5 Days Gorillas And Wildlife Safari

This Safari targets two of Uganda’s most popular national parks; Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi Impenetrable National Parks. Explore Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, home to the famous mountain Gorillas up to 55% of the total Mountain Gorilla population in the world. With 200 species of tree, 350 bird species, 310 butterfly species, 88 moths, 51 reptiles and 120 mammals including mammals.  Bwindi has 19 habituated Gorilla groups that are accessible for trekking. Be prepared for some strenuous exercise on the steep, densely vegetated slopes of the impenetrable forest.
Queen Elizabeth National Park, the most popular park to enjoy game viewing in Uganda. Enjoy game drives through the savanna park, a search for the tree climbing lions in the Ishasha sector, a launch trip along the Kazinga Channel, an oasis for many of the fascinating species that inhabit the park including hundreds of enormous hippos, buffalos, elephants and a wide variety of birds.

• Day 1: Kampala – Queen Elizabeth National Park
• Day 2: Kampala – Queen Elizabeth National Park
• Day 3: Tree climbing Lions in Ishasha
• Day 4: Gorilla Trekking
• Day 5: Departure back to Kampala

Day 1: Kampala – Queen Elizabeth National Park

Begin your trip as early as 6:00am (local time) in the morning from Kampala and head to Queen Elizabeth national park overlooking the foothills of Mountain Rwenzori. It is approximately 7hrs drive – 417km to get to Queen Elizabeth national park.

A stop over at the Uganda Equator will offer you an opportunity to appreciate nature as you participate in an experiment to ascertain the intersection of the sphere’s surface.  Proceed to Mbarara town for your lunch – the local dishes can suffice. Traverse the crater lakes region, notably Lake Rutoto, shaped like the map of Africa; the tea plantations and finally the rift valley escarpment overlooking the Rwenzori Mountains and the lakes George and Edward with the Kazinga Channel, are but a big spectacle!

Day 2: Kampala – Queen Elizabeth National Park

After an early morning cup of tea, begin your game drive towards the Kasenyi track. The northern sector of the park (Kasenyi) has the highest concentration of wildlife including Uganda kobs, waterbucks, topis, elephants, buffaloes, warthogs, lions and a variety of savanna related birds. Later return to the lodge for lunch as you prepare for an afternoon launch cruise.

The afternoon launch cruise is a big highlight as you seize an opportunity to interface with most mammals in the park including four of the big five – elephants, buffaloes, lions and leopards; others include hippos, waterbucks, warthogs, etc.; and birds in this park over 619 species ranking Queen Elizabeth national park the second highest of any park in Africa – the 6th highest of any park in the world.

Kazinga-Channel

The Kazinga Channel is the birders’ haven! A collection of birds like Cassin’s grey flycatcher, broad billed roller, black bee-eater concentrate along the banks of Lake Edward.

Day 3. Tree climbing Lions in Ishasha

This morning takes your breakfast and transfer to Ishasha Game Reserve in search for tree climbing lions. They begin climbing the trees at sunrise simply to rest after a night long hunt for the antelopes in the Ishasha Sector in QENP

A game drive in the Ishasha grassland is another excellent game viewing experience as you encounter big herds of Uganda kobs, defassa waterbucks, or oribis, topis, etc. Lunch en-route Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and prepare for Gorilla Tracking the next day.

Day 4: Gorilla Trekking

Have an early morning breakfast, and after proceed to the park headquarters to have a briefing about the dos and don’ts of gorilla trekking in Bwindi. The rangers will then accompany you to the rain forest to start your search for the gentle giants. This walk can sometimes be tough and it needs someone so strong. Trekkers are always advised to carry their rain coats and boots because the weather there is always unpredictable. There are also some potters who always help with the carrying of the luggage on behalf of the visitors but at a small cost.

On sighting the gorillas, the rangers will guide you on handle them, especially by giving them a 6-meter distance as you enjoy them play around. It’s always not easy to predict how long gorilla tracking will take and this also depends on the location of some families since some of them are far from the park headquarters.

However, it always takes 2 to 8 hours to come into contact with them and the rangers will always be there to guide you. Trackers are also advisable to be physically fit before going for tracking. After your trek, return to the lodge for your lunch and in the afternoon, you may opt to visit the Batwa community to enjoy some cultural performances before retiring at your lodge.

Day 5: Departure back to Kampala

Have breakfast at the hotel and after start your transfer to Kampala, have lunch at Mbarara town and have another stopover at the equator to have some photos and experiments. After, proceed to Kampala arriving in the late afternoon.

TIPS ON WHAT TO BRING

Walking Boots, Training shoes, Water proof Jacket, Pants, Shirts, Trousers, Skirts, Socks, Gloves, Sun Hat, Balaclava / Woolen Hat, Gaiters, Thermal Underwear, Towel, Toiletries, Toilet Paper, Sun Glasses, Snow Goggles, Water Bottle, Walking Pole, Crampons, Torch / Flash light, Sun Cream/Sun block, lip salve, Whistle, Penknife, Day pack, Camera, Films, Emergency Foil Blanket, Four season Sleeping Bag, Heavy Duty plastic Bags, water Purification Kit and First Aid Kit.