This 4-days gorilla trek tour and wildlife safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park is probably the best and most popular East African Safari package. It covers Gorilla tracking, Birdwatching safaris, the tree climbing lions, and lots of wildlife is some things you can’t miss out
Wake up early morning, breakfast and after we drive off to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest for tracking the mountain gorillas. The journey is exciting with beautiful views to see, the vehicle can be stopped at any time to take good pictures. Have lunch in Mbarara and continue to Bwindi impenetrable national park, we arrive late and check in to your preferred lodge.
Overnight at either Buhoma Lodge/ Mahogany Lodge (Up-market accommodation)
or, Engagi Lodge/ Silverback Lodge / Gorilla Safari Lodge/ Lake Kitandara Camp (Moderately priced accommodation, mid-range standard)
or, Travellers Rest Hotel, or Ruhija Gorilla Friends Camp or Buhoma Community Rest Camp (Low Budget accommodation)
Today enjoy gorilla tracking in Bwindi. After breakfast, proceed for the morning briefing before enjoying the highlight of the trip- Gorilla trekking, which may last the entire day. We trek the gorillas through the rainforest and bamboo covered slopes, accompanied by a guide and trackers, in search of a mountain gorilla family. The walking can sometimes be tough and long, but when you catch a glimpse of the magnificent silverback, any discomforts will be quickly forgotten. When the gorillas are sighted, visitors will be guided to within 6 metres from the gorillas, sit around them for a whole hour while gazing into their big round eyes.
Gorilla trekking is unpredictable. It’s difficult to foresee how many hours you will hike. The gorilla excursion can take from 2 up to 8 hours. Expect to walk along distance in steep and muddy conditions, sometimes with rain overhead, before you encounter any gorillas. A good physical condition is recommended. For conservation purposes, time spent with the gorillas is limited to one hour. A ranger will brief you on how to behave with the gorillas.
While most of today’s forests are no more than 12,000 years old, Bwindi’s vegetation has been weaving itself into tangles over at least 25,000 years, in the process accumulating a lengthy species list. This includes 310 species of butterfly, 51 reptiles, 200 trees, 88 moths and an exceptional 120 types of mammal including 10 primates. The latter includes chimpanzee, L’Hoest’s, red tailed and blue monkey, black and white colobus, baboon, and Bwindi’s most famous resident, the mountain gorilla. Bwindi is a prime destination for birdwatchers. Its 350 species include seven which are IUCN red data listed and 90% of all Albertine rift endemics, species which are difficult or impossible to see in any other part of East Africa.
Overnight at either Buhoma Lodge/ Mahogany Lodge (Up-market accommodation)
or, Engagi Lodge/ Silverback Lodge / Gorilla Safari Lodge/ Lake Kitandara Camp (Moderately priced accommodation, mid-range standard)
or, Travellers Rest Hotel, or Ruhija Gorilla Friends Camp or Buhoma Community Rest Camp (Low Budget accommodation)
After breakfast we drive through stunning savannah grasslands as we head to the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, Ishasha a much more remote and less-traveled part of Queen Elizabeth National Park, but one which has a sense of exclusivity and remoteness. The game densities here are high, and this region has reported some of the largest herds of Elephant anywhere in Uganda, as it is their main migration corridor between Uganda and the DRC.
As we enter the park, we do a game drive in search of the wild game. We continue and drive to the northern circuit which is the area near the main road known for its tree climbing lions. But we also visit the Uganda kob mating ground which is their preferred hunting area.
In the afternoon we will go for a launch trip along the Kazinga Channel. This gives you the opportunity to view wildlife up close: hippo’s huff and spray at a mere feet away from the boat, buffalo linger in the shallows. 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.
Overnight at either Mweya Safari Lodge/Katara Lodge/Kyambura Lodge (Up-market accommodation)
or, Queen Elizabeth Safari Lodge (Moderately priced accommodation, mid-range standard)
or, Simba Safari Camp/ Mweya Hostels (Low Budget accommodation)
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. After, return to your lodge for breakfast and head for Kampala (about 5 hours driving) via Mubende. This route travels through breathtaking scenery and delightfully rolling plantations, some of the best in Uganda. Depending on how much time we have on us we can tour around Kampala’s crafts and souvenirs markets before checking in at your hotel or being transferred to the airport.
