4 Days Queen Elizabeth National Park and Gorilla Tracking Safari

Day 1: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park – Boat Cruise on Kazinga Channel (7 hours drive)

Our experienced guide will pick you at your place of stay then drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park. It is the second largest national park in Uganda. 95 species of mammal and 547 species of bird has been recorded. Altitude is low as between 900 to 1,000m, so it is warmer than other areas. En route, stop at the Equator for photograph, Mbarara for lunch if time allows. Upon arrival at the park, check-in for the Boat cruise on Kazinga Channel. The Channel leads the water flow from Lake George to Lake Edward. It’s a habitat for Hippos, Crocodiles, and water birds like Pelicans, Storks, Herons, and Kingfishers among other birds.

Overnight at Kyambura Gorge Lodge (Luxury) or Buffalo Safari Lodge (High end)

Meal Plan: Lunch & Dinner

Day 2: Game drive and drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Leave your accommodation in the morning. Drive through the vast savannah, and look for your favorite animals, with a help of experienced park ranger. Enjoy observing the animals live in vast savannah at the foot of Rwenzori Mountains and expect to meet animals like Elephants, buffalo, Ugandan kobs, hippos, waterbucks, warthogs, giant forest hogs,  leopards, spotted hyenas, lions, side-striped jackals, bush bucks, defassa’s waterbucks, warthogs, sitatunga, oribis, and Ugandan kobs. Later in the afternoon drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. It is known for its endangered animal species called “the Mountain Gorilla” and it is UNESCO site because of its international ecological importance.

Overnight at Mahogany springs (Luxury)

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 3: Gorilla tracking experience

A while after your breakfast at the lodge, you will proceed to the park offices for a briefing from the rangers on the rules and regulations of the trek. Enjoy the cultural performance few minutes after or before the briefing then you will be grouped into a group of 8 people entitled to track each gorilla family. This experience takes between 2 -6 hours depending on the location of the Gorillas on the day of tracking and throughout the trek, you will be escorted by knowledgeable guides and trackers who will offer relevant information about the endangered mountain gorillas. Once you have found the gorillas, you will be allowed to spend 1 hour observing them from a distance. The thrill of your encounter will erase the difficulties of the potentially strenuous trek. Each encounter is different and has its own rewards, but you are likely to enjoy the close view of adults feeding, grooming and resting as the youngster’s frolic and swing from vines in a delightfully playful display. After tracking, you will be rewarded with a certificate for your successful Gorilla tracking. Drive back to your lodge and the evening will be spent at leisure and relaxation or on an optional foot safari within the Batwa communities to experience their local lifestyle.

Overnight at Mahogany springs (Luxury)

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 4: Return to Kampala / Entebbe airport

Breakfast at the lodge in the morning, drive back to Kampala. Lunch stop at Mbarara town in Igongo cultural and country hotel, this is also where you find the Igongo Museum representing the Ankole culture. Take a visit in this museum if time allows witnessing how the future meets the past. Proceed to Entebbe International airport to catch up with your late evening flight to the next destination. Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch.

Flying option from Bwindi Forest to save you from long driving

For visitors that cannot hold 9 hours drive from Bwindi back to Kampala or Entebbe, we have a flying option for only 2 hours you will be at Entebbe International Airport. We can fly you from either Kisoro airstrip or Kihihi Airstrip to Entebbe.

Flight schedules:
From Kisoro to Entebbe Departing 0910 arriving 1125
From Kihihi to Entebbe Departing 0945 arriving 1125
OR with an afternoon flight Departing 1405 arriving 1555

• Transportation by a 4wd safari vehicle.
• Accommodation and meals as per the itinerary.
• Gorilla permit to be paid and secured in advance ($800 per person is included).
• Park entrance fees.
• Kazinga Channel boat cruise.
• Game drive.
• Meet and greet service.
• Batwa community visits.
• Igongo Museum if time allows.

However, the Safari excludes:

Airfares, Visas or Insurance, Tips to local guides, Porterage or Laundry, Soft or alcoholic, drinks or mineral water (excl. water in the vehicles), Items of a personal nature, any meals not indicated above, any tours not mentioned from the itinerary above.