5 Days Gorillas and Game Safari

OVERVIEW

5 Days / 4 Nights

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-Day Gorillas and Game Safari starts and ends in Entebbe.

ITINERARY

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 the Kigezi region

Evening/Accommodation

You will be welcomed by the staff and check in at the lodge for relaxation and overnight

Main Destination: 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: Drinking Water
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: 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: All Meals Included

Drinks: Drinking Water
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 relax

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: 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: All Meals Included

Drinks: Drinking Water
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: 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: All Meals Included

Drinks: Drinking Water
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 a Hotel in Kampala or Entebbe depending on your next program

Main Destination: Entebbe

Accommodation: End of Tour, No accommodation

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Drinks: Mineral Water

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: 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 impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park

Gorilla trekking Regions: 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: Please ensure you have comfortable walking/ hiking shoes that can handle the terrain in Bwindi, a rain Jacket, gloves, Camera, Binoculars,

Age Limit: The Minimum age for gorilla trekking in Uganda is 15 years and above, please ensure all travelers are aged 15years and above.

Accommodation Options: Please choose the accommodation that suits your budget, Bwindi has all options of Budget, Midrange and Luxury.

Means of Transport: 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 Land Cruisers. All vehicles are comfortable with enough leg room, AC and are driven by our professional driver guides.

Best time to visit: Bwindi can be visited all year round for gorilla trekking, The most prefered 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.

Chances of Seeing the Gorillas: 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 cultural experience, Nature walks, Community visits. All these can supplement your gorilla trek in Bwindi.

Trip cost estimate: 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: Bwindi impenetrable National Park is a UNESCO world heritage site, with half of the worlds gorilla population, it has more than 20 Habituated gorilla families in regions of Buhoma, Rushaga, Ruhija and Nkuringo.

PRICING PER PERSON

1 Person	USD 2,820
2 Persons	USD 1,975
3 Persons	USD 1,920
4 Persons	USD 1,790
5 Persons	USD 1,775
6 Persons	USD 1,625

Cost Includes: Airport transfers, gorilla permit, game drives, transport in a 4×4 safari vehicle, fuel for the round trip, services of an English-speaking driver guide, all park entry fees, and drinking water in the vehicle.

Cost excludes visa fees, and all expenses of personal nature such as drinks, tips, or simply anything else not included in the itinerary.