Combining lion and leopard tracking in Queen Elizabeth National Park with gorilla trekking in Bwindi

Combining lion and leopard tracking in Queen Elizabeth National Park with gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has become one of the most popular and feasible itineraries for a Ugandan Safari. This is the perfect combination where tourists get to experience the wild side of both Queen Elizabeth National Park with lion tracking and leopard tracking and Bwindi’s gorilla tracking. This combination gives the perfect mixture of Savannah game viewing and a jungle adventure. In just days, you get to meet the mountain gorillas face to face in their natural habitat and then meet the big cats, the lions and leopards. The two safari expeditions will take you through the scenic and vast plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park and the rainforests of Bwindi.

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Gorilla tracking in Bwindi

Gorilla tracking is the main and prime activity that is carried out in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park with four tracking sectors where you can meet the different habituated gorilla families, including Ruhija, Nkuringo, Rushaga and Buhoma. These four sectors consist of habituated gorilla families each having unique social behaviour.

There are about 21 habituated gorilla families in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and these are allocated depending on the sector that you have been assigned after the purchase of the gorilla trekking permits.

How to purchase the gorilla permits: The gorilla trekking permits can be purchased through Encounter Africa Safaris, a tour company that has experience in organising gorilla trekking safaris in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Get in touch with us with the dates that you wish to trek mountain gorillas in Bwindi, and we will proceed to check for their availability of the permits, and once we get confirmation that they are available, we will get in touch with the payment details. And after the payment has been made,  we will proceed to purchase the permit on your behalf and send a copy to your email. You will also be requested to send in personal details, which will be used when printing the permits, and these are a scanned copy of your passport with the names, passport number, date of birth and photo visible.

The cost of the permit: The cost of the gorilla permit in Bwindi is $800 for foreign non-residents, $700 for foreign residents and UGX300,000 for East African citizens. The Uganda Wildlife Authority is in charge of the cost and any changes made to it. Note that no one can access the mountain gorillas without a trekking permit.

Lion and Leopard tracking in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Lion and Leopard tracking in Queen Elizabeth National Park is an amazing activity that you should consider as part of a combined safari with gorilla tracking in Bwindi. Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of the most popular national parks in Uganda and the most visited due to the diverse wildlife that is found in the different parts of the park. It is home to the tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha Sector, leopards and other wildlife species with over 95 mammals and over 600 bird species. Lion and Leopard tracking is one of the most interesting adventures carried out in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Lion tracking: Lion tracking in Queen Elizabeth National Park is carried out in the Kasenyi sector, and this is a known research experience where tourists get close to the big cats and get to study their behaviour with scientists, researchers and authorised park rangers from the Uganda Wildlife Authority. The movements of the lions are monitored, and not forgetting their lifestyle, and this is done using radio collars.

Lion tracking in Queen Elizabeth National Park is done in two shifts, one in the morning and the second in the evening, and this is all done with 4x4 pop-up roof tourist vehicles.

There are a few permits printed, and this is to reduce the number of people tracking the lions and to help the researchers get the right and accurate information from the lion tracking, and also to avoid stressing the lions. The limited number of people tracking lions also increases the experience of the trackers, taking photos and getting to know each member of the pride.

Leopard tracking: Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to the big cats and leopard tracking is one of the main activities done within the park. For one to be able to participate in leopard tracking, you will need to book the tracking permit in advance, which is $100 for foreign non-residents, $80 for foreign residents and UGX100,000 for East African citizens. The payment should be made in advance and paid directly to the Mweya Information Centre.

Leopard tracking in Queen Elizabeth National Park is done in two sessions: the morning session and the evening session. The morning hours are described as the best time for tracking and this is because Leopards usually move out of their hiding spots in search of food in the morning.

The tracking is done while on game drives and tourists get the best spots for tracking with the help of an experienced tracker and guide.

During leopard tracking, the activity does not necessarily follow the track trails but you can drive off close to where the leopards are found to have a clear and better view.

Leopards are tracked using radio callers that are placed around the neck of of one of the group members. The armed rangers, with the help of the radio callers, can easily track and locate the leopards.

NB: Note that leopards are one of the most elusive big cats and are expert predators and great at camouflage which allows them to easily blend in with their environment. As a result, this makes it difficult to track them but the result is rewarding.

A tentative itinerary

This itinerary combines lion and leopard tracking in Queen Elizabeth National Park and gorilla trekking in Bwindi. It is a tentative itinerary which can change depending on the client’s preferences and it includes game drives and encountering mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.

Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

• Arrival at Entebbe International Airport, and then you will transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park, which is approximately a 6 to 7-hour drive, making a stopover at the Equator for photos.
• You will then check into your accommodation to rest.
• Enjoy an evening drive where you get to spot different animals including buffalo, antelopes and many other wildlife species.
• After the drive, it's dinner and an overnight stay at the lodge.

Day 2: Lion  tracking

• Embark on an early morning drive for lion tracking, which is usually carried out in the Kasenyi area in Queen Elizabeth National Park. The exercise is guided by researchers, trackers and experienced guides.
• Lion tracking can take 2 to 3 hours. A packed lunch, if needed, will be provided. Or you can head back to the lodge/hotel for lunch after tracking the lions
• In the afternoon, enjoy a boat ride along the Kazinga channel where you can watch the different animal species.
• You can go for a guided nature walk in the evening before dinner and an overnight stay.

Day 3: Leopard tracking

• Leopard tracking starts early morning with the guidance of researchers, guides and trackers. It takes about 2 to 3 hours depending on where the leopards are found on the day of tracking.
• You get to learn more about the animals, and their way of life
• After lunch, you transfer to Ishasha sector, where you will meet the tree-climbing lions before dinner and then an overnight stay at the lodge/hotel.

Day 4: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

• After breakfast, you check out of the lodge and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for gorilla trekking. The drive takes about 4 to 5 hours and you will check into the accommodation within the sector you have been assigned (Buhoma, Rushaga, Ruhija and Nkuringo) for dinner and an overnight stay.

Day 5: Gorilla trekking

• On day 5, after the early morning briefing, you will get to meet the gorilla family that you have been assigned. The trek can take 2 to 6 hours depending on where the family is located.
• After spending an hour with the gorillas, you head back to the park headquarters where you will receive a certificate for participating in the exercise.
• After lunch, you can opt for a community walk to learn more about the culture of the locals and get to buy some souvenirs.
• Return to the lodge or hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.

Day 6: Departure

After the early morning breakfast and checking out of the lodge, you will be driven back to Entebbe International Airport for your return flight or hotel, depending on your preference, marking the end of your safari.

A list of what to pack for the combined lion and leopard tracking in Queen Elizabeth and gorilla trekking in Bwindi Safari

Clothes: The different clothes that need to be brought for this combined safari should be in neutral colours to easily blend in with the environment and not bring too much attention to you during the tracking of the big cats and gorillas.

• Long-sleeved shirts and lightweight trousers for protection against sunburn and insect bites. Don’t forget to carry breathable tops, especially for lion and leopard tracking.
• Waterproof rain jacket or poncho for protection from the common rain showers, especially in Bwindi
• Comfortable knee-length hiking boots for gorilla trekking and comfortable running shoes for lion and leopard tracking.
• A wide-brimmed sunhat
• Sweaters, fleece jackets and other warm clothes for protection from the cold especially in the morning and evening hours.
• Socks to keep the feet dry and to avoid blisters
• Gardening gloves to protect your hands from blisters during the trek
• Sun glasses and insect repellent

Equipment and Gear

• Binoculars for wildlife viewing
• A camera with a zoom lens, an extra memory card, batteries and lenses. A waterproof camera bag to protect your equipment
• A waterproof backpack to help you carry some essentials, including snacks, a refillable water bottle, personal items, insect repellent and sunscreen, among others.
• A headlamp or flashlight for the early morning tracking and don’t forget the extra batteries
• A refillable water bottle to keep hydrated throughout the tracking
• A portable power bank to keep all your devices charged while in the wilderness of Queen Elizabeth National Park and Bwindi.
• Trekking poles are essential for gorilla trekking, especially during the wet season when the trails are muddy and slippery.

Safety and Essential items

• A valid passport is needed to travel to Uganda for the combined safari.
• Travel Insurance documents and a These should be kept safe and you need to walk with them at all times.
• A first aid kit with all the essentials including antiseptic wipes, pain killers, bandages, prescribed medication, blister pads, anti-malarial medication, hand sanitisers, and other essential medicines
• Vaccination cards including Hepatitis, yellow fever and other related disease vaccinations that are recommended.
• Toiletries including shampoo, biodegradable soap and toilet paper, toothpaste and other hygiene items
• Face mask and a lot of handkerchiefs for protection from the dust.
• Insect repellent to protect you from insect bites during the tracking.
• Personal identification, necessary medical records and emergency contact information.

Other items

• Snacks including energy bars and dried fruits among others
• Travle guide books
• Cash in local currency to help with the tipping, purchase of souvenirs and other personal expenditures.

Best time to go for the combined lion and leopard tracking in Queen Elizabeth National Park and gorilla trekking in Bwindi

Lion and leopard tracking in Queen Elizabeth National Park and gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are available year-round, however, the dry seasons from December to January and June to August are the ideal time for tracking the big cats and gentle mountain gorillas. During this period, the vegetation is thin, making it easy to spot the animals, the roads are easy to access, and the trek trails are easier to use.

We recommend that you book lion and leopard tracking and gorilla trekking in advance due to the limited number of people that are allowed per session.

Contact us at Encounter Africa Safaris for more information about lion and leopard tracking in Queen Elizabeth National Park and gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.