7 Day Great Apes Safari
Destination:
Bwindi impenetrable forest, Queen Elizabeth and Kibale forest National Parks.
This safari will take you to three of Uganda’s western wilderness parks with remarkable physical features.
The Queen Elizabeth National Park is endowed with the Great western Rift Valley, crater lakes and savannah grassy plains that support a large population of wild life.
Bwindi impenetrable forest the Gorilla sanctuary, is resident to half of the world’s population of the endangered Mountain Gorillas while Kibale forest a lowland tropical forest is blessed with the highest concentration of primates in Africa, and also has the largest population of forest Elephants in Uganda.
Safari Highlights
· Gorilla Trekking
· Chimpanzee Tracking
· Game drives
· Boat Cruise
· Community walks
DAY 1: KAMPALA – BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST (10 hrs)
Begin our day with a hearty breakfast at your hotel and depart at 6:30am. After driving for approximately an hour, you will have the wonderful opportunity to visit the Equator and take photos at the north/southern hemisphere.
Drive to Mbarara town, for an hour’s lunch break and continue to the beautifully terraced hills of the Kigezi Highlands and finally to the territory of the Gorillas.
Have an early dinner and pre briefing from your guide about the next day enthusiastic Gorilla Trek.
Dinner and overnight at:
– Upper range- Buhoma Lodge
– Medium range-Engagi lodge or Silverback Lodges
– Buget range- Buhoma community rest camp
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
DAY 2: GORILLA TREKKING: BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST
Arise early to the humming forest sounds of this ancient jungle for your breakfast. With your packed lunch, we will go for the pre-trek briefing from the rangers who will tell you what to expect in the jungle. Your trek may last anywhere from an hour to eight hours depending on where the gorillas are resting on any particular day.
There are local porters that can be hired who will personally help carry your backpack and camera gear. By hiring a porter you will be contributing directly to the surrounding community as well as receiving personalized assistance while maneuvering through the Impenetrable Forest! All of your spent energy will be completely revived once you come within ears reach of the mighty mountain gorilla. You will have an entire hour to observe and photograph the incredible scenes that will take place before your eyes. After which the rangers and entire group will begin the journey back to camp.
During your dinner, you will openly talk about your jungle experiences. In all, Gorilla trekking in Bwindi is a memory to last your lifetime!
Dinner and overnight:
– Upper range- Buhoma Lodge
– Medium range-Engagi lodge or Silverback Lodges
– Buget range- Buhoma community rest camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Packed lunch and Dinner.
African Big Five Safaris is a specialist East African Safari Company registered in Uganda and a member of the Association of Uganda Tour Operators with our offices in the heart of Kampala City.
We have more than ten years’ experience in the tourism industry. Both our office and field staff have a broad knowledge of the history, people, culture, geography, birds and plants of East Africa.
Our exciting safaris include; encountering the big five, the Great Migration, birding, camping, student tours, mountain climbing, gorilla trekking, and volunteer safaris.
We offer a range of adventure tours to Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania.
DAY 3: BWINDI – QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK
The sweet melodies of the jungle creatures set the pace for our day. After breakfast, we take a voyage to Ishasha, the southern part of Queen Elizabeth NP seeking out the Tree Climbing lions found in only two places in Africa while on a game drive.
Have your lunch and continue your drive to the northern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Dinner and overnight:
– Upper range – Mweya safari Lodge
– Medium range- Bush lodge safari Bandas
– Budget range- Bush lodge tents
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch, Dinner
DAY 4: QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK
All awake by 6:30am in time to warm up with a hot cup of tea. After a hot breakfast hop into your vehicle and begin your day of safari adventures! Your drive will take you through herds of buffalo, elephants, and antelope. The search for the big cats, as they hunt down their prey, will continues for 3hrs with the help of African Big Five Safari’s well trained guide.
Have your lunch at the Mweya peninsula where you’re bound to have a few warthogs as your guests.
After lunch you will head to the channel track for a momentous 2- hour cruise along the Kazinga channel. This natural channel connecting Lake Edward and Lake George comes with an astounding population of Hippos wading in the cool waters. There is a good chance you will also see buffalo and elephants beating off the afternoon heat along the channel banks. A striking variety and number of bird species will make your day complete. The captain of the boat will also have his eyes peeled for the elusive monitor lizards as well!!
Dinner and Overnight:
– Upper range – Mweya safari Lodge
– Medium range- Bush lodge safari Bandas
– Budget range- Bush lodge tents
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch, Dinner
DAY 5: QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK – KIBALE FOREST NATIONAL PARK (4hrs)
Following your breakfast we drive out of Queen Elizabeth National Park with spectacular views of the rift valley and depending on the route taken, “Mountains of the moon” the Rwenzori Mountain the highest mountain in Uganda. Beautiful scenery all the way!
Have a lunch break at your accommodation.
Enjoy the beautiful environment that surrounds your accommodation.
Dinner and overnight:
– Upper range- Kyaninga Lodge
– Medium range-primate lodge – forest cottages
– Budget range- Kibale forest camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch, Dinner
DAY 6: CHIMPANZEE TRACKING – KIBALE FOREST
A nice breakfast makes an energetic start for your search for the forest habitants. Spend half the day in this well adorned forest with great sights of the various species of Colobus monkeys and baboons. Walk through the flat landscape while listening to the melodies of the lovely forest birds as we search for our closest family relation the endangered chimpanzees. Your senses will be all on alert as you are called to see, feel, hear and smell the forest.
Do not miss out on the little forest dwellers the beetles and the beautifully patterned butterflies.
In the afternoon, go to Bigodi swamp for a community walk that makes a great day for birders and helps alleviate the locals in the conservation of their environment. You will have fantastic photo opportunities and get a sense for a different type of landscape in Uganda.
Dinner and overnight:
– Upper range- Kyaninga Lodge
– Medium range-primate lodge – forest cottages
– Budget range- Kibale forest camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch, Dinner
DAY 7: KIBALE FOREST – FORT PORTAL – KAMPALA (6hrs)
After departing the Kibaale area, you will travel to the town of Fort Portal after breakfast which will give you the opportunity to view the different sceneries of large tea estates and banana plantations. Drive back to Kampala with lunch on route and we drop you at the airport for your late evening flight
END OF SAFARI