7 Day Meeting the Great Apes Gorilla Trekking and Wildlife Experience in Uganda
Gorilla Trekking in Uganda
On this remarkable Uganda Great Apes and Big Game safari experience, you will trek through the mist-shrouded mountain forest of Bwindi where you meet the endangered Mountain Gorillas, the biggest of the 4 world’s Great Apes. Bwindi National Park is a world-class tourist destination recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi ranks as one of Africa’s most remarkable safari encounters and the adventurous trekking through this misty forest is dreamlike. You will also explore the golden-yellow savannas of Queen Elizabeth on a game-viewing encounter, the park is a premier destination for game safaris with the Mweya Peninsular and Katwe plains known for hosting a medley of wildlife while the assortment of habitats with idyllic craters and the tree climbing lions of Ishasha sector offer a great scene for photography.
Key information
- Starting point: Entebbe
- Ending point: Kampala
- Languages spoken: English
Highlights
- Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Game drives and boat safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Rhino tracking in Ziwa
- 4X4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof for wildlife viewing and photography
- Roundtrip transfers as well as airport pick and drop-off
- 6 nights accommodation during the tour
- Meals, fruits picnic/onboard and drinking bottled water in the car
Styles
Accommodation
You will stay 2 nights at Grand Imperial Hotel Kampala, 2 nights at Rushaga Gorilla Lodge and 2 nights at Rushaga Gorilla Lodge.
Program
Day 1
Pick-up from the airport on the day of arrival, meet and greet from the company guide, and transfer to the hotel for relaxation.
- Optional: Depending on your feelings, you may opt for a tour at Botanical Gardens Entebbe or Kampala City.
- Overnight: Grand Imperial | Imperial Botanical Hotel
- Meal plan: Dinner
Day 2
Departure from the hotel in EBB after breakfast or have breakfast en-route at the equator. You will also have a break at the Equator for snapshots and a simple tour. Continue west of the country and have another lunch stop in Mbarara before heading southwestern Uganda to Bwindi.
- Note: Departure at 6:30 am and because of the early start if guests aren’t okay with early breakfast, it is strongly recommended to have it en route at the Equator point on the way to Bwindi). Travel time Approx. 8-9 hours
- Overnight: Rushaga Gorilla Lodge (mid-range)
- Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Note: accommodation option may be adjusted depending on which sector gorillas will be tracked.
Day 3
After breakfast, prepare for a thrilling adventure of encountering the biggest members of the World’s Great Apes. With your lunch boxes, the guide will transfer you to the park reception area, where you receive a briefing about the trekking etiquette from the park ranger. At around 08:30, prepare your gadgets to capture the best moments and enter the forested depths of Bwindi for an adventurous trek of the Mountain Gorillas. The forest is home to a number of wildlife species like birds, mammals and other primates that you may come across.
- Tracking lasts about 3-6 hours depending on factors like the pace of trackers, the condition of the forest, and the location of the gorilla group from the trailhead, etc.
- Overnight: Rushaga Gorilla Lodge (mid-range)
- Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 4
Early departure from Bwindi transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park, you will pass through the remote but famous Ishasha sector known for the tree-climbing lions. You will be able to see some wildlife and time permitting you can take on a game drive in the sector for a chance to see the tree lions.
- Approximate journey time is 3-5 hours depending on the location of the gorilla trekking
- Departure time: 6:40 a.m.
- Overnight: Marafiki Safari Lodge (mid-range)
- Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 5
After breakfast, go for a morning game drive in the park around the Kasenyi plains or Mweya where you will be able to see variety of wildlife species both small and big game. The morning presents high chances to see the wildlife as they feed on fresh grasses as well as spot the predators before they return to their hide-outs. Have a lunch break at Mweya from 12:30-1:30 p.m.
In the afternoon at 2 pm, you will take on a fascinating launch trip along the beautiful Kazinga channel crammed with a lot of wildlife like hippos, elephants, buffalos, and water-birds seen along the shores.
- Overnight: Marafiki Safari Lodge (mid-range)
- Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 6
Transfer to Kampala after breakfast, on a scenic journey from the western part of the country. When you arrive you stay at the hotel in Kampala.
- Approximate journey time: 6 hours
- Overnight: Grand Imperial Hotel Kampala
- Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 7
Start-off with an early departure (6:20 am) after breakfast, transfer to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary where you will take on a rhino tracking experience on foot with a ranger guide. The tracking lasts about 2-3 hours and this is the only place in Uganda where you get chance to see these members (rhinos) of the African Big Five. Later have lunch and return to Kampala with a drop at the hotel or Entebbe for your return flight.
- Meal plan: Breakfast and lunch
- Please book return flights that depart after 21:00
Location
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Though it’s one of Uganda’s smallest parks, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park brags about its identity as a world class tourist destination, sought after by travelers and other African holidaymakers because of its prestigious heritage. The national park is located in the southwestern part of the country, at the edge of the Rift Valley and covers an area of over 321 km2.
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth is Uganda’s second largest national park and protected area covering over 1,978 km2, with the great Rwenzori Mountains towering in its background. The park is adjoined by lakes Edward and George, blended with spectacular craters, rolling savannas, and humid forests supporting an enormous population of wildlife. It is a popular tourist destination situated close to Semliki, Kibale Forest and Rwenzori National Parks found just about a 6-7 hour drive from Kampala city.
Food
Meals as itinerary details, drinking bottled water in the car and fruits picnic/onboard are included in the price.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Drinks
The following drinks are included:
- Water
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
What's included
- 2 game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Boat safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park
- All activities unless labeled as optional
- Rhino tracking in Ziwa
- Gorilla trekking permit
- Professional English-speaking guide
- Ground transportation in a 4X4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof for wildlife viewing and photography
- Roundtrip transfers
- Airport pick and drop-off
- 6 nights accommodation during the tour
- Meals as itinerary details
- Drinking bottled water in the car
- Wi-Fi on board
- Fruits picnic/onboard
- All applicable Gov’t VATs
What's not included
- Accommodation on the last day of the tour (can be arranged on request if necessary)
- Tips, gratuities, laundry and any personal expenses
- Air tickets (can be arranged on request)
- Personal insurance cover
- Meal/foods and beverages outside meal plan and premium/alcoholic drinks
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 14% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid on arrival.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through BookAllSafaris.com. All major credit cards supported.