INFORMATION ABOUT THE TRIP
Destinations: Uganda and Tanzania
Destinations: Entebbe, Bwindi Forest National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park & Mafia
Arrival Airport: Entebbe International Airport, Entebbe (EBB)
Return Airport: Entebbe International Airport, Entebbe (EBB)
ABOUT BWINDI IMPENETRABLE NATIONAL PARK
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is 321 km2
Height above sea level, from 1,160 m to 2,607 m
World Heritage status, UNESCO since 1994
Distance from Entebbe International Airport: 470km
Driving time from Entebbe International Airport: Approx. 9 hours
Flight time from Entebbe to Kihihi near Bwindi approx. 1 hour 50 minutes, daily departures
Known for
One of the last areas where the mountain gorilla lives, approx. 400 individuals of the world’s stock of approx. 800 individuals.
One of the richest ecosystems with the greatest species diversity in the world
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in southwestern Uganda on the edge of the Rift Valley. The special topography creates a particularly favorable climate as the basis for a biological diversity that is unique. Here there are over 400 plant species in this “impenetrable forest” which is home to the rare giant ape, the mountain gorilla – about half of the world’s population including several habituated groups, which can be tracked.
Bwindi is also home to another 120 mammals, including several primates, such as baboons and chimpanzees, as well as elephants and antelopes. There are also around 350 bird species that inhabit the forest, including 23 Albertine Rift endemic species. Endemic species means that they only live here in a very limited area.
ABOUT QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK
Queen Elizabeth National Park 1,978 km2
Altitude above sea level, from 910 m to 1,350 m
Distance from Entebbe International Airport: 400km
Driving time from Entebbe International Airport: Approx. 8 hours
Flight time from Entebbe to Kasese approx. 1 hour, daily departures
Known for
the large lakes with a very varied ecosystem. Habitat for the rare chimpanzees and Uganda kob. One of the richest ecosystems with the greatest species diversity in the world
Queen Elizabeth National Park is located in southwestern Uganda on the edge of the Rift Valley. The special topography creates a particularly favorable climate as the basis for a biological diversity that is unique. The park consists of rainforest, savanna and large water systems with the famous Kazinga canal. The park has the highest biological diversity in the world with over 600 bird species.
On the banks of the Kazinga canal, it is easy to observe hippos, buffalo and elephants. On the endless Ishasha plains with fig trees, the lions have and are ready to hunt the rare Uganda kob. In the Kyambura Game Reserve which is part of Queen Elizabeth, the rare chimpanzees can be tracked
TERMS
Jolita Safari reserves the right that the aforementioned accommodations do not have available rooms at the desired travel time. If any of the lodges are fully booked, we will contact you and suggest good alternatives. Jolita Safari reserves the right to currency changes and price changes beyond Jolita Safari’s control. Read our travel conditions
You must be 15 years of age to participate in gorilla trekking.
Day 1: Arrival Kampala
Your journey starts from the airport closest to your place of residence. We will find the best and cheapest itinerary that is available on the desired departure date. If you have specific wishes about airlines or ticket types, we will of course take this into account. Please state the desired departure airport when contacting Jolita Safari.
A light meal is served on the plane before arrival at Entebbe Int. Airport (EBB). After baggage collection and meeting with your safari driver who will also be your private guide on your safari, the trip goes with your Land Cruiser to Papyrus Guest House on the outskirts of Entebbe which was also intended as the capital of Uganda. A beautiful city that Queen Elisabeth greatly appreciated. You meet the first night in Uganda to the sounds of crickets and other strange sounds.
Apply for a visa to Uganda here: Electronic Visa
Upgrade options in Entebbe
2 Friends Guest House
Lake Victoria Serena Resort
Driving time Entebbe – Papyrus Guest House: 15 minutes
Distance: 10 km
Day 2: Flights to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After breakfast you will be driven to the airport for your flight to Kihihi Airstip. Once at Kihihi you will be met by a representative from the accommodation who will take you to Ride 4 a Woman.
Flight time with AeroLink Entebbe – Kihihi : 12:00 – 14:15
Driving time Kihihi – Resort: 1 hour
Distance: 60 km
More about Ride 4 a Woman :
This lodge is run by local women and consists of 8 rooms with bathrooms. The chef prepares both Western and African food, often with vegetables from the lodge’s own kitchen garden.
The camp started as a bicycle rental where the aim was to start a work training program for women, but has developed to also offer bicycle repairs, tailoring services, selling vegetables, basket weaving and much more. The lodge strengthens local women’s living conditions.
Upgrade options in Bwindi:
Gorilla Mist Camp
Mahogany Springs Lodge
Gorilla Forest Camp
About Bwindi Impenetrable National park
Bwindi Forest National Park is one of the richest ecosystems in Africa and home to around 350 gorillas and a large number of other primates. There are only 700 mountain gorillas left in the world. This tribe is shared between Rwanda and the Democratic Congo. In addition, 350 bird species and over 200 butterfly species have been recorded in the park. The rainforest also has over 325 registered species of trees. The park’s extent extends from 1160 m above sea level to 2600 m above sea level and represents one of the richest ecosystems in the world.
Meals
This day includes breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 3: Gorilla safari
This day you will visit a family group of gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This is perhaps the highlight of the trip and the chance of seeing a gorilla is virtually 100%. The park rangers and guides know where the gorillas are at all times. Today’s trip through pristine rainforest takes 3 to 8 hours, depending on where the gorillas stay. The cool and humid climate in the mountain rainforest is pleasant, the night temperature can drop to 10 – 12 degrees. You dress for the day, start early and bring a delicious lunch which you eat out in the forest. But remember this before you start your trip; do not throw rubbish, do not spit on the ground or act in any other way in such a way that these rare animals destroy their livelihoods. There is a 15-year age limit to participate in gorilla trekking.
A bit about the gorilla and gorilla tracking
Gorillas or mountain gorillas which is the correct name are social monkeys that live in stable family groups of 5-30 animals led by a dominant male called “silverback” because he develops a powerful silvery back. On gorilla tracking, you participate in a group of a maximum of 8 people who get to visit a wild gorilla family that is used to contact with humans, so-called habituated gorillas. Visiting a gorilla family out in the rainforest is a risk of disease transmission to the gorillas. Therefore, you are not normally allowed to participate in gorilla tracking if you have an infection in your body, or are obviously ill or have a cold.
To track gorillas, you must have a ‘gorilla licence’, effectively a written permission to visit a particular gorilla family, this is arranged by us. Before starting the tracking, you have a meeting with the guide who provides information about the gorilla family and about the rules that must be adhered to. You can spend one hour with the animals and should keep a distance of 5 metres. In advance, scouts have been sent out into the rainforest to locate the gorilla families and stay in touch with their guides via radio to ensure you experience these amazing animals and this magical moment
Meals
This day includes breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 4: Bwindi Impenetrable Nat. Park – Queen Elizabeth Nat. Park
After breakfast, the trip leaves Bwindi and towards Queen Elizabeth National Park. You drive through a fantastic landscape of green lush vegetation and terraced agricultural landscape before you drive into the Kigezi Game Reserve which is part of the Queen Elizabeth National Park. The rest of the day until the Park View Safari Lodge located in the Kyambura Game Reserve which is also part of the Queen Elizabeth National Park is safari driving. The driver has brought lunch for the day.
Driving time Bwindi – Baboon Safari Resort: 4 hours, efficient driving
Distance: 160 km
More about Baboon Safari Resort :
Baboon Safari Resort is located just outside the Queen Elizabeth National Park, with beautiful views! The lodge has a swimming pool and wifi.
Upgrade options in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Park View Safari Lodge
Kyambura Gorge Lodge
Mweya Safari Lodge
Ishasha Wilderness Camp
About Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park is considered the area with the greatest diversity of species in a limited area. The park’s ecosystems include savanna, moist forests, large lakes and fertile wetlands. Here you will find 10 primates that include the chimpanzees. The chimpanzees in Kyambura are habituated, used to people and can be tracked with skilled guides. Queen Elizabeth National Park has over 600 bird species and over 350 tree species. Queen Elizabeth National Park also has most of the known African animal species in addition to the special tree-climbing lions.
Meals
This day includes breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 5: Safari and boat trip on the Kazinga Canal
This morning you spend on a safari experience. In the afternoon there will be a boat trip on the Kazinga Canal, which divides the park in two. On this trip, you will have a great chance of seeing a rich wildlife on the sandbanks and out in the canal itself. There are rich populations of elephants, buffalo and hippos that frequent this environment.
Meals:
On this day, breakfast, lunch and dinner are included
Day 6: Chimpanzee tracking
After breakfast you head towards Kibale Forest National Park, and in the afternoon you visit a family group of chimpanzees in Kyambura Game Reserve. The chance of seeing a chimpanzee is virtually 100%. The park rangers and guides know where the chimpanzees are at all times. Today’s trip will last 3 to 5 hours, depending on where the chimpanzees stay. On the track itself, there is a good chance of seeing black and white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys and the grey-cheeked mangabey monkey, in addition to a rich birdlife. You dress for the day, start early and bring a delicious lunch from the lodge which you eat out in the forest. But remember this before you start your trip; do not throw rubbish, do not spit on the ground or act in any other way in such a way that these rare animals destroy their livelihoods.
In the afternoon there will be a boat trip on the Kazinga Canal, which divides the park in two. On this trip, you will have a great chance of seeing a rich wildlife on the sandbanks and out in the canal itself. There are rich populations of elephants, buffalo and hippos that frequent this environment.
A little about chimpanzees and chimpanzee tracking:
Chimpanzees are social monkeys that live in stable family groups of 10-100 animals led by a dominant male who can weigh up to 75 kg and a lifespan of approx. 40 years. On the tracking itself, you participate in a group of a maximum of 6 people who get to visit a wild family group that is used to contact with humans, so-called habituated chimpanzees. Visiting a chimpanzee family is a risk of disease transmission. Therefore, you are not normally allowed to participate in tracking if you have an infection in your body, or are obviously ill or have a cold.
To track chimpanzees, you must have a license, this is arranged by us. Before starting the tracking, you have a meeting with the guide at 08:00 which informs about the chimpanzee family and about rules that must be adhered to. Tracking ends at 15:00 You can stay alone with the chimpanzees for 1 hour and keep a distance of 5 metres.
Accommodation at Kibale Forest Camp
Kibale Forest Camp is located quietly just outside the southern border of Kibale Forest National Park. The friendly staff are all from the local community. There is plenty of wildlife here; butterflies, birds, monkeys and much more.
Meals:
On this day, breakfast, lunch and dinner are included
Day 7: To the Nile
After breakfast you will be driven to Kasese and fly back to Entebbe Airport. From Entebbe you will be driven to Lemala Wildwaters Lodge, on the way you will visit the source of the Nile in Jinja.
Driving time Resort to Kasese: 50 minutes
Distance: 40 km AeroLink Kasese to Entebbe
flight time : 09:45 – 11:25 or 14:55 – 15:55
Driving time Entebbe – Wildwaters Lodge: 2 hours and 50 minutes
Distance: 129 km
More about Lemala Wildwaters Lodge :
Lemala Wildwaters Lodge is spectacularly located on a small island in the middle of the Nile in the heart of the Wildwaters Reserve, a group of small islands in the Nile.
The lodge is the centerpiece of a conservation initiative that aims to protect this pristine river environment for future generations, including ensuring that the local community benefits directly from tourism, and protecting these beautiful, forested islands.
All rooms have a private patio and a view of the Nile. Here you fall asleep to the roar of the Nile’s waterfalls, and wake up to the chirping of hundreds of bird species.
Meals
This day breakfast and dinner are included
Day 8-9: Relaxing days by the Nile
You relax at the hotel and join exciting excursions to experience what the area has to offer.
Additional activities we can add to the program, ask us for price:
Rafting
Family rafting
Zipline
Kayak
Paddleboard
Horseback riding
Boat trip to the source of the Nile
Fishing
River Ride Quad Biking
Spa treatments
Meals
These days all meals are included
Day 10: Home journey
4 hours before departure you will be driven to the airport for your journey home. The driver will drive you safely to the airport in Entebbe. Have a good trip home!
Meals: Breakfast
Meals:
This day breakfast is included
Driving time Wildwaters Lodge – Entebbe: 2 hours and 50 minutes
Distance: 129 km
~ End of Tour ~
Organizer:
Jolita Safari
Payment:
- 30% is paid in advance, and the remaining 70% is due no later than 14 days before the safari starts.
- It typically takes up to 5 banking days for the payment to reach our bank, KCB in Tanzania.
- Please email contact@jolitasafari.com as soon as the payment has been made.
- Use your name as the reference for the payment/bank transfer.
Travel Conditions:
- Follow the link to our website for more information.
The following is included in the program:
- Air ticket with the lowest available price in economy class
- English speaking guide/driver
- 2 nights at Papyrus Guest House
- 2 nights at 4 a Woman Guest House
- 2 nights at Baboon Resort
- 1 night at Kibale Forest Camp
- Meals as described in the program
- Gorilla tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Chimpanzee tracking in Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Boat trip on the Kazinga canal
- All park fees, gorilla and chimpanzee permits
- Flight ticket Entebbe – Kihihi
- Flight ticket Kasese – Entebbe
- Transfer Entebbe – Jinja
- 3 nights at Wildwaters Lodge
- All transfers in program
The following is not included in the program:
- Beverages
- Meals not mentioned in the day to day program
- Cancellation and travel insurance
- Vaccinations
- Alternative transport
- Additional activities
- Tip for safari guide/driver, USD 5 per day, from each of you
- Visa on entry to Uganda, 50 USD per person
- Expenses of a personal nature
