100% customisable travel idea
Adventure in Uganda In the Footsteps of Primates
Uganda - Kibale - Queen Elizabeth - Bwindi - Lake Mburo
100% customisable travel idea
Uganda - Kibale - Queen Elizabeth - Bwindi - Lake Mburo
100% customisable for you
Smooth arrival and easy customs clearance, then a private transfer lasting a few minutes to the hotel. Enjoy an overnight stay in a quiet residential neighbourhood on a hillside, enjoying both a pleasant climate and superb views of Lake Victoria. The handful of rooms in this former presidential residence are for a privileged few. Local, attentive staff are on hand to meet the needs of every guest, who is settled in bright rooms with understated décor. The tropical garden, just a few steps away, is a haven for no fewer than 35 bird species - from the firefinch to the palm-nut vulture. You can watch their regular flights from the armchairs scattered around the refreshing pool. The promise of a smooth landing.
Meet your driver-guide and head to Kibale. Landscapes of plains and farmland, dotted with villages, pass by the windows of the 4x4. On reaching the edge of Kibale National Park, settle in for one night at a peaceful lodge surrounded by greenery. The few cottages are spacious, tastefully decorated with understated décor, and open onto a private terrace that offers beautiful views of the surrounding nature. The visible movements in the canopy stir excitement at the thought of adventures to come. The monkeys are the Park’s main attraction: the endemic Uganda mangabey proudly raises its tail; the L’Hoest’s monkey looks as if it has a moustache and sideburns; and the ashy red colobus seems to wear a cap. In this little acrobatic world, chimpanzees reign supreme. However, the wildlife of Kibale is far from limited to primates: for example, those who enjoy grunting animals can also spot warthogs, bushpigs and giant forest hogs.
On your itinerary - Meet the chimpanzees. The ranger leads the way: their intimate knowledge of the terrain and its inhabitants allows them to locate the star primates of the area in the heart of this labyrinth of vegetation that makes up their natural habitat. “Come, quiet, look…” The chimpanzees are there; they go about their day, unconcerned by visitors as long as they stay discreet. We watch them feed, play, squabble, groom each other, and laze around. In short, simply living. The excitement is palpable as you watch this primate, which so closely resembles humans (with 95% of genes in common).
Drive to Queen Elizabeth Park. Stay for two nights on the banks of the Kazinga Channel. The bungalows showcase Ugandan craftsmanship: built in the style of bandas (traditional dwellings), they are made from local materials and topped with a thatched roof. Inside, the bed takes centre stage, ready to welcome guests back from their adventures - which do not end there: it is not uncommon, from the terrace, to see a majestic elephant strolling by or to hear the distinctive calls of hippos frolicking outside.
On your itinerary - A cruise on the Kazinga Channel. This canal, about 19 miles (30 km) long, runs through the heart of Queen Elizabeth National Park, linking George and Edward - two of Africa’s great lakes. We set off with a guide for an outing to observe the large amphibians: Nile hippos and crocodiles. These are the most impressive, for their individual and collective scale. However, the riverbanks also 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.
On your itinerary - A private morning game drive. It starts early, with a park ranger as your guide, giving you the best chance to spot large, active animals: Cape buffalo, elephants and lions. The Buffon’s kob and the grey crowned crane are national symbols, seen here in the flesh. The landscapes, shaped by ancient volcanic activity - we are on the western edge of the Great Rift - are breathtaking, the environments diverse: shrub savanna, wooded savanna, acacia forest, marsh and wet grassland. The 4x4 lets you enjoy it to the full.
Road to Bwindi - “impenetrable” in Rukiga dialect. Nevertheless, you can get inside - and what a reward awaits at the arrival! Settle in for two nights on the shores of Lake Mutanda. Blue-grey water, lush islets, volcanic cones: the view from your chalet on stilts is idyllic. Misty at dawn, coppery, then azure in the evening, it invites serene contemplation - made easier by the private terrace. The woodwork in the rooms - comfortable and well equipped - matches that of the dining room. Further on, in the garden, the flowers add vibrant bursts of colour to this dreamlike scene. At water level, long dugout canoes pass by in silence. This is a place imbued with a ceremonial calm that sets the tone for the long-awaited encounter the next day…
On your itinerary - Meet the mountain gorillas. Accompanied by a ranger, departure to meet the most famous inhabitant of these forests: the mountain gorilla. The 450 individuals living in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, split into about fifteen families, make up half the world’s population of the species. However, before you can get close to these giant vegetarians, you have to find them first. We explore the tropical forest, over 25,000 years old, in a small group. Suddenly, a triumphant expression spreads across your guide’s face: in the clearing, dark shapes appear. The exchange of looks is palpable. You quickly spot the dominant male by his build and silver back. The rest of the family - including between 10 and 40 members - moves about sometimes quietly, sometimes noisily. Just like their distant cousins Homo sapiens, in actual fact. Although the primates we approach are used to humans, we keep a respectful distance and - it must be said - feel quite intimidated.
Drive to Lake Mburo National Park. Enjoy an overnight stay at the edge of the Park. Inspired by traditional architecture, the thatched-roof buildings, built on the granite of a kopje, do not detract from the site. They are made of wood, stone and canvas, and are as open as possible. Open to the air; open onto a splendid landscape of hills and savannah; open for watching the animals that come to the nearby waterhole: buffalo, eland, impala, warthog, and more. In fact, the bedroom, dining room and infinity pool - all invite full observation of the surroundings. And everyone is more than happy to join in.
On your itinerary - A private night safari. With the sun gone from the horizon, a new chapter of life begins. Nocturnal animals emerge softly from their burrows, nests and dens. A flash of white reveals the presence of a white-tailed mongoose; the common genet moves quickly through the branches. The bush pig, meanwhile, scans its surroundings nervously. This is the time when the leopard prefers to hunt. If its tawny coat speckled with rosettes is visible, it has chosen to reveal itself - and by then, it is already too late. Spotted hyenas are usually not far away. The actors in this performance know their roles: the play is performed every evening. As a spectator, you watch without intervening - naturally.
Road to Entebbe. Your suitcases are left for the day at the hotel used on the first day of the trip. A sense of coming home after wonderful adventures hangs in the air. The refreshing pool provides the perfect setting for the essential activities of the last day of a trip: savouring every moment until the very end; gently preparing for the return. In the evening, there is a drive to the airport to take your international flight. Overnight on board, arrival the next day.
Optional - Shoebill watching by canoe.
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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