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, 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 and this outside museum also exhibits all the kingdoms of Uganda and 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 and along with an adjacent site became a notorious underground prison and 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 and 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 and 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 and 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, depart for Murchison Falls National Park enroute stopping at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary in Nakasongola to view some of the remaining Rhinos in Uganda.

This Sanctuary has been established to breed black and white rhino, and restore Rhino populations in Uganda’s protected areas in a later stage and presently it is home to fifteen 15 southern white rhinos. It offers a secure place where rhino populations can be expanded by breeding, protected from human and non-human predators and gradually re-introduced into Uganda's national parks, while at the same time, allowing the public to enjoy these majestic animals, as the project moves forward. The Sanctuary is also home to at least 40 mammal and reptilian species including monkeys, antelopes, hippopotamuses, crocodiles and numerous bird species.

A team of approximately 78 park rangers & security guards keep a 24-hour watch on the rhinos to ensure their safety and the 70 square kilometres Sanctuary is surrounded by a 2 metres electric fence to keep the rhinos in and the intruders out.

Continue onwards on your drive.

Murchison falls National Park, Uganda's largest & oldest conservation area, was declared as a game reserve in 1926, covers 3,840-sq km and has recorded 76 mammal species and 450 bird species.

Bisected by the Victoria Nile, compressing from 50 metres to squeeze through a 6 metre canyon, dropping 40 metres with a thunderous roar forming a beautiful rainbow, a plume of spray, created the dramatic Murchison Falls, the centerpiece of the park and the final event in an 80 km stretch of rapids. The mighty cascade drains the last of the river's energy, transforming it into a broad, placid stream that flows quietly across the rift valley floor into Lake Albert.

The sight of the Nile River, the world's longest river, winding its way through the park and plunging through a narrow gap, is unforgettable and this stretch of river provides one of Uganda's most remarkable wildlife spectacles. Regular visitors to the riverbanks include elephants, giraffes and buffaloes; while hippos, Nile crocodiles and aquatic birds are permanent residents.

Reach the Safari Camp and Check-in.

Early morning at dawn, meet the Ranger & proceed for a game drive through the rolling plains across Borassus Palm Forest & grassland savannah down to Lake Albert where the Albert Nile heads north towards Sudan.

This wide, calm stretch of water, where the tranquil Victoria Nile flows into Lake Albert, is also key area for bird watchers. Its papyrus-lined banks are bursting with birdlife, including Goliath Herons, Great Egrets, and African Fish Eagles. The most sought-after species here is the rare Shoebill. During your game drive, request your guide to show you the Congo Blue Mountains, on a clear morning

A game drive around the Buligi game tracks is a fantastic way to see & photograph the wide range of animals in the Nile Valley. Marvel at the herds of buffalos, dozens of elephants, warthogs & towering giraffes, along with bushbucks, reedbuck, duikers, kobs, oribi and the unusual-looking hartebeest as well as many of the other mammals of the park. Your Ranger will have a good idea where the lions are hiding, and you may even spot a leopard.

Return to the lodge for lunch.

Post lunch, you will go for a boat cruise on the Nile River.

The cruise takes you to the bottom of the thundering falls where you will see huge crocodiles, schools of hippos, buffaloes, elephants and a variety of water birds like herons, cormorants, ducks, bee-eaters, kingfishers, skimmers, fish eagles and sometimes the rare shoebill.

Return to the Camp.

Early morning, depart for Kibale Forest National Park, west from Kampala, passing some beautiful Ugandan countryside along the way. But before, you will be driven to the top of Murchison Falls from where you can have a close look in to the gorge.

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 species of primates. Approximately 500 chimpanzees live here, making it a perfect place for researching these gregarious apes.

Kibale National Park is full of lakes, marshes and grasslands, and its slopes contain several distinct types of forests (lowland tropical rainforest, deciduous forest and 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.

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 and Gary 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 we walk through the ancient and pristine rainforests, the extraordinary abundance and 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 and 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 and 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 and is also rich in vegetation, such as wild palms, polita figs and 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 and a view of the snow cap on the Rwenzori on a clear day.

Early morning, depart for Semliki Valley Wildlife Reserve.

It is one Uganda’s oldest wildlife reserve stretching over 540 km,  deep in the heart of Uganda’s Western rift valley, is a prime conservation area and sprawls across the floor of the Semliki Valley on the remote, western side of the Rwenzori.

One of the most attractive features of the Reserve is that it displays a classic geographic crossroad, where the tropical rainforest meets grassy savannah, where wetlands give over to the majestic Lake Albert and the flat plains are punctuated by deep river valleys. This unique geography is reflected in the diversity of wildlife, here habits both the Central Africa forest species, e.g. forest elephant, and the savannah species of East Africa, e.g. lion, leopard, antelope. There are 11 recorded species found in Semliki that have been recorded nowhere else in Uganda, including the pygmy antelope, 2 types of flying squirrel and 6 types of bat.

The birdlife here is amazing with both endemics & migrants seen, even the rare shoebill lives within the wetlands of Semliki National Park. Within the lush forest canopies, chimps and other primate species can be found.

A popular attraction in Semliki National Park is the collection of hot springs at Sempaya, which can be reached from a short walking trail. The hot springs are situated in the midst of rainforest & palm trees. The largest spring is a geyser shooting up from an 8 meter wide opening in a low salt sculpture. The emerging water has a temperature of above 100°C

You will stop to visit a local farmer and have a brief tour of his farm then enjoy a picnic lunch at the Sempaya Hot Springs before arriving at the Lodge in the afternoon.

Check-in & relax for a while.

Later in the afternoon, visit a Bambuti (pygmy) community village located near the Ituri Rainforest, which will prove to be an interesting cultural experience.

Return to the lodge.

At dawn, meet the Ranger and drive to Kyambura Gorge for a thrilling Chimpanzee Safari in the Gallery Forest area.

The Trek may last 3 - 5 hours and in addition to seeing the chimps, the trip may yield sightings of the colobus monkeys, baboons, red tailed & vervet monkeys, and other primates. It is important to note that the chimpanzee safari is subject to availability of permits and good weather because occasional flooding can make the trails impassable.

Return to the lodge for lunch.

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 and 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. Many who experience the launch cruise consider it the highlight of their entire African safari.

Come back to the lodge.

Rise very early & proceed with the Ranger for a morning Game Viewing to catch-up with the early risers and predators returning to their hideouts. 

You will come across several species of games such as a very big population of Uganda kobs, and several species of antelopes, buffaloes, waterbucks. You will most likely meet the grazing Hippos, Elephants & Uganda Safari Lions, spotted Hyenas, bush buck, water buck, stripped jackal, comical warthogs and the elusive leopard.

Since it is the only Reserve that allows night game drives, several more species of mammals can be spotted out such as leopard, the white-tailed mongoose, standard night pennant winged night jars, bush babies among other. During the game drive, you will also be in position to see the Mugiri River Forest, the top most destination in Uganda for viewing different species including the elusive leaf-love and many other species.

Shortly after, 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 and spiral horns), giant forest hog and 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 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.

We 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 and 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 for lunch.

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, proceed for another optional Game Drive through the unspoilt southern Ishasha area, which is famous for its tree-climbing lions.

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 will 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.

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 on the Trek.

After an early breakfast, depart for Lake Bunyonyi in Kabale region. 

Lake Bunyonyi ("Place of many little birds") is a crater lake. It's actually the deepest crater lake in Africa with a captivating scenery. It is a popular location for watersports and is known for the surrounding terraced hillsides. Some towns are located on its shores and it has more than 29 Islands off-shore, including Punishment Island & Bushara Island. The Lake is depicted on the 5,000 Ugandan Shilling currency note under the title "Lake Bunyonyi & Terraces".

Check in on arrival.

Post lunch, enjoy an afternoon boat ride to do some bird watching and visiting the local villages on some of the islands on the lake.

Morning we depart Kabale and drive through an area known as 'Little Switzerland'  with fine-looking scenery and terraced farming,  arriving at Lake Mburo National Park on the drier Ankole area.

After entering the park we game drive to the Camp. Check in.

Post lunch, we 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 and red, black and yellow papyrus gonalek.

Our camp 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 a very early breakfast, proceed for a 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 counterclockwise on the southern hemisphere.

Check in on arrival.

Check-out in the morning (if you are departing tonight).

Meet the Tour-guide around 08:00 am and drive to the shores of Lake Victoria & embark on a 45 minute boat ride to Ngamba Island, crossing the Equator en-route. 

Ngamba Island is a project of the Chimpanzees Sanctuary & Wildlife Conservation Trust, established in 1997 by the Born Free Foundation (UK), International Fund for Animal Welfare (USA), the Jane Goodall Institute (Germany & Uganda), The Uganda Wildlife Education Centre Trust and the Zoological Board of New South Wales (Australia) and it provides these orphaned chimpanzees with a secure home to live out their lives, since a return to their natural habitat is not possible, while educating visitors and local communities about their remarkable species and the importance of conserving their fragile forest habitat.

Ngamba Island consists of approximately 100 acres, 98 of which are forested and separated from the visitors area by an electric fence. Ngamba Island was officially opened to visitors in October 1999 and is currently home to 40 orphaned chimpanzees.

On arrival at the island, home to 39 chimpanzees, you will be given a short introduction and briefing on the sanctuary. It is fascinating to watch the chimps interact with each other and with their keepers. In the relatively short amount of time you are there you will be able to see such different personalities amongst the group, with some whistling for food and others clapping. You will view either a morning or afternoon feeding, of the chimpanzees from the visitors platform area along the edge of the sanctuary fence, hear an informative talk by sanctuary staff. Obviously the ideal option would be to re-introduce these orphaned chimpanzees to the wild however this is not possible for a number of different reasons and the sanctuary is not bad for second best. 

Post lunch, you can just relax, swim or sunbathe on the equator & or try one of the optional programs like visiting a neighbouring fishing village, bird watching cruise etc.

In time, get on the boat again to return to Kampala.

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 L

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