6 Days Gorilla Tracking and Wildlife Safari in Uganda

Tour Country

Uganda

Duration

6 Days 5 Nights

Final Destination

Uganda

Tour Overview

The 6 Days Gorilla tracking and Wildlife Safari in Uganda features two main activities namely; wildlife viewing and the gorilla trekking. The Queen Elizabeth National Park to the south west of Uganda features great deal of wildlife including elephants, the Buffaloes, the Deffasa Waterbucks, the Leopards, the Uganda Kobs, the lions including the tree climbing lions of Ishasha, the aquatics of Kazinga Channel like Nile crocodiles and the Hippos. The park is also a rich habitat for birds with over 600 species.

The extension to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park enables the Uganda safari undertaker to explore the critically endangered mountain gorillas as a minimum of 400 is known to be thriving in Bwindi. The 10 groups out of these are habituated and are explored on gorilla safaris in Uganda distributed in four gorilla regions of Buhoma, Nkuringo, Ruhija and Rushaga.

The recreational boat cruise on Lake Bunyonyi famously known as the lake of a thousand Islands crown the encounter with remarkable Uganda safari memories.

Tour Itinerary

Day 1 of the 6 days gorilla tracking and wildlife safari in Uganda: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Make a stop at Uganda Equator crossing Kayabwe and Igongo Cultural Center for traditional lunch en route
Embark on the transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park 417km about 7 hours’ drive from Kampala passing through impressive countryside landscapes of Uganda before making a stop at Uganda Equator crossing at Kayabwe 77km from Kampala. The site presents rewarding views for photography and the point of separation between the northern and southern hemispheres.

From Kayabwe, you proceed on the drive past Lukaya a famous spot for Muchomo (grilled meat) vendors and Masaka town before approaching Lyantonde and eventually Igongo Cultural Center 12km to Mbarara for traditional lunch at the famous Kahwa Kanuzire – “ it’s finished when it is still sweet”. After lunch, you proceed on the drive through the magical Bunyaruguru crater and the lush green of Kalinzu forest arriving in the park in the evening connect to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight
Accommodation
Upmarket / Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge
Midrange / Standard: Enganzi Game Lodge
Budget / Basic: Pumba Safari Cottages
Wild Camping

Day 2 of the 6 days gorilla tracking and wildlife safari in Uganda: Do morning game drive and afternoon Kazinga Channel boat cruise
After breakfast, embark on the drive through the park landscapes to explore the 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.

You settle in Mweya Peninsular for lunch and 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 wildgame viewing as you connect to the lodge for relaxation dinner an overnight.

Accommodation
Upmarket / Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge
Midrange / Standard: Enganzi Game Lodge
Budget / Basic: Pumba Safari Cottages
Wild Camping

Day 3 of the 6 days gorilla tracking and wildlife safari in Uganda: Whole day game drive in Ishasha sector in search of tree climbing lions and other wildlife
After breakfast, transfer to Ishasha 75km from the north of Queen Elizabeth Park driving along the impressive savannah protected landscapes. Upon arrival in the south of Queen Elizabeth National Park, you embark on the game drive in search of tree climbing lions that tend to rest on fig tree branches in day time. The Ishasha sector features short fig trees that present remarkable opportunities of viewing the tree climbing lions than in any other part where they are found.

The sector also support other wild game including water bucks, kobs, Buffaloes and elephants after which you retire to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight

Accommodation
Upmarket / Luxury: Ishasha Wilderness Camp
Midrange / Standard: Ishasha Jungle Lodge
Budget / Basic: Savannah Resort
Wild Camping

Day 4 of the 6 days gorilla tracking and wildlife safari in Uganda: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park & do local coffee plantation tour en route
After breakfast, embark on the transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park passing through the rural landscapes of Rukungiri and Kanungu districts. You make a stop en route in the local villages to explore the coffee growing practices that range from planting to growing, maintenance, harvesting and the eventually the usage while learning in detail the traditional means of how the local people have been using to grow coffee for many years past.

The local people give you a themed interpretation also about the cultural attachment that they have with the coffee including the great of use of coffee seeds to extend friendship. You retreat from the encounter and embark on the transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park arriving in the afternoon for relaxation, dinner and overnight
Accommodation
Upmarket / Luxury: Chameleon Hill Lodge
Midrange / Standard: Gorilla Mist Camp
Budget / Basic: Broadbill Forest Camp
Wild Camping

Day 5 of the 6 days gorilla tracking and wildlife safari in Uganda:
Track mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi for an evening boat cruise and relaxation. After breakfast, you gather at the respective park headquarters of the region that you are tracking to catch up with gorilla family allocation and briefing at 8am led by the UWA Park rangers. After briefing, you connect to the trail head and start the gorilla trek passing through dense vegetation perched on steep slopes and deep valleys with streams flowing.

The mature forest cover presents a rich canopy that keeps the interior of the forest dark. The company of the Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger guide very armed for protection against any wild animal that may wish to attack. They are also very knowledgeable as they give you a themed interpretation of the forest, its lush flora, the fauna and counts of birds including great deal of Albertine endemics before coming across the critically endangered apes as they forage, the young ones playing and rolling themselves on tree branches and the silverback demonstrating their mighty dominance.

The one full hour with the gorillas is a rewarding moment to explore the gorilla in detail and take as many pictures as you can. You retreat from the activity which tends to last 2 – 8 hours after which you transfer to Lake Bunyonyi for an evening boat cruise exploring some of the main Islands out of the 29 Islands that mark the lake surrounded by magical Kigezi Highlands. The sun set views of the lake, the myriad of Islands and the surrounding hills contribute to lasting safari memories of this trip.
Accommodation
Upmarket / Luxury: Birdnest @Lake Bunyonyi Resort
Midrange / Standard: Lake Bunyonyi Eco Resort
Budget / Basic: Byoona Amagara Island Retreat
Camping

Day 6 of the 6 days gorilla tracking and wildlife safari in Uganda:
Transfer back to Kampala After breakfast, embark on the transfer back to Kampala 437km about 7 hours’ drive passing through the impressive landscapes of Uganda’s southwest. You stop at Igongo Cultural Center for lunch and then Uganda Equator Crossing Kayabwe to secure a memorabilia for your Uganda safari back home.

  • Gorilla Permit (for gorilla trekking safaris)
  • Chimpanzee Permit (for chimpanzee trekking safaris)
  • Full Board Accommodation on Safari
  • Transportation in either 4X4 Safari Van or 4X4 Safari Land Cruiser all with Pop up roof & AC
  • Fuel
  • Professional English Speaking driver guide. Any other foreign language speaking guide can be arranged on request.
  • Entrance fees to the tourist sites including Protected areas mentioned
  • Activity fees of the tourist activities mentioned
  • Bottled water while on safari
  • Border crossing fees (for cross border safaris)
  • General tips for the driver guide, site guides and service staff at the lodges
  • Laundry Services, Other Beverages / drinks of personal nature like Alcohol
  • International Flights (Arranged on request)
  • Domestic Flights (Arranged on request)
  • Visas, Optional Activity fees
  • Other extras not mentioned in the Itinerary
  • Airport Transfer (Arranged on request)
  • Accommodation in Kampala or Kigali unless it is part of the Itinerary (Arranged on request)

Tour Gallery

Tour Reviews

 

6 Days Gorilla Tracking and Wildlife Safari in Uganda