You may choose among 3 options:

Option 1 Western Circuit 12 days;

Option 2 Western Circuit 9 days;

Option 3 Eastern Circuit and Murchison Falls 10 days

After the main program: extension 2 nights Farm Stay Zirobwe (Kampala)

Itinerary option 1 – Western Circuit 12 days 11 nights Tour Code DJU40A

Murchison Falls, Bugoma Forest, Rubalika Farm, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Buhoma, Bwindi National Park, Kitanga

Day 1 – Entebbe

Bed and Breakfast

• On arrival at Entebbe International Airport in Uganda you will be welcomed by our representative and transferred for overnight to the hotel, Airport Guest House.

Day 2 – Murchison Falls National Park

Full Board.

• After breakfast, proceed to Murchison Falls National Park.
• Lunch en route in a restaurant.
• In the afternoon visit the “Top of the Murchison Falls” and embark on an evening game drive in Murchison Falls, the biggest national park in Uganda and according to many the most rewarding for photographic safari. In the geology, it is found where river Nile meets the graben of the Albertine Rift Valley by creating a canyon in the rock, the so-called Murchison Falls.
• Dinner and overnight at Twiga Safari Lodge. This eco-lodge is found on the shores of river Nile; the typical cottages fuse the camping tent and the thatched elevated cottage, for the best experience of the surrounding nature.

Note:Today drive is about 6 hours, 350 km some murram road in the park.

Day 3 – Murchison Falls National Park

Full Board.

• After breakfast you will embark on an early morning game drive, explore the savannah in the delta of the Nile on Lake Albert, northern bank. As you view and take memorable photographs of the animals in the wild, you might find elephants, lions, buffalos, giraffes, waterbucks, bushbucks, spotted hyenas and, very rarely, the leopards.
• Lunch at the lodge.
• In the afternoon, you take the boat safari along the river Nile to the base of the magnificent Murchison Falls. It is amazing the concentration of wildlife in the bank of the river Nile, including hippos, crocodiles, and a variety of bird’s species, like African eagles, pelicans, kingfisher, Egyptian geese and much more.
• Dinner and overnight at Twiga Safari Lodge.

Day 4 – Murchison Falls - Bugoma Forest nature walk

Full Board.

• After breakfast, proceed to Bugoma Forest.
• Lunch at the lodge.
• In the afternoon you go for a guided nature walk in Bugoma Forest to see the unique Uganda mangabeys.
• Dinner and overnight at Bugoma Jungle Lodge. This eco-lodge is located amid the tropical forest, a tended camp mixed with the stylish raised cottages, with open verandah where much observation can be made of monkeys and birds.

Note:Today drive is about 3 hour, about 180km.

Day 5 – Bugoma Forest Conservation Project

Full Board.

• After breakfast, at 7 am go for the chimpanzee trekking in Bugoma Forest.
• With its size of 410 sq km is the habitat of the endangered chimpanzees and Uganda mangabeys. It is also the site for a conservation effort by the Association for Conservation of Bugoma Forest (ACBF), which works on various conservation projects: the project Every 5 Acres for acquisition of land for reforestation; the private patrol “Chimp T-rap project”; the eco-tourism development; the beekeeping project. Eco-tourism plays a critical positive role in the conservation of Bugoma Forest, because since 2020 a large portion of the tropical forest was cleared to open space for sugar cane plantations.
• You can also plant a tree at the reforestation project “Every 5 Acres”, purchase local products like tea and honey.
• Meet the local guides of ACBF to learn about the forest protection and how the local community’s benefits from that.
• Lunch at the lodge.
• In the afternoon the journey continues to the region of Fort Portal.
• Welcome by the Rubalika community. Dinner and overnight at Rubalika Safari Lodge and Farm / Kluges Farm Guest House.

Note:Today drive is about 3 hours, about 180km.

Day 6 – Fort Portal Rubalika – Queen Elizabeth NP

Full Board

• After breakfast visit the Rubalika farm where you will have the direct experience of agri-tourism learning about the coffee, vanilla and tea. The local community cultivates directly the farm and local guides will take you trough the explanations.
• Typical Ugandan style lunch will be served at the lodge.
• In the afternoon explore the region of beautiful Kasenda Crater lakes with a nature walk to “Top of the World”. Then proceed to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
• Dinner and overnight at Marafiki Lodge. This eco-lodge provides safari tents on wooden decks overlooking Lake George, all crafted and designed with the use of local materials and local knowledge.

Day 7 - Queen Elizabeth National Park

Full Board.

• In the early morning, game drive in Queen Elizabeth NP and safari by boat from Mweya peninsula along Kazinga channel, one of the most popular sites in Uganda for its concentration of wildlife, bird’s life and opportunities for good photographs. Moreover, you will see plenty of hippos, buffaloes and elephants while drinking from the channel.
• Lunch from the lodge.
• In the afternoon, we propose the eco-tourism activity at the Kasoga Experience, where you can have a local canoe trip with local guides on Lake George or / and visiting the cultural village of the Basongora community in Hamukungu Fishing Village.
• Dinner and overnight at Marafiki Lodge.

Day 8 – Ishasha – Bwindi National Park / Buhoma

Full Board.

• After breakfast short transfer to Ishasha sector and take a game drive in search for the “tree climbing lions” which are seen during the hot hours of the day, as they lie resting on top of Figs trees. You might also see herds of buffaloes, elephants, topi antelopes and more.
• Lunch in a restaurant.
• Afternoon proceed to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Stop over for a visit at Kayonza Growers Tea Factory for an Agro-tourism trail, that includes tea agronomy, production process, demo firms, community impact, and tea support projects. Kayonza has a long and interesting story, as it is a model of successful cooperative of small-scale farmers, who supported the tea project and entered into internationally recognized “fair trade” markets.
• Transfer to Buhoma in Bwindi, to the site of the community project Ride 4 a Woman (see the website: https://www.ride4awoman.org/). Accommodation and meals are provided at Noel’s Cottage or Mwebesa House.

Note: Today drive is about 2 hours of murram road.

Day 9 –Mountain gorilla trekking

Full Board.

• In the morning OPTIONAL you enter the rain tropical forest of Bwindi for the gorilla safari. The activity starts at 8am and you will follow the ranger guides in a group of maximum 8 people as you search for the habituated family of mountain gorillas, which was allocated according to the permits. You have one hour for observing the primates and their behaviors, while taking photographs. Ensure you take the packed lunch and water with you in the bag and for this you might need the support of available porters. The mountain gorilla trekking is an activity directly benefiting the conservation of the endangered gorillas and also benefiting the local communities around Bwindi National Park, as they receive a percentage of the payment through community projects. From the gorilla population census of 2018, Bwindi is reported to have a population of about 460 gorillas.
• Packed lunch for the day.
• In the afternoon, spend time with the organization Ride 4 a Woman. Set up in 2009 by Evelyn Habasa, the organization is supporting women from 11 villages making a living. Particularly, the community based organization provides working opportunities in pedal sewing and basket weaving; the products of the work are for sell in the community shop where you can find very attractive fabric gift. Visitors can experience and work in the workshop with the women of the community. Also, they can experience the cooking of the traditional Bakiga food and have a typical lunch. The women can also arrange the Kiga dance which is the most interesting cultural expression for the people of the area of Bwindi.
• Dinner and overnight, at Noel’s Cottage or Mwebesa House.

Day 10 – The Batwa walk - Kitanga

Full Board.

• Today’s activity is the Batwa Trail, a walk into a forested site near Bwindi, Echuya Forest. The objective is to know about the rich cultural heritage and traditions of the Batwa Pigmies, the people who inhabited the forest. This project generates incomes to the Batwa community, who become very poor and marginalized after been displaced from the protected areas, helping the education of children and the health of the people. During the walk, you will learn about medicinal plants, visit the traditional hut, experience how they collect honey and also see the traditional dances.
• Packed lunch.
• In the afternoon proceed to Kitanga Mission, located between Bwindi and Kabale, a beautiful rural areas surrounded by green hills. Dinner and overnight in Kitanga Guest House.

Day 11 - Kitanga Mission

Full Board.

• Kitanga Mission is a good example of how much can be done to improve on the livelihood of rural people when the efforts are well channeled and well managed. You have a chance to talk to the people of the mission. In Kitanga you have the opportunity to spend time with the local rural community and learn more about crop cultivation, rearing of animals and the traditional life of the Bakiga people. You can also visit the Primary School, the Hospital and the Industrial park.
• Lunch at the guest house.
• In the afternoon proceed the journey to Mbarara.
• Dinner and overnight at Nyore Hillside Retreat.

Day 12 – Entebbe

Half Board (breakfast, lunch)

• After breakfast, drive back to Entebbe.
• Lunch en route in a local restaurant.
• Reserved for departure from Entebbe International Airport or extension 2 nights Farm Stay Zirobwe.

Note:Today drive is about 7 hours, 390 km on tarmac roads.