Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safari 4 Days

HIGHLIGHTS

Starts/Ends: Entebbe, Uganda

Country Visited: Uganda

Main Destinations: Bwindi Forest National Parks

Main Activities:  Gorilla Tracking

Strength Demand: Highly Demanding

4 Day Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safari

Route:  Kampala – Bwindi – Lake Bubnyonyi – Entebbe

The 4 Day Gorilla Trekking Safari is most probably one of the most searched for Uganda Safari. The Major highlight of this tour is the Mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable forest national park. This safari is quite short and affordable, mainly planned for gorilla enthusiast that just want to trek the Bwindi gorillas and return home. On this gorilla tour we also include a day to chill and enjoy the natural beauty of Western Uganda in Lake Bunyonyi. Bunyonyi will be perfect after that exhorting gorilla trek up the Virunga mountains.

Less than 1000 mountain gorillas remain in the world, all of them are found in the Virunga ranges and just a little more than half of them are found in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga gorillas national park. On this gorilla trekking safari you’ll be tracking one of the habituated gorilla groups found in Bwindi Impenetrable forest. Remember these creatures are susceptible to human disease, so there’re a couple of ground rules you’ll have to follow before you embark on the adventure. Also, this is a strenuous activity. You have to prepare yourself physically and don’t bring children under the age of 18 years.

The safari package we make sure to include the main item Uganda Gorilla Permit (USD $700), accommodation, meals, private Uganda safari guide and transportation to and from all destinations. We can tailor make the tour to fit your plans, so don’t be afraid to enquire with our experts.

Safari Highlights

• The awesome and exciting experience of spending time with the Gorillas and watching at close range asthey feed, play and relax.
• Enjoying the scenic allure of stunning hills and lush vegetation inhabited by the elusive primates and pygmies.
• An encounter with the Batwa (former forest dwellers) for a demonstration of their former hunting and trapping techniques, and how to make ointments from native plants to cure all manner of ailments.
• A visit to a Batwa home to see the traditional huts used for grinding millet, cooking over an open fire and distilling local potent gin (Waragi).
• An opportunity to stand in two hemispheres at the Equator for memorable photos.
• The rare treat at the beautifully created Lake Bunyonyi where you will enjoy cool canoe rides as you spot splendid varieties birds and wildlife; scenic views and native cultural exposures.

Day 1: Travel to Bwindi

From your hotel, our Gorilla Trekking Safari private guide will pick you up after breakfast, set off for an 8-9 hour drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in the south western part of the country. You will have a stopover at the Equator where you will have the remarkable opportunity of standing in 2 hemispheres at the same time and take some photos. You will make another stopover at Igongo Ankole cultural centre to learn about the Ankole culture and proceed to Mbarara for lunch before continuing with your journey to Bwindi through one of the lushest highlands on the continent filled with primates, birds, and breathtaking scenery. You will arrive at the lodge of your booking in the evening.

Accommodation options:
Up-market: Buhoma Lodge / Mahogany Lodge /Chameleon Hill Lodge / Trackers Lodge Buhoma
Midrange: Silverback Lodge / Nkuringo Gorilla Camp / Gorilla Mist Camp
Budget: Rushaga Gorilla Camp / Ruhija Gorilla Friends Camp / Gorilla Valley Lodge / Buhoma Community Campground
Meal Plan: Lunch on the way and Dinner at the lodge of your booking.

Day 2: Gorilla trekking Safari in Bwindi and travel to Lake Bunyonyi

You will have an early breakfast and be driven to the Park Headquarters for a briefing about the rules of Gorilla tracking at 7:30am. After the briefing, you will set off for the Gorilla hunt in the thick jungle. The jungle is very lively with rich forest sounds. The gorilla trekking safari adventure in the jungle ranges between 2 – 8 hours and you have one hour to stay with the Gorillas once sited.

In the afternoon you can opt for a community walk among the Batwa people who used to live in the Bwindi forest before it was gazetted as a National Park and learn about their life and culture as a forest people. After your trek, you will embark on a 2 hour drive to Lake Bunyonyi arriving at the lodge of your booking in the evening.

Accommodation options:
Up-market: Bird’s Nest/ Archadia Cottages
Midrange: Bird’s Nest
Budget: Bushara Island Camp
Meal plan: Dinner

Day 3: At Lake Bunyonyi

You will after breakfast begin an exploration of Lake Bunyonyi. This lake is said to be one of the most beautiful places in western Uganda and second deepest lake in Africa [900 meters deep]. It is also one of the few places in the country where it is considered safe to swim as it is bilharzias free. The landscape around the lake is made up of terraced hills protruding from the water’s edge. Bunyonyi means “place of little birds” and as the name suggests, there is plenty of birdlife around the lake.

With a canoe you will traverse the gorgeous Kyabahinga peninsular where you will be welcomed with songs and dances by the resident school children. You will interact with a renowned herbalist (Omugurusi Jeremiah) who will disclose to you some of the secrets about the flora on the tropical highland. You will also hike the Kyabahinga slopes and have a breathtaking view of the beautiful scenery.

Accommodation options:
Up-market: Bird’s Nest/ Archadia Cottages
Midrange: Bird’s Nest
Budget: Bushara Island Camp
Meal plan: Lunch, Dinner and Breakfast

Day 4: Travel to Kampala

You will depart Bunyonyi and travel back to Kampala with a stopover for lunch in Mbarara town. You will continue the journey and arrive in Kampala in the late afternoon. That will mark the end of the gorilla trekking safari. Bon Voyage back home.