Duration: 7 days
Country: Uganda
Departures: Kampala
Destination: Kibale Forest, Bigodi, Queen Elizabeth, and Bwindi Impenetrable Park
Activities and attractions: Chimpanzee and Gorilla Trekking
Tour Type- Gorilla, primates and big five safari
Day 1: Kibale Forest National Park.
After pick up you will drive westwards towards Fort Portal to the Kibale Forest National Park (about 5 hours). You will pass through traditional Ugandan villages where you see people at work tending their traditional crops of millet, sorghum, beans and maize. The lush rolling hills of this region provide good “photo opportunities”. As you approach Fort Portal in the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains, you enter Uganda’s famous tea plantation region. You arrive at Fort Portal, then, continue toward Kibale Forest, one of the great African rain forest research reserves. Years of study by scientists (who have cut a grid through the forest) have habituated many of its animals to human observers. Check in your accommodation for lunch. In the afternoon take a cultural tour in the tea and coffee plantations.
Day 2: Chimpanzee Trekking, Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary
Spent morning trekking the chimpanzees. Typically, we locate the chimps by listening for their pant-hooting calls, then hustle to the area from which they are calling. We get to observe them as they feed in fruiting trees, lounge, and socialize with each other, or even, occasionally hunt. In the afternoon we visit Bigodi wetland sanctuary that is excellent for viewing primates and other forest animals. At the Eastern edge of Kibale forest is Bigodi Wetland sanctuary which is maintained by the local community. You will expect birds like the great Blue turaco, blue monkeys, baboons, otters, mongoose, bush bucks, bush pigs and among others. In the evening you will return to your accommodation for dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Fort Portal to Queen Elizabeth National Park
You will depart Fort Portal town and turn south towards Queen Elizabeth National Park, which is dominated on its northern border by the snow-capped 16,000-foot Rwenzori Mountains – the famed “Mountains of the Moon”. You will expect to see teeming herds of impala-like Uganda Kob, as well as topi, elephant and lion, giant forest hog, Cape buffalo. There are also several soda lakes filling ancient volcanic calderas where flamingos reside seasonally.
In the afternoon enjoy a game drive in the northern part of the park, visiting the Baboon Cliff famous for its nice scenery, and good views of the shadows of the mountains of the moon – the Rwenzoris.
The drive to the lodge leads through large expanses of savannah grasslands and plenty of wild game.
Day 4: Queen Elizabeth National Park
We set out early in the morning for a game drive in the northern part of the park on the Kasenyi Track in search of lions, elephants, solitary buffaloes. This is the best time for opportunities of viewing the cats in action owing to the vast population of Uganda Kobs.
We have an excellent chance to view just about every animal here at very close range. In the afternoon we will go for a launch trip along the Kazinga Channel. This gives you the opportunity to view wildlife up close. The shores of the channel are also home to an array of birds including pink backed pelicans, pied and malachite kingfishers, saddle billed stork and many others.
Day 5: Queen Elizabeth National Park to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Mid-morning after breakfast we drive further south through stunning savannah grasslands as we head towards the breathtaking Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Either (roads permitting) we will pass the southern sector of the park – Ishasha, a remote and beautiful extension of Queen Elizabeth National Park that is host to a large variety and volume of wildlife. (It is a fabulous site to see the lions draped from the trees and nowhere in Africa do you stand a better chance of seeing this than in the large low limbed fig trees of Ishasha). Or take the alternative route through cultivated expanses. Arrive in your accommodation at Bwindi Buhoma sector for dinner and overnight.
Day 6: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
After breakfast, we begin our day with a morning briefing before embarking on the highlight of the trip: gorilla trekking. This adventure, which may last the entire day, takes us through the rainforest and bamboo-covered slopes in search of a mountain gorilla family, guided by an experienced guide and trackers.
The trek can sometimes be tough and lengthy, but the moment you catch a glimpse of the magnificent silverback, any discomforts will quickly be forgotten. Once the gorillas are sighted, visitors are guided to within 6 meters of them, where we can sit for an hour, gazing into their big, round eyes.
Gorilla trekking is unpredictable, making it difficult to foresee the duration of the hike. The excursion can take anywhere from 2 to 8 hours. Be prepared to walk long distances in steep and muddy conditions, sometimes with rain overhead, before encountering any gorillas. Good physical condition is recommended. For conservation purposes, the time spent with the gorillas is limited to one hour. A ranger will provide a briefing on how to behave around the gorillas.
After trekking you will return to your accommodation for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 7: Bwindi National Park- Kampala City or Entebbe.
Take early breakfast before embarking on our return to Kampala, driving down the grassed and terraced escarpments of southwestern Uganda while taking in the breathtaking sights of the hills of the region dubbed ‘the little Switzerland of Africa’. This area is a highly fertile, mountainous region with steep sided hills covered from top to bottom in neatly terraced cultivated rows. Not to miss as we traverse Mbarara are the impressing long horn Ankole cattle. A remarkable highlight of this journey is the Equator line and surely you will cross it as we have a brief stop here. We will be in Kampala or Entebbe in the evening before for your flight back or check in your hotel.
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