Day 1: From Kampala/Entebbe to Bwindi impenetrable Forest
Meet and greet with our local guide over breakfast, and then after drive heading to south-western Uganda.
En route, there is a local community popular for making local drums and crafts and a fruit market. Stopover, admire and buy yourself souvenirs. Proceed to the Equator line taken as one beautiful scenery in Africa - the pathway of the sun and take photographs.
Pass by mountains, tropical rainforest, and bamboo forest during the ±8 hour journey.
Bwindi Accommodation options (all on full board basis)
Standard Luxury: Mahogany Springs Lodge | Buhoma Lodge |Chameleon Hill Lodge | Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge Bwindi
Moderate: Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge| Engagi Lodge | Gorilla Mist Camp
Low Budget: Gorilla Haven Lodge Rushaga | Ruhija Gorilla Friends Camp | Gorilla Conservation Camp
Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Today, enjoy gorilla tracking in Bwindi.
After breakfast, proceed for the morning briefing before enjoying the highlight of the trip - gorilla trekking, which may last the entire day. We trek the gorillas through the rainforest and bamboo-covered slopes, accompanied by a guide and trackers, in search of a mountain gorilla family. The walking can sometimes be tough and long, but when you catch a glimpse of the magnificent silverback, any discomforts will be quickly forgotten. When the gorillas are sighted, visitors will be guided to within 6 meters from the gorillas, sit around them for a whole hour while gazing into their big round eyes.
Gorilla trekking is unpredictable. It's difficult to foresee how many hours you will hike. The gorilla excursion can take from 2 up to 8 hours. Expect to walk a long distance in steep and muddy conditions, sometimes with rain overhead, before you encounter any gorillas. A good physical condition is recommended. For conservation purposes, time spent with the gorillas is limited to one hour. A ranger will brief you on how to behave with the gorillas.
While most of today's forests are no more than 12,000 years old, Bwindi's vegetation has been weaving itself into tangles over at least 25,000 years, in the process accumulating a lengthy species list. This includes 310 species of butterfly, 51 reptiles, 200 trees, and an exceptional 120 types of mammals including 10 primates. The latter includes chimpanzee, L'Hoest's, red-tailed and blue monkey, black and white colobus, baboon, and Bwindi's most famous resident, the mountain gorilla.
Bwindi is a prime destination for birdwatchers. Its 350 species include seven which are IUCN red data listed and 90% of all Albertine rift endemics, species which are difficult or impossible to see in any other part of East Africa.
Bwindi Accommodation
Standard Luxury: Mahogany Springs Lodge | Buhoma Lodge |Chameleon Hill Lodge | Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge Bwindi
Moderate: Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge| Engagi Lodge | Gorilla Mist Camp
Low Budget: Gorilla Haven Lodge Rushaga | Ruhija Gorilla Friends Camp | Gorilla Conservation Camp
Day 3: Queen Elizabeth National Park - Ishasha Sector & Tree-climbing Lions
After breakfast, we drive through stunning savannah grasslands as we head to the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Ishasha is a much more remote and less-traveled part of Queen Elizabeth National Park, but one which has a sense of exclusivity and remoteness. The game densities here are high, and this region has reported some of the largest herds of elephants anywhere in Uganda, as it is their main migration corridor between Uganda and the DRC.
As we enter the park, we do a game drive in search of the wild game. We continue and drive to the northern circuit which is the area near the main road known for its tree-climbing lions. We look particularly at the many fig trees where lions like to stay. But we also visit the Uganda kob mating ground which is their preferred hunting area.
Accommodation Options in Queen Elizabeth National Park (Full Board)
Luxury: Elephant Plains Lodge | Katara Lodge
Mid-range: Enganzi Lodge | Bush Lodge
Budget: Bush Lodge (tents)| Simba Safari Camp (tents) | Pumba Cottages
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 4: Safari game drive and boat safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park
We set out early in the morning for a game drive in the northern part of the park on the Kasenyi Track in search of lions, elephants, solitary buffaloes. This is the best time for opportunities of viewing the cats in action owing to the vast population of Uganda kobs. We have an excellent chance to view just about every animal here at very close range.
In the afternoon we will go for a launch trip along the Kazinga Channel. This gives you the opportunity to view wildlife up close: hippos huff and spray at a mere foot away from the boat, buffalo linger in the shallows. The shores of the channel are also home to an array of birds including pink-backed pelicans, pied and malachite kingfishers, saddle-billed stork, and many others.
Accommodation Options in Queen Elizabeth National Park (Full Board)
Luxury: Elephant Plains Lodge | Katara Lodge
Mid-range: Enganzi Lodge | Bush Lodge
Budget: Bush Lodge (tents)| Simba Safari Camp (tents) | Pumba Cottages
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 5: Safari to Kampala
Breakfast and head for Kampala (about 5 hours driving) via Mubende.
This route travels through breathtaking scenery and delightfully rolling plantations, some of the best in Uganda. Depending on how much time we have on us we can tour around Kampala’s crafts and souvenirs markets before checking in at your hotel or being transferred to the airport.
