5 Days Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi Forest National Park

Day 1
Early in the morning set off for Bwindi Impenetrable forest National Park. The park is situated in southwestern Uganda on the edge of the western rift valley. It is 331sq km and on an altitude of 1160m (Ishasha gorge) 2607m (Rwamunyonyi peak). This safari will take a minimum of nine hours drive. The drive takes you through the grasslands of Ankole, a common sight is the famous long-horned cattle; then to the highlands of Kigezi with their beautifully terraced hills. Break off for lunch at any hotel enroute.
Continue with the journey through beautiful scenery and arrive Bwindi National Park in the evening. This park is home of the rare mountain gorillas. Apart from gorillas, there are a wide variety of primates to see including the blue and red tailed monkeys.
The forest itself is lush and green and there are streams running through it. You will check in at Buhoma Homestead or Community Bandas, for dinner and overnight. The Homestead is a mini resort inside a thick forest providing clean accommodation with cold and warm showers, flushing toilets and solar power lighting. While the community bandas offer basic services.

Day 2
After breakfast set off early with your guide to track the gorillas. The thrill of your encounter will erase the difficulties of the potentially strenuous trek. Spend time in awe watching the gorillas go about their activities.
Each encounter is different and has its own rewards, but you are likely to enjoy the close view of adults feeding, grooming and resting as the youngsters frolic and swing from vines in a delightfully playful display.
Return to camp exhilarated to relieve the encounter with friends over a drink. Have dinner and over night at Buhoma Homestead or Community Bandas.

Day 3
After breakfast, depart northwards for Queen Elizabeth National Park. The drive takes you through the unique western rift valley escarpment. Carry out a game drive in Ishasha sector in search of tree climbing lions before proceeding to the Mweya Peninsular; park headquarters. Arrive in the evening and check in at your Lodge.
The park boasts of a variety of big game like; lions, buffaloes, kobs, elephants, bushbucks, and the rare occasional leopard. Have dinner and over night at Mweya Safari Lodge/ Camp/Hostel on the peninsular overlooking Lake Edward and the lush Kazinga channel.

Day 4
Rise before the sun and drive to Kyambura Gorge for a thrilling Chimpanzee safari. The gorge is the natural home of habituated chimpanzees. Your guided walk may last three to five hours and in addition to seeing the chimps, the trip may yield sightings of the colobus monkeys, baboons, red tailed and velvet monkeys, and other primates. It is important to note that the chimpanzee safari is subject to availability of permits and good weather because occasional flooding can make the trails impassable. After lunch, drive to the dock, for an afternoon launch cruise on the Kazinga Channel, which joins Lakes Edward and George. It is a waterway that is filled with schools of hippos, buffaloes, and elephants, which can be seen at the banks. There are also a rich variety of birds on the channel. Retire to the lodge for dinner and over night.

Day 5
Before sunrise go for the early morning game drive to catch-up with the early risers and predators returning to their hideouts. You are likely to meet grazing hippos, elephants, lions, spotted hyenas and leopards, bushbuck, water buck and stripped jackal and of-course the several warthogs.
Visit a Salt Lake (salt explosions) to see how salt is mined locally and its different grades. You learn the participation of the local people, especially the women, in salt mining and the relationship between the park Authorities and the local community in the area.
Return to Kampala with packed lunch enroute. Along the way you will see banana plantations, long horned cattle and the undulating hills of Ankole. Stop over at the Equator in Masaka, Mpambire drum makers or any craft display centre before proceeding to Kampala.