Trips & Tours: Uganda Discovery

On arrival at the airport, you will be warmly welcomed by your representative from Churchill Safaris who will then transfer you to your Kampala hotel.

An early departure – but well worth it! After breakfast, you are on your way North to Murchison Falls National Park having a break at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary in Nakasongola to view the rhinos. Uganda’s rhinos became extinct in the early 1980s, after a period of civil unrest and heavy poaching. This sanctuary has now been established to breed black and white rhino, and restore rhino populations in Uganda’s protected areas in a later stage.

This is a long drive as you travel north through the country and once you reach the Nile in the heart of the Park, you will cross on the ferry to Paraa.

The sight of the Nile River, the world's longest river, winding its way through the park and plunging through a narrow gap is unforgettable.

Paraa Safari Lodge over looks the mighty Nile where Hippos wallow in the water. The lodge is located on the North bank, which is the closest location to the wildlife in the Park.

After breakfast, you will go for an early morning game drive to the rolling plains where you have chances of viewing lions, giraffe, hartebeest, buffalo and elephant as well as many of the other mammals of the park. For the birders amongst you, these areas support the Secretary Bird, Black Chested Snake Eagle, Tawny and Marshal Eagles Carmine and Swallow Tailed Bee-Eaters, to pick just a few. This is a beautiful drive across Borassus Palm Forest and grassland savannah down to Lake Albert where the Albert Nile heads north to the Sudan. In the afternoon, go for a boat trip to the foot of Murchison Falls where the Nile thunders through a small 7-meter gap, or down river to the delta where the Nile empties into Lake Albert. This is an experience not to be missed! The banks of the Nile are home to many species. You may see huge Nile Crocodiles, big pods of hippos and other wildlife that may come down to drink from the river.

Early game drive to the top of Murchison Falls where you can have a close look in to the gorge where the Nile squeezes in to a 7 meter gorge dropping 40 meters. The falls are spectacular and thunderous with a beautiful rainbow displayed on sunny days. Later head for Kibale Forest National Park. Kibale Forest is a large protected block of rainforest, which has the highest number of primates in Africa such as chimpanzees, Grey Cheeked Mangabey, Red Tailed monkey and Red Colobus.

This morning you will go for the morning chimpanzee tracking in the forest, get a chance to see other species like the Grey-Throated Flycatcher, Masked & Black-Capped Apalis', Chestnut-Winged Starling, Orange-Tufted & Tiny Sunbirds, a good infrastructure and variety of interesting activities which makes this a worthwhile destination returning in time for a heartily breakfast. Later in the afternoon, you will have the opportunity of a guided walk through Bigodi Swamp. Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary is managed by the Kibale Association for Rural and Environmental organisation formed in 1992 with the aim of achieving social and economic development for local communities. This swamp is a home to approximately 137 bird species and its also rich in vegetation, such as wild palms, polita figs and the dominant papyrus. There are a network of forest trails that radiate out from the visitor centre, allowing you to search for a number of species that shun the vicinity of the main road.

This valley is known as the “Garden of Eden” and has a magnificent view of the River Semliki meandering to Lake Albert. You will stop to visit a local farmer and have a brief tour of his farm then take your picnic lunch at the hot water springs arriving at the Lodge in the afternoon. In the late evening, have a game drive which may reveal herds of Uganda Kob, Waterbuck, Reed Buck, several monkey species as well as lots of bird opportunities.

After breakfast, you will experience a day of real discovery. Early morning chimpanzee tracking in the Gallery Forest of the Mugiri River and then afterwards go and visit a local community in the foothills of the Rwenzoris – the inhabitants are looking forward to welcoming and entertaining you. After touring the area, you will have lunch and later go for a boat trip on Lake Albert in search for the Shoebill returning to the Lodge in the evening.

Early morning game drive and if desired your coffee will be brought to your tent then head for Queen Elizabeth National Park having a game drive while entering the park arriving in the afternoon. Relax around the pool after lunch and later go for an early evening game drive. Its little wonder that Queen Elizabeth boasts one of the highest bio diversity ratings of any game park or reserve in the world, - from the open Savannah to Rain Forest, dense Papyrus Swamps and brooding Crater lakes to the vastness of Lake Edward. Almost 100 mammal species that include lions, hippos, buffaloes, leopard, Spotted Hyena, elephants and the elusive Giant Forest Hog plus remarkable 606 bird species that include the Black Chested Eagle, the Swallow Tailed Bee Eaters, to mention but a few. The Primates include Chimps, Black and White Colobus Monkeys, Blue, Black Faced Red Colobus, and Red Tailed monkeys and Olive Baboons. Reptiles are the amazing huge Rock-Python, Puff adders, Spitting Cobras, Gabon Rippers, Green Mambas, and Turtles etc. All these are regularly sighted around the tourist village on the Mweya Peninsula and all this makes a superb safari territory. Queen Elizabeth Park has the highest recorded number of over 600 species of birds including the Shoebill Stork, Black Bee-Eater, Chappirs Fly Catcher, Bustards, and craters full of Lesser Flamingos etc.

This morning, you will have a game drive to the Kisenyi area to look for lion prides and other wildlife like the Uganda Kob that mate around this area returning at the Lodge for breakfast. Take an afternoon boat trip along the Kazinga Channel , where hippos huff and spray mere feet away from the boat, buffalos linger in the shallows, a tremendous variety of birds grace the grasses on the shores. Great White and Pink-Backed Pelicans, Great and Long-Tailed Cormorants, Open-Billed Stork, African Jacana, Malachite and Pied Kingfishers are commonly seen. February and March offer spectacular sightings of some of the bird migrants.

After breakfast, you will have a game drive as you depart Queen Elizabeth for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Best known for its Mountain Gorillas, the Montane Forest also attracts spectacular birds. There are 23 of the 24 Albertine Rift endemics including the African Green Broadbill, Bar Tailed Trogon and other beautiful forest species. You may decide to relax in the afternoon or take a nature walk (at an extra cost of $20 P.P) which will lead you to the Munyaga Waterfall and a chance to see primates such as the Grey Cheeked Mangabey Blue Monkeys and others species.

This morning you will have to wake up very early to get ready for gorilla tracking. Do not forget to take your lunch boxes and all the necessary gear to track the rare Mountain Gorilla, perhaps one of the most exciting wildlife experiences on earth. There are now only 650 left in the world! The tracking may take between 2 and 6 hours but its well worth the effort. There are always park guides with you who interpret the flora and fauna and the lifestyle of the gorillas. In the afternoon relax at the camp or go for a Village walk to visit the Local Batwa Community walk ( at an extra cost of $15 P.P) returning to the Camp in the evening. There is an option of tracking in Nkuringo the southern sector of Bwindi or Rwanda as well.

After breakfast, you will proceed to Lake Mburo National Park passing through the Switzerland of Uganda (Kabale) with beautiful scenery and terraced farming arriving at Lake Mburo National Park in the afternoon. After lunch, you may decide to go for a boat trip or relax in your room. Lake Mburo is an extension of the Tanzanian Plains with big herds of zebra, impala, eland and other savannah species. For birders, this is one of the best place to find African Fin foot, Papyrus, Bush Shrike, and many more. In the evening go for a game drive.

After breakfast, proceed to Kampala having a stop to look at the Royal Drum makers, the Equator - where you will be able to stand and be on both hemispheres at once arriving in Jinja in the evening.

After breakfast, you will go to visit the source of the Nile and the spectacular Bujjagali falls. With the biggest rafts on the river, you will see how those who are rafting are able to safely conquer the most challenging rapids, watch the local fishermen and the fantastic birdlife. In the afternoon, you will be transferred to the airport to later catch your flight back home depending on the International flight departure times.