Overview
| Accommodation | Confirmed together with you — see the Rates tab for general comfort levels we work with. |
|---|---|
| Meals | Full board on safari days; meals as specified for any city/beach nights, per your final itinerary. |
Day by Day (5 days)
ARRIVAL IN ENTEBBE
You arrive at Entebbe International Airport and are met by your driver-guide, who takes you to your hotel in Entebbe or Kampala. The rest of the day is free to rest after your flight. The Uganda Wildlife Education Centre has rescued animals, including rhinos and chimpanzees, and is a good stop for beginners. Your guide gives a briefing on the route, the permits and the trekking rules, and checks your equipment and clothing. Yellow fever vaccination certificates are required for entry, and your guide can advise on any other health questions. Tonight you stay at a comfortable mid-range lodge or tented camp with private bathrooms, good food and a pool or garden. Tomorrow's programme: Queen Elizabeth National Park and the Kazinga Channel.
QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK AND THE KAZINGA CHANNEL
Queen Elizabeth National Park covers about 1,980 square kilometres of savannah, crater lakes and forest between the Rwenzori Mountains and Lake Edward. The Katwe Explosion Craters, formed by ancient volcanic activity, hold crater lakes and offer a scenic drive with views across the park. The park is a Biosphere Reserve with more than 95 mammal species and over 600 bird species, a record for any East African park. The park offers many extra activities, including chimpanzee tracking at Kyambura Gorge, a forest walk in Maramagambo, and a visit to the salt works at Lake Katwe. The Kyambura Gorge, a forested valley known as the Valley of Apes, is home to chimpanzees and can be visited on a guided walk. You overnight at a well-appointed safari lodge with en-suite rooms, a restaurant and views over the landscape. Coming up tomorrow: Ishasha and the tree-climbing lions.
ISHASHA AND THE TREE-CLIMBING LIONS
The Ishasha sector in the south of Queen Elizabeth National Park is known for its tree-climbing lions, which rest on the branches of large fig trees in the heat of the day. The drive from Ishasha to Bwindi winds through the Kigezi highlands, which are known as the Switzerland of Africa for their terraced hills. After the game drive you continue south to your lodge near Bwindi, about 2 to 3 hours on winding roads through the highlands. Topi and Uganda kob graze in large herds on the plains here, and are the main prey for the lions. You sleep in a comfortable lodge with private facilities, a terrace for sundowners and attentive, friendly staff. Looking ahead to tomorrow: Mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi.
MOUNTAIN GORILLA TREKKING IN BWINDI
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to about half of the world's remaining mountain gorillas. Porters from the local community carry your bag and help you on steep slopes, and your fee supports their families. You must keep a distance of seven metres from the gorillas, and masks are worn to protect them from human illnesses. Each gorilla family has a dominant silverback, so called for the grey fur on his back, who leads the group and protects it. Wear long trousers, waterproof boots and gloves, and bring a rain jacket as the weather changes quickly. Porters can be hired locally to carry your bag and help on the slopes. After lunch you can visit a Batwa community for a cultural experience, take a nature walk to the waterfalls around Buhoma, or simply rest at your lodge. The night is spent at a quality lodge with spacious rooms, a swimming pool and a good dinner prepared by the camp chef.
DEPARTURE FROM UGANDA
After breakfast you check out and your driver-guide takes you to the airport for your flight home, or to your next destination. Please remember to keep your gorilla permit receipts and certificates safe as souvenirs of your trip. Please let us know if you would like to add a beach stay, a Kilimanjaro climb or a cultural experience to your next trip. We hope to see you again for a visit to Rwanda or a climb in the Rwenzori Mountains.
Rates Per Person
The Overview tab explains the accommodation and meal options. Send us your dates and group size for an exact price.
Next: Inclusions →Inclusions
Included
- Private vehicle with your own driver-guide
- Park entry and conservation fees
- Accommodation as specified in your itinerary
- Meals as specified per day (full board on safari days)
- Airport pickup and drop-off
Excluded
- International flights
- Visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Tips and gratuities
- Personal expenses and souvenirs
Getting There
Tour Start & End
This trip starts in Uganda and ends in Uganda.
Airport Information
Entebbe International Airport (Uganda) is the most common arrival point for this trip.
Transfer Information
We meet you at the airport and handle every transfer between destinations throughout your trip.
Accommodation Before/After
Want an extra night in Arusha, Moshi or Zanzibar before or after your trip? Just ask and we will arrange it.