The Best of Uganda - 16 day Tour

Two game drives a day are included in our daily rates and are usually done in the morning and in the late afternoon.

We use open Landcruiser game-viewers. Our expert guides will discuss with guests what they hope to see and will tailor the outing based on these discussions.

Snacks and drinks (included) are always brought on a drive and guests can stop and enjoy a drink and a nibble in the bush.

Our guests are very likely to get up close and personal with Lion, Cheetah, Elephant, Rothschild giraffe, Zebra, Buffalo, Waterbuck, roan antelope, Jackson's hartebeest, warthog, among many other savannah species. The birdlife is also excellent and the park boasts over 400 species.

Guided walks out in the bush, learning about flora and fauna. Immerse yourself in the African Bush, follow the tracks, walk with zebra and giraffe, step in the footprints of elephant on a dry riverbed, examine plants and geological features. The excursions can be long or short (some can be full day excursions) and are tailored to the individual group with many routes available depending on the season.

Combine your morning game drive with a wild breakfast experience. Instead of returning to the lodge for your meal, set up under the shade of a giant kigelia tree and have breakfast in the bush surrounded by wildlife.

Visit a local Karamajong village with an interpretative guide whose family still lives there. Learn the traditional ways of life, speak with the elders, participate in the storytelling and dancing and daily life. These visits are authentic immersive experiences, not put on for the tourist.

African Sunsets are world famous, and nowhere is more spectacular and memorable than Kidepo for watching the sun drop towards the horizon. From vantage points on top of one of the many rocky outcrops, or on the edge of an animal filled watering hole, sit back and watch the show, G+T in hand as the sky shifts, phasing going through almost every colour of the spectrum in the space of just a few minutes.

Make your way back to camp in the gathering darkness, keeping an eye out for the unique and unusual creatures that come out after dark.

Murchison Falls National park in the north-west of the country is Uganda’s largest national park, and together with adjoining wildlife reserves forms a vast wilderness covering over 5 000 km2. It is home to a wide variety of wildlife, forest primates and 450 bird species.

The mighty Nile, the longest river in the world, flows through the heart of the park for a distance of 120 km, on its 6 500 km journey from Lake Victoria to Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea. The park’s centrepiece is the explosive, 40-metre high Murchison Falls where the Nile is forced through an 8-metre gap in the Rift Valley escarpment. Downstream, the Nile flows quietly towards Lake Albert which it enters through a large papyrus delta. It is this peaceful 40 km stretch of river which provides the park’s prime wildlife spectacle.

Chimpanzee tracking in nearby Budongo Forest is available, and definitely worthwhile spending an extra day for, and bird-watchers will be delighted by the variety of localised species including Shoebill. For the fishermen, there is the challenge of catching the massive Nile Perch.

Enjoy game drives in Murchison Falls National Park, as well as a memorable boat cruise up the Nile River to the foot of the Falls. The immense force of the water and the views of the Falls are spectacular from the close-up viewing points. Enhance your park experience by combining river voyages with a safari. Travel by boat to the Nile Delta and return with a game drive through the game-rich Buligi area. Drive to the top of the falls and hike down to the bottom of Fajao Gorge, before returning to Baker’s Lodge by boat.

We operate our own fleet of river boats—varying in size for different activities such as game viewing, birdwatching and fishing. We can organise private dinners, luncheons, breakfasts and snacks on board the boat. Baker’s Lodge is a great base for those keen on fishing for Nile Perch. We operate with a strict catch and release policy.

Our fleet of water-craft run scheduled and private trips daily, direct from our private lodge jetty to the park’s centerpiece – the stunning Murchison Falls in Fajao Gorge. An approximate 3 hours on the water offers excellent safari viewing to and from the falls, the boats offering the opportunity to witness up-close the teeming hippo and crocodile populations on the river as well as a plethora of animals and birdlife on the river banks. The cruise can be combined with a safari drive, a hike up the side of the falls, or a sunset cruise.

The Victoria Nile delta, a 17 km voyage downstream from Baker’s Lodge, is home to rare wetland birds including shoebill and papyrus endemic species. Morning cruises offer a visual spectacle of mist rising off the mirror calm-water as our craft navigate the papyrus channels of the delta. Scheduled and private delta cruises depart from the lodge with a “breakfast on board” option offered in the mornings (subject to minimum numbers).

The Nile River at Murchison is famous for its exciting sport fishing. Large, strong Nile Perch living in the turbulent waters below the falls as well as several species of cat fish are fished and a variety of smaller species which are generally used as live bait for the larger fish. Fishing is conducted on a strict “catch-and-release” system and can be done with our experienced local fishing guides; from the shore or from our boats which are ideally sized and equipped to cope with the conditions and accessing the remote riverside pools.

There is a chimpanzee research project on site at Semliki, being run by the University of Indiana in the USA. The research is based on bipedalism and is likely providing further insight into human evolution.

Guests are invited to visit the research site and go into the forest with the team. There are a number of trails cut through the forest. This is a fascinating outing.

Game Drives are the bread and butter of any safari in Africa.

Expect to see Uganda Kob, Savannah and Forest Elephant, Buffalo, several monkey species, Waterbuck, Bushbuck & Warthog among many others. Semliki is in particular known for its unique and diverse bird life, with mix of savannah, forest and wet habitat birds numbering nearly 500 species

Tracking chimpanzees in their natural habitat, as they swing from the branches in the canopy high above the forest floor is nothing short of exhilarating. The chimps effortlessly cross and scamper through the trees above the gorge, and visitors on the other hand must cross the river using natural bridges in order to keep up with the chimps. So although the walk usually lasts only 2–3 hours, descending the steep gorge and crossing the log bridges over the river requires some agility and fitness.

Chimpanzee tracking is also available in nearby Kalinzu, a forest reserve 30 minutes drive from Kyambura Gorge Lodge where there is a community of about 40 habituated chimpanzees.

Queen Elizabeth National Park is considered to be one of Uganda’s most varied and most beautiful protected areas. Queen, as she is affectionately known, is home to two of Africa’s big cats, the majestic lion and the elusive leopard. Kyambura Gorge Lodge guests can explore the plains of Queen Elizabeth Park in Uganda on a variety of game drives, usually at dawn and dusk. It is when daylight hours are coolest that wildlife is most active.

Volcanoes Safaris Partnership Trust launched the Kyambura Lion Monitoring Project in August 2023. The Kyambura wildlife monitoring team, led by Dr Alexander Braczkowski, will collect data for African lions, leopards and spotted hyenas in Queen Elizabeth Conservation Area using a network of vehicles, and remote camera traps. This project aims to establish a science-based conservation program which supports the protection of Uganda’s carnivore populations and improves the livelihoods of local people living in and around the wildlife parks.

Guests at Kyambura Gorge Lodge can participate in this project during their stay at the lodge by collecting survey data during game drives in the Queen Elizabeth National Park and then submitting this to the lodge wildlife team. Data is collected by recording GPS of the safari car, taking specific identification photos of lions spotted during the drive, and checking and retrieving photos from camera traps.

The Kazinga Channel is a 32-kilometer long channel, rich in wildlife, that links Lakes Edward and George. Boat trips down the channel depart from Mweya Safari Lodge (about an hour’s drive through the park from Kyambura Gorge Lodge) and last 3-4 hours. The boat cruise provides a wonderful opportunity to photograph the many animals that come to cool off at the waters’ edge, including lion, buffalo, hippo, elephant, and leopard.

See the transformation of coffee beans into delicious Ugandan coffee – all done by hand, by local community members – and even get to sample the finished product for yourself. At the end of the tour guests are given the opportunity to purchase some of the cooperative’s coffee, which makes a great souvenir and supports the local community.

Set up by Damien Hirst, the Rwenzori Sculpture Foundry & Gallery are a short drive from Kyambura Gorge Lodge. Sculptures by rising Ugandan artists sit alongside works by leading European sculptors, the result of collaborations and artist residencies. All works are inspired by the people, culture, wildlife and landscape of Uganda, and make the perfect memento to mark an unforgettable journey.

In June 2014, in partnership with the Kyambura Women’s Coffee Cooperative and the local community, the VSPT opened a non-profit training café. The café will provide a practical training institution for local youths, both male and female, who are disadvantaged as a result of the loss of parents, HIV/AIDS, or physical or mental disabilities.

The training not only aims to provide practical experience to create more job opportunities in the region, but also to improve access to services, medication and healthcare thereby reducing the risk of transmitting HIV through education and providing training for a sustainable livelihood.

The VSPT plans to take ten interns on a quarterly basis for both theoretical and practical training. Volcanoes Safaris guests staying at Kyambura Gorge Lodge can enjoy a coffee tour followed by a hearty homemade brunch with freshly brewed coffee served at the café, or a delicious pizza from the wood-burning oven for tours in the afternoon.

The VSPT secured 45-acres of wetland south of the Volcanoes Safaris Kyambura Gorge Lodge. The wetland, which previously had been used as an illegal brick works, is now regenerating rapidly back to its natural state. The rejuvenated wetlands now attract over 200 species of birds and the sight is used to train members of the community in birding and guiding. This project has been a key success for the VSPT, particularly regarding its ecosystem conservation efforts given the amount of species that have now repopulated the area: new entries are added to the spotters’ lists almost daily!
Over 500 indigenous trees have also been replanted along the banks of the Kyambura River. Due to human encroachment and habitat destruction over the past twenty years, hundreds of trees along the riverbank were cut down leading to soil erosion and water pollution.

Community outreach and guide training take place throughout the year with the objective of establishing a pool of qualified local guides who can lead tours of the wetland. A trail system is maintained throughout the wetland and guided walks are available to Volcanoes Safaris clients.

Both Uganda and Rwanda offer some of the world’s best bird watching, with a vast diversity of bird species. Uganda has over 1,000 bird species with 150 found only in Uganda. Rwanda has over 700 bird species and is home to the second highest number of Albertine endemics in the Albertine region. Each of our lodges offers the chance to see a number of different birds, with the vast majority endemic to the Region.

VSPT has worked on purchasing the 3km long buffer along the northern part of the Gorge since 2009. With the purchase completed at the end of 2018, a 3-hour guided walk has been developed and is offered to guests to showcase the buffer created by the project, the scenic views over the Gorge, the Park and Kyambura reserve, and the chance to experience the local homesteads. Approximately 3000 trees have been planted in the buffer area, with the help of the local community and VS guests.

This short walk (45 mins) offer guests the opportunity to experience the unique landscape around the Lodge, between the Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kyambura Gorge and the community.

VSPT has created a community playground to encourage and allow local school children to play games and sports, especially soccer.

New walking safaris have been created around the lodge to experience the dramatic landscapes of Kyambura gorge and the Queen Elizabeth savannah, and visit a reclaimed wetland. Guests can walk along the Kyambura gorge buffer zone we have created to protect the fragile ecosystem from encroachment and contribute to its long-term conservation project by planting a seedling.

The Queen Elizabeth national Park spreads over an area of 1978 square km in the western arm of the Great East African Rift Valley. The park is home to a variety of wildlife including elephant, lion, hippo, leopard, buffalo and Uganda kob. Birds present are all typical of riverine and savannah habitats.

The Ishasha Sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park is the place to search for the tree climbing lions often to be seen in the vicinity of the camp which is situated just off the Northern circuit game viewing track. The lions also favour the large fig trees on the Southern circuit game viewing track and this offers alternative game viewing routes.

On early morning and late afternoon game drives, either in your safari vehicle, or for fly-in guests – in our dedicated camp open safari vehicle, you may explore the area’s game routes in search of the different species. The area is still pristine and untouched with only a handful of game vehicles found around the area at any time. Being the only camp within the park, it offers flexibility of timings for drives allowing guests to maximise their game sightings in this area.

Sundowners can be arranged for the late afternoon at a suitable viewing point either along the ridge area or besides the Ntungwe River to allow guests to savour the vast vistas and atmosphere of this beautiful area of the park.

Bush breakfasts are also available to camp guests when arranged prior to their stay and if the weather allows. Your own personal chef and dining set-up in the wilderness can be combined with an early-morning safari drive.

Agartha’s Taste of Uganda Tour: Situated in a small village on the fringes of the Queen Elizabeth National park, Agartha is a strong member of the local community group and tirelessly works to improve not only her family’s well-being but also her neighbours.

Agartha takes great pride in sharing with you how the women of her tribe, the Bakiga, prepare their favourite food. Not only do you hear how the ingredients are grown and harvested but you can witness how to shift, grind, cook, and most importantly, keep the much-loved food warm for their husbands.

During the tour Agartha weaves in stories of what it’s like to be a Bakiga wife whilst encouraging you to taste what you may have helped prepare together. She then sends you off on your journey with a packed traditional snack and a taste of the local brew if you wish too!

The Batwa are an indigenous community of Central African Hunter Gatherers (formerly known as Pygmies) who historically resided within these ancient rainforests living off the what the bush provided. Now, with the recognition that the habitat and its creatures must be protected, these peoples have been forced to leave behind their forested home and assimilate into society, as a result the Batwa culture is on the brink of existence. The Cultural Experience involves a walk through a small pocket rainforest, where you will visit a demonstration village and a reenactment of how the Batwa people used to live. You will realize that though the Batwa people no longer live in this way, their culture, their language and their traditions, are well and truly alive.

A more in-depth and more exclusive Gorilla experience is available to those staying at Clouds. The Gorilla Habituation experience involves a more experiential 4 hours spent with the Gorilla family (as opposed to the typical 1 hour Gorilla Trek) with a smaller group of travellers.

The Rushaga Sector of Bwindi, (30-45 minute drive from the lodge) hosts a family of gorillas dedicated to this unique experience. In many cases, the usual 1 hour is simply not enough time. This is an opportunity to truly immerse yourself into the ancient rainforests of Bwindi, and as is always the case on safari, More time means more opportunities to see an experience more things.

One of the most sought after experiences on the continent of Africa, Gorilla tracking is the highlight of a trip to Clouds and for many it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

With a team of trackers, guides and porters, you will descend into the primeval rainforest of Bwindi. Bwindi is a sensitive ecosystem and among the most diverse habitats on the planet. While hiking, your guides will interpret the wilderness around you, pointing out everything from plant species, birds, Gorilla Nests and more. The tracking can take anywhere between 1-6 hours, depending on conditions and animal movements, and requires a degree of fitness and physical ability.
The trek culminates in an hour spent with a family of endangered mountain gorillas. For this hour, they will welcome you into their world where you watch them foraging on plants and insects, playing and tumbling around in the undergrowth and simply being a family. After your hour is up, your guides will lead you back out of the forest and return to the trailhead.
Weather is unpredictable, the terrain can be challenging and the memories will be long lasting!!

Mountain Gorilla Credit: Wildplaces Africa