9-Days Primates & Wildlife Holiday

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9-Days Primates & Wildlife Holiday

This safari is designed for those who wish to experience the Mountain Gorillas as well as the Wilderness of Uganda’s Southern Savannahs in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

The safari begins and ends in Entebbe to the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park as exhaust the urge for being with a mountain Gorilla as it allows you an up-close encounter with these gentle giants twice. One being the Trekking experience and the other being the Habituation experience where you spend about 4 hours with the gentle giants trailing or trekking them down deep in the forest in a combination of a long walking through the rainforest from Nkuringo to Buhoma and a road transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park for  a wilderness safari then fly back to Entebbe International Airport.

Detailed Itinerary:

Day 1: Arrival – Entebbe International Airport

Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be met by our representative who will transfer you to your booked hotel in Entebbe.

There are optional activities around Entebbe to engage your travel lust if you arrive early in the day, like a walk to the local market or fish market to find out a little bit about Uganda’s urban culture, among others.

Overnight: Best Western Premier

Meals plan: Dinner

Day 2: Transfer – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

Our guide will pick you up from your hotel early in the morning to fit the road by 6:30 am. The long drive from Entebbe to Nkuringo, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park takes about 9 hours on a smoothly surfaced road. The last leg on a dirt road takes about one and a half hours through some of the most spellbound landscape views up to the lodge.

You’ll stop for lunch en route at the traditional drum-making artists, the equator for Instagram moments. The driver will stop anywhere you hope to capture a great photography moment.

Overnight: Orugano Bwindi Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 3: Gorilla Trekking – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

Today morning you shall ascend in to the jungle in company of Ranger guides and porters in search for the Mountain Gorilla. The trek starts at 8am with a briefing and later ascend into the jungles. Time for trekking ranges between 4 to 7 hours depending on where the Gorillas were last found. Return to the lodge and spend rest of your evening on a sundowner and later on a camp fire before you wind off the day.

Overnight: Orugano Bwindi Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 4: Gorilla habituation Experience – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

Today just as the previous day, embark on another incredible adventure looking for the gentle giants of Bwindi. But this time, it starts so early as you have to start with the gorillas the same time as they begin their daily work. Once found, you shall spend 4 hours with the gorillas and observe their day-to-day behaviors. This gives you more insight and get to witness what you missed the previous day. Return to the lodge for and spend rest of your evening on a sundowner and later on a camp fire before you wind off the day.

Overnight: Orugano Bwindi Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 5: Nkuringo-Buhoma Long Walk & Transfer – Queen Elizabeth National Park

At 8:00 am, you will join the walking safari guide on the trail starting either from the lodge (Kashasha Trail) or a few miles off (Ivy River Trail).

Giant ferns, trees, millions of butterflies, birds, forest elephants, chimpanzees, monkeys, bush pigs, and even leopards could cross your path on this trail. Your guide will be sure to maintain the slowest person’s pace and allow you to immerse yourself in the untamed wilderness deeply.

The forest trail you will walk is one of the oldest human trails on the continent. They commercially connected Nkuringo-Nteko villages on the elevated south of Bwindi to Buhoma village on the lower north of the prehistoric rainforest. You may bump into some natives making the journey to the other side. However, you have two gun-bearing rangers to protect you from aggressive animals and other unknowns.

You find a resting hut somewhere in the forest to rest and have your packed lunch before you continue to Buhoma.

At the other end of the walking trail, your driver will be ready to whisk you off through Ishasha Savannah plains, where he’ll lazily drive for you to catch sight of the incredible tree-climbing lions.

Overnight: Enjojo Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 6: Morning & Afternoon Game Drives – Ishasha Sector

Wake up early morning for a hot cup of coffee and head out for a full day game drive in the Ishasha area, looking for the huge herds of buffalo, elephant, Uganda Kob and of course the famous tree-climbing lion typically found in the area. Later you will enjoy a late afternoon sundowner inside the park.

Overnight: Enjojo Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 7: Bush Breakfast & Boat Safari – Queen Elizabeth National Park

Enjoy a very special breakfast in the wilderness of Ishasha overlooking a great scenery. Drive through the ishasha sector fig tree area in search for the tree climbing lions with many cats and vibrant wildlife to spectate at as we proceed to Kazinga channel for the afternoon boat trip. This boat will provide a perfect platform for viewing most of the wildlife as they gather to drink and bathe in one place.  The Kazinga Channel is one of the great birding spots in Uganda and Africa. You will see all kinds of water birds feeding close to giant crocodiles, elephants and hippos.

Overnight: Engiri Game Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 8: Chimpanzee & Evening game drive – Queen Elizabeth National Park

Wake up early and prepare to be taken for briefing at the starting point in Kyambura Gorge. The Kyambura Gorge is an underground forest that was created by secondary faulting after the formation of the East African rift valley. A vast forest grew in this valley which became a favorite for many primates, birds and other wildlife. There was once a natural forest corridor that connecting the underground forest to mainland forests like Maramagambo and Kalinzu but this was recently destroyed by humans. The destruction of this forest corridor left the chimpanzee population in the gorge trapped. They cannot use the savanna plains to reach nearby forests for fear of being attacked by predators. Scientists worry about inbreeding and genetic mutations within the chimpanzee community here. The good news is that a new forest corridor is being built to allow the chimps meet other clans elsewhere. Chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge is remarkable because it offers tourists a chance to visit the unique gorge and discover its biodiversity. Chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura gorge can be strenuous considering that you would be hiking up and down a steep gorge. You need to be mentally prepared for the challenge so that you are not surprised.

After tracking the chimps, you will return to your lodge for lunch and relaxation. If you wish to take on an evening game drive, your guide will be at your service.

Overnight: Engiri Game Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

 

Day 9: Flight Transfer – Entebbe International Airport

Today you will have an early morning connecting flight to Entebbe airport for your outbound departure flight.

In case your flight is late in the evening, you can opt to take on an afternoon shoebill experience around Mabamba Wetlands.

Overnight: N/A

Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch

Included

  • Park fees(For non-residents)
  • Gorilla permits(One per person, non-resident)
  • Gorilla habituation permits(One per person, non-resident)
  • Chimpanzee permits (One per person, non-resident)
  • All activities(Unless labeled as optional)
  • All accommodation(Unless listed as upgrade)
  • A professional driver/guide
  • All transportation(Unless labeled as optional)
  • Domestic oneway flight
  • All Taxes/VAT
  • Roundtrip airport transfer
  • Meals(As specified in the day-by-day section)
  • Drinking water(On all days)

Excluded

  • International flights(From/to home)
  • Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
  • Tips(Tipping guideline US$10.00 pp per day)
  • Personal items(Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
  • Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees