Welcome to Enchanting Journeys

There is nowhere like Africa on the planet for wildlife, wild lands & rich traditions that endure.

Welcome to enchanting Uganda - Pearl of Africa  - a landlocked country in East Africa whose diverse landscape encompasses the snow-capped Rwenzori Mountains & immense Lake Victoria. Prepare to fall in love.

Arrive in Entebbe, the gateway to Kampala, the ancient capital city.

After you exit in the Arrival Hall at Terminal? - Kampala Entebbe International Airport, subsequent to Immigration & Customs, you will be welcomed by The Journeys Rep who will ensure your comfort & transfer you to the hotel, help you settle in & provide you with some useful tips for exploring the area as well as discuss the program for the next few days

Arrive at the hotel & Check-in.

*Check-in time is 02.00 pm. For earlier arrivals in the morning, we will request the hotel for a complimentary early Check-in but cannot be guaranteed unless reserved & paid for ‘immediate occupancy’.

African Landscapes | Wildlife Bonanza | Cultural Experiences  

Bustling Kampala an attractive, verdant town makes a good introduction to Uganda. It is Uganda's national & commercial capital bordering Lake Victoria, Africa's largest lake. A dynamic &  engaging city, with few of the hassles of other East African capitals & several worthy attractions to keep you occupied for a couple of days. Hills covered with red-tile villas and trees surround an urban centre of contemporary skyscrapers. In the downtown area, the Uganda Museum explores the country's tribal heritage through an extensive collection of artefacts. Its landscapes vary from the fertile green areas around the northern shores of Lake Victoria to the snow-capped Ruwenzori Mountains in the west & the semi-desert region in the north.

As the heartland of the Buganda kingdom, Kampala has a rich & colourful history, visible in several fascinating palaces & compounds from where the nation was run until the arrival of colonialism. It served as the capital city during the early years of the British protectorate, though it is the relaxed pace of life & natural attractions rather than any notable colonial relics that give the city its charm.

The city is famed for world class night life not found anywhere else in East Africa. From comedy evenings, music, theater, top clubs & busy streets, Kampala is the real deal for trendy nights in Africa.

Later in the afternoon around 01:00 pm, meet the Tour-guide & proceed on a 4 hour sightseeing Tour, visiting some of Kampala's outstanding historical & cultural sites.

First stop will be the National Museum which is the biggest & the oldest Museum in Uganda founded in 1908, located in Kamokya near the city Centre and beside the Uganda Wildlife Authority headquarters. The Uganda Museum’s remarkable collection spans over two million years of human history. Briefly, explore African history, cultures & treasures of Uganda. Outside the Museum is the Living museum (Cultural village) that exhibits the ways of lives of Ugandans as it represents the whole of Uganda & this outside museum also exhibits all the kingdoms of Uganda & their way of life

Continue on to Kasubi Tombs - a UNESCO World Heritage site, where ancestral Buganda kings are buried. Originally built as the palace of King Muteesa I in 1882, it was converted into his Tomb following his death two years later. Tragically, it was destroyed in a fire but is being restored to its former glory through international support  

Next visit the Lubiri Palace built in 1922, located at the other end of a ceremonial Royal drive leading from Parliament of Buganda Kingdom. This building was converted into army barracks & along with an adjacent site became a notorious underground prison & torture-execution chamber used by Idi Amin in the 1970s. You will see the terrifying site, a dark concrete tunnel with numerous dark, damp cells separated by an electrified passage of water to prevent escape.

At the gate of this Palace is a traditional fire source that has never burnt out since the inception of the Buganda Kingdom and shall never stop burning until the last king is dead. It is a representation of all Buganda Clans & their respective role in this Kingdom since time of immemorial as narrated by a royalist at this fire source.

A mile away but directly adjacent is the Bulange - a parliament in which the King Kabaka & his ministers have since the old days, sat to deliberate upon issues concerning Buganda Kingdom. The architectural design of this building has proven to be a spectacular draw for locals & visitors. Walk the Royal Mile and earn about Buganda cultural norms & the origins of the city of Kampala.

Last stop will be at Kabaka’s lake, the largest & biggest man-made lake in the region. Occupying an area of around 2 square km, it was originally constructed with the purpose of providing water sports activities for the king of Buganda but later was also used as an escape away from the British occupiers. It is now is being promoted as a tourism destination in Buganda land, because of its various attractions like birds, spot fishing & village walks etc.

Return to the hotel.

Balance if the evening at leisure (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements).

Overnight.  D 

Early morning, around 06.00 am, meet the Rep / Driver & depart for Kibale Forest National Park, west from Kampala, passing some beautiful Ugandan countryside along the way.

Kibale National Park covers an area of 766 square kilometres and is Uganda's newest national park, although it has been renowned for decades as a worldwide centre for serious primate research. The equatorial rainforest here contains the highest concentration of primates in the world, including 13 distinct species like Grey Cheeked Mangabey, Red Tailed & Red Colobus monkeys. Approximately 500 chimpanzees live here, making it a perfect place for researching these gregarious apes.

Kibale National Park is full of lakes, marshes & grasslands, and its slopes contain several distinct types of forests (lowland tropical rainforest, deciduous forest & montane forests), creating perfect habitats for a variety of birds. With more than 325 species, such as colourful turacos and noisy hornbills, the bird life is audibly abundant! A more silent, but equally enchanting, encounter comes from standing amongst clouds of fluttering butterflies, of which this park boasts 144 different species!

Check-in on arrival, by afternoon.

Early morning around 06:00 am, accompanied by the Ranger, set off to trek in Kibale National Park to spot some chimpanzees.

Also look out for other primate including L’Hoests, Red Colobus, Blues, red tailed & Grey Cheeked Mangabey. Whilst 13 primate species inhabit the park, it is undoubtedly these apes that attract the most attention. A sustainable ecotourism initiative has ensured that many of Kibale's chimpanzees are now habituated to human visitors. They are easily sighted at times when the sticky fruit of the huge fig trees ripen, whilst at other times the local Ranger will know where to find them.

As you walk through the ancient & pristine rainforests, the extraordinary abundance & exotic diversity of life is revealed to us. Broad buttress roots anchor trees that reach over 50 metres high, creating thick treetop canopy and draping vines that are ideal adventure playgrounds for chimpanzees.

Our morning is spent looking out for good sightings, as they crash and bound through the treetops & along the forest floor.

Return to the Camp to enjoy lunch.

Shortly after, proceed for a guided Nature Walk to view the butterflies and other insects through Bigodi Swamp. Managed by the Kibale Association for Rural & Environmental Organisation formed in 1992 with the aim of achieving social & economic development for local communities, this swamp is a home to approximately 137 bird species & is also rich in vegetation, such as wild palms, polita figs & the dominant papyrus. There are networks of forest trails that radiate out from the Visitor Centre, allowing you to search for a number of species that shun the vicinity of the main road.

Evening, proceed for a tour of the Crater region, visiting “top of the world’’, the natural bridge & a view of the snow cap on the Rwenzori on a clear day.

Early morning, depart for Queen Elizabeth National Park, a stunning reserve that covers almost 2000 square kilometres. Drive along the deep and wide dry craters that are occupied by savanna grasses and acacia through the unique western rift valley escarpment and the (southern part of the Park) Ishasha sector.

Queen Elizabeth National Park is sometimes dubbed the 'Pearl of Africa' or the 'Switzerland of Africa' due to its amazing array of habitats. With one of the highest biodiversity ratings in the world to be found here, our days are sure to be a busy & satisfying. Queen Elizabeth National Park contains the most astonishing number of species with almost 100 types of mammals and 606 types of birds! Whilst rhinoceros, giraffe, zebra and impala are not encountered here, the other main species are all present along with some rare ones such as Ugandan kob, sitatunga (a brown antelope with white stripes & spiral horns), giant forest hog & topi. Two lakes connected by a channel are set in front of a high peninsula, complete with volcanic craters, whilst grassy plains and tropical rainforest result in a fertile equatorial area that is equally scenic, but in different ways.

Check-in on arrival & enjoy lunch.

Shortly, accompanied by the local Ranger, proceed for a game drive, in search of tree climbing lions that like to rest on the branches of the large fig trees.

Come back to the lodge.

Spend a day exploring Queen Elizabeth National Park, sometimes dubbed the 'Pearl of Africa' or the 'Switzerland of Africa' due to its amazing array of habitats.

At dawn, meet the Ranger & embark on a thrilling game viewing, driving through the Park’s over 200 km of well-maintained game tracks.

The tracks through Kasenyi, the North Kazinga Plains & the Ishasha Sector offer virtually guaranteed sightings. The best time for game drives is in the morning hours or at dusk when there are high chances of tracking down a pride of lions, and maybe even the odd leopard. You will also see elephants, buffaloes and a variety of antelopes along with warthogs & baboons.

Return to the lodge in time for a late breakfast.

Later, proceed for a 2 hour cruise on the Kazinga channel, which is a delight for birdwatchers with many species that can be sighted, including the very peculiar shoebill (or whale-headed) stork, which stands over one metre in height!

A myriad of other birds & mammals are also best viewed from our launch in the channel, which is said to contain the world's largest concentration of hippopotamuses, but interestingly enough not many crocodiles. You will have the opportunity to see a variety of yawning hippos in water, buffaloes, elephants, zebras, the Uganda-kobs, topis, water bucks, bush bucks, reed bucks, duiker, mongoose, swamp antelopes, spotted hyena, warthog & forest hog.

Come back to the Lodge.

At dawn around 05:30 am, Check-out & depart for Ishasha in the southern sector of the Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Enroute, enjoying another thrilling game drive, driving through the park’s over 200 km of well-maintained game tracks.

Reach the lodge in Ishasha in time for lunch and Check-in.

It is somewhat uncommon for lions to actually climb trees. There are no more than 2 populations in whole world of such lions that do actually climb trees as one of their day after day behavior. One of these populations is found within the Ishasha sector in the well-known Queen Elizabeth National Park. The other population is found in Lake Manyara National Park in the southern part of Tanzania.

It is supposed that this type of lions climb trees as a way of protecting themselves against the numerous biting tsetse flies on the ground level, whereas others can claim that they actually climb into the branches to escape from the heat on the ground & enjoy the cool breeze; nonetheless the reason why they climb up into the tree branches remains unknown.

Relax for the balance of the afternoon.

Evening just before dusk, meet the Ranger & proceed for a thrilling game drive.

At dawn, proceed for another exciting game drive to have a last look at the famous tree-climbing lions that like to rest on the branches of the large fig trees.

Return to the Lodge to Check-out & depart for the jungles of the World Heritage-listed Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home of the rare mountain gorillas. Apart from gorillas, there are a wide variety of primates to see including the blue and red tailed monkeys. The forest itself is lush and green and there are streams running through it.

The forest covers an area of 330 square kilometres and is located in the far south-west of the country where Uganda, Rwanda and DRC (Congo) meet. This pocket of huge primeval forest is one of the most biologically diverse areas on earth. It has an eco-system that defines the very essence of the continent and has therefore been designated as a World Heritage site.

This forest in the Virunga Mountains protects about half of the world's remaining 700 mountain gorillas, as well as providing home for chimpanzees and several species of monkeys.

Check-in on arrival & enjoy lunch.

Post lunch, enjoy a guided Nature Walk, which will lead you to the beautiful Munyaga Waterfall within the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and a chance to see primates such as the Grey Cheeked Mangabey Blue Monkeys and others species.  You can also wander around the local village.

Come back to the Lodge.

Early morning at 06:00 am, meet the local Ranger & drive to the Park headquarters, where you will be briefed by the Uganda Wildlife Authorities about guidelines to be “strictly” followed on the Trek.

Gorilla trekking is highly controlled with only 24 gorilla trekking permits available each day. Once a trekking group encounters one of the gorilla families, only one hour is granted in the presence of the great apes before the trekkers must, very reluctantly, leave the family.

The trek can be strenuous and may reach altitudes of almost 2000 metres above sea level. Depending on weather conditions, some of the paths can be slippery and these paths themselves can change depending on the location of the gorillas. Hence it is very hard to predict how long we need to walk for, but a very good level of fitness is recommended for everyone taking on this trek. All this may seem like hard work, but the end result is one you are sure to cherish forever, as to stand so close to these amazing animals is indeed an emotional experience. The tracking may take between 2 and 6 hours but obviously it is well worth the effort. . 

We are likely to get within metres of the family we are tracking and will be able to observe these magnificent primates. Each gorilla safari encounter is different and has its own rewards, but you are likely to enjoy the close view of adults feeding, grooming and resting as the youngsters frolic and swing from vines in a delightfully playful display

Please note that gorillas are very susceptible to human diseases and you should advise the Ranger if you are suffering from a cold or anything similar. It would be irresponsible to risk the health of even one of the last 700 remaining mountain gorillas that are still living in their natural habitat.

Enjoy a picnic lunch during the Trek.

Early morning depart Bwindi & drive through an area known as 'Little Switzerland' with fine-looking scenery & terraced farming, to the drier Ankole area & Lake Mburo National Park.

Lake Mburo National Park is a compact gem, located conveniently close to the highway that connects Kampala to the parks of western Uganda. It is the smallest of Uganda’s savannah national parks & underlain by ancient Precambrian metamorphic rocks which date back more than 500 million years. It is home to 350 bird species as well as zebra, impala, eland, buffalo, oribi, Defassa waterbuck, leopard, hippo, hyena, topi & reedbuck. For birders, this is one of the best place to find African Fin foot, Papyrus, Bush Shrike, etc.

Once covered by open savanna, Lake Mburo National Park now contains much woodland as there are no elephants to tame the vegetation. In the western part of the park, the savanna is interspersed with rocky ridges & forested gorges while patches of papyrus swamp & narrow bands of lush riparian woodland line many lakes that lie within the park’s borders.

Immediately on entering the park, continue on a game drive and encounter zebras, buffalo, elands & impalas along with a great variety of birds.

Arrive at the Lodge & Check-in. Our lodge has been built to provide stunning views over three of Mburo's five lakes, but is also a great place to enjoy the incredible African sunsets.

After lunch at the lakeside restaurant, meet the local Ranger & walk across the wooden observation platforms of the salt lick area, where wildlife gathers to lick the salty soil.

Then, leave on a boat trip to a local fishing village, which gives us a great insight into the local culture. Extensive acacia woodland and five lakes make up Lake Mburo National Park, an area that is home to a stunning array of wildlife. It is the best place in the country to see eland (the largest species of antelope), as well as zebra, topi, impala and several types of birds that gather around acacia trees.

Whilst the lakes provide a home for hippos, crocodiles and a variety of waterbirds, the swampy fringe region provide a hideaway for secretive species such as sitatunga & red, black & yellow papyrus gonalek.

Return to the Lodge.

After a very early breakfast, proceed for an optional game drive. A ranger guide takes you on foot to the bush. Lake Mburo National Park is a very special place; every part of it is alive with variety, interest and colour. It contains an extensive wetland.

Return to the Camp & Check-out.

Depart for Kamapla, enroute stopping over at the Uganda Equator, where you will see a line drawn in the middle of the street.

And with a monument on both sides that state "Uganda Equator". It is an absolutely amazing feeling to stand on both sides of the world. "The equator (sometimes referred to colloquially as "the Line") is the intersection of the Earth's surface with the plane perpendicular to the Earth's axis of rotation and containing the Earth's center of mass." Simply said it is the imaginary line that divides the earth in half. With the north on one side and south on the other.  You can stand on both sides of the Equator there is also the opportunity to see an experiment of how water drains straight down at the Equator. But the water will drain clockwise on the northern hemisphere and counter clockwise on the southern hemisphere.

The experience comes to an end and you will be transferred to the hotel if you are staying longer or to the Airport to continue on your onward journey.   B

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