Uganda Guided Tour 10 days

A comfortable stroll around the lake with stunning views of Lake Kyaninga, the Rwenzori Mountains and the beautiful rolling hills of Fort Portal. This walk takes about an hour and half and in addition to the stunning views, there are also good chances of seeing Vervet monkeys, Black and White Colobus monkeys and of course a wide array of birds. A guide is not necessary but available free of charge.

The terrain inside the crater is a little tougher than on the ridge, but this is soon forgotten amongst the sights and sounds of the forest. With almost guaranteed chances of monkey sightings, even more birds than on the ridge and the added bonus of bat caves, this is

a must for nature lovers. The walk can be tailored to your needs and can be as long as you require, focusing on whatever you choose, whether it be bird, monkey or some of our shyer inhabitants. There are even rare sightings of civet cats and porcupines and if you achieve the impossible and photograph one of the two then a free bottle of wine awaits!

This 3 hour walk through the surrounding villages provides an insight into daily life in rural Uganda. The outing offers the chance

to meet and spend some time with the village elders at one of the farms, and to

see how local crops are grown, harvested and prepared. While wildlife and nature will always remain the key focus of any trip to Uganda, this walk provides a rare perspective into village life that few tourists ever get to experience

The longest of the o ered walks, these trips take you down to the very edge of the escarpment where you will be able to see the vast expanse which is the convergence of the Congo Basin and the Great Rift Valley, and on a clear day, the distant shimmer of Lake Albert. These are some of the most impressive viewing points in the country, with the lowest point in Uganda, the Semuliki Valley, right next to the highest, the Rwenzori Mountains. The Rift Valley is approximately 3 hours from Kyaninga Lodge on foot, and there are a number of possible walks varying in duration and di culty.

HALF DAY OPTION

The easisest of the walks is a simple one way hike to the Rift Valley, taking in the magni cent views. Many of our guests elect to walk to the Rift Valley and get their drivers to meet them there and bring them back to the lodge. It is of course possible to do it the other way around, i. e. to drive to the Rift Valley and walk back to the lodge. (APPROX. 4 HOURS)

FULL DAY OPTION

Some of our guests prefer to go for the option of walking in both directions. For added interest, it is also possible to combine this option with the Village and Cultural Walk (see previous page) on the way back from the Rift Valley for a full day’s experience. (APPROX. 6 - 8 HOURS)

STEEP OPTION

The most challenging of the Rift Valley walks includes a sharp climb of the escarpment itself. After a 40 min drive down to the starting point at the base of the Rift Valley, you will follow a winding path all the way to the top of the escarpment. During the 500 metre ascent (~1100m to ~1600m) you will take in unrivalled views of the Rwenzori Mountains and the Great Rift Valley. Once at the top you can choose to have your driver meet you and return you to the lodge or, if you still have the energy, you can complete the nal stretch on foot.

Kibale National park covers an area of about 795 sq km and is acknowledged to have the highest density of chimpanzees worldwide. With at least 60 species of mammal, including 13 species of primate, Kibale really can’t be missed and if you weren’t a keen bird watcher before, the 335 recorded species found here will do all they can to change your mind. A true gem of a National Park!

(APPROX. 1 HOUR)

The true king, or better said ‘’queen’’, of Uganda’s national parks, stretching over an area of nearly 2000 sq km. With one of the highest biodiversity ratings worldwide Queen Elizabeth is home to an incredible 95 species of mammal and over 500 species of bird!! To get that true Africa feeling, Queen Elizabeth National Park is the place to visit and the boat trip up the Kazinga Channel a must!

(APPROX.2 HOURS)

Featuring 9 holes and 18 tees, this pleasant and well maintained golf course is situated on the site of the original fort from which the town derives its name. Over the last few years, Kyaninga Lodge has been sponsoring some of the promising young golfers at the club and since then they have gone on to win numerous tournaments and trophies both nationally and regionally. For golf enthusiasts visiting the lodge, we are happy to organise an exciting and memorable round with any of the talented golfers we sponsor.

(APPROX. 20 MINS)

This wonderful public garden is a unique environment where a variety

of owers, medicinal plants vegetables and fruits are grown. It is a magical place to wander around, taste locally grown fruits and vegetables and get to know the rich biodiversity of the region.

(APPROX. 20 MINS)

Gorilla tracking is the highlight of a trip to Clouds, and for many it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

A truly unique wildlife encounter combining wilderness, wonder and awe.

The tracking can take anywhere between 2-8 hours and requires a degree of fitness and physical ability.

Weather is unpredictable, the terrain can be challenging and the memories will be long lasting!!

Horse Safaris in and around Lake Mburo National Park

Mihingo Lodge has been operating horse safaris inside Lake Mburo National Park since 2009. We carefully adjust the rides according to the riding skills of each group; for beginners and inexperienced riders we only walk the horses. In fact, a walk on a horse is the best way to view game. It is peaceful and relaxing, and you get very close to the animals. For advanced riders there are also lovely stretches for trotting and cantering. We have 2 thoroughbreds (15 and 16 hands, weight limit 80kg and 90kg), 2 five-year-old thoroughbred/ warmblood crossbreds (17 hands, weight limit 100kg), 3 thoroughbred/ Ethiopian pony crossbreds (13 hands, weight limit 75kg) and 3 tough Ethiopian ponies (12 hands, weight limit 60kg), in total 10 horses.
Inside Lake Mburo National Park where we found some fantastic routes. One of the best rides in the park is a 3- to 4-hours ride into Acacia valley where we often find the Rothschild giraffe. It is a fantastic feeling being close to the giraffe on horseback.

Horse safaris are an exciting way to see the wildlife around Mihingo Lodge. Without any engine sound and fumes you feel part of nature and often get the chance to see the more timid animals. It is an exhilarating experience not to be missed. We sometimes see Rothschild’s giraffe, eland, and buffalo and nearly always warthog, topi, impala, bushbuck, waterbuck, and zebra on our horse safaris, although this depends very much on the time of year and the rain fall in the area. Experiencing game from horseback is very special; zebra come towards you to check out the strange relative without

stripes. Even the normally very shy elands curiously look at the horses without running away, just keeping their distance. Mini Trappe who is one of the leading horse safari operators in Tanzania was amazed how beautiful the rids in Lake Mburo are.

Short Rides (1 to 2 hours):
One-hour rides are always done outside the park as it is not possible to reach good game viewing areas inside the park in such a short time. Even most 2 hours rides are mostly done outside the park as you will see more game outside the park on a short ride. If you are a very good rider and we canter a lot, we can reach some of the good areas in the Park in 2 hours but it is advisable to have more time.

Long Rides (3 to 4 hours):
If guests want to see giraffes and they are experienced riders, they will have a good chance if they book a 3- or 4-hours ride. For not experienced riders they need to book at least a 4-hours ride to make it into the areas where we find giraffes and back as they will mostly just be walking and maybe testing a bit of trotting. My favorite ride is a 4-hours ride on to Warukiri Ridge in the middle of the Park with lovely views into different valleys in the park and long canters in Research valley. From Warukiri Ridge you can see 8 of the lakes surrounding Lake Mburo National Park and in the rainy season the waterhole at the end of the ridge attracts buffalo and eland and sometimes you can even find a hippo in this waterhole on top of a hill.

Our maximum weight limit for guests is 100 kg, but most of our horses cannot carry more than 80 kg or less. We provide fully adjustable helmets in all sizes and chaps, and ride with English style saddles. We recommend that you wear long trousers and strong shoes, if possible, with heels. We are not taking more than six guests out at a time, but this depends on the weight of the riders and the availability of the horses. All our rides are accompanied by at least one experienced horse guide, but in most cases, there are two guides accompanying each ride.

Nearly all our guests absolutely loved the horse safaris no matter if experienced or first-time riders! For further information please contact our managers and reservations team on reservations@mihingolodge.com, call them on +256 752 410 509 or have a look at our website www.mihingolodge.com.

Please note that guests staying at Mihingo Lodge always have priority when it comes to rides, and we can’t book rides for guests staying in other lodges in advance and can only confirm a booking for guests not staying with us the evening before a morning ride and at midday on the same day of an afternoon ride if we have availability.

If you don’t feel like spending any more time in a car and you’re are not too comfortable on a horse then hire one of our good quality mountain bikes to explore the bush.

If you’re adventurous and like to keep fit, grab a bike and explore the sandy tracks outside the Park. You can hire one of our Mihingo guides to join you on your ride and make sure you don’t get lost! Tracks are suitable for a gentle family ride out taking in the wildlife all around but there is plenty for the more extreme riders to explore. Drive off the larger roads on to narrow animal paths and clamber over termite mounds while you put our bikes through their paces!

As we only have 2 bikes for kids please book early to avoid disappointment. Most of the year there is just as much wildlife beyond the borders of the Park as there is inside. You’re very likely to see zebra, impala, warthogs as well as a variety of other antelope.

Mountain Bike Safaris inside the Park can also be arranged.

Walking Safaris are a magical way to experience the bush. They allow you to notice smaller details often overlooked when in a car or riding a horse.

Within the Park:
All walks in the park must be accompanied with an armed UWA guide. You can technically walk anywhere in the park once a guide is in attendance. The most popular walks are inside the park, walking with giraffes, which is an incredible experience walking along with the totally habituated giraffe. You can get as close as 10 meters to these gentle giants. Longer walks onto Warukir Ridge are also possible with fantastic views and lots of wildlife.

Outside the Park:
You may take a walk with a Mihingo guide outside the park where you will often see just as many animals as inside. A 2 hour walk down the hill and into the valleys around the lodge is a great way to explore the area.

There are many beautiful drives to explore in the Park either heading out yourself with a map, with a guide or hiring the lodge open sided Land Rover or our stretch Land Cruiser. Research Track is one of our favourite drives where you are likely to see buffalo wallowing in the mud, zebra, impala, topi, bush buck and warthog.

For spectacular views, park at the bottom of Kazuma look-out and walk up to the top; from here the view is stunning and you can see 5 lakes including Lake Mburo. For some 4 x 4 driving during the rainy season Eland track is the most challenging.

Feel like doing nothing and relaxing to the maximum? Full body massages are available, taking approximately 1 hour. It is possible for two people to enjoy massages at the same time in our dedicated massage rondavel which is situated in the forest with birds and butterflies fluttering past.

Mihingo lodge has a hide about 40 metres to the south of the waterhole and saltlick visible from the dining room. One can easily spend several hours watching wildlife come and go and capture great pictures if you are quiet.

The 15 minute trail is signposted from below the dining room as ‘hide’.

If you travel a few further metres beyond the hide, you will find a second secret shelter known as the den. If you are feeling adventurous then quietly sneak along the path and crawl on your knees to reach inside this exciting new cavern, located even nearer to the watering hole.

If you are feeling extra energetic our Mihingo guides would love to take you out on a run roaming across the community lands (outside the park).

From 5km – 15km we will tailor the experience to meet your needs.

Mihingo Lodge has a hard surface tennis court a short walk from the main area. We have tennis rackets and balls for any of the guests who would like to play.

Lake Mburo is one of the few parks where you can go on a night game drive! At night there is a whole variety of animals that you would not see in the day including bush pigs, genet cat and white tailed mongoose to mention but a few. Night drives also give you the best chance of finding leopards, spotted hyena. It is an interesting experience out at night with a spotlight, an unusual twist on your regular game drives.

Please inform us in time, so we can organize your night drive as it is mandatory to have a UWA guide for all night drives. Also, there are only a limited number of spotlights so get in touch as early as possible to avoid disappointment. Night drives can be done in your own vehicle or in the Mihingo safari vehicle.

Hire a bike or take a short drive to one of the schools we support and see for yourself the work this school is doing for many of the children in the community. The parents in the community also contribute to the running of the school and often fees are waivered for orphans. Spend an hour interacting with the children, talking to the teachers or even running some of the games and activities you used to do at school. There is no charge for the school visit, but any donation or kind hearted gesture is appreciated, be it a few pens & books to sponsoring a student’s schooling.

A boat trip on Lake Mburo is the best way to see the lake and its inhabitants. It is particularly good for water birds (especially Finfoot, White-backed Heron and Fish Eagles) but you will also come across hippos, crocodiles and other animals coming down for a drink.

The boat trip takes approximately 1½ hours. Lifejackets are available at the landing site also in children’s sizes. The boat is small, holding a maximum of fourteen and has a covered roof.

Boat trips leave at 8am, 10am, 12pm, 2pm, 4pm and 5.30pm

To get children interacting more with the environment and leave them enthused about the bush and its animals, Mihingo Lodge offers a bush experience for kids. On a two hours excursion, we can get them out interacting and learning about the bush and its animals. If you are interested in this for your children (or just want a few hours’ peace & quiet!) please speak to us to organise a bush experience.

We can combine a walking safari, a mountain bike safari or a horse ride starting at Mihingo Lodge with a bush breakfast.

Mihingo Lodge is one of the few places in Africa where you can watch thick-tailed Gallagos in their natural environment. These are a nocturnal primate species that have become very used to our guests and come to the platform below the bar most evenings.

We are very strict and only give them 2 small pieces of banana to ensure that they still have to forage for their own food which includes fruit, lizards, moths and other insects.

We never allow anyone to touch the Gallagos or take photos with a flash as this can easily damage their eyes. You will be able to see the thick-tailed Gallagos interacting with each other.

Bush babies hide during the day in order to avoid contact with predators such as eagles and large snakes and to avoid competing with Vervet monkeys for resources. Since they are easily captured on the ground they mostly stay in trees and rely on their extraordinary jumping abilities.