6 Days Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi and Lake Mburo

6 DAY GORILLA TREKKING AND SAFARIS

TO QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK, BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST AND LAKE MBURO

Day One: Kampala to Queen Elizabeth National Park

After an early breakfast at your hotel in Kampala, you will be met by your Kompass Safari guide and we will head towards Queen Elizabeth National Park. We will stop along the way to visit the Royal Drum Makers and also to stand on the Equator and be in both hemispheres at the same time. We drive through scenic savannah grasslands seeing banana plantations and herds of Ankole cattle with their incredible long curving horns. Queen Elizabeth National Park boasts as one the highest biodiversity ratings of any game park in the world, from the open savannah to rainforest, dense swamps and beautiful crater lakes to the vastness of Lake Edward and a truly huge array of wildlife including hippos, lions, buffaloes, leopard, spotted hyena and the elusive giant forest hog amongst many others. There are also many primates to see here including chimpanzees, many members of the colobus monkey family, red tailed monkeys and olive baboons. After checking in at your accommodation we will go for an afternoon game drive to Kasenyi Area of the Park where you will be able to see numerous elephants as well as water hogs, lions, hyenas, Uganda kobs, waterbuck and bushbuck as well as the salt lakes. Following the game drive you will be able to relax and dine at leisure at your Lodge.

Day Two: Kyambura Gorge

Following breakfast we visit Kyambura Gorge where you can see the many Chimpanzees who call the Gorge home. There are also other species of primates to see such the black and white Colobus monkeys as well as many other animals including antelopes, hyenas and lions. We will return to the lodge for lunch and a chance to relax by the side of the swimming pool before taking an afternoon boat trip along the Kazinga channel. This will give you the opportunity to view wildlife up close. Hippo’s huff and spray mere feet away from the boat whilst buffalo linger in the shallows. The shores of the channel are also home to an array of birds including pink backed pelicans, pied and malachite kingfishers, saddle billed stork and many others. After this wonderful afternoon, a slow drive back to the lodge where you can rest and enjoy dinner.

Day Three: Queen Elizabeth National Park to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

Following breakfast, we head to Ishasha, which is in the south of Queen Elizabeth National Park. You will be able to take a game drive where you may see the tree-climbing lions this region is famous for. Ishasha is dominated by acacia woodland and forest and features the meandering Ishasha River. We then set off for Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, the home of Mountain Gorillas. It is estimated half of the world’s surviving population of mountain Gorillas live within Bwindi boundaries. This National Park offers a dramatic steeply forested landscape and is incredibly dense but has numerous animal trails allowing access to tourists. The breathtaking chance to view these majestic Gorilla’s here in their natural habitat is truly a ‘Bucket List’ activity the memories of which you will cherish for a lifetime. Apart from the gorillas, there are a variety of primates to be seen including the blue monkeys, red tailed monkeys, and black & white colobus monkeys.

Day Four: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

After an early breakfast, we start our Gorilla trekking guided adventure. The guides will take you through the bush, pushing your way through the undergrowth and parting thick creepers to track the gorillas. This trek can take from half an hour to 5 hours and 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 grumble to each other, 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. A packed lunch will be taken to be eaten along the trek. After the day trekking you will return to your accommodation, tired but hopefully happy, for dinner and your evenings relaxation.

Day Five: Bwindi to Lake Mburo National Park

After breakfast we take a scenic drive to Mbarara where we stop for lunch before continuing on to Lake Mburo National Park. This Park is an extension of the Tanzanian plains with big herds of zebra, impala, eland and other ungulates. Bird viewing opportunities are excellent and for birders, this is one of the best places to find African fin foot and papyrus bush shrike.  After checking in, we go for a game drive in the rolling hills and open grasslands. There is much to see and marvel at as the lovely landscape is home to impala, waterbuck, eland, zebra, buffalo, klipspringers, crested crane, and the elusive shoebill stork amongst other species of African wildlife.

Day Six: Lake Mburo National Park to Kampala

After an early morning breakfast you will have a guided nature walk where a ranger takes you on foot into the bush. Lake Mburo is the only place in this part of Uganda where you can see zebra and Impala and it’s also the best place to see the African Eland, Africa’s largest antelope!  Following this we depart for Kampala where you will be dropped either at your accommodation or Entebbe Airport for onward travel.

TOUR INCLUDES

• Entrance Fees for all activities on the itinerary
• All excursions on the itinerary
• Accommodation from Day One until drop off on the last day of the tour
• All transport during the tour itinerary
• Meals – dependent on Half Board or Full Board arrangements made at the time of booking
• English speaking guide
• Game Drive
• Permits for wildlife activities

TOUR EXCLUDES

• Any optional activities arranged separately
• Accommodation prior to Day One or after drop off on the last day of the tour
• Visa
• Travel Insurance
• Personal spending money
• Alcoholic drinks
• Laundry
• Any medical costs
• Tips
• Any fines incurred for improper behaviour or breach of National Park rules