Compare Wild Uganda by Aardvark Safaris vs Uganda: Gorilla Conservation Adventure by Discover Corps

Day 1

Accommodation: Protea Hotel Entebbe

On arrival into Entebbe International Airport today you will be met and driven to the Protea Hotel where you stay overnight on a bed and breakfast basis.

Situated close to Entebbe International Airport, Protea Entebbe Hotel lies on the banks of Lake Victoria in Uganda. Its position makes it a great choice for an overnight stay when flying in to or departing from Entebbe.

Protea Entebbe Hotel is made up of 73 comfortable, air-conditioned en-suite rooms with a safe, Wi-Fi, satellite television, and tea and coffee making facilities. Relax with a drink in the hotel bar or restaurant, which is open for most of the day.

During your stay at Protea Entebbe Hotel in Uganda, take advantage of the golf, fishing and boat trip amenities on offer, or visit nearby Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary.

Day 2

Accommodation: Mihingo Lodge

Your guide will collect you after breakfast this morning and you will set off for Lake Mburu which lies in a rain shadow between the great Rwenzori Mountains and Lake Victoria. The drive will take around four hours and you should arrive in time for lunch. You will have the chance to venture out by canoe in the afternoon and enjoy a game drive before settling in at Mihingo Lodge where you stay for one night on a full board basis to include all meals.

You are likely to see buffalo, Burchells zebra and a variety of antelope species including bushbuck, waterbuck and impala. Leopard is also spotted here occasionally.

Mihingo Lodge is located next to the beautiful Lake Mburo National Park in Uganda. Exclusive and tranquil it is the perfect place in which to unwind for a few nights as you travel from Kampala to Queen Elizabeth or Bwindi.

In order to blend with its environment, Mihingo Lodge is built from locally sourced materials and features rocky boulders and traditional Ugandan art. Ten sensitively designed luxurious canvas rooms on elevated platforms and shielded by thatched roofs. You enjoy all essential comforts, including en-suite bathroom, hot and cold running water, flushing toilet, and a private terrace. Meals are served in the relaxing thatched dining space near the lodge's infinity pool and tennis court.

A haven for wildlife, Lake Mburo boasts zebra, waterbuck, warthog, impala, waterbuck, topi, buffalo, hippo, eland, crocodile and the elusive leopard. Enjoy day and night games through Lake Mburo National Park before relaxing poolside to soak up the sights and sounds of your beautiful surroundings. You can also join boat cruises on Lake Mburo, forest and savannah walks, and horseback riding excursions.

Days 3-4

Accommodation: Kyambura Gorge Lodge

Today you can have a relaxing breakfast overlooking the magnificent Lake Mburo before heading out on a game walk. This walk can take up to three hours and winds down the valley, past a water hole and to a rocky kopje facing Mihingo.

After an early lunch you will depart on a game drive for Queen Elizabeth National Park. What you see depends on the season, but the Kasenyi plains are excellent for sighting lion and large herds of Uganda kob.

The next two nights will be spent at Kyambura Gorge Lodge on a full board basis to include all meals and activities. You will have the chance to go chimpanzee trekking during the morning of your second day here. The chimp population is quite mobile and viewing can be unpredictable but the walk itself is enchanting. In the afternoon take a cruise on the Kazinga Channel which flows between Lakes Edward and George.

The latest proud addition to the prestigious Volcanoes Safaris family, Kyambura Gorge Lodge in Uganda is a gorgeous eco-lodge set above the Kyambura Gorge on the border of Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Eight grass-roofed bandas with adjoining bathroom facilities look out across lush savannah towards the outlying Rwenzoris. The communal living area and dining space at Kyambura Gorge Lodge are constructed using local resources and embellished with locally produced textiles.

During your stay at Kyambura Gorge Lodge in Uganda, enjoy thrilling game drives, boat excursions along the Kazinga Channel, time spent tracking the chimpanzees in the Gorge, trips to the Maramagambo Forest bat cave and Blue Lake, and regular community strolls. The conservation and eco-tourism importance of the Lodge and the surrounding land cannot be overstated as it plays a vital part in forming a protected buffer between the chimp population and local farmers.

Day 5: Ishasha Wilderness Camp

After a morning nature walk in Maramagambo Forest spotting other primates and visiting the bat cave and the blue lake you will be driven to Ishasha, home of the tree-climbing lion.

Your stay at Ishasha Wilderness Camp is for one night on a full board basis to include all meals and activities.

This private and traditional tented camp is set in an isolated area in the southern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda. If you are tracking gorillas in Bwindi or watching big game in the Mweya part of the park, Ishasha Wilderness Camp is a stunning place to enjoy a well-earned rest half way through your trip.

 Surrounded by mature forest and set alongside the Ntungwe River, Ishasha Wilderness Camp comprises ten spacious Meru style tents. Each is equipped with en-suite facilities and private hot water bucket showers. During the day, you share a flushing toilet close to the camp but for your convenience, a commode is provided in your tent for night use. Enjoy a drink and hearty evening meal in the canvas-sheltered dining room.

The most notable wildlife attractions, among the rich and diverse selection in this part of Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda are the resident tree-climbing lions. View the magnificent game on thrilling game drives in 4x4 vehicles in the company of an expert guide.

Days 6-8

Accommodation: Mahogany Springs Lodge

You can take a game drive in Ishasha this morning before being driven to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. On arrival at Mahogany Springs Lodge, time permitting, you may be able to explore the local village.

Your three night stay here is on a full board basis to include all meals and activities. You will have the chance to track the gorillas on your second day here (one track included, second and subsequent tracks available on payment of supplement at the time of booking). Trekking through the steep, densely forested hills and then finally coming across the gorillas camouflaged in the vegetation is an inspiring and privileged moment. Tracking in the Bwindi forest requires stamina and can often take most of the day.

Mahogany Springs Lodge takes its name from the 400 year old mahogany tree that towers majestically above the lodge gardens. Close to the Munyanga River, just outside Bwindi Forest in the south western corner or Uganda, the lodge has impressive views over the densely covered slopes of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.

The eight stone and wood cottages house comfortable en-suite rooms, each with a private balcony offering lovely views of the surrounding valley. The main area includes a dining area, lounge and bar, with a panoramic terrace.

Mahogany Springs is a good choice as a base from which to go gorilla tracking, or to enjoy nature walks and some excellent bird watching.

Day 9: Fly Bwindi to Entebbe

This morning you will take a scheduled light aircraft flight departing for Entebbe International Airport. From here you will take an international flight home, or continue with another African adventure.

Day 1: Arriving in Entebbe

Arrive in Entebbe International Airport, about 45 minutes outside the capital Kampala, and transfer to our accommodation. Once a colonial estate and now a luxury B&B, the Boma Hotel boasts a swimming pool, restaurant and bar. After a delicious welcome dinner, you can spend your first evening relaxing before the adventure begins tomorrow.

Day 2: Entering Kibale National Park

After breakfast, we’ll travel to Kibale National Park and check into Ndali Lodge, the stunning hilltop boutique hotel we will call home for the next three nights. The rest of the afternoon is yours to enjoy as you wish – relax on your mountain-view veranda, take a walk around the lake or cool off in the swimming pool - before we gather for a homecooked, candlelit dinner.

Day 3: Tracking Chimps in Kibale

It’s an early start as we head into the park for a day of chimp tracking. There are more than 1,200 chimpanzees in the park, and an expert guide will lead you to a chimp family, whom you can observe up close. See them forage on the ground for food, swing across the trees and call out across the canopy. Afterwards, it’s back to the hotel for lunch and a free afternoon.

Day 4: A Visit to Kibale Village

Today’s all about getting to know the locals. In the morning, we will visit a local community school to see how Ndali Lodge is supporting local children’s education, and in the afternoon, we’ll explore the surrounding coffee plantations and meet the farmers who grow the crop.

Day 5: Driving to Queen Elizabeth National Park

We say goodbye to Ndali Lodge this morning and take a drive south alongside the stunning Rwenzori Mountains . We’ll arrive at the Mazike Valley Lodge just in time for lunch, then head into Queen Elizabeth National Park for a game drive. It is Uganda’s largest safari park, home to lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo and hyena, so there is sure to be plenty to see.

Day 6: Tracking and Spending Time with Rare Tree-Climbing Lions

You won’t believe your eyes this morning as we track tree-climbing lions and cubs. See them lounging lazily on tree branches high above the ground. With sophisticated tracking devices, you’re all-but-guaranteed to see a pride of these majestic animals in the wild. Later, we take an openair boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel to spot crocodiles, hippos and birds along the shoreline.

Day 7: Driving to Bwindi National Park

After breakfast at Mazike Valley Lodge, we’re back on the road. In the afternoon, we arrive at Mahogany Springs Lodge, a luxury hillside complex of thatched bungalows that sits just inside Bwindi National Park. After dinner, it’s early to bed in preparation for the big day tomorrow.

Day 8: Bwindi Gorilla Tracking Day

It’s the big one: gorilla day! We’ll start early and set off on a (moderate) hiking trail to track down some of the gorillas living in these forests - home to nearly half of the world's mountain gorillas. Along with a guide, we will be joined by a vet, who will collect stool samples as we’re getting up close and personal with the gorillas. That evening, we’ll help analyze these in the lab to check on the troop’s health. See next page for more details!

Day 9: A Community Visit in Bwindi

This morning, we visit a community-run charity project that supports women struggling with poverty, HIV and domestic violence. You’ll learn to weave baskets and pedal sew your own souvenirs – anything from a purse to a bandana – as well as enjoy a traditional dance (don’t worry, participation is optional!) We end today with a farewell dinner at Mahogany Springs.

Day 10: Flying to Entebbe and Home

After breakfast, hop on a flight back to Entebbe. For those with longer waits for their connecting flights home, we will head back to Boma Hotel to relax and enjoy a final dinner.