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14 Days Uganda Primate, Wildlife, Culture, Adventure & Volunteer Safari features destinations of western Uganda and an exceptional opportunity to have a day of volunteering at the Christ Our Vision International Children Ministries in Kalagi Mukono.
The Safari includes Primate tracking both Mountain Gorillas in Bwindi and Chimpanzees in Kibale, extensive wild game viewing in Queen Elizabeth and Lake Mburo National Parks with likely sights of tree climbing lions, Leopards, Elephants, Buffaloes, Impala, Rothschild Giraffes, Burchell’s Zebra among others, adventure hike to Rwenzori Mountains and the Fort Portal explosion crater, cultural exploration among the Banyankole, Batooro and the foothills of Mount Rwenzori and recreation on Lake Bunyonyi and Kazinga Channel.
Day 1: Arrive at Entebbe International Airport – Uganda & connect to the hotel
Day 2: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park & a game walking safari in the evening. A stop en route at Uganda Equator crossing Kayabwe is incorporated
Day 3: Whole day cultural tour to the Banyankole community
Day 4: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi, tour the Uganda’s second largest museum at Igongo Cultural Center en route & do canoe paddle at Lake Bunyonyi upon arrival.
Day 5: Whole day Island hopping experience & transfer in the afternoon to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 6: Do Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable & attend to the Batwa / Bakiga traditional performances in the evening.
Day 7: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park & do a game drive en route in Ishasha sector to explore the tree climbing lions
Day 8: Do game drive / viewing in Kasenyi sector in the morning, afternoon Kazinga Channel boat cruise & transfer to Mount Rwenzori
Day 9: Mount Rwenzori day hike for magical sightseeing
Day 10: Explore the Rwenzori Art foundation – Africa’s only bronze casting site, visit the Ruboni craft center & connect to Fort Portal for afternoon heritage tour to Amabere g’Nnyinamwiru caves & hike to the Fort Portal Crater field before connecting to Kibale National Pak
Day 11: Do Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale & engage in experiential Batooro name giving ceremony in the afternoon
Day 12: Mpanga Tea Estate cycling & drive to Christ Our Vision International Children Ministry Orphanage in Kalagi Mukono.
Day 13: Spend the day volunteering at the Prime Safaris supported Orphanage interacting with Children & contributing to their development
Day 14: Depart through Entebbe International Airport
After a flight from your country of origin, you arrive at Entebbe International Airport where you will be welcomed by our representative ushering you to Uganda – the Pearl of Africa.
The fresh waters of Lake Victoria – the world’s second largest fresh water lake offer a cozy atmosphere commemorating your arrival for the wilderness adventure. You then transfer to the hotel for relaxation, dinner and overnight
Accommodation:
Mid-range / Standard: Cassia Lodge / Humura Resort
Budget / Basic: Banda Inn / Nexus Resort Hotel
Connect to Lake Mburo National Park 240km about 3 – 4 hours drive from Kampala. A stop will be made at Uganda Equator crossing Kayabwe 77km from Kampala for magical photo-shoots and water experiment to justify the geographical divide between the north and southern hemispheres.
You proceed to Lake Mburo NP arriving in time for lunch and short relaxation. At 4pm, you embark on a game walking safari departing at Rwonyo Tourism Center exploring the beautiful views of the Savannah at the sun set, the wild game including Buffaloes, Impala, Burchell’s Zebra, Topi, Eland, Warthogs, Water-bucks, and Rothschild Giraffes among others along with the bird species including the endemic Red-faced Barbet. Retreat from the activity for relaxation, dinner and overnight
Accommodation
Mid-range / Standard: Rwakobo Rock
Budget / Basic: Eagles Nest Mburo
Connect to the Enyemebwa Centre at 6am to catch up with the herd’s men as they set out to embark on their day routine.
You participate in traditional milking experience that involves tying the hind legs of a long horned Ankole cow with a rope and then use the milk pot to hand milk.
You also engage in treating sick animals, brushing the cows to clean their bodies before setting out of the kraal to the grazing field.
You are overwhelmed on how these cows align themselves behind those that have depicted the character of leading others.
You can then retreat back home to explore the various milk products and how they are extracted including the churning where cow Ghee is got.
From this exploration, you can then visit the Banana plantation since the Banyankole are both cattle keepers and crop cultivators.
You learn various agricultural practices including weeding, pruning and planting and harvesting depending on the season.
Settle for traditional lunch which you would have actively participated in its preparation. Alternatively, you can opt for bull roasting in the wilderness with the herdsmen.
The Banyankole have a delicious sauce that they prepare without fire and this is called Eshabwe got from Cow Ghee.
The evening is spent at the bonfire amidst very exciting performances like citations (traditional rapping), singing and dancing.
It is a perfect off the beaten adventure to explore cultures of Africa. Transfer back to the lodge for overnight. Camping in the community or home stay can as well be arranged.
Accommodation
Mid-range / Standard: Rwakobo Rock
Budget / Basic: Eagles Nest Mburo
Drive to Lake Bunyonyi 199km about 4 – 5 hours’ drive stopping en route to visit the Uganda’s second largest Museum at Igongo Cultural Center 12km before Mbarara town.
The museum contains the artifacts of all tribes of Southwestern Uganda including writings and photo gallery.
From this tour, you proceed on the drive to Lake Bunyonyi welcomed by the fascinating Kigezi Highlands. You undertake local canoe paddle in the afternoon for an experiential touch of the lake marked with a count of 29 Islands.
You enjoy a serene paddle on the majestic waters of Lake Bunyonyi surrounded by fascinating Kigezi Highlands. Retire for relaxation, dinner and overnight
Accommodation
Mid-range / Budget: Lake Bunyonyi Eco – resort
Lake Bunyonyi is marked by a range of 29 Islands which has formed the ground for its slogan – the Lake of a thousand Islands.
The Island hopping experience offers you an opportunity to explore its main Islands marked by great heritage.
These include; Punishment Island where the per-marital pregnant girls would be dumped to die of hunger, Upside down Island where the Island turned upside down burying alive as a result of old woman’s curse, Kyahugye Island with impressive wildlife like Zebras, Water-buck, Impala and debrazza monkey and Njuyera Island the traditional leprosy treatment center.
You settle for lunch after which you connect to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park enjoying amazing scenic views of Kigezi Highlands. Arrive in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight
Accommodation
Mid-range / Standard: Gorilla Mist Camp
Budget / Basic: Broad bill Forest Camp
Embark on the Mountain Gorilla Trekking in the hilly forested landscapes of Bwindi starting at 8am from the respective park headquarter.
After briefing, you head to the forest to look out for the critically endangered Mountain Gorillas. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a re-known habitat with a minimum of 400 Mountain Gorillas which makes it the single park with the highest count of these Apes.
The trekking commences at 8am with briefing and can last between 2 – 8 hours including one hour of actual viewing where themed interpretation about the Mountain Gorillas is heard from the guides and a range of photo shoots taken.
From the activity, you spend the evening at the lodge enjoying the impressive Bakiga / Batwa performances
Accommodation
Mid-range / Standard: Gorilla Mist Camp
Budget / Basic: Broad-bill Forest Camp
Set off for Queen Elizabeth National Park 218km about 8 hours’ drive with a two hour game drive in the southern sector of Ishasha to look out for tree climbing lions.
It is always an exciting and lasting moment when you encounter the Kings of the Jungle lying over the branches of fig trees in the day time overlooking their prey below.
You settle for lunch in Ishasha sector and then proceed to the upper parts of Queen in the afternoon to connect to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight
Accommodation
Mid-range / Standard: Enganzi Game Lodge
Budget / Basic: Pumba Safari Cottages
The game drive commences at 7am if slept outside the park gates and 6am if slept inside the park gates meaning that an earlier wake up is required for a cup of coffee.
The 3 – 4 hour activity offers exciting possible views of the four of the Big five namely; leopards, lions, elephants and buffaloes.
Other wild game such as Defassa water-buck, Topis, Uganda Kobs, Spotted Hyenas, and Side stripped jackals among others.
You retreat from the activity and connect to the lodge for lunch and short relaxation after which you connect to Mweya jetty for an afternoon boat cruise along the 45km long Kazinga Channel gaining likely views of Hippos, Nile crocodile, birds like Great Cormorants and African skimmers and the wild game quenching their thirst on the channel shores.
Retreat from the activity and embark on the drive to Kasese for relaxation, dinner and overnight
Accommodation:
Mid-range / Standard: Ihamba Safari Lodge
Budget / Basic: Ruboni Community Camp
At 8am, you are at Nyakalengija park station for briefing after which you set off to the Mountain. Mount Rwenzori stands as the third highest in Africa rising to 5,109m above sea level but also the highest Mountain range in Africa since Mount Kenya and Mount Kilimanjaro are free standing.
The day trek allows you to explore its foothills and ridges with scenic views of the surrounding areas including local settlements, Kasese town, Rift valley lakes and the Savannah grassland of Queen Elizabeth National Park.
It is a whole adventure in the Mountain. Retreat in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight
Accommodation:
Mid-range / Standard: Ihamba Safari Lodge
Budget / Basic: Ruboni Community Camp
Following breakfast, you take a visit to the Rwenzori Art Foundation – the Africa’s only bronze Casting center to explore the beautiful sculptures and other unique works of art displayed in the gallery.
You proceed to visit the Ruboni community craft center to view a selection of locally produced arts and crafts especially the women of Ruboni from which you can secure a souvenir to take home.
From these two sites, you transfer to Fort Portal for lunch after which you connect to Amabere g’Nyinamwiru caves to explore the breast-like features traditionally believed to be breasts of Nnyinamwiru the daughter of Bukuku a self enthroned King of the Bachwezi.
He is noted to have denied his daughter a chance to breast feed the grandson in fear that he would over throw him.
It’s a touching heritage story worth listening to while being interpreted by an indigenous guide. From the caves, you embark on the hike to the Fort Portal Crater Lake field hiking the conical hill of Kyeganywa to gain remarkable views of crater lakes and hollows below.
This is one of the famous explosion crater fields in Uganda. Retreat from the activity and transfer to Kibale National Park 26km from Fort portal town for relaxation, dinner and overnight
Accommodation:
Mid-range / Standard: Kibale Forest Camp – Safari Tent
Budget / Basic: Rwenzori View Guesthouse
The trekking starts at 8am from Kanyanchu Tourism Center with briefing from the park rangers after which you head to the moist forest of Kibale National Park marked with great biodiversity including 13 species of primates of which Chimpanzee is among.
The Chimpanzees are members of the great ape and are close to humans in terms of DNA sharing 98.8%. The trek takes about 2 – 5 hours including one full hour with them viewing them as they feed, copulate, socialize, patrol, hunt and make the mesmerizing pant hooting calls.
The moment is very fascinating and picturesque. From the activity, you settle for lunch after which you connect to Fort Portal to engage with the local people in the famous and legendary name giving ceremony.
Locally known as Empaako, the pet name ceremony is marked by great dancing, singing and ritual performance that is indeed worth exploring.
You will secure a pet name for yourself and this could be Akiiki, Amooti, Apuuli among others. Alternatively, you can opt to spend the afternoon at leisure at the hotel reducing the package price.
Accommodation:
Mid-range / Standard: Mountains of the moon Hotel
Budget / Basic: Rwenzori View Guesthouse
Undertake an exciting adventure Tea estate cycling in Mpanga for exciting scenic views and an experiential touch of tea growing practices including participating in the tea plucking exercise along with the estate staff. From this activity, you set off for the transfer to Kampala 300km about 5 hours drive.
A lunch stop in Mubende is made. Upon arrival in Kampala, you use the northern by pass to connect on the Gayaza Road transferring to Kalagi Mukono for relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Vision for Africa Cottages
This is a special day dedicated fully to the humanitarian cause and to the development of African child in particular.
The Christ Our Vision International Children Ministry Orphanage takes care of disadvantaged children most of which have lost their parents to HIV/AIDS.
Your contribution can depend on your professional expertise but can include; Health, physical, sports, religious, inspiration, teaching and entertainment.
If you have some gifts for the children, you can as well distribute to them by yourself. This one day of volunteer can be a lasting memory among these children.
Accommodation: Vision for Africa Cottages
You transfer to Entebbe International Airport to catch up with the flight back home. Last minute shopping can be done in Kampala.
Cate
Samuel
Robert
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