Summary
This tour will capture most of the best spots around the country, if not all. From the time you arrive at the airport until you depart again, you will have a full support of 4wd vehicle and driver/guide watching you or giving a guide.
You will have a time to explore Uganda in a very unique way than other tourist do. While riding your bicycle, you will pass local villages, be close to the local community, you will enjoy the great views during your tour especially when you are ridding your bicycle, all combined with safaris and of course a visit to the chimpanzees and gorillas.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe airport
Upon your arrival, you will be picked up by a represented of Haika Expeditions and you will drive to Kampala.
Depending the time of your arrival, You will have a time to rest at the Hetel’s garden, or exploring the city of Kampala.
Day 2: The Jungle Route
Today we will have our first mountain bike ride in a lovely nature area, just 30 minutes by boat from Yellow Haven. In the boat, make sure to look out for different species of King Fishers and Crested Cranes, Ross Turaco and many more birds.
This route is about 30 km, of which 2/3 on murram (gravel) roads and about 10 km more off road in the “jungle”. Halfway we will stop at a local trading centre, where you can enjoy the local specialty “Rolex”.
Day 3: Chimpanzee Tracking
On this day, you will drive to Kibale Forest National park. This park is incredibly scenic, passing through tea plantations and the lush green countryside which characterizes so much of Uganda.
In the afternoon you will experience some serious monkey business! Kibale Forest National Park boasts the highest number of primate species in the world, including the chimpanzees. Approximately 5,000 chimpanzees live in the wild in Uganda, which makes it a perfect place to spot them!
An experienced ranger will take you chimp tracking; you might also see other monkey species that live here. Once you locate the chimpanzees you will have a full hour of eye-to-eye contact with them. Since they are wild animals, we can never guarantee you to see them and might have to settle with hearing their hoots and hollers.
Day 4: Cycling to the Queen Elizabeth Savannah
On this day, You will cycle to Queen Elizabeth National park while changing the vegetation from the green land to savannah, and the Rwenzori Mountains on the background.
Queen Elizabeth is Uganda’s second largest park, located at the base of the majestic Rwenzori Mountain range, adjacent to Lake Edward and Lake George. The park has prolific game, including gazelle, Uganda kob, warthog and waterbuck. Lions are often sighted both in and at the entrance to the park. Be prepared for huge numbers of hippo and elephant, and keep your eyes peeled for a leopard lazing in the sunshine.
Day 6: Cycling through the park to Ishasha
Today we’ll get on our bikes to cycle on a public road that runs through Queen Elizabeth National Park to Ishasha. It’s one of the longer rides (80 km) and includes some bumpy roads, but will be very rewarding. Be prepared to cross paths with thousands of butterflies, scores of screeching baboons, and perhaps even an elephant!
The Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park lies in the southern part of the park and is home to the famous tree-climbing lions. While lion cubs around the world frequently climb trees for fun, adults rarely do. In Ishasha it is thought that they sit in the branches to get away from the tsetse flies and to enjoy a cool breeze.
Day 7: Into The Mountains – To Buhoma
Today we will climb up from 955 m to 1500 m. The day will start with some gentle hills through beautiful Ugandan villages and countryside. But as we are approaching Buhoma Town, the climbs will get steeper…
Buhoma is a small town close to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, nestled in the northwest corner of the park, and currently hosting three groups of gorillas. This was the first section to open for gorilla tracking and is one of the few places in the world where mountain gorillas live.
Day 8: Spectacular Ride To Ruhija
Get ready for a day of heavy climbing from Buhoma (1500 metres) to Ruhija (2300) meters. Ruhija is located in the remote east of the park and is home to two groups of mountain gorillas which can be visited by non-researchers.
Day 9: Down To Lake Bunyonyi
This will be a 45km downhill cycling traverse. After cycling 13 KM through the remaining hills of the Impenetrable Bwindi National Park we will have a short stop at a coffee shop with breath-taking views over the valleys.
Then we will roll on through farm land, crossing a beautiful part of the country often referred to as ‘the Switzerland of Africa’. Do you still remember how it feels to ride on tarmac?
We will roll down all the way to the shores of Lake Bunyonyi (“Place of many little birds”). We will have a boat ride on the lake to our accommodation. The volcanic lake is safe for swimming.
Day 10: Lake Bunyonyi to Lake Mutanda Cycling
After breakfast, and perhaps even an early morning swim, we will cycle past the shore of lake Bunyonyi towards Muko. Undeniably the loveliest lake in Uganda, Bunyonyi contains 29 islands, many of which are inhabited and terraced for agriculture. Watch school children paddling dug-out canoes through the morning mist as crested cranes fly overhead.
From Muko we will have a transfer to Lake Mutanda in the south-western part of Uganda; close to the borders with Rwanda and Congo. You will see a great country-side, bamboo forest and have great views over the Virunga Mountains.
Perched on a peninsula in Lake Mutanda in the shadow of the Virunga Mountain Range, Mutanda Lake Resort offers comfortable accommodation combined with the most beautiful views on planet earth. Situated between Kisoro town, Mgahinga and Bwindi National Parks the Resort makes a perfect base for gorilla trackers, volcano hikers, bird lovers as well as those looking for a secluded place in nature.
Day 11: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest N.P.
Prepare yourself for an encounter with one of Bwindi’s gentle giants: the rare mountain gorilla. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest boasts both mountain gorillas and chimpanzees – the only forest in Africa which can make this claim. It also hosts five other species of primate, 113 species of mammal, over 200 butterflies and 360 birds. The gorillas you track belong to one of seven habituated family groups who can tolerate the presence of humans for a brief period every day.
Your trek will be an exciting journey along forested slopes, entwined vines, bushes and bamboo before you eventually reach the gorillas’ habitat. En-route, your guide will point out signs of previous gorilla activity, including dung, nests and chewed bamboo shoots. The time taken to track the gorillas can be as little as 1 hour to as many as 7 hours!
Once the gorillas have been located, your group will be allowed a maximum of one hour with them. Coming face-to-face with a mountain gorilla is a truly humbling and emotional experience. This is a fantastic and privileged opportunity to get up close and personal with Uganda’s very own ‘Gorillas in the Mist’.
Day 12: Departure – Kampala/Entebbe
After breakfast, you will head back to Kampala or Entebbe for your next destination. This is where your safari will end.
Return home with memories and tales of the “Uganda Primates Safari” you will treasure forever!”
- Transport from airport/back to airport
- mountain bike
- support vehcle
- 3 meals per day
- accommodation, lodges and camping
- snacks & fruit at water points.
- villages fee, government fee & tax
- cyclist guide.
Price exclude
- helmet & gloves
- sleeping bags for camping night
- laundry service
- flights, visas and travel insurance
- Item of personal nature
- tip
Price = $2430 per person