Uganda - Mammals and Mountains

Uganda is one of the most beautiful countries in all of Africa, a luxuriant land of great lakes, abundant swamps, a snow-clad equatorial mountain range and acacia-dotted grasslands. Yet, above all, it is the country’s tropical forests that provide the greatest attraction for the naturalist. Here, amongst an unrivalled population of primates, live two of our closest cousins, the Chimpanzee and the magnificent Mountain Gorilla. We will focus on these marvellous animals — and the smaller monkeys they live alongside — on this tour, as well as the wealth of other mammals, birds and other wildlife to be found in Uganda’s diverse and varied national parks.

We begin our holiday with a night in Entebbe located on the peaceful shores of Lake Victoria, the largest lake in Africa. The following morning we will take a boat trip into the Mbamba Swamps — around an hour and a half from Entebbe — in search of the prehistoric-looking Shoebill, before heading west to Lake Mburo National Park for a 2-night stay. This attractive reserve of rolling bush and grassland, with the lake at its centre, is home to an incredibly diverse assemblage of birds, which includes the rare and elusive African Finfoot, and such mammals as Oribi, Burchell’s Zebra and Impala. There is also a population of Bohor Reedbuck which we are unlikely to see elsewhere in Uganda.

Next, we begin the biggest adventure of the tour as we drive towards the forest-clad mountains that border Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo along a bumpy, but scenic, road that ends at the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This region of densely forested mountains, ranging from 1,200 to 2,590 metres in altitude, is home not only to one of Africa’s richest forest floras and faunas, but also to over 500 Mountain Gorillas — nearly half of the world’s total population! During our 3- night stay at Bwindi, those who wish may choose to spend a day tracking one of the 19 habituated gorilla families that live here, a truly unforgettable and, for some, life changing experience! It is, however, a physically demanding full day’s trek and, as such, not for all. The rest of our time at Bwindi will be spent on less arduous forest exploration in search of a range of smaller primates including Blue Monkey, Guereza Colobus and the attractive L’Hoest’s Monkey, plus an interesting assortment of unusual birds such as African Broadbill, Black Bee-eater and White-tailed Ant-thrush.

After an exciting stay at Bwindi, we head north to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Situated on the Kazinga Channel between Lake Edward and Lake George, ‘QE’, as it is affectionately known, is a classic east African game reserve incorporating rolling grasslands, craters and crater lakes, tropical forests, papyrus swamps and lake shore. Large herds of Uganda Kob roam the grasslands, Giant Forest Hog — so shy and elusive elsewhere in east Africa — is bold and uncaring here, and both Lion and Leopard are fairly common. Along the broad Kazinga Channel that links the two lakes, herds of Elephant and African Buffalo venture down to drink along with the occasional Bushbuck and Defassa Waterbuck. On one morning we will take a boat trip along the channel to enjoy the restless pods of Hippo which wallow in the waterway, along with a wealth of birds that include both White and Pink-backed Pelicans, numerous Pied Kingfishers, graceful African Skimmers and a variety of herons, storks and waders.

Kibale Forest, to the east of the snow-capped Rwenzori Mountains, is our final port of call, reached by means of some interesting dirt roads! This wonderful forest, which covers over 760 square kilometres, is home to an incredible 11 species of primates which includes several Chimpanzee families that have been habituated and which may therefore, with luck, be seen. We may also encounter other rare or colourful primates, such as Red Colobus, L’Hoest’s Monkey and Grey-cheeked Mangabey. Kibale is also home to a group of forest-dwelling Elephants, which are occasionally heard, but rarely seen, and an abundance of colourful birds including Great Blue Turaco, Yellow-spotted Barbet and Bar-tailed Trogon. Our lodge, located within the national park deep in the heart of rural Uganda, is a fitting spot to conclude this action-packed wildlife safari!