Compare Wild Uganda by Aardvark Safaris vs 5 Days Mountain Gorilla Trekking And Wildlife Safari by Africa Adventure Vacations

Day 1

Accommodation: Protea Hotel Entebbe

On arrival into Entebbe International Airport today you will be met and driven to the Protea Hotel where you stay overnight on a bed and breakfast basis.

Situated close to Entebbe International Airport, Protea Entebbe Hotel lies on the banks of Lake Victoria in Uganda. Its position makes it a great choice for an overnight stay when flying in to or departing from Entebbe.

Protea Entebbe Hotel is made up of 73 comfortable, air-conditioned en-suite rooms with a safe, Wi-Fi, satellite television, and tea and coffee making facilities. Relax with a drink in the hotel bar or restaurant, which is open for most of the day.

During your stay at Protea Entebbe Hotel in Uganda, take advantage of the golf, fishing and boat trip amenities on offer, or visit nearby Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary.

Day 2

Accommodation: Mihingo Lodge

Your guide will collect you after breakfast this morning and you will set off for Lake Mburu which lies in a rain shadow between the great Rwenzori Mountains and Lake Victoria. The drive will take around four hours and you should arrive in time for lunch. You will have the chance to venture out by canoe in the afternoon and enjoy a game drive before settling in at Mihingo Lodge where you stay for one night on a full board basis to include all meals.

You are likely to see buffalo, Burchells zebra and a variety of antelope species including bushbuck, waterbuck and impala. Leopard is also spotted here occasionally.

Mihingo Lodge is located next to the beautiful Lake Mburo National Park in Uganda. Exclusive and tranquil it is the perfect place in which to unwind for a few nights as you travel from Kampala to Queen Elizabeth or Bwindi.

In order to blend with its environment, Mihingo Lodge is built from locally sourced materials and features rocky boulders and traditional Ugandan art. Ten sensitively designed luxurious canvas rooms on elevated platforms and shielded by thatched roofs. You enjoy all essential comforts, including en-suite bathroom, hot and cold running water, flushing toilet, and a private terrace. Meals are served in the relaxing thatched dining space near the lodge's infinity pool and tennis court.

A haven for wildlife, Lake Mburo boasts zebra, waterbuck, warthog, impala, waterbuck, topi, buffalo, hippo, eland, crocodile and the elusive leopard. Enjoy day and night games through Lake Mburo National Park before relaxing poolside to soak up the sights and sounds of your beautiful surroundings. You can also join boat cruises on Lake Mburo, forest and savannah walks, and horseback riding excursions.

Days 3-4

Accommodation: Kyambura Gorge Lodge

Today you can have a relaxing breakfast overlooking the magnificent Lake Mburo before heading out on a game walk. This walk can take up to three hours and winds down the valley, past a water hole and to a rocky kopje facing Mihingo.

After an early lunch you will depart on a game drive for Queen Elizabeth National Park. What you see depends on the season, but the Kasenyi plains are excellent for sighting lion and large herds of Uganda kob.

The next two nights will be spent at Kyambura Gorge Lodge on a full board basis to include all meals and activities. You will have the chance to go chimpanzee trekking during the morning of your second day here. 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 Lakes Edward and George.

The latest proud addition to the prestigious Volcanoes Safaris family, Kyambura Gorge Lodge in Uganda is a gorgeous eco-lodge set above the Kyambura Gorge on the border of Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Eight grass-roofed bandas with adjoining bathroom facilities look out across lush savannah towards the outlying Rwenzoris. The communal living area and dining space at Kyambura Gorge Lodge are constructed using local resources and embellished with locally produced textiles.

During your stay at Kyambura Gorge Lodge in Uganda, enjoy thrilling game drives, boat excursions along the Kazinga Channel, time spent tracking the chimpanzees in the Gorge, trips to the Maramagambo Forest bat cave and Blue Lake, and regular community strolls. The conservation and eco-tourism importance of the Lodge and the surrounding land cannot be overstated as it plays a vital part in forming a protected buffer between the chimp population and local farmers.

Day 5: Ishasha Wilderness Camp

After a morning nature walk in Maramagambo Forest spotting other primates and visiting the bat cave and the blue lake you will be driven to Ishasha, home of the tree-climbing lion.

Your stay at Ishasha Wilderness Camp is for one night on a full board basis to include all meals and activities.

This private and traditional tented camp is set in an isolated area in the southern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda. If you are tracking gorillas in Bwindi or watching big game in the Mweya part of the park, Ishasha Wilderness Camp is a stunning place to enjoy a well-earned rest half way through your trip.

 Surrounded by mature forest and set alongside the Ntungwe River, Ishasha Wilderness Camp comprises ten spacious Meru style tents. Each is equipped with en-suite facilities and private hot water bucket showers. During the day, you share a flushing toilet close to the camp but for your convenience, a commode is provided in your tent for night use. Enjoy a drink and hearty evening meal in the canvas-sheltered dining room.

The most notable wildlife attractions, among the rich and diverse selection in this part of Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda are the resident tree-climbing lions. View the magnificent game on thrilling game drives in 4x4 vehicles in the company of an expert guide.

Days 6-8

Accommodation: Mahogany Springs Lodge

You can take a game drive in Ishasha this morning before being driven to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. On arrival at Mahogany Springs Lodge, time permitting, you may be able to explore the local village.

Your three night stay here is on a full board basis to include all meals and activities. You will have the chance to track the gorillas on your second day here (one track included, second and subsequent tracks available on payment of supplement at the time of booking). Trekking through the steep, densely forested hills and then finally coming across the gorillas camouflaged in the vegetation is an inspiring and privileged moment. Tracking in the Bwindi forest requires stamina and can often take most of the day.

Mahogany Springs Lodge takes its name from the 400 year old mahogany tree that towers majestically above the lodge gardens. Close to the Munyanga River, just outside Bwindi Forest in the south western corner or Uganda, the lodge has impressive views over the densely covered slopes of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.

The eight stone and wood cottages house comfortable en-suite rooms, each with a private balcony offering lovely views of the surrounding valley. The main area includes a dining area, lounge and bar, with a panoramic terrace.

Mahogany Springs is a good choice as a base from which to go gorilla tracking, or to enjoy nature walks and some excellent bird watching.

Day 9: Fly Bwindi to Entebbe

This morning you will take a scheduled light aircraft flight departing for Entebbe International Airport. From here you will take an international flight home, or continue with another African adventure.

Day 1: Arrival At Entebbe International Airport – Meet And Greet And Be Transferred To Your Booked Hotel In Entebbe

On arrival at Entebbe international airport, you will be warmly welcomed by our customer care representative and your assigned professional English/French/Spanish/German-speaking safari guide to meet and greet, and then be transferred to your booked hotel in Entebbe town to check in, freshen yourself, and later meet your safari guide at the hotel reception to be briefed about the tour. The hotel is about 5–10 minutes’ drive from Entebbe international airport.

Later, if time allows, drive to the Entebbe botanical gardens, which are found on the shore of Lake Victoria, for a walking safari. Botanical gardens are home to some primates, such as Vervet monkeys, and several bird species. The walking safari will take you to the shores of Lake Victoria where you will spot some water birds, enjoy the fresh breezes from the lake as well as get used to Uganda’s beautiful nature. Lake Victoria is the largest water body in Africa and the second largest fresh water body in the world, and is shared by three East African countries (Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya). Dinner and an overnight.

Day 2: Entebbe City –Drive To Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Bakiga Lodge (Mid-range)

On this day, after having a hot breakfast, with all your luggage already packed in the vehicle, check out of the hotel (0700 am) and start your drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest national park, located in southwestern Uganda south of the Equator. You will have a stopover at the Kayabwe equator landmark to experience water experiments that are carried out on both sides of the equator line (Northern and Southern hemispheres), showing the difference in the movement of forces on each side of the planet. After the experiment, take some memorial photos while at this international landmark, visit craft shops, have a cup of coffee to feel the natural aroma of the Ugandan-made coffee, and later proceed with your journey with another stopover at Igongo Cultural Museum to have lunch and tour the great museum, which is one of Uganda’s richest heritages with history and traditions of the Ankole people and southwest Uganda that will take you centuries back into the lives of the Ankole people. Thereafter, proceed with your journey to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, where you will arrive in the evening to check in at your booked lodge, freshen yourself, and spend your evening relaxing. Dinner and overnight.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is famous for being home to half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. It is one of Uganda’s oldest as well as most biologically diverse rainforests, with over 25,000 years of history and almost 400 species of plants that form the huge impenetrable forest that is evergreen. It is home to approximately 400 mountain gorillas, 120 mammal species such as numerous primate species, and over 350 bird species, including 23 Albertine Rift endemics, and is the ancient home of the Batwa bush people. This is an ideal tour to fully enjoy nature, with beautiful scenery and numerous primate species, like the magical mountain gorillas.

Day 3: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park – Mountain Gorilla Trekking Experience – Drive To Queen Elizabeth National Park With A Game Drive At Ishasha Sector To Search For The Tree Climbing Lions

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Buffalo Safari Lodge (Mid-range)

Day 3 of the 5-day Uganda primate trekking and wildlife safari. Get up early in the morning (0600am) to prepare the necessary equipment for mountain gorilla trekking, such as cameras, binoculars, and insect repellants, and get dressed in the recommended style for mountain gorilla trekking, such as long khaki or jean trousers, a long-sleeved shirt, water-proof hiking boots, a rain jacket, heavy-duty gloves, and round hats. After breakfast, get your packed lunch boxes and drinking water, meet your safari guide and drive straight to the headquarters. Here you will meet other guests and be briefed concerning the dos and don’ts, how to behave in the presence of mountain gorillas and the expectations, be allocated a gorilla family to track, a UWA ranger, and the forest guide.

We would recommend you hire a porter to help you carry your packed bag and other items you would need during the mountain gorilla trek. After a pre-mountain gorilla trekking session, start your forest walk in search of the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitats, led by the park ranger guides who are well informed and knowledgeable about these gorillas. The time taken before encountering your allocated mountain gorilla family is not known. However, it may be between 45 mins to 4 hours depending on the movements and location of the gorilla family.

Therefore, you should be physically and mentally prepared to walk a long distance through the forest that is made of hills and with no clear walking trails that are only made at that particular time of tracking by your guide depending on the direction that can easily lead you to the location of the gorilla family. That is why it is recommended to carry enough water to keep you hydrated and snacks to keep you energized since you use a lot of energy when walking through the forest in search of mountain gorillas.

Once you encounter the mountain gorilla family, the excitement of seeing the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat will outweigh the hardship you went through while searching for them. A mountain gorilla family can be made up of several members, such as the giant silverback, who is always the head and protector of the family, mothers, infants, and juveniles. In the time you will spend with the mountain gorillas, you will get to know much about their behaviors, how they socialize and be excited by their actions, like the playful babies, mothers grooming their babies, and Mr. Silverback, watching the situation silently as he is ready to protect the family from any kind of attack. You will spend a maximum of one hour with the mountain gorillas and you will be free to capture as many photos and record videos as you want to keep your great memories with the mountain gorilla family in the jungle.

After an hour with the mountain gorilla family, return to the trekking start point to receive your mountain trekking certificate in appreciation of your contribution to the conservation of the endangered mountain gorillas in Uganda. Have refreshments, enjoy your full lunch, and then drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park through the Ishasha sector in the southern part of the park to search for the tree climbing lions.

These unique tree-climbing lions are only found in the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Manyara in Tanzania, and Kruger National Park in South Africa. However, Queen Elizabeth National Park is the best park to see them. After the game drive, proceed to the northern sector of the park to check in at your booked lodge for a relaxing dinner and overnight.

Day 4: Queen Elizabeth National Park – Morning Game Drive Safari – Afternoon Boat Cruise On Kazinga Channel – Evening Game Drive Safari

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Buffalo Safari Lodge (Mid-range)

Begin your day with a heavy breakfast, then leave your lodge and drive to the Kasenyi plains, found in the northeastern part of the park, a fascinating place for wildlife sighting games to spot several wildlife species and beautiful views of Savannah. Queen Elizabeth National Park is understandably one of Uganda’s most popular national parks and an ideal habitat for classic big game such as the four mammals of the big five family of the African savannah (lions, leopards, elephants, and buffaloes), several antelope species, primates, warthogs, and many others.

Game drives are one of the highlights of Queen Elizabeth National Park, where you can spot several mammals and enjoy the beautiful views of the savannah. During your half-day game drive through the Kasenyi trail, you will have a great chance to see various mammals such as Uganda Kobs, water bucks, elephants, Cape buffaloes, lions, warthogs, and several bird species. Your safari guide will ensure that you spot as many wildlife species as possible and give you as much information about everything that you may encounter during your game drive.

Queen Elizabeth National Park is a feeding ground for over 95 mammal species and 600 recorded birds, making it an ideal destination for a game drive. Have a short break to relax, have lunch plus other refreshments, and later depart for 2 hours’ Afternoon boat cruise safari along Kazinga channel, the main water stream which goes through the park and connects Lake George and Lake Edward. Boat cruise safaris on the Kazinga Channel are one of the most recommended adventurous activities for visitors to Queen Elizabeth National Park.

The cruise will bring you very close to several mammals, such as hippos, Nile crocodiles, buffaloes, elephants, and many others, plus various water birds. The fantastic experience during the 2-hour boat cruise safari along the Kazinga channel makes it a must-do adventure for every guest. After your boat cruise safari at 5:00 pm, return to Kasenyi plains for an evening game drive to search for more wildlife species, mostly the big cats/predators of the park such as lions, spotted hyenas, leopards, and others since they are so active during the evening hours. It is so amazing for the sunset to meet you in the jungle. After the evening game drive, you will return to your lodge to refresh, have dinner, and overnight.

Day 5: Queen Elizabeth National Park – Morning Chimpanzee Tracking Experience – Return To Entebbe International Airport

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Wake up very early in the morning to have breakfast, have all your luggage packed in the vehicle, and drive to the Kalinzu forest reserve head office where you will be warmly welcomed by the site local guide, be briefed on chimpanzee tracking, and then start your forest walk to look out for chimpanzees and other primates in this forest. Kalinzu forest reserve is the second-best forest in Uganda for chimpanzee experience, with over 50 well-habituated chimpanzee individuals for visitor tracking. During chimpanzee tracking, you may encounter other wildlife species such as over 380 other primates such as Red-tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, L’hoest’s monkeys, Olive baboons, etc, about 261 butterfly species, 98 moths, reptiles, and flowers.

The time taken during chimpanzee tracking in Kalinzu forest reserve is not known, but it may be between 1 to 4 hours depending on the location of the chimpanzee family you are tracking. Once you encounter them, you will be allowed to stay with them for a maximum of 1 hour and are free to take as many photos as possible. After meeting chimpanzees, return to the forest offices to freshen yourself with a bottle of water and then start your drive back to Entebbe or Entebbe international airport with a stopover at the Igongo cultural museum to have lunch and then drive straight to Entebbe international airport to prepare for your return flight. This will be the end of the 5 Days wildlife and primate experience safari.