Itinerary for Uganda Trip | Uganda - Lonely Planet Forum

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Fri, 13 Aug 2010 17:05:56 +0000

Hi, I would like to begin by thanking all those people who have been so generous with their time in answering my previous questions over the last two weeks. My girlfriend and I will be travelling to Uganda at the end of October for a 3 week vacation. I have now drafted an itinerary for our trip and would love your feedback.

Day 1 - Morning departure from Kampala or Entebbe to Murchison Falls National Park. Afternoon community tour and local cooking demonstration with Boomu Women's Group. Overnight at Boomu camp.
Day 2 - Morning hike to top of Murchison Falls. Afternoon savanna game drive. Overnight at Paraa Lodge
Day 3 - Morning savanna wildlife game driving. Afternoon Nile River wildlife and waterfalls boat tour. Evening game drive (time allowing.) Overnight at Paraa Lodge
Day 4 - Morning/Afternoon transit to Fort Portal/Kibale. (Optional Kibale forest night walk.) Overnight at Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse.
Day 5 - Morning chimpanzee tracking in Kibale National Park. Afternoon walk in Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary.Â Overnight at Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse.
Day 6 - Morning "Top o' the World" scenic trek to the Kabarole crater lakes (half-day). Afternoon transit to Rwenzori Mountains and hike in Rwenzori foothills (time allowing). Overnight at Rwenzori Mountains Safari Lodge
Day 7 - Morning Rwenzori village or forest hike (half-day). Afternoon transit to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Afternoon/evening game driving in Kasenyi or Channel sector. Overnight at Katara Lodge.
Day 8 - Morning game drive in Kasenyi sector and tour of Explosion Craters wilderness. Afternoon boat launch on Kazinga Channel. Evening game drive. Overnight at Katara Lodge.
Day 9 - Morning Kyambura Gorge trek. Afternoon transit to Ishasha sector. Overnight at Savannah Hotel
Day 10 - Morning savanna game drive in Ishasha, and tracking tree-climbing lions. Transit to Bwindi National Park. Afternoon optional activity/time allowing. Overnight at Buhoma Community Rest Camp or Ruhija Gorilla Lodge
Day 11 - Mountain Gorilla tracking in Buhoma sector. Afternoon to relax. Overnight at Buhoma Community Rest Camp or Ruhija Gorilla Lodge
Day 12 - Morning scenic transit via Kigezi Highlands to Kabale. Afternoon transfer to Itambira Island, Lake Bunyonyi.
Day 13 and 14 - Lake Bunyonyi relaxing

Some questions I still have include:
1. Are we doing too much over the 12 days? Are we missing anything or is there anything that is really not worth seeing or redundant?
2. Should we consider spending only one night in Bwindi, if we stay at the Ruhija Lodge (to keep our costs down)?
3. What do we do with our remaining week? Jinja?
4. If we visit Jinja, could you recommend a place to stay?

Thanks again for all your assistance,
Mark

ONLINE

Sun, 15 Aug 2010 18:36:55 +0000

Think not. There's a lot to see and do on that particular route. Suppose you're going to rent a car?
Jinja is nice, a bit more laid back than Kampala. Perhaps try the white water rafting? Accomodation at both rafting campsites is beautiful, but if you used to a high end lodge you might want to look for something else.

Alternatively, the Sipi Falls and surroundings near Mbale are nice, just like the Sesse Islands in Lake Victoria. Both are worth a two or three day visit.
Don't forget to 'experience' Kampala and take a walk through the Owino Market and the taxi parks. Lots of excellent restaurants everywhere and the friendliest people.