QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK & KIBALE FOREST NATIONAL PARK TOUR(4 DAYS)
Queen elizabeth national park and Kibale National Park are excellent for Chimp or Chimpanzee tracking and bird watching not mentioning the greatest variety and concentration of primates of any forest in East Africa. The 766km-squared National park is any travelers dream; it extends southwards from Fort Portal to form a contagious block in Queen Elizabeth National Park. The park is interspersed with patches of grassland and swamp, the dominant vegetation type being rainforest. Kibale National Park is particularly rich in primates, with 13 species recorded, the highest total for any Ugandan Park, which include vervet, red-tailed, L’hoest’s and blue monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, red colobus, black and white tailed colobus, olive baboon and Chimpanzee.About 325 bird species have been recorded in Kibale including four species not recorded in any other park. The Nathan’s Francolin, Cassines spine tail, blue-headed bee-eater and masked apalis are some of these birds. For bird watchers, the best bird watching spot is Bigodi wetland sanctuary. In addition to these over 150 species of butterflies and a large number of moths can be seen here.
On the other hand Queen Elizabeth National Park covers 1978 square km and is Uganda’s most popular park and has easy access. The park is mainly open Savannah, studded in some areas with a dense cover of acacia and euphorbia trees. The park also has large swamp areas around L.George as well as forests like Maramagambo to the South.
It is home to the famous tree climbing lions found in the Ishasha sector, the Uganda Kob, elephant, baboon, buffalo, hippos, Chimpanzees-------.Over 600 species of birds have been recorded, making it a birders haven. Species recorded include black bee-eater, the shoebill stork, 11 types of King fisher, 54 raptors which include eagle and falcon. In the Northern part of the park is the crater area, one of the most scenic parts. To the east is Chambura Gorge where visitors can watch a variety of primates, including Chimpanzee.
Day One: Depart for Fort Portal
Meet and greet at respective accommodation then transfer to Fort Portal via Mubende visiting the Nakayima tree en-route.
Dinner and Overnight at Accommodation of your Choice.
Day two: chimpanzee tour
Early morning search for chimps and other primates, the guide will make the walk both informative and interesting and or alternatively visit Bigombe swamp (a community experience project) for the diverse bird life and primates species.
Proceed to Queen Elizabeth Park in the afternoon. A game drive enroute may enable you see lion, elephant, leopard, buffalo, hyna and many antelope species.
Dinner and Overnight at Accommodation of your Choice.
Day Three:
An early morning game drive reveals the diverse ecosystem of QENP which consists of grassy plains, tropical forest in some areas, rivers, swamps, lakes and volcanic craters as well as abundant wildlife-which includes lions, leopards, giant forest hog, cape buffalo, elephants, deffasa waterbuck, Uganda Kob, Topi and bushbuck.
After lunch enjoy a 2 hr boat cruise on the Kazinga channel and into L.Edward.
Day Four:
Early morning departure for Maramagambo forest where a variety of primates are. Visit the Bats cave and the “Blue Lake” or alternativilely L.Katwe Salt works where salt is mined using old centuries traditional methods.
Drive back to Kampala with lunch enroute arriving in the evening.
Price includes transport to and from Kampala, Park entrance fees, game drive fees, nature walk fees, accommodation on full board and an English speaking driver (guide), chimpanzee tracking permit and boat cruise on the Kazinga channel. I t however excludes beverages, sourvirnirs, tips and all expenditures of a personal nature.
