“Uganda 🇺🇬 ~The Pearl of Africa”

• December 20, 2019
• By Pen n Daryl
• 0 Comment

This trip has felt like a lifetime in the making! I’ve wanted to see the magnificent Mountain Gorilla; face to face for about 10 years! Daryl, always game to “go and do,” like me, said witnessing a Silverback in the wild never crossed his mind. I ididn’t even know it was possible.

Well it sure is possible, and we are going! Among other Safari activities we get to partake in, the Gorilla trek is top of my bucket list! Kampala is just the pickup point for our Safari, and from here, we will spend many hours on the road, to get to the incredible wildlife, reserves, waterfalls and Safari camps along the way.

Not knowing what we can expect for WiFi or 3 or 4G out in the territory they call “The Pearl of Africa,” here is our itinerary, if you want to follow along!

8-DAY UGANDA SAFARI: Katona Tours

*GOLDEN MONKEY TRACKING IN MGAHINGA NATIONAL PARK

*GORILLA TRACKING IN BWINDI IMPENETRABLE NATIONAL PARK

*CHIMPANZEES TRACKING IN KIBALE NATIONAL PARK

*GAME DRIVES AND BOATING IN QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK

*GAME DRIVES AND BOATING ON THE NILE RIVER IN MURCHISON FALLS PARK

*RHINO TRACKING IN ZIWA RHINO SANCTUARY

Safari duration dates:
‪December 23 thru December 30, 2019‬

23 Dec: Day 1
Actual drive time is around 8 hours from Entebbe International Airport in Kampala, to the first reserve; Mgahinga National Park (or in our case, because we came a few days early, we will be at a hotel for pick-up in Kampala).

From your Hotel in Kampala, your Tour Guide/Driver will meet you and brief you on your tour. You will then be transferred in a comfortable and secure 4×4 touring vehicle for the duration of your Safari. You will be given a stop-over en-route to Mgahinga Park at the Equator; long enough to take photos. The lunch stop on this day will be in Mbarara.

After lunch, you will continue to your first stop at Mgahinga Gorilla National Park:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mgahinga_Gorilla_National_Park

Dinner and overnight at
Mucha Lodge

24 Dec: Day 2
drive time today will be almost 2 hours
Golden Monkey Tracking and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bwindi_Impenetrable_National_Park

Dinner and overnight at
Buhoma Community Camp

‪25 Dec: Day 3
Gorilla Day and MERRY CHRISTMAS!‬
Have an early breakfast and get ready for Gorilla tracking, which ‪begins at 8:00AM‬ with a briefing from the UWA staff.
Trekkers must be fit enough to trek a full day (if necessary) in dense jungle, and at times, steep, and muddy mountain terrain. Since the Gorillas are so much like humans, they can catch the common cold, as well as other infections from us, so trekkers with “snivels,” coughs, fever, or flu will not be allowed to visit the Gorillas, until no longer contagious.
Ensure to carry along with you:
a rain jacket, drinking water, snacks, hiking boots, and bug repellent.
Do not forget to take your lunch boxes (provided for you by lodge) along with all personal items and additional gear of your choice; before setting out to track the rare Mountain Gorilla. Walking sticks can be arranged.

The guides will lead you inside the jungle to see the shy Gorillas. Small groups of up to 8 people at a time are allowed to make the trek, to encounter a specific Gorilla family. There are no private Gorilla Treks arranged, and it’s rare that the groups are less than eight people. The conservation experts conduct this portion of the visit, and the Gorillas are fiercely protected by them.

This Gorilla encounter is exceptional, and truly one of the most exciting wildlife experiences on this planet. Tracking may take between 2 to 6 hours, to actually find the Gorillas, but it is well worth the effort.
Dinner and overnight at
Buhoma Community Camp

‪26 Dec: Day 4
drive time today will be 2-3 hours‬
After an early morning breakfast in Bwindi, you will transfer to the Queen Elizabeth National Park:

http://queenelizabethparkuganda.com/

and enjoy an evening game drive.
En-route to Queen Elizabeth NP, we have the opportunity to travel through the Ishasha Sector:

https:/www.queenelizabethnationalpark.com/ishasha-sector.html

for the chance of seeing the unique tree-climbing Lions.

“What draws these Lions to climb the Fig trees?” People who “know,” assert it is good to always keep away from any Tse Tse fly bites, for whatever reason”

It is important to note: Advanced planning is required to secure the Buhoma Ruhija Gorilla permits, as there are only so many allowed per day, for passing through this amazing Ishasha Sector
En route, on this transfer day, there will be a stop for lunch. After arrival in Queen Elizabeth National Park, and if time allows, you will get another game drive through Kasenyi:

https://www.queenelizabethnationalpark.com/kasenyi-plains.html.

This area is called the “Lacking ground,” and “Queens Mile Track.” Here there is a chance of seeing cats like Lions, and Leopards. Also, Antelope, Uganda Kobs and African Elephants, plus other wild animals.
Dinner and Overnight at
Queen Elizabeth Bush lodge

‪27 Dec: Day 5 ‬
drive time is 2 hours/Mweya
drive time is 4 hours/Kibale
….After breakfast and check-out, you get driven to Mweya, where you will enjoy a two-hour Launch Cruise / Boat trip; along the Kazinga Channel:

https://primateworldsafaris.com/famous-kazinga-channel-boat-cruise/

Expect to view a number of breeding hippos, many different species of birds; including the famous King Fisher. You will also have the opportunity to view other wildlife, as they drink and feed along the banks of this channel. Next, you will be transferred to Kibale National Park for afternoon Chimpanzee tracking, in the jungle:

We will stop for lunch, prior to this trek. The Chimpanzee Tracking could take 2-3 hours. During this time, you may likely see other primates, such as the Baboon, and the Black/White Colobus. Again, it’s important to bring gear, similar to what you brought with you on the Gorilla Trek; except the box lunch. There are also many bird species in this jungle.
Once the Chimpanzee Trekking is complete, you will then be driven to your camp for the night.
Dinner and Overnight at
Kibale Forest Tents

‪28 Dec: Day 6
drive time is 10 plus hours‬
After breakfast, the drive will be a full day to arrive at Murchison Falls National Park, having lunch en route:

http://www.ugandawildlife.org/other-parks/murchison-falls-national-park

Dinner and Overnight at
Murchison Tree House

At a specific point of access to Murchison Falls National Park, it will be necessary to cross a Ferry:

https://www.murchisonfallsparkuganda.com/information/ferry-crossing-information/

‪29 Dec: Day 7 ‬
Very early in the morning, you will take breakfast, then go out for a morning game drive. You may be able to see: Antelope, Giraffes, African Elephants, Lions, and Leopards; just to mentions a few. After lunch, you go for a Launch Cruise on the Nile River; down to the bottom of Murchison Falls.

If time allows, you will also visit the Top of the Falls
Dinner and Overnight at
Murchison Tree House

‪30 Dec: Day 8
drive time is 2 hours‬
Take morning breakfast, then check out of the Lodge. From here, you will be transferred to the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to track Rhinos:

http://www.ziwarhino.com/

This walking trek will take about 1 –3 hours. Afterwards, you will have lunch and then be transferred back to Kampala and dropped off
Actual drive time to Entebbe/Kampala after the Rhino Sanctuary is 3 plus hours.