The Pearl of Africa

The Murchinson Falls in Uganda
The Murchinson Falls in Uganda
Fishing in Uganda
Fishing in Uganda
Baby Chimpanzee
Baby Chimpanzee
Silverback Gorilla
Silverback Gorilla

An exciting guided tour in the "Pearl of Africa" in the footsteps of the gorillas

 

 

The "Pearl of Africa", as Winston Churchill once called Uganda, is a land of unique scenic beauty, with unparalleled animal wealth and home to the world famous mountain gorillas. This unique tour will show you the highlights of this amazing country: experience the famous wild-living mountain gorillas and chimpanzees in the local forests, explore hidden villages and the abundance of animals at Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park and Lake Mburo. Whether you want do do boat-game drives, selected safari walks or a visit to the spectacular Rwenzori Mountains of the Kibale National Park, we offer the perfect combination of adventure, enjoyment and variety in the heart of Africa.

Tour Highlights

Map of the Pearl of Africa route
Map of the Pearl of Africa route

- Dramatic sunsets on the Nile and in the bush

- Safaris at sea and inland

- Staying amongst the "Big 5"

- The source of the White Nile

- The waterfalls in Murchinson National Park

- Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale National Park

- The abundance of animals in the Queen Elizabeth National Park

- Gorilla tracking in Bwindi National Park

 

.... and much more

 

 


 

 

Itinerary

Day 1: Welcome to Entebbe

The journey begins this morning with a long-haul flight to Entebbe in Uganda. Your local, English-speaking tour guide will be waiting for you at the airport and will take you to the nearby guest house in Entebbe. Here you can relax in peace before the tour starts tomorrow on a unique discovery of Uganda. 4 km / D

 

Day 2: Rhinos at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

After breakfast, we head to the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, a rhinoceros repopulation project. Starting in 2005 with 5 donated rhinos, a team of about 80 park rangers takes on the now 15 rhinos as part of a nature conservation project. Through our visit we support the project. We will spend the night in a beautiful lodge. After dinner, we can go on another exciting night walk with an experienced gamekeeper through the scrubland. 210 km / B, PL, D

 

Day 3: From the Shoebill Stork to the Murchison Waterfalls

Early in the morning we drive to a papyrus wetland. We go with local fisherman in a small wooden boat for bird watching- the main goal is to spot a rare shoebill stork. We then drive North, to the beautiful Murchinson Falls National Park. A tasty picnic awaits us at the imposing Murchison Falls. There, the Victoria Nile, which belongs to the White Nile, falls over a step with a drop of 43 m, after it forced itself through a narrow point of the East African trench. On a guided walk down the waterfall below, a privately rented riverboat awaits us for a boat game drive on the Nile. With a little luck, we also see elephants, lions and Rothschild giraffes here. Just before sunset we reach the Murchison River Lodge. Here we will stay in "Thatched Tents" - beautifully furnished, large tents with baths - for two nights on the banks of the Nile. 150 km / B, PL, D

Day 4: Game drive at Murchison Falls National Park 

With the sunrise, we cross the Nile on a ferry and take an exciting game drive along the Nile. The hilly savanna landscape is home to Rothschild giraffes, buffaloes, elephants, lions, leopards and many more animals. We take a lot of time here. During the midday heat, we look for a shady spot for a picnic lunch break, to relax a little before exploring further. In the evening we are back at our beautiful lodge. 0 km / B, PL, D

 

Day 5: The Kibale National Park

After a varied drive through rural areas along the Albert lake, we reach the Northern foothills of the Ruwenzori mountains in the afternoon. The hilly landscape around the Ndali-Kasenda crater fields is a rural idyll of crater lakes, tea plantations and rainforests. In the hilly crater landscape is also the Kibale National Park - well known beyond Africa for the high primate density, having over 1,500 chimpanzees and a large variety of forest birds. We will spend the night in a cozy lodge on the edge of the Kibale forest. 322 km / B, PL, D

 

Day 6: In the footsteps of the chimpanzees and drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park

After breakfast, a ten-minute drive takes us to a ranger post. Here a quick briefing is done and final preparations are made for our current chimpanzee tracking. Together with an experienced gamekeeper, we then roam the rainforest to find one of the habituated familie’s. Since the chimpanzees are usually “screaming from excitement" in the treetops of the fig trees while eating, the chances are very good to watch them while having breakfast. The chimpanzee tracking is limited to half a day. In the afternoon, we drive to the 2,000 square km Queen Elizabeth National Park. Located at the Southern end of the Ruwenzori Mountains, it is home to nearly 100 mammals, over 600 species of birds, several species of monkeys, elephants, buffaloes, hippos, crocodiles, lions and more. Located on the foothills of Ruwenzoris, our beautiful safari lodge will be our base for exploring the national park. 113 km / B, PL, D

 

Tag 7: Queen Elisabeth National Park – Boat trip to Kazinga Kanal

Today, with the rising sun, we drive out into the open savannah to observe and photograph the wildlife during their morning activities. We drive to the hunting area of the lions - the open savannah in which the Ugandan grass antelopes prefer to stay. We also look out for other antelope species, the rare giant forest hog, and maybe even a leopard or a hyena. We spend a lot of time exploring the less traveled game paths in search of the right photo opportunity. In the afternoon we do a boat game drive on the Kazinga Channel. Here we hope to find as much wildlife activity in and around the water as possible. Crocodiles, hippos, buffaloes, elephants and flamingos cross our way with luck. 0 km / B, PL, D

 

Day 8: Queen Elisabeth National Park - In search of the tree lions

We leave the Northern part of the park and an approximate two-hour drive takes us to the Ishasha Sector, famous for its tree-lions, in the Southern area of the nature reserve. There are few places in Africa where you can experience a lion elegantly making its way up a tree for shade during the hot midday. With our off-road vehicle we roam this natural space to finds this rare sighting. After a picnic on the Ishasha River, with grunting hippos, we will keep our eyes open for tree lions resting in the Southern fig trees. Tonight we stay in the great Enjojo Lodge, which is situated right at the waterhole. 128 km / B, PL, D

 

 

Day 9: To the Bwindi National Park  

This morning, another game drive takes place to explore the wildlife in this area. Today we could also drive to the remote and rare-visited "Edward Flats". Due to the difficult slope conditions there, this is only possible seasonally and with good four-wheel drive vehicles. After the picnic lunch we will leave Queen Elisabeth National Park and continue to the impenetrable mountain rainforests of Bwindi National Park. This is home to over half of the remaining mountain gorillas worldwide. At the edge of the jungle, we will move into chalets at a beautiful lodge, where we will be staying for the next two nights. From your private veranda, you have a great view of the mountain rainforest, from which sometimes the cries of the chimpanzees can be heard, as well as the grunts of the gorilla. 123 km / B, PL, D

 

Day 10: Mountain gorillas in Bwindi National Park

Gorilla Tracking (optional, fee not included in the tour price): After a lovely breakfast we walk a few meters to the nearby Ranger post and receive a briefing on the rules of conduct. With local guides and rangers, we travel over hill and valley terrain through the mountain rainforest. The guide follows the instructions and paths left by the trackers who left at sunrise. The trackers first went to the spot where they met the gorillas the day before, and now follow their trails since the previous day. As soon as they spot the gorillas, they inform our guide and we take a ‘short cut’ directly to the gorillas. Here we will carefully approach the gorilla family, known as the ‘Silverback”. Being so close to the gorillas is an unforgettable experience. We have a limit of one hour to visit the gorillas, as this minimises the disruption of their natural pace of life. B, PL, D

 

Day 11: A drive to Lake Mburo National Park

After the highlights in Bwindi National Park, we leave the park and arrive in the hilly acacia Landscape of Lake Mburo National Park, where we have an afternoon game drive.  On a short game drive to our camp we will spot multiple zebras and antelopes. We stay at the edge of the park in a beautiful lodge, built on a hill with a wide view over the hilly Savannah. Here we want to take the opportunity to spot nocturnal animals and birds. After dinner, we drive through the park with a ranger and searchlight at night, hoping for some rare sightings. We will be staying here for the next two nights. 271km / B, PL, D

 

Day 12: One last big safari in Lake Mburo National Park

After tea and coffee on your private veranda we roam the National Park on a guided hike, to experience any morning activities of the animals up close. We combine your afternoon game drive with a boat game ride on Lake Mburo. We observe crocodiles, hippos and rare waterbirds. Over a cozy campfire, we listen to the night sounds of Africa and let the eventful days of this unique journey to the "Pearl of Africa" come to an end. B, PL, D

 

Day 13: Entebbe and return home

We leave the national park and after a picnic / photo stop at the equator we reach Entebbe in the afternoon. Here, we have organised day-use rooms that we can use for freshening up.Together we enjoy a cozy farewell dinner. There is scheduled transfer to the airport, where it is time to say goodbye to Uganda. Here you officially depart Africa. 228 km / B, PL, D

 

Day 14: Return Home

 

Arrival at home

Prices and Dates

Prices and Dates on request. Tour code: Feather Bush

 

* The offer is valid for a group size of 6 participants.

* 30 days prior to the departure date, the confirmation of participants must be confirmed (see Terms and Conditions).

* The travel price excludes general increases in transport costs and currency fluctuations.

* Prices are subject to the availability of selected accommodation.

* We reserve the right to change the travel program at short notice.

 

Included in tour price:

  • Private, local, qualified, English-speaking tour guide from and to Entebbe International Airport
  • 12 nights in selected, beautiful accommodations, mostly in the three- to four-star range
  • 1 day-room in Entebbe
  • Meals as advertised excl. Drinks (B = breakfast, PL = picnic lunch, D = dinner
  • Excursion and round trip program in a modern Safari Land Cruiser
  • All entrances, activities and parking fees as mentioned (except optional program points).
  • Drinking water supply during bus rides
  • EUR 5.00 per person to support the pre-school kindergarten Penguin Kidz in Betty's Bay, South Africa
  • Luggage transport

 

Excluded in the tour price:

  • International flights to and from Entebbe, Uganda
  • E-Visa fee (currently USD 50 per person for single entry)
  • Optional activities and amenities (authorisation for Gorilla Trecking currently USD 700 per person in 2021)
  • Travel insurance
  • Drinks, tips, personal expenses

 

Note: Yellow fever vaccine required