3 Days Gorilla Trekking, Culture, and Wildlife Safari in Uganda

Day 1: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Early morning after breakfast at 7:00 a.m. your guide will pick you from the guesthouse/hotel and then leave for the South West of Uganda. You will have Lunch stop in Mbarara and from here you will continue the journey through Kabale District passing villages, cultivated farms, and hills before you reach in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Please note the choice of lodging will be determined by location of Gorilla family available at time of booking.

• Luxury: Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge (B,L,D)
• Budget: Trekkers Tervan Cottages/Ride4woman (B,D)

Day 2: Go gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

Today your guide will pick you up from your lodge, at 7:30 a.m. transfer to park gate (5-10 minutes). Pre-tracking orientation starts at 8:00 a.m. Trekking through the thick jungle, traversing canopies of thick undergrowth can be tough, wet, strenuous, but not impossible - the tracking can last from as little as 45 minutes to as much as 10 hours. The activity depends on location of gorillas the previous day. Visitors therefore are supposed to move along with packed/picnic lunch and water, and should be equipped with strong water-proof clothing and must be averagely healthy.

Please note that after gorilla tracking, you can drive two and half hours to Lake Bunyonyi for chilling, relaxation and overnight by the Lake Bunyonyi R Resort.

Day 3: Transfer back to Kampala or Entebbe

After breakfast, you drive back to Kampala (drive time is six to eight hours).

Notes

This trip can start on any day, but subject to gorilla permit availability. In the peak season (June, July, August, September, December, January, and February), allow a minimum of 30 days for gorilla permit confirmation.

For low season (March, April, May, October & November), allow 2 days for gorilla permit confirmation. So you can confirm bookings within a two-day notice.

To go on a gorilla trek, you need a gorilla permit/license which Chigo Tours can arrange for you. Chigo Tourscan only purchase your gorilla permit after you have made a down-payment. Gorilla permits are competitive on a daily basis, advance booking is always preferred.

Please note the gorilla tracking in this itinerary can be done in Bwindi and or Mgahinga National Parks. Gorilla tracking is dependent on the permits availability at the time of your booking. Gorilla permits in all parks are on a very high demand and you advise that you book them as early as possible.

Gorilla trekking takes place at altitudes 1160 to 2607m (3806 to 8553ft) above sea level. This means that moderate/average physical fitness is required. The slowest member will determine the groups’ speed. The pace will be moderate, with plenty stops to rest, ask questions, re-hydrate and enjoy the forest and views.

• Gorilla trekking can be strenuous activity and minimum gorilla tracking age is 15 years.
• What to bring: Hiking shoes/walking shoes, long socks to tuck-in long pants , rain wear, warm clothing, evenings can be cold/chilly, gloves preferably gardening type are very helpful and insect repellant.
• Anyone with signs of communicable diseases will not be allowed to trek.
• Maximum time allowed with the gorillas will not exceed one hour, you are kindly requested to practice different modes of using your camera in different light situations.
• Gorillas can sometimes be moving, Forest vegetation can at times obstruct visibility, and hence taking photos of these creatures can be very challenging.
• The standard offering is a 4WD with pop-up roof for easy safari viewing. All passengers will have a dedicated window seat. Your driver/guide will be at your disposal for questions.

Bwindi Gorilla Impenetrable Forest National Park is about 330sq kms, with spectacular scenery, impressive forest views. The whole geographical scenery is basically hilly and mountainous. At an elevation between 1160 to 2607m (3806 to 8553ft) rains can shower anytime in Bwindi Forest, it is recommended that visitors pack rain wear, waterproof clothing, and appropriate hiking shoes to wear on during gorilla tracking or forest walks. Daytime temperatures range from 23C/73F at times dropping to as low as 11C/52F

There are 15 gorilla families which have been habituated for gorilla viewing, all of which can be accessed from specific locations/sectors of the forest. Eight people are permitted to view a single family per day. To trek gorillas you need a gorilla permit/license. Gorilla licenses are booked by location not by the name of a gorilla family. There are four starting gates namely; in North at Buhoma, in the East at Ruhija and in the South at Rushaga and South West at Nkuringo.

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Optional activities at Lake Bunyonyi include:

• Boat ride to Punishment Island - look out for “akampene” - the punishment island - where until 1940’s unmarried pregnant girls were dropped and left to die helplessly or starve to death, some drown trying to swim ashore; they were often saved my poor men who could not afford pride price. It was a taboo to be pregnant before the recommended marriage age. Costs 15 USD per person.
• Boat ride to traditional healer’s village. Experience how traditional African medicine is integrated into modern medicine. The healer not only treats the sick, but uses his knowledge to conserve and educate about the various medicinal plants if time. Costs 40 USD per person.
• Hiking to view islands of lake Bunyonyi (10 USD) per person
• Self-canoeing, (5 USD) depends on skill
• Guided canoeing, (18 USD) takes 1 hour
• High ropes course and zip lining, (30 USD) per person, takes 1.5 to 2 hours
• Guided bird watching, learn about common bird species of the lake. (20 USD per person). Lake Bunyonyi is a known to be a place of so many little small birds. It’s possible to have an early morning guided bird watching.

• 4×4 transport with gas
• Gorilla permit (600 USD)
• English speaking driver guide
• 2 nights' accommodation
• Activities as indicated on the itinerary
• Full board (dinner, breakfast, packed lunch on tracking date as indicated on itinerary)
• Park fees

• Air ticket
• Rwanda/Uganda visa
• Tips for guides
• Any meals not indicated on itinerary, drinks, tips, items of personal nature
• Entertainment, any other optimal activity

• A reservation requires a deposit of 40% of the total price.
• The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
• The rest of the payment should be paid on departure.