9 days luxury primates and wildlife by Air and by road

Safari Overview

This Gorilla /Chimps Trekking Adventure and wildlife Safari takes you exploring the jungles of Bwindi impenetrable forest, both sides of Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kibale Forest National Park and Bigodi community walk.

Safari itinerary

Day 0: Entebbe

On arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will have a rapid covid test (US$ 30.00) booked online, go through migration and meet your Paul your Uganda Safari manager who will transfer you to your hotel for overnight.

Accommodation:

Hotel No. 5 – Click here for more info about accommodation

Meal Plan: Bed and Breakfast

Day 1: Fly to Kisoro – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

After an early morning breakfast, you will be transferred to Entebbe International Airport for your scheduled flight to Kisoro Airstrip Ex. Aerolink Aviation departing at 07h00 arriving at 08h10, on arrival you will be met and by your professional driver guide who will transfer you to Lake Mutanda for a dugout canoe ride in Lake Mutanda, A boat ride on Lake Mutanda in a locally made dugout canoe is a thrilling adventure that most tourists love to experience while visiting this part of Uganda. While on a canoe ride, there is so much to see, including the vast bird species around the lake and the many islands that give Lake Mutanda that scenic and magical look. Canoe rides are usually done in the morning when the water is still calm and easier to navigate with the canoes. For those who love to swim, the lake is safe for swimming, and you can swim as you go on a boat ride.

There are also several islands on the lake. The barely touched islands here are quite a scene to behold. Mutanda island is the biggest of them. Found here is the Abagesera clan, who are predominantly farmers. The Punishment Island and Python Island are also part of this community, which have their own stories to tell. The lake’s environment is wetlands habitats and a lakeside forest, which provides a home for the endangered mountain gorilla and the golden monkey. The lakeside environment harbors unique varieties of plants and animal species. There is a common sight of bird species that are very beautiful and chirp harmoniously along the lakeshore. Some birds are kites, ibis kingfishers, and the crested crane, which is also a national bird.

Accommodation:

Luxury: Chameleon Hill Lodge – click here for more info about your lodge

Meal Plan: Lunch, Dinner, Bed and Breakfast

Day 2: Gorilla Habituation in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (Rushaga Sector)

Wake up for heavy breakfast, drive to the park headquarters (with packed lunch and water). Have 30 minutes briefing about gorilla habituation experience. At 8:00 am, start off a hike to habituate wild mountain gorillas. You will spend four hours with a wild gorilla family training it to get used with human presence. The whole experience may take up a full day depending on the length of the gorilla trek.

Accommodation:

Luxury: Chameleon Hill Lodge – click here for more info about your lodge

Meal Plan: Lunch, Dinner, Bed and Breakfast

Day 3: Normal Gorilla Trekking

Today your adventure starts right after breakfast, at around 7:45 am, with packed lunch and drinking water you will be transferred to the National Park Head Quarters for the briefing on the dos and the don’ts while with the gorillas. You then continue to the forest for the start of the actual gorilla tracking.

The beauty of this rain forest is spectacular. The area offers a dramatic, steeply forested landscape and is incredibly dense, but crisscrossed by numerous animal trails allowing access to tourists. The time taken and the terrain varies as per the movements of these great primates. The thrill of spending time observing these gentle and endangered giants is an awesome, exciting experience to be long savored. Many find it to be a rare and moving opportunity. The tracking will take place in Nkuringo Sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park as you will have already visited Rushaga Sector for Gorilla habituation.

Accommodation:

Luxury: Chameleon Hill Lodge – click here for more info about your lodge

Meal Plan: Lunch, Dinner, Bed and Breakfast

Day 4: Kisoro – Queen Elizabeth National Park Ishasha sector

After breakfast, you will drive to Queen Elizaneth National Park Ishasha sector, The Ishasha sector is notably recognized for its resident Tree climbing lions that are an exceptional attraction and one among the highlights on all safaris taken within Queen Elizabeth National park. In the southern section of this park, the Lions are now and again spotted hanging on braches of huge fig trees whereas the Uganda Kob (which are the major food to these lions) graze in the plains of the Ishasha sector.

Arrrive in time for lunch, in the afternoon you will have a game viewing drive in the park culminating to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation:

Luxury: Ishasha Wilderness Camp – click here for more info about your lodge

Day 5: Ishasha – Queen Elizabeth National Park – Kasenyi Sector

Enjoy a relaxed breakfast before we set off on the adventurous road from the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park to the main part of the park. Here we can see birds, monkeys, elephants and if we are lucky even a leopard along the road, arrive in time for lunch and after lunch we get ready for the Classic highlights on the 2hrs Boat cruise on the famous Kazinga channel at 3pm, this is a 36kms channel linking Lake George – Lake Edward. Here you can see land and water adapted Hippopotamuses yawning and some slashing canines to each other and the National Geographical society Killing machine the Nile Crocodile gaping along the Banks and Savannah version of Pigs the Warthog- Pumba of the award winning Lion King are a hallmark sign in this Animal home. After your boat cruise you will have an en-route game drive back to your lodge.

Accommodation:

Mid-Range: Elephant Plains Lodge – click here for more info about your lodge

Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 6: Queen Elizabeth – Kibale National Park

Today, you will have an early morning game drive trying your luck of witnessing a kill at the mating ground, return to your lodge for breakfast before departing for Kibale National park, lunch will be served at your lodge followed by a relaxed afternoon in readiness to chimps trekking adventure the following day.

Accommodation:

Luxury: Kyaninga Lodge – click here for more info about your lodge

Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 7: Chimps Trekking Experience
After an early morning breakfast, head to the park headquarters arrive at 8:00am. Get the introduction from the park warden join the group and begin your adventure to meet our closest relatives the “Chimpanzees” Tracking will start and last for 3-4 hrs along the trails you will come across other primates like Black and white Colubus, Grey face Mangabeys, Bird life and Plant life is abundant here.

After lunch we head for Bigodi swamp walk, Rich in biodiversity and scenic beauty, the Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary is a must visit. A 4,5km long walk will take you through this important wildlife corridor of Kibale Forest and will take up to 3h. The “Home of the Great Blue Turaco” is a real bird watcher’s paradise. This wonderful place shelters over 200 species of birds including Hornbills, Turacos, Parrots, Cranes, Kingfishers and many more swamp endemics. Furthermore, the sanctuary is the home of 8 species of primates, including the Black and White Colobus, Red Colobus, Red Tailed Monkey, Grey Cheeked Mangabey, Olive Baboon, L’hoest Monkey, Vervet Monkey and the Blue Monkey.

Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation:

Luxury: Kyaninga Lodge – click here for more info about your lodge

Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 8: Fly to Entebbe covid test and depart

 After an early breakfast enjoy another glimpse of the misty jungle as you are transferred back to Kasese Airstrip for your scheduled flight back to Entebbe international Airport departing at 10h20 arriving at 10h25. (Flight can fly via other airstrips based on the routing and passengers traffic). On arrival you will be met and transferred to case clinic for covid test and later for a farewell lunch at Faze three restaurant as you await for your covid results. Transfer back to the airport for your outbound flight back home or to other destination.

Accommodation: No accommodation pre-booked on this day
Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch – Dinner on own’s account.

The above itinerary includes:

  • 1 Gorilla normal trekking permit US$ 700.00
  • 1 Gorilla habituation permit US$1,500.00
  • 1 chimpanzee tracking permit US$ 200.00
  • Internal flights US$ 826.00
  • Return airport transfers in Entebbe, Kisoro and Kasese airstrip
  • Return flight Entebbe – Kasese – Entebbe Ex Aerolink Aviation
  • Ground transport (in a safari minivan or a safari 4 x 4, note price varies depending with type of vehicle)
  • 2 litre mineral water per day per person
  • Full board accommodation as mentioned in the itinerary
  • Service of a professional 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
  • Items of personal nature
  • Covid test US$ 50.00 depending with results duration
  • Any other item not included on the includes list

What to bring

  • Rain jacket
  • Water proof hiking shoes
  • Trousers and long sleeved shirts
  • Insect repellent
  • Sun hat