This 5 Days Queen-Bwindi Gorilla Safari : gives you a chance to explore Uganda’s gifts of nature through visiting one of the most magnificent parks with their unique attractions. Queen Elizabeth National Park is well known for its tree climbing lions and one of the most visited national park. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park popularly known as home to mountain gorillas which are among the endangered species in the world today.
Activities
- Stop over at the Equator line.
- Game drive.
- Boat cruise.
- Mountain Gorilla trekking.
- Igongo cultural center.
- Batwa cultural experience
Tour Highlights
Day 1: Depart Kampala-Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 2: Game drive-Boat cruise
Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Day 4: Gorilla trekking-Batwa cultural experience
Day 5: Transfer back to Kampala-Igongo cultural center
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Depart Kampala-Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
After an early morning breakfast, you will be picked by our representative/guide from your residence/hotel and will brief you about the entire safari trip. Thereafter continue with your journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park. A stop over shall be made at the Equator line for some refreshments, equator experiments and photography. Lunch shall be in Mbarara town, after continue to Queen Elizabeth National Park. On arrival, you will check-in for dinner and overnight stay.
Meals
- Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Accommodation Options
- Mweya safari lodge (Luxury)
- Buffalo Safari Lodge (Mid-range)
- Simba safari camp (Budget)
Day 2: Game drive-Boat cruise
Enjoy an early breakfast, thereafter go for a dawn break game drive through the game trails of the “medley of wonders”. Here expect to see different wildlife like the African elephants, cape buffaloes, impalas, lions, leopards and many more. After, you head back to the lodge for lunch as you prepare for an afternoon boat cruise. Here you will have a closer view of the aquatic wildlife like; the hippos, crocodiles and array of birds along the water banks.
Meals
- Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Accommodation Options
- Mweya safari lodge (Luxury)
- Buffalo Safari Lodge (Mid-range)
- Simba safari camp (Budget)
Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
After an early breakfast, you will check out of the lodge and embark on your journey to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park via Ishasha where on a lucky day, you will be able to spot many climbing lions lounging on the trees and enjoying the cool breeze. Lunch shall be on your way, thereafter continue to Bwindi reaching late afternoon, check-in for dinner and overnight stay.
Meals
- Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Accommodation Options
- Buhoma lodge (Luxury)
- Nkuringo Gorilla camp (Mid-range)
- Buhoma community Rest camp (Budget)
Day 4: Gorilla Trekking-Batwa cultural experience
Enjoy an early breakfast, thereafter proceed to the park headquarters for some briefing by the Park rangers about the dos and don’ts while trekking these animals. The trekking experience is such a memorable one since these endangered species are human-like in nature. During this activity, the rangers will continue explaining to you about other unique aspects about them. This activity may take about 2-8 hours depending on the location and movement of the gorilla families. After locating where they will be, one hour will be granted in their presence as you enjoy their daily activities, take photos and videos for remembrance. Later you will head back to the lodge for a hot lunch and prepare for another enjoyable activity in the evening. After relaxing, you go for the batwa cultural experience where you get to interact and listen to the stories of these people who used to live in the forest in harmony with the gorillas, feel free to engage in their dances, folk songs and you can as well buy some souvenirs for remembrance.
Meals
- Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Accommodation Options:
- Buhoma lodge (Luxury)
- Nkuringo gorilla camp (Mid-range)
- Buhoma community Rest camp (Budget)
Day 5: Transfer back to Kampala-Igongo cultural centre
After an early breakfast, you will check out of the lodge and embark on your journey back to Kampala. We you will lunch at Igongo cultural centre in Mbarara town and also a chance to visit the museum showcasing the Ankole culture. Later, proceed with your journey to Kampala/ Entebbe.
END OF SAFARI TRIP
Inclusions
- Gorilla permits
- Park entrance fees
- All activities
- 4 nights’ accommodation
- Transport transfers (Kampala/ Entebbe)
- Bottled drinking water
- Taxes
Exclusions
- Tips
- Beverages
- Phone calls
- Extra meals
- Extra/Additional accommodation
- Airfares
- Laundry
SAFARI TRANSPORT
Standard 4X4 Safari Vehicles
Our standard mode of transport is by road and we use 4×4 Safari vehicles. Each Safari vehicle comes with a professionally trained driver/guide with fuel for the whole safari. We also have very comfortable super customs which can carry up to 6 people with their luggage, we also have small vehicles like Alphads, Harrier and much more that can carry 4-5 people.
Optional Activities
Activities in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Chimpanzee tracking
The only habituated chimpanzee community in Queen Elizabeth National Park inhabits an isolated strip of riparian forest in the 100m deep Kyambura River Gorge, which runs for 16km on the park’s eastern boundary with quite easy to locate the chimps. Guided chimp-tracking excursions depart twice-daily and permits cost US$50 inclusive of the guide but excluding the park entrance fee.
Lion tracking
Lion tracking involves learning much more about the habits of the king of the jungle in natural plains of kasenyi within the national park. Lions with radio collars are tracked by a researcher who use the radiation trackers to monitor the movement of the lions with the radio collars. Lion tracking is one of the most interesting experimental tourism activities in Uganda. Limited numbers of participants are allowed to a natural habitat. This means if you are to join the team you have to book in advance. This activity lasts for 2-3 days and only twice a day; in the morning around 8am and late afternoon. The coast of a lion permit authorized by Uganda Wildlife Authority is US$60 for international tourists and UGX 100,000 for the members of the East African Community.
Birding
The park contains over 600 bird species making it a must visit destination for birder to Uganda. Migratory birds are seen from November to April however birds can be seen throughout the year. Hot spots for the best birding in Queen Elizabeth National Park include; Kazinga Channel, Kasenyi Area, Mweya Peninsula, Maramagambo Forest, Ishasha Sector, Lake Kikorongo, Katunguru Bridge area and Katwe Area. Watch out for the shoebill, Martial Eagle, Black rumped buttonquail, African skimmer, Verreaux’s eagle-owl, Black bee-Eater, White-tailed lark, White –winged warbler.
Maramagambo Forest
The vastness of this forest is alluded to in its name, which derives from local phrase meaning ‘the end of words’ and refers to a legend about a group of young people who got lost there many years ago and took so long to find their way out and they were unable to speak when they returned home.
Activities in Bwindi
Village walk in Bwindi
This 3 hour stroll through Buhoma and its margins immerses visitors in the customs and practices of the Bakiga and Batwa people. The tour takes in varied activities such as farming, brewing local beer, dispensing traditional medicines and concludes with dancing displays by members of the Batwa community.
Bird watching in Bwindi
Birders with a limited amount of time in Buhoma are strongly urged to stick to the Munyanga River trail, which starts on the edge of the park behind the gorilla tracking trail head and follows the same old road through the forest south of Buhoma as the waterfall trail. The open road provides better birding opportunities than a narrow forest path and on a good morning you could hope to see over 60 bird species. Among the common species seen include; the great blue turaco, black bee-eater, red-tailed bulbul, bar tailed trogon, Doherty’s bush-shrike, white bellied robin-chat and much more.
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