Day 1 Arrival in Uganda
Arrive any time at Entebbe International airport, meet and greet and transfer to a hotel in Kampala where you spend a night.
Driving time: ± 1hr or 10min
Luxury Accommodation: – Cassia Lodge or Hotel African or Namirembe guest house budget
Meal Plan: – Bed and Breakfast
Day 2 Drive to Kibale forest 339Kms
Drive to Kibale Forest area, the drive is a full day of approximately seven hours. After leaving the Lake Victoria Basin pass through beautiful agricultural countryside where every type of fruit and vegetable imaginable is grown. Upon reaching Kyanjojo, in the lower foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains {Mountains of the Moon}, we drive through beautiful tea plantations and into Kibale tropical rain forest. Beautiful Ndali Lodge is situated on a high saddle between two crater lakes.
Driving time: ± 5 hours
Luxury Accommodation: – Crater Lodge or Kibale forest cottages
Meal Plan: – Lunch, Diner
Day 3 Chimpanzee Forest Walk and Afternoon Bigodi
This morning we get the opportunity to explore Kibale Forest National Park. Kibale Forest is home to 13 primate species and a guided forest trek can be taken in search of one of the most popular primate species in the world – the chimpanzee. There are 9 diurnal primates, these include, vervet, red‐tailed, L’Hoest’s, blue monkeys, grey‐cheeked manabey, red colobus, black and white colobus, olive baboon and the most famous of all, the chimpanzee. Although chimp sightings are not guaranteed, the odds are good with the chance of encountering them standing at higher than 90%. This morning you will go on a forest walk in search of primates. Whilst trekking in the depths of the lush green forest, you will be surrounded by bird song and can expect to see at least 5 or 6 other types of primate, most probably the grey‐cheeked managebey and the red‐tailed monkey and of course the chimpanzee. The walking is fairly easy due to the well‐maintained trails and reasonably flat terrain. This afternoon we have a swamp walk.
We visit the crater lakes in the evening before we return to rest for the night.
Driving time: ± Days activities
Luxury Accommodation: – Crater Lodge or Kibale forest cottages
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch, Diner
Day 4 Drive to Bwindi Forest 258kms
Drive to Bwindi via Queen Elizabeth National Park. The drive passes through Fort Portal and then south along the eastern length of the Rwenzori Mountains {Mountains of the Moon} with the hope of seeing the glaciated peaks. The drive is a full day gently descending into The Great African Rift Valley to Queen Elizabeth National Park visiting ishasha famous for tree climbing lions and continuing to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest with overnight at Bwindi.
Driving time: ± 7 ½ hours.
Luxury Accommodation: – Silverback Lodge or Buhoma Community
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch, Diner
Day 5 Gorilla Tracking Day
Gorilla tracking day.
After breakfast take a short drive to Park Headquarters and meet with excellent local guides and trackers who will give a talk on the etiquette of gorilla trekking. We then hike into the forest where the gorillas were seen the night before and track from that point. The trekking can take from 1 to 6 hours and climb to altitudes in excess of 7,500 feet. The terrain is rough and at times muddy. Although the hike is physically demanding the beauty of the forest and surrounding scenery make the trekking worthwhile. Once the gorillas are located all fatigue is forgotten, as the experience is often described as being the most profound natural history experience in the world. Picnic lunches are provided and it is important to take plenty of water. Cameras and plenty of fast speed film are recommended. It can rain at a few minutes’ notice; hence waterproof clothing is a good essential including zip lock bags for cameras and film. N.B. We cannot guarantee seeing Gorillas.
Driving time: ± focus on gorillas.
Luxury Accommodation: – Silverback lodge or Buhoma community
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch, Diner
Day 6 Drive to Lake Mburo national park
Drive to Mbarara passing through the Switzerland of East Africa area and eventually into Ankole Cattle country around Mbarara. These cattle are incredible with horns larger than one can imagine. Continue to Lake Mburo National Park, game drive. The drive today is 6 to 7 hours. Lake Mburo National Park is a small park, excellent for birding, antelope and other grazers, one of the only places to easily see Impala and zebra in Uganda. Game drives offer particularly picturesque game viewing with the Park’s mixture of Savannah, acacia woodlands, grassy valleys, rocky outcrops, swamps, lakes and rolling hills. Herds of impala (found nowhere else in Uganda), buffalo and zebra, plus waterbuck and eland are amongst the variety of wildlife to be seen. Birders will enjoy the Park’s 310 recorded water and dry land species. In this valley we can operate night drives and walks. This is the only park where we will see Impala and Burchellʹs Zebra. It is an excellent place for walking and exploring a nearby Khopji to perhaps see Klipspringer. Game drive to the lodge.
Driving time: ± 6 hours.
Luxury Accommodation: – Rwakobo Lodge or Mburo Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch, Diner
Day 7 Drive Back to Entebbe 229kms
This morning walking safari and drive back to Entebbe after an early lunch, this takes approximately 5 hours – road and weather dependent. If time permits it is possible to stop in Kampala for shopping craft. You are then transferred to Entebbe International airport to connect with your departure flight. Please note the departure flight must be in the late afternoon or evening, alternatively we can arrange another overnight in Entebbe.
(BL)
Driving time: ± 5 hours.
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch
Gorilla Permit Guarantee
we like to sell our tours with gorilla permits. If no permits are available for a tour, cancelling is free of charge and any money paid in advance will be refunded.
Included in the price for this trip
* Guides
* Vehicle
* Fuel
* English speaking driver
* Park entrances
* Game drives
* Boat rides
* Chimpanzee walk
* Gorilla Permits
* Swamp walk
* Accommodation
* Breakfast, lunch and dinner
* Bottled Water
* Rangers in the parks
Not included in the price for this trip
* Drinks
* Tips
* Flights
* Porters
* Laundry services
* Visa (Uganda)
* Any other personal interests
* travel insurance