5 days uganda gorillas & wildlife tour, Uganda safari tours, bwindi impenetrable national park, queen elizabeth national park

Details

Gorilla tracking, Gorilla trekking, Batwa Community, Game drive, Launch cruise, Boat ride.

Destinations

UGANDA Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Duration

5 Days

Availabilty

All Year Round


5 DAYS UGANDA GORILLAS & WILDLIFE TOUR

TOUR OVERVIEW

This 5 Days Uganda gorillas and Wildlife Tour is designed for travellers who are interested in a short safari to see mountain gorillas and view general wildlife in one of Uganda’s national parks. The 5 days Uganda Gorillas and Wildlife Safari include gorilla trekking in Bwindi National Park which is home to the biggest number of the remaining population of Mountain Gorillas in the entire World as well as visiting the Batwa Pygmies. It has also been recognized as one of the best places for birding in Africa. Two game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park to include one to spot tree-climbing lions in Ishasha sector, a launch cruise along the Kazinga channel, Lion tracking, Nature walks in Maramagambo Forest and Chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura Gorge. Queen Elizabeth National Park has a beautiful and unique landscape that remains relatively green throughout the year. Earth movements and volcanic eruptions created amazing physical features like crater lakes, gorges and valleys hence enhancing the overall beauty of the park giving you an extraordinary experience as you get to visit some of Uganda’s best National parks. This 5-Day Uganda gorillas and Wildlife Tour will start and end in Kampala.

5 DAYS UGANDA GORILLAS & WILDLIFE – 

DETAILED ITINERARY

DAY 1: Transfer from Kampala to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

An early pick up from Entebbe or Kampala Hotel by our driver guide who will brief you about your Tour and after that drive South to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest the home to Mountain Gorillas, Estimated as half of the world’s surviving population of mountain gorillas of about 300 and more living within Bwindi Forest boundaries. This drive is long though enjoyable with two stopovers one at the Equator for photographs and buying crafts and another in Mbarara for lunch. Proceed with your journey to this magnificent forest and home to mountain gorillas and other primate species like the blue monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, and black & white Columbus monkeys. The great blue turacos are often seen and even for a non-bird watcher, they are marvellous sighting. We shall arrive late in the afternoon and check in to our accommodation for dinner and overnight at;

Luxury Accommodation: Chameleon Hill, Buhoma Lodge, Mahogany Springs Lodge, Gorilla Forest Camp.

Midrange Accommodation: Silverback Lodge, Gorilla Resort, Engagi Lodge, Gorilla Safari Lodge, Gorilla mist Lodge.

Budget Accommodation:  Ruhija Gorilla Friends Camp, Gorilla Valley Lodge, Travelers Rest Hotel, Buhoma Community Camp, Bwindi View Bandas.

Meal Plan: Lunch, Dinner.

DAY 2: Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
After breakfast, with your packed lunch from the lodge proceed to the park offices/headquarters for a briefing concerning gorilla trekking. Begin your adventure in search of the gentle giants, the time taken and the terrain varies (2- 8 hours) depending on the movement of the Mountain gorillas. The sight of the mountain gorillas will be an experience to remember.  You will be allowed to be with the gorillas for only one hour. Return to your lodge and relax. In the Evening visit the Batwa pygmy community where you will discover a lot about their culture and customs. The Batwa originally lived in the Bwindi impenetrable forest before being relocated to their current homes. The government thought it would be reserving the forest for gorilla conservation programs but they didn’t consider the negative impact it would have on a community that had lived for thousands of years as hunters and gatherers. Most of the Batwa never adapted to life outside the forest. They had to deal with new diseases, alcoholism and chronic poverty. Moreover, they also had to learn to live with aggressive neighbours whom they had avoided for thousands of years. Most Batwa now survive as squatters in farms owned by the more progressive tribes. While visiting them, the Batwa will entertain you with traditional dances, songs and stories about the past way of life. Later return to your lodge for your overnight stay as above.

Meal Plan: (Brekafast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 3: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest through Ishasha to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
After early breakfast, we depart by road through Ishasha, which is a sector in the southern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park famous for tree-climbing lions. Ishasha is dominated by acacia woodland and scrubland and features the meandering Ishasha River, banked by a riparian forest. We shall enjoy a picnic lunch before heading northwards to Mweya Peninsula. The Mweya Peninsula is located on the northern bank of the impressive Kazinga Channel at the convergence of the channel with Lake Edward.
The area of the Mweya peninsular includes the Channel Track all the way down to Katunguru gate, then across to Kabatoro gate which has a chunky ground cover with dense vegetation dominated by Candelabra Thorn. There are a number of tracks for the game drive that are followed and these are all well maintained. Head back to the Lodge for dinner and overnight at

Luxury Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge, Katara Lodge, Kyambura Gorge Lodge, Ishasha Wilderness Camp.

Midrange Accommodation: Parkview Safari, Kingfisher Lodge, Ihamba Lakeside Safari Lodge, Enganzi Game Lodge, Queen’s Bush Lodge.

Budget Accommodation: Bush Lodge, Simba Safari Camp, Mweya Hostels.

Meal Plan:(Brekafast, Lunch, Dinner) . 

DAY 4: Queen Elizabeth National Park – Game drive and Launch cruise

An early morning game drive in the Kasenyi Plains which are on the western shores of the adjacent stunning Lake George, just near to the area where the Kazinga Channel confluences with this lake. This area is also known as the Mweya or the Kasenyi Sector as a dissimilarity from the renowned Ishasha Sector found in the southwestern region of the park. The region around Kasenyi is actually an open savannah, and it is swarmed with various wild animals with the Uganda Kobs being the dominant animals. Actually, this place is the major breeding area for the Uganda Kobs within this park. For that reason, Lions are commonly seen here during the various game drives as they are drawn by the large Kob population which is their main prey in this area.

In the afternoon we shall enjoy the day with a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel which adjoins the Lakes Edward and George. Dinner and overnight as above.

Meal Plan: FB

DAY 5:  Transfer back to Kampala – Departure

Today after breakfast, enjoy a Game drive as you drive out of the Park to Kampala through Fort Portal town with an Enroute lunch. The drive will take us through breathtaking scenery like the tea plantations on the Fort Portal – Kampala Highway and the lush green vegetation. We shall arrive late in Kampala and transfer to your hotel or transfer to the Airport for your outbound flight home.

The above 5 Days Gorillas and Wildlife Tour is Inclusive of;

  • Gorilla Tracking (Trekking) Permits
  • Private Safari 4×4 Vehicle and Driver/guide
  • Round trip Fuel
  • Bottled Water
  • Entrance fees to Parks including Vehicle
  • 4X4 Wildlife Game drive with Wildlife Expert
  • Boat Safari on Kazinga Channel
  • Full Board Accommodation
  • Enroute meals
  • Equator Visit
  • Relevant Government Taxes

The above 5 days Gorillas & Wildlife Safari Excludes:

  • Alcoholic drinks,
  • laundry,
  • phone calls,
  • tips to staff.

With changeable weather conditions and dense forest vegetation, The rain can be unpredictable in the Virungas and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Areas it is advisable to take layers of protective clothing. We recommend wearing the following:

  • rain gear
  • Waterproof walking shoes or hiking boots are essential.
  • Gardening gloves for protection against stinging plants
  • Long trousers and long-sleeved sweaters or shirts while in the forest to avoid insect stings.
  • t-shirt
  • long-sleeved top
  •  warm fleece/jumper
  •  thick trousers
  • thick wool socks (and gaiters preferably)
  • strong lightweight, waterproof walking boots
  •  hat with brim
  •  garden gloves to aid scrambling up banks
  •  wear sturdy shoes.
  •  water
  • packed lunch and snacks
  • binoculars
  • sun glasses
  • camera/video camera with spare battery, memory cards or film
  • light-weight rain Mac / poncho

Walking sticks are available at the Park headquarters and porters can be
hired for approx. US$20.
A sealed plastic bag around the camera/lenses will help keep them dry on the
trek.
Pockets are useful for valuables and spare camera batteries/lenses etc. as all other equipment must be left with porters approx. 200 meters away from the gorilla groups.

What to bring with you for the wildlife safari

  • Rain Jacket is essential as it could unpredictably Rain
  • Light Clothes as the sun does shine pretty bright in the Game Parks
  • Torch is essential for safety purposes
  • Sunglasses to protect you from direct sun rays
  • A zoom lens Camera for photographs
  • A good insect repellent to keep those persistent Insects and Mosquitoes away.

NB: It is not a Guarantee to see all the Various Animals in the Parks, especially Cats but there is a great chance that you might see them during an Evening or Early Morning Game drive because it is less hot around that time and therefore the animals are freely roaming around as opposed to typical afternoon hours when it gets too hot for the animals and they go undertaking cover from the sun.

For more information about our 5 Days Gorillas and Wildlife Tour;
BOOK TOUR Or Contact us by Email at: info@muafrikaadventures.com

You can also choose to go for our 10 days Uganda wildlife & gorilla safari or our more interesting safari package 15 day Uganda wildlife & Gorillas