Hop between two (2) spectacular Uganda national parks on this perfect 5-day travel itinerary. Start your exploration in the scenic Queen Elizabeth National Park for big game safaris and end it with Bwindi Impenetrable National Park home to the highest concentrations of the rare mountain gorillas.
At Queen Elizabeth NP, the major highlights will be a guided game drive on the Kasenyi plains, the Northern section of the park. The Kasenyi track offers amazing sights of huge concentrations of mammals and birds. The expected sightings from Kasenyi plains include warthogs, cape buffaloes, leopards, lions, large herds of African elephants, and more. Also, prepare yourself for unforgettable encounter with aquatic species on a boat or launch cruise on Kazinga channel.
Bwindi will be the most perfect spot to locate the endangered mountain gorillas in the wild. Get there fully ready for your exhilarating primate adventure –gorilla trekking with the lead of an experienced guide.
Today will be just for pick up and driving to your first destination –Queen Elizabeth National Park. A long route and interesting route (Kampala-Masaka-Mbarara-Bushenyi route) will be taken today, expecting to take you 7-8 hours’ drive. This comes with en-route stopover at the Equator, take pictures or perform water experiment to determine the Northern & Southern hemispheres. Make a stopover at Mbarara for lunch and later, continue on a scenic drive while viewing the Igara tea estates. Upon arrival, get the spectacular view of the legendary Rwenzori Mountain ranges and also the sweeping savanna grassland of Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Early in the morning, you will be picked up at your respective safari lodges ready for 6:00am game drive. Navigate through the Northern circuit –Kasenyi sector on a 2-3 hours game viewing expedition. Drive at the pace that allows you capture sights of the park’s diverse species of wildlife –from small to large mammals including the cape buffaloes, elephants, warthogs, leopards, lions, Kobs, spotted hyenas and birds.
In the afternoon, set off for your 2 hour boat cruise on Kazinga channel. This is one of the most memorable water sport experience and allows you come across different aquatic species, especially Nile crocodiles, hippos, and water birds.
Wake up early in the morning and after, head off to Bwindi National Park, a tropical rainforest situated in the Southwestern edge of Uganda. Depart from the Northern section of Queen Elizabeth NP via the Southern side –Ishasha sector where you will have a chance to also spot some tree climbing lions relaxed on the fig-tree branches. Enjoy lunch around Ishasha and later head off to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park located in Kanungu District, Southwestern Uganda.
A hefty breakfast will be enjoyed at the comfort of the lodge, and you will be expected right at park offices for briefing about gorilla trekking regulations. It is at the park offices of Bwindi NP where you will meet the tourism official who also will allocate to you a family of habituated mountain gorillas. Trekking in search for mountain gorillas will take 2-6 hours which includes one hour of a close encounter and photography.
When you return, have a relaxed moment at the comfort of your lodge and enjoy refreshments. Late afternoon will include a visit to the Batwa community, spend a great part of the afternoon interacting with local residents, and learn different traditions and cultures of the Batwa pygmies. This will be accompanied by amazing dances and music performances from the Batwa pygmies, and then you get back to relax at the lodge.
Rise early, enjoy a hefty breakfast and you will be transferred from Bwindi National Park to Kampala or Entebbe. It will be a journey of about 8-9 hours inclusive of stopover at Igongo cultural centre for lunch and at the Equator crossing.
End of safari
