With this 6 Day Uganda Gorillas and Wildlife Safari, you will discover the best of the south-western Uganda. You will watch lions in Queen Elizabeth national park followed by a unique gorilla experience in Bwindi Impenetrable national park.

Accommodations during this trip are in well-valued mid-range or semi-luxury lodges with excellent views and good services

Highlights for the 6 Day Uganda Gorillas and wildlife safari

• Mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi Forest
• Game viewing in Queen Elizabeth national park
• Boat safari along the Kazinga channel

Day 1: Airport pick up.

Upon arrival, your driver guide will be at Entebbe Airport to pick you up from your flight and take you directly to your lodge in Kampala. Depending on the time of your arrival, you may be able to explore the sites in and around Kampala.

You will stay in a nice lodge with beautiful views on Lake Victoria. The hotel has cosy safari style furnished rooms, equipped with satellite TV, fridge bar, telephone, fan, balcony with lake-view and a comfortable bathroom.

Journey Time: 1 Hour
Accommodation: Cassia Lodge
Meal Plan: No meals inclusive

Cassia Lodge

Cassia Lodge offers an amazing view over Lake Victoria and the city. With an excellent international cuisine in a serene environment, you will be able to unwind after – or before your tour in Uganda. In addition, they have wireless Internet connection, a large swimming pool and 20 spacious rooms with satellite television, bar and balcony overlooking the lake.

Day 2: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Today after early breakfast, you will continue your journey to Queen Elizabeth National park with en route lunch in Mbarara

Queen Elizabeth is Uganda’s second largest park, located at the base of the majestic Rwenzori Mountain range, adjacent to Lake Edward and Lake George. The park has game including gazelle, Uganda kob, warthog and waterbuck. Lions are often sighted both in and at the entrance to the park. Be prepared for huge numbers of hippos and elephants, and keep your eyes peeled for a leopard lazing in the sunshine.

In the late afternoon you will relax at the lodge. You will stay in a nice lodge, overlooking the Lake George.

Journey Time: 7 hours
Accommodation: Marafiki Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: All meals

Marafiki Safari Lodge is in a unique location and has been designed and handcrafted using local materials, fitted by artisans from the local community. Overlooking Lake George in the Queen Elizabeth National Park it offers private luxury safari tents on raised wooden floors and canvas walls that can be rolled up to allow you to sit comfortably watching the Savannah Plains with breath taking views across the park and the Rwenzori and Virunga mountains.

Day 3: Game drive & Kazinga channel boat safari

Today you wake up early. A little before sunrise coffee, tea and donuts will be served in the lounge before we head out for a long game drive in time to see the first rays of light. You will search for all the wildlife in the park and are likely to come across Elephant, Buffalo, Lion, Waterbuck, Leopard, Uganda Kob, and many Warthogs.

In the afternoon you will take a boat safari along the Kazinga Channel which joins Lake George and Lake Edward.

Here, you will see a lot of hippos (more than you can possibly imagine!), as well as a variety of other animals which come to the waterhole to drink or bathe. You can expect to see buffalo, crocodile, bathing elephant, and a range of beautiful birds. This will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of your tour.

After the boat-safari you game drive back to the lodge.
Accommodation: Marafiki Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: All meals

Optional activity:
Hot Air Balloon Safari: Experience the wildlife of Queen Elizabeth national park in a new, unique way. Wake up early to catch the sunrise, as you silently fly over the plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Admire the herds of buffaloes, elephants and enjoy the serene tranquillity of the African bush…

You will take off early at dawn for a flight that lasts for approximately 1 hour. Rise as the sun rises and floats in whatever direction the winds of the morning takes you. Fly higher than the trees and hills and enjoy the best of Uganda, with many great photo opportunities of the scenery and wildlife below.

After a smooth landing you can celebrate this amazing adventure with a glass of sparkling juice before returning to your lodge to continue your safari.

Costing: $380 us dollar p.p.
Optional activity: Lion Tracking:
For visitors who yearn to get up close to wild African fauna, a research trip is a rewarding adventure. This new and unique experience allows visitors to actively participate in monitoring some of lions in the park, using locator devices and learn habituation calls, as well as monitoring weather, surroundings and behaviour. The results are added to researchers’ databases, contributing valuable information to the overall understanding of wildlife ecology – and helping to conserve this wonderful ecosystem. This will as well gives you a 95% chance to see the lions!

The number of people on each outing is limited in order to reduce stress on the animals and to increase the quality of the experience for visitors.

The experiential tourism activities currently available are Mongoose Tracking, Lion Tracking, Hippo Census, and Bird Counts. The number of people on each outing is limited in order to reduce stress on the animals and to increase the quality of the experience for visitors.

Experiential tours lasts between one and three hours. They usually take place in the early morning or evening, or occasionally at night. All activities must be booked through the Visitor Information Centre in Mweya at least 24 hours in advance.

Cost: $85 us dollar p.p.

Optional activity: Chimp tracking in Kyambura Gorge
Another optional activity in Queen Elisabeth national park. is to visit the Kyambura Gorge. A hike through the gorge gives you the opportunity to see habituated chimpanzees and other types of primates including red-tailed monkey, black-and-white colobus, baboons and vervet monkeys. Although the chance of spotting chimpanzees is only 50%, the landscape is among the most impressive in Uganda and is absolutely worth it!

Cost: $50 US Dollar p.p.

Day 4: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

Today after breakfast, you will be transferred to south-western part of Uganda; close to the borders with Rwanda and Congo. You cross a beautiful part of the country often referred to as ‘the Switzerland of Africa’. You will see a great country-side, bamboo forest and have great views over the Virunga Mountains. For lunch you will stop at a local restaurant on the road

Journey Time: 7 hours
Accommodation: Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge
Meal plan: All meals

Ichumbi derived from the local Rufumbira dialect means ‘a cool, comfortable home ‘. The lodging facility that is just 10 minutes’ walk to the park gate of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has a spectacular view of the park right from your room. It is designed to provide you with comfort and relaxation to be able to enjoy your Gorilla tracking experience.

Each room at Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge has en-suite facilities with hot showers and a private balcony to enjoy the spectacular view of Bwindi forest and beautiful landscapes.

Activities on the lake are organized by the lodge and the lake is safe to swim since it is Bilharzia free

Day 5: Gorilla Tracking

Today after early breakfast, you will be transferred to the park head quarters for briefing about gorilla tracking.  You will encounter one of Bwindi’s endangered mountain gorillas. For most people this is the absolute highlight of their tour in Uganda.

Bwindi Impenetrable national park boasts both mountain gorillas and chimpanzees – the only forest in Africa that can make this claim. It also hosts five other species of primates, 113 species of mammals, over 200 species of butterflies and 360 species of birds. The gorillas you track are habituated and can tolerate the presence of humans for a brief period of time, every day.

The time taken to track the gorillas can be as few as 2 hours to as many as 7 hours. Once the gorillas have been located, your group will be allowed a maximum of one hour with them. Coming face-to-face with a mountain gorilla is a truly humbling and emotional experience. This is a fantastic and privileged opportunity to get up close and personal with Uganda’s very own ‘Gorillas in the Mist’.

Journey Time: 10 minutes each way
Accommodation: Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge
Meal plan: All meals

Optional Activities:
Batwa Trail: During this moving tour, the Batwa demonstrate hunting techniques; gather honey; point out medicinal plants and demonstrate how to make bamboo cups.
Guests are then invited to the sacred Ngarama Cave, once home to the Batwa King to be entertained by traditional music and dance.

Village Walk: Overlooking the imposing hillsides of Bwindi Impenetrable forest, with the mist swirling over the summits, this is one of the most dramatic settings for your cultural tour! Among others, meet a traditional healer, who not only treats the sick, but uses his knowledge to conserve and educate about the various medicinal plants.

Day 6: Return to Kampala or Entebbe

After breakfast at the lodge, you will drive back to Kampala or Entebbe Airport with a stop over at the equator for a photo moment and souvenir shopping.

Accommodation for tonight is not inclusive in the program. If you wish to depart tonight from Entebbe Airport, make sure your flight is at 10 pm or later. If you want us to book one (or more) nights in Kampala and/or Entebbe, please let us know.

Journey Time: 9 hours to Kampala, 10 hours to Entebbe
Accommodation: Not included
Meal plan: Breakfast and lunch

Dates
Since this is a private tour, departure can be organised for anytime throughout the year subject to the availability of accommodation and transport.

Discount
When your gorilla tracking is in April, May and November 2017, you will receive USD $150 per person discount on this tour!

Accommodation
The bookings with the hotels mentioned in the program depend on availability. Reservations will only be made after your booking.

In case the mentioned hotels are not available during the requested period, we will do our best to book a hotel in the same class for you- of course after consulting you.

Gorilla and chimp permits
It is not possible to ‘reserve’ gorilla and chimpanzee permits. Therefore we can only buy them after your booking and down-payment and it all depends on availability.

Transport
Our standard offering for mid-range tours is a 4wd safari van with a pop-up roof for easy safari viewing. All clients will have a dedicated window seat. Your professional driver/guide will be at your disposal for questions or translations.

Tour Package Including:

• Transport in a 4WD minivan with pop-up roof for excellent safari view;
• All fuel for the tour;
• English speaking Ugandan driver/guide;
• Accommodation as listed in the program;
• All breakfasts and dinners included;
• Packed lunch for the gorilla tracking;
• Park-entrance fees according to the program;
• All activities described in the itinerary;
• 1 gorilla permit per person (a US$ 600 value).

Excluding:

• International air fares and entry visa Uganda
• Meals that are not part of your accommodation;
• A porter for during the gorilla tracking (someone who carries your daypack);
• Personal (medical/travel) insurance;
• Tips and gratuities to rangers, driver/guide, porter, hotel staff, etc;
• All expenses of personal nature (e.g. drinks, laundry, optional activities, souvenirs etc.)

This tour can be tailor made to suit budget and luxury travellers

Important: 
Please note the gorilla tracking in this itinerary can be done in Rwanda as well or in the other sectors on Bwindi or Mgahinga

Gorilla tracking is dependant on the permits availability at the time of your booking. Gorilla permits in all parks are on a very high demand and we advise that you book them as early as possible.

Inquire now for rates
When you book your trip with Gorilla Link Tours to any of our destinations, Gorilla Link Tours will donate US$ 5 per person to persons with Albinism.