7 Days – Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi, Lake Bunyonyi and Lake Mburo

This 7 day Uganda Safari strikes a perfect balance between wildlife and nature. The wildlife safari and chimpanzee trekking takes you to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda’s second largest park with plenty of wildlife, birds and primates. It also takes you to the misty Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, which is home to more than half the population of Mountain Gorillas. Later to Lake Bunyonyi for some relaxation, which is said to be one of the most beautiful lakes in Uganda. En route Entebbe, you will visit Lake Mburo. Lake Mburo National Park is known for wildlife viewing, bird watching, boat ride and guided nature walk.

Itinerary

Day 1 – Kampala to Queen Elizabeth National Park

You will be picked up around 7:00 am from Kampala (or Entebbe) by our Guide who will brief you about your tour and travel westwards through Uganda’s beautiful green countryside to the Queen Elizabeth National Park. The journey will take 6-7 hours with a stopover at the Equator for an opportunity to stand in two hemispheres at the same time. Lunch will be done en-route to Queen Elizabeth, You will continue through the savanna grasslands with lots of banana plantations and several herds of local long horned Ankole cattle endemic to this part of the country. You will get to Queen Elizabeth National Park in the evening.

Accommodation:

Budget: Pumba Safari Cottages

Mid-Range: Marafiki Safari Lodge

Luxury: Katara or Kyambura Gorge Lodge

Meal Plan: Lunch, dinner and Breakfast

Day 2 – Game Drives and Boat Cruise at Kazinga Channel

You will set off early about 6:30 am for a morning game drive, an awesome experience to spot the animals in natural habitats. Expect to see the famous Big Five; Elephant, Buffalos, Lions, Bush bucks, Kobs, Giant forest hog, Hyenas leopards, antelopes, and Waterbucks as well as birds. You will return for breakfast and relax till lunch.

In the afternoon you will take a Boat cruise along the amazing Kazinga channel to see, at close range, the water animals to include Hippos, Buffalos, Crocodiles and elephants bathing on the channel banks. There is also a variety of bird species on the water banks especially the famous Shoebill, pelican and Jacana.

Accommodation:

Budget: Pumba Safari Cottages

Mid-Range: Marafiki Safari Lodge

Luxury: Katara or Kyambura Gorge Lodge

Meal Plan: Lunch, dinner and Breakfast

Day 3 – Kalinzu Forest (Chimp tracking) to Ishasha (Game drive)

After your breakfast early morning, head to the forest for chimp trekking around 6:30 am, and chimp tracking takes 3-4 hours. Once you spot the Chimpanzees you get to spend around 1 hour with them and then head back. From here you will be transferred to Ishahsa sector. Depending on the time of arrival, you can have an evening Game drive at the Ishaha sector.

Accommodation:

Budget: Topi Safari Lodge

Mid-Range: Ishasha Jungle Lodge

Luxury: Ishasha Wilderness Camp

Mel Plan: Lunch, Dinner and Breakfast

Day 4 – Ishasha sector (Game drive) to Bwindi National Park

Early morning Game drive at Ishasha sector to see the tree climbing lions if you are lucky and then post Lunch transfer to Bwindi National park.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a big habitat for mountain gorillas in Uganda; harbouring an estimated 400 mountain gorillas – roughly half of the world’s population, including several habituated groups, which can be tracked. Its mist-covered hillsides are blanketed by one of Uganda’s oldest and most biologically diverse rain-forests, which dates back over 25,000 years and contains almost 400 species of plants.

With a strenuous day ahead, you will check into your accommodation, relax as you prepare for the Bwindi gorilla trekking experience the following day.

Accommodation:

Budget: Buhoma Community Rest Camp

Mid-Range: Engagi Lodge

Luxury: Buhoma Lodge

Meal plan:  Breakfast, Lunch Dinner

Day 5 – Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to Lake Bunyonyi

After having breakfast around 8 am, you will set off to Lake Bunyonyi. This lake is said to be one of the most beautiful places in western Uganda. It is the second deepest lake in Africa [900 meters deep] and also one of the few places in the country where it is considered safe to swim as it is bilzar free. The journey takes 3-5 hours depending on which sector of Bwindi you are departing from. The landscape around the lake is made up of terraced hills protruding from the water’s edge. Bunyonyi means “place of little birds’ ‘ as the name suggests, there is plenty of birdlife around the lake.

You will check in to the accommodation and have Lunch. Later in the evening reaching Lake Bunyonyi you can pay the extra amount for the activity (Community Walk, Canoe Ride, Boat Ride, Bicycle Ride, Bird Watching and Cray Fishing…) directly at the accommodation and do the activity of your choice.

Accommodation:

Budget: Itambira Seed of Hope

Mid-Range/Luxury:  Bird’s Nest – click here for more info about your accommodation.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch Dinner

Day 6 – Lake Bunyonyi to Lake Mburo National Park (Boat Ride and Nature Walk)

After an early morning breakfast at 6:30 am, you will depart to Lake Mburo National Park. The drive takes 3-4 hours , and you will have lunch at the lodge reserved for you, after which you will go for an afternoon Boat Ride on the lake rich with a variety of animals such as hippos and crocodiles and bird species. In the evening take a Nature walk before you retire for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation:

Budget: Eagle’ Nest

Mid-Range: Rwakobo Rock

Luxury: Mihingo Lodge

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch Dinner

Day 7 – Lake Mburo National Park to Kampala

After breakfast, you will have an early morning game drive through the park in search of animals like zebra, hippos, crocodiles, eland, antelope, impala and a variety of birds.

Post Lunch you will depart from Lake Mburo and head to Kampala (or Entebbe) for the drop off.

Tour includes

  • Ground transport in a safari 4 x 4 or a safari minivan
  • Gorilla permit fees
  • Chimpanzee permit
  • Park entrance
  • Boat trips as mentioned in the itinerary
  • Bottled water in the safari vehicle
  • Full board accommodation for two nights
  • Service of an English-speaking driver guide
  • All mentioned activities except for the optional ones

Tour excludes

  • Extras at the accommodation i.e. drinks, telephone, laundry etc.
  • Tips to porters and driver/ guide
  • Insurance
  • Any item of personal nature
  • Any service mentioned as optional in the itinerary or not mentioned in inclusion list

Gorilla trekking tips

  1. Bwindi impenetrable national park requires hiking, you should pace yourself and drink plenty of water.
  2. Eating, drinking and smoking near the gorillas is forbidden. Your ranger guide will communicate designated time and place for such.
  3. We encourage you to carry a rain poncho
  4. Waterproof walking shoes or hiking boots are essential.
  5. Gardening gloves for protection against stinging plants
  6. Long trousers and long sleeved sweaters or shirts while in the forest to avoid insect stings.
  7. Photography is permitted, although you must not use flash
  8. Porters are available to help you carry your day pack for a minimum fee of $20 or UGX 50,000