Lets tag along for a fast paced 7 day Uganda trip. This trip report will let you see how it can be to be on safari in Uganda.
Title: Fast paced 7 day Uganda trip with notable visitor- Professor Pere Serra Ruiz. Exploring Uganda’s Gifted habitats” Organised by Mamaland safaris and EticGo travel agency Barcelona.
Participants of the trip.
• Dr. Pere Serra Ruiz.
• Alicia Franz.
• Safari guide Tony a field Ornithologist with over 15 years experience.
Brief summary of this 7 day Uganda trip
We had the privilege of hosting Professor Pere Serra Ruiz, a Lecturer of geography from the University of Barcelona (UAB), and his wife Alicia Franz, a senior pharmacist in Barcelona City, on 2nd Sep in Uganda. Our journey took us through the breathtaking landscapes of Uganda. Showcasing the country’s incredible biodiversity, unique cultural experiences, and the importance of sustainable tourism.
Locations visited during the 7 day Uganda trip
- The Ramsar site of Mabamba swamp, a key IBa, International birdlife place hosting the Towering Pre- Historic Shoe bill stork.
- We Covered the primate City of Uganda, Kibale Forest National Park. Which is the Forest covered Home for 13 primate species.
- Journeyed through an infusion of craters dating back to 10 000 years (Kasenda craters).
- The floor of the western arm of the Rift valley: Queen Elizabeth National Park. With Kazinga Channel, a special magnet for avifauna, mammals and reptiles.
- Ishasha wilderness sector with a calming ambience with special wildlife setting. A natural garden for the sycamore figs, ficus sycamorus the hanging sofas for the popular tree climbing lions.
- Bwindi Impenetrable forest, the Lower altitude zone of this Unesco site. As well as the mid altitude zone of Bwindi forest – the popular neck, hosting the habinyanja Mountain Gorilla Family.
- Finishing with Lake Mburo National Park the mosaic toned habitat of this woodland park, bushed grasslands.
a Day by day report
2nd Sep: Arrival to Entebbe, Uganda
The Professor and the wife arrived through Doha capital with Shoebill Tour anticipated for the 3rd of September. Picked up by our personnel Ronni and Brian, the Captain of Tilapia Lodge speedboat. They spend the first night of their 7 day Uganda trip at Tilapia Lodge, just across the bay from Entebbe.
3rd Sep: Shoebill Stork at Mabamba
An early start from Tilapia Lodge after Jovia served us breakfast. This had been set along the deck on Lake Victoria with singing Weavers, swamp flycatchers, and the settling White backed night Herons. After this we went off to a thrilling adventure out with Canoes in the silent marshes of Mabamba Ramsar site. Notable birds seen- The Bird of the day- spotting the elusive Great Shoebill stork in its Natural habitat. As well as Blue breasted bee eater, malachite king fisher, lesser jacana, Afirican jacana, Long toed Lapwings and the skilled Hunting marsh harrier. Plus the beautiful Yellow billed ducks dipping on the Blue swallow and rufous bellied heron. Then it was time to set off as the sun begun to toughen on the open photographic canoe!
Next we set of for a 4 hours drive to Kibale forest with lunch 2 hours later in Mubende town. This is a nice place to try a mix of local food eaten by the locals. Our visitors tasted mashed green bananas, roasted pea nut sauce and steamed Chicken in green banana leaves. As well as the longest surviving dish grown as a grass-millet bread plus fresh cuts of tropical fruits. While lunch was served I dropped off the car to a gas station for a new tire replacement to increase our efficiency on this trip.
Then we arrived at Isunga Lodge via the Tea estates harvesting some of the best tea earning Uganda a huge sum of forex. The views at Isunga where smashing.
4th Sep: The encounter with the Great Apes of Kibale Forest
Morning Chimpanzee trekking
The Dr. and wife joined me to the Lodge Monster jeep as our 4×4 van’s clutch system jammed. Therefore the Kind Karen and Husband Gerald of Isunga Lodge rolled out the rescue Jeep to our use toward the starting point of the Chimps.
On the way to the Briefing base camp, 3 troops of baboons were encountered. At this point the professor and the wife where amazed to how calm and organized this troops were. I highlighted the social formation of baboons and how they connect socially with the age difference. Here I also told my new family that baboons are actually classified as half humans considering how successful they are and how dextrous they can be.
After this we checked in for Trekking after Milka waved us in and assigned us to senior range Benson. Then we embarked on an exhilarating 3 hours chimps trekking experience with Ranger Benson. Getting up close and personal with our primate cousins in the lush forests of Uganda. During the trek the Professor and Alicia were fascinated by the primate variations and landscape. Accompanied with natural orchestra sounds bouncing from Crickets, Cicadas, songbirds, diurnal Red chested owlets, trumpeting Hornbills, Afep pigeons and Western Black headed orioles. Together with liquidating sounds from Western Nicators and subdued chattering calls of Scaly breasted Illadopsis. The superb wide vocaburaies of the Chestnut wattle eyes and the dominating vocalisation of the Chimpanzees.
Afternoon transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
After Tracking we received the certificates and photo poses on this kanyankyu visitor centre. As approaching departure time the consensus to have lunch at the Inviting restaurant of Isunga Lodge was reached as our machine was fixed. Next the transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park wasn’t a waste of just travel time. The Professor who is also a specialist in aerial interpretation of topographic maps could first hand match Forest zones and The Block Mountains of the Moon. This is the fabled mountain Rwenzori by Ptolemy a 2nd Century Greek mathematician and geographer born in Egypt. The rivers that run off from the glaciers of Mountain Stanley, Margharita peaks high above with Mahoma lake, Lake Bujuku and lake Kitandara along the central curcuit in the clouds of this towering block ranges spanning over 90miles.
Later the flat plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park produced close encounters of African largest mammal, the African bush Elephant- Loxodanta Africana. These were seen shuffling along the Papyrus forest along the Kazinga channel. It also produced a Lioness well rested in the short grass.
5th Sep: Savannah Game Safari and Kazinga Channel
We checked in at the Kasenyi gate of Queen Elizabeth National Park. As I checked in my travel partners enjoyed, posed to the game board and took pics of a weaverbird colony on the acacia tree by the gate. This tree sometime creates a hunting field for Accipters like Shikras and Gabar Goshawks with some Grey kestrels seeing this as a reliable restaurant.
Next we dashed out after a tip off towards the Kazinga Chanel track for two male Brother Lions. Later we connected back for more search of the “Big 4”: lion, leopard, elephant and buffalo. A productive drive towards Lake George grassland fields at a reliable spot for waders and Hippo pools. The return out yielded a big pride with Lionesses, Cubs, sub adults and a Huge kill (Waterbuck male). Besides it were aggravating impatient Lappet faced vultures and White backed vultures. The Kasenyi plain gave me my first sighting of a handsome Namaqua dove.
After lunch a relaxing boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel offered breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape and an abundance of aquatic life. With more time left we continued out for our Popular Community tourism and Cultural Experiences. This interlude took us to visiting a coffee and cocoa farmer. Who is a master of inter cropping a variety of crops to support the family with subsistence farming. We highlighted the importance of getting closer to communities and create an understanding by coming to the same level. Where we learned about cocoa production, tasted tropical fruits and witnessed a coffee harvest .We finished this up with a summit to the Craters of Kyambura, before walking back to the lodge at dusk.
6th Sep: Tree Climbing Lions
We transferred in the morning through the adventurous Ishasha road to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Along it we encountered transitional habitats of long to short savannah, riverine forests to primary forests of Maramagambo forest and the wooded zones towards Ishasha. A thrilling encounter with the rare tree-climbing lions in Ishasha was a highlight of our journey.
Watching close a female lion along the junction to Topi Lodge before lunch at the wildlife deck there overlooking the park. We proceeded to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The home to the endangered Mountain Gorillas and checked in to the haven Lodge of Bwindi by John.
7th Sep: Gorilla trekking day & community
Gorilla trekking morning
In the morning we continued to the Visitors center for briefing about Mountain Gorilla trekking. Where the head ranger emphasized the importance of conservation of the grand home of the Endangered Mountain Gorillas. As well as the morning hiking operation of the tracking code of conduct. Next we were assigned The Habinyanja group which required us to get back to the car. Along the Parking we enjoyed a great family of the L’Oest Monkeys with a family of 12 members we formed a fantastic highway for them as they switched towards the other end of the forest.
Then we continued off to the Neck described as a position of the Forest that on the map demarcates a small part as the head and the bigger part of the body of the Gorilla. Here the final moment for the Professor and his wife to enter the park came as the ranger demanded his followers to a single file formation.
I stayed along the roadside waiting for my travel family. As I was waiting for my crew I was birding along the Forest edge. Bird highlights included 38 species on my E-bird log for the day. With highlights like the African black ducks, Dwarf Honey guide, Black throated Apalis, Black faced prinias, Black tailed Oriole and many more species.
Later my crew were to come back with satisfied faces and an incredible rush of emotions and sensations that come with experiencing these magnificent creatures up close. The great highlight of this 7 day Uganda trip. Of course we then took to position for a top picture with The Background of the Impenetrable forest.
picnic & Community in afternoon
After this we immediately proceeded to a top natural setting along the forest edge and modestly sat along the ridge with our picnic. During this time I was throwing for light about the Albertine rift endemics and the bio diversity in this incredible scavenger of Carbon dioxide! Continuing to guide about the number of primates sharing the forest, the Reptiles and the number of birds per square Kilo meter. Plus the flowering plants that have no names giving the Institute of Tropical Forest Biology a big spot for Biologists all over the world keen interest to come to Ruhija station.
We continued flowing down the mountains to the town Kihihi via 2 stop overs in a weekly market. Where the highlight was the goat section with a mother goat and its 1 week kid vended. The traders seemed excited by our approach to the sector, hoping for an easy sell especially when I and Dr. Pere lifted up the kid. While talking to the community we learnt that the market was vibrant since its one week to send kids back to school after holidays.
Next we proceeded to the local market for a look at the fruits and vegetable market. After some interaction with the fish monger we left the market for a tea break. Continuing on to check-in to Topi Lodge, where settling in to the extension of this Park feeling with trees. Here a great infusion of different species of trees becoming fantastic setting in the sunny season creating a cooling effect. With Topi Lodge’s embracing of ex poachers by creating a solid bond of reformed-poachers. But time was the limitation not to head out to the community where these won soul reside.
It was time for dinner after socializing with my new family. We shared valuable conversations about conservation, sustainable tourism. Creating lifelong memories.
8th Sep: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park
Our final day in Lake Mburo National Park was filled with exciting encounters. We met the impressive Ankole cattle. These are known for their striking horns and majestic presence. A superb lunch at Rwakobo Rock lodge’s restaurant was interrupted by an unexpected visitor. A mischievous vervet monkey snatched Professor Pere Serra Ruiz’s bread roll from his plate, leaving us all giggling.
After lunch we rested a bit by the pool and our super cottages. Then we proceeded to the park gate, where we were joined by a lady ranger Petra who accompanied us on a game safari and a safari walk. These took us deep inside the Zebra Track, parallel to the Acacia Track. This immersive experience allowed us to connect with nature and observe the park’s resident wildlife up close. With Notable Bird Sightings as well. Like Battleur Eagle, Meyers Brown Parrot, Broad billed. Lilac breasted Rollers and flocks of starlings. On the mammal side we saw Impala, Nubian Giraffes, plus Plain Zebra herds accessing water among the mammals at the water hole.
My team disembarked on a pedestrian approach. Because they were to do a famous safari walk in the short savannahs of Lake Mburo National Park. Where they encountered Pumbas {Waerthogs} and Nubian Giraffes.We drove back scanning for the Cats, like the Leopard during the late evening.
9th Sep: Transfer to Entebbe, with stop over at the equator
The start was gentle having breakfast over the views of this Rock lodge with wildlife strolling around. Then we drove off after at the peak hours of the early birds. Proceeding via the swamp with the notable Sacred Ibis one of the Doctors attractive birds. Continuing on we decided to mean business by touching the asphalt, where we cruised until the fields before The Equator. Here we encounter over 70 Grey crowned cranes and the just arrived bi numbers of the Glossy Ibises.
We continued for Quick lunch at Tilapia Lodge by Entebbe before catching the speed boat with fresh fruit salads on the speed boat and continuing to Entebbe airport.
The Unexpected:
Our van suffered a breakdown, but our quick thinking and resourcefulness ensured we didn’t miss any activities. We also had an encounter where we pulled over the roadside along the Ishasha road to enjoy birds in a wetland. Unfortunately safari ants pushed out Dr. Pere.
Conclusion:
The Professor’s fascination with the landscape and primate variations gave a great understanding of Uganda safari. Including geography, conservation, sustainable tourism, shoebill tour, chimps trekking, Savannah game safari and Kazinga Channel. As well as community walks, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Lake Mburo National Park, tree-climbing lions, subsistence farming, cocoa production and coffee harvest.
Our 7 day Uganda trip with Professor Pere Serra Ruiz and his wife Alicia was an unforgettable experience. Filled with thrilling wildlife encounters, cultural immersion, and insights into Uganda’s incredible geography.
Our 7 day Uganda safari
Here you have followed along for the experience of being on our 7 day Uganda trip. To read the itinerary for this safari head over to our 7-days Uganda safari itinerary. This itinerary fits perfectly if you don’t have that much time, but wish to see the top highlights of Uganda.
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