5 Days Bwindi Gorillas & Queen Elizabeth Wildlife Safari
5 Days Bwindi Gorillas & Queen Elizabeth Wildlife Safari
5 Days Bwindi Gorillas & Queen Elizabeth Wildlife Safari: The habituated mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are a hot commodity amongst tourists travelling to Uganda. The 5 days Bwindi gorillas & wildlife safari takes you to two of the most visited national parks in Uganda, Bwindi and Queen Elizabeth national parks. This 5 days Uganda safari will give you an opportunity to see mountain gorillas in Bwindi and then transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park where you will be to view lots of wildlife animals in the park. Although this 5 days Bwindi Gorillas & Wildlife Safari begins and ends in Kigali city in Rwanda, you can also have this tour itinerary adjusted and start from Kampala, Uganda.
Detailed Itinerary for the 5 Days Bwindi Gorillas & Wildlife Safari.
Day 1: Pick up from Kigali and Transfer to Bwindi National Park.
Pickup from Kigali & City Tour: On day 1 of your 5 days Bwindi Gorillas & Wildlife Safari, you will be picked from Kigali International Airport upon your arrival. Meet up with your guide and proceed for short tour of Kigali City. During your city tour, you will visit places such as; Kigali Genocide Memorial, Camp Kigali, the Presidential Palace, Kimironko market, Caplaki craft village and Nyamirambo women’s center to mention but a few.
Transfer to Bwindi: Have lunch in Kigali and then transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda. The national park is located in the southwestern part of Uganda in Kanungu district. The national park is a popular destination for gorilla trekking tours in Uganda. There are approximately 459 individual mountain gorillas residing within impenetrable forests in Bwindi national park. Upon your arrival in Bwindi, check into your lodge for dinner and accommodation at Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge/Gorilla Heights Lodge/ Buhoma Silverback Lodge.
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Forest.
Gorilla Trekking: Have breakfast very early at you lodge as your guide will pick you up at 6am. You will embark on a short journey to the Parks headquarters in Buhoma or the southern part of the park depending on which gorilla group you are going to track. You are supposed to be at Buhoma at exactly 7am for a briefing by the park’s head ranger which will begin at 8am and then you will be put in groups of 8 individuals per group depending on the gorilla group you are going to track. Tracking begins at exactly 8:30 am hence endeavor to always keep time.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has a total of 15 habituated gorilla groups that are tracked from four trailheads. Of these 15 habituated gorilla groups, 3 are found in Buhoma area in the northwest part of the park; while 4 gorilla groups are situated in Ruhija in the eastern part of Bwindi and 8 gorilla groups in Nkuringo and Rushaga respectively, located south of Bwindi.
Each tracking group consists of strictly eight individuals with each group having a park guide and ranger. Tracking can take about 1- 8 hours or more depending how easily and quick the gorillas are spotted. Once you have located a gorilla group, you will be given exactly an hour with them. After your gorilla trekking experience in Bwindi Forest, head back to the park headquarters to receive your gorilla trekking certificate and meet your guide, who will drive you back to your lodge. Have your dinner and a good night’s rest.
Day 3: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park & Lion Tracking Experience.
Transfer to Queen: Wake in the morning and have breakfast at your lodge. Check out of your lodge and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The park is located in the western part of Uganda in Kasese district. It is one of the most visited savannah national parks in the country and the best for view lots of wildlife species in Uganda. It takes about 2 hours to get to the park from Bwindi. Upon your arrival in the park, check into your lodge and have lunch.
Lion Tracking Experience: After having lunch and relaxing for a while at your lodge, head out later in the afternoon for the lion tracking experience. You will have an opportunity to see the famous tree climbing lions of Queen, which can be found in the Ishasha sector. You will be accompanied by a park ranger and a team of expert researchers as you search for lions using advanced location tracking devices. This activity will give you the opportunity to have an up close view of the lions. Later drive back to your lodge for dinner and accommodation at Pumba Safari Cottages/Mweya Safari Lodge.
Day 4: 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.
Evening Boat Cruise: Return back to your lodge for lunch and in the afternoon, 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 5: Mongoose tracking and Transfer back to Kigali.
Mongoose Tracking: Have breakfast in the morning at you lodge and check out. You will then embark on your last adventure to track banded mongoose in Queen. Banded mongoose tracking in Queen Elizabeth national park is a unique activity that will give you a chance to see some of the habituated banded mongoose living in the national park. This activity can take one to four hours depending on how long you take to locate a group of mongoose. Drive back to your lodge for lunch.
Transfer back to Kigali: After lunch, you will transfer back to Kigali where your guide will drop you off at Kigali International Airport or at a preferred hotel in the city. End of Tour.