SVAU 009: 5 Days Gorilla Tour in Queen Elizabeth & Kibale National Parks
Day 1 Kampala – Queen Elizabeth National Park
You will be picked up from Kampala in the morning and drive through Uganda’s lush beautiful countryside. Take a stop over at the Equator en route and shop for the plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits on sale. Stop for lunch on the way to Queen Elizabeth National Park. As you drive into Queen Elizabeth National Park, you’ll spot some African wildlife. Arrive at your lodge late afternoon.
Meals: Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge/ Jacana Safari Lodge/ Albertine Camp
Day 2: Cruise along the Kazinga Channel
Wake up early for a cup of tea or coffee to warm up. Set off for a morning game drive in the park. Expect to see most of the famous Big Five; Buffalos, leopards, Elephant, Lions, Giant forest hog, Bush bucks, waterbucks, Mongoose, Hyena and many bird species.
Return to the lodge for mid morning for breakfast. Relax and rest at your lodge. After lunch, take a cruise along the Kazinga channel to watch the families of Hippos, Buffalos, and Crocodiles. On the lakeside you might see the elusive Leopard marauding. The banks of this channel harbour a great number of bird species and if you are lucky, you might encounter the legendary shoe bill stork, pelicans, fish eagle, Skimmers, martial eagles, the papyrus gunlock, African Jacana and many others. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge/ Jacana Safari Lodge/ Albertine Camp
Day 3: Nature Walk in Maramagambo Forest
After breakfast, set off for a tour to the mesmerizing Queen Elizabeth’s picturesque crater lakes zone and serene. The unique thing about these crater lakes is that each has its own individual temperament and nature providing a home for a myriad of creatures. Visit Lake Katwe and get to see the salt works and Flamingo Lake.
Return to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, visit the assorted local habitats and take a walk in the Maramagambo Forest where we’ll spot Chimpanzees and Monkeys. Visit the bat caves and watch out for the exceptional extraordinary Blue Lake. It is a small lake that got its name Kimere -Njojo (meaning the one that swallows the Elephant) after drowning a big Elephant. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge/ Jacana Safari Lodge/ Albertine Camp
Day 4: Fort Portal Town Tour – Kabale Forest
After breakfast, take a tour to Fort Portal Town, through the villages and beautiful scenery. After lunch, drive to Kibale National Park’s Kanyankyu tourist centre for an afternoon Chimpanzee trek at Kibale Forest. Kibale National Park is a habitat for more than 10 primate species, which include, black & white colobus monkeys, red colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys and many others.
At the Eastern edge of Kibale National Park, there is Bigodi wetland sanctuary, which is managed by the local community. The sanctuary is situated in Magombe swamp and it is known for a wide range of biodiversity including species of primates such as red colobus monkey, black and white colobus monkey, grey-checked mangabey, red tailed monkey, L’Hoest monkey, Vervet monkey, blue monkey and baboon. Mammals like Sitatunga, bush pigs, bush bucks, otters, mongoose and chimpanzees, also visit the swamp from Kibale National Park. Some 138 species have so far been identified.
The main bird species found in the sanctuary is the great blue turaco. What is happening at Bigodi Wetland sanctuary is a good example of a community based approach to natural resources management that can be of economic benefit to the local residents of the area as well as the tourism industry.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Bushara Island Camp/ Jopfan Country Hotel/ Bunyonyi Safaris Resort/ Nature’s Prime Island/ Kalebas Camp/ Jajama Panorama/ Arcadia Cottages Lake Bunyonyi/ Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge
Day 5: Swamp Walk – Kampala
Have an early morning breakfast and then go for a swamp walk in Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary a community owned swamp under Kibale Association for Rural and Environmental Organization formed in 1992 with the aim of achieving social and economic development for local communities. Your guide will provide detailed information as the walk goes on. This area harbors over 137 bird species including the Snowy Headed Robin Cat, Emerald Cuckoo, Black and White Casqued Hornbill and a variety of Weavers, Warblers, Greenbuls and Sunbirds. You will also see plenty of butterflies and the unique flora such as wild palms, polita figs and the dominant papyrus. After lunch, drive back to Kampala.
