The road less traveled (hiking between Bwindi and Gahinga)
To get between many of the lodges in Uganda and Rwanda, you can utilize quick and easy flights on small planes, or travel much longer hours by road. However, between Bwindi Lodge and Mount Gahinga Lodge, you have the option of cutting out an 8+ hour drive, and replacing it with a hike through the Bwindi Impenabtrable Forest, followed by a 2 hour drive. This was a much cheaper option than the flight, and a much more exciting option than an 8 hour drive, so this is the path we utilized on our journey.
The hike through the forest is about 10 miles long, and it is all on an existing trail, so no bushwacking is required! The majority of the hike is fairly flat, with slight uphill and downhill grades throughout, and the setting is so lush and peaceful!
The last section of the trail is a series of switchbacks climbing right up the side of a mountain, so this portion of the trek was quite the challenge for many of the hikers, but by keeping a slow pace, and taking lots of breaks to rest, everyone was able to successfully complete the hike!
If you’re in top shape, the trek will usually take 3-4 hours. We took our time, letting a traveler with a bad knee set the pace, and our trek took just over 6 hours. This means our overall journey took about as long as it would have taken to drive the whole thing by car, but I would much rather spend my time on a beautiful trail than sitting in a car!
Adventure Life is always an excellent choice when planning complicated, extreme, or exotic vacations or expeditions. They provide friendly professional services and advice and are enthusiastic and encouraging in helping us to prepare and thoroughly enjoy our trip. They handle all the details which greatly reduces the stress of planning a difficult trip. I'm very impressed with Adventure Life and definitely recommend them to friends and family.
Scott Trochim
2 days ago
The response from Adventure Life to my first inquiry was prompt and promising. I worked with Jamie Broeckel, Trip Planner, via text, email, and phone calls- always extremely responsive and thorough with information and explaining the process to arrange a private tour for me to Malaysia Borneo. Within about week, the booking was complete and I made decisions because of Jamie's great customer service , friendly manner, and overall competence on behalf of the company's travel expertise. Now I have an itinerary, additional Trip Planner Assistants, several links for vital information for traveling to Maylasia, etc. Still many details for Sept. trip, but now the heavy lifting is done and I can enjoy the rest of the anticipation and research!! Thanks Jamie- you are amazing!!!!
Susan Campo
4 days ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
5 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.