Overview
5 Days 4 Nights From $1,975 per person
Rates are per person and based on 2 people sharing 1 room
Excluding international flights (from/to your home country)
This 5 Days Gorillas and Game Safari will take you to Queen Elizabeth National Park for game drives and a boat cruise on the Kazinga channel, that connect Lake George and lake Edward in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda. This Channel has the highest concentration of Hippos in the whole world, with over 700 species of birds. On a ‘good’ day, a cruise along the Kazinga Channel can expose you to more wildlife than you can find on any given game drive. You will then visit the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park where you will have a chance to trek one of the habituated families of mountain gorillas. This 5 Days Gorillas and Game Safari starts and ends in Entebbe
Highlights
- You’ll visit Uganda
- This tour starts and ends in Entebbe (Uganda)
- You’ll visit Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park, southwestern Uganda
- Activities:Â Gorilla tracking and Wildlife Viewing
- Getting around: Open-sided 4×4 vehicle and pop-up roof 4×4 vehicle easy for wildlife Viewing
- A transfer from and back to the airport (or hotel) is included
- Additional accommodation before the tour departs and on the last day of the tour can be arranged but an extra cost
Things To Note
- Accommodation is Inclusive
- Tour Can Depart any day
- Tour can be customized
- Solo travelers can join this tour
- Age Limit: 15 years and above for Gorilla trekking Experience
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Detailed Itinerary
Arrival
- You’ll be picked up from the airport (or hotel)
- Accommodation before the tour departs can be arranged for extra cost
DAY 1: Pick up and Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Morning/Transfer
After Breakfast, you will drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Your guide will make a stopover at the Equator crossing in Kayabwe for photography, a brief talk and some experiments and then proceed with your journey
- Afternoon
You will have a stop in Mbarara city for lunch and then proceed with a scenic drive past banana plantations, farms and the beautiful hills of Kigezi region
- Evening/Accommodation
You will be welcomed by the staff and check in at the lodge for relaxation and overnight
Main Destination:Â Bwindi Impenetrable National Forest
Accommodation:
Budget: Rushaga Havens Lodge/Bakiga Lodge/Ride 4 A Woman
Mid Range: 4 Gorillas Lodge/Gorilla Leisure Lodge
Luxury: Gorilla Heights Lodge/Buhoma Lodge/Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge/Kiho Lodge
Meals: Lunch & Dinner (Breakfast Not Included)
Drinks:Â Drinking Water
DAY 2: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi National Park
- Morning/Briefing
After an early morning breakfast, with your packed lunch, your guide will drive you to the Park Headquarters for registration and briefing at about 7:45 am. You will be briefed about what to expect while on your gorilla trek, the do’s and dont’s of gorilla trekking.
- Trek and Observation
Your guides will lead you through the thick creepers and undergrowth as you trek to find the Gorillas. This trek can take you half an hour to three quarters of the day. The steeply forested landscape is incredibly dense but crisscrossed by numerous animal trails allowing access to tourists. The amount of time you take during the trek largely depends on the movement of the gorillas. But it is an extraordinary feeling being with these beautiful yet endangered Creatures.
- Evening/Accommodation
You will later return at the park headquarters for your certificate that shows you have successfully trekked gorillas, your driver will transfer you to the lodge for relaxation and overnight
Main Destination:Â Bwindi Impenetrable National Forest
Accommodation:
Budget: Rushaga Havens Lodge/Bakiga Lodge/Ride 4 A Woman
Mid Range: 4 Gorillas Lodge/Gorilla Leisure Lodge
Luxury: Gorilla Heights Lodge/Buhoma Lodge/Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge/Kiho Lodge
Meals:Â All Meals Included
Drinks:Â Drinking Water
DAY 3: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Morning/Transfer
After breakfast, you will depart for Queen Elizabeth National Park located in Western Uganda you will have several stops along the way for photography passing through the banana and tea plantations
- Afternoon
You will arrive at the lodge in time for Lunch at Elephant Hab or Buffalo safari lodge. After, lunch, you will check-in at the lodge and have a moment to relaxation
- Evening
You will embark on your vehicle for an evening game drive in the Savannah plains of Kasenyi. At the Kasenyi plains, you will sport herds of buffaloes, elephants, antelopes and some big cuts such as lions and leopards can be spotted based on sheer luck. Return to your lodge for overnight.
Main Destination:Â Queen Elizabeth National Park
Accommodation:
Budget: Bush Lodge
Mid Range: Buffalo safari lodge/ Elephant Hab Lodge/ Parkside safari lodge
Luxury: Elephant Plains Lodge/ Kyambura Gorge Lodge
Meals:Â All Meals Included
Drinks:Â Drinking Water
DAY 4: Morning Game drive and afternoon boat cruise on Kazinga Channel
- Morning
This morning you will head back to the Plains of Kasenyi for yet another a morning Game drive to try and find what you could have missed during the previous Game drive, you will have an opportunity of seeing the morning raisers while on this game drive
- Afternoon
You will drive to the lodge for hot lunch and after lunch, will head to the jetty along Kazinga channel for the afternoon boat cruise. This cruise offers you chances of viewing animals like: hippos, elephants, buffaloes, crocodiles and many species of water birds.
- Evening/Accommodation
You will return at the lodge and spend the evening at leisure followed by dinner and overnight at the lodge
Main Destination:Â Queen Elizabeth National Park
Accommodation:
Budget: Bush Lodge
Mid Range: Buffalo safari lodge/ Elephant Hab Lodge/ Parkside safari lodge
Luxury: Elephant Plains Lodge/ Kyambura Gorge Lodge
Meals:Â All Meals Included
Drinks:Â Drinking Water
DAY 5: To Kampala/Entebbe or Airport
- Morning/Transfer
After morning breakfast, you will bid farewell to the lodge and drive back to Kampala/Entebbe International Airport to end the tour
- Afternoon
You will have a stop for lunch at Kayabwe and later proceed your return journey to Entebbe or Kampala
- Evening
You will be transferred at Entebbe international airport or Hotel in Kampala or Entebbe depending on your next program
Main Destination:Â Entebbe
Accommodation:Â End of Tour, No accommodation
Meals:Â Breakfast & Lunch
Drinks:Â Mineral Water
End of Tour
- Additional accommodation can be arranged at an extra cost
- You’ll be dropped off at the airport (or hotel)
COST PER PERSON SHARING
| Persons | Date | Price per person |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Person | Any date | USD2820.00 |
| 2 Persons | Any date | USD1975.00 |
| 3 Persons | Any date | USD1920 |
| 4 Persons | Any date | USD1790 |
| 5 Persons | Any date | USD1775 |
| 6 Persons | Any date | USD1625 |
Cost Includes
- Airport transfers on first and last day,
- Transport in a 4×4 safari vehicle
- Services of an English-speaking driver guide
- Uganda Gorilla permit of USD800 per person per trek
- Fuel for the whole trip
- Accommodation and meal plan as per the itinerary
- All park entrance fees
- Drinking water while in the vehicle
- Hand Sanitizers
Cost excludes
- Pre and post tour accommodation in Entebbe or Kampala
- International airfares
- Uganda Visa (USD50.00 which can be paid on arrival at the Airport
- Items of personal nature such as tips, drinks, and laundry
- Face Mask Model N95
Things to consider
- Gorilla permits: We encourage you to book gorilla permits in advance so that we secure your trekking spot. Gorilla permits are served on first come first serve at Uganda wildlife Authority. Please contact us so that we book them for you.
- Cost of the gorilla permit:Â The gorilla permits in Uganda cost USD800 for Non-Foreign residents, USD700 for East African Foreign Residents, USD500 for Rest of Africa Residents and UGX300,000 for East African Citizens, cost applies for trekking in Both Bwindi impentrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park
- Gorilla trekking Regions:Â Bwindi has 4 gorilla trekking sectors namely Buhoma, Ruhaga, Nkuringo and Ruhija. We shall book for you accommodation in respect to the permits location.
- Physical Fitness: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi can be physically demanding, a certain level of fitness will be required, please ensure you are in good health and have a certain level of fitness before you leave your country.
- Packing List:Â Please ensure you have comfortable walking/ hiking shoes that can handle the terrain in Bwindi, a rain Jacket, gloves, Camera, Binoculars,
- Age Limit:Â The Minimum age for gorilla trekking in Uganda is 15 years and above, please ensure all travelers are aged 15years and above.
- Accommodation Options:Â Please choose the accommodation that suits your budget, Bwindi has all options of Budget, Midrange and Luxury.
- Means of Transport:Â You can opt to fly or drive to Bwindi, Flights take 1-2 hours, and driving takes 8-9 hours drive to Bwindi. For budget clients, we recommend use of safari vans, then others can opt for Safari Landcruisers. All vehicles are comfortable with enough leg room, AC and are driven by our professional driver guides.
- Best time to visit:Â Bwindi can be visited all year round for gorilla trekking, The most preffered time is June to September, December to February because they are the drier months of the year.
- Gorilla trekking Regulations: Uganda Wildlife Authority has rules and regulations to adhere while on your gorilla trek, See regulations here.
- Chances of Seeing the Gorillas:Â Â The chances of seeing gorillas are 98% because there are trackers who follow the movement of gorillas on a daily basis, they communicate to the Park guides and you walk in the direction they are.
- Choose a gorilla family: You can choose your preferred gorilla family of the day of the trek, if you prefer a close/ easy trek due to your fitness level, please request it and communicate to your guide.
- Gorilla Habituation experience: Bwindi has an option of spending 4 hours with the gorillas called gorillas habituation, the is only possible when you book a gorilla permit that costs USD1500 for Non- foreign residents, USD1000 for East African Residents, and UGX750,000 for East African Citizens
- Other activities: There are several activities you can do in Bwindi namely Birding, Batwa cutural experience, Nature walks, Community visits. All these can suppliment your gorilla trek in Bwindi.
- Trip cost estimate:Â The cost of the 3day gorilla tour ranges from USD1300 to USD2860 per person, based on your travel style which is Budget to Luxury. The cost Includes gorilla permit, accommodation, Meals, transport, and all services.
- About Bwindi:Â Bwindi impenetrable National Park is a UNESCO world heritage site, with half of the worlds gorilla population, it has more than 20 Habituated gorilla famillies in regions of Buhoma, Rushaga, Ruhija and Nkuringo.
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STANDARD: 4X4 SAFARI VAN
Our standard mode of transport is by road and we use 4×4 Safari Vans customized for game viewing and photography. Each safari van comes with a professionally trained driver guide and fuel for the whole safari. Our Safari vans have viewing hatches and each client is entitled to a window seat. Our Vans can take up to eight people. We also have 4×4 Super Customs very comfortable and stable on the road. These carry up to 5 people with their luggage. We also have 4×4 RAV 4 for a group of two people
UPGRADE: 4X4 LUXURY SAFARI LANDCRUISER
We have luxury latest Land cruisers each driven by professionally trained driver guides and fuel. They have pop-up roofs for proper game viewing and photography. They come with a small fridge for cooling your drinking water while on safari (which is always included while IN THE VEHICLE). They have inverters for charging small gadgets such as your smartphones and cameras. They can seat five to a maximum of seven people and each client is guaranteed of a window seat.
