9 Days Uganda  Gorilla trekking and Queen Elizabeth safari

9 Days Uganda  Gorilla trekking and Queen Elizabeth safari

Trip inclusions:

transport

accommodation for only the hotels mentioned

meals

Park entrance

Gorilla tracking permits (GT)

English speaking guide

Boat cruise (QEP and Lake Buyonyi)

Game drive (QEP)

Trip exclusions:

Visa

Airticket

Personal drinks

Loss of personal belongings

Itinerary

Day 1-: Arrival to Uganda

Upon arrival, you will meet and greet the  Budget Uganda Gorilla safaris representative, who will welcome you and the group thereafter you will be briefed about the tour.

You will then embark on your journey to Kampala, the capital city of Uganda which is about an hour ride. As the car goes through surfaced roads you will see the breathtaking vistas of unmatched sylvan beauty soothed not only the eyes, but the restive soul also.

On arrival, you can check in at the hotel, Feel the heat of the season dwindling, go for a swim to the pool or a walk in the beautiful hotel and have a relaxed day.

Around 7:00pm, you may proceed to have a tasteful dinner

Day 2: Kampala city tour. (8:00am)

After a satisfying breakfast, At 9:00am we may begin with a city tour of Kampala, This is Uganda’s oldest city which was started by the Buganda kingdom before the British came and colonised Uganda. Kampala was initially made up of seven Hills and now the grater Kampala lies on 21 hills. The city tours includes excursions of key places like Gurdwara, Nakasero SSDM temple and other key tourist attractions within Kampala. After departure you shall visit the Indian Temples have a lunch break at Sips and bites restaurant. After lunch you may continue your Kampala sightseeing on a bus taking you to the most famous tourist sites which will end around 6:00pm. You may then head to the hotel to freshen up and therefore board the bus to china bowl for a mixed cuisine dinner.

Day 3: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park (7:00am)

You will check out of the lodge early in the morning after a healthy breakfast and proceed to Queen Elizabeth National park. En route you will have a stop over at Equator for scenic pictures before we continue. You will pass through small towns and villages with scenic beauty of the pearl of Africa. Hospitality of the citizens waving at you throughout the drive with smiling faces. We reach at the park in the afternoon, check in our lodge for refreshments and lunch. In the evening we can go for welcoming game drive in the plains of Kasenyi to search for the big game like lions, leopards, buffaloes, Antelopes, kobs, oribi, hyenas and many others. After our game drive we drive back to our lodge. Dinner and overnight

Day 4: Game drive and Boat Cruise at Queen Elizabeth NP

Your day will begin early by 6:30AM, the sunrise time is usually the best time to spot animals in their natural habitats. Heading off for a game drive at the break of dawn you will be able to see Africa’s highly famed “Big 4”,(Lions, leopards, Buffaloes and Elephants)  Bush Bucks, Giant Hogs, Antelopes, Waterbucks and plenty of birds.  You will finish your game drive and return back to the accommodation just in time for lunch.

After your lunch you will go for a two-hour boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel which connects Lakes George and Lake Edward and you will surely be fascinated by the concentrations of giant hippos, elephants and crocodiles among others. You will also see many varieties of birds at the water shores. After Boat Cruise we have enroute game drive as we head to our lodge.

Day 5: Game drive at Ishasha Sector and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

You will check out the lodge early in the morning after breakfast and launch your trip to the Sothern part of Queen Elizabeth National park. This is a home of unique tree climbing lions, you will have a game drive to search for these gentle member of African big five lying and resting on tree branches.  It’s a unique life experience that you will never forget after your Uganda safari. After the game drive we proceed to southwestern part of Uganda to visit Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to over 400 mountain gorillas in the as predominantly ground dwelling.  Mountain gorillas prefer open canopy forests that allow light to reach the forst floor; their diet consists of bamboo, roots, stems, leaves and vines. Communication varies between barks, screeches, pant grunts and chest beatings. Movement is usually on all fours via “knuckle walking”. These type of silver back gorillas can only be viewed in Uganda. You will sign in at the lodge upon arrival where you will be served tasty African lunch dishes and have some downtime while you prepare for tomorrows trek and spend the night.

Day 6: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi

You will go to the park headquarters at about 7:00 am for a briefing by the game ranger in the morning after breakfast along with your packed lunch, he will brief you about Gorilla’s way of life and lead you through as you begin the journey of tracking. That is to say Under guidance from the best of 9 Days Uganda  Gorilla trekking and Queen Elizabeth safari, most highly trained people for the job, you find yourself face-to-face with something that seems so unequivocally human, it takes your breath away. An early start and a trek through dense rainforest is totally worth it for the privilege of spending an hour with these fascinating mammals. Youngsters may show off and huge silverbacks may beat their chests, but nothing beats just witnessing a gorilla family as they go about their daily business, chomp on bamboo, and watch you in return. It is no wonder that a gorilla trekking safari is often referred to as ‘the most memorable in the world’. In addition you will be able to see numerous bird species, including kingfisher, blue breasted kingfisher and others.

After Gorilla tracking we drive to Lake Buyonyi the African deepest lake. Check in our lodge for refreshments and relaxing evening at the edge of the beautiful lake. Dinner and overnight

Day 7: Boat ride at Lake Bunyonyi and later visit the local comunity

After a relaxed morning you will have a boat cruise to explore the beautiful Lake Bunyonyi, in turn, catching your first sight of the mystical views as your guide leads you to your temporary homes. Here you will be given a chance to freshen up and allow yourself to relax after your transfer whilst continuing to take in the breathtaking sights that lie before you. Once done, you will meet your guide for a beautifully crafted boat ride of Lake Bunyonyi, the lake full of islands as it has 29 of them, here you have a chance to visit some of the most famous islands that lay scattered in the waters. One of the islands which you’ll be visiting is Akampene, better known as Punishment Island. The name was given to it as the Bakiga (originating from Rwanda) used to leave unmarried pregnant women on the island to die of hunger or die trying to swim to shore. This practice has since been abandoned and now forms one of the main islands.

There is also Sharp’s Island which is named after English missionary Leonard Sharp who established a leprosy treatment centre in 1931 when the island was still uninhabited.

After an educational and relaxing boat ride, it will be time for lunch. We encourage you to spend your lunchtime on the lake shores, enjoying the warmth as the sun shines down on you as you take in the wonderful birds swooping around the island.

Day 8: Transfer back to Kampala.

You will check out of the lodge after a delicious breakfast in the morning with sunrise views and begin on your return journey to Kampala, which lasts for around 7-8 hours, you will enjoy lunch en-route in Mbarara town spending an hour or so there and at the equator hence arriving Kampala at night.

Day 9:: Transfer to Airport.

As you recall your memories of the trip and have a laugh about it you will enjoy a drive to the airport.

End of 9 Days Uganda  Gorilla trekking and Queen Elizabeth safari