GORILLAS, GAME DRIVE AND CHIMPANZEES

Three national parks, mountain gorillas, chimpanzee, other wildlife, beautiful terrains, breathtaking views, and life-altering cultural experiences

Visit Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park and Kibale National Park. Characterized by dense vegetation and a rugged terrain and located in southwestern Uganda at the edge of the Albertine Rift Valley, Bwindi is home to almost half of the world’s engendered mountain gorillas. Founded in 1952, Queen Elizabeth National Park spans the equator line. The park has a diverse ecosystem which includes a sprawling savannah that allows for the best viewing of animal interactions. Gazetted as a forest reserve in 1932, Kibale National Park was given national park status in 1993. It is the premier chimpanzee tracking destination in Uganda.

CATEGORY: UP MARKET|DURATION: 8 DAYS|NO. OF PEOPLE: 2|Cost P/P: From USD. 6,089

Note: Local flights and mid-range options available (in some locations) upon request.

Cost disclaimer: The cost of the package is per two people sharing. Prices may change due to inflation and other factors, and will vary according to number of people, season and preferences, among other reasons. Please contact us for an up-to-date costing.  

DAY 1: ARRIVAL INTO UGANDA

Travel 45km (28mi) from Entebbe Airport to Kampala. Check into hotel for the night. If arrival into Kampala is early enough, you will have the option to explore Kampala’s cultural, religious and political history as well as get a feel for the sights, sounds and tastes of East African’s Entertainment Capital.

Meal Plan: Bed and Breakfast

Note (Ablestate): The hotel information is for my records. Do not include it on the website.

DAY 2: TRAVEL IN BWINDI IMPENETRABLE NATIONAL PARK

Travel 9.5hrs to the Nkuringo sector in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The drive is incredibly scenic with villages, homesteads, lush green countryside, and rolling hills that characterize the southwest. The park protects an estimated number of 459 endangered mountain gorillas, roughly half of world’s population. It also provides shelter to other mammals, including several primate species, forest elephants and antelopes, 350 bird species, and 200 butterfly species.

En route to the Park, stop at the equator for the gravitational experience. Upon arrival at the Park, you will check into the hotel and relax for the night.

Meal Plan: Full Board

DAY 3: GORILLA TRACKING AND COMMUNITY VISIT

Go on an early morning gorilla trek, an experience of a lifetime. The gorillas you will track are habituated family groups who can tolerate the presence of humans for a brief period every day. Locating the gorillas can take a few hours or the whole day depending on how far they have moved from their resting place. For conservation purposes you are allowed to spend only 1 hour with the gorillas. After the trek, you will return to your hotel and relax.

In the afternoon, you will go on a cultural visit to the Batwa community. Commonly known as pygmies, the Batwa are an endangered group of people. Believed to have migrated from the Ituri Forest in the Democratic Republic of Congo, they are widely accepted as the original inhabitants of the Great Lakes region of Central Africa.

After the visit, you will return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

DAY 4: TRANSFER TO QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK

Travel 7hrs to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The park is home to 95 mammals including lions, elephants, buffalos, jackals, hyenas and hippos, as well as over 600 bird species. The highest point is at the Katwe craters at 1,350m (4,430ft) and the lowest is Lake Edward at 910m (2,986ft). With lakes, rivers, forest and wetlands, the park has a magnificent landscape coupled with a backdrop on the Rwenzori Mountain ranges. A visit here also provides an opportunity to interact with the local communities through music, dance, storytelling, and craftsmanship. Upon arrival, check into hotel and relax for the evening.

Meal Plan: Full Board

DAY 5: MORNING GAME DRIVE AND BOAT SAFARI

Go on morning game drive. In the afternoon, go on a boat ride on the Kazinga Channel, a channel connecting two lakes, George and Edward. You will see, among other animals, hippos, crocodiles, elephants and buffalos. You will also see hundreds of beautiful bird species.  Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

DAY 6: CULTURAL EXPERIENCE AND TRANSFER TO KIBALE NATIONAL PARK

Visit the Kichwamba community, whose income generating activities include a children’s performance, tea and vanilla plantation tours, a view of crater lakes as well as a walk through the community. After the visit, travel 3hrs to Kibale National Park. The park is home to 13 species of primates, 120 mammals including elephants and antelopes, and 370 species of birds. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Meal Plan: Full Board

DAY 7: CHIMPANZEE TRACKING AND COMMUNITY VISIT

Go on an early morning chimpanzee tracking excursion. Chimpazees share over 98% of DNA with humans, making them our closest living relatives. You will go on a trek in this beautiful and dense forest where you may see more than you bargained for. Tracking average time is about 3 hours but can take up to 5 hours. You are allowed to spend an hour observing a chimpanzee family. In the afternoon, go on the Bigodi Community Walk where you will encounter basket weavers, traditional healers, local brew makers, and generally, people going about their daily lives. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 8: TRAVEL BACK TO KAMPALA

Travel 7 hours back to Kampala. Transfer to Entebbe Airport. Ensure departure flight is at 10pm or later. Option to spend the night in Kampala or Entebbe (accommodation not included in price but can be arranged).

INCLUSIONS:

8-day land cruiser hire with diver/guide, guide expenses, fuel, gorilla permits (subject to availability), chimpanzee permits, activity fees, 7-night up market accommodation, all regular meals denoted, medical emergency evacuation by AMREF and soft drinks and light snacks in vehicle.

EXCLUSIONS:

Flights in and out of Uganda, visa fees, travel insurance, meals and drinks not included in the itinerary, tips (gratuity) and items of a personal nature.

Notations:

BB – Bed and Breakfast

HB – Half Board (breakfast and lunch/dinner)

FB – Full Board (breakfast, lunch, dinner)