GORILLA AND MOUNTAIN HIKING SAFARI

Day 1: Arrival

Wajolo wu! Welcome to Uganda. On arrival at Entebbe International Airport, your personal driver/guide will be waiting for you outside arrivals. So just look out for DustTrack safaris. He will drive you to your Hotel in Kampala for the night.

Day 2: Mabamba Shoebill

After a good night’s rest, you are ready to start the day very early at 6:30 am when your driver arrives to pick you up. The first activity of the day is to drive to Mabamba swamp. You will take a ferry boat for half the trip and drive the other half to the swamp. Mabamba is the most convenient place to see the elusive pre-historic looking Shoebill bird. On arrival you will take one of the motorized wooden boats through the papyrus, snaking your way along the cleared waterways in search of the Shoebill. While on the search, you will also be rewarded with views of other bird life while your guide gives you a brief of the Swamp inhabitants. Immediately on return from the boat ride, back into the car you go for the drive westwards towards Kasese, a colonial town in the shadows of the mystical Mountains of the Moon.

 Day 3: Rwenzori hike

This morning, you will be starting a short hike on Mountain Rwenzori also known as the Mountains of the Moon. So, your driver will pick you up at 7:00 am after a hearty breakfast. Have your climbing gear packed, comfortable walking shoes, enough drinking water and off you go. The trekking will commence after briefing at 8:30 am. The hike will take you through the Afro Montane forest with its tall trees teaming with a multitude of bird life and primates like the blue monkeys scampering atop the branches. The hike that starts at 1,727 meters above sea level will end in with the first leg at Sine Camp at 2,596 meters above sea level. The view from the camp is even more amazing with waterfalls, Lake Edward below, rapids, green vegetation, hanging vines and an interactive Camp fire later in the evening.

Day 4: Rwenzori Hike

Enjoy your sumptuous breakfast for you will need your strength as you climb higher to Kalalama Camp for a better view then start the decent through the pristine forest with bright green lichens, Bamboo trees and Giant Heather. This is a good opportunity to take some truly magnificent photographs of the beauty of undisturbed nature. You will descend all the way to the hostel where you started your hike. Your driver will be waiting to take you back to your hotel.

Day 5: Transfer to Lake Mutanda

After the exhilarating hike, sit back today as your driver drives you south west of Uganda towards Kisoro district where Gold meets Silver. This gem of a town is located strategically at an arm’s length of DR Congo to the west, Rwanda to the south and a scenic blanket of hills and valleys that make up Kabale to the east. From here, you can track Gorillas in both Mgahinga and Bwindi national parks, track the endangered golden monkeys, hike to the top of one of the dormant Volcanic peaks of Mt Sabinyo, Mt. Gahinga or Mt. Muhavura. From atop any of these peaks, you will have a glorious view of three countries; Rwanda, DR. Congo and Uganda. Rest up for tomorrows activities.

Day 6: Mountain Gorilla tracking

The opportunity to meet the gentle giants is today. Mgahinga National Park is home to part of the Gorilla population in Uganda and you will be tracking them this morning so put on your tracking shoes and be ready to leave to the Park headquarters as early as 6:00 am. Gorilla tracking can be unpredictable, it can take just a few minutes to 5 hours depending on where the Gorillas spent the night. So, to be on a safe side, have some lunch or snacks packed for you as well as enough drinking water just in case tracking ends past lunchtime. After briefing, your guides will lead you through the forest to the location of the Gorillas where you will spend an hour watching them socialize, feed, engage each other, a truly magical moment to say the least. When you return from tracking, you will meet up with your driver who will take you to the docks from where you will take a boat ride on the peaceful waters of Lake Mutanda back to your hotel.

Day 7: Night game drive

Drive away through the undulating green hills of Kabale to the home of the majestic long horned cattle of Ankole. These cattle carry their long, curved, white horns with such elegance, no wonder they were once considered to be the personification of beauty. In the evening as the sun goes down, your driver will take you for the night game drive through the tracks of Lake Mburo National Park for an opportunity to spot the nocturnal mammals and birds. Some of the likely sights include the Bush baby, Leopard and other animals settling in for the night.

Day 8: Morning game walk

Explore the Park on foot, walking through the narrow paths along the grassland. Most walks lead to the saltlick where most animals congregate. With the help of a ranger/guide, you will be able to get close enough to the wildlife without the interference from the sound of the car engine as well as hike up the hills to get a better view of the parkland. After the walk, it is now time to drive back to Kampala. Your guide will make a stop at the drum makers as well as the Equator before arriving in Kampala.

Day 9: Departure

Depending on the time of your flight, you can tour Kampala city, weaving your way through the streets to visit the sights that are located around the seven hills of the city. Transfer to Entebbe airport.

End of Safari