5 Days Gorilla and Wildlife Safari in Uganda
This 5 Days Gorilla and Wildlife Safari in Uganda: will firstly cover wild game viewing in Queen Elizabeth national park and secondly gorilla trekking in Bwind Impenetrable Forest National Park. Queen Elizabeth National Park is generally a home to various mammals like the tree climbing lions in the Ishasha sector. However, the park also offers visitors a chance to watch high concentrations of water animals like elephants, hippos as well as bird watching along a launch cruise on the Kazinga. You will also visit Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for your gorilla trekking. While here, you will also have an opportunity to see other primates such as the baboons, red-tailed monkeys, chimpanzees, black and white colobus etc. For the birders, the park also hosts over 350 bird species which include the white-bellied robin chat, brown-necked parrot, white-tailed blue flycatcher, not to mention but a few.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Depart Entebbe/Kampala–Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
After an early breakfast, you will be picked by one of our representatives from Great Nest Image Safaris and later set off for Queen Elizabeth National Park. The drive will take you through Uganda’s beautiful countryside with scenic views of tea plantations as well as rolling hills. Upon arrival, you will check in your lodge for Dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation
- Buffalo Safari Lodge
Meals & Drinks
- Full board
Day 2: Morning Game Drive-Afternoon Boat Cruise
After your early morning breakfast, you will go for an early morning game drive to catch the early risers in the Kasenyi Sector of the park. While here, expect to see different animals like the elephants, Lions, buffaloes, waterbucks, Uganda Kobs etc. Later, return to your lodge for lunch and in the afternoon head out for a 2-3 hours launch cruise along the Kazinga channel. Here, you will see large concentrations of wildlife along the banks of the river like buffalos, hippos, elephants. In addition you will see a number of different bird species like the herons, kingfishers, African skimmers, not to mention but a few. Dinner and overnight stay at your lodge.
Accommodation
- Buffalo Safari Lodge
Meals & Drinks
- Full board
Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
You will have your early morning breakfast, then depart for Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park home to the endangered mountain gorillas. The Park comprises of over 459 mountain gorillas, with over 10 habituated gorilla groups. Dinner and overnight stay at your lodge.
Accommodation
- Gorilla closeup lodge
Meals & Drinks
- Full board
Day 4: Gorilla Trekking-Batwa Cultural Experience
After an early morning breakfast, you will be driven to the park headquarters. Here, you will be briefed by the park rangers about the dos and don’ts while trekking in the park. You will also be divided in a group of 8 individuals and afterwards, you will start off your gorilla trekking guided by the park rangers. However, the time taken and the terrain vary with the movements of these great primates. Upon locating a gorilla group, you will be allowed an hour in their presence, taking photographs as well as videos for remembrance to take back home. Later in the evening, you will go for the Batwa Cultural Experience which will expose you to their culture basing on how they live, dance, and also listening to stories concerning their culture which will leave you amazed. Dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation
- Buffalo Safari Lodge
Meals & Drinks
- Full board
Day 5: Departure Entebbe/Kampala
After breakfast, you will transfer back to Kampala/Entebbe with en route stopover in Mbarara town for Lunch.
END OF SAFARI TOUR
Activities
- Game drive
- Boat Cruise along Kazinga Channel
- Gorilla trekking
- Batwa Cultural Experience
Optional activities
Birding in Bwindi
Birders with a limited amount of time in Buhoma are strongly urged to stick to the Munyaga River Trail. This 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. On the other hand, 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 etc.
- Birding in Queen Elizabeth National Park
The park has a bird list of more than 501 different bird species which in fact makes it the best place for enthusiastic birders to enjoy. Bird species include: the Long-tailed Cormorants, African Mourning Doves, African open-billed Stork, Great-white and Pink-backed Pelicans, Squaco Heron Grey-capped Warbler, Grey-headed Kingfisher, as well as the Swamp Fly-catcher.
Visit the Traditional Salt Mine at Katwe
You will have an opportunity to check out this very old salt mine which since the fourteenth (14th) century has been in existence. You will also see the traditional mining methods being used by the locals to mine the salt as well as their fascination way of life.
Nature Walks in Maramagambo Forest
We organize short and longer nature walks guided by very knowledgeable and skilled guides inside the Maramagambo forest. During these walks, you will get an opportunity to visit the bat caves found near the breathtaking Blue Lake. These ancient caves today are however habitat to large pythons which prey on the hundreds and hundreds of bats that live here. Additionally, you will also encounter several beautifully colored butterflies and several bird species as you explore this forest.
Chimpanzee Tracking in Kyambura Reserve
The Kyambura Wildlife Reserve is situated in the eastern side of the park. It is home to quite a number of different wildlife among which are several birds and primates. Although olive baboons and the Black and white colobus monkeys are present here, the primary tourist activity here is chimpanzee tracking during which tourists get a chance to come face to face with these forest apes which are also referred to as man’s closest living relative since they share 98% of their DNA with man.
Number of Days
5 Days/4 Nights
Included
- All Park entry fees
- Gorilla permits
- A professional driver/guide
- All transportation including fuel
- All activities (included in the itinerary)
- Meals
- All accommodation (included in the itinerary)
- All Taxes/VAT
- Roundtrip/Airport transfer
- Bottled drinking water
Excluded
- International flights
- Personal items
- Extra Meals
- Extra accommodation
- Tips
- Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
Permits
In Uganda Gorilla trekking is done throughout the year and the permit goes for $700 per person and payable through the Uganda Wildlife Authority or through our Company.
Requirements for the safari
- Gorilla permits should be paid in advance through our Company or Uganda Wildlife Authority.
- Proof of Yellow fever vaccination.
- Good physical, fit health and mental condition.
- Uganda Visa which can be got on arrival at the Airport.
- Travelers must be at least 15 years old on the day the trekking.
- Travel & Health insurance arranged from your home Country.
- Hiking shoes.
- Water proof Jacket.
- Long Sleeves shirt & Waterproof Pants.
- Warm Jacket.
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