04/23/18

5 Tips to Plan a Gorilla Trip By Independently

How To Plan A Gorilla Trip By Yourself / Independently

Rwanda and Uganda are one of the three countries in the while World to undertake gorilla safaris (the other is Democratic Republic of Congo) but if you ever make up your mind to undertake the trip from this remarkable country, make sure to plan by yourself / independently because it is cheaper than doing it through the tour operator because most of them charge a commission. Therefore if you plan for Uganda safaris and tours by yourself, you will save a lot of money and yet it is very cumbersome and involves a lot of legwork.

Gorilla trekking within Rwanda is more expensive than it is within the other mentioned countries because permits cost $1500 per person while in Uganda it is $600 yet in the Democratic Republic of Congo it costs $400 but if you plan the safari by yourself, there are high chances that you will save more money if you plan or book for it independently.

Nonetheless, booking a gorilla safari by yourself depends on the period of time you will be spending within the gorilla destination in that if you have less time (1-3 days), you are advised to use the services of tour operators while if you are spending more days (6-10) days, it is advisable to plan or book for it by yourself. Therefore, the following are the important tips to allow you plan for the gorilla trekking safari in Uganda or Rwanda independently;

Do some Research (Gather enough Information) on the price of gorilla permits and pay in advance

The first step of undertaking a gorilla safari is by first inquiring on the availability of gorilla permits because this is your ticket to participating in this activity. This information can be accessed from the website of Rwanda Development Board, sending an email to reservation@rwandatourism.com or calling the reservation office on +252 57 65 14. For Uganda permits, information is available at Uganda Wildlife Authority (info@ugandawildlife.org, Telephone: +256 414 355000 and +256 312 355000). After being sure that permits are available for the date you wished to track the gorillas, book by paying 30% and this should be done at least 6 months in advance due to the high demand for the activity. Permits currently cost $1500 per person in Rwanda and US$600 per person in Uganda, paid in Bank or by cash and can be obtained from the RDB / UWA Head offices. The balance for gorilla permits is paid 3 months to the tracking date.

Get convenient transport means to the Gorilla detonations

In Rwanda, there are usually several local bus companies with comfortable buses leaving Kigali City for Ruhengeri and there is particularly a bus station in Nyabugogo where tickets can be booked charging from 2000 to 3000 francs per person and the journey takes at least 2 hours. Because the buses just stop at Ruhengeri, you will need to get private transport means (300 to 500 francs) especially special hire vehicles to Kinigi Park Headquarters lasting 20 to 30 minutes.

In Uganda, there are many bus companies from Kampala to Kisoro where you can easily connect to Mgahinga national park and Southern Bwindi National park. The journey is approximately 10 hours and charges between 25.000 and 35.000 Uganda Shillings. From the bus station, you can connect to your pre-booked hotel or to the gorilla park by private car hire.

Booking for a place of Stay

Intending gorilla trekkers are always advised to book for accommodation within or near the Park Headquarters and not very far away from the gorilla trekking starting point. Just like the gorilla permits, tourists are advised to deposit for the room in advance to avoid disappointment, then complete on the day of checking in. There are many gorilla safari Lodges within all gorilla parks in Rwanda and Uganda. In Volcanoes National Park Rwanda, Kinigi Guest Guest House is highly recommended because it is opposite the park Headquarters, less than 5 minutes walk to the headquarters.

Pack the right items

Any tourist planning to track the mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park and Bwindi or Mgahinga National Parks needs to be prepared for life in the jungles-extreme coldness, dense vegetation and slippery/muddy ground during the rainy season. Therefore, make sure you don’t leave out the long sleeved shirts, long trousers, rain jacket, snacks, bottled water, waterproof hiking boots, hut, non-flash camera, binoculars, cotton socks, heavy sweater, gardening gloves and a backpack among others.

Self drive Rental and Camping

If you are a family, a group of friends or a couple planning a gorilla trip independently, you can save a lot of money when you rent a car without driver and drive your own adventure. Here, you share the cost of transport, fuel and accommodation. In other words, its cheaper to travel in group than sole. Please note, it must be a 4×4 car, and these are available from US$40 per day, for instance, Toyota Rav4, Land cruiser, Mini-vans, Prado, Suzuki Escudo, Honda CRV and many others.

Additionally, some car rental agencies rent out cars with a full camping gear, thus saving money on accommodations. A full camping gear is from US$5 per day and it includes a water proof tent (some times roof top tent), sleeping bags, mattress, camper table, chairs, kitchen ware, crockery, cooler box, storage box, jerrycan, lam and torch.

With the tips above, it is very possible to plan for a gorilla trip by yourself with enough information and booking for permits in advance, getting convenient transport means to from the airport to the gorilla parks, booking for a place of Stay and Packing the right items.

05/10/17

How Local Communities benefit from Uganda Tourism?

Traveling around the world is a great honor but not every one of us can travel to encounter the earth’s most interesting and attractive destination. Travel is out of access to most of the people in the world due to inadequate financial resources, family commitments or other obligations.

However for those few who travel, it is essential to have that philanthropist nature in you to give hand to the local communities you come across while on a safari. If one gives back to these local communities, one always brings a smile on those people. Do you know how blessed you will be by bring a smile on someone’s face.

So here are some of the ways on how to give back to the local communities on a Uganda a wildlife safari
By becoming a volunteer for the cause of conservation, educating the illiterate local community and also being part of the community projects that can promote local community livelihood and tourism at large. There are very many voluntary community based organization around the wildlife destinations in Uganda and also international conservation organization. These include
One can also give back to the local communities by supporting the local ventures/ businesses by purchasing their commodities like stay in a local guesthouse other than a big hotel/ lodge, , try local foods in the local restaurant other than in a fancy restaurant. Normally here in Uganda, these local communities have craft shops where one can buy curios and they have traditional entertainment so while on a wildlife safari in Uganda include the a village walk around the local communities in your itinerary.

When you purchasing commodities from the locals like food in the restaurants, curios at the craft shops pay a moderate price. Although there might be need for bargaining on the prices of the commodities you are purchasing from the locals but go over board that reduction of a dollar you may bargain for may not mean that much to you but it means a lot to the locals in Uganda. Furthermore when the locals offer good services to you endeavor to give them a tip most especially to those people who work in the hospitality industry like guides and hotel personnel. This means a lot to them you will always leave a very good mark in their lives.

Be environment conscious while on a Uganda wildlife safari: do not litter anyhow while you are in their fragile destinations, dispose your rubbish in places designated for littering, stay in eco lodge that are above environment conservation and preservation. When taking short trips always use 4×4 safari vehicles instead of taking a plane that greatly affect the ozone layer by emitting carbonic gases in the air. While in the real destination take an example of gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park take the directives give to you while hiking through the fragile jungle, walk on the trail demarcated for the visitors. By being environment conscious leads to steady conservation and preservation which promotes sustainable tourism.

Donate to local organizations and the international ones that are established to help the needy at large. Donation can be done through giving in funds to help them, giving them commodities like clothes, shoes and other accessories and also scholastic materials like books, pens, pencils, colours among the common ones. Instead of giving something to a beggar child found along the way, look for an organization responsible for the needy to donate so that all the people can benefit wholly. In Uganda when have organizations like world vision, Sanyu babies’ home, USAID and many more.

By engaging in the above, you will have given back to the local communities on a Uganda wildlife safari and your contribution will be highly recognized and appreciated by these humble people around the tourism destinations in Uganda.

11/3/14

Nyungwe wins global environment award

Nyungwe Forest’s Nziza Project was announced the winner of the British Guild of Travel Writers’ Globe Award in recognition of its efforts to harmonize tourism, wildlife and the agricultural community in one of Africa’s last surviving rainforests.

canopywalk At an event held last weekend in London, United Kingdom, the project was lauded as exemplary and poised to develop and protect one of the world’s richest and most diverse ecosystems.

The project was initiated by the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), “Nyungwe Nziza is a model tourism project for developing countries whose benefits will long outlast this or subsequent governments,” Guild Chair, Roger Bray said, while presenting the award.

It should be noted that Rwanda is one of Africa’s tourism destinations and the major tourist activity is Mountain gorilla tracking in Volcanoes National Park. Nyungwe forest is home to 13 primate species that include chimpanzees, colobus monkeys, vervets, blue monkeys, Red-tailed monkeys, etc.

The project also came first during the awards’ Wider World category. The two runners-up were Georgia’s Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park and San Antonio Texas’s Morgan’s Wonderland. “We are delighted that the Rwanda Nziza Project was named winner of the prestigious British Guild of Travel Writers’ top Globe Award,” said Clare Akamanzi, the acting CEO of the RDB.

“In Nyungwe, we are able to see a combination of tourism, wildlife, environmental and agriculture development, which adds to the beauty as well as create jobs for our people in line with diversification of tourism products. It shows that the potential for interdisciplinary collaboration for sustainable tourism is limitless.”

Akamanzi further noted that Nyungwe, in particular, has received a 44 percent increase of tourists, from 5,755 in 2010 to 8,274 in 2011. She attributed this to the introduction of the canopy walk, which gives tourists an aerial view of the forest from 40 metres above the ground.

Based in South-Western Rwanda, Nyungwe National Park is home to 25 percent of Africa’s primates. Other major award winners included UK’s Cutty Sark Restoration and France’s Loire à Vélo Cycle Trail. Rwanda Tourism continues to be the country’s major cash cow after coffee, tea and mining, with revenues increasing by 11 percent between January and June this year compared to the same period last year.

The increase is indicated by US$128.3m generated from the sector between January and June compared to US$115.6m generated in the same period last year. So far investment projects worth US$184.1m since January 2012 are expected to generate over a thousand jobs. The extremely rare mountain gorillas in the Virunga Mountains continue to be the leading tourism attraction.

There are also Uganda gorilla safaris in Bwindi National Park, southwestern Uganda. Many tourists from all over the world enjoy combining Uganda and Rwanda gorilla tracking experience!

10/8/14

8 Day Budget Camping Safari in Uganda – Self Drive Holiday

Budget Uganda Safari Overview

The 8-day camping safari in Uganda covers the country’s most popular tourist destinations to start Bwindi Gorilla Park in southwestern Uganda, then Queen Elizabeth national park, Kibale forest and end with the magnificent Murchison Falls national park in Northwestern Uganda. You can choose camping throughout the trip, or mix with some budget lodges with en-suite bathrooms and toilets. This can be a guides/escorted or self-drive tour. Below is a detailed day by day Itinerary;

Source: http://www.bookgorillapermits.com

Detailed Itinerary; 8 day Uganda camping safari

Day One: Transfer to Bwindi National Park (7-10hrs)

Your professional tour guide will meet you at your hotel in Kampala and set off for Bwindi national park. The journey goes through many small towns, villages, and roadside markets that offer a chance for photographing, en-route stop at the equator for photographs, lunch in Mbarara town at Agip Motel, arrive at your lodge in Bwindi by early evening for dinner, and overnight at Buhoma community rest camp / Broadbill Forest Camp, Four Gorillas Lodge / Ruhija Community Rest Camp.

Day Two: Mountain Gorilla Trekking Adventure

Morning breakfast followed by an assembly at the park headquarters (with packed water and lunch) for briefing about gorilla trekking. The trek takes between 1-7hrs before meeting these gentle Giants camouflaged in thick vegetation. You will be allowed to stay with the Giants for a maximum of 1 hour, get back to the lodge for late lunch. Time permitting, take a community walk to nearby Batwa people (Pygmies), dinner, and overnight as on Day 1.

Day Three: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Morning breakfast at the lodge, followed by a scenic drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The journey goes through small trading centers in rural areas of Uganda. We shall have a wonderful game drive in the Ishasha sector, famous for tree-climbing lions alongside other wild animals like Elephants, Buffaloes, Warthogs, and several antelope species, overnight at Kyambura Tented camp / Simba safari camp / Mweya Hostels.

Day Four: Game drive and a fantastic Boat cruise

A cup of tea will be followed by a fantastic game drive to catch up with early raisers and predators returning to their hide-outs. Expect an encounter with wild animals such as the Africa Lion, Elephants, Buffaloes, Warthogs, Baboons, and sometimes leopards among others. Return to the lodge/camp for late breakfast, relax as you wait for lunch, after which, you embark on a fantastic boat cruise on the Kazinga channel, famous for the highest concentration of Hippos in Africa with Huge Nile crocodiles, Elephants, and Buffaloes seen basking along the shores. Return to the lodge by sunset, campfire in the evening, dinner, and overnight as Day 3.

Day Five: Transfer to Kibale National Park, Chimpanzee tracking

Breakfast followed another game drive through Queen Elizabeth National Park as we transfer to Kibale National Park, home to 13 primate species that include Chimpanzees, Red-tailed Monkeys, L’hoest’s monkeys, Giant forest hog, colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, and many others, with about 350 bird species. Here you also find mammals like forest elephants and buffaloes. Get ready for Chimpanzee tracking after lunch, dinner, and overnight / camping at Chimpanzee Guest House.

NOTE: If you want chimpanzee habituation, the program will slightly change. Please inquire about this arrangement.

Day Six: Transfer to Murchison Falls National park

Breakfast and hit the road to Murchison falls national park, we shall have lunch in Hoima Town, proceed via the beautiful Butia Escarpments, arrive at the park by late afternoon, then take a visit to the top of the falls where the River forces itself through a narrow gorge 7 meters wide, flowing down 45meters. The scenery here is so wonderful, dinner and overnight / camping at Red chili Rest Camp, Shoebill campsite or Yebo Campsite.

Day Seven: Game drive and boat cruise to the bottom of the falls

Breakfast at the lodge followed a fantastic game drive in search for a wide variety of animals such as lions, leopards, Giraffes, Buffaloes, elephants, and many antelopes. Return to our campsite and relax as we wait for lunch. Then embark on a fantastic boat cruise to the bottom of the falls. Expect to see elephants and buffaloes drinking water on the shores, huge crocodiles, Hippos, and over 300 bird species. Return by sunset, campfire in the evening, dinner, and overnight.

Day Eight: Departure

Breakfast at the lodge, followed by transfer back to Kampala. This is a 5-6hrs drive and we shall be in Kampala by later afternoon. If interested, we can have an en-route visit to Zziwa Rhino sanctuary, and depending on your departure flight schedule, you will be transferred to Entebbe International Airport or dropped off at your hotel in Kampala or Entebbe for dinner and overnight.

END OF THE TOUR

10/7/14

7 Day Primate Safari Uganda, Wildlife, Chimps & Gorilla Tracking

Safari Overview

The 7 day Uganda primate safari takes you for mountain tracking in Bwindi impenetrable National park or Mgahinga forest in Southwestern Uganda, then wildlife viewing and boat cruise in Queen Elizabeth national park, chimpanzee habituation experience, or chimpanzee tracking in Kibale National park, not forgetting local community tours. Below is a day by day detailed itinerary;

Safari itinerary for 7 Day Uganda Primate safari

Day 1: Transfer from Entebbe to Kampala

Meet and greet one of our company representatives at Entebbe International Airport. He will transfer you to your preferred Hotel in Kampala for dinner and overnight at Kampala Serena Hotel/Fairway Hotel / Hotel Ruch. Depending on your arrival time, You may go for a short city tour to famous sites like Buganda Kingdom palace, the Bahai temple, Namugongo Uganda martyrs shrine, Kasubi tombs, and Uganda museum. Return to your Hotel for dinner and Overnight.

Day 2: Drive to Bwindi National Park – Home of mountain gorillas in Uganda

After your early morning breakfast, enjoy a scenic drive to southwestern Uganda via Mbarara-Kabale to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. En-route stopover at the equator for photographs, lunch in Mbarara town, dinner, and overnight Mahogany Springs Lodge/ Gorilla Mist Camp/ Bakiga Lodge / Gift of Nature Lodge / Buhoma Community Rest Camp / Bwindi View Bandas.

Day 3: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

mountain-gorilla-trip After a heavy breakfast and carry packed lunch/water, have a briefing at the park headquarter after which embark on tracking gorillas in the forest at 8:00 am. The time you spend in the forest searching for the gentle giants is unpredictable but ranges between 2-7 hours depending on the movement of the gorilla groups. Return to your lodge for relaxation, time permitting, take an evening walk to nearby local communities like the Batwa people (pygmies), dinner, and overnight.

Day 4: Queen Elizabeth national park wildlife viewing

Just after your breakfast transfer to Queen Elizabeth through Ishasha sector to search for the climbing lions en route, proceed to the park for your lunch at the lodge as you prepare for the afternoon boat cruise along the Kazinga channel where you will see Huge Nile crocodiles, Hippos, Elephants and buffaloes on shores, as well as over 600 bird species. Your dinner and overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge / Enganzi lodge / Bush Lodge / Twin Lake safari lodge.

Day 5: Game drive and transfer to Kibale National Park

kazinga-channel-wildlife At 6.00 am have breakfast and thereafter, enjoy a game drive to the northern sector of the park through the Kasenyi track in search of the early raisers like buffaloes, lions, Uganda kobs plus many bird species. After, proceed to Kibale National Park, a home for 13 primate species that include Chimpanzees, Olive Baboons, Red Tailed Monkeys, galagoes, Grey Checked mangabeys, Black and white colobus monkeys among others, dinner and overnight at Chimps Nest Lodge / Mountains of the moon hotel / Kyaninga lodge /Chimpanzee Guesthouse as you prepare for a chimp tracking in Kibale Forest national park the following morning.

DAY 6: Chimp tracking or Habituation Experience in Kibale tropical Forest

Early morning breakfast is followed by a briefing at the forest headquarters and thereafter, enter the forest with a group of ranger guides for the 4 hours chimp trek starting at 8.00 am. After this trek, have lunch, relax as you wait for an evening excursion to the crater lakes region or Bigodi swamps or nature local through local villages. Chimpanzee tracking takes half a day, but we can do a chimpanzee habituation experience that takes a full day in the forest with chimpanzees.

Day 7: Departure.

Breakfast is followed by transfer back to Kampala or Entebbe International Airport where the tour ends.

End of the tour

10/4/14

4 Day Uganda Safari with 2 Gorilla Treks

Uganda safari Highlights

The 4 day Uganda gorilla safari offers a great opportunity to track the mountain gorillas twice in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest or Mgahinga National Park. You have an opportunity to track different gorilla families and compare the experience. On request, we can organize a 4-day gorilla safari with 2 gorilla treks in Rwanda and Uganda combined. Below is a day by day detailed itinerary;

Itinerary for 4 Day Uganda Safari with 2 Gorilla Treks

Day 1: Hit the road to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Home of Mountain Gorillas

gorilla-in-bwindi-forest In the morning, we shall meet at your Hotel in Kampala / Entebbe, or meet at the airport on arrival, briefing about the 4-day gorilla safari and thereafter transfer to western Uganda via Masaka-Mbarara high way, stopover at the equator for an informative talk, coffee and lifetime memory photos, lunch en-route at Igongo cultural center or at Agip Motel in Mbarara town. After all those experiences and refreshments, drive to the impenetrable forest via amazing stunning banana plantations, Ankole long-horned cattle, and other vegetation with a view of panoramic scenery that beautifies the Kigezi region into the “Switzerland of Africa”. Check-in your lodge for your dinner and overnight; Buhoma Community Rest Camp / Gorilla Mist Camp / Wagtail Eco Camp / Broadbill Forest Camp / Nkuringo Gorilla Camp.

Day2: Gorilla Tracking Experience in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

Heavy breakfast followed by transfer to the park headquarters for briefing from the park officials about gorilla tracking experience. After entering into the jungle to search the shy mountain gorillas in their natural habitat, when you encounter the great apes relax and experience them for one hour entitled to spend viewing their lifestyle. This experience can be half or full-day depending on the primates’ movement in this tropical forest. Carry yourself the hiking shoes, hut, insect repellent, sunscreen, rain gear, packed lunch, mineral water, snacks, and other requirements that may be needed once in the tropical rain forest. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 3: Second Gorilla Trekking Adventure, Bwindi National Park

This is another day for the second gorilla trekking experience in Bwindi National Park! It is always more rewarding to visit a different gorilla family from the previous day. Return to your lodge for lunch, refreshment, and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi, a lava-dammed beautiful lake of wonders in Kabale, dinner and overnight at Bird Nest Resort, Arcadia cottages, or Byoona Amagala Island.

Day 4: Departure

Breakfast and hit the road back to Kampala with lunch in Mbarara town, arrive in Kampala late afternoon or early evening and our guide will transfer you to the airport to board your home flight.

End of the safari

10/3/14

4 Day Uganda Wildlife & Gorilla Tracking

Uganda Safari Highlights

bwindi-impenetrable-national-park The 4 days Uganda safari adventure goes to Bwindi Impenetrable National park for mountain gorilla tracking as well as a community tour to Batwa people (Pygmies), and then to Queen Elizabeth National Park for wildlife viewing and a fantastic boat cruise on the Kazinga channel that connects Lakes Edward and George. The tour is available for budget travelers in budget lodges, deluxe (Mid-range), and Luxury / superior lodges. The lodges in Bwindi Gorilla Park will include Gift of Nature Lodge, Gorilla Mist Camp, Bakiga Lodge, Mahogany springs lodge, Buhoma community rest camp. Queen Elizabeth lodges include Mweya safari lodge, Katara lodge, Twin lake safari lodge, Enganzi lodge, and Simba safari camp among others. Below is a detailed day by day safari itinerary;

Day 1: Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Breakfast and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable national park, a home for mountain gorillas in Africa. Expect enroute stop at the Equator for photographs, lunch in Mbarara town, proceed to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, check-in your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 2: Mountain Gorilla tracking – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

Breakfast and drive to the park headquarters with your packed lunch and water to be briefed about mountain gorilla tracking. Penetrate the Impenetrable Forest of Bwindi in search of these Gentle Giants, taking 2-7 hours depending on their movement in their natural habitat. Sight and stay is one hour maximum for observation and photographing. Enjoy them feeding, playing, and swinging on trees. Time permitting, enjoy a remarkable nature walk in the Batwa community (pygmies), dinner, and overnight stay at your lodge on DAY 1.

Day 3: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Tree Climbing lion spotting

tree-lions-queen-elezabeth-uganda Have breakfast and drive to Queen Elizabeth through the Ishasha sector where you may have a chance to see Tree-climbing lions alongside other animals like elephants, antelopes, and birds. Lunch in Ishasha, continue for an evening boat cruise along the Kazinga channel expecting to see water birds and many migratory species like shoebills, flamingoes plus wildlife like crocodiles, buffaloes among others. Return by sunset for dinner and overnight.

Day 4: Picnic drive back to Kampala.

Have a cup of tea and leave for the morning game drive around the park along Kasenyi Trail or Mweya Peninsular, expect an encounter with the African Elephants, Buffaloes, Lions, Antelopes, and many others. Return for breakfast and transfer to Kampala or Entebbe International Airport for your flight back home.

08/19/14

2 Days Budget Gorilla Tour in Uganda from Kigali

Safari highlights

The 2 days Uganda gorilla tour starts and ends in Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda. The tour goes to Bwindi impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Forest depending on your choice and availability of gorilla permits. It is just 4-5hours drive from Kigali to Bwindi or Mgahinga National Parks. The accommodation options we have include Wagtail Eco camp, Nkuringo Gorilla Camp, Nkuringo Campsite, Gift of Nature Lodge, Bakiga Lodge, Nshongi gorilla resort, and many others.

Detailed Itinerary

Day One: Kigali city tour, Transfer to Bwindi Gorilla Forest

gorilla-safari-uganda Pick up from the hotel after breakfast or Airport on arrival and proceed for a city tour in Kigali, visit Gisozi genocide memorial museum, later drive to Southern Bwindi Impenetrable forest or Mghinga National Park (3-5hrs). The journey goes through wonderful scenic views of majestic rolling hills that characterize much of Rwanda, enter Uganda through Cyanika or Katuna border, proceed through rolling hills, deep valleys, and winding roads of the Kigezi region, famously known as the Switzerland of Africa, check into your lodge, relax in the evening with a breathtaking view of the forest.

Day Two: Mountain Gorilla Tracking Adventures

Early heavy breakfast, drive to park headquarters (with packed lunch and water) for a briefing about gorilla tracking. Thereafter, join your trackers and head up the slopes of the Forest to visit one of the habituated groups of gorillas.

The trek in search for gorillas is quite strenuous, so you should be able to hike for 2-7 hours on steep and slippery mountain trails before meeting gorillas camouflaged in thick vegetation. Sight and stay with these gentle giants is for 1 hour. Return to the lodge for refreshment and hit the road back to Kigali where the tour ends.

End of the Tour

08/18/14

3 Day Uganda Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Forest

Safari Highlights

The 3-day Budget gorilla safari in Uganda goes to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, home to almost half of the world’s last remaining population of critically endangered mountain gorillas. You will have a stopover at the Equator for photographs, then visit the local communities such as the Batwa people (Pygmies) in addition to mountain gorilla trekking. We can get cheap accommodation at Wagtail Eco Camp, Nshongi Gorilla Resort, Buhoma community Rest Camp, Nkuringo Gorilla Camp, and Gift of Nature lodge among others. There are also many accommodation hotels and lodges around Kabale town such as Bunyonyi Overland Resort, Byona Amagala Guest House, and Arcadia cottages, Kisoro town has Kisoro Travelers Rest Hotel and Tourist Hotel among others.

Detailed Itinerary for the 3 Day gorilla safari in Uganda;

Day One: Kampala to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest or Mgahinga National Park

gorilla-tour-bwindi In the morning, meet at your hotel around Kampala, or at the airport on arrival, briefing about the 3 days gorilla safari and thereafter transfer to western Uganda via Masaka-Mbarara high way, stopover at the equator for an informative talk, snacks, and lifetime memory photos. Lunch en-route at Igongo cultural center or in Mbarara town.

After all those experiences and refreshment, drive to the impenetrable forest of Bwindi or Mgahinga in Kisoro (depending on your gorilla permits) via amazing stunning banana plantations, Ankole long-horned cattle, and other vegetation with a view of panoramic scenery that beautifies the Kigezi region into the “Switzerland of Africa”. Check in your lodge (as mentioned above) for your dinner and overnight.

Day Two: Gorilla Trekking Adventure

Heavy breakfast, then prepare for a briefing from the park officials about gorilla tracking. After entering into the jungle to search the shy mountain gorillas in their natural habitat, when you encounter the great apes relax and experience them for one hour entitled to spend viewing their lifestyle.

The trek can take half or full day depending on the gorilla movement in the forest. Carry yourself the hiking shoes, hut, insect repellent, sunscreen, rain gear, packed lunch, mineral water, snacks, and other requirements that may be needed once in the tropical rain forest. Return to the lodge for late lunch, if time allows, we can take a forest walk or community walk to nearby people, dinner, and overnight as on Day 1.

Day Three: Departure

Today, after our morning breakfast, we shall embark on our safari truck and trail back to Kampala with our lunch en-route, arrive in Kampala evening and our guide will transfer you to the airport to board your home flight or drop you off at your hotel around Kampala or Entebbe.

Alternatively, we can drive straight to Kigali the capital city of Rwanda, located a few hours drive via Katuna or Cyanika borders.