Luxury Tour - Uganda in Style

Welcome to Uganda! Your driver will pick you up from the airport in Entebbe and take you directly to your first accommodation. If time allows, you can explore Entebbe and, for example, visit the Botanical Gardens.

1x Boutique Hotel No. 5, B&B
At the stylish Boutique Hotel No. 5, which is nestled in a neighbourhood of tropical gardens, you will receive a warm welcome upon arrival and will be taken care of from the moment you arrive. With luxurious rooms that open onto the garden and the pool, this is a great option for guests looking for an intimate stay in a tranquil setting. Make yourself at home - relax by the pool, pamper yourself with a spa treatment, or work out in the hotel's gym. For one of the tastiest culinary experiences in Entebbe, carefully planned menus are combined with an international wine list and served with pride. Attention to detail and an attentive guest experience are synonymous with Hotel No. 5, the perfect introduction to an exciting Uganda trip.

Start the day with a flight to the Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda's largest national park. The savannah in the north of the park is populated by species such as lions, buffaloes, elephants, Ugandan kobs and even the rare Rothschild giraffe. In the south, there is mainly dry forest, which is also home to chimpanzees. The park is named after the Murchison waterfall, which plunges down an impressive 43 meters after forcing its way through a 7 meter wide gap. Below the waterfall, in addition to hippos and many birds, there are Nile crocodiles that feed on animals that have fallen victim to the waterfall. In the afternoon you will have a first game drive in the national park.

2x Nile Safari Lodge, B/L/D
Situated in the heart of Murchison Falls National Park, the Nile Safari Lodge offers a magical retreat in the most luxurious and tranquil environment Uganda has to offer. The lodge is elevated on the banks of the mighty Nile, the sight of which enchants you from each and every corner of the lodge. There are endless opportunities for game viewing and exploring the region.

Today you will take an impressive boat trip on the Nile River to the base of the falls. Here you can marvel at hippos, as well as at an incredible variety of birds on the banks and of course at the giant Nile crocodiles. Search for the rare shoebill stork, which will provide you with a unique photo opportunity. Listen to the thundering and electrifying sounds of the famous waterfall as you approach the lower base. Here you will disembark and take a hike to the source of the waterfall. Once at the top, your personal guide will already be waiting for you. The route back to the lodge will offer another exciting safari game drive.

Today you will fly from Pakuba to Kasese, where, once again, you will be expected by your guide and then transferred to Kibale Forest National Park. The impressive park is the dream of every primate fan. 80% of its area is covered with evergreen as well as lush deciduous forests. The rest of the park consists of swamps and grasslands. More than 1.200 chimpanzees live here, of which a group of about 80 animals is accustomed to the presence of visitors. In addition, some other monkey species, such as the stunningly beautiful black & white and the red colobus monkeys, as well as the full-bearded guenon. If you are lucky, you may even find the rare forest elephants here. A visit to a tea and banana plantation with an interesting, guided tour is also on the program.

2x Ndali Lodge, B/L/D
Ndali Lodge is a fantastic traditional colonial style lodge in the stunning crater region of Western Uganda. It is situated on the edge of an extinct volcano which has now filled with water to form 130 m deep Lake Nyinambuga. The eight luxurious cottages are built of local stone and thatch and offer views of the dramatic Rwenzori Mountains. The dining room and the lounge offer relaxing views of the crater lake. The lodge is the perfect place to observe the chimpanzees in the forest.

After an early breakfast, you will head out to see the chimpanzees. Kibale Forest National Park is home to the largest number of different primates in the world, including our very dynamic relatives, the chimpanzees. Accompanied by a ranger, you will scour the forest in search of these hairy fellows. Once you have spotted them, you will be able to observe and take photos for one hour.

For lunch you will stop at the Tinka House. Here you will get a guided tour through the culinary world of Uganda - everything is delicious, a feast for the senses!         

If you feel like doing even more, we recommend a crater lake hike. You will pass small villages and hike around the lake situated in a breath-taking scenery.

Before saying goodbye to Kibale today, take a hike in the Bigodi Wetlands. Your tour will take you through papyrus fields, pastureland and past tea plantations where you can watch the eager pickers, where you will be greeted by locals with an enthusiastic wave. Along the way you will encounter several species of monkeys, and if you’re lucky you can even spot the Great Blue Turaco, a beautiful bird! You will then drive a short distance to Queen Elizabeth National Park. There, an afternoon boat tour on the Kazinga Channel is on the agenda. This channel flows through the middle of the park and connects Lake Edward and Lake George. You will see more hippos cavorting in the water than you can imagine. You are also guaranteed to see buffalos, elephants, bald eagles and with a bit of luck, big cats will come to the shore to drink.

2x Kyambura Gorge Lodge, B/L/D
Situated between Kyambura Gorge and Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kyambura Gorge Lodge has eight beautiful and spacious bungalows nestled into the hillside, each with a huge en-suite bathroom. Each bungalow offers stunning views over the gorge or the lush savannah of the national park, which extends to the Rwenzori Mountains. Meals are prepared with the freshest local ingredients and served in the dining area. The lodge is within walking distance of the trail where guests can begin their chimpanzee trekking adventure. You can explore the surrounding area with game drives in the national park, guided forest walks and bird watching expeditions. 

Another, very special highlight, is a balloon flight over the savannah of Queen Elizabeth Park. Observe from high in the air as the African animal kingdom slowly awakes. Your balloon safari is rounded off by a delicious bush breakfast.

If you wish, you can now take a hike through the Kyambura Gorge. Kyambura is a submerged, underground rainforest surrounded by cascading cliffs and dry savannah - you won't find such a landscape anywhere else. The Kyambura Gorge within the reserve is reminiscent of a lost world, a place that is fascinating and mysterious. 100-metre towering cliffs surround dense jungle, swamps and lakes, making you feel as if you have stepped into a prehistoric time. The reserve is 156 square kilometres big, the gorge itself is only 11 km long. The Kyambura River, which flows through the reserve, is connected to the Kazinga Channel. This is the only place where you will find chimpanzees in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Although chimp sightings are not guaranteed, you have a good chance of hearing and seeing our “cousins” as they have been habituated to human presence. In addition, Kyambura is a haven for many rare and endemic bird species not found anywhere else.

Alternatively, or additionally, you can explore the Maramagambo Forest, and a python and bat cave located there. The forest is part of the Queen Elizabeth National Park and one of the largest forests in East Africa. A visit to Maramagambo Forest is an excellent choice for those who want to visit a forest they don’t have to share with other visitors since it’s still a bit of a secret how amazing a stroll through this wonderland is. Maramagambo Forest is also home to Vervet, Colobus, L'Hoest monkeys, baboons, red-tailed monkeys and chimpanzees. The sheer density and variety of birds found here make Uganda one of the best bird watching destinations in the world. There are several caves in the forest that are home to millions of bats. From a viewing platform, visitors can watch them and with a bit of luck the ranger will point out African rock pythons who feed on the bats, too.

After a massage in the morning, another highlight awaits you today: Ishasha, located in the southern part of the park. This area is famous for its tree-climbing lions, which are unique in Uganda. The lions climb trees to relax and escape the sun at the hottest time of the day. You have a good chance of spotting the lions up in the top of the African fig tree.

2x Ishasha Wilderness Camp, B/L/D
Situated on the banks of the Ntungwe River, Ishasha Wilderness Camp is an idyllic retreat for people who truly love the wilderness. This exclusive camp combines the magic of a luxury tented camp with excellent service in this pristine and remote region of the national park. Each of the camp's tented-style rooms is situated in the riverine forest and has a private veranda overlooking the river. The Ishasha savannah is famous for its population of tree-climbing lions, which can sometimes be seen resting in the branches of the large fig trees. As the camp is within the park, wildlife can also roam freely here. Elephants can be seen bathing in the river, buffalo like to graze and the resident troops of black & white colobus and vervet monkeys are also frequently spotted.

The perfect start to the day today is a sumptuous bush breakfast. Thereafter you will then embark on another exciting game drive in the national park. Go hunting for elephants, hyenas and leopards, but please only with your camera!

A drive through forests and lovely landscapes will take you to another breath-taking attraction - the home of the endangered mountain gorillas. You can find the gentle giants in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The roads are a bit bumpy, but the many impressions and scenic landscape along the way - banana plantations, lakes with islands, unique panorama - will surely compensate you.

4x Chameleon Hill Lodge, B/L/D        
Chameleon Hill Lodge, which lays on the shores of one of the most beautiful lakes in east Africa, Lake Mutanda, offers spectacular views over the lake with its islands and surrounding hills. The Virunga Volcanoes greet you in the background. Each room has its own charm and character, with its individual colour scheme and secluded, private gardens, opening up to stunning views of the lake. The lodge offers a special blend of comfort and relaxation, where attention to detail and personal service are paramount. Situated between the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks, this is the perfect base for visiting the mountain gorillas. As well as massages, various authentic activities in the area and volcano climbs, there are enchanting walks through the reforested forest, and a motorboat or canoe for excursions. The cuisine is famous for its delicious dishes. Specialities include bread baked slowly in a wood-fired oven, homemade muesli with hand-picked ingredients and the freshest fruits, herbs and vegetables from their own organic garden.

Prepare for an encounter with Bwindi's gentle giants: the rare mountain gorillas. For most visitors, this is the absolute highlight of their Uganda trip! The gorillas you will see today belong to one of the families that accept the presence of humans. Your tour will be a very special, exciting hike - along the forested slopes, through winding vines, past bushes and bamboo plants before you finally get to see the gorillas. Along the way, your ranger will show you traces of previous gorilla activity, such as droppings, nests, and nibbled bamboo shoots. You'll learn a lot about the gentle giants, and if it gets slippery, a ranger will gladly lend you his hand. It is an emotional, moving and very impressive experience to come face to face with a gorilla.

Today you are free to organize the day according to your wishes. How about a volcano climb? You could also pay another visit to the gorillas or do a Golden Monkey Tracking. In addition, you can choose from various hiking tours, or cultural experiences, such as the Batwa Experience. Sit down with the Chameleon Hill team, go through the activity menu and find the perfect activity for the day. Or just unwind and occupy yourself with some sweet doing nothing, you've earned it.

Start the day with a 2-hour bike ride along Lake Mutanda. Ride through beautiful landscapes, past banana plantations, while children run after you and mothers in colourful dresses wave to you on their way to the field. Your destination is Kisoro. Here you will exchange your bike for a Boda Boda, a Ugandan light motorcycle, which will take you for a short ride to a coffee plantation, where you will get an extremely interesting coffee tour. Afterwards your Boda will take you to the southern shore of Lake Mutanda. Here our red Pontoon boat is waiting for you. While you enjoy snacks and drinks, you head for Mutanda Island, the largest island in the lake. After a guided tour, another stop is on the agenda: Skeleton Island. Get ready for some spooky story-telling by your guide...

Today you have the choice of either taking a 1.5-hour flight back to Entebbe or spending another night in a national park at Lake Mburo.

A)    In the morning we will take you to the airstrip in Kisoro, from where a scenic flight will take you to Entebbe. You will fly over Queen Elizabeth National Park and have a good chance of seeing herds of elephants even from the air. Here you will be met by an Across Africa representative and transferred to Boutique Hotel No.5 where we have booked a day room for you until the airport transfer.

B)    Alternatively, drive to Lake Mburo National Park. This park has exceptional fauna compared to other reserves. It offers the best opportunity to see elands as well as zebras, giraffes, topis, impalas and various bird species. At the five lakes you can admire hippos, crocodiles and a great variety of water birds, including the majestic bald eagle. In the early evening, the hippos come ashore to forage. You may well be able to observe one of these impressive animals up close in full size. Together with a ranger you can go on a night walk. You will have the opportunity to get an insight into the world of nocturnal animals. Among other things, you will meet the cute little bush babies made famous by the Disney film "Madagascar".

1x Mihingo Lodge, B/L/D
Mihingo Lodge is a luxurious, family-run lodge in an enchanting setting on the edge of Lake Mburo National Park. It offers spectacular views over a vast savannah landscape. Designed to blend into the fragile surroundings, the eco-friendly lodge offers comfort, relaxation and the experience of being at one with nature. An infinity pool overlooks the valley below, where you can spot buffalos, elands, impalas, warthogs, bushbucks and zebras at the waterhole. To enhance your experience of wild Africa, Mihingo is the only lodge in Uganda that offers horse safaris into the national park.

Today you will go on a guided nature walk in Lake Mburo National Park. A ranger will join you on this nature walk to show you wildlife life up close, without being surrounded by the walls of your safari vehicle.

Alternatively, you can take this last safari in Uganda on a bike or on horseback. Decide on the spot what you feel like doing: Foot stalking, mountain bike safari or on the back of a horse.

Every journey comes to an end - today the journey takes you back to Entebbe. On the way you will have a short stop at the Equator Monument. Here you can see the interesting "water experiment" to show the equator - effect.

Now we say goodbye to you and wish "tambula bulungi" – a safe journey.