SUMMARY

Day 1: Depart Entebbe/Kampala – Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Day 2: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Day 3: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park – Game drive

Day 4: Chimpanzee tracking – Transfer to Kampala/Entebbe

 DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1: Depart Entebbe/Kampala – Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After an early breakfast, you will be picked by one of our representatives from Ssemambo Tours & Travel who will brief you about this 4 days Uganda Gorilla and Chimpanzee safari journey and then after, transfer you to the northern sector of Bwindi impenetrable rain forest, commonly referred to as “Switzerland of Africa” where you will do your gorilla trekking. Here you will arrive early enough in preparation for gorilla trekking the next morning and in the evening, a community walk to the Pygmies (Batwa) may lighten your safari. The Batwa community will expose you to their culture basing on how they live, dance, and also hearing stories concerning their culture which will leave you amazed. Dinner and overnight will be at your lodge.

Accommodation

• Gorilla closeup lodge
• Mid-range lodge outside Bwindi National Park

Meals & Drinks

• Breakfast
• Bottled Drinking water

Day 2: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After an early morning breakfast, you will be driven to the park headquarters where you will be briefed by the park rangers about dos and don’ts while trekking in the park, here you will also be divided into groups of 8 individuals and after you will start off your gorilla trekking guided by the park rangers. The time taken and the terrain vary with the movements of these great primates and once you have located a gorilla group, you will be allowed an hour in their presence, taking photographs and sighting seeing. If you have the energy this afternoon, take a guided walk on the Munyaga River trail, which entails crystal clear waterfalls, a variety of flora, butterfly species and an array of birds. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

Accommodation

• Gorilla closeup lodge
• Mid-range lodge outside Bwindi National Park

Meals & Drinks

• Breakfast
• Bottled Drinking water

Day 3: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park – Game drive
After an early morning breakfast, you will drive via Ishasha – the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth national park in search for the rare tree climbing lions, while here also watch out for other animals like the bush bucks, kobs, gazelles, antelopes, buffalos and much more. Later you will check in your lodge, have lunch, freshen up and in the afternoon be ready to set off for a 2-3 hours boat cruise along Kazinga channel connecting Lake George and Edward which will reward you with close range views of crocodiles, buffalos and a variety of birds like pelicans, African skimmers, African fish eagle and the shoe bill if lucky. Dinner and overnight stay at the lodge.

Accommodation

• Engiri Game Lodge and Campsite
• Budget lodge located just outside Queen Elizabeth National Park

Meals & Drinks

• Breakfast
• Bottled Drinking water 

 Day 4: Chimpanzee tracking – Transfer to Kampala/Entebbe
After an early morning breakfast, you will head to the park headquarters for briefing about the dos and don’ts during your chimpanzee tracking and by 8:00am you will start the search for these primates in kyambura Gorge. Once you locate the chimpanzees, you will have a full hour in their presence, viewing and taking photographs. Later, before noon, you will transfer back to Kampala/Entebbe arriving late in the evening.

END OF SAFARI TOUR

• Chimpanzee tracking
• Gorilla trekking
• Boat cruise at Kazinga channel
• Game drive
• Batwa Experience

Optional activities

• Birding watching in Bwindi

Birders with a limited amount of time in Buhoma are strongly urged to stick to the Munyaga River Trail, which starts on the edge of the park behind the gorilla tracking trailhead and follows the same old road through the forest south of Buhoma as the waterfall trail. The open road provides better birding opportunities than a narrow forest path and on a good morning you could hope to see over 60 bird species. Among the common species seen include; the great blue turaco, black bee-eater, red-tailed bulbul, bar tailed trogon, Doherty’s bush-shrike, white bellied robin-chat and much more.

• Birding in Queen Elizabeth National Park

The park has a bird list of more than 501 different bird species which in fact makes it the best place for enthusiastic birders to enjoy such a tour. Among the species commonly seen here are: the Long-tailed Cormorants, African Mourning Doves, African open-billed Stork, Great-white and Pink-backed Pelicans, Squaco Heron Grey-capped Warbler, Grey-headed Kingfisher, as well as the Swamp Fly-catcher.

• Village walk in Bwindi

This 3 hour stroll through Buhoma and its margins immerses visitors in the customs and practices of the Bakiga and Batwa people. The tour takes in varied activities such as farming, brewing local beer, dispensing traditional medicines and concludes with dancing displays by members of the Batwa community.

• Visit the Traditional Salt Mine at Katwe in Queen Elizabeth National Park

You will have an opportunity to check out this very old salt mine which since the fourteenth (14^th) century has been in existence up to date. You will see the traditional mining methods being used by the locals to mine the salt as well as their fascination way of life.

• Nature Walks in Maramagambo Forest (Queen Elizabeth National Park)

We organize short and longer nature walks guided by very knowledgeable and skilled guides inside the Maramagambo forest. During these walks, holidaymakers will get an opportunity to visit the bat caves found near the breathtaking Blue Lake. These ancient caves today are habitat to large pythons which prey on the hundreds and hundreds of bats that live here. You will also encounter several beautifully colored butterflies and several bird species as you explore this forest.

Number of Days

4 DayS

Included

• All Park entry fees
• Gorilla permits
• Chimpanzee permits
• A professional driver/guide
• All transportation including fuel
• Launch cruise on Kazinga channel and Game drives
• All activities (included in the itinerary)
• All accommodation (included in the itinerary)
• All Taxes/VAT
• Roundtrip/Airport transfer
• Drinking water

Excluded

• International flights
• Personal items
• Meals
• Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
• Tips
• Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees

Requirements

GORILLA PERMIT COSTS

Gorilla trekking permit costs

 PERMITS

In Uganda chimpanzee and Gorilla tracking is done throughout the year. Chimpanzee permit goes for $50 per person while a Gorilla trekking permit goes for $700 per person and all these are payable through the Uganda Wildlife Authority or through our Company.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SAFARI

• Gorilla and Chimpanzee permits should be paid in advance through our Company or Uganda Wildlife Authority.
• Proof of Yellow fever vaccination.
• Good physical, fit health and mental condition.
• Uganda Visa which can be got on arrival at the Airport.
• Travelers must be at least 15 years old on the day the trekking.
• Travel & Health insurance arranged from your home Country.
• Hiking shoes.
• Water proof Jacket.
• Long Sleeves shirt & Waterproof Pants.
• Warm Jacket.

700USD per person and you get to spend only one hour with the mountain gorillas while Gorilla Habituation costs 1500USD per person allowing you to spend four hours with the mountain gorillas. Gorilla trekking permit is inclusive of the park entry fee and should be paid in advance through Uganda Wildlife Authority Offices or through our Company.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SAFARI

• Gorilla trekking permits.
• Proof of Yellow fever vaccination.
• Good physical, fit health and mental condition.
• Uganda Visa which can be got on arrival at the Airport.
• Travelers must be at least 15 years old on the day the trekking.
• Travel & Health insurance arranged from your home Country.
• Hiking shoes.
• Water proof Jacket.
• Long Sleeves shirt & Waterproof Pants.
• Warm Jacket.
• Good camera for photography

Standard 4X4 Safari Vans/Land cruisers

Our standard mode of transport is by road and we use 4×4 Safari van and Land cruisers with open roof tops customized for game viewing and photography.  Each Safari van/Land cruiser comes with a professionally trained driver/guide with fuel for the whole safari. Each client is entitled to a window seat and can take up to 8-10 people. We also have very comfortable super customs which can carry up 6 people with their luggage also have small vehicles like Alphads, Harrier and much more that can carry 4-5 people.