Lakes from the air, Uganda

Flying Safari from Bwindi to Lake Victoria

  • TAILOR-MADE HOLIDAY IDEA

Duration

12 Days

Prices Start from

$13,203pp(ex. flights)

Explore Uganda by light aircraft, flying from one forgotten wilderness to the next. Search for gorillas in the clouds, meet dancing Karamajong tribes and hunt for the elusive shoebill stork, before relaxing on the beaches of Lake Victoria.

Key Highlights of this Itinerary

Karamojong, Kidepo, Uganda 1

Karamojong Warriors

Meet the fearsome Karamojong people, renowned as warriors.

Gorilla scratching its head, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda 2

Gorilla Trekking

Encounter a family of endangered mountain gorillas in the forests of Bwindi.

Wild Shoebill, Lake Opeta, Uganda 3

Shoebill Stork

Search for “King Whale Head” (shoebill stork) on the lakes of Semliki.

Lion,Kidepo, Uganda 4

Kidepo Safari

Spot lions and elephants on these wide plains, close to the South Sudanese border.

Why we like it

Places like Kidepo and Semliki are so far off the traditional tourist track that they have been all but forgotten, each with only a single safari lodge in operation. These kinds of unvisited places have a wild allure but traditionally require long, bumpy drives to access. With a light aircraft, you can avoid this inconvenience – visiting incredibly remote places in a fraction of the time.

Explore our suggested itinerary

  • Day 1

    Entebbe

  • Day 2

    Entebbe - Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

  • Days 3-4

    Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

  • Day 5

    Bwindi Impenetrable National Park - Semliki

  • Day 6

    Semliki

  • Day 7

    Semliki - Entebbe - Kidepo Valley National Park

  • Days 8-9

    Kidepo Valley National Park

  • Day 10

    Kidepo Valley National Park - Lake Victoria - Entebbe

  • Day 11

    Lake Victoria

  • Day 12

    Lake Victoria - Entebbe

Day 1

Entebbe

Day 2

Entebbe - Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Days 3-4

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Gorilla scratching its head, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda

Gorilla Trekking

Encounter a family of endangered mountain gorillas in the forests of Bwindi.

Day 5

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park - Semliki

Day 6

Semliki

Wild Shoebill, Lake Opeta, Uganda

Shoebill Stork

Search for “King Whale Head” (shoebill stork) on the lakes of Semliki.

Day 7

Semliki - Entebbe - Kidepo Valley National Park

Days 8-9

Kidepo Valley National Park

Lion,Kidepo, Uganda

Kidepo Safari

Spot lions and elephants on these wide plains, close to the South Sudanese border.

Day 10

Kidepo Valley National Park - Lake Victoria - Entebbe

Karamojong, Kidepo, Uganda

Karamojong Warriors

Meet the fearsome Karamojong people, renowned as warriors.

Day 11

Lake Victoria

Day 12

Lake Victoria - Entebbe

Our travel experts can tailor this itinerary to suit you.

More Details

Mountain gorilla, Bwindi, Uganda
Bwindi, Uganda

Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi's Forests

Continue on to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, where you cross the equator, through scenic open savannah, dotted with giant euphorbia trees and traditional villages. Covered in thick tropical rainforest and often shrouded in mist, Bwindi provides the perfect habitat for mountain gorillas.

Spread over a series of steep ridges and valleys, the park looks the part. Having survived the last ice age, it is considered one of the most diverse forests in Africa. The birding here is big and colourful, the forest dark and inviting and the sense of adventure palpable.

Spend an hour amongst the mountain gorillas, as they play, groom and eat. Watch as youngsters roll through the lush grass and see the dominant silverback stalk through his relaxed family.

Semliki, Uganda
Semliki, Uganda

Wildlife of the Semliki River

Fly over emerald mountains to the Semliki Wildlife Reserve, Uganda’s oldest protected area. Prehistoric-looking shoebill storks – notoriously elusive – haunt remote lakes and there is the chance to search for chimpanzees in nearby Kibale.

The reserve is also a prime conservation area, much of it entirely untouched. As such, it is a haven for a huge array of wildlife – including lions, buffalos, leopards and elephants – both savannah and forest species. The national antelope of Uganda, the Ugandan kob, also thrives in this verdant environment.

 

Sunset, Kidepo, Uganda
Kidepo, Uganda

Kidepo Valley and the Karamojong

Head north of the Nile to Kidepo Valley National Park, home to the enigmatic Karamojong people – renowned in the region as fearless warriors. So expansive that you can almost see the curvature of the earth, this remote and wildlife-rich park is explored by only a handful of tourists each year.

Elephants, buffalos, giraffes, zebras, elands, hartebeests, lions, hyenas and cheetahs all roam the rolling grasslands. Explore on foot and by 4×4, crossing this wilderness in seclusion, with other vehicles unlikely to be encountered.

Lake Victoria Sunset Fisherman, Uganda
Uganda

Relax on Lake Victoria

Finish on the shores of Lake Victoria. Dust off your boots, wrap yourself in a soft kikoy and just relax. Here, you can lounge on a Lamu bed, looking out to the waters of Lake Victoria or charter a fishing boat and head off with rod and tackle to fish for the much-sought-after Nile perch.

Alternatively, arm yourself with binoculars and roam for kilometres over this unspoiled island paradise in search of hundreds of birds who make this their home. And the Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary, run in conjunction with the Jane Goodall Institute, is also only a short boat ride away.

 

 

Accommodation

Below you can see some of the wonderful places we have recommended for this journey.

Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge £££££

  • Uganda
  • Safari and Wildlife Lodge

Aptly named, this sturdy stone lodge sits in a commanding position, high up on the Nteko Ridge in the quieter Nkuringo region of Bwindi. Eight cottages with enormous beds and a separate sitting room are warmed by an open fire, carefully lit each night by a private butler. The imposing main stone building, built from local volcanic rock, stands guard against the mists but has a soft centre – wood-burning stoves, timber beams, overstuffed armchairs make the lounge welcoming, and the walls are adorned with huge canvases from local Ugandan artists.

View Property

Apoka Lodge £££££

  • Uganda
  • Safari and Wildlife Lodge

The adventurous nature of flying in over the mountains, the liberating sense of space when landing, and the genuine warmth and welcome of the staff make Apoka Safari Lodge very, very special. The handful of spacious and comfortable rooms are scattered manyatta-style around kopjes. The main dining and lounge areas are raised off the ground under a high thatched roof to take advantage of the breeze as you watch animals graze on the savannah below and there is also a refreshing swimming pool, much needed in this dusty northern wilderness.

View Property

A note on price

Prices will vary depending on the time of year you are travelling. Prices do not include international flights. Please ask one of our Travel Experts for an accurate quote. Flights purchase through Steppes Travel departing from the UK are ATOL protected.

This Itinerary
Price
From $13,203 Per person

When to travel

Uganda in January

From December until the end of February the weather is typically drier, although showers are still very possible. This is the hottest time of year and can feel very tropical. However, the altitude means that temperatures remain manageable and still drop quickly at night.

Uganda in February

From December until the end of February the weather is typically drier, although showers are still very possible. This is the hottest time of year and can feel very tropical. However, the altitude means that temperatures remain manageable and still drop quickly at night.

Uganda in March

The long rains begin in March and last until May. During this time, road travel can be a challenge and delays are frequent. However, gorilla trekking continues unaffected, although you should expect to get wet and muddy.

Uganda in April

The long rains begin in March and last until May. During this time, road travel can be a challenge and delays are frequent. However, gorilla trekking continues unaffected, although you should expect to get wet and muddy.

Uganda in May

The long rains begin in March and last until May. During this time, road travel can be a challenge and delays are frequent. However, gorilla trekking continues unaffected, although you should expect to get wet and muddy.

Uganda in June

The coolest and driest time of year is between June and early September. This is one of the most popular times to visit, although both mornings and evenings can be very chilly at higher altitudes.

Uganda in July

The coolest and driest time of year is between June and early September. This is one of the most popular times to visit, although both mornings and evenings can be very chilly at higher altitudes.

Uganda in August

The coolest and driest time of year is between June and early September. This is one of the most popular times to visit, although both mornings and evenings can be very chilly at higher altitudes.

Uganda in September

The short rains arrive in late September and continue until November. However, travel is still possible and the overcast skies can make for some fantastic photographs.

Uganda in October

The short rains arrive in late September and continue until November. However, travel is still possible and the overcast skies can make for some fantastic photographs.

Uganda in November

The short rains arrive in late September and continue until November. However, travel is still possible and the overcast skies can make for some fantastic photographs.

Uganda in December

From December until the end of February the weather is typically drier, although showers are still very possible. This is the hottest time of year and can feel very tropical. However, the altitude means that temperatures remain manageable and still drop quickly at night.

Holiday Inspiration

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