6 DAYS WILDLIFE QUEEN ELIZABETH & GORILLA TREKKING SAFARI

Entebbe

Situated on a peninsula in Lake Victoria, the former seat of Uganda’s government, Entebbe is just a short drive from the current capital and offers plenty to keep visitors amused. This charming town features tree-lined streets and serves as an excellent base from which to explore the surrounding area. Tourists can look forward to spending days on beautiful beaches along the banks of Lake Victoria, stroll through the fields and forests of the magnificent Botanical Gardens, or pay a visit to Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary, a haven for country’s orphaned chimps.

Day Itinerary

• TBA: Arrival at Entebbe International Airport. 
• TBA: Meet & greet assistance on arrival. 
• TBA: Clearing with immigration.
• TBA: Transfer to your hotel in Entebbe 
• TBA: Dinner & overnight stay. at your hotel. 

Overnight: No.5 Boutique Hotel       (View iBrochure)

Nestled in the leafy suburbs of Entebbe, is the stylish boutique hotel, Hotel No.5. From the moment you arrive, you are warmly welcomed and cared for. With luxurious rooms opening onto the garden and swimming pool, this is a great option for guests looking for an intimate stay in a tranquil setting.

Make yourself at home – unwind beside the swimming pool, pamper yourself with a spa treatment, or work up a sweat in the hotel gym. For one of the most flavoursome dining experiences in Entebbe, carefully planned menus are paired to an international wine list, and served with pride.

Attention to detail and an attentive guest experience are synonymous with Hotel No. 5, making it the perfect choice for a restful stay in this busy town.

Alternate: Protea Hotel by Marriott Entebbe         

This 73-roomed hotel is ideally located on the glistening shores of Lake Victoria and a convenient 1km from the airport.  Protea Hotel by Marriott Entebbe has a restaurant that offers an exciting and truly inviting a la carte menu seven days of the week. Specialties include Tilapia and Nile Perch, while guests can also relax on the terrace and bar. It’s a hotel that complements your travel style. With elegant furnishings and a warm, inviting feel, the hotel’s decor and rooms create a luxurious atmosphere. The outside terrace, with its own special ambience and superb lake views is the perfect place to take it all in.

Northern Queen Elizabeth National Park

One of the most popular parks in Uganda, the Queen Elizabeth National Park lies in the western region of the country. In the northern part of the park, visitors can look forward to boating along the Kasinga Channel, which is home to the largest population of hippos in the world and an abundance of Nile crocodiles. Along the banks, an incredible number of birds and wild animals flock to the river’s edge. At Kyambura Gorge, fondly known as ‘Valley of the Apes’, chimpanzees are at home in a world of lush tropical rainforest spread with canopies, and three salty crater lakes are decorated with swathes of pink flamingos. On the western shore of Lake George, the vast Kasenyi Plains are inhabited by lions and several interesting bird species.

Day Itinerary

• 0600: Begin the day with breakfast
• 0630: Transfer to Entebbe International Airport
• 0700: Flight to Kasese Airstrip. 
• 1005: Estimated time of arrival at Kasese Airstrip. 
• 1035: Transfer to your lodge.
• 1230: Lunch at the Lodge. 
• 1600: Evening game drive along Kasenyi Plains.
• 1800: Dinner and overnight stay at your lodge.

Overnight: Mweya Safari Lodge      

Mweya Safari Lodge, situated on a scenic peninsula in the heart of Queen Elizabeth National Park, offers a remarkable escape. Surrounded by the captivating Rwenzori Mountains, aptly named the ‘Mountains of the Moon,’ and overlooking the Kazinga Channel linking Lake George and Lake Edward, the lodge provides unparalleled views. With rooms offering stunning perspectives of the channel, guests are treated to a luxurious experience in the midst of wilderness. The lodge extends a range of activities and attractions, including game drives, boat trips, and wildlife viewing, ensuring an unforgettable safari adventure.

Alternate: Buffalo Safari Lodge        

Buffalo Safari Lodge is located at the magical Kazinga Channel 1km off Kasese Mbarara road with spectacular views the Kazinga Channel and the savannah plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park. The resort boasts of a serene environment comprising of spectacular flora and fauna like elephants, buffalos, hippos, warthogs and a variety of bird species all at a glance of an eye. The resort boosts of good and experienced staff, a fully stocked bar and restaurant with a lounge that gives a spectacular view of Lake Rubirizi and Kazinga channel.

Activities

Game Drive in Queen Elizabeth

The Game Drive in Queen Elizabeth takes place in the open grasslands of Kasenyi in the Queen Elizabeth National Park. The park is a primary game viewing area due to the variety of wildlife which includes antelopes, elephants, buffalos, and lions. Visitors will be accompanied by an experienced guide able to track down these animals.

Basis

Full Board – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch

Day Itinerary

• 0600: Start the day with a morning breakfast.
• 0700: Transfer to Kyambura Gorge for Chimpanzee trekking 
• 0800: Kyambura Chimpanzee trekking starts. 
• 1200: Return from the jungle to your lodge 
• 1300: Lunch at your hotel. 
• 1600: Afternoon Boat Trip on Kazinga Channel.  
• 1900: Dinner and overnight stay. 

Activities

Kyambura Gorge Chimpanzee Trekking

Kyambura Gorge is often referred to as the Valley of the Apes and is located on the edge of the Queen Elizabeth National Park in South Western Uganda. Over the past two years a small group of Chimpanzees have been habituated to tolerate the presence of humans however sightings are not guaranteed and as such permits here are offered at considerably reduced rates compared to the more well-known Kibale Forest. This is however an opportunity to track the Chimpanzees in a remote and lesser known location.

Kyambura is well known stunning scenery and a vast bio-diversity and should you miss the Chimps, your guide will still point out the Black & White Colobus, Red Tailed Monkey and the Grey Cheeked Mangabey as well as Pittas & different bird species and provide details of the tradit of the plant species within the forest.

Chimpanzee walks embark morning and afternoon and usually lasts 2 to 3 hours with approximately 4-6 people in a group each led by a Ugandan Wildlife Authority specialist guide.

Wild Frontiers Kazinga Channel Kingfisher Boat

Wild Frontiers Kazinga Channel Kingfisher Boat is a leisurely boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Passengers may encounter herds of elephant, buffalo and antelope, families of warthog, large groups of hippo, and crocodiles basking on the shore.  Kazinga’s shores are a haven for numerous birds, including many migratory species as they make their way south to warmer climates. The cruise also provides a spectacular view of the beautiful Mweya Peninsula and life in local fishing villages set along the banks.

Basis

Full Board – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

Located in southwestern Uganda, the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is said to be Africa’s oldest rainforest. It is world-renowned for its excellent gorilla-sighting opportunities – the forest is home to half of the remaining mountain gorillas on earth. This gorilla experience takes place among a rugged landscape of dense jungle, cascading waterfalls, sparkling mountain streams, deep valleys, and steep ridges. The untouched forest has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its breathtaking natural beauty and unique ecological significance, and aside from the amazing gorilla interactions, there are other drawcards such as a network of forest walks, over 340 species of bird to spot, and a variety of brightly-coloured butterflies to identify. Don’t miss the opportunity to explore the spectacular Virunga Volcanoes, three of which are still active.

Day Itinerary

• 0800: Start the day with morning breakfast.
• 0900: Transfer Ishasha -South of Queen Elizabeth National Park 
• 1030: Mid-morning game drive in Ishasha do tree climbing Lions. 
• 1300: Lunch at Ishasha Jungle Lodge. 
• 1530: Drive to Bwindi Forest. 
• 1830: Dinner is served at the Lodge. 

Overnight: Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp   (View iBrochure)

Once-in-a-lifetime encounters with Uganda’s endangered gorillas await when you stay in one of these ten private luxury tents in the heart of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.

Ecologically respectful, contemporary-yet-classic in style, Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp blends in sensitively with the dramatic African mountain landscape and, situated uniquely inside the national park, you are only minutes away from the start of your gorilla trekking adventure.

Located in one of the remotest areas of Africa, these comfortable canvas spaces are dressed with indigenous prints and furniture made from natural materials. Beds are draped in neutral-toned linens, and local artefacts set a scene that ensures memorable moments both inside and out the accommodation. Each tent has a spacious, stone-walled bathroom with private sections, and a free-standing bath for a relaxing soak after a day’s trekking. The trees around the camp light up in the morning when the sun starts shining, and thanks to there being so few tents, the camp retains an intimate, exclusive feel, enabling you to experience Africa’s magic with the lightest of footprints yet with practically every mod con.

Alternate: Mahogany Springs Lodge            (View iBrochure)

Mahogany Springs is situated in one of the most intimate, secluded, beautiful and most importantly natural settings in the world and only around 2 minutes away from the Gorilla tracking starting point.

All the rooms at Mahogany Springs are high end suites. All Suites can be twin, double or triple.  There is 24/7 power in all the rooms. All rooms have large en-suite bathrooms with a gorgeously designed open terracotta shower.

All 12  luxurious suites have their own private terrace with magnificent panoramic views over the grounds, river and surrounding areas.

The main dining area is exquisitely furnished and with panoramic views beyond the lodge’s own gardens you will enjoy dining in a tranquil and unrivalled setting. The service provided is as much an art form as the food therefore, the staff are trained to very high standards. Within the main building there is a stunning bar where guests can sit all day and night trying one of the many cocktails or simply a bottle of fine wine. Most of the produce used at Mahogany Springs is grown on site to provide guests with the freshest ingredients.

Activities

Basis

Full Board – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch

Day Itinerary

• 0600: Start the day with morning breakfast ready for the day’s gorilla trek
• 0700: Transfer/walk down to the park headquarters for the gorilla trek 
• 0800: Start the gorilla trekking adventure in Bwindi. 
• 1300: Estimated time of returning from the jungle.
• 1500: Afternoon relaxation at your lodge. 
• 1830: Dinner is served at the Lodge. 

Activities

Gorilla Trekking Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

Wake early for a hearty breakfast to give you the energy needed for gorilla trekking. Before 8:00 am, report to the ranger station for registration and a talk by one of the rangers. The guides will then take you through the bush, pushing your way through the undergrowth, to track the gorillas. (Please note this trek can take from 30 minutes to 5-6 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 ‘talk’ to one another, and marvel at the sheer size of the dominant male, the Silverback. It is an extraordinary feeling sitting in the dense rainforest knowing you are with a few of the last remaining mountain gorillas. It’s amazing to think there are only about 650 of these beautiful creatures left.

Basis

Full Board – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch

Day Itinerary

• 0700: Start the day with a morning breakfast.
• 0800: Batwa Cultural Experience. 
• 1200: Return to your lodge for Lunch. 
• 1300: Drive to Kihihi Airstrip 
• 1445: Departure time out of Bwindi -Kihihi to Entebbe. 
• 1615: Arrival time at Entebbe and be picked up at your hotel. 
• 1700:Onward flight connection to Cairo.
• : End of service. 

Activities

Batwa Cultural Village

The Batwa Cultural village is where the Batwa (Pigmies) still live in the same way they used to years ago in tree houses. The Batwa only began leaving their forest homes around 15 years ago and they have been able to remain on this land thanks to the support of a generous American benefactor who donated the land back to them and created a cultural program. The fees from visiting tourists and are given to the Batwa project and they delight in welcoming visitors to their village and demonstrating how they make weapons, dance, make fires using sticks and cook.

Basis

Breakfast and Lunch