Pics

5 DAYS UGANDA MOUNTAIN GORILLA TREKKING AND WILDLIFE SAFARI

This 5 days mountain gorilla trekking and wildlife safari will take you to Bwindi Impenetrable forest national park for the magical mountain gorilla trekking experience and Queen Elizabeth national park for game safari, boat cruise safari and chimpanzee tracking experience. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is famous for being a home to half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas, one of Uganda's ancient as well as the most biologically diverse rainforests that is over 25,000 years with almost 400 species of plants that are forming the huge impenetrable forest that is ever green. It is a home to approximately 400 mountain gorillas, 120 mammal species such as numerous primate species, over 350 bird species, including 23 Albertine Rift endemics and is the ancient home of the Batwa bush people. Queen Elizabeth national park is one of the most beautiful savannah national park in Africa, second biggest and one of the Uganda's most visited national parks. Queen Elizabeth National Park owns unmatched beautiful crater lakes, the famous Kazinga channel, forested Gorges and Savannah plains. It’s a home to 95 wildlife mammals including; Lions, Leopards, Spotted hyenas, Common warthogs, several Antelope species among others and 600 recorded bird species.

Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe international airport – Meet and greet and be transferred to your booked hotel in Entebbe

On arrival at Entebbe international airport, you will be warmly met by a company representative who will be your professional English speaking safari guide throughout this 5 days mountain gorilla trekking and wildlife safari who will be at the airport guest waiting lounge for meet and greet and then transfer you to your booked hotel in Entebbe town to check in, freshen yourself and later meet your safari guide at the hotel reception to be briefed about the tour. The hotel is about 5-10 minutes’ drive from Entebbe international airport.  

Later, if time allows, drive to Entebbe botanical gardens that is found on the shore of Lake Victoria for a walking safari. Botanical gardens is a home to some primates such as Vervet monkeys and several bird species. The walking safari will take you to the shores of Lake Victoria where you will spot some water birds,  enjoy the fresh breezes from the lake as well as getting used to the Uganda’s beautiful nature. Lake Victoria is the largest water body in Africa and second largest fresh water body in the world and shared by three East African Countries (Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya). Lake Victoria is also the source of the River Nile which is the longest river on the planet flowing for more than 6,600 kilometers (4,100 miles) from Lake Victoria to the Mediterranean Sea in the north through several African countries these include Uganda, Egypt, Sudan, and South Sudan. Later, return to your hotel for dinner and an overnight.

Accommodation; Via Via Guest House (standard), 2 Friends Beach Hotel (mid-range), Protea Hotel by Marriott Entebbe (Luxury)

Meal plan; Dinner

Day 2: Entebbe city –Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest national park

On this day, after having hot breakfast, with all your luggage already packed in the vehicle, check out of the hotel (0700 am) and start your drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest national park, located in southwestern Uganda south of the Equator. You will have a stopover at the Kayabwe equator landmark to experience water experiments that are carried out on both sides of the equator line (Northern and Southern hemispheres), showing the difference in the movement of forces on each side of the planet. After the experiment, take some memorial photos while at this international landmark, visit craft shops, have a cup of coffee to feel the natural aroma of the Ugandan-made coffee, and later proceed with your journey with another stopover at Igongo Cultural Museum to have lunch and tour the great museum, which is one of Uganda’s richest heritages with history and traditions of the Ankole people and southwest Uganda that will take you centuries back into the lives of the Ankole people. Thereafter, proceed with your journey to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, where you will arrive in the evening to check in at your booked lodge, freshen yourself and spend your evening relaxing. Dinner and an overnight. 

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is famous for being home to half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. It is one of Uganda's oldest as well as most biologically diverse rainforests, with over 25,000 years of history and almost 400 species of plants that form the huge impenetrable forest that is evergreen. It is home to approximately 400 mountain gorillas, 120 mammal species such as numerous primate species, and over 350 bird species, including 23 Albertine Rift endemics, and is the ancient home of the Batwa bush people. This is an ideal tour to fully enjoy nature, beautiful scenery, and numerous primate species, such as the miraculous mountain gorillas. 

Accommodation; Broadbill Forest Camp (Standard), Bakiga Lodge (Mid-range), Mahogany Springs Lodge (Luxury)

Meal plan; Breakfast / Lunch/ Dinner

Day 3: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest national park – Mountain gorilla trekking – Game drive to search for the tree climbing lions – Drive Queen Elizabeth national park

On this day, wake up very early in the morning to have breakfast, get your packed lunch, meet your safari guide, and drive to the park information office to meet other guests to be briefed on the guidelines to follow in the forest while searching for the mountain gorilla. Then start your long-awaited wildlife adventure. Meeting mountain gorillas in their natural habitat offers an once-in-a-lifetime experience that cannot be found anywhere else in the world apart from Uganda, Rwanda, and DR Congo, and visitors that have had this experience before can give evidence that there is no other wildlife experience in Africa that matches spending an hour face-to-face with endangered mountain gorillas. In the course of mountain gorilla tracking, you may see many other wildlife species such as chimpanzees, bush pigs, forest elephants, and many bird species, and the guide will be able to give you information about species that you will encounter, hence making your walk so adventurous and exciting. After you have met the mountain gorillas, you will stay with them for a maximum of 1 hour and you will be free to take as many photos as you want to keep your amazing moments with the mountain gorillas, so your camera has to be fully charged and on standby. After spending an hour with the mountain gorillas, return to the park offices to get your trekking certificate of recognition for your support towards the conservation of the endangered mountain gorillas. Enjoy your packed lunch and refreshments, and later drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park through the Ishasha sector in the southern part of the park to search for the tree climbing lions. These unique tree-climbing lions are only found in the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Manyara in Tanzania and Kruger National Park in South Africa. However, Queen Elizabeth National Park is the best park to see them. After the game drive, proceed to the northern sector of the park to check in at your booked lodge for a relaxing dinner and overnight.

Accommodation; Pumba Safari Cottages (Standard), Buffalo Safari Lodge (Mid-range), Mweya Safari Lodge (Luxury)

Meal plan; Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner 

Day 4: Queen Elizabeth national park - Morning game drive – Afternoon boat cruise on Kazinga channel – Spend your evening relaxing

Begin your day with a heavy breakfast, then leave your lodge and drive to the Kasenyi plains, found in the northeastern part of the park, a fascinating place for wildlife sighting games to spot several wildlife species and beautiful views of Savannah. Queen Elizabeth National Park is understandably one of Uganda’s most popular national parks and an ideal habitat for classic big game such as the four mammals of the big five family of the African savannah (lions, leopards, elephants, and buffaloes), several antelope species, primates, warthogs, and many others. Game drives are one of the highlights of Queen Elizabeth National Park, where you can spot several mammals and enjoy the beautiful views of the savannah. During your half-day game drive through the Kasenyi trail, you will have a great chance to see various mammals such as Uganda Kobs, water bucks, elephants, Cape buffaloes, lions, warthogs, and several bird species. Your safari guide will ensure that you spot as many wildlife species as possible and give you as much information about everything that you may encounter during your game drive. Queen Elizabeth National Park is a feeding ground for over 95 mammal species and 600 recorded birds, making it an ideal destination for a game drive. Have a short break to relax, have lunch plus other refreshments and later depart for 2 hours’ Afternoon boat cruise safari along Kazinga channel, the main water stream which goes through the park and connects Lake George and Lake Edward. Boat cruise safari on the Kazinga Channel is one of the most recommended adventurous activities for visitors to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The cruise will bring you very close to several mammals such as hippos, Nile crocodiles, buffaloes, elephants, and many others, plus various water birds. The fantastic experience during the 2 hour boat cruise safari along the Kazinga channel makes it a must-do adventure for every guest. After the boat safari, return to your lodge to relax, have dinner, and overnight. 

Accommodation; Pumba Safari Cottages (Standard), Buffalo Safari Lodge (Mid-range), Mweya Safari Lodge (Luxury)

Meal plan; Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner 

Day 5: Queen Elizabeth national park – Morning chimpanzee tracking - Return to Entebbe International Airport

Wake up very early in the morning to have breakfast, have all your luggage packed in the vehicle and drive to the Kalinzu forest reserve head office where you will be warmly welcomed by the site local guide, be briefed on chimpanzee tracking and then start your forest walk to look out for chimpanzees and other primates in this forest. Kalinzu forest reserve is the second best forest in Uganda for chimpanzee experience, with over 50 well-habituated chimpanzee individuals for visitor tracking. During chimpanzee tracking, you may encounter other wildlife species such as over 380 other primates such as Red-tailed monkeys, Blue monkeys, L’hoest’s monkeys, Olive baboons, etc, about 261 butterfly species, 98 moths, reptiles, and flowers. The time taken during chimpanzee tracking in Kalinzu forest reserve is not known, but it may be between 1 to 4 hours depending on the location of the chimpanzee family you are tracking. Once you encounter them, you will be allowed to stay with them for a maximum of 1 hour and are free to take as many photos as possible. After meeting chimpanzees, return to the forest offices to freshen yourself with a bottle of water and then start your drive back to Entebbe or Entebbe international airport with a stopover at the Igongo cultural museum to have lunch and then drive straight to Entebbe international airport to prepare for your return flight. This will be the end of our 5 Days wildlife and primate experience safari.

Meal plan; Breakfast / Lunch 

The package price includes;

• 1 mountain gorilla trekking permit per person
• 1 chimpanzee trekking permit per person
• Private transport for 5 days using a well-modified safari van/land-cruiser (Air-conditioned full time, 4WD and pop up roof)
• Professional English / French speaking safari guide for 5 days
• Private standard/mid-range/luxury accommodations on full board (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner) for 4 days
• Return airport transfers (Pick up and drop off)
• All en-route meals and mineral water throughout your tour
• A visit to Igongo cultural center
• En-route stop at the Equator
• Mountain gorilla trekking safari
• Game drive safari in Ishasha sector to search for the tree climbing lions
• Morning and evening game drive safaris in Queen Elizabeth national park
• 2 hour’s afternoon boat cruise along the Kazinga channel
• Chimpanzee trekking safari

The package price excludes;

• International and domestic air ticket
• Country entry visas
• Items of personal nature/tips/laundry/telephone charges/ souvenir shopping,
• Personal travel insurance
• Extra meals and activities
• Alcoholic and other soft drinks (Sodas, special juice order at the lodge and wines)
• PCR test