Trip Facts
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Safari Lodge
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All seasons
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Fully guided
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All meals
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Available
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Landcruiser/minivans
Overview
This Uganda safari itinerary includes gorilla trekking in Bwindi, two wildlife safaris, a boat excursion on the Kazinga Channel, chimpanzee tracking in Kibale National Park, and a community experience. A professional tour guide will accompany you on this journey, which includes one night in Entebbe/Kampala, two nights in Bwindi, two nights in Queen Elizabeth National Park, and one night in Kibale.
Highlights
- Activities: game drives, gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking & boat trip
- Game drives: pop-up roof 4x4 vehicle
- Getting around: pop-up roof 4x4 vehicle
- A transfer from and back to the airport is included
Itinerary
You will be greeted by a representative of our business when you arrive at Entebbe International Airport. You'll be driven to your hotel so you may check in. The remainder of the day is yours to spend any way you choose exploring this exciting city. If you'd like to tour the Mabamba swamp or Ngamba Island, our staff will arrange a car or boat for you.
After breakfast, this morning we'll travel by road to the home of the mountain gorillas. The journey will take about eight hours, leaving you with the whole day for taking in the sights of Uganda 'The Pearl of Africa'. No visit to Bwindi is complete without stopping by the iconic Equator mark at Kayabwe. The world-famous mark is incredibly beautiful, so make sure to keep your camera to hand for some memorable pictures and buy some souvenirs at the craft shops.
At the UWA briefing point in Bwindi, the locals will entertain you and after, each group will be assigned a gorilla family to trek for the day in the company of an armed ranger. Due to the close relationship between humans and these gentle giants, travellers showing signs of airborne diseases are discouraged from coming close to mountain gorillas. Alternatively, they can be completely denied the chance of trekking if rangers find it more severe. You are advised to treat flu and cough before travelling
The trekking experience takes between 1- 3 hours and involves slippery trails. You may hire a local potter to help you during the trek with carrying luggage and gadget. Though tracking is the main attraction of the day, a range of stops can provide a relaxed opportunity to spot birds and monkeys while exploring one of Uganda's loveliest rainforests. After trekking, you will be awarded a certificate and Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Today we'll take an early breakfast and prepare for you an exciting safari in the Kasenyi sector of Queen Elizabeth also famous for rich dotted acacia and tree climbing lions. There are likely chances of spotting the leopard, buffalo, and hyena. If you love birds then this sector has salty crater lakes where flamingos can be seen during the day
After lunch, you will go on a boat safari in the Kazinga Channel, which joins Lake George and Lake Albert. Here you will see more hippos than you can possibly see anywhere else, along with herds of buffalo and elephants rushing to drink at gorge coastlines. Amazingly, the crocodiles in this region coexist peacefully with other creatures without preying on them.
Later, you'll return to the lodge for relaxation.
You will spend a couple of hours after breakfast on yet another fantastic game drive before travelling to Kibale National Park. You will involve yourself in a salt mining community tour at Lake Katwe before heading to your next destination. Lunch break is included at Garden Restaurant and the Tooro Kingdom Palace Tour. Later in the evening, you'll check into your hotel.
Start the day with an early breakfast and prepare to meet our cousins in the wild. It is recommended that you carry enough drinking water in case you opt to go for chimpanzee habituation rather than tracking. Packed lunch will be a better option. Our tour begins with a briefing where a ranger gives you rules and regulations for encounters with chimpanzees, birds, and monkeys. In the afternoon, we'll embark on a community tour that will take you through the small communities, swamps, and tea plantations.
The locals here will teach you how to make crafts and herbal medicine. You will have the opportunity to taste some of the finest locally made coffee, gins, and beers. Nevertheless, the highlight of these walks is the transition to see at least five different species of monkeys and catch a glimpse of the blue turaco.
You'll leave early in the morning to travel to Kampala, stopping for lunch along the Kampala-Masaka highway near the Equator in Kayabwe. When we eventually get to the Equator, you may take some fantastic pictures and buy amazing souvenirs at one of the craft shops at this location, including African clothes, paintings, and sculptures. The drive takes between 5 and 6 hours but will leave you rejuvenated by the gorgeous landscape.
Cost
The Cost Includes
- Park fees
- (For non-residents)
- Gorilla permits
- (One per person, non-resident)
- Chimp permits
- (One per person, non-resident)
- All activities
- (Unless labeled as optional)
- All accommodation
- (Unless listed as upgrade)
- A professional driver/guide
- All transportation
- (Unless labeled as optional)
- All Taxes/VAT
- Roundtrip airport transfer
- Meals
- (As specified in the day-by-day section)
- Drinks
- (As specified in the day-by-day section)
The Cost Excludes
- International flights
- (From/to home)
- Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
- Personal items
- (Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
- Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The tour typically includes gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, chimpanzee tracking in Kibale National Park, game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park, accommodation, meals, park entry fees, gorilla and chimpanzee permits, transportation in a 4×4 vehicle, and the services of a professional guide. International flights, visa fees, and personal expenses are usually not included.
This tour offers a diverse wildlife experience. In addition to mountain gorillas and chimpanzees, you can expect to see:
- In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park: Mountain gorillas, various primates, and a range of bird species.
- In Kibale National Park: Chimpanzees, other primates like red colobus monkeys, and over 300 bird species.
- In Queen Elizabeth National Park: The Big Four (lions, elephants, buffaloes, and leopards), hippos, crocodiles, and tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha sector.
Both treks can be physically challenging. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi involves hiking through dense forest and steep, uneven terrain, which can take anywhere from 2 to 8 hours. Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale involves walking through the forest for several hours, often at a brisk pace. A moderate level of fitness is recommended for both activities, and porters are available for hire to assist with carrying your gear.
Essential items include sturdy hiking boots, lightweight long-sleeved clothing, a rain jacket, insect repellent, sunscreen, a hat, gloves (for gripping vegetation during the treks), and a daypack for carrying water and snacks. Binoculars and a camera with a good zoom lens are also recommended. For game drives, comfortable clothing in neutral colors is advisable.
The best time to visit for gorilla and chimpanzee trekking, as well as game viewing, is during the dry seasons: June to September and December to February. During these months, the trails are less muddy, and wildlife is more easily spotted. The wet seasons (March to May and October to November) can make trekking more challenging due to slippery trails, but the landscape is lush and vibrant, and there are fewer tourists.
