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3 Day Hot Air Balloon Safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Overview

Discover the remarkable landscapes and wildlife on our 3 Day Hot Air Balloon Safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park. This adventure offers a unique way to explore the park’s diverse features, including the Rift Valley, escarpments, the Rwenzori mountain ranges, and various lakes and gorges. Combining a balloon safari with a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel, this itinerary provides an exceptional overview of Uganda’s second-largest conservation area. The tour is flexible, with options to start and end in Kampala, Entebbe, or even fly in and out of Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Itinerary Summary

Day 1: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park via the Equator crossing
Day 2: Morning hot air balloon safari and afternoon boat cruise on Kazinga Channel
Day 3: En route game drive and return to Kampala or Entebbe

Highlights

Location: Uganda
Tour Starts and Ends: Entebbe or Kampala, with optional flights to and from Queen Elizabeth National Park
Activities: Hot air balloon safari, boat cruise on Kazinga Channel
Transport: Open-sided 4×4 vehicle & pop-up roof 4×4 vehicle
Included: Airport or hotel transfers, additional accommodation before and after the tour (available at extra cost)
Group Size: Maximum of 6 people per group
Age Limit: 10 years and above

TRIP ITINERARY

Tour Plan

Day 1

Pickup from the Hotel and Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

YBegin your journey early in the morning with a briefing from our representative to confirm your booking details. Depart from Kampala or Entebbe around 8:00 am for Queen Elizabeth National Park. The drive, which takes approximately 6-7 hours, includes several stops: visit Mpambire to see traditional drum-making, stop at the Equator for photos and a brief experience of both hemispheres, and break for lunch in Mbarara. Continue through scenic landscapes, including tea plantations and Rift Valley escarpments, arriving at the park by evening for dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge or Kasenyi Safari Camp
Meals: All meals included

Day 2

Hot Air Balloon Safari and Boat Cruise

Start your day early with a hot air balloon safari. Depart at 5:30 am to reach the launch site, where you will enjoy tea or coffee while the balloon is prepared. After a safety briefing at 6:30 am, you will ascend for a 45-minute to 1.5-hour flight, providing panoramic views of wildlife, the Rift Valley, escarpments, and the Rwenzori mountains. Upon landing, enjoy a bush breakfast with wine and receive a certificate. Return to your lodge for relaxation and lunch. In the afternoon, embark on a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel. This two-hour cruise offers excellent opportunities to see hippos, elephants, crocodiles, and numerous bird species. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge or Kasenyi Safari Camp
Meals: All meals included

Day 3

En Route Game Drive and Departure

After breakfast, embark on an en route game drive as you travel back to Kampala or Entebbe. Enjoy lunch en route before concluding your 3-day hot air balloon safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park and departing for your flight home.

INCLUDES & EXCLUDES

Includes

Airport transfers on the first and last day
Transport in a 4×4 safari vehicle
Services of an English-speaking driver/guide
Fuel for the entire trip
Accommodation and meal plan as per the itinerary
All Park entrance fees
Drinking water while in the vehicle

Excludes

Pre and post tour accommodation in Entebbe or Kampala
International airfares
Uganda Visa (USD50.00 which can be paid on arrival at the Airport

TOUR MAP

GENERAL FAQs

General FAQs

Can I reschedule or cancel this trip?

Rescheduling: You can reschedule this trip as a private tour to any date within 12 months at no additional cost.
Booking Deposit: A 30% deposit of the total tour price is required to secure your booking. The remaining balance is due 45 days before the tour departure date. Bookings not secured with the appropriate deposit will be released.
Cancellation Policy:
- Cancel between 90 and 45 days before departure: 20% penalty of the tour price.
- Cancel within 45 days of departure or no show: 100% penalty of the tour price.

Availability and Accommodations

Reservations: Accommodation and activity availability is not guaranteed until reservations are confirmed with the final itinerary and deposit payment. If any quoted accommodations are unavailable, we reserve the right to substitute them with suitable alternatives, which may affect the final quoted price.

Insurance

Requirement: All clients must have medical and travel insurance to cover unforeseen circumstances.

Rates

Subject to Change: Tour rates are subject to change without notice. We will make every effort to maintain rates, but changes in government taxes or operating conditions may be passed on to clients.

Permit Cancellation Policy

Uganda Gorilla Permit Cancellation Policy

Guarantee: A Gorilla Permit is guaranteed only upon receipt of the deposit ($800 per person per trek) as it must be paid immediately to the Uganda Wildlife Authority.

Cancellation Fees

More than 90 days before tracking: 25% cancellation fee.
89 to 46 days before tracking: 50% cancellation fee.
45 to 9 days before tracking: 75% cancellation fee.
8 to 0 days before tracking: 100% cancellation fee.

Important Information

Age Requirement: The minimum age for gorilla tracking is 15 years.
Health: Visitors with flu or other airborne diseases will not be allowed into the rainforest jungle to see the gorillas.
Safety Protocols: Masks must be worn at all times, and a distance of 10 meters must be maintained between you and the gorillas.

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