TWO FORESTS. TWO ENCOUNTERS. SIX EXTRAORDINARY DAYS IN UGANDA

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 Papyrus Guesthouse 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.

KIBALE FOREST NATIONAL PARK (KANYANCHU): After breakfast, you will participate in the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary Nature & Primate Walk. Situated just outside the Kibale Forest National Park in the Magombe Swamp, the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary is a community-run conservation initiative dedicated to protecting the wetland’s remarkable biodiversity and environmental importance. The sanctuary is home to 08 species of primates, numerous other mammals, more than 200 bird species, a variety of reptiles, and an impressive diversity of trees, shrubs, and vines. Accompanied by a local community guide, enjoy a leisurely walk through this rich wetland ecosystem while learning more about the area’s flora, fauna, and conservation efforts. Following your guided walk, you will return to the Turaco Treetops Lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, the forest opens its doors for a truly unforgettable Chimpanzee Trekking experience. The Kibale Forest is renowned for having the highest concentration and greatest diversity of primates in East Africa. A community of chimpanzees has been habituated here since 1991, and the chances of locating them are excellent. Once the chimpanzees are found, you will spend up to one hour in their presence, observing their fascinating behavior. Watch the playful antics of the younger chimps while the dominant males display their strength and character. Observe how they feed, groom, communicate, quarrel, and reconcile - an extraordinary insight into a species that shares more than 98% of our DNA. By late afternoon, exit the forest and return to the Turaco Treetops Lodge.

KIBALE FOREST NATIONAL PARK – KASESE – KISORO – LAKE MUTANDA – DISTANCE: 110 KMS – APPROXIMATE DRIVING TIME: 2 HOURS / DISTANCE: 15 KMS – APPROXIMATE DRIVING TIME: 1 HOUR: 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. At the Kasese Airfield, you will board your scheduled light aircraft (morning) flight to Kisoro. On arrival at the Kisoro Airfield, you will be warmly greeted by your naturalist driver-guide, who will transfer you in a private Africa Beyond Borders 4WD-vehicle to a Kisoro Organic Coffee Farm. Here, you’ll immerse yourself in the full story of coffee - walk the fields, learn the art of harvesting and roasting, and end with the reward of savoring your very own cup of ultra-fresh, hand-crafted Ugandan coffee. Following your Coffee Experience Tour, your journey continues to the Mutanda Lake Resort. This scenic (albeit often bumpy) drive takes approximately one hour, offering glimpses of the stunning countryside and the daily life of local communities along the way. Check in at the Mutanda Lake Resort, spectacularly situated on a narrow peninsula extending into the lake. The lodge enjoys one of the most breathtaking settings in Western Uganda, with panoramic views across Lake Mutanda towards the Virunga Mountain Range. Lake Mutanda is one of the few lakes in Uganda free from bilharzia, making it safe for swimming and ideal for experiencing a traditional dugout canoe ride alongside the local fishermen. During the mid to late afternoon, enjoy a scenic two-hour motorized boat excursion on the waters of Lake Mutanda. You will spend two nights at the Mutanda Lake Resort in a luxury cottage on a Full Board basis.

LAKE MUTANDA – BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST NATIONAL PARK (RUSHAGA) – LAKE MUTANDA – DISTANCE: 20 KMS (EACH WAY) – APPROXIMATE DRIVING TIME: 1-1,5 HOURS (EACH WAY): Today marks another true highlight of your journey - Gorilla Trekking in the legendary Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (Rushaga). After an early breakfast, you will make your way to the Rushaga 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 resort, carrying the awe of this encounter long into the evening.

LAKE MUTANDA – KISORO – ENTEBBE – DAY OF DEPARTURE FROM ENTEBBE (UGANDA) - DISTANCE: 15 KMS – APPROXIMATE DRIVING TIME: 1 HOUR: After an early breakfast, you’ll be transferred back to the Kisoro 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.