Safari Itinerary: Gorillas Chimpanzee and wildlife safari

DAY 1: Briefing on the safari, Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park for Chimpanzee tracking.

As usual a briefing on the Gorillas Chimpanzee & Wildlife Safari from gorilla safaris Uganda agent/ guide before we drive westwards towards Fort Portal to the Kibale Forest National Park (about 5 hours).

Traveling on both asphalt and unpaved roads, you pass through traditional Ugandan Villages where you see people at work tending their traditional crops of millet, sorghum, beans and maize. The lush rolling hills of this region provide good “photo opportunities”. As you approach Fort Portal in the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains, you enter Uganda’s famous tea plantation region.

A carpet of green spreads before you, as far as the eye can see, and seems an unusual contrast to the countryside through which you have just passed. You arrive at Fort Portal, then, continue toward Kibale Forest, one of the great African rain forest research reserves. Years of study by scientists (who have cut a grid through the forest) have habituated many of its animals to human observers.

This forest is renowned for its diverse Chimpanzee population and is a fantastic area for birdwatching. The rural Ugandan town of Fort Portal is locally famous for its weaving and basketry, and we can spend some time exploring this local art.

Our Gorillas, Chimpanzee, and Wildlife Safari route takes us to Fort Portal, a charming city built between 1891 and 1893. Named after Sir Gerald Portal, the British Consul General of Zanzibar who arrived in Uganda in 1892 to formalize the protectorate of Uganda, Fort Portal commemorates his efforts, though he tragically died of malaria shortly after its completion.

In the afternoon, we have time to visit the scenic crater lakes region and admire the beautifully terraced tea estates. To the south of Fort Portal lies the Kasenda Crater Lakes region, perched on the rim of Lake Nyinambuga. The main building overlooks the lake on one side, while the other side offers views of another lake in the distance and the Rwenzori Mountains, which are often shrouded in clouds except in the early morning. This area offers plenty of activities, including a delightful hour-long walk around Lake Nyinambuga

Accommodation: (Full board basis)
Up-market: Ndali Lodge or Primate Lodge Kibale
Moderate: Isunga/Chimpanzee Forest Cottages/
Budget Tourist: Kibale Forest Camp.

DAY 2: Chimpanzee Tracking, Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary

The Gorillas, Chimpanzee & Wildlife Safari group will assemble at Kanyankyu River camp at 0800hours to go for the most popular activity in this park which is Chimpanzee tracking.

Chimpanzees are man’s closet cousins though they are one of the most threatened primate’s species. More primates like Black and white Columbus monkeys, L’Hoest Monkeys, Grey checked Mangabey, Red tailed monkeys, bush babies, pottos and many bird species like the spotted nicator, rumped tinker bird, Little greenbul, green breasted pitta, the crowned eagle, black bee eater and mammals like Elephants can be seen in this walk.

Kibale National park, which averages about 3,300 feet in elevation, is an extension of the great rainforests of central Africa. It is inhabited by three large “communities” of chimps, each numbering more than 100 individuals. Each community has a complicated social structure. The big adult males dominate the group and defend the community territory against incursions by male outsiders; the females usually wander in small family groups.

Typically, we locate the chimps by listening for their pant-hooting calls, then hustle to the area from which they are calling. We get to observe them as they feed in fruiting trees, lounge, and socialize with each other, or even, occasionally hunt. In the afternoon we visit a nearby forest swamp that is excellent for viewing primates and other forest animals. At the Eastern edge of Kibale forest is Bigodi Wetland sanctuary which is maintained by the local community. You will expect birds like the great Blue turaco, blue monkeys, baboons, otters, mongoose, bush bucks, bush pigs and among others.

Accommodation: (Full board basis)
Up-market: Ndali Lodge or Primate Lodge Kibale
Moderate: Isunga/Chimpanzee Forest Cottages/
Budget Tourist: Kibale Forest Camp /Rwenzori View Travelers Hotel.

DAY 3: Queen Elizabeth National Park for wildlife, game boat safaris.

Wildlife Safari day’s walk in the foothills of the Rwenzoris, one of the great mountain ranges of the world, looking out for its forbidding peaks in the distance, or drive straight to Queen Elizabeth.

The game seen will depend on the season; the Kasenyi plains are good for lion and the Mweya peninsula for a variety of animals. Shift to Queen Elizabeth National Park this morning (about 3 hours driving).

Leaving through Fort Portal town, you turn south and early this afternoon enter Queen Elizabeth National Park, which is dominated on its northern border by the snow-capped 16,000-foot Rwenzori Mountains – the famed “Mountains of the Moon”.

This 767-square-mile conservation area is bordered on the North East by Lake George and on the South West by Lake Edward; its western border adjoins the Zaire Parc Du Virunga. You will expect to see teeming herds of impala-like Uganda Kob, as well as topi, elephant and lion, giant forest hog, Cape buffalo. There are also several soda lakes filling ancient volcanic calderas where flamingos reside seasonally.

In the afternoon enjoy a game drive in the northern part of the park, visiting the Baboon Cliff famous for its nice scenery, and good views of the shadows of the mountains of the moon – the Rwenzoris.

The drive to the lodge leads through large expanses of savannah grasslands and plenty of wild game.

Accommodation: (Full board basis)
Up-market: Mweya Safari Lodge (In Deluxe Rooms)
Moderate: Mweya Safari Lodge (In Standard Rooms) Or Jacana Lodge or Katara Lodge
Budget Tourist: Mweya Albertine Hostels/Pumba safari lodge

DAY 4: Game Safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park

We set out the Gorillas, Chimpanzee & Wildlife Safari day early in the morning for a game drive in the northern part of the park on the Kasenyi Track in search of lions, elephants, solitary buffaloes. This is the best time for opportunities of viewing the cats in action owing to the vast population of Uganda Kobs.

We have an excellent chance to view just about every animal here at very close range. In the afternoon we will go for a launch trip along the Kazinga Channel. This gives you the opportunity to view wildlife up close: hippo’s huff and spray at a mere feet away from the boat, 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.

Accommodation: (Full board basis)
Up-market: Mweya Safari Lodge (In Deluxe Rooms)
Moderate: Mweya Safari Lodge (In Standard Rooms) Or Jacana Lodge
Budget Tourist: Mweya Albertine Hostels.

DAY 5: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for gorilla Trekking.

Mid-morning after breakfast we drive further south through stunning savannah grasslands as we head towards the breathtaking Gorillas, Chimpanzee & Wildlife Safari adventures of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Either (roads permitting) we will pass the southern sector of the park – Ishasha, a remote and beautiful extension of Queen Elizabeth National Park that is host to a large variety and volume of wildlife. (It is a fabulous site to see the lions draped from the trees and nowhere in Africa do you stand a better chance of seeing this than in the large low limbed fig tree of Ishasha).

Or take the alternative route through cultivated expanses.

Accommodation: (Full board basis)
Up-market: Gorilla Forest Camp

Moderate: Engagi Lodge/silverback lodge/four Gorillaz/Gorilla leisure lodge.
Budget Tourist: Buhoma Community Campground (self-contained cottages).

DAY 6: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Gorillas & Wildlife Safari jungle adventure day. After breakfast, we begin our day with a morning briefing before embarking on the highlight of the trip: gorilla trekking. This adventure, which may last the entire day, takes us through the rainforest and bamboo-covered slopes in search of a mountain gorilla family, guided by an experienced guide and trackers.

The trek can sometimes be tough and lengthy, but the moment you catch a glimpse of the magnificent silverback, any discomforts will quickly be forgotten. Once the gorillas are sighted, visitors are guided to within 6 meters of them, where we can sit for an hour, gazing into their big, round eyes.

Gorilla trekking is unpredictable, making it difficult to foresee the duration of the hike. The excursion can take anywhere from 2 to 8 hours. Be prepared to walk long distances in steep and muddy conditions, sometimes with rain overhead, before encountering any gorillas. Good physical condition is recommended. For conservation purposes, the time spent with the gorillas is limited to one hour. A ranger will provide a briefing on how to behave around the gorillas.

What to find in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National park

While most of today’s forests are no more than 12,000 years old, Bwindi’s vegetation has been weaving itself into tangles for at least 25,000 years, resulting in an extensive species list. This includes 310 species of butterflies, 51 reptiles, 200 tree species, 88 moth species, and an exceptional 120 types of mammals, including 10 primates. Among these primates are chimpanzees, L’Hoest’s monkeys, red-tailed and blue monkeys, black-and-white colobus, baboons, and Bwindi’s most famous resident, the mountain gorillas.

Bwindi is also a prime destination for birdwatchers, boasting 350 bird species, including seven listed on the IUCN Red List and 90% of all Albertine Rift endemics. These species are difficult or impossible to see in any other part of East Africa.

Accommodation: (Full board basis)
Up-market: Gorilla Forest Camp/trekkers lodge
Moderate: Engagi Lodge/silver back lodge/
Budget Tourist: Buhoma Community Campground (self-contained cottages).

DAY 7: Return to Kampala or Entebbe from gorilla Bwindi National Park.

Early breakfast before embarking on our return to Kampala, driving down the grassed and terraced escarpments of southwestern Uganda while taking in the breathtaking sights of the hills of the region dubbed ‘the little Switzerland of Africa’. This area is a highly fertile, mountainous region with steep sided hills covered from top to bottom in neatly terraced cultivated rows.

Not to miss as we traverse Mbarara are the impressing long horn Ankole cattle. A remarkable highlight of this journey is the Equator line and surely you will cross it as we have a brief sop here. We will be in Kampala or Entebbe in the evening before for your flight back home.