These are just a few of the fantastic safari destinations available in Uganda. We are able to satisfy all your safari needs, inclusive of arranging your hotel or lodge bookings and Gorilla permits.

Personal tastes will affect your itinerary a great deal, and we would recommend that you make your choices taking into consideration your need for comfort or your ability and desire to "rough it".

Uganda's second Gorilla Park sits astride the Rwanda and DRC borders in the Virunga volcano chain. Bookings for Mgahinga cannot be made but are done on a "first come first served basis"; the cost is US$220 for a gorilla-tracking permit.

Additional activities include volcano climbing in which no specialised gear is required; Mt Sabyinyo (3669m); Mt Gahinga (3474m) and Mt Muhavura (4127m).

A very un-visited Park that affords the visitor sights of the impala (only found here in Uganda), waterbuck, buffalo, topi, zebra, eland and Leopard. Hippos are very vocal and feed in the open during the daylight hours.

Guided walks with a ranger can be organised and give the visitor a very unusual perspective on game viewing! This Park is also remarkable for its birdlife with a species count of 310 including the chestnut-bellied heron and the finfoot.

Places to stay:- Basic bandas at Rwonyo camp and camping on the lake shore or more luxury facilities at Mantana tented camp.

The Semliki Safari Lodge is the only place to stay and boasts a beautiful main lodge with luxurious tents finished with thatched roof and furnished with four poster bed and plush Persian carpets.

Night game drives are exclusively conducted by Semliki and offer the opportunity to view Leopard and other nocturnal species. Walks are offered along the forest streams for Chimpanzee and the opportunity to fish in Lake Albert for the Nile Perch are also available.

The forest has one of the highest diversity and density of primates to be found in any forest of Africa. The Park also has 320 species of birds including the Yellow spotted nicator, Green breasted Pitta and the African Pitta.

Butterflies are also in abundance including the largest African butterfly, African Giant Swallowtail, with a wingspan of 20-23 cm. Guided walks are offered to track the Chimpanzee during the early hours of the morning.

Places to stay:- Ndali Lodge 17 km's outside the Park features lovely cottages overlooking a crater lake; CVK resort next door to the Park entrance and is an inexpensive option for the budget conscious and provides easy access for the early morning start.

A very deep lake set in amongst "the Switzerland of Uganda", steep slopes with abundant terracing and a cool climate. Bird watching opportunities abound and canoe tours of the lake are a must. The local delicacy is the garlic freshwater crayfish served at all locations.

Places to stay- Tented accommodation at Bushara Island camp or Far Out camp.

The Ruwenzoris are a range of mountains stretching some 100 kms in length by 45 kms wide, along the western border of Uganda with the DRC. This is a beautiful and arduous trek through often wet conditions and requires a good 7-8 days, more depending how many peaks are to be tackled.

Fitness is definitely required and also sound weatherproof attire. Of note are the Giant Lobelia and Groundsel, which in Europe and the US usually attain heights of a few inches, but here can tower above you to 20-30 ft. Mount Stanley features two accessible peaks Margherita (16,763 ft) and Alexandra (16,703 ft) and there are 7 additional peaks over the 14,000 ft mark awaiting you.

Peak climbing should be undertaken with all necessary safety equipment- ropes, ice axe, crampons and a good guide!

Mt Elgon is an ancient and extinct volcano that has the largest surface area of any volcano in the world, 50 km by 80 km. It features a caldera, with a collapsed crater, which covers 40 km2 at the top of the mountain and is encircled by rugged peaks (Wagagai 14,172 ft).

The average circuit takes about 6 days and is less arduous than the Ruwenzoris, but nevertheless offers some striking scenery and testing terrain.

Places to stay:- The Crows nest caters for the budget tourist and has some of the best views of the Sipi falls, mount Elgon and the plains below. Sipi Falls Rest camp is more up-market and offers a good location for viewing the falls and starting out on forest walks.

Experienced rafters from Adrift take clients down the Nile River from Bujagali falls in Jinja, through some awesome rapids in inflatable boats.

Not for the faint hearted but a good adrenaline rush for those needing it. Excursions can be half day, full day and also a two-day safari down the Victoria Nile.

City Cars Ltd. - Room 20, First Floor, Tankhill Parade, Muyenga, Kampala, P.O. Box 151, Kampala, Uganda.
Tel: +256 (0)312 261680, Fax +256 (0)312 260086
Mobile: +256 (0)772 412001.

**Photos are protected by copyright and courtesy of John Gibbons.