The African big game and primates safari will provide you with an unforgettable experience, tracking Uganda’s two great apes, gorillas and chimpanzees. You will also go on a true African big game safari drive, tracking the lions of Queen Elizabeth National Park and possibly seeing the tree-climbing lions of Ishasha.
DAY 1: ARRIVAL AT ENTEBBE – AFRICAN BIG GAME AND PRIMATE SAFARI
TRAVEL TO NDALI LODGE
The approximate 2-hour travel time for an Aerolink aircraft from Entebbe Airport to Kasese is between 7:45 AM and 12:30 PM.
It takes around two hours to drive from the Kasese Airstrip to the Ndali Lodge.
For two nights, you’ll be lodging at Ndali Lodge. Meals are paid for, and breakfast, lunch, and supper are provided.
Ndali Lodge is ideally situated on the edge of an extinct volcano, providing breathtaking views of the glistening Lake Nyinambuga and the green RWENZORI MOUTAINS in the distance. Fortunately, the exceptional location is complemented by the exceptional hotel options available at this small, intimate property. There are 16 large stone and thatch cottages available, each with its own en suite amenities (bath, shower, toilet, and hand basin) and a private veranda suitable for a family (ideal for watching the sun descend behind the Rwenzori Mountains).
The Edenic tranquilly is carefully preserved at all costs. The freshly squeezed passion fruit juice sounds good for breakfast on the main terrace facing the lake. Furthermore, the dinner table is illuminated by candles rather than electric lights, which would disrupt the peace, during the night. Guided hikes to the Mahoma Waterfall, via banana groves and coffee orchards, are just a few of the things that may be done to get to know the area. You may cool down by swimming in the lake or in the lodge’s pool, and a boat trip will allow you to enjoy the fresh air while keeping an eye out for wildlife like birds, butterflies, and monkeys.
DAY 2: CHIMPANZEE TRACKING – AFRICAN BIG GAME AND PRIMATE SAFARI
You’ve packed a picnic and gone out into the forest with the intention of following a group of boisterous chimps and other monkeys as they thrash around in the treetops and the colourful birds squawk in the background. You take a stroll in Bigodi after lunch to see the local avian fauna. Bigodi wetland has benefited from tourist and conservation efforts in a variety of ways, including the establishment of a public library and the construction of a new secondary school.
DAY 3: TRANSFER TO QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK
From Kibale, it’s about a two-hour drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Your two-night stay at Kyambura Gorge Lodge. All Meals are paid for, and breakfast, lunch, and supper are provided.
In Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park, one of Africa’s finest national parks, you’ll find Volcanoes’ newest resort, Kyambura Gorge Lodge, with breathtaking views of the gorge and the park’s verdant savannah, as well as the distant peaks of the Rwenzori Mountains. The lodge’s main structure was once a coffee shop and processing facility, and the grounds are dotted with trees used for the crop.
The building’s original structure has been painstakingly renovated to create a spectacular living environment, one that strikes a careful balance between the building’s history and its setting while also providing visitors with a variety of distinct, elegant, and up-to-date places to enjoy. Careful placement into the hillside allowed for four huge and lovely bandas, each with its own opulent bathroom.
Views of the canyon, savannah, and mystical Rwenzori Mountains may be enjoyed from every accommodation. Each banda has its own distinct decor and colour scheme. Chimpanzee tracking trips to the Kyambura Gorge and the Kalinzu forest are also accessible from the Lodge.
Chimps are quite active; tracking up with them as they yell and holler their way through the treetops may be exhausting. Take a boat ride out onto the Kazinga Channel to see the many birds and animals that come to cool off at the waters’ edge, or go on a game drive on the Queen Elizabeth plains to see lions, elephants, antelope, buffalo, and some of the 600 bird species that live in this national park, like the spoonbill stork.
DAY 4: CHIMP TREKKING IN THE KYAMBURA GORGE,
You take a trip to Kyambura Gorge in search of chimpanzees, one of man’s closest living relatives. Viewing can be difficult because chimpanzees are always on the go. The journey through this “forgotten planet” is fascinating despite this. If time permits, you will check out the community initiatives of the Tropical Bee Care Centre, which include beekeeping, honey production, and a children’s community nursery. Or, you may take a hike through the Maramagambo Forest, home to some fascinating creatures including the red-tailed and L’Hoest’s monkeys, potto, huge forest hog, pygmy antelope, and gigantic elephant shrew.
The bat caves and blue lake are on our itinerary. In the afternoon, we set sail on the Kazinga Channel, which connects Lakes Edward and George and is a prime spot to spot a wide variety of wildlife and avian species. In case you see a shoebill stork, be on the lookout! The community projects of the Volcanoes Safaris Partnership Trust (VSPT) that we will be seeing in Kyambura Gorge include a tour of a women’s coffee cooperative, a reclaimed wetland, a bee-keeping fence, a performance by the Omumushaka Dance Group, the Empundu Playground, and much more.
DAY 5: TRANSFER TO BWINDI – AFRICAN BIG GAME AND PRIMATE SAFARI
You’ll be spending two nights at the Volcanoes, Bwindi Lodge. Meals are paid for, and breakfast, lunch, and supper are provided.
The tranquilly of Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge is enhanced by the sounds of the jungle, including the voices of gorillas, chimpanzees, and native birds. The lodge was constructed using sustainable design concepts; for example, solar panels power the lighting, and hot bucket showers are provided so that guests may limit their water usage and their influence on the environment. The eight en suite chalets have a natural, earthy, and very African vibe; they are modest yet invitingly comfortable, with twin beds, a vanity area, a sitting space, and five windows that allow in plenty of light.
In addition, they have a private veranda from which to admire the breathtaking scenery of the surrounding valley and forest.
Nature walks and trips to nearby waterfalls are only two of the numerous possibilities for getting to know the local wilderness.
About 20 habituated gorilla families call Bwindi Impenetrable National Park home, and you may travel in pursuit of these magnificent animals.
Day 6: GORILLA TREKKING – AFRICAN BIG GAME AND PRIMATE SAFARI
It’s an unforgettable adventure to follow them into the dense, verdant bush and finally meet them in person. Unwind in the lodge’s thatched bar or dining room, where you may enjoy a drink while listening to the sounds of the jungle’s chorus, and swap tales with your fellow guests around the lodge’s log fireplace. It takes patience and energy to follow the gorillas through the muddy bush for hours at a time. It’s awe-inspiring to come into these magnificent animals hiding in the bushes.
About 300 mountain gorillas call Bwindi home, and the area is also home to many other primate species, as well as several rare birds and butterflies. Gorillas can only be found in a deeper, damp, thicker forest with heavy vegetation, and tracking them usually requires going up and down a series of switchback slopes. When the gorillas are particularly well-hidden, the trip can take anywhere from four to seven hours; nonetheless, the sense of accomplishment and awe that comes afterward is more than worth the effort.
DAY 7: TRAVEL TO ENTEBBE
It takes around 2 hours to get by road from Bwindi Lodge to Kihihi Airstrip. There are two daily (9:45 AM and 2:05 PM) Aerolink flights to Entebbe International Airport (ETA: less than 2 hours).
NOT INCLUDED IN THE AFRICAN BIG GAME AND PRIMATE SAFARI
Exit fees, customs, and airport departure fees for international flights
Visa and passport costs in full
There are now two types of visas available for US$100 upon arrival at Entebbe Airport: single entry visas and East African visas (between Uganda, Rwanda, and Kenya) (same cost for both types). Keep in mind that Uganda is transitioning to an online visa system and may publish rules for applying for a visa online with little to no advance warning. To the best of our abilities, we will keep you updated. Customers should visit their local Embassy (see http://www.embassy-worldwide.com/country/uganda/) to apply for an East African visa (as outlined above) well in advance of their trip. When operational, visas will be requested using this website (https://visas.immigration.go.ug/).
Insurance against trip cancellation, travel delays, and lost luggage.
Expenses arose because of circumstances beyond our control.
Taxes, fees, and other statutory increases are outside of our control.
Unspecified meals (including lunch and other meal stops between properties on overland sectors)
Alcohol use was not required by schedule.
Non-business related items such as a fax machine, phone, etc.
Clean Clothes in Entebbe and Kampala
Tips for the guide, the driver, and the hotel staff
Extras and events that aren’t already planned for in the agenda
Protection for your health and safety when travelling