Renowned for its abundant wildlife, Uganda is a great place to take a gorilla photography safari in Africa.
With landscapes ranging from savannah to lush forests the animal count is high: over 300 mammal species and more than 1,000 types of birds. This trip is a true adventure into the heart of Africa.
Kibale Forest is possibly the best place in the world to track chimpanzees whilst Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to hippos, elephants, buffalo, leopards and elusive tree-climbing lions as well as a huge variety of birds.
Continuing on our journey we reach Bwindi where we have the option of tracking the gentle giants of the forests called the Mountain gorillas.
Mountain gorillas are only found in Africa. Adventurers from various corners of the world do gorilla trekking tours in the rain forests of Rwanda, Uganda and DR Congo.
In the whole world there is only 880 mountain gorillas remaining and it can be found in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, Virunga National Park in Congo and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Nation Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park of Uganda.
For anyone to trek those amazing creatures in their natural habitat is a true life time experience.
Travelers should be in good health and comfortable walking or standing for extended periods of time. Daily activities may include walking tours, visits to sites, game drives, or easy hikes, with options for more physical activities such as hiking, kayaking, snorkeling and biking.
We set off on a- once-in-a-lifetime journey into the lush hills of Uganda and Rwanda to encounter chimpanzees and mountain gorillas in the wild.
Observe chimpanzees with a primatologist, and track gorillas in the forests of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Volcanoes National Park.
Stay in stunning lodges, from a lakeside bungalow at the foot of the Rwenzori Mountains to a hilltop Eco-lodge with spectacular views of Rwanda’s volcanoes
We arrived in Entebbe in the evening and transferred to Karibu Guest House in Entebbe. The next day, we visited the Chimpanzee Sanctuary on Ngamba Island, established in association with the Jane Goodall Institute as a habitat for rescued and orphaned chimpanzees. Later, we explored the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre with exciting animals.
The following day, we flied from Entebbe to Kasese en route to Kibale National Park and check in to our lodge, set on a crater lake.
Kibale Forest is approximately 296 sq. miles of lowland tropical rain forest, tropical deciduous forest, marshes, grassland and crater lakes, and is the best place in Uganda for chimpanzee trekking.
Kibale is also home to 13 species of primates including the black and white Colobus monkeys, red Colobus, grey- cheeked mangabey and red-tailed monkeys and numerous other mammals, butterflies and birds.
Upon arrival, in the afternoon we transferred to the park offices to meet the ranger guides for pre – trek briefing after which we set off to trek into forest to track a community of Chimpanzees.
Up to 3 large communities of Chimpanzees have been habituated for the tracking adventure.
You will locate the Chimps without so much straining since the territory of each of Chimp community is known before hand by advance trackers as it will be communicated by your guides.
While you trek through the forest you will observe plenty of other wildlife. Other primates which you may spot include Red Colobus Monkey, L’Hoest Monkey, Grey-cheeked Mangabey, and Vervet Monkeys.
The bird lovers spot many forest specials from a total of 335 bird species recorded in the forest.
The trademark pant hoots and loud screams of the Chimps can be heard from a distance and will lead you to the community which you will spend no more than hour observing and following in the forest.
The Chimps which will be swinging through trees with so much speed, pant hooting, slapping the tree barks and screaming to locate each other.
It is an adrenaline giving atmosphere and a memorable experience. We then transferred to Kibale Primate Lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Primate Lodge Kibale principal edge was the location, tucked deep in the forest and right next door to the starting point for chimpanzee tracing excursion as well as the incredible.
The next day we visited the Bigodi Wetlands, situated on the eastern edge of the forest. We took a light walk in the wetlands to observe plenty of wildlife including birds and many monkey species.
Return in the afternoon for lunch at Kibale primate lodge or Chimp’s nest. After lunch we embarked the safari vehicle and depart to Amabeere Ga Nyinamwiru where we came face to face with stalactites and stalagmites.
We took a breath air walk around the vegetation, trekked hills and took some pictures before going back to our lodge.
The following day we shifted to Queen Elizabeth National Park, dominated on its northern border by the snow-capped 16,000-foot Rwenzori Mountains-the famed “Mountains of the Moon”.
This 767-square-mile conservation area is bordered on the North East by Lake George and on the South West by Lake Edward; its western border adjoins the Virunga.
You can expect to see teeming herds of impala-like Uganda Kob, as well as Topi, elephant and lion, giant forest hog, Cape buffalo.
There are also several soda lakes filling ancient volcanic calderas where flamingos reside seasonally.
In the afternoon we enjoyed a game drive in the northern part of the park, visiting the Baboon Cliff famous for its nice scenery, and good views of the shadows of the mountains of the moon – the Rwenzori.
The drive to the lodge leads through large expanses of savannah grasslands and plenty of wild game. Dinner and overnight at Bush Lodge Tented Camp
The next day we set off for an all-day game drive, we drove south to the Ishasha Plains in search of the tree climbing lions and other wildlife.
This is a more deserted section of the park but is home to over 40 tree climbing lions, lots of elephants, antelopes, buffaloes, birds, some monkeys and baboons and more.
Dinner and overnight at Ishasha Wilderness Camp situated within the southern Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park.
We then set off for Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, the home of Mountain Gorillas. It is estimated half of the world’s surviving population of mountain Gorillas live within Bwindi boundaries.
This National Park offers steeply forested landscape and is incredibly dense but has numerous animal trails allowing access to tourists.
The breath-taking chance to view these majestic Gorilla’s here in their natural habitat is truly a ‘Bucket List’ activity the memories of which you will cherish for a lifetime.
Apart from the gorillas, there are a variety of primates to be seen including the blue monkeys, red tailed monkeys, and black & white Colobus monkeys, wild chimps and forest elephants.
The day was begun with breakfast ready for trekking, which begins at 8:00 am with a briefing from the UWA staff. Ensure to carry along with you rain jacket, drinking water, snacks, jungle boots etc.
The guides will lead you inside the jungle to see the shy Primates for a group you have been booked for.
Do not forget to take your lunch boxes and all the necessary gear to track the rare Mountain Gorilla, perhaps one of the most exciting wildlife experiences on earth.
The tracking may take between 2 and 8 hours but it’s well worth the effort. The afternoon is spent on a village walk.
The Buhoma Village Walk gives you a great opportunity to see how the people surrounding Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
It also is a great way to support the local community in a direct way. The Walk begins with your guide at Buhoma Community Rest Camp and is most informative, rewarding to the average visitor.
It will amaze you how resourceful the local people are as you see and learn their ways. Following our breakfast, we departed for Kampala where we were dropped at Entebbe Airport for onward travel.
