This new mid-range itinerary gives everything that the standard 10 day itinerary does, but with a little more consideration for the budget traveler in terms of accommodations. The itinerary include visits to 4 National Parks, Kibale Forest, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Lake Mburo National Parks. In the rainforests of Kibale Forest there will be the two opportunities to trek for the chimpanzees. Trekking twice allows for the observations of the chimpanzees during a different section of their daily lives, once in the morning and then again in the afternoon. Game drives and a shared boat trip on the Kazinga channel whilst at Queen Elizabeth National Park will reward your senses with the sights and sounds of the open savannah and lush grasslands of this spectacular wildlife reserve. The highlight of the safari is a hike in the Bwindi forests in search of the rare mountain Gorilla. An hour spent with one of the habituated Gorilla families will provide a lifetime of memories. You will watch the infants and juveniles tumble and play alongside their mothers and as your eyes spot the shining back of the mighty Silverback the hairs on your arms tingle as the excitement mounts and you realize the opportunity which you have been given to share this experience with your fellow trekkers and this incredible apes.

 

 

Day 1:
Arrive at Entebbe International Airport, meet and greet and transfer to your hotel.

Overnight at Karibu Guesthouse (accommodation booked on bed and breakfast basis).

Day 2:
Drive to Kibale Forest area, the drive is a full day of approximately seven hours. After leaving the Lake Victoria Basin pass through beautiful agricultural countryside where every type of fruit and vegetable imaginable is grown. Upon reaching Kyanjojo, in the lower foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains {Mountains of the Moon}, we drive through beautiful tea plantations and into Kibale tropical rain forest.

Overnight at Primate Lodge

Day 3:
Today we get the opportunity to explore Kibale Forest National Park. Kibale Forest is home to 13 primate species and a guided forest trek can be taken in search of one of the most popular primate species in the world – the chimpanzee. There are 9 diurnal primates, these include, vervet, red-tailed, L’Hoest’s, blue monkeys, grey-cheeked manabey, red colobus, black and white colobus, olive baboon and the most famous of all, the chimpanzee. Although chimp sightings are not guaranteed, the odds are good with the chance of encountering them standing at higher than 95%. This morning you will go on a forest walk in search of primates. Whilst trekking in the depths of the lush green forest, you will be surrounded by bird song and can expect to see at least 5 or 6 other types of primate, most probably the grey-cheeked managebey and the red-tailed monkey and of course the chimpanzee. The walking is fairly easy due to the well-maintained trails and reasonably flat terrain. You will get another chance to trek the chimpanzees in the afternoon, allowing for observation of the chimpanzees during a different section of their daily lives.

Overnight at Primate Lodge

Day 4:

Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The drive passes through Fort Portal and then south along the eastern length of The Rwenzori Mountains, with the hope of viewing the glaciated peaks. We gently descend into The Great African Rift Valley and Queen Elizabeth National Park and Mweya Lodge, situated on a peninsula overlooking Lake Edward and Kasinga Channel, offering beautiful views of the park with the Rwenzori Mountains in the background. Queen Elizabeth National Park resides in a fertile, equatorial area and has beautiful scenery. It is Uganda’s most popular and accessible savannah reserve, with a total area of 1978km².

It is primarily associated with grassy savannah plains, but this impressive park also includes within its boundaries, leafy rainforests, dense papyrus swamps and natural volcanic crater lakes. As a result it has one of the highest biodiversity ratings of any game reserve in the world, including a total of 95 recorded mammal species and more than 610 species of birds. In the afternoon, we will explore the park and its wonders on a game drive.

****Alternatively we could have a swamp walk in Bigodi Community and drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park in the afternoon. Bigodi village is situated in the highlands of western Uganda, in the shadow of the Ruwenzori Mountains, the famous “Mountains of the Moon”. The swamp walk takes place in the Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary, which is located in the Magombe wetland. The sanctuary is a major eco-tourism attraction in the Kibale Forest area. The Sanctuary is operated by the Kibale Association for Rural and Environmental Development (KAFRED), a registered local community based organization

Overnight at Kyambura Game Lodge

Day 5:
Game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park including a private boat trip of about two hours on the Kazinga Channel to view some of the largest concentration of hippo in the world {reported to be about 30,000} and other game with excellent birding. Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of best birding parks in Africa, with 560 + recorded species and a record of 296 bird species seen in one 24 hour period.

Overnight at Kyambura Game Lodge

Day 6:
Today we drive through the park to the Ishasha region. Game drive in search of tree climbing lion (75% success rate) and other game. Afternoon drive to Bwindi Impenetrable (a World Heritage Site) passing through the scenic area known as The Switzerland of East Africa. The driving today is about 5 1/2 hours (not including game drives).

Overnight Mahogany Springs Lodge

Day 7:

Gorilla tracking

After breakfast take a short drive to Park Headquarters and meet with excellent local guides and trackers who will give a talk on the etiquette of gorilla trekking. We then hike into the forest where the gorillas were seen the night before and track from that point. The trekking can take from 1 to 6 hours and climb to altitudes in excess of 7,500 feet. The terrain is rough and at times muddy. Although the Hike is physically demanding the beauty of the forest and surrounding scenery make the trekking worthwhile.

Once the gorillas are located all fatigue is forgotten, as the experience is often described as being the most profound natural history experience in the world. Picnic lunches are provided and it is important to take plenty of water. Cameras and plenty of fast speed film is recommended. It can rain at a few minutes’ notice; hence waterproof clothing is a good essential including zip lock bags for cameras and film.

Overnight at Mahogany Springs Lodge

Day 8:
Second day gorilla tracking.

OR

Batwa Cultural Experience.

Overnight at Mahogany Springs Lodge

Day 9:
Drive to Mbarara passing through the Switzerland of East Africa area and eventually into Ankole Cattle country around Mbarara. These cattle are incredible with horns larger than one can imagine. Continue to Lake Mburo National Park, game drive. The drive today is 6 to 7 hours. Lake Mburo National Park is a small park, excellent for birding, antelope and other grazers, one of the only places to easily see Impala and zebra in Uganda. Game drives offer particularly picturesque game viewing with the Park’s mixture of savannah, acacia woodlands, grassy valleys, rocky outcrops, swamps, lakes and rolling hills. Herds of impala (found nowhere else in Uganda), buffalo and zebra, plus waterbuck and eland are amongst the variety of wildlife to be seen. Birders will enjoy the Park’s 310 recorded water and dry land species. In this valley we can operate night drives and walks. This is the only park where we will see Impala and Burchell’s Zebra. It is an excellent place for walking and exploring a nearby Khopji to perhaps see Klipspringer. Game drive to the lodge.

Overnight at Mihingo Lodge

Day 10:
This morning we drive back to Entebbe, this takes approximately 5 hours – road and weather dependent. If time permits it is possible to stop in Kampala for shopping and lunch and a visit to the Mpigi Royal Drum Makers. You are then transferred to Entebbe International airport to connect with your departure flight. Please note the departure flight must be in the late afternoon or evening, alternatively we can arrange another overnight in Entebbe.