Safaris are a holiday that most people want to experience once in their lives. There are several things to think about before deciding on where and when you go on safari and the following are some of the questions to ask:
Choose your destination with care. You will be very disappointed if your favorite animal is a rarity in the country that you choose.
Check the right time of the year to go. Parts of Africa have heavy rain making getting around very difficult.
Choose a conservancy for an exclusive experience with wildlife and not fight for position with tour buses for a glimpse of a beleaguered animal. Many of the eco lodges have the benefit of being right in the bush with the wildlife passing right in front of your tent.
Stay longer in each destination for a fuller experience of that Park or Conservancy.
If you can afford it, fly between parks and camps. This particularly applies when the alternative could see you spending 6-8 hours on the road.
Choose accommodation that offers the authentic African experience with the wildlife and local people at the heart of its being.
Pick the right time of the year to see the migrations – animals, birds and whales. There is no guarantee with wildlife but there are norms.
Pack with the right safari clothes and do not pack too much. Many lodges and camps offer laundry facilities.
Read up about your chosen destination and ask someone who knows the area well for advise re the above.
This itinerary ensures that you will see all the best that Uganda has to offer, both in wildlife and scenery. It also gives you the chance to see the endangered and rare mountain gorillas.
The lesser known of East Africa’s countries, Uganda has a diverse offering in wildlife, scenery and experiences. Where else can you plan to see gorillas in their mountain homelands, watch chimpanzees range through the trees in search of fruit and anything else, see the Big 5 in classic African panorama and finish with a few days on a beach on Africa’s largest lake – Lake Victoria.
Day 1: Kampala
Take time to explore this lake side city and perhaps take a trip out to Mabamba Swamp for some seriously good bird watching. Amongst the highlights would be a good sighting of the incredible shoebill bird with its large flattened beak.
Two nights Kampala
Day 3: Murchison Falls
Next stop is Murchison Falls National Park where the River Nile is compressed from 47 metres wide to squeeze through 6 metre canyon and drop 40 metres making for a powerful view. This Park has all of the main plains animals and some unusual ones such as oribi and Rothschild giraffe. Join traditional game drives and then take a boat cruise to the foot of the Falls known as the Devil’s Cauldron. Going in the late afternoon ensures you will see all the wildlife coming down for their evening drink. Plenty of crocs and hippo to see along the way and over 450 species of bird are found here.
Two nights Murchison Falls National Park
Day 5: Kibale
Your drive takes you along the western rim of the Rift Valley and then to the Kibale Forest National Park. Here you will be guided by the expert trackers/rangers of the Park through the forest looking for the troops of chimps hunting through the trees. There are plenty of other monkeys to be found here, such as the red tailed monkey and grey cheeked Mangabey.
One night Kibale
Day 6: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Drive on into the Queen Elizabeth National Park and have a game drive looking for giant Forest Hogs on your way to camp. Here you have the conventional game drives looking for the usual plains game and their predators, most notably lion that climb in to the trees. Then take to a boat on the Kazinga Channel home to what is considered the largest number of hippo in Africa. Take a guided walk to the Blue Lake and the caves nearby which is home to millions of bats which in turn feed many python.
Three nights Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 9: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Enjoy a game drive as you leave the Park and head to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest where you will meet the Batwa people who live here. Here you will receive briefing from the Park staff before your guide takes you through the forest to seek out the gorilla family that live here. You will have an hour with these gentle giants before returning to the lodge.
Two nights Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Day 11: Lake Bunyonyi
Last tour through the forest before heading to Lake Bunyonyi where you can cruise out to Punishment Island where in past days unmarried pregnant girls where abandoned as punishment for conceiving before marriage. Relax in this beautiful location.
Two nights Lake Bunyonyi
Day 13: Lake Victoria
Back to Lake Victoria and a boat transfer to one of the islands on the Lake for some time to relax on a beach.
Two nights Lake Victoria
Day 15: Depart Uganda
Leave Uganda today for the onward or homeward journey.
Picture courtesy of Bethan Evans
Picture courtesy of Bethan Evans
Picture courtesy of Bethan Evans
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[wptabtitle] Little Gems[/wptabtitle] [wptabcontent]
Little Gem
Being so close to a family of gorillas, who have accepted you as part of the day, and watching their family interactions. Magical, and worth the climb through the forest even in the wet.
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[wptabtitle] What our client says[/wptabtitle] [wptabcontent]
The morning had started early with a swift but fulsome breakfast and then set of from the camp on a walking safari deep in the South Luangwa National Park. There were just the two of us with guide, ranger and deputy guide. The adrenalin was high from the very beginning as we set off straight towards three lions and a lioness. The ranger and the guide had a quick chat, agreed that lion love was in the air and all would be OK. And so it proved but it had us all awake very quickly.
We had a truly exciting morning walking along the side of the river and then inland through the ebony trees. It was hot and the stop for tea in the shade was very welcome. We had a view across a fast shrinking pool in a bend in the river that was full of hippo and crocs. Hippo tempers frayed and fights kept breaking out causing disturbances across the length and breadth of the pool. Water flew and enraged bull hippo tried to bite chunks off rivals. Meanwhile crocs were feasting on a dead hippo, again sending spray in to the air as they spun to pull hunks of the carcass.
Picture courtesy of Peter Ellis
Finally, and within half a mile of our next camp, we came across a leopard at the base of the ebony tree were she had stashed her kill. She watched us watching her and even allowed photos to be taken before climbing in to the thick branches of the tree.
A shower and a light lunch later saw the two of us in safari chairs, in the shade watching the slow trickle of the river between sand banks. Birds a plenty were to be seen including skimmers and a steady stream of antelope came down to drink. The puku knew about crocs (and they were right to be wary as we could see some crocs in the shallows) but were tempted by the sparse green grass found on some of the island in the river. To minimise the risk they made huge leaps across the water and we spent many a happy minute trying to catch the leap on camera with mixed results.
What a memorable day and there was still the evening game drive to look forward to.
To find out more, or plan your bespoke, tailor-made holiday in this exiting country, please call 01323 446550 or email info@experienceholidays.co.uk
On Safari in Tanzania – If the latest cold front and the rain is getting you down and you can get away from work for a week or so, then why not settle for something completely different (and 20%cheaper).
Our ground handler in Tanzania has a few places available on safaris of either 6 or 5 days duration. Both take in the World famous Ngorongoro Crater and then you have the choice of either seeing the large herds of elephant in Tarangire National Park or watching the wildebeest migration as it concentrates in the south of the Serengeti National Park.
Both tours start with a night in Mount Meru National Park which gives you a different type of experience with the forest of the mountains all around.
If you have time, add in a week on the beaches of Zanzibar or Pemba if you want to get away from the crowd and go somewhere well off the usual route.
The places on the safaris will go fast so please call as soon as possible to book this bespoke tailor made holiday.
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Experience Holidays is fully bonded under the Civil Aviation Authority ATOL scheme and is a member of the
Worldchoice Consortium.