6 Days - Kibale, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi and Lake Bunyonyi
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This 6 days adventure in Uganda takes you to the Kibale National Park for an enthralling experience of chimpanzee tracking. Later to Queen Elizabeth National Park for the Boat Cruise and Game Drives for an enthralling experience. You will also have a Game drive at the Ishasha sector. Finally, you will enter the misty Bwindi National Park for the Gorilla Trekking activity and later to Lake Bunyonyi which is said to be one of the most beautiful lakes in Uganda.
Day 1 - Kampala to Kibale National Park (Bigodi Swamp Walk)
You will be picked up around 7: 00 am from your Hotel in Kampala (or Entebbe) by our guide who will brief you about your tour and then depart for Kibale Forest National Park which will take around five and a half hours of drive.
Post Lunch you will be taken for a Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary walk. This is a guided swamp walk that takes you closer to seeing primates mostly monkeys, birds, and butterflies. The wetland is a bird paradise with about 138 species and is best known for being home to the Great Blue Turaco.
This is a 2.5 - 3 hour walk and is a must for bird lovers. The walk is almost as popular as the Kibale Forest Walk. You will need good walking shoes since part of the walk is sometimes muddy. Hopefully, you will spot the elusive Sitatunga antelope and the Shoebill Stork. You will spot some of the primates here, even a chimpanzee at times. Other primate species include the black-and-white colobus, grey-cheeked mangabey, red-tailed, Holst's and blue monkeys, and olive baboons. Also, Bushbucks and mongooses, and many more can also be found here. There is also an abundance of butterflies. Bigodi Sanctuary is located outside the park in Magombe Swamp.
Day 2 - Kibale National Park (Chimp Tracking) to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Kibale Forest National Park boasts the highest number of primate species in the world, including chimpanzees. Approximately 5,000 chimpanzees live in the wild in Uganda, which makes it a perfect place to spot them!
The park is popular for its primate population like the chimpanzees, colobus monkeys, red cheeked monkeys, and red tailed monkeys. On your chimpanzee trails, these are regularly seen swinging in the forest trees and others feeding on the wild fruits.
An experienced ranger will take you chimp tracking in the morning around 6:30 am. Once you locate the chimpanzees, you will have a full hour with them. You will return to the lodge for lunch after which you will head out for Queen Elizabeth National Park which will take around two and a half hours of drive. You will arrive in the evening.
Day 3 - Game Drives and Boat Cruise at Kazinga and transfer to Ishasha
Your day will begin early by 6:30 AM, the sunrise time is usually the best time to spot animals in their natural habitats. Heading off for a game drive at the break of dawn you will be able to see Africa’s highly famed “Big 4”, Bush Bucks, Giant Hogs, Antelopes, Waterbucks, and plenty of birds.
You will finish your game drive and return back to the accommodation just in time for lunch. After your lunch, you will go for a two-hour boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel which connects Lakes George and Lake Edward and you will surely be fascinated by the concentrations of giant hippos, elephants, and crocodiles among others. You will also see many varieties of birds at the water shores.
Day 4 - Game Drives in Ishasha and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Early morning Game drive at Ishasha sector to see the tree-climbing lions if you are lucky and then post Lunch transfer to Bwindi National park.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a big habitat for mountain gorillas in Uganda; harboring an estimated 400 mountain gorillas – roughly half of the world’s population, including several habituated groups, which can be tracked. Its mist-covered hillsides are blanketed by one of Uganda's oldest and most biologically diverse rain-forests, which dates back over 25,000 years and contains almost 400 species of plants.
With a strenuous day ahead, you will check into your accommodation, relax as you prepare for the Bwindi gorilla trekking experience the following day.
Day 5 - Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Gorilla Trekking)
After early morning breakfast, around 6:30 am you will be driven to the park headquarters for a briefing on the do's and don’ts during gorilla tracking and thereafter you will proceed to the gorilla trail. Gorilla tracking normally lasts between 2 to 8 hours or even a day to encounter the gorillas. However, you will be allowed to stay in the presence of these awesome apes for at least an hour.
It is advisable that you carry packed lunch, which will be provided, as one cannot determine how long it may take to encounter the mountain gorillas. If time and energy allow, you may take the Batwa Cultural visit after the gorilla tracking or just have a relaxed afternoon.
Day 6 - Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to Lake Bunyonyi to Kampala
After breakfast, you will be transferred to Lake Bunyonyi for optional activity.
Lake Bunyonyi is said to be one of the most beautiful places in western Uganda. It is the second deepest lake in Africa (900 meters deep) and also one of the few places in the country where it is considered safe to swim as it is bilharzia free. The landscape around the lake is made up of terraced hills protruding from the water’s edge. Bunyonyi means "place of little birds" and as the name suggests, there is plenty of birdlife around the lake.
After the optional activity, you will be transferred back to Kampala (or Entebbe) with Lunch en-route.
Note: At Lake Bunyonyi, you can pay the extra amount for the activity (Community Walk, Canoe Ride, Boat Ride, Bicycle Ride, Bird Watching, and Cray Fishing.) directly at the location and do the activity.
MEALS:
Day 1 - Lunch & Dinner
Day 2 - Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 3 - Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 4 - Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 5 - Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 6 - Breakfast & Lunch
DRIVING TIMES:-
Day 1 - Kampala to Kibale National Park takes about 5.5 to 6 hours (310 km)
Day 2 - Kibale National Park to Queen Elizabeth National Park (North) takes about 2 to 2.5 hours (110 km)
Day 3 - Queen Elizabeth National Park (North) to Queen Elizabeth National Park (Ishasha) takes about 1.5 to 2 hours (82 km)
Day 4 - Queen Elizabeth National Park (Ishasha) to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park takes about 2 to 5.5 hours (75 to 150 km)
Day 6 - Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to Lake Bunyonyi to 1.5 to 3 hours (65 to 100 km)
Day 6 - Lake Bunyonyi to Kampala takes about 7.5 to 8 hours (419 km)
Note 1: These are estimated drive times. Because of the traffic, location of the accommodations, and several other factors, actual drive times may vary. Driving distances are approximate and do not account for exact places.
Note 2: Driving distance and drive time to and from Bwindi will vary depending upon the sector and location of the accommodation.
Park Fees (for Non-Residents).
Gorilla trekking permit in Bwindi.
Chimp tracking permit in Kibale.
All accommodations while on Safari.
Game drive as mentioned in the itinerary.
A professional driver/guide.
4x4 Land Cruiser or Safari Van.
All Taxes and VAT.
Meals as per itinerary.
Drinking water while on safari (2 liters per person per day).
Activities mentioned in the itinerary.
International flights.
Airport Transfers (Unless mentioned otherwise).
Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour (Unless mentioned otherwise).
Tips.
Personal Items (Souvenirs, Travel Insurance, Visa Fees, etc.).
The government imposed an increase in Taxes, Gorilla trekking permits, Chimp tracking permits, and or Park Fees.
Any activities not mentioned in the itinerary.
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