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Gorilla tracking

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Example 8 Day Tour
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On an 8-day excursion into the Kibale Forest Area's wild, look for the chimpanzee, one of the 13 species of primates that live there and one of the most well-known in the world. Launching a private boat on the Kazinga Channel is one of the most exciting parts of any safari in Uganda. This allows you to unwind and take it all in while watching a variety of birds and animals and enjoying the cool river breeze. Enjoy a game drive while discovering more of the Ishasha Sector, and keep a lookout for lions that can climb trees. Track from the area where the gorillas were spotted the previous evening by hiking into the forest. When gorillas are found, they experience the most profound natural history in the world.
A Chimp nibbles on some grassGorilla TrackingWitness some amazing birds in Africa such as the Grey Headed KingfisherBaby lion cubEnjoy an excursion while on your African adventureLion in the grassGorilla tracking
Highlights
  • Trek in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, which is a home for gorillas
  • Experience a private boat launch in Kazinga and enjoy the cool river breeze
  • Enjoy a game drive through the Ishasha sector and watch out for lions.
  • Spot chimpanzees on a guided forest trip at Kibale Forest
Places Visited
Activity Level: Relaxed
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
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Full Itinerary

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Day 1: Arrive in Entebbe

After arriving in Entebbe, you will be greeted and taken to the Karibu Guesthouse (10 min transfer). Entebbe is a calm, 35 kilometers from the busy Kampala is a green community.

Day 2: Kibale Forest Area

 After a nice breakfast, make your way to Entebbe to catch your scheduled aircraft to Kasese. Your driver guide and private 4x4 safari vehicle will be waiting for you when you arrive for a scenic transfer to the Fort Portal/Kibale Forest area. You will ascend and enter a stunning rural area where tea is cultivated in the lower foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains, also known as the Mountains of the Moon, after leaving Kasese in the Rift Valley. Arrive at the lodge, which is situated on a thriving vanilla estate and at the edge of Nyinambuga crater lake, after driving past lovely tea estates in Kyenjojo, in the lower foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains, the Mountains of the Moon.

Day 3: Kibale Forest Area

Take your breakfast early and prepare yourself for your first trek. The Kibale Forest is 50 minutes away, and the drive there is really beautiful. A guided forest trip brings us in search of one of the most well-known primate species in the world, the chimpanzee, which is one of the 13 kinds of primates that call the forest home. The likelihood of seeing chimpanzees is more than 95%, but sightings are not guaranteed. Bird music can be heard as you go through the dense, verdant forest that abounds, and the black and white colobus, red-tailed monkey, and gray-cheeked mangabey are frequently seen. Because of the well-maintained pathways and the mostly flat landscape, walking is rather simple. Spend an hour observing the chimps after you've found them, taking pictures, and quietly asking the UWA ranger about their behaviors.

Continue to Mr. John Tinka's neighboring house after returning to the park's administrative center. He and his family lovingly prepare a lunch of several Ugandan delicacies for guests at their property. The Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, the Bigodi Community Walk, and lunch at Tinka's house are examples of his efforts to promote sustainable tourism in his community. Tinka is a well-known community leader in the Bigodi neighborhood, close to Kibale Forest National Park. At his home, Tinka hosts a well-prepared traditional Ugandan lunch in an outdoor banda. You will not only be able to sample a traditional Ugandan meal, but Tinka will also describe each dish and provide background information on the farming practices, harvesting practices, and culinary skills used to make the meal. 

Day 4: Queen Elizabeth National Park | Kazinga Channel

Make your way to the Great African Rift Valley after breakfast, then continue on to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The park is situated in a fertile tropical valley. The size of Uganda's most well-known and accessible savannah reserve is 78 km2. Green savannahs, lush papyrus marshes, a naturally occurring volcanic crater, and lakes surrounded by rain forests line its borders. With 95 known mammal species in the biggest game reserve in the world, it consequently has one of the highest ratings for biodiversity of any, with about 610 distinct bird species. Savor a sumptuous lunch at the famous Mweya Safari Lodge before the launch of a private boat on the Kazinga Channel in the afternoon. A highlight of any safari in Uganda, the launch excursion offers the chance to unwind and take it all in while taking in the cool river breeze and a variety of birds and animals. After that, continue game viewing through Queen Elizabeth National Park's southern Ishasha sector until you reach a wonderful sundowner location with a view of the savannahs. You can have dinner and spend the night in your typical tented safari camp close to the Ntungwe River.

Day 5: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Get up early to embark on a game drive through more of the Ishasha Sector, keeping a watch out for lions that can climb trees. Then, travel to Kihihi village and then to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Overlooking the river and the forest in the distance, is our cozy lodging for the night.

This majestic, luxuriant forest, known as Bwindi, sprawls across the Albertine Rife Valley's steep slopes. One of the few ecosystems in Africa that survived the previous Ice Age was the rainforest, which is regarded as one of the woodlands of Africa that have the most biological variety. At least 90 species are found in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. One of the greatest in Uganda for forest birding, with 23 species of birds and a variety of animal species, including 11 primates, Albertine Rift endemics with a narrow range. Mountain gorillas are recognized for inhabiting Bwindi; there are thought to be 480 of them residing there, making it home to little more than half of the world's population and more than 15 groupings. An experience unmatched, most possibly across all of Africa, is gazing deeply into the expressive brown eyes of these gentle giants.

Make sure to get a decent night's sleep before your first gorilla hike tomorrow!
 

Day 6-7: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After enjoying your breakfast, you will proceed to the Park Headquarters at Rushaga for a 45 minute drive and meet with excellent local UWA guides and trackers who will give share a talk on the etiquette of gorilla trekking. Afterwards, you will hike into the forest where the gorillas were seen the night before and track from that point. The trek can last anywhere between one and six hours, and the highest point won't be higher than 7,500 feet. The ground is occasionally muddy and rocky. Despite the hike's strenuous physical requirements, the beauty of surrounding nature and vistas makes the journey worthwhile.

All tiredness is forgotten once the gorillas are found, since the experience is commonly quoted as the most dramatic natural history encounter in the entire world. There are provided picnic meals, but it's always a good idea to pack lots of water. Lots of memory cards, spare batteries, and cameras or lenses with good low-light performance are strongly advised. Since rain can fall at any time, waterproof clothing is a smart idea, along with zip-top dry bags for cameras and other equipment.

Note : On Day 6 you have an option for a guided scenic hike to a waterfall inside Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The trail is good for
a variety of monkeys, birding and general forest scenery and crosses the Muyaga River several times on the ascent to the 33m-high waterfall. Swimming is permitted at the bottom of the waterfall and is often required after what can be a hot hike.
 

Day 8: Return to Entebbe

  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch
Leave the lodge this morning at 7:30 in order to make the approximately one-hour drive to Kisoro airstrip for your scheduled flight back to Entebbe, where you may then depart for home after enjoying a nice lunch in town (or packing a lunch depending on departure schedules).
 
Note: For departures in the evening, day rooms may be booked for an extra fee. There are also day trips offered to places like the Botanical Gardens, Mabmaba Wetlands, and more.

Accommodations

Ndali Lodge

Ndali Lodge
Ndali Lodge
Ndali Hotel

Karibu Guesthouse

Ishasha Wilderness Camp

Mahogany Springs Lodge

Dates & Prices

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Per person starting at
$5,132 2-3 travelers

Notes

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Included
  • 7 Breakfasts, 7 Lunches, 6 Dinners
  • 7 Nights Accommodations
  • Accommodations as listed
  • Ground transportation as listed
  • Activities as listed
  • Meals as listed
  • Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
  • Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Entrance Fee
  • Professional, experienced drivers, and guides
  • Emergency International communications
  • Courtesy bag which includes tea, coffee, biscuits, and paper napkins
  • Drinking water in vehicles ONLY
Excluded
  • Gratuities
  • Travel Insurance
  • Personal Expenses
  • Flight costs (please request a quote)
  • Additional excursions during free time
  • Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)
  • Insurance (AMREF is available in Uganda for $30 per person, please request in advance)
  • EBB-Kasese flight: $273 per person
    Kihihi-EBB flight: $273 per person
    85 kgs body weight limit and 15 kgs luggage weight limit per seat) *subject to fuel surcharges/levies
  • These excursions are non-refundable:
    Chimp habituation: $300 per permit
    Chimp trek (AM or PM): $250 per permit, per trek
    Kyambura Gorge hike: $100 per permit
    Gorilla trek: $800 per permit, per trek
    Golden monkey hike: $100 per permit
    Optional pre-paid gorilla trekking porters: $30 per porter, per hike (salary + tip included)
    UCP: $220 per lion tracking

Map

When to Go

Jan
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Jun
Jul
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Oct
Nov
Dec
Good to ideal period to travel, and many people choose to visit at this time.
Chance for unpredictable weather but with fewer visitors.

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Our guide and driver were very good with their knowledge and were very helpful with our questions. It was a very pleasant visit that would have been impossible to do on our own. Hotels and restaurants were fantastic. The special places we got to go to, like the kitchens, were great. Enjoyed the entire trip!
Meyer Smolen
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