UGANDA
THE PEARL OF AFRICA
Uganda, a Country in East Africa with diverse landscapes, an abundance of wildlife, rare birds, and the Mountain Gorilla. There are just over a thousand mountains gorillas left in the world, and half of them are found in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Join us as we trek these gentle giants, visit 5 National Parks for safari game drives, chimp trekking, hiking falls, immerse ourselves in culture and stretch our bodies in the Ugandan forests.
GOOD TO KNOW
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There is also no set route to visit the gorillas. They move around of their own free will, so the amount of time it will take to visit them can vary from under an hour to almost a full day depending on where they are and how long it takes the trackers to locate them.
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Due to trekking through the dense forests in search of Chimpanzee and Gorilla, and trekking time taking anything from 2-8 hours, a fairly good level of fitness is required. Walking sticks can be hired at the park headquarters if needed.
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•Comfortable lightweight clothing, long sleeved shirt, trousers, sweater and rain jacket
• Comfortable walking shoes/waterproof hiking boots and sandals
• Sunblock, sunscreen, sunglasses, swimwear
• Toiletries
• Yoga mat
• Camera, binoculars
• For electrical small appliances or chargers, the associated plug type is G, that has three rectangular pins in a triangular pattern. Uganda operates on a 240V supply voltage and 50Hz.
• Energy snacks for hikes
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Ofcoarse the months that we are going! December to February and between June and August. These times are the best for trekking to see mountain gorillas and chimpanzees.
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In Uganda, the staple food is Matoke, (cooking bananas), Other foods include cassava (manioc), sweet potatoes, white potatoes, yams, beans, peas, groundnuts (peanuts), cabbage, onions, pumpkins, and tomatoes. Some fruits, such as oranges, paw-paws (papayas), lemons, and pineapples, are also grown. Meals at the lodges will be a variety of local and international cuisine. Please let us know if you have any dietary requirements and we will see if the lodges will be able to assist. But with all the fresh local ingredients, I am sure everyone’s taste buds will be catered for.
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The Ugandan Chilling (UGX) is the local currency, and the US Dollar is a recognized currency widely excepted for cash payments in in most tourist focused businesses like hotels, restaurants, safari tours, and at the airport. Very few places accept Mastercard. In addition to cash we suggest you bring Visa debit card.
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Tropical!!! Uganda has a warm tropical climate with temperatures falling in the 25–29°C (77–84°F) range on an average. Most regions of Uganda, apart from the dry area in the north, have an annual rainfall of between 1,000mm and 1,500mm. Heavy rain between March and May and between September and November.
NATIONAL PARKS WE WILL VISIT
Murchison Falls National Park - Day 2 /3
The park that comprises of beautiful savannah landscapes and plenty of wildlife, is divided by River Nile into the south and northern region. The northern part is largely covered by savannah and woodland, supporting a lot more volume and variety of animals compared to the southern region which has a bigger chunk covered by forest. The game drives here are done in the northern area of the Murchison Falls and an early start offers a better chance to find elusive predators such as Lion, Hyena, Leopard and Jackal as they are still actively out hunting. Explore the game trails towards the Lake Albert Delta which is concentrated with big game including Elephant, Buffalo, Giraffe and various antelope. Boat rides here at the Falls also offers an array of wildlife and common sightings include Crocodile, Hippo, and Lizard.
Kibale Forest National Park - Day 4 /5
The Kibale Forest National Park is known as one of the best safari destinations in African for chimpanzee trekking. There are 13 primate species living within this park, and home to 70 mammal species and 375 species of birds. 351 tree species have been recorded, with some older than 200 years, reaching above 55m. Not only is Kibale one of Africa’s foremost research sites for chimpanzees and other primates found in the park, but also wild pigs, fish species and Kibale’s lush ecosystem. No wonder is known as one of Uganda’s most rewarding areas to explore.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest - Day 6/7
With more than 160 species of trees, the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is known for exceptional biodiversity. Here you will find various butterfly species, 350 species of birds and 120 mammal species, which includes the colobus monkey and chimpanzee. It is home to almost half of the world’s mountain gorilla population and this is where we will be on foot, trekking these rare and endangered beauties. Bwindi is the source of five major rivers and also declared a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site.
Lake Bunyonyi - Day 8
Lake Bunyonyi is the perfect location to end this 9 day adventure, admiring the lush green hills comprising of 29 little islands from above. It is a magical place where one can sit quietly, taking in what you have experienced over the last few days. A place to admire, a place that will ignite the fire in your soul as you connect with the surrounding life that we know as nature. A place to just be. These moments are what becomes your most special memories. A place now deeply rooted into your soul…
