Overview
8 days Uganda gorillas covers 7nights/8days of tracking mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, wildlife encounter in Queen Elizabeth National Park and chimpanzee tracking in Kibale National Park. Bwindi shelters half of the world’s remaining mountain gorilla population- inclusive of 20 habituated gorilla families, plus 360 bird species, other primates like colobus monkeys, chimpanzees, baboons, etc.
Kibale National Park is found in Western Uganda, a renowned primate capital of the world and a home to 13 primate species- inclusive of 1500 chimpanzees, olive baboons, colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys and more. Queen Elizabeth National Park is popular for its remarkable game viewing experience to see big game, birds and aquatic life.
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: To Kibale for primates
Meet your driver for briefing and pick up for transfer to Kibale National Park 795sq.kms park and a home to 13 species of primates. Kibale is a special place to see 13 primate species such as red-tailed monkeys, red colobus monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, baboons, plus other mammals like buffaloes, forest elephants, 375 bird species and others. Your journey from Kampala via Mubende-Mityana to Fort Portal for lunch break then continue to Kibale.
Day 2: Chimpanzee tracking-Kibale, guided nature walks at Bigodi
Travel to Kanyanchu Visitor Center for briefing on rules for chimpanzee tracking and allocation of park guide to lead you to see chimpanzees. An estimate of 1500 chimpanzees plus 12 more primate species live in Kibale Forest, and it has several habituated chimpanzee communities to be visited taking you 2-4 hours which also covers a close encounter for one hour.
Return to the accommodation for lunch and later, go visit Bigodi swamp for a guided nature walk for 2 to 3 hours. Enjoy a close view of primates, birds and many other mammals, etc.
Day 3: Game drive Queen Elizabeth NP
Wake up for an early breakfast and in the afternoon, have lunch after you have settled at the lodge on arrival. Many wildlife will be sighted including warthogs, large herds of elephants, buffaloes, lions, antelopes, birds and you retire for the night back in a lodge.
Day 4: All day game viewing- game drive + boat cruise
Enjoy a hefty breakfast, after have an incredible time encountering varied wildlife and birds in Kasenyi Plains. Kasenyi animals to expect to see include leopards, lions, elephants, warthogs, many antelopes and return for lunch to be offered early, relax and at 2:00pm, go for a boat cruise on Kazinga channel. Animals to enjoy sight of while on a boat excursion include hippos, crocodiles, aquatic birds and more.
Day 5: Game drive via Ishasha & transfer to Bwindi
Enjoy Ishasha guided game drive which will allow you see the tree climbing lions plus a large number of elephants, birds and other wildlife. Have a packed lunch under the tree shade and after, drive to check into a gorilla accommodation that you pre-booked.
Day 6: An encounter with mountain gorillas-Bwindi
With packed lunch and drinking water, connect to Bwindi Park offices for briefing about gorilla trekking rules. This will commence at 7:00am till 8:00am when actual trek begins taking you 2-6 hours of tracking through the forest and covers one hour to enjoy a close view of massive mountain gorillas at a distance of 8-10 meters. After a good time with gorillas, return for relaxation, lunch and later, you take a walk to Batwa community.
Day 7: Relaxation or boat ride -Lake Bunyonyi (Place of Little Birds)
Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi from Bwindi and enjoy a long day of relaxation or take a boat ride up to one of the islands. This is the deepest of all Lakes in Uganda and comprises of 29 scenic islands, little birds and more.
Day 8: Lake Bunyonyi-Kampala/Entebbe
Take an early breakfast, after you will have a long day driving to Kampala or Entebbe via Mbarara-Masaka route. The long road trip from Lake Bunyonyi includes a stop visit at Equator.
