Itinerary
The 7-Day Gorillas, Wildlife, and Chimp Trek via Lake Mburo offered by Bamboo Ecotours take you to the most stunning tourist attractions in southwestern Uganda. The major highlights are game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park, chimpanzee trekking at Kalinzu forest, gorilla trekking, and game drives in Lake Mburo National Park.
Day 1: Transfer from Entebbe/Kampala to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Our representative will pick you up in Entebbe or Kampala and drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park in western Uganda. The drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park will go through amazing landscapes of western Uganda via Masaka, Mbarara, and Bushenyi. Stopover at the Igongo cultural center near Mbarara city for lunch.
Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking at Kalinzu forest and Kazinga channel boat trip
Chimpanzee trekking in Kalinzu forest reserve in the morning
We will drive to the Kalinzu forest to experience trekking the chimpanzees in their forest home. If you are lucky on the trek, you might encounter other monkeys in Kalinzu forest. These include the colobus monkey, olive baboon, and red-tailed monkey. Drive back to the lodge for lunch after the chimp trek.
Kazinga channel boat cruise in the afternoon
After lunch, join the Kazinga channel boat cruise for an afternoon of wild game viewing. You will spot crocodiles, buffaloes, elephants, and a wide range of bird species on the channel waters.
Day 3: Kasenyi plains game drive, Ishasha tree-climbing lions, and transfer to Bwindi National Park
Kasenyi plains game drive (morning)
You will start the day with early morning breakfast at the lodge. Afterward, we proceed to the famed Kasenyi plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park to spot various species of wild animals. Kasenyi plains dwell in the vast savannahs of the Albertine rift in Queen Elizabeth National Park. It will be a morning full of adventure! Expect to encounter lions, herds of buffalos, elephants, Uganda kobs, topi, and bushbucks. While spotting the “Big Five” in the park is not guaranteed, on a lucky day, you may site leopards to make it the “Big Four.”
Ishasha sector for tree climbing lions (afternoon)
On the way to Bwindi National Park, we will drive through the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, popularly known for the tree-climbing lions. Unlike their counterparts at the Kasenyi plains, the lions at Ishasha have found a way to climb the fig trees in to enjoy the warm temperatures available in the park. While the sighting of the tree-climbing lions is not 100% guaranteed, a stopover at Ishasha is worth a visit!
Day 4: Gorilla trekking at Bwindi National Park
You will head to the Bwindi national park gate immediately after breakfast to get a briefing about the gorilla trek. The briefing will be conducted by the national park guide and will cover the basics of what to expect during the trek. It is at this point that you will be told which gorilla family to trek. Other visitors will likely join you. The gorilla trek can take from a few to many hours, depending on how far the gorillas are inside the forest.
Day 5: Transfer from Bwindi to Lake Bunyonyi (canoeing, bird watching, and more)
Make the most of your afternoon at Lake Bunyonyi, considered one of the deepest and most beautiful inland water bodies lakes in Africa that offers refreshing experiences ranging from dug-out canoeing, swimming, and bird watching by choosing another optional activity.
Day 6: Transfer from Lake Bunyonyi to Lake Mburo National Park
On day 6, you will transfer from Lake Bunyonyi in the morning and drive to Lake Mburo National Park, a savannah park near Mbarara. Enjoy a quick game drive in Lake Mburo and afterward join a boat trip on Lake Mburo water.
Day 7: Transfer from Lake Mburo National Park to Kampala/Entebbe
This will be the last day of the 7-Day Gorillas, Wildlife, and Chimp Trek via Lake Mburo. We start the day a short game drive in Lake Mburo national park to spot wildlife (buffalos, zebras, giraffe, topis, impala, etc.). We will then travel from Lake Mburo to Entebbe. There will be a stopover at the Equator line crossing to visit handicraft shops and take a coffee cup as needed.