Gorilla and hot air balloon safari in Queen Elizabeth NP
5 Days 4 nights, Rates In USD Upon Request
Rates are per person (pp) and based on 2 people sharing 1 room
Excluding international flights (from/to your home country)
Overview
Our 5 Day gorilla and hot air balloon safari in Queen Elizabeth NP combines two powerful National Parks in Uganda. It will take you to Queen Elizabeth National Park for hot air balloon safari to view wildlife as well as enjoying marine wildlife on Kazinga channel by taking a two hour boat cruise on the channel. From Queen Elizabeth National Park, you will visit Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for gorilla trekking before driving back to Kampala or Entebbe .
5 Day gorilla and Hot air balloon Safari in Queen Elizabeth NP-Summary
- Day 01: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park via Equator crossing
- Day 02: Morning hot air balloon safari and afternoon boat cruise on Kazinga channel
- Day 03: Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Day 04: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi National Park
- Day 05: Drive back to Kampala
Highlights
- You’ll go to Uganda
- This tour starts and ends in Entebbe (Uganda)
- You’ll visit Queen Elizabeth National Park and Bwindi
- Activities: Hot air balloon safari, Boat cruise on Kazinga Channel
- Getting around: open-sided 4×4 vehicle & pop-up roof 4×4 vehicle
- A transfer from and back to the airport (or hotel) is included
- Additional accommodation before the tour departs and on the last day can be arranged for extra cost
Things To Consider
- Accommodation is Inclusive
- Small Group Safari: Max 6 People per group
- Tour Can Depart any day
- Tour can be customized
- Solo travelers can join this tour
- Age Limit: 15 years and above
Detailed Itinerary
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 N P
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.
This is a private safari and can be booked by an individual or a group of people. Please contact our Safari consultants for a quote
Lodge Options
Cost Includes
- Airport transfers
- Hot air balloon safari
- Transport in a 4×4 Vehicle
- Services of an English speaking local driver/guide
- Fuel for the whole trip
- All park entry fees
- A boat cruise on Kazinga channel
- Accommodation and meal plan as above
- Drinking water in the vehicle
Cost excludes
- Air tickets, Visa fees and all expenses of personal nature
STANDARD: 4X4 SAFARI VAN
Our standard mode of transport is by road and we use 4×4 Safari Vans customized for game viewing and photography. Each safari van comes with a professionally trained driver guide and fuel for the whole safari. Our Safari vans have viewing hatches and each client is entitled to a window seat. Our Vans can take up to eight people. We also have 4×4 Super Customs very comfortable and stable on the road. These carry up to 5 people with their luggage. We also have 4×4 RAV 4 for a group of two people
UPGRADE: 4X4 LUXURY SAFARI LANDCRUISER
We have luxury latest Land cruisers each driven by professionally trained driver guides and fuel. They have pop-up roofs for proper game viewing and photography. They come with a small fridge for cooling your drinking water while on safari (which is always included while IN THE VEHICLE). They have inverters for charging small gadgets such as your smartphones and cameras. They can seat five to a maximum of seven people and each client is guaranteed of a window seat.
