Birder's Paradise & Wildlife Extravaganza: Chimps, Gorillas & More

Day 1

Entebbe

Upon arriving in Uganda before noon, you will be greeted by your driver-guide from Verdoro Safaris Uganda. You will be taken to the Entebbe Botanical Gardens for bird watching, a prime location to spot diverse species such as orange weavers, and orange-tufted and red-chested sunbirds. Later, you will be escorted to your accommodation for dinner and an overnight stay.

Day 2

Entebbe - Kibale National Park

Following breakfast, you'll venture to Mabamba Wetland Swamp to observe various bird species, including the African jacana and the elusive shoebill stork. Subsequently, we'll proceed to Kibale Forest National Park, pausing for lunch along the way. The park is renowned for its diverse primate population, such as chimpanzees, colobus monkeys, mangabeys, and red-tailed monkeys, which are often spotted swinging through the forest canopy and feasting on wild fruits. You will have dinner and spend the night at the camp.

Day 3

Kibale National Park - Queen Elizabeth National Park

Following breakfast, prepare for an engaging primate encounter! Kibale Forest National Park is renowned for having the world's highest diversity of primate species, including chimpanzees. With around 5,000 chimpanzees residing in Uganda's wilderness, it's an ideal location for sightings. Post-briefing, you'll venture out with a seasoned ranger to track chimps. Once you've found them, you'll spend an hour observing them before returning to your lodge for lunch. Post-lunch, you'll depart and head towards Queen Elizabeth National Park, arriving by evening. The lodge will provide dinner and accommodations for the night.

Day 4

Queen Elizabeth National Park

Rise early to savor a cup of coffee or tea before embarking on a morning game drive. The drive offers magnificent views of plains, valleys, terraced hills, and a rich array of wildlife, including reedbuck, bushbuck, kob, warthogs, elephants, lions, and buffaloes. Following the drive, retreat to your lodge for a leisurely lunch and some downtime.

In the afternoon, take a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, which links Lake Edward and Lake George. This channel teems with hippos and Nile crocodiles and is a haven for various bird species, including pelicans, kingfishers, saddle-billed storks, and occasionally, crowned cranes. Conclude your day with dinner and an overnight stay at the lodge.

Day 5

Queen Elizabeth National Park - Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Following an early morning breakfast, you will journey to Bwindi through the Ishasha sector, renowned for its indigenous tree-climbing lions. There is approximately a 70% chance of spotting the lions, though they may be elusive, particularly when hunting in the grasslands. Bwindi, often referred to as the "Land of Gorillas," is a significant sanctuary for mountain gorillas in Uganda, home to an estimated 400 individuals, about half of the global population. The park features several habituated groups that are accessible for tracking.

Day 6

Begin your day with a cup of coffee before heading to the trekking center, packed lunch in tow. After a briefing at the center, you'll embark on the tracking activity. There's an indescribable feeling that comes with sitting in the dense rainforest, surrounded by some of the last remaining mountain gorillas. The tracking can take from two to seven hours, during which your guide will highlight signs of gorilla presence, such as dung, nests, and chewed bamboo shoots. Upon finding a gorilla group, you'll have the privilege of spending an hour with them. The exhilaration of observing these gentle, endangered creatures is a profound and thrilling experience to cherish.

After this remarkable encounter, return to your lodge to check out and proceed to Lake Bunyonyi. Encircled by verdant, terraced hills that soar to heights of 2,200 to 2,478 meters, Lake Bunyonyi captivates with its 29 islands, each unique in shape and size, dotting the water—a sight so enchanting, it could hold your gaze all day.

Day 7

Lake Bunyonyi - Lake Mburo National Park

Following a leisurely breakfast with views of the stunning Bunyonyi islands, our journey continues to Lake Mburo National Park. Arriving in the early afternoon, you'll have the option to embark on a serene boat ride across the lake or partake in an evening game drive or a bush walk towards the salt lick area. The bush walk provides a chance to observe a variety of wildlife, including eland, zebras, hyenas, Cape buffalos, sitatunga, and other mammals. For birdwatching aficionados, the boat ride offers a chance to see African harrier hawks, cormorants, fish eagles, spectacled weavers, herons, among others. Additionally, the lake's edge is populated by numerous crocodiles and hippos. Your dinner and overnight accommodations will be at the lodge.

Day 8

Lake Mburo National Park - Entebbe

Enjoy breakfast before embarking on a morning game drive to spot eland antelopes, zebras, topis, impalas, warthogs, Cape buffalos, and various savannah wildlife. Afterward, return to your lodge for lunch, check out, and commence the drive back to Entebbe International Airport. A stop at the equator in Kayebwe for a unique tropical balance demonstration and a photo opportunity is also planned.