Main Info
The 7 days Gorilla Trek, Mgahinga Hiking and Wildlife Safari is a medium safari that introduces visitors to the outstanding nature and wildlife of Uganda with three of the country’s ten National Parks to be visited. Both young and old travellers are catered for in this tailor-made safari that starts in Kampala and ends in the same City. A visit to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is to trek the endangered mountain gorillas, a visit to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park also in south-western Uganda is to hike one of the breathtaking Virunga Volcanoes while a visit to Queen Elizabeth and Lake Mburo National Parks will take visitors to a different wilderness experiences.
Highlights of the 7 days Gorilla Trek, Mgahinga Hiking and Wildlife Safari
- Gorilla trekking.
- Uganda Equator Experience.
- Game viewing.
- Boat cruises.
- Volcano hiking.
- Community visit.
- Road trip by a private safari vehicle.
- Breathtaking sceneries.
Brief itinerary
Day 1: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Day 2: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise.
Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Day 4: Mountain gorilla trekking and transfer to Mgahinga National Park.
Day 5: Volcano hiking and Batwa cultural tour.
Day 6: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park.
Day 7: Morning game drive and return to Kampala.
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Our Company representative will pick you up from your place of stay after breakfast. You will be heading to western Uganda for your first destination, which is Queen Elizabeth National Park. This 6-7 hours’ drive will be full of fun and breathtaking views of the lush tea plantations in Bushenyi, beautiful rolling hills and friendly people who will continuously wave to you in excitement. Have your first stop at Uganda Equator (along the Kampala-Masaka highway) where you will spend 30 minutes to take photos, have coffee/tea and experiments some of the Equator demonstrations. As you continue with the journey, make sure to have your camera at hand to take photos of the cool as well as verdant landscape, have another stop at Igongo Cultural Center for a sumptuous Lunch and reach Queen Elizabeth National Park in the evening for dinner and overnight.
Overnight stay at:
- Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge.
- Midrange: Enganzi Lodge or Bush Lodge.
- Budget: Ihamba Safari Lodge Bandas.
Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner.
Travel time: 6-7 hours.
Day 2: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise
Comfort in the wilderness is what you will be treated to in Queen Elizabeth National Park and be served a hot cup of tea or coffee on waking up to usher you to the activities of the day. Hop into the waiting safari vehicle for a Morning game drive through the Northern areas of the Park that include the Kasenyi plains that is said to be the richest in terms of wildlife diversity. Depending on the time of the game drive, early risers such as lions and leopards will be seen hunting for Uganda Kobs, Oribis and bushbucks among others. Expect to see Mongoose, spotted hyenas, Defassa waterbucks, buffaloes, elephants, Common elands as well as a variety of bird species. This informative game drive will also introduce you to other physical features of the Park such as Crater Lakes and later retire to the Lodge for a hot meal.
The afternoon will be more relaxing with the boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, another wildlife rich area of the Park. While on this boat cruise, look out for the huge hippos as well as Nile crocodiles in the water in addition to the Elephants, buffaloes, Uganda Kobs and waterbucks drinking along the banks or trying to cool their bodies from the hot sunshine. Different bird species will also be spotted along the papyrus swamps or on the water. Retire to the Lodge for dinner and overnight.
Overnight stay at:
- Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge.
- Midrange: Enganzi Lodge or Bush Lodge.
- Budget: Ihamba Safari Lodge Bandas.
Meal Plan: Full board.
Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After spending two days in the unspoiled wilderness of Queen Elizabeth National Park, you would wish to stay longer but on day 3 of your 7 days Gorilla Trek, Mgahinga Hike and wildlife safari, you will have to transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Have breakfast and check-out of the Lodge for a transfer to the Gorilla trekking destination, which will involve encountering wildlife species along the way until Ishasha sector in the south of Queen Elizabeth National Park and the gateway into Northern Bwindi. Your visit to Ishasha sector will be filled with numerous wildlife species such as Uganda Kobs, waterbucks and Topis but most importantly the tree climbing lions.
Continue driving until Savannah Resort Kihihi for Lunch and arrive Bwindi in the evening for dinner and overnight.
Overnight stay:
- Luxury: Buhoma Lodge.
- Midrange: Lake Kitandara Camp.
- Budget: Buhoma Community Rest Camp.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Travel time: 3-4 hours.
Day 4: Mountain gorilla trekking and transfer to Mgahinga National Park
After a hefty breakfast, leave for the Park Headquarters for a short briefing on the dos and don’ts of trekking one of the habituated gorilla families. At 8am venture into the thick jungles of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in search of the giant apes and this will last from 1 hour to 4 hours depending on the movement of the gorilla family on that particular day. Your unforgettable moment starts when you set your eyes on the mountain gorillas, which you have to put to good use and ends after one hour of which you will return to the Park Headquarters for a trekking certificate. Return to the Lodge for Lunch and check-out for a 4 hours’ transfer to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Overnight stay at:
- Luxury: Mount Gahinga Lodge.
- Midrange: Mutanda Lake Resort.
- Budget: Amajambere Iwacu Camp.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 5: Mount Sabyinyo Hike
Volcano Hiking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is conducted in the same way us other Park activities. Start the day with a hefty breakfast and transfer to Ntebeko Reception Center for briefing on the expectations and process of hiking one of the three Virunga Volcanoes in this Park. With your packed Lunch, drinking water, energy giving snacks and trekking gear at hand move to the trailhead to start your hike to the peak of Mount Sabyinyo that spans along the borders of three countries-Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. This hike is eight hours depending on the weather and pace of hiking-4 hours to ascend to the summit and another 4 hours to descend to the bottom. What makes hiking this Mountain special is the fact that it rewards hikers with the breathtaking views of the three countries, thus the best view of all the Virunga Volcanoes. Rest for the rest of the evening.
Overnight stay at:
- Luxury: Mount Gahinga Lodge.
- Midrange: Mutanda Lake Resort.
- Budget: Amajambere Iwacu Camp.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 6: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park
Have breakfast and check-out of the Lodge for a transfer to Lake Mburo National Park, about 5 hours’ drive from Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. On arrival, have Lunch and head for a boat cruise on Lake Mburo where Hippos and Nile Crocodiles as well as a plethora of water and wetland birds including the shoebill storks will be spotted. Retire to the Lodge for dinner and overnight.
Overnight stay:
- Luxury: Mihingo Safari Lodge.
- Midrange: Rwakobo Rock.
- Budget: Rwonyo Camps and Bandas.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Travel time: 5-6 hours.
Day 7: Morning game drive and return to Kampala
Wake up early for a hot cup of tea/coffee then have a game drive where the rich wildlife diversity of Lake Mburo National Park will be exposed. You will come across zebras, Rothschild giraffes, buffaloes, leopards, Impalas, Olive baboons, vervet monkeys, Defassa waterbucks, common elands, Oribis, warthogs, spotted hyenas and Hippos among others. Return to the Lodge for Lunch and leave for Kampala.
Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch.
End of your 7 days Gorilla Trek, Mgahinga Hiking and Wildlife Safari
Inclusions;
- Gorilla permit.
- Game drive.
- Park entrance fees.
- Relevant Government taxes.
- Bottled water.
- Boat cruises.
- Mount Sabyinyo Hike.
- Fuel fees.
- Transport by a private 4WD Safari vehicle.
- A fulltime English speaking guide.
- Airport transfers.
- 6 nights’ accommodation.
Exclusions;
- Visa fees.
- Personal expenses such as tips, cigarettes and shopping.
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