Silverback Lodge - Uganda Safaris

Silverback Lodge is found in Bukoma area of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (western Uganda) and it offers a sweeping view of the park.The park is a home to over 355 mountain gorillas,more than 100 mammals,non-habituated chimpanzees,over 346 bird species and 165 tree species.
The lodge overlooks Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and its perched on raised plat form to offer stunning views to visitors on a Uganda Safari.From the front of the lodge,a visitor can watch different species of birds as they roam about the whole area and sometimes primate viewing.

Accommodation
Silverback Lodge has 12 rooms and these include;

• 7 twin rooms
• 4 double rooms
• 1 single room

These locally designed rooms built of local materials are strategically located to offer a wonderful view of the park.The common materials that were used to construct these rooms are:sisal ropes,forest vines and shining slate stones.Each of these rooms has a private en-suite bathroom,a private veranda with comfortable chairs where a visitor can sit and enjoy a wide view of the flora and fauna of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.This makes a Uganda Safari unique compared to others.

Activities
While at Silverback Lodge,a visitor can enjoy numerous activities like:

• Gorilla Trekking:  This is done in Uganda's most visited park (Bwindi Impenetrable National Park) which has half of the total number of mountain gorillas in the world.For visitors on a Uganda Gorilla Safari,this  is the best Lodge to stay.
• Nature walks: a visitor at the lodge can enjoy hiking trails that will expose her/him to different primate,birds,tress,butterflies and other organisms.
• Bird watching: This is mainly done in the park which has more than 346 species of birds.
• Cultural Safaris:meet and greet the Batwa people with unique cultural beliefs
• Hiking
• Mountain bikes rides
• The Rushora Trail

Best times to visit Uganda - Uganda Safaris

Also known as the "the pearl of Africa",Uganda is a beautiful country that is well known for harboring the hard-to find mountain gorillas.

Clear view of Kampala city

Although the country has a warm climate throughout the year,there are specific times appropriate for visitors to come to this East African country.

The countries position along the equator leads to an insignificant seasonal temperature variations.A visitor should know Uganda's rainfall pattern before visiting and this is very vital for those interested in Gorilla tracking,Hiking,Birding and game viewing.

April,May,October and November are the wettest months and during this time,some activities such as camping are hard to practice.

It is on record that about 70% of Uganda's visitors are gorilla trackers and therefore there is need to know about the appropriate time to do the activity.Most itineraries drawn follow an established circuit between Kampala and the gorilla parks in the extreme southwest of Uganda.This is the area with the most density of the country's natural attractions and associated infrastructure.

A typical tour in Uganda starts from Kampala and heads west through Fort Portal to Kibale,where chimpanzee tracking in Kibale National Park is the main attraction.This can be followed by Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP) that is found just at the foot of Rwenzori mountains.In the south of QENP,there is Bwindi Impenetrable National Park,mostly known for gorillas.

A gorilla at Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

Game viewing: 
In Uganda's Savannah parks, game viewing is at its best at the end of a dry season,when the wildlife concentrate around water sources to have a sip for cooling their bodies.This is during the months of February,March,September and early October.

Bird watching:
Birding in Uganda is best done between November and April when different migrant bird specie fly into the country.Birders seriously get bored during the extremely wet months between April and May.

Gorilla Tracking:
Gorilla trekking is best done during the 2 country's dry seasons,that is January and February  and from June  to September.

Mount Elgon National Park - Uganda Safaris

Mount Elgon National Park is found in Eastern Uganda in The "Masaba Region".The Elgon mountain that stands magnificently about 4,321meters  above sea-level,is one of the greatest attractions at the site.

Sipi falls

Mount Elgon first erupted more than 24 million years ago but at the moment,it stands as a dormant volcano.The 50km by 80km wide mountain is also referred to as the "Masaba" Mountain because of the neighboring local people called the "Masaba".
The Park is a great tourist destination in Uganda and it posses the largest surface area of any extinct volcano  in the world.The Park is fourth highest in East Africa.
Mount Elgon straddles to the Kenya border.
Wagagai is the highest peak on this Mountain with 4321m above sea level.

What are the great attractions at the Park?
The presence of a magnificent flora and fauna at this park has led to the increased number of Tourists that visit the Mountain.The mountain's slopes support  a rich variety of splendid vegetation zones.These Vegetation zones range from lush Montana,mixed bamboo belt forest, to open moorland.
The vegetation contains rear endemic plant species that are breathtaking from both short and long distances.This is accompanied by the everlasting wild flowers that make the place look adorable to guests.

Activities at the Park
Trekking:
For those visitors that are interested in trekking,mount Elgon offers an unforgettable adventure as you climb past the big rocks and caves.There are 3 trailheads leading to the mountain's peaks.One trail starts from Budadiri,the second trail starts from Sasa and the last one starts from Kapkwai.

Cultural Walks:
Meet the Bagisu and Sabiny people around this park.These people are generally subsistence farmers and they are well know for practicing annual circumcision ceremonies.These ceremonies are carried out to initiate men into adulthood.

Hiking:
Hiking at this Park exposes a guest to a variety of unique forest monkeys and small antelopes plus elegant buffaloes and elephants.

The beautiful Sipi waterfalls offer a unique touch to the hike as you watch the beautiful waters drift from upper to lower levels.

Camping:
The Park has 9 basic campsites to offer.These campsites are strategically located along the trekking routes.Visitors are expected to carry there own camping equipment.


Accommodation at the Park
A tourist can opt for any lodge or hotel that he/she wishes to spend a night.Some of the accommodations at the park include the International standard hotels found in Mbale town (Mount Elgon Hotel,Country home,Mbale Resort and Sunrise Inn) and up-market lodges within the park.

Mount Rwenzori National Park - Uganda Safaris

The Park is also referred to as "Mountain of the moon"and it's bisected by Uganda and DRC.The beautiful sceneries of the Rwenzori mountains are one of the key attractions that the Park has to offer.

A splendid view of mount Rwenzori

Location
Mount Rwenzori Na

tional Park is located in the south- west of uganda bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo.The Park covers an area of about 120 km long and 48 km wide.
The Park's location in the region of great views,Lakes and waterfalls,makes it one of the most beautiful Parks in Africa.

What are the attractions at the Park?
The Park's fauna is well known with over 70 mammal species and over 184 bird species.Some of the interesting mammals include the blue monkeys,colobus monkeys, Rock Hyrax,Leopards,Elephants,Chimpanzees and the three horned chameleon.
Get a chance to climb and see the different peaks on the mountain such as Speke and Margherita.

Tourist attractions
Most of the Tourists opt for central circuit trail that takes 7-9 days to complete.This trail exposes the visitor to all the great peaks on the mountain.However,there are other shorter trails that can be arranged on request.

Comfortable Lodges at the Park

Accommodation
There are numerous options as regards to accommodation at Rwenzori NP.One can decide to stay at Mweya Lodge and Jacana Lodge,for up market facilities.Alternatively,one can opt for mid rate Margherita Hotel or Rwenzori Base Camp.There are also African-styled huts at the mountain where guests can spend a night.

How to get there
From Kampala,one can either opt for air or road.By road,from Kampala head to Kasese through Mbarara town or through Fort Portal.Reach Nyakalengija (the park's headquarters) which is 25 km from Kasese town.
By air,book for a flight to Kasese Airstrip from Entebbe and then use the road to Nyakalengija.