Uganda Lion Safaris

Safari Outline:

• Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe
• Day 2: Aero Link Flight from Entebbe International Airport to Kasese Airstrip; Bigodi Wetland
  
• Day 3: Full Day Chimpanzee trekking (Kanyanchu)
  
• Day 4: Kibale drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park – Launch Cruise
• Day 5: Kasenyi Game drive – Ishasha Sector
• Day 6: Ishasha Sector; Game drive
• Day 7: Aero Link flight from Kasese Airstrip to Kisoro Airstrip; Bwindi Impenetrable forest
• Day 8: Gorilla Tracking
• Day 9: Nombe & Buniga Forests (encounter with the Batwa)
• Day 10: Aero Link flight from Kisoro Airstrip to Entebbe International Airport

Especially for:

• Perfect for a family
• Experienced and unexperienced travellers
• Adventurers

Detailed Itinerary:

Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe
Depending on the time of your flight, Escape To Africa representative will pick you up at the Airport with a placard and transfer you to the Hotel.

• Travel time: 10 Minutes
• Accommodation: Protea Marriot Hotel
• Meal Plan: Breakfast Only

Day 2: Aero Link Flight from Entebbe International Airport to Kasese Airstrip; Bigodi Wetland vist 
After an early breakfast, drive with the guide to Entebbe International Airport for your Aero Link Flight to Kasese Airstrip. On arrival at Kasese Airstrip, meet the  guide and transfer to the Lodge in Kibale Forest. This park is famous for its population of habituated chimpanzees and 12 other species of primates. Kibale forest is one of the loveliest forests in Uganda with so much to offer from different bird species, 13 species of primates, other species of mammals, numerous indigenous and exotic tree species. Enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Rwenzori ranges. A hot meal at the Lodge and after relaxation with your guide transfer to Bigodi wetland Sanctuary. This swamp is an extensive collection of biodiversity, including primate species; mangabey, vervet monkey, white & black colobus monkey, red colobus monkey, red tailed monkey baboon, blue monkey grey cheeked, and the L’Hoest monkey. This wetland is a great example of a community-based project in an effort to protect the forest and areas around it. And it’s also famously known as a birders paradise. (It’s about 2 hours’ drive from Kasese Airstrip to the Lodge).

• Accommodation: Primates Lodge Kibale / Crater Safari Lodge
•  Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Aero Link flight schedule from Entebbe – Kasese ( to be reconfirmed at the time of reservation):

• January to 14^th June & 16^th September to December  – Depart at 0745 and arrive at 1005
• 15^th June to 15^th September – Depart at 0700 and arrive at 1005

Day 3: Full Day Chimpanzee trekking (Kanyanchu)
With the tracking permit transfer to the park headquarters at Kanyanchu for Morning Chimpanzee tracking. This activity starts at 8am and lasts a full day accordingly.

• Accommodation: Primates Lodge Kibale / Crater Safari Lodge
• Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 4: Kibale drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park – Launch Cruise
With a leisurely breakfast transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park enjoying the breathtaking scenery of the craters. With a view of the Rwenzori Mountains, the park’s splendid panoramas cover dozens of breath-taking craters imprinted theatrically into rolling green hills, beautiful views of the Kazinga Channel and its outstanding main attraction are the big five. Either with a private or scheduled boat enjoy a 2 1/2 – 3 hours afternoon Launch cruise on Kazinga channel, just meters away from hundreds of huge hippos and herds of buffalos, while elephants, buffaloes, warthogs fool around the shoreline.

• Travel time: 3 Hours
• Accommodation: Katara Safari Lodge / Kyamburo Gorge
• Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 5: Kasenyi Game drive – Ishasha Sector
Enjoy yet again another game drive in the Kasenyi sectors and be on the lookout for; Rothschild giraffes, buffalos, elephants and different bird species as you head out for Ishasha Sector. The Ishasha sector is famously known as a haven for the tree climbing lions and its located in the Southern part of the park.  It is the only other place in the entire world where you will find tree climbing lions apart from Lake Manyara National Park in Tanzania.

• Accommodation: Ishasha Wilderness Camp
• Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 6: Ishasha Sector; Game drive
After an early breakfast, enjoy yet another game drive in the Ishasha sector and if you weren’t lucky the previous night with sighting the tree climbing lions, now is your chance. Enjoy as much time as permitted on the game drive and later relax at the Lodge

• Accommodation: Ishasha Wilderness Camp
• Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 7: Aero Link flight from Kasese Airstrip to Kisoro Airstrip; Bwindi Impenetrable forest
After breakfast, transfer with the guide to Kasese Airstrip for your Aero Link flight to Kisoro Airstrip. On arrival at Kisoro Airstrip,  transfer with the guide to the Lodge in Bwindi Impenetrable forest. This vast reserve offers arguably the most productive montane forest birding in Africa and supports 23 of Uganda’s 24 Albertine Rift endemic bird species. Once part of a much larger forest that included the Virunga Volcanoes in neighboring Rwanda, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is now an ecological island within a sea of human cultivation and is of immense conservation importance. (It’s about 2 hours’ drive from Kisoro Airstrip to the Lodge).

Or opt for a Canoe on Lake Mutanda – 2 ½ Hours
This is a half day activity that takes about 2 ½ hours on the 7KM lake. The canoeing is done by local community experienced guides. Only 1 – 2 pax are allowed in the canoe with 1 guide. For those interested, canoe on your own for a few minutes.

• Accommodation in Nkuringo: Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge
• Accommodation in Rushaga: Gorilla Safari Lodge
• Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Aero Link flight schedule from Kasese – Kisoro ( to be reconfirmed at the time of reservation):

• January to 14^th June & 16^th September to December – Depart at 0745 and arrive at 0855
• 15^th June to 15^th September – Depart at 0700 and arrive at 0810

Day 8: Gorilla Tracking
With an early breakfast transfer from the lodge with packed lunches. After gorilla briefing, continue to the forest for gorilla tracking. The beauty of this rain forest is spectacular offering a dramatic, steeply forested landscape, incredibly dense, but crisscrossed by numerous walk trails allowing access to tourists. The time taken and the terrain vary as per the movements of the gorillas. The thrill of spending time observing these gentle and endangered giants is an awesome, exciting experience to be long savored, many find it to be a rare and moving. Tracking can take place at Nkuringo or at Rushaga (1hour drive from Nkuringo), as per the gorilla permits obtained. Upon return, relax at the lodge or opt for a stroll through the community center or drive up to the “Top of the World” – the name given to the football field, high up in Nkuringo which offers amazing views over the peaks and forest. A great way to stretch your legs after the gorilla tracking and to enjoy a sundowner.

• Accommodation in Nkuringo: Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge
• Accommodation in Rushaga: Gorilla Safari Lodge
• Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 9: Nombe & Buniga Forests (encounter with the Batwa)
With a leisurely breakfast, transfer to Nombe Pocket Forest for a walk and a picnic. Depending on ones location, its 1 hour drive from Rushaga and 30 minutes’ drive from Nkuringo. This forest used to be part of Bwindi but was later given to the local community. It’s a beautiful forest for birding, as it hosts many different bird species. Later after relaxation at the Lodge, visit the Batwa trail that takes you through that part of Bwindi forest that used to be home to the Pygmies the Batwa; also known as “people of the forest”. This trail is run by the local community and it involves the Batwa acting out their pervious life in the forest inform of traditional dance and drama.

• Accommodation in Nkuringo: Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge
• Accommodation in Rushaga: Gorilla Safari Lodge
• Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 10: Aero Link flight from Kisoro Airstrip to Entebbe International Airport
Very early in the morning, transfer with the guide to Kisoro Airstrip for your Aero Link flight. On arrival at Entebbe International Airport, connect for your departure flight.

• Meal Plan: Breakfast Only

Aero Link flight schedule from Kisoro – Entebbe ( to be reconfirmed at the time of reservation):

• January to 14^th June & 16^th September to December  – Depart at 0910 and arrive at 1125
• 15^th June to 15^th September – Depart at 0825 and arrive at 1125

END OF ESCAPE TO AFRICA SERVICES

Included in the above quote:

• Our Quotes offered in USD
• Domestic flights (Entebbe – Kasese – Kisoro – Entebbe)
• Full Board meals (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner) with Accommodation as listed in the itinerary.
• Gorilla & Chimpanzee tracking Permit
• Drinking water in the vehicle (1 litre per person per day)
• Private 4×4 vehicle with experienced English-speaking driver-guide, from the morning of day 1 to the evening of day 10
• All the excursions and activities indicated in the itinerary under the supervision of an experienced English-speaking guide
• Wi-Fi (in main areas of all Lodges and Hotel)
• Government taxes
• 15KG of Luggage per person.

Excluded from the above quote:

• All drinks
• Lunch & Dinner on (Day 1 &10)
• Uganda Entry Visa fee
• International air flights
• Any optional activity not indicated in above program
• Laundry Services
• Gratuities and Tips

Tsavo is an authentic, fascinating, endless and untouched wilderness that join the Tsavo West and East National Parks into one largest protected area in Kenya. This park offers an opportunity of viewing the Big 5 in a single day. Its famously known for its man-eating lions and humongous elephant populations to the outside world, which makes it one of the must visit parks in Kenya. Between the 2 parts, Tsavo East is much more accessible, though Tsavo West provides a unique added advantage point to get closer to hippos and crocodiles lazing around in the waters.

At nearly 22,000km2, this makes Tsavo the biggest National Park in Kenya. Both of these parks where once one single park but where later separated. Though among the two Tsavo west is considered the best park for photography, birding and game viewing.

Tsavo East is at 13,747 sq.KM and is generally flat, with dry plains across where are River flows.

And the Tsavo West covers an area of 9,065 sq.KM and is generally mountainous with swamps, a Lake and Springs. It is known for bird life and large game; elephants, leopards, hippos, black rhinos, Cape buffalos and Masai lions.

Activities in Tsavo National Park

There is so much that you can do in Tsavo National park from the primarily; game drives involving viewing of elephants, African lions, hippos, cheetahs, hartebeest and buffalo, birdwatching, hill hiking, to caving and boating.

Best Time to Visit Tsavo West

At Escape To Africa, we recommend visiting the park in the months of January and February as well as June through September. And we try as much as possible to avoid the March to May and sometimes November to December as the park roads tend to be muddy and inaccessible. For all birdwatchers, the must months of visit to see migratory birds are October to January.

Recommended Number of Days

We normally advise 2 days to enjoy Tsavo west National park and a day more for all photographers to capture as much as possible.

Accommodation in the Tsavo West

As big as the park is, it has numerous accommodation to choose from for all kinds of budgets. At Escape To Africa we offer the best from comfort to services.