7 Days Uganda Safari – Gorilla tracking, wildlife safari and chimpanzee tracking at Kibale forest national park Uganda
Trip Highlights
Day 1: Kampala – Bwindi National Park
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 3: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park – Queen Elizabeth national park
Day 4: Game viewing in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 5: Transfer from Queen Elizabeth National Park to Kibale Forest National park
Day 6: Kibale Forest National Park – Chimpanzee tracking
Day 7: Transfer from Kibale Forest National Park to Kampala
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Kampala – Bwindi National Park
Your guide will pick you from your hotel early in the morning and drive you to the south western part of the country through a verdant country side. You may have a stopover at traditional drum makers, a photo shoot at the Equator. With a lunch stop at Igongo cultural center Mbarara, proceed further south through the fascinating scenery of the Kigezi rolling hills adorned with terraces. You will reach Bwindi impenetrable forest in the evening and check in at your preferred lodge.
Day 2: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park / cultural walk
Ultimately the most exciting of all- meeting the gentle gorillas of the mist. Have an early breakfast 6:30am, then proceed to the park headquarters by 7.30am for a briefing from the Park Wardens. Ensure to carry along rain jacket, drinking water, snacks, and ankle high jungle boots.
The park wardens will allocate you different gorilla families which you will track. Besides seeing Gorillas other animals such as antelopes, bush pigs, chimpanzees, baboons, elephants and over 350 bird species are a common siting this park.
Do not forget to take your lunch boxes and all the necessary gear to track the rare Mountain Gorilla, perhaps one of the most exciting wildlife experiences on earth.
When you finally get to meet the gentle giants you are allowed a maximum of one hour with them, photos are allowed, but no flash photography, minimum 5 meters distance must be kept, avoid contact with the gorillas as you can spread diseases but also coming close may mean invading their space which the silverbacks or dominate males may not take lightly thus this could lead to charging- also avoid running away in case of charging by the gorillas.
The tracking may take between 2 and 8 hours but it’s well worth the effort. The afternoon is spent on a village cultural walk which gives you a great opportunity to see how the people surrounding Bwindi Impenetrable Forest live. It also is a great way to support the local community in a direct way.
The walk begins at your accommodation- visit the local Doctor as he performs his trade- visit the pygmies locally known as the Batwa, who originally lived in the rain forest before it was gazette in to a national park in 1991, they will show case songs, dances- different skills – fire making, hunting and storytelling-you will also visit a school run by community NGO thus by visiting the school you will be the supporting the these dis-advantaged kids.
You will get to see the local home steads, local people see and learn their ways. The cultural excursion will showcase art and craft, dance and culture as well as way of life if you have time you can learn a few skills yourself.
You will see several souvenir shops, schools, churches and drinking joints. Other options includes taking the trails, to see the stunning waterfalls or you can choose to have a birding expedition in the forest addition to various primates.
Accommodation (full board)
Budget: Ruhija Gorilla Friends Camp / Buhoma community Rest camp/ Gorilla Valley Lodge/ Trackers tavern
Moderate: Bakiga Lodge/ Ichumbi Safari Lodge.
Luxury: Buhoma Lodge /Mahogany Lodge /Rushanga Gorilla Safari Lodge/ Silverback Lodge,
Exclusive Upgrade Lodges: Clouds Lodge /Gorilla Forest camp
Day 3: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park – Queen Elizabeth national park
We shall drive through the country side passing through traditional homesteads and farms. Continue on to Queen Elizabeth National through the northern part of the park (Ishasha sector) as you look out for the tree climbing lions resting in the fig trees. You may as well be rewarded by the sight of Elephants, water bucks, antelopes grazing in the Ishasha plains. Have lunch and continue to the upper part of the park at Kasenyi with an evening game drive. Retire and check in at your preferred lodge.
Day 4: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Take a 6.30 am morning game drive to catch up with the early raisers like the leopard, lion, spotted hyena among others. The park’s diverse ecosystem of grassland plains, tropical forest, rivers, swamps, lakes and volcanic craters is home to an incredible abundance of wildlife. As you take the Kasenyi trail, look out for buffalos, elephants, giraffes, warthogs, topis, kobs, waterbucks, bush bucks, bush duikers among others. Also to expect is a stupendous bird life that includes the martial eagle, the Woodland kingfisher, the great blue turaco, the grey plantain eater among the 606 species recorded in the park. Return to the lodge for a late breakfast. After lunch go for the afternoon launch cruise on the Kazinga Channel. This is a home of a variety of water birds including the African Fish eagle, the African Skimmer, pelican, the pre-historic looking shoe bill and on a hot day, hippos, elephants, buffaloes and waterbucks can be sighted as they bathe and drink water at the water edge. Crocodiles are common residents and are regularly sighted along the channel banks. Dinner and overnight at your preferred lodge.
Accommodation Options (fullboard)
Luxury: Mweya safari Lodge, Elephant plains safari lodge, Mazike Valley lodge
Midrange: Kyambura game lodge, Ihamba Lake Side, Twin Lakes, Bush Lodge, Ishasha jungle lodge, Ishasha wilderness camp
Budget: Simba safari camp, Twin lakes safari lodge, Bush lodge-tents
Day 5: Queen Elizabeth National Park – Kibale Forest National park
After breakfast, you will transfer to Kibale forest national park famed for its high population of primates in Africa and home to the Chimpanzee. You will pass through Kasese as you enjoy the captivating sight of the Rwenzori mountain ranges’ well decorating the sky line’s back ground and arrive in Kibale in time for lunch. After lunch, you will embark on a nature walk through Bigodi wetland for primate and bird watching. Overnight stay at your preferred lodge.
Accommodation (full board)
Luxury: Primate Lodge, Papaya lake side lodge,
Mid-range: chimpanzee corteges, Isunga lodge, mountains of the moon
Budget: kibale forest camp, chimpanzee guest house, Rwenzori view guest house
Day 6: Kibale Forest National Park – Chimpanzee tracking
After an early morning breakfast, report to the park headquarters with your packed lunch for briefing by the senior park guide. Proceed to track man’s closest relative of all the apes in this vast forest. You are likely to encounter other primates like olive baboons, bonobos, red colobus, black and white colobus, red and blue monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey among others as well as wide diversity of birds. If time allows, you may take an optional evening visit to the crater lakes of Ndali. Retire for an overnight at your lodge.
Accommodation (full board)
Luxury: Primate Lodge, Papaya lake side lodge,
Mid-range: chimpanzee corteges, Isunga lodge, mountains of the moon
Budget: Kibale forest camp, Chimpanzee guest house, Rwenzori view guest house
Day 7: Kibale Forest National Park-Kampala
You will check out at the lodge after breakfast as you drive back to Kampala through Mubende. You may take an optional visit to Nakayima Tree which is believed to be the house for a goddess Nakayima and her spirits and some locals go to seek their favor. Proceed with an en route lunch in Mityana or Kampala depending on where time for lunch will find you. Upon arrival in Kampala, do the last minute shopping and take a brief tour around the city, then transfer to the airport arriving in time for your departure flight.
End of the Safari
Safari inclusions
Gorilla Permit.
Chimpanzee Permits
Fresh drinking water on board
Full Board Accommodation
Full time English speaking Driver/Guide
Transportation by a 4×4 safari vehicle
Airport transfer.
Exclusions:
Airfares
Visa Fees
Personal Insurance
Expenses of personal nature such as; drinks, tips, laundry, telephone, cigarettes, accommodation & meals not indicated in the itinerary and optional activities.
