Our 6 Days Uganda Safari with Gorillas takes you to the Prominent National Parks, a compact gem, located conveniently close to the highway that connects Kampala to the parks of western Uganda. It is the smallest of Uganda’s savannah national parks and underlain by ancient Precambrian metamorphic rocks which date back more than 500 million years. It is home to 350 bird species as well as zebra, impala, eland, buffalo, oribi, Defassa waterbuck, leopard, hippo, hyena, topi and reedbuck.
The 6 Days Uganda Safari also includes the home of Uganda Mountain Gorillas, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park that lies in southwestern Uganda on the edge of the Rift Valley. Its mist-covered hillsides are blanketed by one of Uganda’s oldest and most biologically diverse rainforests, which dates back over 25,000 years and contains almost 400 species of plants. More famously, this “impenetrable forest” also protects an estimated 400 mountain gorillas – roughly half of the world’s population, including several habituated groups, which can be tracked.
This biologically diverse region also provides shelter to a further 120 mammals, including several primate species such as baboons and chimpanzees, as well as elephants and antelopes. There are around 350 species of birds hosted in this forest, including 23 Albertine Rift endemics.
Day 1: Arrive at Entebbe Airport, Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park
Arrive in Entebbe in the morning (or the day before). Meet and greet on arrival at the airport and take an early lunch at Lake Victoria Hotel or Hotel No.5 (Luxury) or Bestwestern Premier Hotel (Budget).
We then drive to Lake Mburo National Park on sealed roads passing through papyrus swamps close to Lake Victoria and tracts of tropical rain forest and the rolling plains of Ankole cattle country. Lake Mburo National Park is a small park, excellent for birding, antelope and other grazers, one of the only places to easily see Impala and zebra in Uganda.
Game drives offer particularly picturesque game viewing with the Parkʹs mixture of savannah, acacia woodlands, grassy valleys, rocky outcrops, swamps, lakes and rolling hills. Herds of impala (found nowhere else in Uganda), buffalo and zebra, plus waterbuck and eland are amongst the variety of wildlife to be seen. Birders will enjoy the Parkʹs 310 recorded water and dry land species. In this valley we can operate night drives and walks. This is the only park where we will see Impala and Burchellʹs Zebra. It is an excellent place for walking and exploring a nearby Khopji to perhaps see Klipspringer. Game drive to the lodge.
Accommodation: Mihingo Lodge or Rwakobo Rock Lodge
Day 2: Game drives and nature walks in the park
This morning we explore the park with a short games drive, and then continue southwest into the area known as The Switzerland of East Africa; the road is sealed for half the drive, turning into an all-weather dirt road. The route passes through areas of breathtaking scenery, high hills and low valleys that are for the most part cultivated. We arrive at Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, famous for gorilla trekking and now a World Heritage Site.
Accommodation: Mahogany Spring Lodge or Gorilla Lodge or Buhoma Haven Lodge
Day 3: Gorilla tracking day.
After breakfast take a short drive to Park Headquarters and meet with excellent local guides and trackers who will give a talk on the etiquette of gorilla trekking. We then hike into the forest where the gorillas were seen the night before and track from that point. The trekking can take from 1 to 6 hours and climb to altitudes in excess of 7,500 feet. The terrain is rough and at times muddy. Although the hike is physically demanding the beauty of the forest and surrounding scenery make the trekking worthwhile. Once the gorillas are located all fatigue is forgotten, as the experience is often described as being the most profound natural history experience in the world. Picnic lunches are provided and it is important to take plenty of water. Cameras and plenty of fast speed film are recommended. It can rain at a few minutes notice; hence waterproof clothing is a good essential including zip lock bags for cameras and film. N.B. We cannot guarantee seeing Gorillas.
Accommodation: Overnight at Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp or Mahogany Springs Lodge or Buhoma Haven Lodge
Day 4: Second gorilla tracking day in Bwindi National Park.
Accommodation: Overnight at Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp or Mahogany Springs Lodge or Buhoma Haven Lodge.
Day 5: Nature walks around the park and cultural performance by locals
rive back to Lake Mburo National Park and the luxury of Mihingo Lodge. Overnight at Mihingo Lodge or Rwakobo Rock Lodge.
5: Nature walks around the park and cultural performance by local people
Drive back to Lake Mburo National Park, in the afternoon have a nature walk and have an experience of traditional songs performed by the local community.
6: Transfer to the Equator and then to Entebbe Airport
This morning we drive back to Entebbe, this takes approximately 5 hours – road and weather dependent. If time permits it is possible to stop in Kampala for shopping and lunch and a visit to the Mpigi Royal Drum Makers. You are then transferred to Entebbe International airport to connect with your departure flight. Please note the departure flight must be in the late afternoon or evening, alternatively we can arrange another overnight in Entebbe.
