Arrival
- You’ll be picked up from the airport (or hotel)
- Accommodation before the tour departs can be arranged for extra cost
DAY 1: Start your 5 Day Gorilla and Hot air balloon safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park
You will be met by our representative at your hotel early in the morning from briefing to make sure that what you booked is same as what he has. You will then start your 5 day gorilla and hot air balloon safari to Queen Elizabeth National Park at around 8:00 am. The drive from Kampala to Queen Elizabeth National Park is about 6-7 hours due to stop overs that you will make en route. Such stop overs may include Mpambire royal drum makers to observe how our traditional drums and chairs or stools are made, you will also stop at the equator crossing to have an opportunity of stepping in two hemispheres (North and south) at ago before proceeding to Mbarara town for a lunch break. From Mbarara town, you will drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park with stops to observe tea plantations, rift valley escarpments as well as crater lakes arriving in the evening for your dinner and overnight.
Drive time: Approximately 6-7
Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner
Lodging: Mweya Safari Lodge or Kasenyi Safari Camp
DAY 2: Hot Air balloon safari and afternoon boat cruise on Kazinga Channel
Queen Elizabeth Hot air balloon safaris start very early in the morning at 5:30am where all clients will be transferred to the starting point. As the balloon is being assembled, you will be served a cup of tea or coffee. At 6:30am, briefing will be done by one of the pilots followed by your flight which may last for about 45 minutes to one and a half hours depending on the conditions of the day. In this period, you will observer wildlife from above, rift valley floor and escarpments, crater and lift valley lakes plus Rwenzori and its associated features. You may land at around 7:30am where you will be served a bush break with wines and later given certificates. Transfer back to the lodge for relaxation, lunch and then to the jetty for your afternoon boat cruise on Kazinga channel. Kazinga channel is absolutely a highlight due to the fact that so many animals flock to this place to drink water. Your two hour boat cruise will allow you to sport different bird species, elephants, hippos, crocodiles, several antelopes, buffaloes and so much more more. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Lodging: Mweya Safari Lodge or Kasenyi Safari Camp
DAY 3: Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After breakfast, you will drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The journey from Queen Elizabeth National Park to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is approximately 4-5 hours. You will arrive late afternoon for relaxation and or an optional community or nature walk in the forest. Dinner and overnight.
Drive time: approximately 4-5 hours
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Lodging: Broad Bill Forest Camp
DAY 4: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After breakfast and with your packed lunch, you will walk to the park headquarters for briefing about gorilla trekking. Your guide will take you through all the dos and don’ts while with mountain gorillas and after that, you will be transferred to the starting point of your gorilla family. Please note that gorilla family allocation depends on your interests, fitness and age. Please inform your guide of your interests and he will try to request for the gorilla family of your choice before you start the trek into the forest. Gorilla trekking can be strenuous and a certain level of fitness is required. Gorilla trekking can take from 30 minutes to three quarters of the day so one needs to prepare for both. You guide will try to provide information about trees, birds and other wildlife in the forest until you reach a given gorilla family of gorillas. You will be allowed only one hour of photography and observing mountain gorillas as they go about with their daily day activities and then trek back to the park headquarters to pick your certificates and then dinner and overnight at your Lodge.
Lodging: Broad Bill Forest Camp or Similar
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
DAY 5: End of your 5 day Lake Mburo, Bwindi gorillas and Lake Bunyonyi Safari
After breakfast, you will drive back to Entebbe International Airport with a lunch stop at the Equator crossing. Proceed to Entebbe International Airport for your departure flight out.
