African Travels: 7 DAY UGANDA GORILLA AND SAFARI TOUR (PREMIUM)

Arrival at Entebbe international airport, you will be met by our knowledgeable expert guide and will be briefed about your itinerary and the pearl of Africa which is Uganda, later you will embark on your safari vehicle for your 4.5 hours transfer to Lake Mburo National Park. Upon arrival, you will register with the park office and proceed with a game drive in Lake Mburo National Park.

Lake Mburo is a small national Park (on the route from Bwindi National Park back to Entebbe) but should certainly not be underestimated. This is the only place in southern Uganda to see zebras and the only park in the country with impalas, slender mongoose, and giant bush rats. You can also look for hyenas, leopards, topis, elands, and the beautiful Rothschild's giraffes, not to mention the lake itself which is teeming with hippos and crocodiles!

There are a lot of wonderful activities on offer, such as horse-riding, bush walks, a boat safari on the lake, and a mountain bike safari. It is exciting to approach the wildlife at such a close range, especially combining the fresh air with the beautiful scenery of Lake Mburo National Park. Today you will retire at your accommodation for check-in, freshen up, lunch and later you will head to an afternoon game drive.

Dinner and Overnight at your accommodation 

This morning after your early breakfast your driver-guide will meet you at your hotel at 06:300 am brief you about your day itinerary before transferring to Bwindi National Park via a game drive. You will have a chance to view most of the games that Lake Mburo Hosts such as a lot of Zebra, Impala, and herds of Buffalos, Giraffe, etc. Proceed to your accommodation in Bwindi fo check-in, freshen up, lunch  and relaxation with the lodge facilities.

Dinner and overnight stay at your accommodation

MOUNTAIN GORILLA TREK

This morning take an early breakfast and be ready at your accommodation reception by 6:30 am where your driver/guide will be ready and waiting to transfer you to the briefing point of your Mountain Gorilla Trek.

Once at the briefing point the park rangers will organize everyone in to like fitness groups.  The rangers are in touch with advanced tracking guides and will also brief you on the trek rules and Gorilla behaviors before heading off into the rain-forest of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in search of these mighty beasts.

Mountain Gorillas are nomadic so treks can take between 2-6 hours depending on their movements.  Once you get close to your group all weariness will evaporate as you get to spend an hour observing their behaviors, language, interactions, and eating habits.  It's often described as one of the great natural animals encounters on the planet and Bwindi is home to over 1/3 of the remaining 1000 or so Mountain Gorillas.

Then it's time to descend and your driver/guide will be waiting for you to hear about your unique experiences as you embark on your safari vehicle for your transfer back to your accommodation for a freshen up, lunch, and relaxation with the lodge facilities.

 After your breakfast, you are assisted to check out of your lodge with a packed lunch embark on your vehicle as we head off to meet the Batwa. 

The Batwa are the original inhabitants of these forests, however today they are a displaced minority since the early 1990s.  This cultural tour is a re-enactment but a very real one as many members still recall living as forest dwellers and these tours now help them earn income, ensure their traditions and skills are practiced as well as pass on these traditions to the next generation.   Their bush skills are a delight and their small stature will amaze.  Thought to be an adaptation over thousands of years to living and moving in the thick rain forest conditions.

After the Batwa, we shall proceed to the Ishasha sector in Queen Elizabeth for an amazing afternoon game drive. Ishasha is only one of two places in the world where tree-climbing lions are found, the other being in Lake Manyara.  Whilst all lions can climb trees these two prides are the only ones found to spend the majority of their time in trees.  Seeing tree-climbing lions is usually a guarantee as we organize this experience with the Uganda Wild Life Authority using a tracking system and expert doctors. 

Ishasha is also home to a great population of Topis, not found anywhere else in this National Park.  On the river, you may spot hippos and the Ugandan national bird the Crested Crane. 

Proceed to your accommodation for check in,a freshen up dinner & overnight stay.

Have your breakfast at leisure later you will check out of your lodge embark on your vehicle for your transfer to Kasenyi plains in Queen Elizabeth National Park via a game. During this game, drive expect some sightings of the various animals like huge herds of Uganda cobs, elephants, lions, hippos, & warthog.  Queen Elizabeth National Park is an Elephant lover’s dream & we are sure you will have plenty of close encounters. For the extremely lucky you might even catch a sight of the impressive but very shy leopard. You will proceed to your accommodation in time for check-in a freshen up and lunch. In the late evening, we shall proceed for Kazinga Channel for a Boat Safari. 

Kazinga is thought to have the highest concentration of hippos in Africa and you will easily spot crocodiles, water buffalo, and many species of birds.  Elephants often come to the channel for a drink as well if you are lucky.  This is wall to wall wildlife from a whole different perspective.  Enjoy the stunning views as we return watching the sun go down on a magnificent day. It’s only a thirty minutes transfer to your accommodation for Dinner and Overnight.

After your breakfast, you will embark on your vehicle for a transfer to a whole new experience of tracking Mongoose with a game drive through the park. You will get to view most animals such as lions, forest hogs, buffalos, elephants, waterbuck.

They are ten species of Mongoose recorded in Uganda with the banded Mongoose regularly seen around the Mweya Peninsula in Queen Elizabeth National Park. The Banded Mongoose experience is based around the park in Western Uganda and the Peninsula also supports a population of 400 banded mongooses living in twelve or more social groups. Tracking of Mongoose is normally done using a locator device while you are with your expert guides, have a closer look at their unique long tails and behavior.

Head back to your accommodation for check out and lunch before a final game drive of the Kyambura Gorge region of Queen Elizabeth National Park

Then mid-afternoon we take the 2-hour transfer north to Kibale Forest National Park.  Arrive at your accommodation for check-in and relax with the lodge facilities.

Dinner & Overnight stay at your accommodation

After your breakfast we will head off for a 7: 00 am rendezvous at Kibale Forest National Park headquarters. Kibale Forest is an impressive rain forest & sectors have the highest rainfall in Uganda.  At the park headquarters, the rangers will give you a trek briefing before we head off to find our closest living relative. A chimpanzee’s life expectancy is at 40 years whereas that for those living in captivity can extend up to 60 years. In Uganda today, Efforts to actually conserve the chimpanzees are extensively acknowledged & well supported.

Actually, The Jane Goodall Foundation has played a major role in the overall conservation of not only these Chimpanzees but the Gorillas as well found in Uganda. You will most likely t to finish just before midday as we take you back to your lodge for a freshen up and lunch.

After your lunch, you will be assisted to check out of your lodge embark on your vehicle for a 5-hour transfer to Entebbe International Airport. 

We wish you a safe Flight back Home