UGANDA GORILLA SAFARI, 6 DAYS GORILLA TREKKING, CHIMPANZEE & WILDLIFE TOUR IN UGANDA

After breakfast at your place of stay on Kampala, drive to Fort Portal 300km about 5 hours’ drive. The magical views of the lush green country side and impressive physical landscape including the views of Lake Wamala at a distance, close looks of Mubende Inselbergs, the swamps of Kyegegwa and Kyenjojo before arriving Fort Portal. You make a stop few kilometers to Fort Portal town to undertake a cycling adventure encounter in the tea estates that spread over an impressive undulating landscape where you share light moments with the estate staff and enjoy the themed interpretation of the area from the guide while on the bike. You proceed to Fort Portal town for lunch after which you connect to the Amabere caves for a heritage encounter. You explore into the beliefs of the local people that date back to the prehistoric era. The breast-like features are believed to be breasts of Nyinamwiru the mother of Ndahura the famous Muchwezi ruler who expanded the Chwezi Empire across the interlucustrine region. From the caves, you hike the Fort Portal Crater lake field to explore the effects of explosive volcanicity in the area. The area is marked by a range of crater hollows and some of them have been filled with water to form crater lakes. The hike to the summit of Kyeganywa hill offers panoramic views of the area and the distant Rwenzori Mountains. Retreat from the activity an connect to Kibale National Park for relaxation, dinner and overnight

Accommodation:

Up market / Luxury: Ndali lodge

Midrange / Standard: Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse

Budget / Basic: Rwenzori View Guesthouse

Wild Camping at Primate Lodge Campsite / Kanyanchu River Camp

From you lodge after breakfast, you connect to Kanyanchu Tourism Center for briefing and eventual chimpanzee trekking starting at 8am. Kibale National Park supports 13 Species of Primate and among others they include Common Chimpanzees, the Black and White Colobus Monkeys, the Red tailed Blue tailed monkey and L’Hoest’s Monkey which may be encountered during your chimp trek. The chimpanzee trekking experience takes 2 – 5 hours involving hikes through challenging forest landscapes covered by mature trees and verdant flora 371 tree species including the Warbughia Ugandensis and Parinari exelsa. The forest also a myriad of bird Species counting to 375 species such as Green-breasted Pitta, Crowned Eagle, Black Bee-eater, Western Nicator, Red-chested Owlet, Little Greenbul, Yellow-rumped Tinker bird, Brown-chested Alethe, African Grey Parrot and Blue-breasted Kingfisher among other species. You have one hour with the chimpanzees where you are able to see them munch fruit, play, copulate, patrol among other aspects and you are allowed to take photos but keep the flash off. Retreat from the activity and connect to Bigodi wetland sanctuary for an afternoon wetland walk. The Sanctuary is an eco-tourism site and so far the best in Uganda with over 138 bird species among which include the Great Blue Turaco. It is also a habitat to the swamp dwelling Sitatunga antelope. Retreat from the encounter and embark on the transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park driving along the scenic views of Rwenzori Mountains arriving in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight

Accommodation:

Up market / Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge

Midrange / Standard: Enganzi Game Lodge

Budget / Basic: Pumba Safari Cottages

Wild Camping

After an early morning of coffee, you connect to the savannah landscapes of Queen Elizabeth National Park to explore the wild game. The park supports four of the big five namely the lions, Leopards, Elephants and Buffaloes. Besides those, there are Spotted hyenas, side stripped jackals, water bucks, Uganda Kobs among other Species. The morning game drive exposes you to the animals as they graze, hunt, eating their kill, resting, mating among other aspects. The game e drive lasts 3 - 4 hours after which you return to the lodge for relaxation and lunch. In the afternoon, you gather at the Mweya jetty for an afternoon boat encounter departing at 2pm to explore the 45km long Kazinga Channel which is a habitat to Nile crocodiles, Hippos and a range of bird Species including the African Skimmer, yellow billed stork among others. The channel connects lakes Edward and George and acts as drinking point for counts of wild game in Queen Elizabeth National Park. The boat activity lasts 2 hours and you do an evening game drive along the channel track for more wild game viewing as you connect to the lodge for relaxation dinner an overnight

Accommodation:

Up market / Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge

Midrange / Standard: Enganzi Game Lodge

Budget / Basic: Pumba Safari Cottages

Wild Camping

After breakfast, drive transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park – the home of the critically endangered mountain gorillas, you drive through the Ishasha sector to explore the tree climbing lions which tend to hang on the branches of fig trees during the day time. Ishasha also support other wildlife like Kobs, elephants, Buffaloes, water bucks among others which may also be encountered. You retreat from the activity and embark on the transfer to Bwindi arriving in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight

Accommodation:

Up market / Luxury: Chameleon Hill Lodge

Midrange / Standard: Gorilla Mist Camp

Budget / Basic: Broadbill Forest Camp

Wild Camping

You embark on the gorilla trekking encounter in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Gather at the respective gorilla trekking region depending on your permit where you are allocated the gorilla family to track and attend to briefing by the park ranger about the gorilla trekking conduct. From the starting point, you connect to the trail head and enter into the forest on foot in search of the ancient descendants of Old World Monkey that have resolved to limit their world existence to Bwindi Impenetrable and Virunga massif. The eventual encounter with the gorillas meeting eye to eye takes you back to the moments when their ancestor and your ancestor separated million years back. You have one full hour with them to view them forage, socialize, the young ones playing, the silverback showcasing its dominance, taking photos and asking questions from the guide. The general trekking encounter that involves hiking the hilly landscapes of Bwindi, moving up and slopping down, traversing the dense jungle - Impenetrable tend to last between 2 – 8 hours. Retreat from the activity and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi driving through magical Kigezi Highlands dubbed the Switzerland of Africa. Upon arrival, you embark on a thrilling boat ride to explore the second deepest lake in Africa with 29 Islands. You can also disembark from the boat at some point and take a walk in one of the Islands to share light moments with the Island Communities. Retreat from the activity for relaxation, dinner and overnight

Accommodation:

Up market / Luxury: Bird nest @Lake Bunyonyi Resort

Midrange / Standard: Lake Bunyonyi Eco Resort

Budget / Basic: Broadbill Forest Camp

Resort Camping

After breakfast, drive back to Kampala 437km about 7 hours’ drive passing through impressive countryside landscapes of southwestern Uganda before approaching Igongo Cultural Center 12km past Mbarara town for traditional lunch served at its famous Kahwa Kanuzire restaurant (Its finished when it is still sweet) after which you will proceed on the drive to Kampala. Another stop would made at Uganda Equator crossing Kayabwe for amazing photo shoots and water experiments can be made to justify the geographical separation between the northern and southern hemispheres not forgetting souvenir purchase at any of the gift shops at the site. Continue for 77km to arrive in Kampala in the evening