7 Day Kibale, Kyambura & Bwindi Safari, Uganda
Day 1
Starting from Entebbe take the 07:45 am or 12:30 pm flight to Kasese (1 hour 15 mins to 2 hours depending on stops). Once there you will be welcomed by your expert guide who will provide knowledge and assistance throughout your journey. Transfer (approx 01 hour 30 mins) to Kyaninga Lodge. Lunch included (depending on arrival time). Enjoy the swimming pool, walk around the lodge garden and grounds or simply relax on the terrace. Dinner and overnight at Kyaninga Lodge.
(If unavailable, Ndali Lodge will be used as the alternative)
Day 2
Breakfast at lodge. Spend the morning tracking the exuberant chimp families in the Kibale forest. Tracking chimpanzees in their natural habitat, as they swing from the branches in the canopy high above the forest floor, is a thrilling experience. Though they can be difficult to spot, you will be in no doubt of their presence as the forest is alive with their noisy calls. In the afternoon, explore the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary. The reserve is abundant with butterflies, plants, animals and, in particular, birds. Spectacular birds like Great Blue Turaco and rare Papyrus Gonolek will be of great interest to birders. The swamp is also home to more elusive animals such as Red Colobus monkeys and Sitatunga antelope. There is also the opportunity to visit local community projects that have been financed by tourism. In the evening enjoy pre-dinner drinks on the terrace with its stunning views. Lunch, dinner and overnight at Kyaninga Lodge.
Day 3
After breakfast depart for Queen Elizabeth National Park. On route, take a short walk in the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains and take in the views of this magnificent mountain range. Alternatively drive straight to the park and take a game drive. What you see depends on the season, but the Kasenyi plains are excellent for sighting lion and large herds of Uganda kob. The Mweya peninsula offers excellent game drives with magnificent views across the water to the Rwenzori Mountains. Mweya is one of the best places to look for leopard which live in the dense, scrubby thickets. Time permitting visit the Kyambura Women’s Coffee Cooperative and its coffee processing station or the wetland reserve to spot birds. Lunch en route or at lodge. Dinner and overnight at Kyambura Gorge Lodge.
Day 4
Breakfast at lodge. The Kyambura Gorge is an extraordinary natural environment and forms a stark contrast to the surrounding grasslands. Here you can track one of our closest animal relatives, the chimpanzee. The chimp population is quite mobile and viewing can be unpredictable but the walk itself is enchanting. In the afternoon take a cruise on the Kazinga Channel, which flows between Lake Edward and Lake George. Kazinga is home to one of the greatest concentration of hippo in Africa and herds of elephant, buffalo and other animals come to drink at the water’s edge. The channel is a magnet for waterbirds, with great flocks of pelicans and others birds on the shore, and a great spot to see African fish eagle. Also in Kyambura Gorge you can visit various community projects such as: Women’s Coffee Cooperative Tour, Reclaimed Wetland Tour, Bee-Keeping Fence Visit, Omumushaka Dance Group Performance, Empundu Playground Visit and much more. Lunch en route or at lodge. Dinner and overnight at Kyambura Gorge Lodge.
Day 5
Breakfast at lodge. Today we continue to the primeval Bwindi Forest. Travelling via Ishasha – subject to road conditions – you can observe the unusual behaviour exhibited by the tree-climbing lions. The long journey through the rapidly changing landscape takes you to Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge, which looks across to the towering trees of the forest. Depending on when you arrive, there may be some time to partake in some activities included at the lodge including tea tour, walk to Bwindi community hospital or a self guided river walk.
Overnight at Bwindi Lodge.
Day 6
Enjoy an early breakfast, then set off through the steep, densely forested hills in search of Mountain Gorillas. Tracking in the Bwindi Forest requires stamina and can often take most of the day but observing the gorillas in their natural habitat is awe inspiring.
Overnight at Bwindi Lodge.
Day 7
Breakfast at lodge then transfer to the airstrip for either the 10.55 am or 14.05 pm flight to Entebbe. Depending on your onward arrangements either connect to your international flight or transfer to a hotel (transfer and hotel not included but can be added at a supplement).