Allanblackia Safaris

10 DAYS UGANDA SAFARI

Draft Itinerary

• Day 1: Arrival In Entebbe | Welcome dinner
• Day 2: Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
• Day 3: Gorilla trekking
• Day 4: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park
• Day 5: Game drive (a simple breakfast in nature) and Boat trip to the Kazinga Channel
• Day 6:Visit the Kataara women's project and activities| Visit twin lakes
• Day 7: Drive to Kibale Forest National Park-Bigodi swamp walk | BBQ dinner experience prepared by the clients and guide
• Day 8: Chimpanzee Trekking | Community Walk
• Day 9: Drive Entebbe | Farewell Dinner
• Day 10: Departure

Day 1 Arrival Entebbe | Welcome Dinner

On your arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be met by our AllanBlackia Safaris professional representative who will warmly greet you and transfer you to your Hotel. You will check into the Hotel and rest. You will have a group welcome dinner in the evening. Overnight at Hotel Number 5

Meal plan (Breakfast and Dinner)

Day 2 Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Today we will depart for Bwindi Impenetrable Forest from Entebbe After breakfast, you will embark on your enjoy to Rushaga a sector of Bwindi where you will spend two nights. You will have a stopover in mbarara for lunch and then proceed to Bwindi forest

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, covering 32,092 ha, is one of the largest areas in East Africa which still has an Afromontane lowland forest extending well within the montane forest belt. Located on the eastern edge of the Albertine Rift Valley and believed to be a Pleistocene refugium, the property is a biodiversity hotspot with possibly the greatest number of tree species for its altitude in East Africa. It is also host to a rich fauna including several endemic butterflies and one of the richest mammalian assemblages in Africa. Home to almost half of the world’s mountain gorilla population, the property represents a conservation frontline as an isolated forest of outstanding biological richness surrounded by an agricultural landscape supporting one of the highest rural population densities in tropical Africa.

After hours in the vehicle, you will check in at the lodge for rest, dinner, and overnight.

Day 3 Gorilla Trekking

You will be up early on the morning of your Gorilla Tracking for a good breakfast in preparation for the day’s physical activity. You will report for registration at the Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger station by 8 AM. After a briefing by the rangers, your gorilla trek will start. The trek usually takes between three and six hours so a reasonable degree of fitness is required, as well as a strong pair of walking boots or shoes.

The rangers will guide you through the village gardens and into the jungle-like forest. They will escort you through the sometimes thick bush, occasionally hacking the dense undergrowth with a machete as you search to locate the gorillas. The mountain gorillas are under 24-hour monitoring for their safety. You are almost guaranteed to see them. The rangers monitor each gorilla family by keeping in close radio contact.

In part due to gorilla tourism, the population of gorillas is slowly increasing but the species remains critically endangered. Gorillas and humans share almost identical genetic material and their health must not be compromised by coming into contact with human diseases (via our food, for example). To reduce the transmission of disease from humans to gorillas, you will also be advised to keep a distance of 7 meters from the gorillas.

Once you have located the gorilla family, you will be asked to leave all your belongings to one side and approach the gentle giants, just with your camera. The guides will interpret the animals’ behavior and advice on what you are watching. Females and their young, young males and even a dominant Silverback may be seen: feeding, playing, interacting with each other, or just sleeping! You will never forget your encounter with the gorillas. They will be quite curious to see you! You are allowed exactly one hour with the gorillas before returning to base. Overnight Rushaga Gorilla Havens Lodge

Day 4 Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Today, your drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park is set on the floor of the Rift Valley, with the occasionally visible peaks of the Rwenzori Mountains behind you. The landscape of northern Queen Elizabeth comprises dozens of ancient craters carved into gently rolling hills. The Kazinga Channel lies in central Queen Elizabeth, its banks fertile with large mammals such as hippo, elephant, and buffalo and over 600 bird species, more than any other national park in Uganda. You will later check in at the lodge for your overnight Engiri Game Lodge.

Day 5 Game drive a simple breakfast in nature | Boat trip to the Kazinga Channel

Wake up very early in the morning, ready for your early morning game drive. Your breakfast will be packed for you and during the game drive you will take a break and enjoy a simple breakfast in nature as you listen to the bird's sounds of nature. A popular route for the game drive is the Kasenyi sector, well-known for its lions that prey on Queen Elizabeth’s large population of Uganda Kob (antelope). If you are very lucky, you may spot a Giant Forest Hog, Africa’s largest pig. Keep your eyes peeled to spot an elusive leopard!

After your safari, you will head back to the lodge for a few hours of relaxation by the pool and lunch. In the afternoon, you will take a boat for a water safari on the Kazinga Channel at Mweya which connects the two lakes of Edward and George.

This is likely to be a big highlight of your trip! The expert Uganda Wildlife Authority guides will identify many of the Channel’s 100 bird species and you’re likely to see African Skimmers, Great White Pelicans, Spoonbill, and some Bee-eater species. Hippos wallow at the edge of the water, huge Nile crocodiles bask in the sun and elephants come down to drink. The Kazinga Channel boat ride is a brilliant opportunity to take some close-up wildlife shots.

Day 6 Visit the Kataara women's project and activities | visit twin lakes

 The Kataara Women project was started to provide a source of livelihood for the women most of whom are widowed, promote conservation, and also rally the community to protect the animals in the Queen Elizabeth National Park which is within their neighborhood. The idea of making paper from elephant dung came from turning a difficult situation into an opportunity. This is because elephants walk into their gardens all the time, destroying crops and incensing the locals so they decided to get what they left in their gardens and make something productive, their dung into paper. The group also makes handicrafts, improved cook stoves, and briquettes made from a mixture of elephant dung and other materials which are all a source of income for the group. They also offer homestay tours and Coffee tours plus community walks. After this you will walk up to the twin lakes and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the lakes and if you get the chance you will watch the sunset too with a beer or soft drink and take pictures. Overnight will be at Engiri Game Lodge

Day 7 Drive to Kibale Forest National Park-Bigodi swamp walk | BBQ dinner experience prepared by the clients and guide

This morning we will depart for Fort Portal and explore the area around the base of the Rwenzori Mountains with an (optional) visit to the world-famous Ruwenzori Mountain Sculpture Foundation.

Later we drive to Kibale Forest National Park, in Western Uganda, an incredibly diverse forest that is home to over 13 species of primates including the chimpanzee, red Colobus monkey, the rare L’Hoest monkey, blue monkey, grey-cheeked mangabey, black-faced vervet monkeys, baboons, pottos and bush babies. Cleverly constructed boardwalks lead you through Papyrus that towers above your head in Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary, a few minutes' drive from Kibale Forest. With over 130 bird species, multi-colored butterflies, eight different types of primates, and the rare, semi-aquatic Sitatunga (antelope), this is community tourism at its best. If time permits take a community and Bigodi swamp walk, bond with nature, and learn about the different bird species and people’s ways of living. Enjoy the walk in nature. Overnight will be at Kibale Forest Lodge.

Day 8 Chimpanzee Trekking | Community Walk

After breakfast, it’s an early start to report to the ranger headquarters at 8 a.m. in Kibale Forest National Park to track chimpanzees. These engaging apes, our closest living relatives, are great fun to watch as they play and fight in the fruiting trees. Your experience guides will introduce you to the different members of the chimp families, as well as the birds and plant life of the forest. The trails through the forest are generally easy to navigate and you will always be accompanied by Rangers.

Head back to the lodge and prepare your BBQ dinner together with the guide

Overnight will be at Kibale Forest Lodge.

Day 9 Drive Entebbe | Farewell Dinner

Wake up very early in the morning for breakfast. Drive from Bwindi to Entebbe. Stop by Mubende Town and also you will have lunch en route. You have enjoyed a farewell dinner.  Overnight at Hotel Number 5.

Day 10 Departure

Wake up in the morning for breakfast. The driver will transfer you to the Airport in due time for your outbound flight.

Included

- All budget/camping accommodation on Half Board (HB), Full Board (FB), or Bed and Breakfast (B&B) basis as quoted in the text

-Welcome dinner and Farewell dinner

- BBQ dinner experience prepared by the guide and clients

-A simple breakfast stop in nature in Queen Elizabeth National Park

- 4x4WD pop roof tourist mini Vans or 4x4 coaster and fuel

1 English-speaking tourist guide and 1 driver while in a coaster or An English speaking driver guide while in a van

- 1 gorilla permit per person

-1 Chimpanzee permit pp

-All local community activities

- Game drives

- boat rides

-Bigodi swamp walk

-Visit the twin lakes- sundowner

-local projects

- Entrance fees to the national parks

- All boat tours

- Taxes 

- Free mineral water in the vehicle during the tour

 Excluded

- Visa fees

-International insurance

-Covid-19 CPR Test for departure and on arrival

-International flights

- All Drinks / alcoholic drinks

- Additional meals

-Tips, porters etc

- Tips

- Activities not part of the described program