100% customisable travel idea
Flying Uganda The Nile, Great Apes and Lodges with character
Uganda - Murchison Falls - Queen Elizabeth National Park - Bwindi - Jinja
100% customisable travel idea
Uganda - Murchison Falls - Queen Elizabeth National Park - Bwindi - Jinja
100% customisable for you
Welcome and assistance with the formalities. A transfer has been arranged. Then you enjoy an overnight stay in a peaceful neighbourhood in Entebbe. The modern house is spacious and well-ventilated. Large adjoining garden. Outdoor swimming pool. In your private space, you enjoy thoughtful amenities and comfort, as well as a terrace overlooking the garden. The décor, with large murals and Pullman-style furniture, has something quite 1970s about it. The table is full of charm, and so is the spirits bar. After getting off the plane, a massage service or a sauna is a welcome amenity.
Air taxi to Murchison Falls National Park. Stay for two nights on a high bank of the Victoria Nile. The pointed chalets - made of wood and thatch, each with its own veranda - are beyond reproach: they offer excellent conditions for rest and let you lounge as you watch birds come and go on and along the water. Incidentally, from a birdwatching perspective, the area is ideal; among other species, the rare shoebill can be spotted here. Meals are enjoyed in the shade and outdoors in the fresh air. Solar power is everywhere. Here again, a lovely outdoor pool - with saltwater electrolysis. Massages are given in your room or aboard a floating lounge! A small traditional orchestra is part of the accommodation venue.
On your itinerary - Morning cruise on the Victoria Nile Delta. Having reached the shores of Lake Albert, after a spectacular plunge of nearly 164 feet (50 m) at Murchison Falls, the Victoria Nile spreads out into a delta where the waters flow gently. You can travel there safely by boat. And in the morning, for the cool air, the colours, and the animals’ activity. This way, you spot hippos and hefty crocodiles. Graceful antelopes, such as the reedbuck, the harnessed bushbuck, and the waterbuck. The elephants come to drink. Likewise, buffalo, warthogs and lions. Those with a keen eye may spot the small kingfisher with the rufous head. It’s easier to spot the goliath heron and the Egyptian goose; with a bit of luck, the white-thighed hornbill or even the giant turaco.
Air taxi to the north of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Stay for two nights not far from the entrance to the reserve. At just under 3,000 feet (around 900 m) above sea level, you have a fantastic view of Lake Kikorongo and miles, or kilometres of open plains. The lodge - with its large windows that make it look like a lantern - is the epitome of classic African style. The rooms in the thatched-roof cottages display elegant simplicity and a high level of comfort. They open onto the great natural theatre through a veranda. To make sure you don’t miss a thing, meals (African and international cuisine) are usually served on the terrace. In the evening, around the outdoor fire, people exchange stories from the day, watch the stars, and look over the next day’s programme.
On the itinerary - A cruise on the Kazinga Channel. This canal, about 19 miles (30 km) long, is located in the Park and connects Lake Edward and Lake George. We set off with a nature guide for a wildlife tour to observe large amphibians - hippos and Nile crocodiles. These are the most impressive, for both their individual and collective size. However, the riverbanks attract many other species. Birds, especially. Pelicans, cormorants, jabirus, storks, kingfishers, marabou storks and African fish eagles find abundant food here. The small, shallow-draft boat can get very close to the shore.
Also planned - A hike in the Kyambura Gorge. The savannah ripples gently, when suddenly a 10-mile (16-kilometre) long rift filled with dense forest opens up right in the middle. This is where you walk with a ranger to encounter monkeys: chimpanzees, white-nosed guenons, black-and-white colobus monkeys, baboons and vervet monkeys. And birds, of course - the splendid blue-headed bee-eater and the African finfoot.
Air taxi to northern Bwindi National Park. Settle in for two nights in one of the estate’s few private camps. A few tents and a wooden and thatched building house the communal areas, including the mess hall. Here, you get a sense of exclusivity. This soars when a gorilla crosses the lawn. And this is actually what happens. Under canvas, there is space, a laid-back safari atmosphere, warm and natural colours, handcrafted objects, and weathered furniture: all the comforts (including a beautiful bathroom) suited to such a setting. In the evening, your dedicated butler brings you a glass of wine. You sip it as you watch the mist rise in the impenetrable forest. And then, we have dinner. The tables are impeccably laid on the terrace.
Already included on your itinerary - In search of gorillas. Accompanied by a ranger, you set out to encounter the most famous inhabitant of these forests, the mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei). The 430 individuals in Bwindi make up half of the species’ total population; the other half lives in the Virunga. The animals you encounter are used to people. These plants are truly impressive, with the largest among them reaching up to 6.5 feet (2 m) in height. They live in polygamous groups, led by a silverback male with a silver back. He is the boss and the focus of everyone’s attention. In return, he must lead his group to good feeding areas and may have to defend them, even at the risk of his own life. A vehicle drops off the small group of ten or so participants at the exit in the right area, then they continue on foot. What comes next is an unforgettable experience.
Optional - Walk along the Ivy River.
Air taxi to Entebbe. Transfer to Jinja, where the Victoria Nile escapes from Lake Victoria. Enjoy a two-night stay a little downstream, on Kalangala Island (reached by boat). The contrast is striking between the blue rectangle of the pool and the tumultuous flow of the river nearby. The thatched-roof bungalows rise above the treetops to offer an impressive view of the surroundings. You have your own terrace and privacy that extends to an outdoor bathtub. The room is white and wood, with large sliding windows. The style is distinctly modern. The restaurant and bar offer quality service. Massages are especially welcome at this stage of the journey, particularly when given among the leaves, with the vigorous splash of water as a soundtrack.
Already planned - Kayak on the Victoria Nile. Kalangala’s surroundings are a beautiful mix of lush green forest, raging rapids with slate-coloured currents and foaming spray, and calm stretches where the water glides in broad, smooth folds. The perfect combination for white-water kayaking. Activities are carried out with a private instructor. There is intense pleasure in paddling on a river that’s not just any river. The Nile, after all, is not a minor detail. And the supervision means you can get started even if you’re not an experienced paddler. You get splashed and sometimes pick up speed, then catch your breath on the quieter stretches. We approach the banks, where you can still spot a few animals. This whole experience fuels a true sense of freedom.
Transfer to Entebbe Airport and return flight. Night spent on the plane, arrival the next day.
This suggested itinerary can be customisable down to the smallest detail, including duration, stops and content. An à la carte menu of experiences is also available to create a journey that reflects who you are.
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