Day 1: Entebbe – Mabamba Bay Shoebill Experience to Kibale Forest National Park.
7 am, meet your private guide at your hotel. Transfer by private car to Lake Victoria. At 2424hectares, Mabamba swamp is one of the few remaining on Lake Victoria. Mabamba swamp is characterized by small channels of marsh-filled water and lagoons and is a habitat to the shoe-bill. The shoebill’s feet and claws look very similar to many dinosaur fossils, including two that it is believed these birds came from.
Pass by townships and local suburbs on mixed surfaced and dirty roads, arriving at Mabamba bay landing site on Lake Victoria. Located at least 57kms from Kampala city. It takes one and half hours from Kampala City and /or an hour’s drive from Entebbe city to Mabamba bay – a massive papyrus swamp.
Canoe ride: You will board wooden boats with engine and there after traditional peddle canoeing in search of mainly the Shoebill which usually hides in the mash to looking for fish.
Recent sightings indicate Mabamba boasts of 9-15 shoebills and is a must-visit place for bird watchers who come to Uganda. Duration: 3 hours.
After transfer to Kibale Forest national park. The is a very beautiful journey with stunning diverse landscapes. The hills and mountains you will drive through will become greener and greener until you come to the tea plantations of Fort Portal!
Day 2: Kibale Forest National Park
Today morning at 7.30 am, we transfer to Kanyanchu gate to meet Chimpanzees. Kibale National Park is an extension of the great rainforests of central Africa. It is inhabited by three large “communities” of chimps, with over 120 individuals.
In Kibale, here you will find one of the largest populations of chimpanzees in Africa – about 1450 individuals. Today you will do Chimpanzee ‘tracking’.
It will be perfect opportunity to listen to the chimps as the grumble and feed. Only one community is allowed to be visited by tourists. Chimpanzees live in communities. Each community has a complicated social structure. The big adult males dominate the group and defend the community territory against other male intruders; the females usually wander in small family groups. Rangers locate the chimps by listening for their pant-hooting calls, following their eating trails.
There are chances of seeing other primates namely; the Guereza colobus monkey, red-tailed monkey, grey-cheeked mangabey, and olive baboons as well as the red colobus monkey considered endangered and the rare L’Hoest’s monkey that is considered Vulnerable and…plentiful of forest bird life.
Today afternoon at 3pm, you will be to explore Bigodi swamp & community in a village walk (3 hours). Search for other primates including: I’hoestes, red colobus, blues, red tailed and gray – cheeked mangabey, bird species like the Great blue Turaco, bees’ eaters and many more. Experience how primates and birds live with the community, amazing farm life & community life experiences like basket weaving, learning how to roast coffee beans, and taste coffee prepared by yourself in a traditional coffee brewing tour. You could also learn how to process banana beer & banana gin the local African way. Later head back to your lodge. .
Day 3: To Semuliki National Park
Your guide will drive you to Semuliki Forest. It is the only true lowland forest in East Africa that has survived the last ice age.
You will head out on 2 hours forest walk to view Sempaya hot springs. Expect to see both Male and Female hot springs boiling at over 100C. Your guide will demonstrate by boiling eggs and plantain to check hotness of the springs. After you will transfer to Fort portal City for overnight.
Day 4: To Queen Elizabeth National Park – Boat cruise on Kazinga channel
Today early morning you will transfer by road 2 hours to Queen Elisabeth NP. Enjoy magnificent views of Rwenzori Mountains. Check in at the lodge in Queen Elizabeth NP. At 2pm you will go for a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel (2 hours approx.) Look out for the hippos, great herds of Bufalos, and lots of water birds by the channel side. Later we drive out for evening game drive up to 7pm. look out for the lions, buffalos, elephants, and large numbers of Uganda Kobs and other antelopes. Finally check into your lodge.
Day 5: In Queen Elizabeth South Section- Ishasha for tree climbing lions
You will drive to Ishasha (2 ½ hours approx.) Ishasha is famous for tree climbing lions. There are chances of finding lions in the trees by the roadside. Please note that there is no guarantee but our guide will maximize all regular hot spots to increase chances of sighting. You will stay a night to get more chance of seeing tree lions.
Day 6: In Queen Elizabeth National Park – Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Today morning you will transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, after picnic lunch you will continue to Bwindi Impenetrable national park.
Depending on the park gate of gorilla permits available at time of booking, we will proceed to one of the following three sectors: Buhoma, Rushaga, Ruhija and Kisoro/Mgahinga gorilla gate.
Day 7: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park – Gorilla Trekking
Breakfast and take a short transfer to Bwindi NP office, where you will meet up with excellent local rangers and trackers, who will give a talk on the etiquette of gorilla trekking. Thereafter, hike into the forest with your packed lunch. After this exciting experience, it’s time to relax at the lodge and view your photos.
The trekking can take from 2 to 9 hours and climb to altitudes in excess of 7,500 feet. After finding gorillas, you will spend a maximum of 1 hour viewing them. The terrain can get tough and at times muddy. Although the hike is physically demanding the beauty of the forest and surrounding scenery make the trekking worthwhile. Once the gorillas are located all fatigue is forgotten, as the experience is often described as being the most profound natural history experience in the world. It can rain at a few minutes’ notice; hence waterproof clothing is a good essential including zip lock bags for cameras. It is important to take plenty of water.
After gorilla trekking our guide will transfer you to Kisoro Town. This is the last stopover town on your way to Mgahinga National Park. You will be viewing the Virunga Volcanoes. Drive time will depend on the location of gorilla permit booked on day 7.
Day 8: To Mgahinga Gorilla National Park – Second Gorilla trekking encounter
You will drive to Mgahinga national park gate from where you will start another gorilla trekking expedition. Today you will see gorillas from a different gate in Mgahinga national park.
Remember every gorilla encounter is a different experience. After your guide will drive you to your hotel for rest.
Day 9: Local Flight from Kisoro to Entebbe international Airport & Departure
Today our guide will drive you to Kisoro Airstrip for local flight to Entebbe airport. If your return flight is at night, it is possible to arrange a pick up to a hotel for a day room at extra cost. It is also possible to transfer by road trip to Entebbe airport for 8 to 9 hours.