Duration
:
5 Days / 4 Nights
Tour Type
:
Private Safari
Best Time to Visit
:
Year-round, though the dry seasons
- Overview
- Trip Outline
- Trip Includes
- Trip Excludes
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This 5-day trip offers the once-in-a-lifetime experience of trekking to see the endangered mountain gorillas in Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, one of the last strongholds of these magnificent creatures. In addition to gorilla trekking, you’ll experience the stunning landscapes of Uganda, enjoy scenic drives through tea plantations, and relax at the beautiful Lake Bunyonyi. This is a perfect adventure for nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts.
- What to Bring for Gorilla Trekking:
- Lightweight waterproof hiking boots.
- Long-sleeved shirt and trousers (to protect from insects and vegetation).
- Insect repellent and sunscreen.
- Reusable water bottle.
- Camera (no flash photography allowed during the gorilla trek).
- Health Considerations: Ensure you’re in good physical condition for trekking as it involves hiking through steep, dense forest. Consult your doctor about travel vaccinations and malaria prevention.
Itineraries
Day 1
Arrival in Entebbe
- Arrival at Entebbe International Airport: Upon your arrival, you’ll be warmly welcomed by your guide, who will provide a briefing about your upcoming adventure.
- Transfer to Hotel: You will be transferred to your hotel in Entebbe for a relaxing evening. If time permits, you can enjoy optional activities like visiting the Uganda Wildlife Education Center or the Entebbe Botanical Gardens.
- Hotel: Protea Hotel by Marriott Entebbe or Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort & Spa.
Day 2
Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Early Breakfast: After breakfast, you’ll embark on a scenic drive from Entebbe to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, passing through lush greenery, tea plantations, and picturesque villages.
- Lunch Stop: Enjoy a local Ugandan lunch en route, typically in the town of Mbarara.
- Arrival at Bwindi: Check-in at your eco-lodge situated on the edge of the forest. Relax in the serene environment and prepare for the gorilla trekking experience.
- Evening at Leisure: You can take a nature walk around the lodge, enjoy the stunning views, or simply rest.
- Accommodation: Buhoma Lodge, Mahogany Springs Lodge, or Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp.
Day 3
Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi
- Early Start: After a hearty breakfast, head to the Bwindi National Park Headquarters for a briefing from the Uganda Wildlife Authority. Here, you’ll be assigned to a specific gorilla family to track.
- Gorilla Trekking: Trek through the dense forest led by an experienced ranger. The trek may take anywhere from 1 to 4 hours, depending on where the gorillas are. Once you reach the gorillas, you’ll spend a magical hour observing them in their natural habitat.
- Return to Lodge: After the trek, return to your lodge to relax and reflect on the incredible experience.
- Optional Afternoon Activity: Visit the Batwa Pygmy Community to learn about their forest-dwelling culture, or take a short nature walk around the lodge.
- Dinner & Overnight: Enjoy a relaxing evening at the lodge, with dinner served in the main lodge area or outside under the stars.
Day 4
Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
- Morning at Leisure: After breakfast, take some time to enjoy the morning views of Bwindi’s misty hills.
- Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi: Afterward, drive to the picturesque Lake Bunyonyi, Uganda’s deepest and most scenic lake. The journey takes approximately 2-3 hours, passing through beautiful rolling hills and terraced landscapes.
- Lunch by the Lake: Upon arrival, enjoy lunch at your lakeside lodge.
- Optional Canoe Ride or Bird Watching: Lake Bunyonyi is famous for its birdlife, making it an ideal spot for bird watching. You can also take a relaxing canoe ride on the calm waters of the lake, visiting some of the 29 islands scattered across the lake.
- Accommodation: Birdnest @ Bunyonyi Resort or Arcadia Lodge Bunyonyi.
Day 5
Return to Entebbe & Departure
- Morning at Leisure: Enjoy a relaxing morning by the lake. You can choose to go for a swim (the lake is bilharzia-free and safe for swimming), take another canoe ride, or simply enjoy the serene environment.
- Transfer Back to Entebbe: After lunch, begin your journey back to Entebbe with a scenic drive. Depending on your flight schedule, you can either be dropped off at your hotel or taken directly to Entebbe International Airport for your onward flight.
- Gorilla Trekking Permit: ($700 per person, included in the price).
- 4 nights of accommodation: (eco-lodges and luxury resorts).
- All meals: (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) as per the itinerary.
- Private 4x4 vehicle with driver-guide: For the entire safari.
- All park fees and trekking fees.
- Round-trip transfers: From Entebbe International Airport.
- Drinking water: Provided during the trip.
- International flights.
- Visa fees for Uganda ($50 per person).
- Travel insurance (highly recommended for gorilla trekking).
- Optional second gorilla trekking permit (if you wish to trek on an additional day).
- Tips and gratuities for guides, porters, and lodge staff.
- Personal expenses (laundry, beverages, souvenirs).
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