7 Days Queen Elizabeth & Bwindi Gorillas
7 Days Queen Elizabeth & Bwindi Gorillas
This is a 7 days Queen Elizabeth & Bwindi Gorillas, which is located within the western part of Uganda in Kasese district. The national park is the second largest national park in Uganda covering approximately 1,978 square kilometers. It is one of the most visited savannah parks in the country; with about 95 species of mammals and over 645 bird species. You will also be visiting Bwindi Impenetrable National Park where you will encounter the endangered mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest while on a Uganda Safari.
Highlights for 7 Days Queen Elizabeth & Bwindi Gorillas.
Day 1: Pickup and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Day 2: Morning Game Drive and Evening boat cruise.
Day 3: Chimpanzee Trekking and Evening community Tour (Optional).
Day 4: Guided Nature Walk.
Day 5: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Day 6: Gorilla Trekking-Bwindi
Day 7: Transfer Back to Kampala & Departure.
Detailed Itinerary for 5 Days Queen Elizabeth & Bwindi Gollas.
DAY 1: Pickup and Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Pickup in Kampala & Transfer to Queen: Begin your day with an early morning breakfast in your hotel in Kampala city. Your guide will pick you from your hotel and then embark on a 6 hour drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park via Mbarara- Masaka Highway. You will have a stopover at the equator monuments in Kayabwe, Mpigi district. These two equator monuments mark the point where the equator runs through Uganda. You will then proceed to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Lion Tracking Experience: Upon arrival at Queen Elizabeth National Park, you will embark on a lion tracking experience. The lion tracking experience will give you the opportunity to view the famous tree climbing lions of Queen. Of recent, these majestic giant cats have become rare sights in the park because of poaching activities that have become rampant in the park. This lion tracking experience takes between 1-2 hours and is done only twice a day, in the morning and afternoon.
Later retire back to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation options include: Mweya Safari Lodge/ Park View Safari Lodge/Pumba Safari Cottages.
DAY 2: Morning Game Drive and Evening Boat Cruise.
Morning Game Drive: Have an early morning breakfast and proceed on a morning game drive in the park which begins at 6am. This morning game drive will give you a great chance to view nocturnal animals like leopards, serval cats and other wildlife such as African savannah elephants, hyenas, Uganda Kobs, heart beasts, giraffes, zebras and many more. Queen Elizabeth National Park is blessed with over 612 bird species thus making it a great destination for birding activities. While on your game drive, you may spot birds like the African skimmer, Chapin’s flycatcher, Shoebill stock, the great flamingos and Pink- backed pelicans. Return back to your lodge for lunch.
Evening Boat Cruise: Later head out for an evening boat cruise along the Kazinga channel. The boat cruise starts at exactly 1pm and can take approximately 2 hours. During your boat cruise, you may sight lots of wildlife such as hippos, Nile crocodiles, elephants and some species of birds like the great flamingos, Shoebill stock, Ibis and so many others.
Later return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay
DAY 3: Chimpanzee trekking and evening community Tour (Optional).
Chimpanzee Trekking: After an early morning breakfast, head out to track chimpanzees in Kalinzu forest which is about an hour’s drive from Queen Elizabeth National Park. Chimpanzee tracking can take several hours since the chimps are always on the move unlike gorillas hence you are likely to finish this activity by noon. Head back to your lodge for lunch and relaxation.
Evening Community Tour (Optional): Later in the evening, head out for a cultural tour to the neighboring local communities and get to interact with the local Bakonjo people. While on the cultural tour, you will be taken through their historical and social lifestyle and also be entertained by local cultural groups in the community.
DAY 4: Guided Nature Walk.
Guided Nature Walks: Wake up early in the morning, have breakfast at your lodge and later head out for a guided nature walk in the park. Guided nature walks in Queen Elizabeth National Park are one of the most active ways for visitors to explore the landscapes and wildlife in the park. Some of the top locations for guided nature walks in Queen Elizabeth national park include the shady Maramagambo forest, Mweya Peninsula, and along Ishasha River. You can opt for an easy stroll along the Ishasha River where you can spot a variety of forest and savannah bird and mammal species, as well as have close encounters with hippos relaxing along the river banks.
Return back to your lodge for lunch and relax for the rest of the afternoon. Dinner and overnight at your lodge.
Day 5: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Transfer to Bwindi: Have breakfast, meet your driver and proceed to southwards to the Ishasha sector of the park which is a home for tree climbing lions. Towards your destination, you will have a pleasant view of the Uganda Kob, elephants and some birds of riverine and savanna habitats. You will drive to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park (home of the Uganda Mountain Gorillas). Dinner and overnight at Buhoma Haven Lodge/Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge
Day 6: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Forest.
Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Forest: You are warming up for the gorilla tracking. You will drive further south to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park which is of Uganda´s oldest and most diverse rainforests. The “impenetrable” forest is also home to more than 320 mountain gorillas, 400 species of plants, 120 species of mammals and over 350 species of birds. Certainly one of the most exciting days of your Uganda safari; today you will be gorilla tracking. Breakfast will be served early and lunch will be packed. The briefing is at 8 am. Your guide will give you highlights of specific details about the way of life of the gorillas you will be tracking. The hike can take anything from one to seven hours. Once you reach the gorillas, you are allowed to spend one hour with them as you stand 6 meters away. Dinner and overnight at same lodge as above.
Day 7: Transfer Back to Kampala & Departure.
Transfer Back to Kampala & Departure: After having a relaxed breakfast, check out of your lodge and embark on a return journey to Kampala city. Basing on your arrival time in Kampala, you can have an optional half day tour of Kampala city or head straight to your hotel. In case your departure flight back home is scheduled for later in the evening, you can have your guide/driver drop you off at Entebbe International Airport. End of tour.
