5 Days – Bwindi Impenetrable and Queen Elizabeth National Park

Taking this safari will offer you an opportunity to see various animals including leopards, hippos, elephants, crocodiles, lions, antelopes, and birds. You will see all these during a boat cruise on the Kazinga channel as well as game drive. You will visit Bwindi Impenetrable forest plus Queen Elizabeth National Park taking you nearer to nature and experience Uganda’s wilderness.

Day One:  Bwindi Impenetrable Forest safari

Following an early breakfast you will drive to Bwindi Impenetrable forest in A 4wheel safari vehicle guided by an English speaking driver. He will detail you about the various features you will encounter on this countryside adventure. he will stop the vehicle at any time in case you sight something of interest worth taking photographs. Stop in Mbarara for lunch and drive on to Kabale, it’s extremely hilly and you will appreciate its scenery. Continue to Bwindi where you will arrive late in the afternoon.

Check-in to your accommodation; these are pretty many near the park ranging from budget, up market and moderate. Examples of these include Buhoma Community Rest Camp, Gorilla Resort, Buhoma Lodge, Gorilla Forest Camp, Mahogany Springs Lodge among others. These are well located with a nice view looking over the Impenetrable Forest. Basing on the location of the gorillas they might visit your lodge that evening. This is wonderful and spectacular to all visitors who have got this opportunity to see them in the lodge’s vicinity. Enjoy the nighttime sounds of this forest as you finally sleep.

Day Two: Adventure with the Mountain Gorillas;

Wake up very early for breakfast and continue to the park Headquarters to be oriented and meeting your Ranger guide. There You will be separated into groups of 8 basing on the gorilla family you are tracking. Tracking takes anything from 2 hours to the entire day however all this is exciting as you views some other primates, plants, small animals and birds along the way.

Trekking is really a mysterious activity that will raise your hopes until you eventually meet the amazing Mountain Gorillas. This requires a bit of physical fitness because you will move up the steep mountain as you look for these gorillas. If you get exhausted, there are porters to help carry you at an additional fee. Eventually meeting the Mountain Gorillas will turn out a dream come true. You’ll watch them do their day to day routine, play, rest and feed their young ones. You are allowed to take photographs as long as you turn the flash of your camera off. You will certainly enjoy this memorable moment with them and this experience is well worth your money and time.

Basing on the time and your energy, you may continue for a village walk to interact with the Batwa people. These African pygmies live and survive on Bwindi forest. You will also visit the women’s handcraft shop, the traditional healer, a community school as well as observe the preparation of the local brew. If time allows, you will listen to their traditional stories and be entertained with cultural dance and songs as a gesture of thanking you for your visit. This will finally end this adventurous day within Bwindi. Head back to your lodge for your dinner and the night’s rest.

Day Three: Queen Elizabeth National Park:

A nice breakfast and leave for Queen Elizabeth National Park, driving through the stunning Ishasha region and have an opportunity to see the renowned tree climbing lions, your vehicle will stop to ensure that you have the best photo shots of the lions. You may choose to sleep inside or out of the park although the perfect option will be staying at Ishasha Wilderness Tented Camp a luxury facility offering wonderful views over the river.

Additional lodges here are Katara lodge, Kyambura game lodge, Kingfisher lodge, Enganzi lodge and Bush lodge. Animals normally move around the lodge and you will have a chance of seeing them as you dine. Have lunch and relax.

Queen Elizabeth has several animals including buffaloes, hyenas, monkeys, leopards, lions, antelopes plus elephants among others. It is the best place to see Uganda’s wildlife. A Visit to the shadows of Mountain Rwenzori will offer you an opportunity to see several of these together with various species of birds. In the evenings you can set out accompanied with a guide to see more animals. Head back to dine and  rest at your lodge.

Day Four:

After an early breakfast prepare for another game drive. The best time to see wild animals heading back to their sleep nests and others awaken to search for food is in the morning.  Warthogs are really amazing and you will see them running around this park, Raptors soaring over the wide savannah, solitary buffaloes, and Elephants match with their calves, Impalas, lions with their cubs, Leopards, Ugandan Kob, antelopes and birds. Head back to the lodge for Lunch and to Rest as you get ready for the boat cruise in the afternoon on the Kazinga Channel. Ensure your camera is well charged so as to capture the entire wildlife spectacle on camera.

You will see several hippos playing in the water, crocodiles laze around in the sun, buffaloes and elephants drinking water, and various birds flying  around and even see other animals a distance away since the boat will be moving slowly.  This experience is very memorable and later you will return to the lodge for your dinner and night’s rest.

Day 5: Kyambura Gorge:

Early breakfast and drive to Kyambura Gorge to trek chimpanzees. The guide will lead you to the best place to see these chimpanzees. As you move you will see other primates plus bird species and if time allows, you may visit the Maramagamba forest to see bat caves. Head back to the lodge for your lunch and drive back to Kampala. Stop at the Uganda Equator to take pictures and Visit the craft shops to purchase souvenirs to remind of the great holiday you had in Uganda.

Reach Kampala in the late afternoon, check-in to your hotel and in case your flight is that day your transfer to Entebbe airport, else, enjoy the vibrant Kampala nightlife, where the party never ends. You will dance, eat and drink throughout the night. They play all types of Music including local and the western musical hits.  Later the guide will drive you back to your lodge for your night’s rest

End of the safari

INCLUDES

• Transfer from the airport on the arrival day to the hotel
• 4 x 4 Safari vans for game drive
• Park entry fees
• 3 meals a day, bottled water for use during the safari
• Accommodation in Camping/Hotel /Tented camp
• Gorilla permit
• Driver/Guide allowances
• All Ground  Fees

EXCLUDES:

• Tips
• Rain jackets, hand cloves
• Visa
• International air ticket
• Personal needs
• Balloon safari in Maasai Mara
• Personal needs
• Samburu village visit
• Maasai village visit.