Safari Overview
Embark on an epic 11-day wildlife adventure through Uganda's national game parks, starting and ending in Kampala. Immerse yourself in breathtaking wildlife viewing and exhilarating game drives. Explore pristine forests with invigorating hiking and forest walks, engage in eye-opening cultural tours and community visits, trek to find rhinos at the Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary, witness unforgettable moments with gorillas in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, go chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park, as well as indulge in leisurely boat cruises in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park and Lake Mburo National park. Relish the extraordinary sights and sounds that will leave you in awe.
Tour Highlights of this 11 days Uganda wildlife and primate safari
Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary and evening game drive
Day 2 : Morning game drive and boat cruise Murchison Falls National Park - hike to the top of the falls.
Day 3: Fly to Queen Elizabeth National Park and evening game drive Isasha sector(Tree climbing lions)
Day 4: Morning game drive and Boat cruise kazinga channel
Day 5: Chimpanzee trekking kyambura gorge and transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park
Day 6: Gorilla trekking bwindi and Batwa cultural tour
Day 7: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi and hike
Day 8: Canoe experience and transfer to Lake Mburo National Park
Day 9: Morning game drive and Boat cruise
Day 10: Igongo Cultural Centre and Hike at Eclipse Monument
Day 11: Cultural entertainment and transfer back to Kampala
ITINERARY
Day 1: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park via Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary
The first leg of the Uganda safari starts after an early breakfast, after which our tour driver/guide will brief you on your 11 days Uganda wildlife and primate safari. At exactly 7:00 AM, you will start your journey of 3 hours to the Uganda Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary for rhino trekking in Nakasongola, 176 kms north of Kampala. You will be guided through the only ranch of rhinos in Uganda. You will also enjoy other wildlife like African elephants, monkeys and then the rich birdlife. You will then make for Kabalega Resort for an hour’s lunch break before hitting the road once again to Murchison Falls National Park. You will check in at your accommodation and later on in the evening you will have a game drive along the Burigi Game Circuit where most of the park wildlife congregates. You will see some lions, elephants, giraffes, buffaloes among others Later, you will return to your accommodation for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodations Murchison falls national park
Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge/Chobe Safari Lodge
Midrange: Pakuba Safari Lodge
Budget: Fort Murchision lodge/redchili
Day 2:Morning game drive and Boat Cruise (Murchison Falls National Park)
On day 2 of this 11 days Uganda wildlife and primates safari ,you will have your breakfast then will go for a morning game drive that will last about 2 to 5 hours. This second game drive will give you more chance to see more of the wildlife with in this park. After a thrilling experience in the wild, you will return to your accommodation for lunch, then head to the ferry point for a 3-hour boat cruise on the Great Nile River. This boat cruise on the Nile is the most rewarding activity as it gives you the chance to view a variety of aquatic life inclusive of water birds like fish eagles, wood peckers, herons, and much more. Other wildlife includes hippos and the Nile crocodiles, while on the water banks you will sight the waterbucks, buffalos, herds of elephants and giraffes. The boat ride will take you down to the bottom of the world’s most powerful waterfalls, and you will be welcomed by these roaring waterfalls. It is the main highlight of this adventure as water is squeezed in a small gorge splashing 7 meters high. At this point, you instinctively know it is high time you pulled out your camera and caught these memories. You will then hike up to the top of the falls to enjoy the scenery and for memory photos Return to your place of accommodation for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation
Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge/Chobe Safari Lodge
Midrange: Pakuba Safari Lodge
Budget: Fort Murchision/ Red chili rest camp.
Day 3: Flight Transfer to Mweya Airfield for Queen Elizabeth National Park
On day 3 of this 11 days wildlife and primates safari, after having woken up to an early morning breakfast, you will be transferred to Pakuba Airfield for a flight to Mweya Airfield in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Guests are always advised to be at the airfield at least 2 hours before the flight. It takes 2 to 3 hours to reach Kasese (Mweya Airfield). After touching down, you will be picked up by our tour guide/driver, transferred to your place of accommodation for lunch and an afternoon relaxation spree. Later on you will have an evening game drive along the Ishasha Sector where most of the park’s wildlife congregates. You should look forward to seeing the tree climbing lions on fig trees, antelopes like bushbucks and Uganda kobs, warthogs, elephants, monitor lizards, along with a wide range of bird species and plant life. Following this, you will retreat back to your accommodation for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation
Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge
Midrange: Kyambura Game Lodge
Budget: Bush Lodge
Day 4:Morning game drive Boat Cruise and Nature Walk/Hiking
Following your early morning breakfast at your lodging, you will go for a morning game drive that will give you an opportunity to see alot of wildlife species. This game drive usually takes 2 to 5 hours with a break to enjoy views of the salt Lake Katwe. Later have lunch and have a boat cruise along the panoramic views of the Kazinga Channel where much of park’s wildlife litters the serene water banks. You will sight elephants, buffalos, hippos, crocodiles and an assortment of water birds. After this experience, you will return to your accommodation for a relaxation session. Later, you may go for an optional evening nature walk in the park. Nature walks and hikes are rewarding, for you will get to gaze at the beautiful crater lakes. The hikes on hills will also give you a bird’s view of the magnificent Rwenzori Mountain ranges. From here, you will head back to your accommodation for dinner and retire for the night.
Accommodation
Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge
Midrange: Kyambura Game Lodge
Budget: BushLodge
Day 5: Chimpanzee Trekking and Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Waking up from your previous day’s plethora of activities, your sumptuous breakfast will be readily served to you, after which you will head to yet another exciting fun-packed adventure - the chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura Gorge, also known as the Valley of Apes. The tracking lasts between 2-5 hours. It involves hiking on steep slopes covered by tropical rain forests. Here, the chimpanzees can be seen hanging on tree branches and having the best time. While here, you should watch out for the various bird species along with different vegetation types. After this adventure, you will make for your accommodation for lunch, then head to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, reaching in the evening for you dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation
Luxury: Lake Kitandara Camp/ Buhoma Lodge
Midrange: Buhona community haven lodge/ Gorilla Mist Camp/ Nkuringo Gorilla Camp
Budget: Buhoma Community Rest Camp/Bwindi View Bandas, Nshongi Camp/Gorilla valley lodge
Day 6: Gorilla Trekking and Batwa Community Visits
Early in the morning, you will have breakfast and proceed to Uganda Wildlife Authority- Bwindi Headquarters- for registration, a pre-trek briefing, get walking sticks and other vital preliminaries. You will then be ready to savour a 1hours’ encounter with the habituated gorilla families such as Orozogo, Kyaguriro, and Bitukura. As you trek through the forest, you will also be able to view beautiful bird species as well as various primates, making your gorilla tracking experience a very memorable one. Thereafter, you will return for your lunch and afternoon relaxation. Later on, you will have a visit to the Batwa Community for cultural performances in music, dance and drama (MDD). You can as well check out their arts and craftsmanship displayed during your visits. Following all this, you will return to your place of accommodation for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation Options
Luxury: Lake Kitandara Camp/ Buhoma Lodge
Midrange: Buhoma community haven lodge/ Gorilla Mist Camp/ Nkuringo Gorilla Camp
Budget: Buhoma Community Rest Camp/Bwindi View Bandas, Nshongi Camp/Gotilla valley lodge
Day 7: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
Waking up to the cool breeze of the forest, breakfast will be served at your lodging. You will then checkout and transfer Lake Bunyonyi-- nicknamed the Switzerland of Africa. It is the deepest lake in Uganda and the second deepest in Africa. After a 3 hours’ drive from Bwindi, you will reach your accommodation at lunch time. Thereafter, you will go hiking on the hill slopes to have an aerial view of the beautiful islands surrounding this revered lake. This experience will take 2-3 hours. Later, you will return to your lodging for dinner and accommodation.
Accommodation
Luxury/ Midrange: Bird Nest at Lake Bunyonyi/ Arcadia cottages
Budget: Bushara Island Camp
Day 8: Canoeing and Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park
Waking up to the serenading sounds of nature, your hearty breakfast will be served at your lodging. Canoeing on Lake Bunyonyi shall follow this. You will get to enjoy the calmness of the untouched wild. Lake Bunyonyi is a birders’ haven, for it is rewarded with a plethora of birdlife, and most of the birds that cannot be seen in the forest can be seen around Lake Bunyonyi. The canoeing will last from 2 to 3 hours visiting the different islands on the Lake. Later on, you will retreat and transfer to Lake Mburo National Park, a 5 hours’ drive, reaching your accommodation and get to recollect yourself during your afternoon relaxation. Later in the evening, you will go for a nature walk in the park. You should anticipate sighting an assortment of wild life including monkeys, baboons, elands, waterbucks, Cape buffalos, warthogs; birds like vultures, fish eagles, wood peckers, along with a wide variety of plants species that support wildlife in this park. You will then return to your lodging for dinner and accommodation.
Accommodation
Luxury: Mihinga Lodge
Midrange: Rwakobo Rock
Budget: Eagles Nest lodge
Day 9: Game Drive and Boat Cruise
Breakfast will be served at cock crow, and at exactly 6:00 AM, you will go for an early 3 hours’ morning game drive in the park with a lot of wildlife including impalas, buffalos, elands, baboons, zebras, oribis, reedbucks, topis, warthogs, to mention but a few. You will behold all of these alongside a myriad of birds. Other attractions include the beautiful sceneries and the open savanna vegetation. After the game drive, you will head back to your lodging for lunch and afternoon relaxation. Your evening will be spent on Lake Mburo for 3 hours’ boat cruise and you will get enjoy lots of aquatic life while on the cruise. These will include crocodiles, hippos, water birds like the fish eagles, sunbirds and other wildlife on the banks of the lake. After this experience, you will return to your accommodation for dinner and an overnight stay.
Accommodation
Luxury: Mihinga Lodge
Midrange: Rwakobo Rock
Budget: Eagles Nest Lodge
Day 10: Transfer to Igongo Cultural Centre and Hiking to the Eclipse Monument
Early breakfast will be served at your lodging, after which you will then proceed to Igongo Cultural Center located in Biharwe, Mbarara. For the Igongo experience, it will require a 45 minutes’ drive from Lake Mburo National Park. You will arrive at midday and go for a hike to the Eclipse Monument. To reach this monument’s top, will need a 45-minute hike. The monument represents the eclipse that took place in the recent past and its three pillars stand for the three ancient kings of the west. The top gives you the panoramic views of the green countryside. Having toured this site and taken photographs of it, you will retreat back to Igongo for a museum tour at Igongo. This will be proceeded by lunch. Later in the afternoon, you may opt to visit the former Ankole Palace/Royal Tombs-- the burial grounds for the Ankole kings, after which you will get back to your place of accommodation for dinner and an overnight stay.
Accommodation
Luxury: Igongo Country Hotel
Midrange: Rwakobo Rock
Budget: Eagles Nest Lodge
Day 11: Ankole Cultural Tours and Performances, then Transfer Back to Kampala
After waking up and partaking of your early morning breakfast, you will have a thrilling cultural performance by the Ankole cultural traditional dancers as they take you through their dances and drama. You will then view the Ankole ornaments and royal regalia and a quick demonstration of the crafts making process. Later, you will retreat back for lunch and then transfer back to Kampala, and arrive later that evening.
End of the Safari of this 11 days wildlife and primates safari
ACTIVITIES
Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Zziwa (or Ziwa) Rhino Sanctuary is home to Uganda’s wild endangered rhinos. Located in Nakasongola District, near Nakitoma Village, Ziwa covers around 70 square kilometers. Uganda used to have a large number of both black and white rhinoceroses, but the civil wars of 1970’s and early 80’s diminished their numbers close to extinction. In 2005 the sanctuary was established and rhinos were re-introduced by the Rhino Fund Uganda for purposes of breeding rhinos back for reintroduction into the wild.
This Rhino Sanctuary is the foundation of the restoration of rhino population for all of Uganda, and so they are protected 24 hours a day from poachers by an electrical fence and security personnel. The sanctuary started with 6 rhinos but currently the number has grown to about 19 animals.
A trip to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary gives you a rare opportunity to track rhinos on foot, have an up-close experience and some great and unusual photo opportunities. The white rhinos at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary are gentle giants – and approaching them on foot poses no danger to you. You will have the guidance and company of a sanctuary ranger who is knowledgeable about the behavior of the rhinos.
Apart from the rhinos, Ziwa is also home to a number of bird species, reptiles, and 40 other mammal species including antelopes, crocodiles, hippos, monkeys, among others. The sanctuary has become increasingly popular with tourists for rhino trekking, boat riding, bird watching, night walks and nature walks. The accommodation units offer fine foods ranging from local to international cuisines.
Murchison Falls National Park
The park owes its name to the Murchison Falls which span the area. These were in turn named after Roderick Murchison, a geologist and president of the Royal Geographical Society at the time when Sir Samuel Baker explored the region. This place is also informally known as Kabalega Falls National park, with the falls commonly referred to as Kabalega Falls. Kabalega is the name of the King (Omukama) of Bunyoro who was famed for vehemently resisting British colonialism during the colonial era.
Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda’s oldest and largest safari park, and it a conservation area for a variety of fauna and flora. It is situated at the end of the Albertine Rift Valley which is the area where the huge Bunyoro escarpment joins into the vast Acholi plains. It is about 300 kilometres north of Kampala in Masindi district, which takes about 6 hours by car though for those in a hurry and a wallet to match there are flights from Entebbe as well.
At the area known as the Murchison Falls, the waters of the mighty Nile River force their way through a small slit within the rocks, which is just 7 metres or 23 feet wide, and topples to 43 metres below with a thunderous roar, forming a residual water stray that creates a beautiful rainbow effect, providing a breathtaking photo opportunity. From here the river continues its westward journey into the stunning Lake Albert. This stretch of river provides one of Uganda's most remarkable wildlife spectacles.
The adventure activities in the park include: boat cruises on the Victoria Nile, chimpanzee trekking in Budongo Forest, wildlife/game viewing, launch trips to the bottom of the falls and hikes to the top (Devil's Cauldron), birding, fishing adventures and nature walks, with hot air ballooning activities available within the park.
Launch trips stand out as the most common exciting activities because they get you close to the heart and the jewel of the park (the falls). The vegetation of Murchison Falls National Park is made up of savannah, rain forest and woodland. Some of the wildlife includes the Uganda kobs, African bush elephants, African buffaloes, Rothschild’s giraffes, leopards, lions, chimpanzees and many bird species that include waterbirds, the rare shoe-billed storks, Budongo's 59 "restricted range" species, dwarf kingfishers, Goliath herons, white-thighed hornbills and the great blue turacos. Hippopotami, the Nile crocodiles and aquatic birds are permanent residents along the water bodies.
Murchison Falls National Park is known globally for the wonderful experience it has in store for people from all walks of life. Thus, it is featured in African Tour Safaris, CNN, Huffington Post, New York Times and many others. The 1951 film "The African Queen" starring Humphrey Bogart was filmed on Lake Albert and the Nile in Murchison Falls National Park. Notable visitors to the park include Sir Winston Churchill, Theodore Roosevelt, Ernest Hemingway and several British royals. By the mid-1960’s, Murchison Falls had become the premier safari destination in all of East Africa, with over 60,000 visitors per year.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
The park borders the Democratic Republic of Congo and lies next to the Virunga National Park. You can access the park through Kabale district of Uganda where you find the Bakiga people, although most of the inhabitants of the forest where the park lies are the Batwa pygmies. The park lies on 331 square kilometers of the mountain and low land forest. The area was gazetted into a habitat for endangered mountain gorillas in 1942, upgraded to the national park level in 1992 and made a national heritage in 1994.
In the language of the land (Rukiga), Bwindi means “impenetrable”. As the name suggests, it is almost impossible to navigate the tangled forest, slippery valleys, and high ridges. This makes it crucial for one to be well prepared for the journey. You will need to be physically capable and with the necessary provisions to make it through the terrain. Don’t get it wrong, the journey is definitely exciting and very worthwhile.
The forest happens to be one of the most ancient rain forests in Africa. During the gorilla safaris, as you get the chance to have an encounter with the most endangered gorilla species in the world, you will realize that the experience beats most gorilla trekking expeditions offered by other national parks.
Trekking is the most popular activity at Bwindi: it is an absolutely thrilling and fulfilling experience that you will not forget any time soon. There is a restriction, however, on the number of people allowed to trek the gorillas per day, so gorilla safe permits should be booked on an earlier date for easier access to the park. Because so many people try to obtain these permits throughout the year, any late bookings might lock you out of this chance of a lifetime. A Uganda gorilla permit price is 700 USD, with one in Rwanda going for 1500 USD and 450 USD in the Congo.
Bwindi has got seven habituated gorilla groups that you can view on the trek. Three of these groups are found in Buhoma and one at Nkuringo. Bwindi has a large number of sectors where Gorilla trekking takes place, and many species of Gorillas and chimpanzees can be seen.
These sectors include the following.
Nkuringo, which is one of the many sections for gorilla trekking, can be found close to the Buhoma sector. Nkuringo and Bushaho are some of the families in the sector. The Bushaho family is the one that is giving the gorillas a habitation experience.
Ruhija is the most remote sector and quite famous for its birds and bird watching experiences. You can also visit the Mubwindi swamp while trekking for our closest relatives in the wild. Gorilla species found there include Ruhija, Bitukura, and Kyaguriro. The Rushaga sector has the highest number of gorilla families including; Mishaya, Nshongi, Kahungye, Busingye, and Bishaho. This sector is in Kabale and Nkuringo as you come from Ruhija or Kampala. The Buhoma sector is found ten kilometers from the Nkiringo sector if you are traveling by road. Gorilla trekking is also very famous in the area.
Please note that one may choose to access Bwindi by air straight from Entebbe International Airport or the Kajjansi Airstrip (in Entebbe), but it won’t be as worthwhile and rewarding as the road trip. All the adventurous stops create a unique and fulfilling experience of the African terrain.
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park is arguably Uganda’s most popular and frequently visited wildlife conservation area. The park lies in the western part of Uganda in the districts of Kamwenge, Rukungiri, Rubirizi, and Kasese. Queen Elizabeth National Park has green scenery for most of the year with sprawling savannah, shady, humid forests, sparkling lakes and fertile wetlands, making it the ideal habitat for wildlife. Named after Queen Elizabeth II, this park was previously named Kazinga National Park.
This gazetted park ensures the conservation of its ecosystems, which in turn benefits the surrounding communities. The park is home to over 95 mammal species including the classic big game, ten primate species including chimpanzees and over 600 bird species. Some of the activities to carry out in this popular national park include wildlife/game viewing and local community visits. Other exciting sought-after activities include game viewing, chimpanzee tracking, hot air ballooning, birding, hiking and nature walks, bird watching, launch cruises on the Kazinga Channel, lion tracking, a visit to the explosion crater and a visit to the Katwe Salt Works.
Tourists on Uganda tours mainly come to Queen Elizabeth National Park for lion tracking because of the famous cactus tree climbing lions. It also gives them a chance to get an up-close session with the lions and get to study their behaviours. There are only two populations of these mysterious tree climbing lions in the whole world; Queen Elizabeth national park and Lake Manyara National Park in the southern part of Tanzania, making these big cats a major attraction for the tourists that visit East Africa.
The park is set against the back of the great Rwenzori Mountains with beautiful views that are made up of various crater lakes. These lakes are carved dramatically into the green rolling hills. The Kazinga Channel's shores are also a spectacle and are packed with hippos, elephants and buffaloes. You will also see the savannah plains of Ishasha, whose fig trees cover the majestic tree-climbing lions.
Some of the exciting scenery locations in the park include the Kazinga Channel that harbors a couple of wildlife including the Nile crocodiles. It is a major attraction as tourists take a boat cruise across its shores to view the magnificent wildlife scenery. The Mweya peninsular into Lake Edward covered by candlestick thorns with the outlying impressive savannah also make it an excellent area for game viewing. Lake Katwe salt works and the explosion craters, Kyambura Gorge, the magnificent valley of apes, Maragambo forest (known for its bat caves and resident African rock pythons) are all worth visiting. The endless views of savannahs with roaming antelopes and the Uganda kob in Kasenyi plains are all found here. It also harbors numerous lions, leopards plus many other cats and the extraordinary views of wildlife, primates and butterflies at Kyambura Wildlife Reserve.
Queen Elizabeth National Park has a fascinating cultural history on top of its outstanding wildlife attractions. There are also opportunities to visit the local communities and enjoy sessions of music, dance, drama and storytelling.
Lake Bunyonyi
The lake derives its name from a Runyakitara/Rukiga word obunyonyi which means “small birds”. Lake Bunyonyi is located in South-western Uganda within the districts of Kabale; the Switzerland of Africa and Kisoro, which is close to the border of Rwanda and Uganda. The lake is about 410 kilometers from Kampala, Uganda’s capital. It takes approximately six hours to get there by road.
Lake Bunyonyi harbors over 200 bird species which include the weaver birds, the grey-crowned cranes and the herons. Being a calm lake, it further attracts international migratory birds during winter, making it an ideal Uganda destination for birding safaris. This freshwater lake is 25 kilometers long and seven kilometers wide. It covers a surface area of about 46 square kilometers and is approximately 44 meters deep, which makes it the second deepest lake in Africa after Lake Tanganyika of Tanzania.
The lake is well known for water sports and is a remarkable destination for both foreign and domestic travelers. The scenic view of its islands is one of a kind, especially with the picturesque background of a magnificent sunset. This sighting was featured in the famous movie- Black Panther- and it offers a breath-taking nature view of the lake. Some of the activities the lake has to offer include hiking the highlands around the lake, bird watching, canoeing, boat riding, swimming and a tour of the pygmy village.
The region of Lake Bunyonyi is occupied by both the Bakiga and the Batwa people. The Bakiga are Bantu people who have tilled the hills of Kigezi for centuries. They are known for their strength and for being hardworking. These inhabitants are responsible for the beautiful terrace cultivation on the slopes of the Kigezi hills which are clearly visible while at the lake.
The Batwa, on the other hand, were just introduced to the place. They were initially forest people who lived in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest before it was gazetted into a national park. Their indigenous music and drama will leave you mesmerized, as they tell stories in the form of songs that will draw you into sorrowful imagination of their culture that is slowly fading away. The lake is enclosed within the terraced hills of Kigezi comprising 29 islands, each with a mythical story behind it. The main islands include the following.
The Akampene Island (Punishment Island) legend has it that this is the island where the occupants, also known as the Bakiga, dumped all pregnant unmarried girls. This was done as a punishment so they could die of hunger or drown as they tried to swim back to the mainland. The punishment came as a deterrent measure to keep all girls away from early pregnancies. Even though the backward act is no longer in practice, this isolated island still holds the punishment name.
Bushara Island is the most developed island. It is also the home of Lake Bunyonyi Development Company, an organization that handles various development projects around Lake Bunyonyi. The organization gets its funding from the tourism activities carried around Lake Bunyonyi. The island is outstanding with a forest, an appealing demonstration of eucalyptus trees that grow at a fast rate and it is an ideal place for hiking. The island also offers services like tents for hire as well as canoe and sailboat hire to allow tourists paddle to other islands.
Kyahugye Island covers a surface area of about 74 acres with many tree species such as the eucalyptus, alnus, cuprous and pine species. It is surrounded by a wide strip of reeds interspersed with papyrus bordering the island to the shores of the lake. The vegetation on this island comprises of bushes, open fallows, tree plantations and other forms of natural vegetation. It is the nearest island from the mainland, being a five-minute distance from the mainland. It has a flat hilltop for tourists with campsites, chalets as well as accommodation. The spectacular view of the terraced hills from this point is also memorable. The tourist activities on this island include nature walks, birding, hiking, canoeing, and community visits. It is also the only island with wild animals that were introduced there. These include zebras, waterbucks, and the De Brazza monkeys.
Bwama Island (Sharp's Island) got named after the English missionary, Dr. Leonard Sharp, who organized a safari to this island. He set up a leprosy treatment center, a church and quarters on the isolated island. The island for a long time was used as a segregation ground for leprosy patients. The treatment center was later on transformed into a boarding school for teaching young children at the primary level.
Bucuranuka Island (The Upside Down Island) got its name from a myth about an old woman who was bypassing the island. She met a group of occupants here, asked for help in the form of some beer to take, but was harshly denied it. She then asked for a boat ride to help her cross to the mainland but was again turned down. A young man out of the inhospitable crowd kindly offered to take the old woman and just as they reached the mainland together, a tragedy followed and thus the island they had just left capsized. The island was well known for brewing local sorghum before it got the name of the ‘Island that Killed People’- that is “Upside Down Island.”
Lake Mburo National Park
Lake Mburo National Park is located in Lyantonde along the highway en route Uganda’s national parks in Western Uganda. It is situated on the ancient Precambrian metamorphic rocks which date back to more than 500 million years ago. The park is the smallest of all savannah national parks in Uganda. It is approximately 370 square kilometers and managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
According to the Ankole people (one of the main tribes in Western Uganda), the creation and name of the lake are based on historical events. The legend has it that two brothers, who known as Kigarama and Mburo, used to live in a big valley. One day, Kigarama had a dream and advised his brother that they had to move. Mburo chose to ignore his brother, and Kigarama moved up into the hills. The valley down flooded and a lake was formed, thus drowning Mburo. Presently, the lake is said to be named after the drowned brother, and the hills overlooking the lake are called Kigarama Hills, named after his brother who survived the catastrophe.
Lake Mburo, together with the other lakes in the area, creates a chain-link to a wetland which lends a hand in providing pasture and water to the wildlife. This park happens to be the only place where you can find impalas in Uganda. The lake harbors various endangered species of fish such as the endangered cichlid fish species which have significantly reduced over time.
The park is home to about 70 mammal species and over 350 bird species. Some of the animals found in the park include zebras, crocodiles, impalas, eland, buffaloes, water buck, hippos, warthogs, jackals, leopards, reed bucks, as well as hyenas.
On top of the fantastic game drives (both daylight and nocturnal) and boat rides, the park can also be explored using mountain bikes, on foot and on horseback, allowing you to see a variety of wildlife. Seasoned rangers are readily available to accompany visitors on the hiking expeditions. Bird watching would round up a perfect tour with the various viewing spots available. These include Warukiri, the roadsides between Rwonyo camp, the swampy valleys of Miriti, the Salt lake, and the Rubanga forest.
Igongo Cultural Center
12 kilometers along the scenic Mbarara-Masaka highway is Igongo Cultural Centre and Country Hotel. It is an impressive recreational complex consisting of a captivating Eriijukiro (the museum of South-western Uganda), a traditional restaurant, a bar and other attractions around it. It is the ultimate destination for lovers of history, art, culture, and comfort. A staple of ultimate African luxury, Igongo merges comfort, relaxation and recreation in an environment offering a gorgeous scenery, beautiful gardens and a beautiful view of various art pieces and cultures exhibited at the entrance of the hotel's lobby and foyer.
Apart from the breathtaking hotel, there are some exciting opportunities and attractions at Igongo, including a visit to the museum of South-western Uganda (Eriijukiro) that has a collection of art and crafts, photos, information panels, norms, customs, traditions and the history of the people of South-western Uganda and her neighboring kingdoms.
A visit to Itamiro (a cultural village) gives you an experience of cultural village housing. Here you will find the traditional huts for cattle, the Bariisa, and Crop Farmers, the Abahiingi. The village also boasts of a large amphitheater and a venue for bonfires and story-telling sprees.
Nkwanzi Craft and Bookshop is the hub of South-western Uganda’s history containing a collection of various books on culture, growth, and development. There are also various handmade arts and crafts produced by the residents and traditional costumes such as mugamba, the cultural bridal wear, bracelets, and animal skins and hides.
Other possible activities at Igongo include the Ankole farm tour, pottery activities, traditional beer brewing, hiking the eclipse hill and eclipse monument of the 1520AD, milk processing and millet processing, fishing, and canoeing, visiting Ankole's royal tombs, visiting the former Ankole king's palace, among others.
For the ultimate cultural experience in western Uganda, Igongo Cultural Center and Hotel is the perfect place to go to with an opportunity to get memorabilia from the craft shop.
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SAFARI INCLUSIONS OF THIS 11 DAYS UGANDA WILDLIFE AND PRIMATE SAFARI
Safari includes:
Transportation in a Tour Van/Landcruiser.
Service of an English-speaking tour guide/Driver
One gorilla permit per person
Boat cruise
swamp walk
Game drive
Cultural village tour
Park admissions
Accommodation on full board
Entrance fees to all destinations as per the program.
Transfers to and from Entebbe Airport/Kampala
Safari exclusions of this 11 days wildlife and primate safari
All activities not mentioned in the program
Phone call bills
Tips
International Transfers
Visas to Uganda
Gratitude to tour-guides
Personal insurance
Visas to Uganda
Personal effects of any nature
Hotel fees before and after the safari
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