Uganda which is “The Pearl of Africa” is a small country in East Africa bordering Kenya in the east with Tanzania and Rwanda in the south, Democratic Republic
of the Congo in the west and Sudan in the north.
Uganda has vast and unique wildlife, but it is true that wildlife poaching and insecurity within national parks and reserves have tainted Uganda’s image and tourism industry. The massacre of American tourists in Bwindi National Park some time ago comes to mind. And the terrorism that hit Kenya and Tanzania did not help the industry. Yet most of these ugly pages are being turned, giving hope to Ugandan hotel owners, tour and travel operators, artisans and farmers whose food visitors consume.
The Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is located in southwestern Uganda and contains the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The park has 340 mountain gorillas, which is about half of all the mountain gorillas in the world. Every visitor to Uganda would like to get in touch with these gentle giants as well as our distant cousins. Uganda should treat gorilla tracking as the pinnacle of the tourism industry in the country if it wants to continue to attract more tourists visiting the country and increase passes to visit these gentle giants. This is my experience with gorillas in Bwindi and Queen Elizabeth National Park
1st day: We leave for Bwindi
Meet and greet at the respective accommodations after your breakfast. Depart for Bwindi driving southwest and crossing the equator. The journey takes you through the Savannah grasslands to see local farms and banana plantations, as well as herds of Ankole cattle with their incredibly long curved horns.
Dinner and accommodation in the accommodation of your choice.
2nd day: Bwindi Gorilla Touring
After an early breakfast and briefing by a ranger guide, enter the gorilla sanctuary for an exhilarating experience. Gorillas are very special animals: rare, tame, like us but so different. Tracking them down is a unique experience as it takes you to a strange land to meet unusual creatures on their own terms! This is basically a humbling but exciting experience at the same time. Your guide will lead you through the world of gorillas, explaining aspects of their ecology and behavior along the way.
Dinner and accommodation in the accommodation of your choice.
Day 3: Leave Bwindi early in the morning for Queen Elizabeth National Park enjoying game drive once inside the park. In the afternoon we embark on a two-hour boat cruise on the Kazinga channel. There is abundant bird life here, and in addition, this cruise offers an excellent platform for photography and animal viewing.
Dinner and accommodation in the accommodation of your choice.
4th day: Queen Elizabeth Safari: Today we do two safaris. Queen Elizabeth National Park has diverse ecosystems of grassy plains, tropical forests, rivers, swamps, lakes and volcanic craters and is home to different species of wildlife. It will give you the opportunity to see lions, leopards, giant forest hogs, Cape buffalo, elephants and defassa antelope, Ugandan kob, topi and antelope.
Dinner and accommodation in the accommodation of your choice.
5th Day: Two options for the day before returning to Kampala.
Visit the Kyambura Gorge to track chimpanzees or visit the Maramagambo Forest which offers you the opportunity to experience a tropical rainforest and catch a glimpse of a variety of primates, including chimpanzees. While she can also visit the bat cave and the “blue lake”.
Price includes transport to and from Kampala, park entrance fees, safari fees, Kazinga Channel boat ride, gorilla permit, full board accommodation and an English speaking driver (guide), round trip lunch, chimpanzee tracking fees, nature walk fees. However, it excludes drinks, souvenirs, tips and all expenses of a personal nature.