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: Entebbe transfer to Kibale Forest
After an early breakfast, transfer with the guide to Kibale Forest. This park is famous for its population of habituated chimpanzees and 12 other species of primates. Kibale forest is one of the loveliest forests in Uganda with so much to offer from different bird species, 13 species of primates, other species of mammals, numerous indigenous and exotic tree species. Enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Rwenzori ranges.
Day 3: Half Day Chimpanzee trekking (Kanyanchu) continuing to Queen Elizabeth
With the tracking permit transfer to the park headquarters at Kanyanchu for Morning Chimpanzee tracking. This activity starts at 8am and lasts an average of three hours accordingly. After a hot meal at the Lodge, continue to Queen Elizabeth National Park enjoying the breathtaking scenery of the craters. With a 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. Enjoy an evening game drive to the Lodge.
Day 4: 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 5: Ishasha Sector – Buhoma Sector
After an early breakfast, enjoy a morning 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. Spend as much time as possible on the game drive and with packed lunch continue to Buhoma sector in Impenetrable forest National Park. 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.
Day 6: Buhoma Sector – Nkuringo / Rushaga Sector
With packed lunch report to the park quarters where you will be accompanied by park rangers. This walk links the southern side to the Northern side using marked trails on foot, using any of the 2 trails –long or short trail. With any of these trails, since there are no roads inside the park, the guide and the vehicle has to drive around the forest - this drive is 7 hours. Enjoy the walk with the Uganda wildlife armed rangers, walking guide and a rack sack with some change of clothes and snacks. The Ivy River Trail; at 14km, taking about 4 – 5 hours with Vehicle support needed to the lodge or Kashasha trail at 19km, taking about 7 – 8 hours through the forest from the Northern side to the Southern side. Then depending on your accommodation either continue to Rushaga sector or overnight in Nkuringo.
Day 7: 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 8: 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 9: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park
After an early breakfast proceed to Lake Mburo National Park. This Whispers of the world is home to over 350 bird species and numerous wildlife including; eland, buffalo, hippo, hyena, topi, zebra, impala, oribi, Defassa waterbuck, leopard, and reedbuck. This park is unique from all the other parks, as best for viewing the Gigantic elands, Impalas, Zebra. Enjoy the land scape which is full of curves and colors, giving an impression of an oil painting. Have lunch in Mbarara and continue to the park for an evening game drive before continuing to the Lodge.
Day 10: Lake Mburo- Entebbe
Enjoy an early morning game drive and later proceed to Entebbe for your flight back home with a stopover at the equator.