Day 1: Transfer from Kampala to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Afternoon boat cruise
Following your breakfast at your place of stay in Kampala, you will embark on the trip to Queen Elizabeth National Park in the south west part of Uganda, in an extended drive of 417km. You will drive along the sprawling informal settlements in the south west including the semiarid rangelands of Ankole-Masaka corridor with short savannah grassland vegetation and the undulating sceneries of Bunyaruguru crater before arriving at your lodge in time for lunch.
After lunch, you continue to Mweya peninsular to catch up with a boat trip at exactly 4pm. The 2 hour boat cruise offers a chance to explore the 45 km long Kazinga Channel which links the twin lakes, George and Edward, the channel is known to be the capital for Hippos and Nile crocodiles. Its banks are usually fully stocked with numerous wild game like elephants and buffaloes which can be seen along drinking water. Retreat from the activity and do the game drive along the channel track as you proceed to the lodge.
Accommodation:
Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge
Standard: Ihamba safari Lodge
Basic: Simba Safari Camp
Day 2: Do morning game drive & transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After a splendid morning cup of coffee at your hotel, embark on the drive across the fascinating rolling savannah rangelands of Queen Elizabeth in search of wild game. The stretch to the Kasenyi plains at the mating ground offers you a lifetime opportunity of encounter numerous families of wild game in a single glance including elephants, buffaloes, water bucks and Kobs along with predators like lions, leopards and jackals. The game drive takes 3 – 4 hours before you undertake a transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park exiting through the southern sector of Ishasha. You will arrive in Bwindi in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Accommodation:
Luxury: Gorilla Safari Lodge
Standard: Bakiga Lodge
Basic: Broad bill Forest Camp
Day 3: Undertake gorilla trekking & transfer to Lake Bunyonyi for a sun set boat cruise & relaxation
After an early morning breakfast you will be briefed by your ranger / tour guide and after start your gorilla trekking journey, you will enter into the amazing rainforest (gorilla sanctuary) as it offers an exciting, heavily forested and dense landscape interrupted by plenty of animal trails that provide access for tourists tracking these resident animals. Mammals thriving here include majorly the endangered mountain gorillas, elephants, buffaloes, giant forest hogs, the rare golden monkey, black-fronted Duikers, bushbucks, leopards to mention but a few. However, the charming mountain gorillas form the highlight of the park, you will continue to the misty Bwindi forest in search of the world’s most sought after and endangered species. The trekking adventure takes you through impressive hikes exploring the attractive forest landscapes characterized by rugged terrain which makes it quite challenging to explore.
The time and track taken while looking for these beautiful primates varies according to their movements, “Remember they are also wild animals”. The duration of the activity is between 2 – 8 hours inclusive of one (1) hour direct contact with these unfamiliar creatures as they forage, socialize and make their joyous tactics with the frightening eyes of the Silverback. Once tracked, observing, spending time with and photographing these gentle, peaceful and shy apes is a unique, breathtaking, inspiring, and thrilling life time memorable adventure that leaves you desiring to have it again. Upon reaching the starting point, you will proceed to Lake Bunyonyi driving through the fascinating over hanging highlands of Kigezi with splendid sceneries. Arrive at the legendary Lake Bunyonyi in the afternoon and relax at your lodge before you would embark on a fascinating sunset boat cruise to discover the lake with 29 Virgin Islands that have earned it a nick name as the lake of a thousand Islands. Retreat from this experience and unwind at the banks, relax, dinner and overnight.
Accommodation:
Luxury: Arcadia Cottages
Standard: Bunyonyi Safaris Resort
Basic: Supreme Adventure Park
Day 4: Transfer back to Kampala
After a warm cup of tea, undertake the journey of 437 km back to Kampala, about 7 hours’ drive. The drive is quite long through impressive country side sceneries scattered with rural homesteads, cattle farms and extensive banana plantations. The en route small towns bustling with all kinds of local trade and informal businesses that will occupy your journey back to Kampala.
A lunch stop at the fascinating country hotel, Igongo Cultural Center to enjoy a local cuisine and at Kayabwe, the Uganda Equator crossing monument for amazing photo shots and a local water experiment that proves the earth split-up into two halves, the north and south spheres.
End of trip with Love Uganda Safaris
