Overview
The 10 Days safari is through the amazing Western route to Lake Mburo a gem that you will experience in unique way, then visit the scenic Lake Bunyonyi before driving to the hills covered by the green Bwindi Forest for an encounter with gorillas. It also includes the south side of Queen Elizabeth national park that is famous for the tree climbing lions, a cruise on the Kazinga Channel, Fort Portal tour, chimpanzee tracking and the Bigodi Wetland walk before your return to Kampala
Day by Day
Day 1- Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park and do an evening game drive
Today we meet and transfer to Uganda’s smallest savanna park, a jewel that has always been skipped by many transiting to or from the south. The park offers some unique activities that make exploring it ideal and more detailed. We shall drive for about 4 hours to the Lodge crossing the equator and Lunch shall be served at the lodge. Relax from the drive and prepare for an evening game drive at the park.
Destination: Bwindi Impenetrable national park
Day 2- Walking safari and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
Today we have an early breakfast, and set out for the morning walking safari. Walking is always an amazing way to always experience any wilderness area. It takes guests more close to wildlife and provides a chance to learn more details like tracking animals by their tracks, watching birds, small creatures, and their biology, and they are always at a slow pace, not in a rush. After the walk, we shall drive to Lake Bunyonyi, one of the main attractions in the south west. Have an overnight at an island lodge.
Destination: Bwindi Impenetrable national park
Day 3- Lake Bunyonyi tour and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable national park
Lake Bunyonyi is one of the famous attractions in the south west together with the gorillas. Today we shall do an island tour to visit the lakes iconic islands that have gained fame from the past (historical) – The Punishment Island and the Leprosy Island. Later we shall drive to Buhoma, a sector/trail head in the south of the Bwindi Forest.
Destination: Bwindi Impenetrable national park
Day 4-Gorilla Tracking
After an early morning breakfast, and with your picnic lunch we then take a short drive to the park offices for briefing where we meet the excellent local guides and trackers who give a talk on the etiquette of gorilla trekking. We then hike into the forest to a spot where Gorillas were seen the previous night and track from there. Trekking may take anything between 3 to 8 hours depending on the location of the family you are tracking. The terrain is rough and muddy calling for a moderate physical fitness. Although the hike is physically demanding, the beauty of the forest and surrounding scenery make the trekking worthwhile. You will be allowed an hour in the company of the gorillas before you return to the base for your certificates and to the lodge.
Destination: Bwindi Impenetrable national park
31st Dec, 2021: Day 5- Batwa Forest Experience and transfer to Ishasha sector (Do and evening game drive)
The morning encounter with the Batwa, a group of people (pygmies) who were forest dwellers before being evicted due to the need to conserve gorillas. Now programs that engage them into alternative ways to live have been put which include a visit under the Batwa Development program. The visit provides an insight into the traditional forest life and lore of the hunter-gatherer culture of the Batwa. After the visit you shall drive to Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National park, 62km from Bwindi forest and do an evening game drive.
Destination: Bwindi Impenetrable national park
Day 6- Morning game drive and transfer to the north of QENP-Boat cruise
Today we explore the Ishasha sector in the morning before driving north for a boat safari on the Kazinga channel. The Ishasha sector is somehow removed from the rest of the park and runs south from Lake Edward and the flanks of the Ishasha River. It is one of the alluring game viewing areas in the park and is famous for the tree climbing lions. It supports an untrammeled wilderness character and also hosts herds of Kobs, buffaloes, elephants, water bucks, leopards, warthogs, and topis, among others. After the drive here, we shall drive north to the Lodge, refresh and later go a boat safari on the 4okm long Kazinga Channel.
Destination: Queen Elizabeth National park
Day 7-Kyambura Gorge walk and evening game drive at Kasenyi
The 100m deep and 16km long gorge, is home to a habituated group of chimpanzees. This strip of riparian forest has a confined nature that makes it easy to locate these primates approach them quite closely. The walk through the gorge also offers sightings of other monkeys and birds. After our breakfast, this will be our activity departing from the Fig tree camp. From the gorge walk, we shall recover and have lunch at the lodge and later do an evening game drive in the Kasenyi area. Kasenyi is a prime game viewing area at the park, and the network of tracks get you close to wildlife here like the lions, leopards, elephants, Kobs,warthogs, among the other 95 mammals and over 600 birds at the park.
Destination: Queen Elizabeth National park
Day 8-Transfer to Fort Portal (Visit Amabere Ganyina Mwiru, crater and Karambi Tombs)
Today we leave Queen Elizabeth for the tourism city-Fortportal. The new city, connects different attractions and it hosts a number of sites that are cultural, historical and geographical. After the one and half hour drive from Queen Elizabeth National park, we shall arrive in the town and visit the Amabere Ganyina Mwiru in Nyakasura, hike to get views of the crater lakes, and do a visit to the Toro Palace and Karambi Tombs (Grave site for former kings and other royal family members) after having lunch. We shall after drive to our lodge for an overnight.
Destination: Queen Elizabeth National park
Day 9- Chimpanzee tracking and Bigodi wetland walk
Kibale forest is Uganda’s premier chimpanzee tracking destination. The tropical forest is home to 13 species of primates and today you shall have a chance to encounter some even though the major target are the chimpanzees. After your breakfast, the guide will drive you to the park offices for a briefing where you will also get a ranger to take you for an encounter with the chimpanzees. Upon return, you shall have an afternoon walk through the Bigodi wetland and community. Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary (The area that is visited) was established by a local organization- Kibale Association for Rural and Environmental Development (KAFRED) that manages the area protecting its biodiversity and a drip of rich lush green vegetation.
Later return and have an overnight at the lodge.
Destination: Kibale National park
Day 10- Transfer back Kampala.
Today wake up and have breakfast and check out for a drive back to Kampala. The landscape is carpeted with tea plantations and green vegetation making the journey a scenic one.
End of Tour.
Included in the Price quote are;
- All accommodation and meals
- Transport in a 4 x 4 WD safari vehicle with a driver guide
- Gorilla permits
- Chimpanzee permits
- Boat fees
- Park entry fees
- Local payment fees for activities not at the parks
Excluded in the price quote are;
- Tips and gratuities
- Any expenses of personal nature i.e., Tips, crafts, etc.
- Personal insurance