternating between vast plains covered in tall grass and forest corridors. This grand land is home to abundant herds of buffalo, elephants, zebras, giraffes and antelopes as well as lions and leopards.

East of the Kidepo river, which flows through the middle of an admirable borassus palm forest, we also discover a more arid region where we can observe ostriches, Kori bustards and other large ground hornbills.

Accompanied by a professional wildlife guide, we will set out, on foot and by vehicle, to meet the animals of the park. Our guide will share his knowledge of the surrounding nature and his passion for these vast spaces.

Last encounter with the wildlife of the Kidepo Valley National Park, before heading to Western Ouganda. We cross the Nangeya Mountains and enter Acholi Land, a rural population originally from Bahr el Ghazal in Sudan who arrived in the region over 200 years ago. Acholi villages are easily recognizable by their round huts with ochre walls decorated with geometric patterns and topped with a pointed roof. We have lunch on the road in the village of Gulu, before arriving at the Murchison Falls National Park.

We start our day with a Safari to discover the wildlife of the Murchison Falls National Park. Although 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's a boat excursion on the White Nile that will take us to the foot of Murchison Falls. Here the river winds through a narrow gorge forming impressive waterfalls. During our cruise 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 walking tour to discover the impressive Nile Falls in a different way before heading 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 to the Kabwoya reserve, located further south of the Lake.

We spend some time in the morning discovering 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, even if 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 travel today crosses many villages and allows us to observe the daily life of the local population

Arrival at the end of the day in the 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 (more than 12 species recorded). 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. 

In the afternoon, our expedition takes us to the Bigodi Wetlands which are home to more than 300 bird species that we will have the opportunity to admire.

We continue our journey to 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 location, in the midst of the great African rift, is also home to Lakes Edward and George which are connected to each other by the natural Kazinga channel.

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

We continue our discovery of the Queen Elizabeth National Park, but now exploring 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. You can also observe large herds of Uganda Kobs, 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 cactus forests will give way to a vast savanna dotted with umbrella acacias.

Early morning departure for 4 hours of track through a hilly region that will lead us to the renowned Bwindi Forest where our encounter with the Mountain Gorillas awaits us. Along the way, the landscape offers us an incredible palette of greens, the blue-green of eucalyptus trees that separate countless plots, the dark green of cypress trees that border the tracks, the tender green of rice paddies at the bottom of steep valleys.

Note: In Uganda, we purchase gorilla permits for a specific group. We buy 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 person in charge assigns them the group to visit. As a result, hotels and travel time may change depending on the availability of gorilla permits.

Here at last arrives the long-awaited experience of your trip to Ouganda: the encounter with Mountain Gorillas !

Early morning wake-up, then departure for the Park reception where we will set off accompanied by trackers and our specialized guide in search of Gorillas. These latter appreciate 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 silvery-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 plant world. Emotion and intense sensation guaranteed for all nature lovers!

Walking hours: 3 to 7 hours of forest with ranger-trackers depending on the assigned group.

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

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

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

We get back on the road and head to the Mburo Lake National Park, renowned for its ornithological richness which we will be able to appreciate in the marshes covered with papyrus.

Discovery of the Park on the occasion of a safari where we will be able to admire zebras, buffalo, impalas and other ruminants such as the famous Cape elands in their natural environment.

We make the most of the morning for a Game drive in the park then we take the road to Lake Victoria passing through Masaka. We skirt along a lakeside plain crossed by large herds of cattle. We make a symbolic stop on the Equator line before arriving at the edges of the Mabamba wetland where we settle into a small lodge recently built in an enchanting setting.

Installation at Nikima Forest Lodge which will welcome us for the night in an enchanting setting. Walk in the small forest accessible on foot from our accommodation where we can still observe birds, some primates and a multitude of lepidopterans.