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DAY 1: ARRIVE UGANDA; ENTEBBE - BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST Upon arrival in Uganda you will fly by chartered plane over the rolling green highlands, also known as the 'Switzerland of Uganda.' After about two hours in the air, drop down to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, home of the mountain gorilla. You will spend the next two nights in Gorilla Forest Camp. The camp has recently been refurbished and is set in the heart of the jungle; this is the most comfortable camp in Bwindi, with hot and cold running water, flush toilets, double beds and very large tents. The camp is only minutes from the gorilla tracking. Settle into the camp and get a good night's rest for the following day. (L,D) DAY 2: BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST Rise early for a hearty breakfast to give you the energy needed for gorilla tracking. At 8:00 am report to the ranger station where the guides will take you through the bush, parting thick creepers, to track the gorillas. This trek can take between half an hour to 8 hours - a reasonable degree of fitness is required as well as a sturdy pair of walking shoes. Sit in the forest among the gorillas, listen to them grumble to each other, and marvel at the sheer size of the dominant male; the silverback. There are only about 650 of these creatures left in the world. Return to Gorilla Forest Camp later this afternoon for one night. (B,L,D) DAY 3: BWINDI - QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK Depart Bwindi Forest and drive through the hills to Queen Elizabeth National Park. You will be entering the park through the southern sector called Ishasha, which is well known for its tree-climbing lions. Stop here for a picnic lunch and spend some time looking for the lions in the low bowed fig trees. After lunch, continue to the northern sector of the National Park to Mweya Safari Lodge. Mweya Lodge is situated overlooking the Kazinga Channel, which runs between Lakes George and Edward. The views from the lodge are fantastic, overlooking the channel where elephants come to water, the savanna beyond, and the Rwenzori Mountains looming in the distance. Mweya is a large comfortable lodge with all the modern amenities of a top class safari lodge. In the evening, your guide will take you for a boat trip on the Kazinga Channel. The channel is a good place to view wildlife up close: hippos huff and spray mere feet away from the boat, buffalo linger in the shallows, and a variety of birds grace the grass that edges the river. Spend two nights at Mweya Safari Lodge. (B,L,D) DAY 4: QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK This morning, after breakfast and a game drive, we will continue to track chimps in the Kyambura Gorge at 8:00 am. This is an isolated chimp population of approximately 30 individuals. The gorge is spectacular -- you may run into elephants and other mammals while you stroll the area. After tracking, we shall drive to the crater lakes in the Kyambura Game Reserve to see thousands of colorful lesser flamingoes as they feed in the soda lakes. Later this afternoon, drive back to Mweya Safari Lodge, where you will spend the night. You may like to go on an evening game drive before bed. (B,L,D) DAY 5: QUEEN ELIZABETH - ENTEBBE; DEPART UGANDA After an early breakfast, drive back to Kampala, where you will have a late lunch in one of the best restaurants in town. In the afternoon, enjoy an "urban safari" to the bustling fruit and craft market and some of Kampala's better cafes, galleries and boutiques. Tasteful souvenirs (carvings, prints, etc) can be found here. Later this afternoon, transfer to Entebbe for your onward flight. (B,L) |