Where To See Cycads In Uganda After Gorilla Tracking

 Food For Dinosaurs in Uganda

 Uganda is one of the homes of the endangered cycads a specie called Encephalartos whitelockii. This is believed to have been a delicacy to the dinosaurs that have gone into extinction. This plant is one of the highly protected ICUN species that are left in few countries.

After gorilla tracking you can visit the Cycad village in Kitagwenda, to be exact Kyotamusana Village. The cycads have been existing for over 380 million years but as a result of human activities and there very slow growth, they have been destroyed.

 In many films with dinosaurs cycads feature and for film makers, this area would be a great location to do filming with ancient plants like cycads.  The Mpanga gorge hosts these ancient plants and you can enjoy the Mpanga River too.

There are also has other incredible attractions like the Mpanga gorge, suitable for nature walks, sightseeing, lots of birds to mention but a few. Closer to it is Queen Elizabeth National park and Lake George.

7 day Gorilla tracking, Game And Cycad Safari

Gorilla tracking in Uganda is done in South western Uganda but you can proceed to Queen Elizabeth National Park home of the tree climbing lions. Connect with the visit to the cycads which is believed to be ancient food for the dinosaurs.

Day 1 Road trip to Bwindi Impenetrable National park

Rise up early in the morning for breakfast and your driver guide will pick you to start on the journey to Bwindi forest.  The drive is interesting as you get to see some amazing countryside of Uganda. Drive through the lush vegetation of Kigezi highlands.

 Arrive late in the evening to check into your overnight lodge.

 Accommodation: Gorilla Forest Camp/ Engage Lodge/ Bwindi View Bandas

Day 2 Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi Forest Park

Get up early and enjoy your warm breakfast. Carry on to the briefing point where you will be advised on how to search for the gorillas but also enjoy the presence of other forest features.

Watch keenly as you may have the chance of identifying primates like the olive baboons, grey checked mangabey, vervet monkeys, blue monkeys, black and white mangabey to mention but a few.

Enjoy the presence of lovely birds that roam the forest throughout the day. Finally you get closer to the gorillas. They are amazing creatures to be in your company. Look keenly at the family but look out for the silverback. He has silver saddle in the back and commands respect from the rest of the family.

Take photos for memories and return to the lodge to relax.

Day 3 Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park

After meeting the huge apes, move on to Queen Elizabeth National Park to enjoy game in the wilderness. As you drive through the park, you may have the opportunity of seeing animals like elephants, buffaloes, water bucks, bush bucks, topis, warthogs, lions, leopards to mention but a few.

 Check in to your lodge

Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge/ Jacana Lodge/ Siimba Safari Lodge

Day 4 Game Drive And Launch cruise in Queen Elizabeth national Park

Rising up early for a game drive is key to seeing variety of animals. Take something warm as the early mornings are normally cold. Watch early risers get out of there night hideouts while nocturnals like hippos return home to where they are spending the day.

When you drive through the crater lakes area, you may have the chance of seeing animals like the herds of elephant, lions, leopards, hyenas, topis, warthogs, buffaloes to mention but a few.

 After lunch, head to the pier to enjoy a boat ride on Kazinga channel. The banks of this channel are usually flocked by birds both domestic and foreign migrants. Wild animals like lions are likely to be spotted as they await animals that move to the shores to quench thirst.

A flock of birds like king fisher, greater and lesser flamingos, Egyptian geese, hammer kop, shoe bill, to mention but a few. Take pictures and return to the lodge.

Day 5 Drive to Cycad Village

After breakfast, get on the road to drive to Kitagwenda village in Kyotamusana, enjoy the view of the surrounding area. The undulating hills and valleys decorated with green vegetation. Enjoy the back-drop of the Rwenzori ranges that stand up right. The forest coverage is also interesting to see

 The cycads are thought to have been food to the dinosaurs that existed in the ice age era but are now extinct. This also has brought up a thought that Uganda may have been home to the dinosaurs.   

Structure wise, the cycads are renowned for having a slow growth with stout wood stamp. They are some of the highly protected plant species by ICUN and it is thought that about 350 species of the cycads are existing in the world.

More activities that you can enjoy in this area include birding, hiking, sightseeing, Filming scene to mention but a few. Return to Queen Elizabeth National Park for your overnight.

Day 6 Drive back home

Drive back Entebbe Airport to catch up with your flight back home.