Day 1: Pick up from Entebbe or Kampala – Transfer to Bwindi National Park
The guide will pick you up from your hotel after early morning breakfast and take you on a 6 to 8 hours’ journey to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in South Western Uganda. The journey is long, but you can use the time to admire the beautiful nature and the Ugandan countryside. Expect to bypass forests, game parks, towns, lakes, rivers, markets, and local farms.
The driver will make stops at some of the markets and other landmarks for photography. There will also be a stop at the Equator crossing and the Igongo Cultural Centre in Mbarara for lunch. Expect to arrive at your lodge late in the afternoon.
Dinner and overnight at Chameleon Hill Lodge (luxury), Bakiga Lodge (midrange), and Tarvan Trekkers Bwindi (budget).
Day 2: Gorilla trekking – Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
You will wake up very early to take your breakfast then go for the briefing at the park office at 7 a.m. This briefing by the park guides prepares you for your time with the primates (what to carry along and how to act around the gorillas). It is also during the briefing that gorilla groups are assigned and porters are hired to help with any heavy luggage.
There are several gorilla groups in Bwindi but you will be assigned one based on your overall fitness. After the briefing, the rangers will take you deep into the forest in search of the primates.
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi takes between 2 to 6 hours depending on the gorilla group you are assigned. In most cases, you will have to walk through dense vegetation, valleys, streams, and hills before finding the gorilla group. Take as many photos as you can and follow instructions from the park guides. Don’t surprise the gorillas with sudden movements and stay calm.
You are only allowed one hour with the primates. After that, you will return back to the park offices where you will meet the guide. The driver will take you back to the lodge for check out and a shower before starting the journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park. This will be a tight schedule and expect to reach Queen Elizabeth National Park late.
Dinner and overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge (luxury), Ihamba Lodge (mid-range), and Simba Safari camp (budget).
Day 3: Game drive in Kasenyi Sector – Boat Cruise at the Kazinga Channel
After breakfast, you will set off very early in the morning for a game drive at the Kasenyi plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park. The morning game drive allows you to spot the early risers and predators coming from a night of hunting. Expect to see leopards, hyenas, lions, buffaloes, elephants, antelopes, warthogs, and many other mammals.
After you have completed the game drive, the driver will take you back to the lodge for lunch and refreshments. Later in the afternoon, you will be taken to enjoy a boat cruise along the Kazinga channel. The Kazinga channel has one of the largest concentrations of wildlife and you should expect to spot hippopotami, waterbucks, crocodiles, and other mammals drinking along the banks.
The channel is a birders' paradise and has both resident and migratory species. Once you have completed the 3-hour boat cruise, you will return to the lodge to rest.
Dinner and overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge (luxury), Ihamba Lodge (mid-range), and Simba safari camp (budget).
Day 4: Chimpanzee tracking in Kalinzu – Transfer back to Kampala
Wake up early, have breakfast, and prepare to go to Kalinzu forest for the briefing on chimpanzee trekking. Kalinzu forest is managed by the Uganda Forest Authority and not the Wildlife Authority. Chimps behave very differently from gorillas. Some say they are more intelligent but not as wise as gorillas because they are not organized. A dominant male chimpanzee has to work harder to maintain his hold on the group. Chimpanzee groups are also more dramatic and mobile than gorilla families. They tend to spend more time on top of trees.
Expect to follow them at high speed even after locating them. It is only when they settle down that you can take all the photos and videos you want. After one hour with the chimps, the driver will start the journey back to Kampala. You will be dropped off at your residence, hotel, or at the airport for departure.
End of tour.