tour overview
Experience the double thrill of trekking the elusive mountain gorillas before setting off into Botswana’s Okavango Delta. This safari unveils Africa like no other as the expedition takes you through Africa’s impenetrable forests of Bwindi and to the diverse landscapes, all in 8 days.
Day to day itinerary details
You will be met by your guide, who will then drive you to your Entebbe guest house, where you will settle in. If time permits, we will drive into Entebbe town and walk around the beautiful botanical gardens of Entebbe.
After breakfast, we will take a flight to the gorilla highlands in the southwest of Uganda. Upon arrival, settle into the exclusive lodge by the forest in Bwindi. Here you will enjoy the stunning views of the mountain ranges blanketed by lush green tropical forests of Bwindi, home to the elusive mountain gorillas. In the evening, take a walk to the local villages where we will get the chance to see Rushaga Women’s Group demonstrate the beer-making process and enjoy a unique centuries-old local brew – Malwa. We are keen on learning about the community and supporting their work as a means to increase household incomes for the village. We will also visit the Batwa pygmy village to experience life in the forest and gain valuable insights into the area's ecology from the Batwa people, who have long inhabited the gorilla highlands.
Arise early for this once-in-a-lifetime experience in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, home to the biggest number of mountain gorillas among all national parks. After briefing at 08:00 am, we’ll head into the depths of the jungle for what is a most unique wilderness experience. The rangers will walk you down the narrow forest paths through thick undergrowth. Once found, the rangers will brief us on the “dos’ ‘ and “don’ts” before making any contact with the mountain gorillas. We’ll spend up to 1 hour watching the gorillas in their natural habitat. We’ll get in proximity with the gorillas as you quietly observe the gorillas play, eat, forage, groom, and sleep. If we are lucky, as was our @kesitoandfro group safari guest in Jan 2022, we’ll get to watch the gorillas mate. This once-in-a-lifetime experience will give us unique insights into the life and social dynamics of the gorilla families. Mountain gorilla watching also gives us a chance to observe the uncanny similarities between gorillas and human beings, and gorillas with whom we share 98% DNA. If we are lucky, we will experience the playfully exuberant energy of the juveniles who often skip from branch to branch and play with heightened enthusiasm when in the presence of humans. After seeing the mountain gorillas, we’ll break for a picnic lunch in the forest before embarking on the hike back to the gorilla lodge.
After breakfast, we’ll begin your Botswana safari with a short transfer flight to the Savute airstrip, where you will be collected and taken to the glamorous Savute Under Canvas, a signature elevated camp. Your first day will begin with an afternoon game drive in this close-to-nature area. Look out for valiant lions who have been known to hunt elephants in this region. Meet your first pack of African wild dogs and observe peaceful game and the rare red lechwe. The serene Savute Channel cuts through this area, bringing wildlife from all over to the banks of this pristine body of water. For the next two days you’ll be treated to a personalised safari experience, where professional guides will accompany you on private game drives. Spend as much time as you want tracking animals and learning about the region.
After an intense day of exploring the wildlife of the Savute region, you’ll board another short flight to the Okavango Delta. Among the activities you’ll enjoy on these two days are two guided game drives with passionate local guides who have vast knowledge about the area. On these drives, look out for the African serval, cheetahs, leopards, sitatungas, among others. On the water, you will be able to relax and unwind on a mokoro excursion on the placid waters of the Okavango Delta. Enjoy sights of the crocodiles and some birds like the African fish eagle, Pel’s fishing owl, and wattled crane, among others, as you cruise on a powerboat through the wetlands too. A helicopter flight can also be arranged at an additional cost, where you’ll be able to experience a bird’s-eye view of this world wonder. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
After a morning activity and breakfast, you will head to the airstrip for your charter flight back to Maun in time where you will either take a return flight home.
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