Art safari with artist Kerry Newell

Day 1: Evening arrival at Entebbe International airport. Overnight at The Boma Hotel

On arrival, you will be met at Entebbe International airport by a Venture Uganda representative and transferred to your hotel a short distance away, in Entebbe town. You will spend your first night in this cosy, welcoming hotel.

Day 2: Lazy morning. Mabamba swamp for the Shoebill. Overnight at The Boma Hotel.

After a lazy start, there is a choice of activities: head to town if you need to change money, then continue to the nearby botanical gardens on the shores of Lake Victoria. This is a beautiful place for a relaxed nature walk with chances to see monkeys and a number of water and woodland bird species. There is also an opportunity to learn about different plants including medicinal plants. Should you prefer, you can relax in the hotel’s mature gardens or take a dip in the private pool.

In the afternoon, take a small fishing boat tour of Mabamba swamp – a RAMSAR site and the best place to search for Shoebill and a number of other wetland bird species.

Day 3: Rhino tracking. Murchison Falls National Park. Overnight at Pakuba Safari Lodge.

Departing early, you’ll drive approx. 3-4 hours to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary where you’ll go on a guided rhino tracking walk. The sanctuary is a successful conservation project, breeding rhino with a view to eventually reintroducing them into Uganda’s national parks. After lunch, continue to Murchison Falls National Park.

Visit the top of the falls for spectacular views and then cross the River Nile and continue to your lodge.

Day 4: Game drive. Nile boat cruise to Murchison Falls. Overnight at Pakuba Safari Lodge.

Start your day early with a game drive in search of animals: likely encounters include; lions, elephants, buffalos, giraffe, leopard and a number of antelope species. Bird species could include Pied Kingfisher, African Fish Eagle, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill and so many more.

The thrills continue in the afternoon, with a boat cruise up the Nile to the falls. Sit back and relax as the boat takes you close to the game along the river banks and remember to look out for birds fishing on the river too.

After such an exciting day, you will surely enjoy a relaxed evening and peaceful night.

Day 5: Morning game drive. Transfer to Kibale National Park. Overnight at Turaco Treetops Lodge

Enjoy another short game drive this morning as you drive out of Murchison falls national park, catching a glimpse of more wildlife. Drive to Kibale national park approx. 5-6 hours away. This journey takes you through stunning countryside and gives a fascinating insight into village life and you will enjoy stops along the way including lunch in Hoima.

Your lodge is a beautiful place to relax, admire the views of the tropical rain forest and its inhabitants and also enjoy some time for your art work.

Day 6: Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale forest. Art time at hotel. Overnight at Turaco Treetops Lodge.

Following a briefing at the Park headquarters, head into the forest with your guide and small group in search of your chimp family. Enjoy the walk through this tropical rainforest and, once you find the chimps, spend a delightful hour watching their behaviour. Gain a privileged insight into their world as they eat, play, groom and even snooze. This is an optional activity, at extra cost. Those not wishing to track will have a free morning back at the lodge.

In the afternoon, there is time for art in the beautiful surroundings of the lodge. You can’t fail to be inspired by nature here.

Day 7: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park. Game drive. Overnight at Kasenyi Safari Camp

Drive 3-4 hours, through the scenic crater lakes region, to Queen Elizabeth national park. Along the way, stop at Rwenzori Founders to visit their beautiful sculpture garden.

Make your way to Kasenyi Safari Camp enjoying views across the Albertine Rift to the Rwenzori Mountains beyond and to the beautifully patterned salt lake.

Later, you’ll also have time to explore the park on an evening game drive.

Day 8: Lion tracking experience and boat cruise on Kazinga channel. Overnight at Kasenyi Safari Camp.

Join park rangers and researchers this morning as they move around the park monitoring the lion population. Learn about tracking, lion behaviour and conservation strategies.

After lunch, take a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel which links Lakes Edward and George. The channel is teaming with wildlife and offers close-up views of animals like elephant, buffalo and hippos.

Day 9: Transfer to Ishasha, the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth national park. Overnight at Ishasha Jungle Lodge.

Drive approximately 2-3 hours south to reach the wonderful Ishasha sector. This area is famous for its tree-climbing lions who lazily spend hours up in the local fig trees but also for large herds of buffalo, elephant and various antelope. Have an afternoon game drive to take-in all of this.

Spend a peaceful night at the lodge and be sure to listen out for the sounds of the wilderness.

Day 10: Game drive in the park. Overnight at Mutanda Lake Resort.

Enjoy a morning game drive for another chance to see the wildlife and beautiful birds in Ishasha and then transfer further south to Lake Mutanda approx. 4 hours away.

Your lodge, is perfectly located by the lakeside. When its clear, you can see the Virunga volcanoes at a distance. There will be time to stretch your legs on a short nature walk or enjoy a boat trip on the lake before a sumptuous dinner and a good night’s sleep.

Day 11: Batwa Trail experience. Overnight at Mutanda Lake Resort.

This morning, you’ll drive approx. 1.5 hours to Mgahinga national park where you’ll meet the community from one of the oldest tribes in the world – the Batwa pygmy people. They will take you through their former home – the forest, where they lived in harmony with nature (5 – 6 hours). Hear their fascinating story, learn all about life in the forest and visit their special caves.

After a packed day, enjoy some art and downtime back at the lodge before a dinner.

Day 12: Gorilla tracking. Overnight at Mutanda Lake Resort.

Today is a highlight of your safari to Uganda as you track one of the mountain gorilla families through the tropical rain forest. The opportunity to look into the eyes of a wild gorilla is very special and the chance to observe them in their natural habitat will certainly be an experience to remember. Once you find your family, spend one hour with them in their natural habitat – watch the youngsters showing off as they play and tumble in the vegetation perhaps while a Silverback looks on.

This is an optional activity at extra cost. Those not wanting to track gorillas, can relax at the lodge and enjoy more free time for art and/or take a local walk with your guide.

Day 13: Lake Mburo National Park. Game drive, spend time at the watering hole. Overnight at Rwakobo Rock

Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park (approx. 5 hours). Settle in to your lodge, located at the park boundary with a beautiful view of the savannah park. Later in the afternoon, head out for a game drive: this is the only park in your itinerary where you’ll find impala, zebra and eland. Also keep watch for other animals including; the giraffe, buffalos, waterbuck and warthog. Spend time at a watering hole and see who is coming to drink.

Then enjoy a relaxed evening at your beautiful lodge.

Day 14: Safari walk (optional cycling or horseback safari). Relaxed afternoon or additional game drive. Overnight at Rwakobo Rock 

Start your day with a guided safari walk for about two hours. This provides a different pace and a different view of the park as it takes you much closer to wildlife. You reach hides and areas not accessible in a vehicle. (Optional: you may choose to explore the park by mountain bike, or on horseback at extra cost).

In the afternoon, choose to return to the park for another game drive or relax at the lodge and enjoy more art time.

Day 15: Cultural visit. Travel to Entebbe. Overnight at The Boma Hotel

This morning, visit the local Bahima people to learn about their treasured long-horned cows and their culture. Visit the calves, talk to the cattle-keepers and go to the homestead to learn how the milk is traditionally processed into products like ghee.

Return to Entebbe, making a stop at the Equator for photo moments, perhaps to check which way the water goes down the plughole in the northern and southern hemispheres and for a delicious local lunch.

Settle into The Boma hotel and relax for the evening.

Day 16: Art studios/galleries in Kampala. Flight home

Today, you have the choice to stay at the hotel and enjoy some free time for your art or head into Kampala (approx. 1 hour) to visit art galleries and studios. Also perhaps pick-up some souvenirs at the craft market.

Later, return to Entebbe, freshen up and prepare to transfer to the airport for your international flight home. Surely this will be an art safari to remember.