Gorilla Trekking Group Tour
SAFARI SUMMARY
Day 1: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park for a wildlife safari- Afternoon Game drive
Day 2: Queen Elizabeth National Park Morning boat cruise, en’ route game drive & Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 3: Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Day 4: Drive to Kampala / Entebbe
The 4 Days Scenery Viewing & Gorilla Trekking Group Safari Tour in Uganda, gives you an opportunity to explore the two national parks in the shortest time possible. The tour comes with spectacular activities such as wildlife viewing, boat cruise on Kazinga channel, gorilla trekking, and photo shots at the Uganda equator, various optional activities and lunch stopovers. The safari starts from Entebbe international or a hotel in Kampala on the first day and ends with outbound flight at Entebbe international airport on the last day.
About Queen Elizabeth national park: Queen Elizabeth national park is located is south western Uganda striding the districts of Kasese, Kamwenge, Bushenyi and Rukungiri. The park covers an area of approximately 1,978 square kilometers. Majority of the land is covered by the savannah pains of the Rift Valley. Queen Elizabeth national park is famous for being home to the rare tree climbing lions. It is the only national park with tree climbing lions in Uganda. Quite a number of activities take place and these include; Game drives (only day) and wildlife safaris, launch cruise on Kazinga channel, lion tracking, guided nature walks, chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura gorge, birding, Visiting Katwe salt mining area, etc.
About Bwindi Impenetrable national park: Also known as “The Ultimate Gorilla Experience”, Bwindi Impenetrable national park lies in south western Uganda striding the district of Kanungu. Bwindi impenetrable national park covers an area of approximately 331 square kilometers majority of which is covered by rain forests. Little wonder the park is a primate destination for thousands of travelers. It is famous for having activities such as Gorilla tracking and Gorilla habituation experiences, guided nature walks, Batwa community walk, birding, etc.
Day 1: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park for a wildlife safari- Afternoon Game drive.
Upon arrival at Entebbe international airport in the morning or after your morning breakfast at a hotel in Kampala, you will meet our professional driver / guide. He or she will briefly brief you on your 4 Days Scenery Viewing & Gorilla Trekking Group Safari Tour in Uganda. You will then embark on the 5 to 6 hour drive journey to Queen Elizabeth national park.
At Kayabwe – Mpigi district along Kampala – Masaka road, you will have a stopover at the Uganda Equator. You will take memorable pictures and perform a water balance experiment.
You will then continue through rolling hills, trading centers, swamps and lush vegetation as you drive Masaka – Mbarara highway. Have a lunch stopover in Mbarara preferably at Igongo Cultural center. If time becomes your best friend, you can hike to the top of the hill (Eclipse monument) and enjoy spectacular views of Mbarara city and the surrounding areas.
You will then continue through Mbarara – Kasese highway while enjoying the views of the tea plantations at Kyamuhunga, Kigezi highlands as well as those of Mt. Rwenzori as you draw closer to the park.
Upon arrival, relax a little and embark on the afternoon game drive in the Kasenyi sector. Here you will see large numbers of elephants alongside other animals such as buffaloes, leopard, zebra, Ugandan kob, hippopotamus, topi, waterbuck, warthog, giant forest hog, spotted hyena, to point out just a few.
In the evening, return to your booked lodge / hotel for relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Main Destination: Queen Elizabeth national park
Travel distance: 389 kilometers
Travel time: 5 to 6 hours
Optional activities: Climbing to the top of Biharwe hill (Eclipse Monument) opp. Igongo Cultural Center tour
Stopovers: Kayabwe – Uganda Equator and Igongo Cultural center / hotel in Mbarara city for lunch
Accommodation:
Luxury / Upmarket: Mweya Safari Lodge or Similar
Mid-range / Moderate: Bush Lodge or Similar
Budget / Basic: Bush Lodge or Similar
Meals: Lunch and Dinner
Day 2: Queen Elizabeth National Park Morning boat cruise, en ’route game drive & Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After a morning breakfast, you will go for a morning boat cruise at Kazinga channel for spectacular views of the waters of Kazinga channel. This is a water body that connects Lake Edward to Lake George. It is reliable wildlife and bird destination. Other activities such as swimming and fishing take place. You will encounter crocodiles, hippos and other water species.
Return to your lodge for lunch.
Check out of the lodge and embark on the en’ route game drive in the Ishasha sector. This sector harbors the rare tree climbing lions. On a lucky day, you will meet them on the hunt or mating if it is the right season.
Continue driving the rolling hills whilst enjoying scenic views until you reach the mighty home of mountain gorillas – Bwindi Impenetrable national park.
Check in to your earlier booked lodge for dinner and sleepover.
Main Destination: Bwindi Impenetrable national park
Distance: Approximately 180.8 km
Travel time: 3 to 4 hours
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Optional activities: Birding, guided nature walks, community tours.
Accommodation:
Luxury / Upmarket: Ruhija Gorilla Lodge, Buhoma Lodge and Four Gorillas Lodge or similar
Mid-range / Moderate: Buhoma Havens Lodge, Agandi Lodge and Icumbi Gorilla Lodge or similar
Budget / Basic: Ride for a Woman Lodge, Broadbill forest Camp and Rushaga Gorilla Havens Lodge or similar
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 3: Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
This is the day every gorilla lover is always waiting for! It starts with an early morning breakfast at your lodge (about 6:30am). Your driver / guide will meet you and drive to the park headquarters for briefing. The briefing takes about 30 minutes and helps know about the dos and don’ts of the forthcoming activity. Once the briefing is done, you will be grouped into groups of not more than eight (8) people and the trekking begins. Each group follows a particular group of gorillas and chances of seeing these gorillas faster depends on where they spent the previous night.
Upon encountering the gorillas, you will have a full hour to spend in their presence as you take as many pictures as your camera can hold however, you are not allowed to use flush light while using the camera since the gorillas are too sensitive to such. During the trek, not only will you see mountain gorillas but also golden monkeys, several tree species and birds, some of which are rift valley endemics.
You will return to your lodge for lunch and relaxation.
You have an option of visiting the neighboring communities (Batwa) so that you can enjoy their hospitality, traditions, learn their hunting techniques, dancing styles and general ways of life.
Return to your lodge for supper and spend a night.
Accommodation:
Luxury / Upmarket: Ruhija Gorilla Lodge, Buhoma Lodge and Four Gorillas Lodge or similar
Mid-range / Moderate: Buhoma Havens Lodge, Agandi Lodge and Icumbi Gorilla Lodge or similar
Budget / Basic: Ride for a Woman Lodge, Broadbill forest Camp and Rushaga Gorilla Havens Lodge or similar
Optional activities: Community visit and birding.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 4: Drive to Kampala / Entebbe – departure
After a delicious breakfast, check out of the lodge and meet your driver and embark on your journey back to Kampala. You will use the same road which is an opportunity for you to see what you might have missed on the first day. You will have another stopover at Igongo Cultural Center for lunch as well as the Uganda Equator for pictures or grab something in the craft shop. This will always remind you of the 4 Days Scenery Viewing & Gorilla Trekking Group Safari Tour in Uganda.
The driver will drop you at either a hotel of your choice in Kampala or Entebbe airport. Thus the climax of your 4 Days Scenery Viewing & Gorilla Trekking Group Safari Tour in Uganda.
Main Destination: Entebbe International airport
Travel time: Between 7 – 8 hours
Travel distance: 512 kilometers
Stopovers: Two stopovers; the first at Igongo Cultural Center in Biharwe – Mbarara city, the second is at the Uganda Equator).
Accommodation: No accommodation
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Includes
- All activities/services as per itinerary
- 4WD Vehicle – with a pop–up roof for scenic viewing
- A professional English-speaking driver/guide
- Meals
- Site entrance fees
- All ground transportation and fuel
- Drinking water in the vehicle
Excludes
- Laundry services
- Personal medical insurance
- Cigarettes
- Extra accommodation
- Alcoholic drinks
- Any other activities not mentioned in the itinerary
- Any activity mentioned as “Optional” in this itinerary
- Uganda Wildlife Authority(UWA) Penalty rules after violating national park rules and regulations
Safari Activities
- Uganda Equator and afternoon game drive (Kasenyi sector)
- Morning boat cruise and afternoon game drive
- Gorilla trekking
Special note: Love Uganda would like to inform you that during your 4 Days Scenery Viewing & Gorilla Trekking Group Safari Tour in Uganda, you will be interacting with animals and birds in their natural setting. In other words, the animals are not in cages or a zoo. This implies that there are chances of not finding some of these animals at the expected places and in the estimated time. However, from our previous experiences and up to date information from Uganda Wildlife Authority, there are 90% chances of seeing these animals and birds in their respective places.
COMMON PARK RULES AND REGULATION (Uganda Wildlife Authority)
- Do not camp or make campfires except at designated sites
- Do not drive off the tracks.
- Do not disturb wildlife by sounding motor horns.
- Do not drive in the park between 7:00pm and 7:00 am.
- Do not bring dogs or other pets into the park.
- Do not litter.
- Do not bring firearms or ammunition into the park.
- Do not pick flowers or destroy any vegetation.
- Do not exceed the speed limit of 40km per hour (25mph)
- Retain all official receipts for inspection.
GORILLA TRACKING RULES
-
Before You Set Out
- Ensure to carry with you payment receipts and permits
- Do not visit the gorillas if you have a cold or other infectious illness
- Minimum age for tracking is 15 years
- Human waste should be buried 30 cm (12) deep
- Maximum number of visitors is eight persons per gorilla group
-
When You Are With The Gorillas
- Maintain a 7m (21feet) distance from the gorilla
- Smoking, eating and drinking are not permitted on the tour
- If you must sneeze or cough cover your face and turn away from the gorillas, as they can catch coughs and colds from humans
- Visits are limited to one hour per gorilla group per day
- Do not use flash photography.
Safari Destination
- Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Bwindi Impenetrable national park
Travel tips for a best safari experience in Uganda
Love Uganda Safaris cares about your safety while you travel to Uganda. Below are some of the tips that you should keep at the back of your mind in order to have the best experience in Uganda;
- Carry some pain killers and antimalarial drugs while coming to Uganda
- Ensure to check your luggage before leaving one lodge or hotel to another
- Do not tempt thieves by leaving your bags open, speaking on phone in crowded places
- Do not walk alone at night especially in the urban centers
- Carry some changed money, you may need to tip a driver or guide during your safari
- Learn some local words like greetings before making your way to Uganda. You may love to talk to them during your safari.
- Carry copies of your travel documents and identification documents including your passport.
- Carry power bank and spare batteries if you can
- Uganda is a hot destination, light clothes should be more than heavy ones. You can carry one or two jackets depending on how long you plant to spend in Uganda
- Follow the park rules and regulations strictly since you may be penalized or threaten animal attack in case you violate them.
- Some items like drinks, sunglasses, etc. can be bought in local markets, you may not need to come with them.
- You can bring clothes and other items you no longer use and donate them to communities or organization during your safari to Uganda.
Email Us or leave a message below and lets start planning your Safari!
Call Us
Phone: +256392177127 | 414 697 719
Mobile: +256741857276 | +256772633920
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Important to Note!
- A reservation requires a deposit of 30% of the total price.
- The deposit is fully refunded if the booking is cancelled up to 45 days before arrival.
- Balance should be paid 60 days before arrival.