Day 1 to Murchison Falls National Park : The 14 day Classic African Safari begins.  The beginning of your safari begins either from airport -depending on your arrival time or if you have an evening arrival time. If you arrive in the afternoon or evening we put you into Cassia Lodge-just outside of Kampala-on one of the highest hills around-overlooking Lake Victoria and Islands and all of Kampala.  A lovely hotel with best view - swimming pool, sauna, nicely furnished, tasty food to delight your palate.

If you arrive before sunset - you are in for a treat from your Lodge on the Hill and there is nothing like an African Sunset but especially here with a backdrop of Kampala and its many hills and the serenity of Lake Victoria before you.

Breakfast and an early departure for Murchison Falls National Park in the north of Uganda. The verdant countryside will surprise, the color green is so dominant in Uganda.  Much to see along the way and of course you can stop the vehicle at any time to take some fantastic pictures for you to treasure.

We reach the Masindi Hotel for lunch, the oldest hotel in Uganda, built in 1923 and among its guests have been Kathryn Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart and Ernest Hemingway.  He actually crashed twice in two different airplanes near Masindi and in the USA it was presumed he had died.  Enjoy your lunch.

Back on the road again towards our destination of Murchison Falls National Park where we then proceed to one of its fabulous wonders, the tops of the falls.  The English discover Samuel Baker named the falls when he came through here with his wife Florence in 1864.  Idi Amin renamed them Kabalega Falls or Kabarega Falls, but after his fall Murchison Falls National Park came back in vogue and is known as such by most.

The falls are most fabulous and you will be on top of them, the ground shaking by the power of Nile - 50 meters wide dropping down 46 meters through a 7 meter gorge and flowing peacefully into the distance toward Lake Albert.  Simply fabulous - Lonely Planet calls it the most powerful fall in the world.

We proceed onward to Nile Safari Lodge where we check in and you will spend your first in a classic African Safari Tented Camp along the shores of the Nile.  It has been carefully built to be in harmony with nature and to provide you with a place of rest and relaxation in the Wilderness.  There is a swimming pool for your pleasure, while dining you overlook the Nile and see some of the wildlife of Murchison Falls National Park

Before dinner that evening we cross the Nile for our first game drive on the Safari.  The Nile crossing alone can be a treat as you hear and see the Hippos in the water and along the shore, the birds overhead and simply the savannah and picturesque scenery before you.

On the other side there are Lions, Leopards, Elephants, Giraffe, African Buffaloes, Antelopes of all varieties including the national symbol, the Uganda Kob, Warthogs , birds in abundance, the especially equipped safari vehicle makes it easy to take great pictures of what is around you and the driver will respond to your wishes and linger whenever you want in order to get those best shots via your camera.

At the end of the drive we return back to the ferry crossing and return to the Nile Safari Loge  for the evening as you dinner in the wild and go to sleep to sounds that will be different from wherever you call home.

Day 2 Murchison Falls National Park:  Breakfast at the scenic Nile Safari Lodge and off once again across the Nile by ferry and off for our Morning Game Drive seeing hippos, elephants, lions, leopards, antelopes, birds of all kinds including migratory ones from Europe.  The wilderness of Uganda alive with it multitude of mammals, primates and you are here in the midst of it. Relaxation and Lunch back Nile Safari Lodge and then it is the afternoon boat ride on the River Nile up to the bottom of the falls.  Lots animals as they come to water, Hippos thrashing in the river, crocodiles along the shore, herds of Elephants, Buffaloes, Antelopes, birds, monkeys, a three hour boat ride with great photo opportunities.

Day 3 Murchison Falls to Kibale Forest:  Breakfast at Nile Safari Loge and check-out, off to Kibale Forest National Park and our adventure in Primates. (There are 13 species of primates in the Park which is a rainforest jungle-the only of its kind in East Africa.)  Pleasant drive through the Ugandan countryside, lots of different things, the scenery will change several times along the way in dramatic fashion and the Rwenzori Snowcapped Mountains will be in the distance.

Stop for Lunch at a hotel in the town of Hoima

We reach Kibale Rainforest Jungle in the late afternoon  and check into the exclusive Primate Lodge in the Jungle - a large Tent, nicely furnished, self-contained, a lovely verandah overlooking the Rainforest Jungles with exotic birds. You will enjoy your stay at this quality Safari lodging.

Dinner in the Jungle at Primate Lodge

That evening a special Treat - a nocturnal walk in the Jungle in search of animals such as Bush Babies, and Potto with spotlights to see them better and other of the wildlife that roam the forest at night.

A well deserved rest at Primate Lodge

Day 4 Kibale Forest:  A lovely morning breakfast to get you ready for a full day.  Back to Kibale Forest for Primate chimpanzee tracking (trekking) experience in Uganda and of course there are other primates there such as Grey Cheeked Mangabey, Red Tailed monkey and Red Colobus Monkeys, Blue Monkeys, Black and White Colobus Monkeys, L'Hoest's Monkeys, Baboons and then there is wildlife, the forest and its beauty and the abundant birdlife that is in the park.  Kibale Forest is filled with beauty, the mystery of the rainforest, the butterflies.  Back to your lodging for lunch and some rest.

In the afternoon it is a visit to nearby Bigodi Swamp Wetland, a 135 plus kinds of birds can be found here amidst the papyrus, wild palms and polita figs.  You will also observe many monkeys here and even spot the rare sitatunga antelope.  You might even find some chimpanzees

After the walk return to Primate Lodge for dinner and relaxation.

Day 5 Queen Elizabeth :  We move on to Queen Elizabeth National Park where we arrive for an early lunch after a four hour drive.  Check into the Katara Lodge, where from your veranda you can see the wildlife all around you.  A fabulous place to celebrate Day 5 of your Safari.  The lodge consists of 5 unique cottages, handcrafted from local material with a touch of deluxe elegance.  Though not a tented camp - it is the best facility in the area and comes with the highest ratings.

Lunchtime it is and afterwards it is a boat ride on Kazinga Channel a short ride away, home of the largest concentration of Hippos in Africa, Uganda wildlife such as Elephants, Buffaloes, Giraffes, and a multitude of birds, a fantastic introduction to the Park.  Then it is back to Katara Lodge,  relaxation.

After dinner take a nocturnal Wildlife Game Drive which is truly an adventure to see the animals prowling around at night. A Uganda Wildlife Authority Guide Ranger will be along to point out what you otherwise would miss such as Lions, Leopards, Hyenas, nocturnal birds and anything else you might find on a daytime game drive.

Afterwards it is enjoyable African Tea with milk and Ginger, or a cool drink as you take in the sounds of the night coming from afar and near.

Day 6 Queen Elizabeth Park:  Early breakfast and off for a morning of Chimpanzee Tracking and other primates at Kyambura Gorge for chimpanzee tracking. A large population of chimpanzee exists in Maramagambo Forest in Queen Elizabeth Park, but the only habituated (being used to humans) is found at Kyambura Gorge.  Besides Chimpanzees one can find Black and White Colobus Monkeys, Vervet Monkeys, Olive Baboons, you might even find the red tailed Monkeys.  Kyambura is also a great place for birdwatchers and you can spot the Black Bee Eater and Blue Bellied Kingfisher along with many forest birds.

After our chimpanzee tracking venture we drive on back to Katara Lodge where you can enjoy a bit of leisure until our late afternoon game drive.

You never know what you will discover on game drive at Queen Elizabeth National Park, there are some of the fabulous crater lakes, you encounter lions, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes and many other mammals and birds and some monkeys.

We return to Katara Lodge for dinner and rest.

Day 7 Queen Elizabeth Park:  This morning we check out from Katara Lodge after leisurely breakfast and shift to the Ishasha plains of the Park.  Same park but different scenery...we check into the Ishasha Wilderness Tented Camp, located in the midst of the wilderness, from your tent veranda you can see the wildlife coming to a nearby creek, Elephants at your doorstep, an awesome experience.  Before lunch we take a midday game drive in search of the tree climbing lions who escape the heat of the day in the trees avoiding the bugs below.

Back to Ishasha Wilderness Tented Camp for a fantastic lunch, a little siesta perhaps, then a late afternoon game drive across the plains of Ishasha. Lions, Antelopes in herds, buffalos, leopards, the list is endless.

Day 8 Bwindi Impenetrable Forest:  Another relaxing morning breakfast and a last drive in search of Tree Climbing Lions and other wildlife in the Ishasha region of Queen Elizabeth Park. Take a last journey around this magnificent savannah.

Then it is off for a short drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and one of the highlights of your Safari in Uganda -Mountain Gorilla Tracking.  AT Buhoma we check into the up-market Buhoma Lodge - it is not a Tented Camp - a bit cold here for that but delightful cottages that will give you the comfort and rest needed for your Gorilla Tracking Experience.

 Lunch at Buhoma Lodge and some rest it is off for a hike on the three hour guided Munyaga Waterfall trail where you encounter lots of primates and birds and butterflies on the lovely trail which moves along the river. 

Evening dinner and rest at Buhoma Lodge.

Day 9 Bwindi Impenetrable Forest:  This is one of the biggest days of your life, Tracking (Trekking) the endangered Mountain Gorillas, an early breakfast at Buhoma Lodge, a packed lunch and off it is to an orientation and then a long hike up to a full day tracking your group of Mountain Gorillas.  It can take up to 8 hours, but is usually shorter.  All well worth it, the cost of the Mountain Gorilla fades into the distance as you view these magnificent creatures up close. 

In the afternoon it is a village walk, time permitting to see the practices and ways of the Bagika and Batwa people...a most rewarding time of activities all done in the traditional ways.

Dinner back at Buhoma and another night in the African Rainforest as our Classic African Safari in Uganda continues.

Day 10 Lake Bunyonyi:  Breakfast and then comes the time to check out move to one of the most beautiful Lakes in the world.  It is the 2nd deepest in Africa - but the setting is like a picture postcard - Lonely Planet calls is a scene out of Lord of the Rings.  We check into The Bird Nest Resort at Bunyonyi - Belgian Managed and Ugandan staffed - you will find it a delight for you both for comfort and for the Food for which many come from near and far.  Simply delightful.

Enjoy your lunch overlooking the lake and partake in one of the choice of activities, canoeing, swimming in the lake or swimming pool, a nature walk along the shore, island exploring and bird watching, it all awaits you.

Dinner at Birdnest - enjoy a peaceful day on the lake.

Day 11 - Lake Bunyonyi and Mgahinga Gorilla Park:  Breakfast at Lake Bunyonyi and a morning walk along the lake.  Check out and depart for Mgahinga Gorilla Park where we check in at Mount Gahinga Lodge in the shadows of the volcanoes and have a delightful lunch. Lonely Planet calls it a stunning location at the foot of the brooding Volcanoes.

Afternoon relax or take a hike nearby with guide

Day 12 - Mgahinga Gorilla National Park:  After breakfast it is off to Mgahinga Gorilla Park, a region that is dotted with active and inactive volcanoes.  In Mgahinga Gorilla Park they are all inactive.  There are times when Mountain Gorillas can be found in Mgahinga Gorilla Park depending on their movement from and to Rwanda which is nearby.

The following choices - Golden Monkey Tracking - Golden Monkeys are a rare and endangered species found in this park and in Rwanda. You can also climb one of three volcanoes up to 8 hours for the longest hike - Batwa Trail which goes up to cave that is said to venture into Rwanda.

Dinner at Mount Mgahinga Lodge and rest.

Day 13 - Lake Mburo Park:  Early Morning Breakfast and off for Lake Mburo National Park where we check in at Mihingo Safari Lodge where you stay in beautifully furnished African Safari Tents.  Overlooking Lake Mburo, a salt lick nearby where animals gather - simply fabulous, all the comforts in style and our last National Park.  Enjoy the lunch a bit on the late side at Mihingo Lodge.  If conditions on the road to Mihingo Lodge prevent us from reaching there by lunch time - Lunch will be had at hotel restaurant along the way.

Afternoon boat ride to view Hippos, Crocodiles, Impala, Eland, Buffaloes Zebras on the shore, birds in abundance such as African Fin foot, Papyrus, Bush Shrike and many other (315 kinds of birds).

Lake Mburo is a continuance of the Tanzanian Plains into Uganda and it is savannah beauty dotted with acacia trees is simply lovely to behold and it is one of only two parks with Zebras and a must for Zebra lovers.  There are only two kinds of primates here the Vervet Monkey and Baboons.

Day 14 Lake Mburo:  Breakfast and a most special treat - a horseback riding Safari across the rolling hills and plains of Lake Mburo. This is something rather unique in Uganda and Lake Mburo is the only game park where you can go on an escorted horse back riding safari. Amazing as zebras, buffaloes, antelopes are around you while you are riding horseback across the savannah.

Enjoy an early lunch a shower and we leave the savannahs, jungles, rainforests and volcanoes behind as we move toward Kampala or Entebbe. We stop off at the Equator for a picture taking opportunity and arrive at Entebbe by late afternoon.

Dinner at a beachside restaurant at Entebbe - enjoy and get a glimpse of Uganda for the last time on this safari.

Drop off at Entebbe Airport for Departure.

Optional Depending on Departure:  If your flight departs the following morning we stop back in Kampala. Stay at Cassia Lodge - Dinner at Cassia Lodge.  Enjoy a quiet evening or take a tour of the nightlife of Kampala.

Kampala's Nightlife is the most vibrant in all of Africa-In most big cities the night comes alive on weekends - here in Kampala the night never ends and bars might close well into the next morning.  Music from live to recorded, dancing, atmosphere such as you have never experienced - people come here from all over Africa to enjoy the night-you would be escorted by our non-drinking driver guide.  This is an option that many have enjoyed.

Optional Day 15 Entebbe:  Morning Breakfast and departure to airport and drop off at Entebbe.  It is time to say goodbye to the Pearl of Africa - Uganda.