Day 1. Boat on Lake Victoria, Shoebill in Mabamba, Equator and Lake Mburo National Park.
You will be picked early from your hotel in Entebbe and taken to the Nakiwogo harbour for the boat -tour on Lake Victoria that will take you to Mabamba Wetlands. On this lake trip you will have a chance of seeing many birds. At Mabamba you will step into the canoes for the tour of the wetlands in search of the Shoebill.
Then the trip continues from Mabamba in the vehicle for a drive to the Equator with a stop for photos and coffee before proceeding to Lake Mburo National Park and a game-drive before dinner.
Day 2. Drive via the Equator to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
After an early breakfast we meet with the rangers for a morning hiking which will bring you near the zebra and many of the antelopes of the park, like the impala and eland. We may also see giraff during the walk. Many birds will be seen, and heard.
The we shall continue the drive through the undulating grassy hills of the Ankole cattle country. Lunch is in Mbarara before continuing the drive to more mountainous region of Kigezi where the hard-working Bakiga farms almost every available square-meter. You will reach Buhoma late afternoon or early evening.
Day 3. Gorilla tracking
This is the very day for the Gorilla tracking. After an early breakfast you will meet at the assembly point. The driver guide will help you with this. After briefing, the group, a maximum of eight permit holders, will start the tracking. Once you have reached the gorilla family you will have an hour for photos or just watching the family members in a day of their life – a fantastic experience. Sometimes the tracking takes only a few hours, sometimes longer, it all depends on how far the family is, and how it moves in search of food.
After the tracking is done you may, if you so wish, do the Batwa experience and community guided tour. It is an extra option and not included. You can usually book this, once you are back from tracking, at the hotel where you are staying.
Day 4. Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park and game-drive in the Ishasha sector.
After breakfast you will leave Bwindi and drive via Kihihi to enter Queen Elizabeth National Park at the Ishasha sector in search of the tree-climbing lion. Chances of seeing them in a tree is about two out of three times, and if missed, there are so many other animals in this very nice area. The topi is not as easy to see in other places, same with the Giant Hog.
After the game-drive the journey is continued until reaching the Katunguru area. The drive takes about an hour and a half and chances of seeing elephants and other animals along the way is quite good. You will reach your hotel in the afternoon.
Day 5. Game-drive and boat-launch in Queen Elisabeth National Park
The program starts at day-break with a game-drive in the Kasenyi area where lion often are seen. The area also holds many other animals and birds, like, antelopes, buffalos, elephants, and so on. After a break at the Kasenyi salt crater you will drive towards the Mweya peninsula for lunch, a visit at the Field Study Centre and for the afternoon boat-launch on the Kazinga channel. This boat-launch is one of the highlights of most safaris as there are so many birds, hippo, crocodile, buffalos, often elephants and so many other things to see on the shore-line.
Day 6. Return journey.
You may have an option of doing an early shorter game-drive in the morning, or taking is easy and leave after a relaxed breakfast, or alternatively, you may opt for an early chimpanzee tracking in the Kyambura Gorge (extra option). The drive passes near the Rwenzoris, the highest mountainrange in Africa with peaks of more than 5.000 metres above sea-level, and with glaciers. These peaks are usually hidden by clouds but may sometimes be seen. Lunch is in Fort Portal and from there the drive continues via Mubende and Mpigi to Kampala/Entebbe where you will be dropped at your hotel.
