This page lists the planned itinerary, but this is subject to change as it has yet to be confirmed with the various companies assisting us in organising the trip.
Last Updated: 18/05/2006
Day 1: Friday 7th July 2006
17.30 Check-In, 20.00 Fly from Heathrow Terminal 4, to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi (overnight flight).
Day 2: Saturday 8th July
06.35 (local time), Arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi. 07.30, Depart to Entebbe International Airport, Uganda (arrives 08.35 local time). Transfer to Kampala (1 hour drive), check into hotel. Remainder of the day free / walking tour of Kampala.Day trip from Kampala - e.g. National Museam, Kasubi toumbs, Bahai Temple, Entebbe Botanical Gardens, Mpanga Forest Reserve (lots of options). Trek briefing in the evening.
Day 3: Sunday 9th July
Drive to Mount Elgon National Park via Jinja. Leave Excess luggage not needed for trek in Jinja, at Softpowerededuction offices. Continue by road to camp near trail head for trek. (6-7 hours total driving time today). Possible late afternoon visit to Sipi Falls.
Days 4 - 8: Monday 10th - Friday 14th July
Mount Elgon trek. Mount Elgon straddles the Kenyan border, and is the eighth highest mountain in Africa. The tallest peak, Wagagai (4,321m) is on the Ugandan side of the mountain. Mount Elgon is considered to be a relativley easy trek, with no technical ascent involved and the main challenge being the altitude. Camping.
Day 9: Saturday 15th July
Drive to Jinja, briefing on community project from Softpowerededucation.
Days 10-14: Sunday 16th - Thursday 20th July
Community Project work. Range of accomodation options available, including staying with a Ugandan Family for $3.50 a day!. At least one afternoon off to visit Bujagi Falls and the source of the Nile.
Day 15: Friday 21st July
Return to Kampala by road (2 hours). Night in Hotel. Free time for laundry, e-mailing etc. Meet truck and crew for 2nd half of the trip. The crew will likely consist of Driver, Guide and Chef, we will be camping pretty much every night.
Day 16: Saturday 22nd July
Drive to Kibale National Park. (Guest Houses)
Day 17: Sunday 23rd July
Chimp walk in morning (3-5 hours), searching for wild, habituated chimpanzees. Optional activities in the afternoon: relaxing, Wetlands Bird Sanctuary, village walk, more chimp trekking. (Guest Houses)
Day 18: Monday 24th July
Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Evening game drive - Buffalo, Lion, various Antelope, giant Forest Hog, Warthog, Elephant, Birds, Monitor Lizards) (Guest Houses)
Day 19: Tuesday 25th July
Morning Game Drive. Afternoon River cruise on the Kazinga Channel, (fantastic for viewing hippo, birds, buffalo, elephant). (Guest Houses)
Day 20: Wednesday 26th July
Morning walk (3-4 hours), in Chamburu Gorge, looking for partially habituated chimps. Afternoon drive to Ishasha sector of the park, famous for its tree climbing lions. Evening game drive.
Day 21: Thursday 27th July
Long drive to Bwindi. Gorgeous scenery en route. Camp.
Days 22-24: Friday 28th - Sunday 30th July
Gorilla trek. 3 days needed as limited number of permits available per day. Only 6 tourists can visit each gorilla family and there are 3 families - the group will need to be split up. For those not visiting gorillas on a particular day, there are guided walks through the forest, a visit to a local village (including visiting their Congolese witch doctor and banana gin distillery) and a visit to meet the Batwa Pygmies. We could also visit Bwindi Orphanage - they come and do traditional dancing in return for a donation to the orphanage school. Most of their parents died of AIDS.
Days 25-27: Monday 31st - Wednesday 2nd August
Drive to Lake Bunyoni, chill out time. Optional kayaking, mountain biking, trail walking.
Day 28: Thursday 3rd August
Drive to Lake Mburo National Park This will break up the drive back to Kampala, Evening game drive/boat trip on lake. Fantastic campsite with resident hippos.
Day 29: Friday 4th August
Morning game walk. Drive to Kampala. Stop at equator for photos. Visit fantastic curio shop with all proceeds going to AIDS orphans. Evening in hotel in Kampala. Our last evening in Uganda - there a range of good restaurants in Kampala and we should be able to have a really good meal on our last night.
Day 30: Saturday 5th August
Free day in Kampala. Possible morning visit to Ngamba Island (owned by the Jane Goodall institute) to see rehabilitated chimps. Afternoon free for souvenir shopping at curio market. 19.55, Depart to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi. Arrives 21.00, local time. 23.59, Depart to London Heathrow
Day 31: Sunday 6th August
06.25 local time, arrive London Heathrow, Terminal 4.