4 days Queen Elizabeth National Park and Kyambura Chimps offers combined big game and chimpanzee trekking experiences. Enjoy the 3 most rewarding activities in Queen Elizabeth National Park in just 4 days and these include a guided game drive along the Kasenyi track/sector, a boat or launch cruise on the Kazinga channel, and chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura Gorge.
Located in Western Uganda, Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP) is ranked 2nd largest park in the Pearl of Africa. Its sweeping savanna plains combined with rainforests, wetlands, and Lakes, stretch to cover a land area of about 1978sq. km. It is one of the oldest parks in Uganda, founded in 1952 and renamed from Kazinga National Park to now Queen Elizabeth National Park in 1954.
A huge population of mammals about 100 species are all housed in the different habitats of Queen Elizabeth NP, 620 bird species, floral species, butterflies, reptiles, and many others. Other than game drives, launch cruises, and chimpanzee tracking, Queen Elizabeth N. Park also offers the best of hot air balloon experience, nature or forest walks, lion tracking/trekking, mongoose trekking, birding, Crater Lake tours, community visits, and more.
Day 1: Queen Elizabeth N.P tour with en-route stopover at Equator crossing
Travel to Queen Elizabeth N/Park located in Western Uganda. After breakfast, meet your driver guide for a warm greeting, welcome into the Pearl of Africa, and briefing about your short wildlife and primate tour to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The park lies on the Western side of the country and the nearest towns/districts include Kasese, Bushenyi, Rukungiri, and Kamwenge.
Driving from Kampala to this extensive savanna park takes you 7-8 hours and today, you will take the Mbarara-Bushenyi route, one of the most rewarding routes when it comes to attractions to explore en route, natural beauty, etc.
Equator crossing stopover: Upon arrival at Kayabwe, a stopover will be made at the Equator monument for photography, and relaxation. Proceed to Igongo Cultural Center or hotel in Mbarara city to have a leisurely lunch and some refreshments, then drop off at wilderness lodge for dinner and overnight stay in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Day 2: Full-day activities: Game drive, Launch cruise
Game drive along Kasenyi sector: Early in the morning after breakfast, leave the accommodation before sunrise, and set off for the Kasenyi track game drive. A morning game drive today will last for 2-3 hours. It comes with uninterrupted views of wildlife. You will be using a 4×4 vehicle with a pop-up roof. Day sightings will include large herds of cape buffaloes, elephants, pride of lions, and on a lucky day, leopards; lots of birds, warthogs, antelopes, and others.
Return to be served lunch at the lodge, and have some time to relax before connecting to Kazinga for a boat cruise. A launch cruise will begin at 2:00 pm, taking between 2 and 3 hours of navigating through the Kazinga channel. This is a natural channel and it connects Lake Edward and Lake George, then while on a launch trip, expected animal sightings will include hippos, crocodiles, aquatic birds, buffaloes plus elephants as they laze around the river banks.
Day 3: Chimpanzee tracking Kyambura
Following an early morning breakfast, briefing at Kyambura Gorge about chimpanzee trekking rules. You will be exploring more about chimpanzees. Your trek is expected to go for 2-4 hours, inclusive of one hour of close interaction, photography. Kyambura Gorge protects more than chimpanzees and there are higher chances to come across several other species of primates like vervet monkeys, red tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys. The gorge features one of the natural rainforests where its primates and variety of birds live.
After tracking chimpanzees at Kyambura, get back to the lodge for lunch. Later, set off for a community visit where you will meet the local residents in their communities and your visit plays a significant part. Cultural visit/tour is one way you can support local community-based tourism initiatives. The key places to consider for community visit include Kasoga community experience, Leopard village, etc.
Day 4: Depart from Queen Elizabeth NP to Kampala/Entebbe
Leave Queen Elizabeth National Park for Kampala/Entebbe while spotting some wildlife en-route. Take the previous route or connect through Fort Portal-Mubende-Mityana and upon arrival at Kampala/Entebbe, drop off at the hotel or place of residence. This will mark the end of your 4 days Queen Elizabeth National Park and Kyambura chimps safari.
