Safari Nzuri's Africa Voyages

Uganda

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After reviewing our Uganda page, below, please feel free to drop us an email at: mail@safarinzuri.com If you would let us know your party's size; your goals and expectations for your safari; and when you'd like to visit Uganda, we would be glad to provide you with particular suggestions that should best meet your requirements.

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Though most travelers venture to Uganda for its mountain gorillas, other natural wonders, like cavorting with the hippos on the Kasinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park, are there for the very occasional visitor's taking

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About half of the world's 600 mountain gorilla are located in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, which has been designated a World Heritage Site. Three gorilla groups—the Mubare, Rushegura and Habinyanja groups—have been habituated for daily visits by no more than six guests for each group, and a fourth (the Bitukura) is in the process of being habituated.

For the latest State Department information on Uganda, click here.

Although the hiking is strenuous, the daily trek is doable by anyone in reasonably fit condition. A guide and two trackers who accompany the guests usually find the gorillas in anywhere from 2-6 hours, and it is an unusual day when the gorillas cannot be found at all.  Our goal at Safari Nzuri is to try to organize a Uganda safari that affords two days of gorilla trekking.  Because of the immense popularity and limited number of trekking permits, this often depends on sufficient advance notice from our clients, and a little bit of flexibility.

 gorillaWe rely on Mantana Safaris for our Uganda safaris. This is for three reasons: (1) Mantana uses late-model Toyota Landcruisers. One day on Uganda's park roads will convince you of the premium that must be placed on vehicle condition, and none in Uganda are better than Mantana's; (2) and Mantana's guides and drivers are engaging, educated and reliable. They are true friends to travel with.

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To the left: the Mubare Group's silverback cooperatively poses for visitors.

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 Mantana's camps offer all the grace and pampering that one might expect in the finer small camps of Kenya.

 

 

Uganda’s Park System

            While most travelers focus on the Bwindi gorillas, the fact is that Uganda a diverse, often abundant and in some cases quite unique game park system.  The parks that any safari to Uganda should include are these:

Kibale National Park contains what is probably the most accessible of Uganda’s large forests and is the best place in Uganda for chimpanzee trekking. You will find the largest number of forest elephants in Uganda at Kibale, as well as buffalo and other large mammals. Kibale is known for its astounding array of butterflies (over 144 species), including Africa’s largest and rarest, the Giant Swallowtail. Over 370 species (nearly 60% forest birds) of birds have been recorded for Kibale, clearly a birdwatcher’s delight. Kibale contains about 70 mammals including forest elephants, tree hyrax, bush pig, giant forest hog, duiker, bushbuck, sitatunga, waterbuck, buffalo, serval, leopard, lion, civet, genet, mongoose, hyena, jackal, badger, zorilla, otter, and pangolin. Kibale contains 13 of Africa’s 49 species of primates, just over half of Uganda’s total of 20. Primates at Kibale include: dwarf bushbaby, eastern needle-nailed bushbaby, Bosman’s potto, dwarf galago, black & white colobus, Uganda red colobus monkey, Uganda redtail guenon, blue guenon, Lhoesti or mountain guenon, vervet monkey, grey-cheeked mangabey, olive baboon, and chimpanzee. Kibale is a wonderful place to experience the extraordinary diversity of life in a tropical rainforest.

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To the right: no cat enjoys getting wet. Here, two young lion drip-dry after a Queen Elizabeth National Park deluge.

 

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Queen Elizabeth National Park contains about 770 square miles of tremendous scenic variety, including volcanic craters and crater lakes, grassy plains, swamps, rivers, lakes, and tropical forest. It is Uganda’s second largest national park. The melting glacier waters of the Rwenzori Mountains create a vast wetland system comprising of two main lakes, George and Edward, as well as the connecting Kazinga Channel. Thousands of hippo populate these lake shorelines. Open savannah dotted with Acacia and Euphorbia trees provide habitat for elephant, lion, leopard, Uganda kob,and large herds of buffalo. Among the many other animals seen frequently are giant forest hog, waterbuck, topi, hyena, and crocodile. 606 bird species have been recorded here –more than any other park in Africa. The Kazinga Channel launch trip provides a unique and unequalled wildlife experience. Expect to be eye to eye with yawning hippos and surrounded by vast numbers of migrant and resident water birds. Many buffalos rest in the water while herds of elephant enjoy themselves drinking along the banks. Crocodiles have become a common sight and occasionally leopards may be seen.

 

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is an exceptionally rich and varied ecosystem. It is one of the richest forests in East Africa for birds (350 species), butterflies (310 species), and trees (324 species). Bwindi also has at least 120 species of mammals including 10 species of primates. This area is known as the Albertine Rift. Bwindi has 23 birds endemic to the Albertine Rift and 10 trees endemic to Uganda. Bwindi is also the home of half the world’s remaining population of mountain gorillas. There are three habituated groups that may be visited by up to eight people per day (a total of 24 people per day may visit the gorillas at Bwindi). Once found, you will spend one hour with the gorillas. This is the experience of a lifetime and one that is never forgotten.

 

Lake Mburo National Park is located between Lake Victoria and the Ruwenzori Mountains and has an extensive area of wetland. The park has herds of zebra, impala (found nowhere else in Uganda), eland (the largest herds in East Africa), topi, buffalo, sitatunga, hippo, leopard, hyena, jackal, reedbuck, bushbuck, and klipspringer. 313 bird species have been recorded here, including the rare shoebill stork.

 

Mantana’s Uganda Safaris

 

Mantana offers a limitless menu of custom safaris, and it also offers set itineraries that will afford the Uganda visitor a comprehensive overview of Uganda’s richest game areas in positively luxury conditions.   One such safari is the Uganda Highlights Safari, which is an exclusive safari for your group (up to five, maximum) only.    At $3731 for each of four persons sharing double accommidations, plus $1000 for two Bwindi gorilla permits/ person and $90 for one chimpanzee permit at Kibale, the following nine-day itinerary, which includes two days’ gorilla trekking at Bwindi, offers each of the extraordinary national parks described above:

Day 01

Entebbe

Upon arrival in Entebbe, you will be met by your professional Kimbla-Mantana safari driver/guide and taken to Entebbe’s premiere guest house for an overnight stay.

 

The Boma

 

Day 02

Kibale National Park

After breakfast and a safari briefing, you will drive to Kibale National Park with lunch enroute. An afternoon visit to the Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary and guided walk around the Magombe Swamp provides you with the opportunity to see a wide range of flora and fauna. Tonight you will stay at Primate Lodge, a wilderness lodge that consists of eight unique safari tents, each raised on a wooden platform with a private veranda overlooking the forest. Each tent has comfortable twin beds, large windows and an en suite bathroom with flushing toilets

 

Primate Lodge BLD

 

Day 03

Kibale National Park

This morning you will search for families of chimpanzees and other primates. After lunch, spend the afternoon visiting the local village.

 

Primate Lodge BLD

 

Day 04

Queen Elizabeth National Park

Today you will drive past the Ruwenzori Mountains (Mountains of the Moon) before reaching Queen Elizabeth National Park. You will game drive to Mweya Lodge, which is set on the Kazinga Channel. After an afternoon launch trip on the Kazinga Channel, a game drive has been planned for you. Mweya Lodge is the grand dame of park lodges, located on a peninsula within the heart of the park. All rooms have balconies overlooking the Kazinga Channel and Lake Edward.

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To the left: watching a herd of Uganda kob at the foot of the Mountains of the Moon in Queen Elizabeth National Park

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Mweya Lodge BLD

 

Day 05

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Prior to driving to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, you will visit the Bat Cave in the Maramagamba Forest. This incredible cave is home to thousands of Egyptian fruit bats. Your drive to Bwindi will be via Ishasha in the hopes of seeing tree-climbing lion and more of Uganda’s stunning wildlife. For the next three nights, you will be staying at Mantana’s Engagi Lodge.  The lodge is situated in a large tract of land contiguous with Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The lodge consists of just 8 en-suite cottages, evenly spaced out and hidden in the foliage.  Each cottage has either double or twin beds, a bathroom with flushing toilets, hot and cold running water.  All have private verandas with views of the forest.

 

Engagi Lodge BLD

 

Days 06-07

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Both days will be spent visiting the home of half the world’s remaining population of mountain gorillas. There are three habituated gorilla groups that may be visited by up to eight people per day (a total of 24 people per day may visit the gorillas at Bwindi). Once found, you will spend one hour with the gorillas. This is the experience of a lifetime and one that is never forgotten.

 

Engagi Lodge BLD

 

Day 08

Lake Mburo National Park

This morning you will depart for Lake Mburo National Park. Your drive will take you through the scenic route known as “Little Switzerland” and Ankole country. You will enjoy an afternoon game drive.

 

Mantana Private Luxury Lake Mburo Camp BLD

 

Day 09

Entebbe

After breakfast, you will enjoy a final game drive as you depart Lake Mburo. You will return to Entebbe where day rooms are reserved for you until your international flight out this evening.

 

The Boma BL

 

    

 

 

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