Queen Elizabeth wildlife and gorilla trekking safari
Queen Elizabeth wildlife and gorilla trekking safari: This safari takes you to the most visited national parks in the country which are Bwindi impenetrable forest national park and Queen Elizabeth national park. Queen Elizabeth national park is located in the western part of Uganda while Bwindi impenetrable forest national park is located in the southwestern part of Uganda.
Queen Elizabeth is a good area for wildlife safaris as it has over 95 mammals, 10 primate species, and 600 bords species. Tourists like visiting Bwindi impenetrable forest national park because it harbors the highest number of mountain gorillas in the whole world. Bwindi has over 700 mountain gorillas roaming in the thick forest with over 21 mountain gorillas open for trekking activities.
This safari requires about 4 days and more if one wants to have all activities relaxed. The safari can start in any of the parks depending on where one is coming from. In Bwindi impenetrable forest national park, gorilla trekking safari in Bwindi is best done in Buhoma sector which is very close to Ishasha sector or Queen Elizabeth national park.
Booking this safari should be done early in advance because a gorilla permit is needed for gorilla trekking safari in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. A permit should be booked 3-4 months in advance to avoid inconveniences and a local tour operator can always help you om doing so. To book the gorilla permit, a traveler needs a passport or national identity card as well as money for the park.
Things to do on Queen Elizabeth wildlife and gorilla trekking safari
Mountain gorilla trekking
This is one of the major activities on this safari and it’s done n Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. Gorilla trekking can be done in Buhoma sector the fact that it’s close to Ishasha sector of the park. 6 mountain gorilla families are found within Buhoma sector and among these include Mubare the oldest gorilla family in the world.
Gorilla trekking in Buhoma or any other region of the park starts with a briefing at the park offices where trekkers are taught about the rules and regulations of the activity. Armed ranger guides lead groups of trekkers not exceeding 8 people into the jungle to look for where the mountain gorilla family could be.
The search for mountain gorillas takes 2-6 hours and during the search, tourists are able to meet different wild animals that live within the park. The moment the mountain gorilla family is spotted, tourists are able to be around them for 1 hour, watch them do daily activities, take photos, and learn about their habits among others.
Game viewing
This is another major activity on this safari and it’s done in Queen Elizabeth national park. Tourists on game drive activities in Queen Elizabeth national park can visit any of the regions of the park like Ishasha, Mweya, and Kasenyi to see different wild animals. Game drives on this safari are better done in Ishasha sector of the park which is near Bwindi.
Ishasha sector is home to tree climbing lions which means that game drives in that region come with an extra advantage. People get to see these rare lions and at the same time other wild animals roaming in the vegetation. Game drives expose tourists to animals such as buffaloes, spotted hyenas, lions, leopards, elephants, bushbucks, warthogs, side-stripped jackals, sitatungas, and Uganda kobs among others.
Bird watching
Queen Elizabeth national park is home to over 600 bird species while Bwindi impenetrable forest national park is home to over 345 bird species which makes them both great areas for bird watching activities. Bird watching can be done in any of the national parks since both a great birding destination.
Bird watching in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park expose you to bird species such as African wood-owl, snowy-crowned robin-chat, dusky twin spot, grey wagtail, grosbeak weaver, African goshawk, brown-capped weaver, blue-headed sunbird, yellow streaked greenbul, black bee-eater, red chested fluff tail, scarce swift, doherty’s bush-shrike, scaly francolin, speckled mouse bird, white spotted fluff tail, helmeted guinea fowl, buff spotted woodpecker, green hylia, African hawk eagle, and papyrus canary among others.
Bird watching in Queen Elizabeth national park will give bird lovers an opportunity to see bird species such as Red-throated bee-eater, yellow-crested woodpecker, black saw wing, specked tinker bird, yellow-throated tinker bird, hairy-breasted barbet, double toothed barbet, African broadbill, petti’s cuckoo shrike, eastern black-headed oriole, brown-throated wattle eye, black and white shrike flycatcher, grey-green buck shrike, northern fiscal, blue-checked bee-eater, little green sunbird, blue-headed sunbird, brown capped weaver, Ethiopian thrush, pin tailed whydah, and red-tailed ant thrush among others.
Community tours and nature walks
These activities can be done during free hours after major activities to stretch the muscles. Nature walks are guided within both national parks and they happen in different areas of the park. Tourists are able to explore different wildlife, vegetation, and much more while on foot with a help of armed ranger guides.
For community tours, tourists get to visit the nearby communities where they meet local people doing their daily activities. The activity is led by local people who take you to different homesteads to see how people live. During the community tours, tourists get to learn how to talk to elder who tell stories of long ago, tourists take part in community activities, support local businesses, and in the end, they are entertained by local dancers.
Boat cruise
On a safari to Queen Elizabeth national park and Bwindi impenetrable forest national park, tourists are able to be part of the boat cruise but in Queen Elizabeth national park. Kazinga channel is a major attraction in Queen Elizabeth national park and this is where boat cruise activities are done from. The long water channel connects Lake Edward and lake George which are also part of the national park.
Boat cruise activities are done in the morning and evening hours and tourists do get the same experience. The boat cruise activities run for 2-3 hours and tourists are able to see hippos, crocodiles as well as water birds such as shoe bill stork, African jacana, swamp flycatchers, and much more. Different wild animals are as well seen in the vegetation cover that is along the channel most especially in the dry season.
When to have Queen Elizabeth wildlife and gorilla trekking safari?
Queen Elizabeth national park wildlife and gorilla trekking safari can be done at any time of the year however certain months are better than the rest. The dry months from June to September and December to February are the best to have this safari and this is because there is little or no rainfall. This leaves the trekking trails and game trucks dry, vegetation is thin and scattered with good views of the wildlife and the roads leading to the parks are in good condition.
Tourists can still have a safari in Queen Elizabeth national park and Bwindi impenetrable forest national park during the rainy season from March to May and October to November but this favors budget travelers because lodges are at a discount. During this period, vegetation is tall with unclear views of wildlife and game tracks as well as trekking trails are muddy and slippery.
