Welcome to the Pearl of Africa! Arrival at Entebbe Airport where you will be welcomed and transferred to your hotel.
After a relaxed breakfast, you will depart the capital city and head west to Fort Portal, with lunch en route. Fort Portal rests in the shadow of the fabled “Mountains of the Moon” and is famous for the many tea plantations. From this lovely town you will continue to Kibale National Park. Dinner and overnight at Turaco Tree Tops- deluxe room.
Today the forest opens for a sensational chimp tracking. Kibale Forest is reputable of having the greatest variety and highest concentration of primates in East Africa. After a pre-tracking briefing at walking distance from your accommodation, you will start your hike adventure into the forest. Follow the footsteps of a large habituated family of chimpanzees, with over 120 individuals that has made Kibale one of the best locations in Africa for chimp viewing.
En route your guide will explain more about the forest and the other inhabitants, including other primates and birds such as the blue breasted Kingfisher, black billed Turaco, Pied Hornbill, Chestnut winged Starlings and many more.
Upon sighting the chimpanzees, you will stay with them for one unforgettable hour as they continue their daily routine – growling, grooming, feeding, taking care of the young ones and agilely climbing up trees. It certainly is one unforgettable wildlife encounter and the hour is always over too soon.
After your forest walk, return to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon we transfer to Bigodi Village for a community walk that will bring you closer to the local tribe that lives in this area. Accompanied by a local guide, who can tell you everything about the traditional customs and lifestyle, you will follow the village path and visit a primary school, traditional homesteads and learn more about the crops in the fields.
Bigodi Village visit.
After an early breakfast you head to depart for Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, home of the endangered mountain gorillas. En route you will pass the vast savannah plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park where you will go in search of the tree climbing lions.
Enjoy a picnic lunch en route before you finally reach Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, for an overnight in the middle of the African jungle.
Arise early today and prepare for the highlight of your safari, an unforgettable encounter with the Gentle Giants!
Following breakfast, transfer to the national park offices where you will be allocated a gorilla family in groups of 8 as well as a gorilla tracking guide. After a pre-tracking briefing by your guide touching on the gorillas generally, your assigned gorilla family as well as appropriate safety precautions, you drive to the trailhead for the start of a thrilling adventure. There are four habituated families in the Buhoma area, at least one of which is only a short walk from the briefing area, and you can specify that this is your preferred option, or you can opt for a longer walk, which takes you through some beautiful scenery and villages before going off track and though virgin forest. Otherwise, expect to walk between 2 and 8 hours in steep and sometimes muddy conditions with rain overhead. However, the thrill of coming face to face with a giant Mountain Gorilla silverback completely makes up for the effort!
Please remember to bring your passport for registration, appropriate, water proof hiking boots and a light rain coat. To protect from stinging nettles, we recommend long pants and long sleeved tops. A pair of old gardening gloves can help grabbing onto the vegetation while most hotels/lodges provide a walking stick that come in very handy especially when hiking downhill. A small waterproof backpack is an excellent idea to carry a light snack, bottled water as well as protection for your camera.
Upon sighting the gorillas, you spend the allowed one hour with them as they go about their daily life; feeding, moving, playing, raising their young and sometimes wrestling with the juveniles – it is a totally unique and unforgettable experience!
After breakfast we depart the impenetrable forest of Bwindi and head to Lake Mburo National Park. As we enter the park it is likely that you will spot some wildlife. After checking in you will go on a boat ride on the lake to view the rich bird life and many hippos that are cooling off. Have an early dinner before going on an optional (at extra fee) night game drive in an open Landrover with spot light. This special game drive of 2-3 hours provides good chances of seeing the elusive leopard and of course other nocturnal animals. En route we shall stop at Igongo Cultural Centre for lunch. The cultural centre illustrates the culture and traditional way of life of the local tribes in this area, including a museum, garden with indigenous trees and plants and traditional homesteads.
Early start of the day you will go for a bush walk guided by a ranger. Experience a safari on foot that will allow you to notice the smaller, often overlooked, details and usually brings you much closer to the wildlife than when in a car.
Return the lodge for breakfast and with a game drive on your way out you depart the protected area and back towards the capital city. En-route you will pass the Equator where you will make a stop for lunch, photos and souvenir shopping. In time you will be dropped at Entebbe Airport for your international flight.
Drive back to Entebbe.
