17 Days Uganda Tanzania Kenya Safari, Gorilla Trekking, Wildlife Viewing & Mountaineering Safari. The 17 Days Uganda Tanzania Kenya safari holiday trip gives you deep insight in Gorillas, Wildlife & Mountaineering Safari is a diverse safari experience featuring a 3-day hike to the Rwenzori Mountains, Mountain Gorilla Trekking in the hilly forested landscapes of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park, rich wild game viewing experience in Queen Elizabeth, Lake Manyara, Serengeti, Maasai Mara and Lake Nakuru National Parks not forgetting scenic encounters in Ngorongoro Crater and the Flamingo stretch on Lake Nakuru.
Day 1: Arrival in Uganda – Entebbe International Airport and transfer to the hotel
Day 2: Transfer to Kibale National Park / Fort Portal Area, visit the Amabere g’ Nyinamwiru caves & hike the Fort Portal Crater field
Day 3: Do Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale Forest & transfer to Kasese
Day 4, 5 & 6: Undertake the 3 days / 2 nights trek of Rwenzori Mountains – Explore the Mahoma trail
Day 7: Morning extensive game drive in Kasenyi sector & afternoon boat safari along Kazinga Channel
Day 8: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park & do Ishasha sector game drive in search of tree climbing lions
Day 9: Undertake Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 10: Transfer to Kigali & fly to Arusha Tanzania. Here, you can also fly from Kisoro to Entebbe and then fly from Entebbe to Kilimanjaro
Day 11: Transfer to Lake Manyara, visit the community & afternoon game drive
Day 12: Half day game drive in Lake Manyara National Park & transfer to Ngorongoro crater
Day 13: Ngorongoro Game Drive in the morning and transfer to Serengeti National Park
Day 14: Full day game drive in Serengeti National Park
Day 15: Drive from Serengeti to Maasai Mara National Park
Day 16: Full day game viewing in Maasai Mara National Reserve with optional evening cultural tour to the Maasai people
Day 17: Transfer to Nairobi
Your flight eventually arrives at Uganda’s main gateway – the Entebbe International Airport where you will be welcomed by the driver guide and after meet and greet, you transfer to the hotel for relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Upmarket / Luxury: Lake Victoria Serena Resort / Sheraton Hotel Kampala, Midrange / Standard: Cassia Lodge / Boma Hotel Entebbe, Budget / Basic: Banda Inns / Airport Guesthouse
After breakfast at the lodge, you embark on the 300km drive about 4 – 5 hours to Fort Portal enjoying the impressive views of the countryside including the en route towns of Mityana, Mubende and Kyenjonjo. The Mubende Inselbergs, the distant views of Lake Wamara and the lush tea plantations are also exciting to explore along the drive. Upon reaching Fort Portal town, you settle for lunch after which you will spend the afternoon visiting the Amabere g’Nnyinamwiru caves exploring the history behind this rich heritage site with the beautiful Nyakasura falls flowing over the caves in the rainy season. The breast-like features are traditionally known to be breasts of Nnyinamwiru the maiden daughter of Bukuku the self enthroned King of the Bachwezi who denied his daughter a chance to breast feed her son Ndahura in fear that the grand child would take over his throne. You also undertake a hike to the Fort Portal crater field summiting the famous Kyeganywa hill offering uninterrupted views of the surrounding crater lakes and crater hollows. Retreat to Kibale Area for relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Upmarket / Luxury: Primate Lodge – Luxury Cottages / Ndali Lodge, Midrange / Standard: Kibale Forest Camp – Safari Tent, Budget / Basic: Rwenzori View Guesthouse
The morning is dedicated to Chimpanzee trekking encounter commencing with briefing at 8am at Kanyanchu Tourism Center. Kibale is a verdant forest marked by lush flora including tall and mature trees that are over 50m tall and 200 years old, 375 species of birds including the Green Breasted Pita and Kibale ground thrush and 13 primate species which include; common chimpanzees, the Black and White colobus monkeys, Olive Baboons, Vervet Monkeys among others. The Chimpanzee trekking takes about 2 -5 hours and includes one full hour of chimpanzee viewing encounter. Retreat from the activity and embark on 157km about 3 hours transfer toKasese enjoying the scenic views of the snow capped Rwenzori Mountains en route. Retire for relaxation, dinner and overnight
Accommodation: Upmarket / Luxury: Equator Snow Lodge, Midrange / Standard: Ihamba Safari Lodge, Budget / Basic: Ruboni Community Camp
Day 4: Hike from Ibanda to Omuka Kizza Rest Camp (2977m)
You set off from your lodge after breakfast to start off the trek via the Kyambogho pristine forest overlooking the famous Mubuku Valley. The continuous hike through the forest offers possible views of primates including Black and White Colobus, rare L’hoest Monkey and the Blue Monkey. You settle at Omuka Kizza Rest Camp at 2,977 metres enjoying the remarkable views of the Rwenzori foot hills and the Kasese town at 2,160m below. The sight of the Rwenzori Turaco may not be missed on this trek.
Accommodation: Omuka Kizza Rest Camp
Day 5: Hike from Omuka Kizza to Mahoma Lake
Embark on the hike to Mahoma Lake after breakfast. You follow the trail through the forest before approaching a narrow ridge covered by moss hiking up to 3,515 metres passing through a beautiful area covered by giant heather forest covered by bright green moss layers. The Mountain elephant footprints traversing the bamboo and heather forest may not be missed and you may be so lucky and encounter them drinking water at the hot spring. The ridge gives way to Rukenga Valley where the everlasting flowers also known as mimulopsis eliotti along with giant lobelia might be explored. You retire for overnight at Mahoma lake camp and if the sky is clear, you enjoy the views of Mount Stanely, Mt Baker along with the Portal Peaks.
Accommodation: Mahoma Lake Camp
Day 6: Transfer from Mahoma Lake to Ibanda
Take a walk around the lake after breakfast after which you will descend to Ibanda passing through the Nyabitaba ranger post, the Mpanga ridge before adjoining the Mubuku Valley – the home for the three horned Chameleon. Connect to the lodge in Queen Elizabeth National Park for relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Upmarket / Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge / Katara Lodge, Midrange / Standard: Enganzi Game Lodge / Kasenyi Safari Camp, Budget / Basic: Pumba Safari Cottages
The game drive starts at 6am if you slept inside the park and 7am if the lodge is outside the park gates taking you to Kasenyi plains where the range of wild game are known to thrive and a breeding ground to many. The 3 – 4 hour encounter offers possibility of exploring wild game like lions, elephants, Buffaloes, leopard, the Uganda Kobs, defassa waterbucks, wart hogs, bushbucks, Topis among others. The mid day siesta can be spent at the lodge or in Mweya peninsular taking lunch before gathering at Mweya jetty for a two (2) hour boat cruise along the magical Kazinga Channel. The channel shores offer impressive views of the wild game drinking water including Buffalos, Elephants and a range of antelopes, the range of bird species including Great Cormorants, African Skimmers among others and aquatics like Nile Crocodiles and Hippos. The evening game drive along the channel track as you connect to the lodge offers more wild game views and the sunset views over the savannah.
Accommodation: Upmarket / Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge / Katara Lodge, Midrange / Standard: Enganzi Game Lodge / Kasenyi Safari Camp, Budget / Basic: Pumba Safari Cottages
After breakfast, embark on the transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to the south of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Ishasha sector in the south of Queen Elizabeth National Park is another wild game viewing haven and a home to the famous tree climbing lions. A 1 – 2 hour game drive en route to Bwindi is a rewarding adventure to undertake as you gain possibilities of viewing them hanging on the fig tree branches in the mid morning sun. Proceed to arrive in Bwindi Impenetrable Park for relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Upmarket / Luxury: Chameleon Hill Lodge, Midrange / Standard: Gorilla Mist Camp, Budget / Basic: Broadbill Forest Camp
The gorilla trekking activity commences at 8am with briefing by the park rangers about the conduct of the activity after which you set off to the forest in search of these critically endangered apes. The gentle giants thrive in the dense forested landscapes in rugged mountainous ecosystem of Bwindi which presents a rather challenging trek as you traverse the steep hills, slop down narrow valley and cross streams. The forest also features lush flora and a myriad of bird species. The moment with gorillas is limited to one hour but the entire trek can range from 2 – 8 hours. Retreat from the activity and spend the afternoon relaxing at the lodge. You can take an optional community tour visiting the Batwa people one of the last groups of short people left in the world.
Accommodation: Upmarket / Luxury: Chameleon Hill Lodge, Midrange / Standard: Gorilla Mist Camp, Budget / Basic: Broadbill Forest Camp
Embark on the transfer to Kigali International Airport in Rwanda to catch up with a flight to Kilimanjaro Airport and connect to Arusha for overnight.
Accommodation: Impala Hotel / Iiboru Safari Lodge
After breakfast, embark on the transfer to Lake Manyara National Park and upon arrival, you take up a village walk in the Mto Wa Mbu where you have an opportunity to explore the local community and their traditions including methods of food preparation, local banana beer brewing, the Makonde wood carvings and eventually settling for a traditional lunch which you participated in its preparation. In the afternoon, you enter the park for a game drive offering possible views of tree climbing lions, Zebras, warthog, baboon, giraffe, elephant, impala, hippo and wildebeest. Retire for relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Upmarket / Luxury: Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge, Midrange / Standard: Manyara Kirurumu Camp, Budget / Basic: Manyara Wildlife Safari Camp
After breakfast enjoy half day game drive in Lake Manyara National Park before returning for lunch at the camp or lodge. Later in the afternoon hours, transfer to Ngorongoro where you will arrive in the late afternoon hours. Rest of the afternoon at leisure enjoying the beautiful scenery or engage in optional activities that may include nature walks, biking.
Accommodation: Upmarket / Luxury: Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge, Midrange / Standard: Rhotia Valley Tented Lodge, Budget / Basic: Karatu Simba Lodge
Depart after breakfast with lunch box for half day Ngorongoro Crater Tour. Later on proceed to Serengeti to arrive with game drive in Serengeti National Park (time permitting you may stop at the Ol Duvai Gorge Museum, the cradle of mankind).
Accommodation: Upmarket / Luxury: Serengeti Sopa Lodge, Midrange / Standard: Serengeti Kati Kati Camp, Budget / Basic: Kijereshi Tented Camp (Bungalow)
After breakfast time to enjoy full day in Serengeti with morning and evening game drive. Serengeti National Park is one of the Africa’s best National Parks where a rewarding game drive can be undertaken. The park features the Big five including 3000 counts of Maasai Lion, about 1000 African leopards, Black Rhinos, Elephants and Buffaloes along with other wild game like Grant’s Gazelle, Thomson’s Gazelle, Eland, Wildebeest not forgetting over 500 species of birds. It is a very amazing park worth exploring.
Accommodation: Upmarket / Luxury: Serengeti Sopa Lodge, Midrange / Standard: Serengeti Kati Kati Camp, Budget / Basic: Kijereshi Tented Camp (Bungalow)
Depart Serengeti after early breakfast with lunch box driving to Isebania, the Tanzania/Kenya boarder. After clearing with immigration formalities change vehicles and proceed to Maasai Mara arriving with an introductory game drive to the camp or lodge.
Accommodation: Upmarket / Luxury: Mara Serena Safari Lodge, Midrange / Standard: Keekorok Game Lodge, Budget / Basic: Ilkeliani Camp
Depart Masai Mara after breakfast driving back to Nairobi to arrive in the early afternoon hours with drop off at a Nairobi city hotel or at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in time for your onward flight to a beach destination (Kenya Coast of Mombasa or Zanzibar Island)
End of the 17 Days Uganda, Tanzania & Kenya Gorilla, Wildlife & Mountaineering Safari
Cate
Samuel
Robert
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