PRIMATES, PLAINS AND FORESTS – TEN DAYS ACROSS THREE UGANDAN PARKS

DAY OF ARRIVAL IN ENTEBBE (UGANDA) - ENTEBBE: On arrival at the Entebbe International Airport - our team will meet you at the entrance of the Airport Building and assist with immigration and health formalities. We will then help with luggage collection and customs clearance before introducing you to your Africa Beyond Borders representative, who will be waiting for you at the Airport Terminal Exit. Your Africa Beyond Borders representative will transfer you in a private Africa Beyond Borders vehicle to the to the Boma Hotel Entebbe, your home for the night on a Bed & Breakfast Basis. Relax, unwind, and prepare for the adventure ahead.

ENTEBBE – FORT PORTAL – KIBALE FOREST NATIONAL PARK - DISTANCE: 355 KMS – APPROXIMATE DRIVING TIME: 5-6 HOURS: After breakfast, we depart Entebbe by private Africa Beyond Borders 4WD-vehicle with naturalist driver-guide and travel West towards Fort Portal, situated approximately 310 km from the capital in the foothills of the Ruwenzori Mountains. This half day drive passes through the rural towns of Mityana, Mubende, and Kyenjojo before entering Fort Portal through a beautiful landscape of rolling hills, lush tea plantations, and the dramatic backdrop of the Ruwenzori Mountain range. Following lunch in Fort Portal, continue off the main road towards the Turaco Treetops Lodge, arriving by mid-afternoon. The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure. Enjoy a refreshing dip in the lodge’s swimming pool or take a short, relaxed nature walk around the property with your Naturalist Driver-Guide. You will spend two nights at the Turaco Treetops Lodge in a luxury cottage on a Full Board Basis.

ENTEBBE – FORT PORTAL – KIBALE FOREST NATIONAL PARK - DISTANCE: 355 KMS – APPROXIMATE DRIVING TIME: 5-6 HOURS: After breakfast, we depart Entebbe by private Africa Beyond Borders 4WD-vehicle with naturalist driver-guide and travel West towards Fort Portal, situated approximately 310 km from the capital in the foothills of the Ruwenzori Mountains. This half day drive passes through the rural towns of Mityana, Mubende, and Kyenjojo before entering Fort Portal through a beautiful landscape of rolling hills, lush tea plantations, and the dramatic backdrop of the Ruwenzori Mountain range. Following lunch in Fort Portal, continue off the main road towards the Turaco Treetops Lodge, arriving by mid-afternoon. The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure. Enjoy a refreshing dip in the lodge’s swimming pool or take a short, relaxed nature walk around the property with your Naturalist Driver-Guide. You will spend two nights at the Turaco Treetops Lodge in a luxury cottage on a Full Board Basis.

KIBALE FOREST NATIONAL PARK – KASESE – QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK (MWEYA & KASENYI SECTOR) - DISTANCE: 145 KMS – APPROXIMATE DRIVING TIME: 2-3 HOURS: After breakfast, we depart the Kibale Forest and travel towards Kasese Town, the second-largest urban centre in Western Uganda. The journey passes through fertile agricultural land and follows the lower slopes of the majestic Ruwenzori Mountains - one of Africa’s largest and most celebrated mountain ranges. From Kasese, we continue south as the road traverses the Queen Elizabeth National Park and crosses the Equator. Along the way, Uganda kob are frequently seen grazing across the savannah plains, while elephants and buffaloes may occasionally be spotted in the distance. Following lunch, enjoy an afternoon game drive through the Queen Elizabeth National Park as you make your way towards Katara Lodge, arriving as the sun begins to set over the surrounding wilderness. You will spend two nights at the Katara Lodge on a Full Board Basis

QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK (MWEYA & KASENYI SECTOR): Today, enjoy game drives through the prime wildlife-viewing region of Western Uganda within Queen Elizabeth National Park. A network of tracks winds through the grassland thickets of the North Kazinga area near the Mweya Peninsula, offering excellent opportunities to encounter elephants, buffaloes, and a variety of other wildlife species. Lion sightings are most common on the open savannah plains of Kasenyi, located east of the Kasese-Mbarara Highway. This area is renowned as the primary breeding ground of the Uganda kob, which in turn attracts resident lion prides. Game drives within the Kasenyi Plains are particularly rewarding during the early morning and late afternoon hours, when wildlife activity is at its peak. Beyond the game viewing, the Northern Sector of the Queen Elizabeth National Park is also famed for the Kazinga Channel - a 32-kilometre waterway linking Lake George and Lake Edward. The channel supports an extraordinary concentration of wildlife and birdlife, including one of the world’s largest year-round populations of hippos. This afternoon, you will enjoy a scheduled two-hour boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel. The cruise offers outstanding photographic opportunities as animals gather along the shoreline to drink, bathe, and feed. Following the boat cruise, continue with another game drive before returning to the Katara Lodge in the early evening.

QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK (ISHASHA SECTOR): Depart the Northern Sector of the Queen Elizabeth National Park and travel South along an approximately 80 km dirt road towards the border town of Ishasha near the Democratic Republic of Congo. Depending on road conditions, the journey generally takes between 1.5 and 2 hours. Although this route passes through Queen Elizabeth National Park, it also serves as a public road connecting the northern and southern sectors of the park. Before reaching Ishasha Town, branch off the main road and continue into the Ishasha Plains, located in the remote southwestern section of the park. This region is renowned for its tree-climbing lions, often seen resting high in the branches of large fig trees. Enjoy game viewing en route to the Ishasha Wilderness Camp, arriving in time for lunch. Later in the afternoon, head out on a game drive in search of tree-climbing lions, elephants, buffaloes, topi, and other wildlife species unique to this beautiful wilderness area. You will spend one night at the Ishasha Wilderness Camp on a Full Board Basis, including standard house drinks - except premium brands, and laundry services.

QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK (ISHASHA SECTOR): Depart the Northern Sector of the Queen Elizabeth National Park and travel South along an approximately 80 km dirt road towards the border town of Ishasha near the Democratic Republic of Congo. Depending on road conditions, the journey generally takes between 1.5 and 2 hours. Although this route passes through Queen Elizabeth National Park, it also serves as a public road connecting the northern and southern sectors of the park. Before reaching Ishasha Town, branch off the main road and continue into the Ishasha Plains, located in the remote southwestern section of the park. This region is renowned for its tree-climbing lions, often seen resting high in the branches of large fig trees. Enjoy game viewing en route to the Ishasha Wilderness Camp, arriving in time for lunch. Later in the afternoon, head out on a game drive in search of tree-climbing lions, elephants, buffaloes, topi, and other wildlife species unique to this beautiful wilderness area. You will spend one night at the Ishasha Wilderness Camp on a Full Board Basis, including standard house drinks - except premium brands, and laundry services.

BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST NATIONAL PARK (BUHOMA): Venture Gorilla Trekking in the Buhoma sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Embark on an unforgettable adventure into the heart of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, where trekking through lush, ancient jungle leads you face-to-face with the majestic mountain gorillas. Looking deep into the soulful brown eyes of these gentle giants is an awe-inspiring and profoundly moving experience - arguably one of the most extraordinary wildlife encounters East Africa has to offer. Every moment spent in their presence lingers long after you leave the forest, leaving memories that last a lifetime.

BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST NATIONAL PARK (BUHOMA) - BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST NATIONAL PARK (RUHIJA) - BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST NATIONAL PARK (BUHOMA) - DISTANCE: 50 KMS (EACH WAY) – APPROXIMATE DRIVING TIME: 1,5-2 HOURS (EACH WAY): Today marks another highlight of your journey - Gorilla Trekking in the legendary Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (Ruhija). After an early breakfast, you will make your way to the Ruhija Park Headquarters for a comprehensive briefing before venturing into the dense, green jungle. Led by expert ranger guides, your trek winds along forested ridges, cobbling streams and across tangled vines - a terrain that has remained unchanged for centuries. As you track the movements of a habituated gorilla family, the forest slowly unveils its secrets. And then, the moment every traveler dreams of - stepping quietly into a shaded clearing to find yourself just a short distance away from the Mountain Gorillas. Watching these gentle giants forage, play, and interact within their family group is one of Africa’s most profound and emotional wildlife experiences. After spending your magical hour with the gorillas, you will return to the trailhead and travel back to the lodge, carrying the awe of this encounter long into the evening.

BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST NATIONAL PARK (BUHOMA) – KIHIHI – ENTEBBE – DAY OF DEPARTURE FROM ENTEBBE (UGANDA) - DISTANCE: 45 KMS – APPROXIMATE DRIVING TIME: 1,5-2 HOURS: After an early breakfast, you’ll be transferred to the Kihihi Airfield for your  scheduled light aircraft (morning) flight to Entebbe. On arrival, a representative of the Boma Hotel Entebbe will await you at the Airport Terminal Exit and take you to the property for lunch (meal on own account). After lunch, the hotel shuttle will return you back to Entebbe International Airport for your International Flight.