Compare Gorilla & Zanzibar Adventure by Audley Travel vs 10 Days Primate Experience And Queen Elizabeth Safari by Kent Safaris

Day 1 : International outbound flight

Today you begin your journey by boarding your international outbound flight to Entebbe.

Day 2 : Queen Elizabeth National Park

On arrival in Entebbe you will be met and driven to Queen Elizabeth National Park by your guide. You'll have a game drive this afternoon and settle in for the night.

Day 3 : Queen Elizabeth National Park

You'll have a full day of game viewing in Queen Elizabeth National Park today. The Kasenyi plains are where game viewing is best. These are the mating grounds of the famous Ugandan kob and there are plenty grazing on the plains along with buffalo, warthog and elephant. Lion are also very common here. Other predators include leopard, hyena and jackal and even if you're not lucky enough to spot any there is plenty of skeletal evidence scattered around the plains to prove their existence.

Day 4 : Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Depart for Bwindi Impenetrable Forest today. You should get to Engagi Lodge in the mid/late afternoon and can relax here and enjoy the views over the beautiful Bwindi Forest.

Day 5 : Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Gorilla tracking day today! You will get up early and head to the park headquarters for your pre-trek briefing. You will then be driven by your guide to the start of your trek, which will take up to an hour and a half, depending on which gorilla group you are visiting. Start your trek from here, and then once you reach the gorillas, you can spend an hour watching them interact, play and eat. You will then trek back out of the forest to meet your guide who will drive you back to your lodge for a well-earned hot shower and dinner.

Day 6 : Zanzibar Island

You take a light aircraft from Bwindi to Entebbe today, where you can get some lunch (meal and drinks payable locally) before you take the afternoon flights to Nairobi and on to Zanzibar. Here you will be met and driven to your beach hotel.

Day 7 : Zanzibar Island

You can spend your time at the hotel doing as much or as little as you choose. The beach is a fantastic place to have a stroll or read a book under the shade of a palm tree, and the shady beach bar is a great spot for unwinding during the heat of the day. There isn't a dive centre on site, but if you want to arrange a dive or snorkelling trip, just ask the managers and they can point you towards the dive centre down the beach, or make the necessary arrangements for you. There are bicycles to hire, which are a fun way to explore under your own steam, too!

Day 8 : Zanzibar Island

We would highly recommend heading out on a snorkelling trip at some point during your stay - you will sail in a traditional dhow to one of the reefs, and can spend an hour or two watching the colourful marine life living in the corals off Zanzibar. This is a lovely way to spend a morning or afternoon and a good opportunity to sail on a dhow as well!

Day 9 : Zanzibar Island

One of our favourite things to do in Zanzibar is to visit one of the small-scale spice farms on the island - you get a really hands-on experience tasting and smelling the spices for which the island is famous, and children from nearby villages often run out to greet you. This can be easily arranged either in advance or when you're at the hotel, so you can see how you feel day by day.

Day 10 : Zanzibar Island

The dhow building sanctuary in the North of Zanzibar is a lovely place to visit if you want to see traditional craftsmanship at work.

Day 11 : Zanzibar Island

Another good way to spend a morning or afternoon if you're looking for a change of scene from the beach, is to visit the Jozani Forest in the centre of the island. It is home to the rare Kirk's red colobus monkeys endemic to the island, which are really entertaining to watch leap and play in the trees.

Day 12 : Zanzibar Island

For something completely different to the beach, you could head into Stone Town for a day trip - the town is located on the west coast, around an hour and a half away, and is a busy and fairly dusty town. However, it's full of shops and street stalls, so if you're looking to buy souvenirs this is the best place for it, and the narrow winding streets are reminiscent of Marrakech.

Day 13 : International return flight

You will check out of your room this morning but can store your bags and spend the day relaxing by the pool until you are picked up in the mid-afternoon and driven to the airport.

Day 14 : International return flight

Arrive home today to complete your journey.

Day  1:  Arrive  Entebbe.   

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

On arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be transferred to the Boma Guest Lodge. Depending on your arrival time, a half day trip to Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary may be arranged. This evening, you will receive a short pre-trip briefing at the hotel. 

Day 2:  Entebbe  to  Bwindi   

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Today you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Bwindi. Upon arrival you will be met and transferred by vehicle to your lodge. The Park is in South-western Uganda, covering parts of Rukungiri, Kisoro, and Kabale Districts. It is situated in a hilly countryside, which, together with some remnant lowland forest outside the boundary, constitutes an important water catchment area for many rivers, supplying the agricultural land of the surrounding region. This is the  richest forest in Uganda, in terms of the number of plant species, as the  area is one of the few large expanses of forest in East Africa where  lowland and montane community's merge. The valley bottoms contain a  dense ground cover of herbs, vines, and shrubs with only a few trees  hence its name, the impenetrable forest. This is one of the richest  faunal communities in East Africa. There exists about one half of the  world's population of the endangered mountain gorillas. There are also  several endangered species of birds with limited ranges. Gorilla tracking  began on 1st April 1993. It is advisable to make reservations at least 3-6  months before your intended date of visit. 

Day 3: Gorilla  Tracking   

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

You will be escorted to the National Parks headquarters to meet your guides for your gorilla tracking experience. An early morning trek into the forest on the slopes of the volcanoes, led by experienced trackers will bring you amongst a family of Mountain Gorillas. These massive primates are extremely rare, only approximately 650 remaining. You will get within meters of the family and be privileged to spend time amongst them. The trekking may be strenuous; up to six hours or  longer is common - at relatively high altitude. Mountain Gorillas are  wild animals, as such sightings cannot be guaranteed; however, the  success rate is well over 95%. The trekking may be strenuous; up to six hours or longer is not  uncommon-at relatively high altitude. Mountain Gorillas are wild  animals and as such, sightings cannot be guaranteed 100%. 

PLEASE  NOTE: on certain departures, due to Gorilla Permit availability, this leg of your safari may be undertaken in Rwanda. A similar standard of accommodation will be utilized in Rwanda, but there may be a  surcharge depending on availability. Please check at time of booking. 

Day 4:  Bwindi   

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Today you will have the option of a second Gorilla Trek or Forest  Walk in Bwindi. Please inform at the time of booking. In the afternoon  relax or explore the local area on foot.  

PLEASE  NOTE: on certain departures, due to Gorilla Permit availability, this leg of your safari may be undertaken in Rwanda. A similar standard  of accommodation will be utilized in Rwanda, but there may be a  surcharge depending on availability. Please check at time of booking.  

Day  5:  Bwindi  and  Queen  Elizabeth  National Park.   

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Today you will head in a northerly direction to the Ishasha area of  Queen Elizabeth National Park, from Bwindi 3 hours' drive, to be  welcomed to your established tented camp nestled under trees  alongside a river. On a sunny day views from the area stretch to the  ice-capped Rwenzori Mountains to the north, and the Virunga  volcanoes to the south, there are few places on earth to rival the  scenery in this park. 'Birders' will not be disappointed with the  enormous range of species in the area. The Park spreads over an area  of 1978 km2 in the western arm of the Great East Rift Valley. It is a  home to a variety of wildlife including elephant, lion, hippo, buffalo, and  Uganda Kob, baboon, and birds, all typical of riverine and savannah habitats. In the southern part of the park is the Ishasha are with tree  climbing lions and the Maramagambo, one of the largest surviving  natural forests in Uganda. The northern part of the park is traversed by  the equator and is dominated by the scenery of crater lakes with lots of  flamingos on some of them. 

Day 6: Queen  Elizabeth  National  Park   

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

A second day in Queen Elizabeth National Park with more game  viewing opportunities available to you. The northern part of the park is  traversed by the equator and is dominated by the scenery of crater  lakes with lots of flamingos on some of them. A launch trip from  Mweya along the Kazinga channel, which joins Lake Edward and Lake  George, provides one of the most memorable experiences of the park.

Day  7:  Queen  Elizabeth  National  Park   

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

From Ishasha, you drive 2 hours to the Mweya region of Queen  Elizabeth National Park. During your visit here you will have time to  enjoy game drives, a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel and an  opportunity to trek chimps in Chamburu Gorge (subject to permits  being available and group size). Located on a peninsula overlooking the  Kazinga Channel on one side and with spectacular views towards the  Ruwenzori Mountains on the other, this upgraded and renovated lodge  provides some of the best accommodation and service facilities in  Uganda. 

Day 8:  Kibale  Forest   

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner 

Today you will travel on a 2-3-hour drive from Queen Elizabeth  National Park (north) on good roads. On a sunny day you may get  views of the Rwenzori's in the distance. Two nights spent in the area to  allow time for chimpanzee tracking in the forest, (permits must be pre  purchased). You can also do a forest walk (guided) during your stay, or  simply enjoy the area and visit the Bigodi Swamps, or the Vanilla Farm  close to Ndali. Kibale, 766 km2 is one of Uganda's enchanting, forested  parks. Here, you can hike in the park for hours observing the drama of  life in a rain forest. The Park contains pristine lowland tropical rain  forest, montane forest, and mixed tropical deciduous forest. In addition  to forest, you will also notice areas of grassland and of swamp. The  forest is rich in wildlife. It is most noted for its primate population.  Some of these are red-tailed monkey, diademed monkey, olive baboon,  chimpanzee and black and white colobus. Some of the other mammals  you might see are bushbuck, Harvey's red duiker, blue duiker, bush pig,  and African civet. More difficult to spot are buffalo, waterbuck, hippo,  warthog, and giant forest hog. Herds of elephant once travelled back  and forth through the area. These elephants have become increasingly rare, and now are seldom seen. The birdlike in the forest and  grasslands of the forest is abundant. There are 300 species, which have  been identified here. One particularly worth noting is the endemic to  Kibale forest. There are 144 species of butterfly in the park and a  diverse population of moths and other insects. A system of trails has  been developed within the park, and tour guides are available to guide  visitors. 

 Day 9:  Kibale  Forest   

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

This activity will take place in the morning. You will either be driven or  walk down to the Kibale Forest National Parks' headquarters to meet your guides for your morning's chimp tracking experience (depending which lodge you are staying at). The forest is alive with noise, and you should be lucky enough to see the habituated chimps during your trek. 

Day 10:  Return  Entebbe.   

Meal: Breakfast and Lunch 

After an early breakfast for the drive back to Entebbe, stopping for  curio shopping on the roadside and a quick photo stop at the Equator.  Arriving back in Entebbe, late afternoon. The remainder of the day is at  leisure. (Departing flights to be booked to depart for after 8pm)