Tour overview
Included
- All Park Entry Fees
- All meals and activities as stated in the itinerary
- Professional English Speaking safari Guide/Driver
- Airport pick ups on arrival and transfer back on departure
- Bottled drinking water
- Extensive Game drives
Not Included
- Visas
- Driver/Guide gratuities
- Drinks, dining rooms tips, porterage, personal travel and baggage insurance
- Telephone bill, laundry and items of a personal nature
Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe
Depending on the time of your flight, Mzima Africa's representative will pick you up at the Airport with a placard and transfer you to the Hotel.
Day 2: Flight from Entebbe International Airport to Kasese Airstrip; Launch Cruise
After an early breakfast, drive with the guide to Entebbe International Airport for your Aero Link Flight to Kasese Airstrip. On arrival at Kasese Airstrip, meet the guide and transfer to the Lodge in Queen Elizabeth. Enjoy the view of the Rwenzori Mountains, the park’s splendid panoramas cover dozens of breath-taking craters imprinted theatrically into rolling green hills, beautiful views of the Kazinga Channel and its outstanding main attraction are the big five. Either with a private or scheduled boat enjoy a 2 1/2 - 3 hours afternoon Launch cruise on Kazinga channel, just meters away from hundreds of huge hippos and herds of buffalos, while elephants, buffaloes, warthogs fool around the shoreline.(The drive from Kasese Airstrip to the Lodge is about 2 hours)..
Day 3: Kasenyi Game drive – Ishasha Sector
Enjoy yet again another game drive in the Kasenyi sectors and be on the lookout for; Rothschild giraffes, buffalos, elephants and different bird species as you head out for Ishasha Sector. The Ishasha sector is famously known as a haven for the tree climbing lions and its located in the Southern part of the park. It is the only other place in the entire world where you will find tree climbing lions apart from Lake Manyara National Park in Tanzania.
Day 4: Ishasha Sector; Game drive
After an early breakfast, enjoy yet another game drive in the Ishasha sector and if you weren’t lucky the previous night with sighting the tree climbing lions, now is your chance. Enjoy as much time as permitted on the game drive and later relax at the Lodge.
Day 5: Flight from Kasese Airstrip to Kisoro Airstrip
After breakfast, transfer with the guide to Kasese Airstrip for your Aero Link flight to Kisoro Airstrip. On arrival at Kisoro Airstrip, transfer with the guide to the Lodge in Bwindi Impenetrable forest. This vast reserve offers arguably the most productive montane forest birding in Africa and supports 23 of Uganda’s 24 Albertine Rift endemic bird species. Once part of a much larger forest that included the Virunga Volcanoes in neighboring Rwanda, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is now an ecological island within a sea of human cultivation and is of immense conservation importance. (It’s about 2 hours’ drive from Kisoro Airstrip to the Lodge).
Day 6: Gorilla Tracking
With an early breakfast transfer from the lodge with packed lunches. After gorilla briefing, continue to the forest for gorilla tracking. The beauty of this rain forest is spectacular offering a dramatic, steeply forested landscape, incredibly dense, but crisscrossed by numerous walk trails allowing access to tourists. The time taken and the terrain vary as per the movements of the gorillas. 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. Tracking can take place at Nkuringo or at Rushaga (1hour drive from Nkuringo), as per the gorilla permits obtained. Upon return, relax at the lodge or opt for a stroll through the community center or drive up to the “Top of the World” - the name given to the football field, high up in Nkuringo which offers amazing views over the peaks and forest. A great way to stretch your legs after the gorilla tracking and to enjoy a sundowner.
Day 7: Nombe & Buniga Forests
With a leisurely breakfast, transfer to Nombe Pocket Forest for a walk and a picnic. Depending on ones location, its 1 hour drive from Rushaga and 30 minutes’ drive from Nkuringo. This forest used to be part of Bwindi but was later given to the local community. It’s a beautiful forest for birding, as it hosts many different bird species. Later after relaxation at the Lodge, visit the Batwa trail that takes you through that part of Bwindi forest that used to be home to the Pygmies the Batwa; also known as “people of the forest”. This trail is run by the local community and it involves the Batwa acting out their pervious life in the forest inform of traditional dance and drama.
Day 8 : Flight from Kisoro Airstrip to Entebbe International Airport
Very early in the morning, transfer with the guide to Kisoro Airstrip for your Aero Link flight. On arrival at Entebbe International Airport, connect to your next destination.