12-Day Women of Valor Adventure, Tour and Holiday in Uganda

Following breakfast, depart for Kibale Forest National Park. Today’s scenic drive showcases Uganda’s fertile countryside, vibrant rural communities, passing tea plantations, and crater landscapes of the Kibale Area. Arrive at your accommodation facility in time for lunch and some relaxation before heading out for a guided forest walk. This is not a fitness hike; it is an experience of presence. Let your guide dictate a gentle, observational pace that allows the boundary between you and the natural world to soften. Intentionally pause during your walk. Touch the rough texture of the tree bark, inhale the earthy scent of wildflowers and damp soil, and listen closely to the layers of birdsong overhead. After this refreshing connection with nature in person, head to the facility to freshen up, gather around campfire to share stories, enjoy warm drinks, and reflect on the adventures still to come.

Accommodation: (Guereza Canopy Lodge or similar Midrange Level) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch (at the cultural village), Dinner | Transfer Time: 5-6 hrs.

Today is one special day that will see us get up-close with human’s closest relation with the wild. Our day will start with a quick breakfast and then we shall head the briefing. All treks start with a safety and conduct briefing at the Kanyanchu headquarters and thereafter, you will begin the walk/trek through the lush tropical rainforest guided by experienced rangers who locate the chimps by their vocalizations and nests. While looking for chimpanzees, you may also spot other primates, such as red-tailed monkeys, black-and-white colobus, and L’Hoest’s monkeys. Once you locate the chimpanzees, you will have a full hour in their presence. From the chimps, return to the facility and stay at leisure – recharging, enjoying the facility’s services/amenities. *Optional (extra costs $15 pp): If you would like a more active afternoon still, we can consider the crater lakes excursion. The walk on its own is rejuvenating but the scenery here is something to behold in awe.

Accommodation: (Guereza Canopy Lodge or similar Midrange Level) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Transfer Time: n/a.

Brace yourself for the challenge. This is the day when sisterhood is put to test. No one stays behind, no one is ahead, we tackle it together and sisterhood is born in moments like this. Welcome! First, we exit our accommodation and drive (1hr 30 mins – 2hrs) to the start point. Start at Trekkers at 1,450 meters and sleep at Sine Hut at 2,596 meters. Walk up the valley floor through tall forest trees of the Afro Montane Forest Zone. This is a steady climb for the first six kilometers then after crossing a river it is a steep climb up to Sine Camp. The forest trees are tall with multitudes of birds and a chance of seeing blue monkeys scampering off through the forest. Enock’s Falls are just 200 meters from Sine Hut and offer a splendid opportunity to capture a great screensaver for your memories. At Sine Camp 2,596 metres, there are wooden huts (with bunkbeds provided) set between tall forest trees on a narrow ridge where you may sit and enjoy the beauty of the forest while you look down at a long set of rapids and waterfall crashing over the rocks. Some clients prefer to sit outside enjoying the warmth of the campfire and chat to the guides about the mountains and life in their community.

Accommodation: (Sine Hut-Basic Mountain facility) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Transfer Time: 2 hours.

After a good breakfast, we will begin our journey down. Depending on interest, you may decide to walk straight down the forest and back to the base camp (start point) or you may climb up to Kalalama Camp to experience to views before passing back down. The forest walk is a steady descent through pristine forest with a multitude of birds. There are several patches of bamboo while other areas the trees are laced with hundreds of vines hanging between trees which have bright green lichen on them. This section of forest is spectacular. Once at the base camp, you will be received by your “Valor Queen” and transfer to the facility in the not-so-far Queen Elizabeth NP. Upon arrival, be at leisure – recharging and enjoying the facility’s services, amenities. 

Accommodation: (Elephant Hab Lodge or similar Midrange Level) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Transfer Time: 1 hour.

Be up with an uplifted mood, get your camera and binocular ready and the wild will be right with us. First, grab a quick breakfast and then, step into your car with the “Valor Queen” all set. Proceed for a morning game drive in the Kasenyi plains – a vast savannah space in the Queen Elizabeth National Park known for high wildlife densities including lions, herds of elephants, buffalos, and Uganda kobs. Standing up through the open pop-up roof of your vehicle, the morning wind is cold on your face, and the air smells vividly of wet earth and wild sage. The plains are rarely silent. You will hear the constant, sharp “snorts” of nervous kobs, the clashing of horns as males fight for mating territory. The area offers exceptional game drives, birding, and scenic photography, with opportunities to see leopards too. The afternoon is spent cruising (Private Exclusive) along the famous Kazinga Channel, where remarkable wildlife gathers at the water’s edge. Watch large pods of hippos, elephants cooling off along the shores, buffaloes grazing nearby, and a number of bird species filling the shoreline with life. Back at the lodge, enjoy a relaxed evening with your group, celebrating another unforgettable day surrounded by nature, good food, music, and plenty of shared laughter. 

Accommodation: (Elephant Hab Lodge or similar Midrange Level) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Transfer Time: n/a

This day offers one final game drive before travelling towards the legendary Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. After a slightly relaxed breakfast, you will check out and begin the journey to Bwindi with a game drive opportunity in Ishasha sector (en route). A game drive in the Ishasha Sector feels like stepping into a hidden, untouched wilderness. Located in the remote southern pocket of Queen Elizabeth National Park, Ishasha has a completely different atmosphere—it is quieter, wilder, and deeply mysterious. The primary focus here is to try and find the tree-climbing lions that have settled in this area. The chance of spotting these lions stands at about 60-70% but sometimes they are hard to spot (most especially when they are down in the grassland looking for prey). Should you get the chance to spot the lions up in the tree, the sight is picturesque and unforgettable. Continue south towards Bwindi through spectacular mountain scenery. Upon arrival, settle into your lodge before enjoying an intimate fireside conversation with a female conservation practitioner or community leader (subject to availability), who will share her experiences working alongside wildlife and neighbouring communities. This inspiring evening offers a deeper understanding of conservation from a woman’s perspective.

Accommodation: (Ruzogo Lodge or similar Midrange Level) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Transfer Time: Approx. 6 hours.

The long-awaited day has come. This is a day like no other. A day when you get that frightening gaze from the great silverback. A day when your body says stop but the relenting spirit of valor won’t give up now. This is the day you will cherish for eternity. Welcome! Start with a heavy breakfast, pick up the lunch box and move to the rangers’ post. You will receive some briefing (from the Park Authority) on the dos and don’ts during gorilla trekking, including assigning participants to a group. The actual trek into the forest begins at 8am in the company of your ranger-guide(s) and your new found sisters. The high altitude here combined with steep, rugged (sometimes muddy) terrain makes gorilla trekking physically demanding but rewarding. One moment you’re descending, and the next, you are ascending to a higher elevation. The time taken (3-8 hours) vary with the movements of these great primates. Once you have located a gorilla group, you will be allowed an hour in their presence. The thrill of spending time observing these gentle but endangered giants is unforgettable. At the end of the trek, you will be awarded a certificate of completion that you can keep as a reminder of this lifetime experience. Return to the accommodation, and be pampered as you recover from the strenuous trek.

Accommodation: (Ruzogo Lodge or similar Midrange level) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Transfer Time: N/a.

Today, you will slow down a bit as you allow the body to appreciate the time spent so far. No rush, call it a lazy morning. Be out of bed without a hurry, enjoy a delicious breakfast as you marvel at the beauty of the Bwindi while at the comfort your accommodation. At 9am or 10am, we shall check out and transfer to accommodation at the edge of Lake Mutanda, widely celebrated as one of East Africa’s most scenic hidden gems. Its crystal-clear, calm waters sit directly in front of a dramatic backdrop formed by three prominent volcanoes of the Virunga Mountain Range: Mount Muhabura, Mount Sabinyo, and Mount Gahinga. If you have a hitch for swimming, you are in the right place. Unlike many African freshwater bodies, Lake Mutanda is entirely free of bilharzia, hippos, and crocodiles. This makes its waters uniquely safe for swimming. But this afternoon, you will explore the lake by motorboat with a captain and guide, and experience the silence and beauty of Lake Mutanda and its surroundings. Otherwise, relax at the dock and watch time go by, very slowly.

Accommodation: (Mutanda Lake Resort or similar Midrange Level) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Transfer Time: 3-4 hours.

Today is one of those days gets you out of your comfort zone. Step into the extreme and truly define yourself as the woman of valor. This isn’t just a hike with a desire to see, explorer and discover! To walk it is to feel climate change up close — the ragged peaks, the shifting weather, the life that depends on it. The mountain will test your fitness, your sisterhood (teamwork), and your respect for nature and above all appreciation for God’s creation. 

Our day will start with a quick breakfast and then, the “Valor Queen” drives you off to the starting point where you will be handed over to a “Trail Queen”. Set off to hike Mount Sabinyo. At 3669m, Mt Sabinyo is one of the numerous rolling volcanoes that make up the magnificent Virunga mountain range that spans along the borders of Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. While the other volcanoes either lie in one of the countries or are shared between two countries, Mt. Sabinyo lies at the meeting point of all the three borders. It is more like the axis of the Virunga range and offers the best views across the Virunga, you could call it a 360-degree experience! It takes approximately 7-8hours to cover the 14km round trip, following a steep ridge up to the peak. You will get the rare opportunity to stand in three countries (Uganda, Rwanda, and DR Congo) at the same time. Return from the hiking and take your rest – recovering.

Accommodation: (Mutanda Lake Resort or similar Midrange Level) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Drive Time: Approx. 45 minutes to and from the lodge.

Another day to slow down a bit as you allow the body to appreciate your connection with nature. No rush, call it a lazy morning. Be out of bed without a hurry, enjoy a delicious breakfast as you marvel at the beauty of the Mutanda while at the comfort your accommodation. At 9amam, we shall check out and embark on a transfer to accommodation at the edge of Lake Mburo NP, a compact gem, located conveniently close to the highway that connects Entebbe/Kampala to the parks of western Uganda. It is the smallest of Uganda’s savannah National Parks but home to so many bird species as well as animals such as: Giraffes, Zebra, impala, eland, buffalo, and the elusive leopard among others. We shall arrive and check in for some rest before heading out to the community to gain insight into the way of life of the Bahima. You will learn about how to make the local ghee while listening to some of the women talk about their traditions and the cultures. Depending on the time of the tour you may even have the opportunity to milk some of the Ankole cows. Thereafter, we shall return to the facility for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: (Kigarama Wilderness Lodge-Budget Level) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Transfer Time: Approx. 5 hrs.

This day is one saved for last. It’s a day that pits you up-close with the untamed world. One of the most intimate and thrilling wildlife experiences in Uganda. Encounter a towering giraffe, meet the graceful zebras, feel the presence of several antelopes around you and all these with no fence, no car but just you and them. It’s moments like this that makes you appreciate life even more. As usual, we start the day with a quick breakfast and immediately, move to the Visitors’ Center where will receive the ranger-guide(s) to lead the excursion. This is a unique opportunity to notice smaller details often missed in a vehicle, such as bird species, butterflies, insects, and animal tracks etc. After this up-close experience, return to the accommodation for checkout and then hit the road to Entebbe airport to catch flight (2000hrs or later). Expect a stop at the Equator crossing mark (in Kayabwe) where you will have hot lunch and also (if interested) buy some souvenirs.

Accommodation: Recommended on request | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch | Transfer Time: Approx. 4-5 hours.