Depart from Kampala by road and head south-West to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. You will have a short stop at the Equator an informative talk as well as a photographic opportunity. We will continue to Mbarara where were we will stop for lunch. Your drive will take you through Uganda rolling green hills through the highlands, also known as the ‘Switzerland of Uganda’. Your road will then head even higher to where you can see the triangular peaks of the Virunga volcanoes of Rwanda and the Congo. We then drop down into a valley, to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, home of the mountain gorilla. Tonight you will sleep to the sounds of the mountain rain forest.
Accommodation: Overnight at Gorilla Resort/Buhoma Community Bandas (Full Board)
You will have a hearty breakfast to give you the energy needed for gorilla tracking. Report to the ranger station for registration before 8:00 am and a talk to one of the rangers; the guides will then take you through the bush pushing your way through the undergrowth, parting thick creepers, to track the gorillas. (The trek covers from half an hour to 5 hours – a reasonable degree of fitness is required as well as a sturdy pair of walking shoes) Sit in the forest among the gorillas, listening to them grumble to each other, and marvel at the sheer size of the dominant male; the silver back. It is an extraordinary feeling sitting in the dense rain forest knowing you are with a few of the last remaining mountain gorillas. It’s incredible to think there are only over 650 of these beautiful creatures left! If you have the energy this afternoon, take a guided walk on the Munyaga River trail, which is an ideal short walk. This trail leads to three delightful crystal clear waterfalls, and there is a profusion of tree ferns, epithytic ferns, orchids and Bwindi’s colorful array of butterflies. Here you may also see birds and primates from the forest edge.
Accommodation: OR If you have the afternoon free, how about a guided village walk – see how the Ugandans live! Overnight at Gorilla Resort/Buhoma Community Bandas (Full Board)
Early in the morning we will depart with our packed lunch for Queen Elizabeth National Park. Then drive through the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth known as Ishasha, well known for its tree-climbing lions. Ishasha is a remote and beautiful extension of Queen Elizabeth National Park. We will see topi, hippo and buffalo among other species. It is a fabulous sight to see the lions draped from the trees and nowhere in Africa do you stand a better chance of seeing this than in the large low-limbed fig tree of Ishasha. After checking in and having some time to relax, we will head for a late afternoon game drive. We often spot water-bucks, warthogs, hippos Elephants and others.
Accommodation: Overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge/Institute of Ecology (FB)
We will leave for the 08.00am chimp trek in Kyambura Gorge. The delightful apes, more closely related to humans than to any other living creature, are tremendous fun to watch as they squabble and play in fruiting trees. Then we will return to the lodge for lunch. A boat trip along the Kazinga Channel in the afternoon gives you the opportunity to see wildlife up close: hippo’s huff and spray mere feet away from the boat, buffalo live in the shallows. The shores of the channel are also habitat to an array of birds like pelicans, pied, malachite kingfishers, saddle billed stork pink backed and many others. You will have a slow drive back to Lodge after this wonderful afternoon.
Accommodation: Overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge/Institute of Ecology (FB)
You will have a morning game drive after a morning breakfast, we will leave for Kibale Forest National Park. We will leave the park through the Northern Crater Area, with beautiful lake and rich grasslands which are set deep in the crater valley; this is truly the most breathtaking scenery in the park. We will then proceed to Fort portal town arriving in the late afternoon. Tonight you will sleep in Ndali Lodge/Rwenzori View guest house prior to your chimpanzee tracking in the morning.
Accommodation: Overnight at Ndali Lodge/ Rwenzori View Guest House/Kanyankyu Ecological site (FB)
You will have a morning game drive after a morning breakfast, we will leave for Kibale Forest National Park. We will leave the park through the Northern Crater Area, with beautiful lake and rich grasslands which are set deep in the crater valley; this is truly the most breathtaking scenery in the park. We will then proceed to Fort portal town arriving in the late afternoon. Tonight you will sleep in Ndali Lodge/Rwenzori View guest house prior to your chimpanzee tracking in the morning.
Accommodation: Overnight at Ndali Lodge/ Rwenzori View Guest House/Kanyankyu Ecological site (FB)
At 08.00am you will report to the ranger station in Kibale National Park to track habituated chimps – these delightful apes closely related to humans than to any other living creature, are exceeding fun to watch as they squabble and play in fruiting trees. The incredibly diverse forest is home to over 13 species of primates like blue monkey, grey mangabey, pottos, black faced vervet monkeys, baboons, bush babies red Colo-bus monkey plus the rare L’Hoest. A network of shady forest trails provides much to delight botanists and butterfly lovers, while birders are in for a treat with 335 species recorded and the endemic Prirogrine’s ground thrush. The elusive forest elephant, smaller and hairier that its Savannah counterpart, moves seasonally into the developed part of the park, while other terrestrial mammals are giant forest hog, a half dozen antelope species and buffalo., you will go for a guided walk in Bigodi Swamp to look for different bird species if you have energy in the afternoon like Blue Throated Roller and other rare species and also find the fruiting trees, which attract Narina Trogon, Pied Hornbill, Yellow Spotted, Hairy Breasted, Yellow-Billed Barbets, the Shining Blue Kingfisher.
Accommodation: Overnight at Ndali Lodge/ Rwenzori View Guest House/Kanyankyu Ecological site (FB)
After breakfast we will depart to Kampala arriving in the afternoon.
End of the 67 Days Chimps & Gorilla Safari in Uganda
Airport transfers Transportation by safari van Accommodation and meals as per itinerary Gorilla permits, one per person to be paid in advance Driver allowances En-route lunches Visit the equator and Igongo cultural Center.
personal nature expenses of excludes: laundry, tips to local guides, telephone, porter fee while trekking, Air fare, Visa, drinks, personal insurance, personal shopping bills and cigarettes.
Cate
Samuel
Robert
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