5 Days Gorillas Trekking&Wildlife- QENP
Description
Gorilla and Chimpanzee trekking in Kalinzu forest and wildlife safari will start from Entebbe, take you to Bwindi, and Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in Southwestern Uganda and covers an area of 331 Sq km, it is a home to 12 Gorilla families, 348 bird species, 163 tree species, 120 mammals, 220 butterfly species, 27 chameleon species, and 1000 flowering plants among others. Queen Elizabeth National Park is among one of the well conserved parks in Uganda primates like Chimpanzees in Kyambura Gorge and Kalinju, you will also find white and black colobus monkeys.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is located 376 km away from Kampala covering an area of 1, 978 Sq km. It is home to over 95 species of mammals, 10 species of primates and over 500 species of birds, and is famous for the amazing boat cruise on Kazinga Channel and game viewing.
Itinerary
Arrive at the airport, our team will meet you, greet and transfer to the hotel/guesthouse for a briefing and
communication introduction to the itinerary. Overnight stay dinner.
Accommodation options: Laico Lake Victoria hotel (Up Market-Standard), Karibu Guest House/Cassia
Lodge (Mid range)
Meals: Dinner.
Early in the morning after your breakfast, your driver/guide will meet you at your hotel and he will take you through the details of your trip. Thereafter, proceed to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park which is located in the southwestern part of Uganda for gorilla tracking. You will have a stopover at the equator to take photos and the other one in Mbarara to have your lunch. Along the way you will see a lot of sightings such as the beautiful scenery as you approach the park. This park is also endowed with a lot of plants and wildlife like the mountain gorillas chimpanzees, colobus monkeys, forest elephants, birds, and waterfalls though Mountain gorillas are most popular. Check-in at the lodge, unwind, have dinner and an overnight. (Optional charter flight and price is not included in the quotation)
Accommodation options: Four Gorillas Lodge/Chameleon hill lodge (Up market-Standard), Ichumbi Gorilla
Lodge/Mutanda Lake Resort (Midrange)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
On this day, you will need to be very early by 6:00am, have breakfast and pack your lunch. Drive ahead reaching the Park headquarters, where you will be briefed by the ranger guide concerning what to do and not to do while in the park. Thereafter proceed with the ranger to look out for the mountain gorillas, this involves hiking up and down rugged paths whereby you will need to be physically fit and also carry a walking stick. Also you can use the local porters to carry your luggage. When you meet these gentle giants follow what your ranger guide tells you especially standing 6 meters away from them as you watch the mothers feed the young ones, the juveniles playing and the silver backs guarding the territory. How long this search will take is based on where the gorillas are located and feeding from so it can take 2- 8 hours.
Also don’t forget to carry enough water, a rain coat, sturdy shoes, long sleeved trousers, and snacks.
Return back to your lodge – evening community experience for dinner and overnight.
Only 1 hour is permitted to you to view the Gorillas. Trekking takes about 1hour to 8 hours basing on the location of these gentle giants. After the trek, in the evening you could go for a guided nature walk (price not included) or a community visit, return to the lodge for dinner and overnight. Gorilla tracking fee USD $700.00 Net,
Accommodation options: Four Gorillas Lodge/Chameleon hill lodge (Up market-Standard), Ichumbi
Gorilla Lodge/Mutanda Lake Resort (Midrange)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After your early breakfast, drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park passing through the Ishasha sector which is the southern sector of the park. Along the way you will have sights of different animal species including; the birds, bushbucks, elephants, buffaloes, monkeys, Kobs and if lucky, you could see the tree climbing Lions. On your arrival, check in at the lodge and enjoy your lunch as you prepare to engage in a launch/boat cruise on Kazinga channel in the afternoon. This boat trip takes 2 hours and will give you an opportunity to watch different water animals closer. Some of the animal species include; hippos, crocodiles, elephants and buffaloes along the banks. Also birds like the Saddle billed storks, African fish eagle, pink backed pelicans, Pied and malachite kingfishers, African Skimmer and the shoebill that’s if you are lucky. Return to the lodge for dinner and (optional 3 hour night guided game drive depending on your strength and interest) overnight.
Accommodation options: Mweya Safari Lodge (Up-market), Kazinga Wilderness Safari Camp (Mid-range – in the wild- community affiliated)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Take your breakfast in the morning. This day being your last, you may opt for a morning game drive in the Kasenyi trail where you will have a chance to see animals such as the lions, warthogs, elephants, topis, buffaloes among others, also during this morning you will observe a number of different bird species or choose to visit the Kyambura gorge for chimpanzee tracking. Thereafter, start off your journey to Kampala with lunch stop in Mbarara. After lunch, proceed to Entebbe for your evening departure flight.
Optional walk in the Kalinzu Forest
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Chimpanzee tracking fee USD $50.00 Net in Kalinzju Forest
PRICE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE QUOTATION (price/pax)
Includes & Excludes
*All accommodation and meals as indicated in the itinerary on FB & BB basis
*Full time exclusive use of a 4 x 4Safari Jeep/Toyota Land cruiser
*Full time services of experienced English speaking drive/guide
*All services in national parks i.e park entrance fees, guided nature walks, hikes & game drives
*Boat trip in Queen Elizabeth National Park
*A 3 hour guided night game drive in Queen Elizabeth National park (optional – depending on one’s strength and interest)
*Bottled drinking mineral water, coffees, teas or soft drinks while on Safaris, game drives, walks, hikes or transfers
*All Nature/Safari & Community walks as indicated in the itinerary-safari program
*All airport pickups and drop off from Entebbe & back to Entebbe airport
*All activities indicated & mentioned in the itinerary
Gorilla permit fees/permit purchased NET from UWA each $800.0 per person per visit
-Chimpanzee permit fees/permit purchased NET from UWA each $100.00 per person per visit
-Optional Forest walks each at $20.0 plus entry of $40.0 park entry fees
-Optional Batwa community visit in Bwindi or Mugahinga or Nyakabade and the entertainment each
at ($25 per person)
-Laundry service in different hotels we stay
-Bar bills, phone calls
-Personal insurance and medical bills
-Air fares
-All other services of a personal nature
-All services marked as Optional in the itinerary
-Driver/guides/hotel staff or any other person’s gratuity
Note: Gorilla permit cost $100.0 Chimpanzee permit costs $130.0 in Kalinju Forest & Kyambura Gorge in QENP
