Pick-up for this 6-Day Budget Friendly African Safari & Gorilla Trekking trip will be from either the Hotel or from  Entebbe International Airport upon arrival. Our Professional English-speaking Driver-guide will pick/receive you and hit the road to Lake Mburo National Park. Mburo is a compact gem, located conveniently close to the highway that connects Entebbe/Kampala to the parks of western Uganda. It is the smallest of Uganda’s savannah National Parks but home to 350 bird species as well as animals such as: zebra, impala, eland, buffalo, oribi, Defassa waterbuck, hippo, and the elusive leopard. On arrival, we shall check in and if we still have some time available, we can proceed for a late afternoon-to-evening game drive. Otherwise, we shall check in and have the evening at leisure – relaxing.

We shall enjoy an early morning breakfast and then move out for the Mburo morning park (bush) walk in the presence of an armed Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger-guide. On this morning guided walk, you will have the opportunity to encounter (at close range): Zebras, Giraffes and Eland, Topi and other antelope, Cape buffaloes among others. You may take the Trail to the top of the hills to see Lake Mburo and beyond. Thereafter, return to the accommodation for checkout and embark on a transfer to Queen Elizabeth NP. We expect to reach the accommodation in Queen in time for lunch, short rest and then proceed out for game viewing. During the game drive, we have opportunity to encounter; herds of buffalos or elephants, lion pride, elusive leopard, warthogs, a number of antelopes among others. Thereafter, we shall return to the accommodation and you will take rest.

On day 3 of the 6-Day Budget Friendly African Safari & Gorilla Trekking, we shall have breakfast and proceed for the Chimpanzee tracking in the Kyambura gorge. The gorge is home to habituated Chimpanzees plus other primates including baboons, monkeys and also bird species. Today, you will spend the early part of the day tracking chimpanzees here. Thereafter, return to the accommodation for some rest time and lunch. After lunch, you will go for a 2-hour boat trip on the Kazinga Channel that connects Lakes George and Edward. During the trip, the sight of wildlife including giant hippos, elephants and crocodiles among others will fascinate you. You will also see many varieties of birds at the water shores. After the boat trip, you can proceed for a brief late afternoon game drive and thereafter, return to the lodge.

Be up early and proceed for an early morning game drive in the Kasenyi plains. Be on the look for Cape buffalos, herds of elephants, lions, leopards (though hard to spot) among others. Return to the lodge and check out then head to Ishasha sector in search of tree-climbing lions. The chance of spotting these lions is about 70% though sometimes they are hard to spot (most especially when they are down in the grassland looking for prey). Should you get to spot them, the sight is picturesque and memorable. From Ishasha, we shall continue to the accommodation at the edge of Bwindi National Park (Ruhija sector) – arriving in the evening (around 5 or 6pm). #Optional (extra cost USD 120$): You may consider experiential lion tracking that will see you join a member of the predator research team who will eventually lead you to this expedition.

Today, day 5 of the 6-Day Budget Friendly African Safari & Gorilla Trekking, have breakfast. And then head to the rangers’ post. You will receive some briefing (from a ranger guide) on the dos and don’ts during trekking. Thereafter, you will enter the Bwindi Forest for your adventure. The time taken and the terrain vary with the movements of these great primates. Once you have located a gorilla group, you will be allowed an hour in their presence. The thrill of spending time observing these gentle but endangered giants is unforgettable. Return to the accommodation, check out and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi. Lake Bunyonyi is framed by lush, green-terraced hills that reach a height of (2,200 – 2,478m) but it’s the 29 islands of various shapes and sizes scattered across the water that make it most magical — you could admire them all day.

Have a relaxed breakfast at the accommodation with spectacular views of the Bunyonyi little islands just right in front of you and thereafter embark on your return journey to Entebbe Airport. Expect en route lunch and a stop at the Uganda Equator line mark in Kayabwe for some memorable photos and maybe buying some art pieces of interest. Proceed with the journey arriving late afternoon/evening for drop off at the airport to catch your flight back home.

Location: Entebbe

Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch