- Information
- Tour Plan
- Gallery
- Similar Safaris
- Packing & Notes
What's included
- 1 Gorilla tracking permit per person
- Accommodation as mentioned in the itinerary
- Bottled drinking water throughout the safari
- English-speaking driver/guide
- Ground transportation in 4WD safari car
- Meals indicated in the itinerary
- Park / Activity Fees
- International flights
- Personal expenses
- Personal travel insurance
- Services not specifically stated in the itinerary
- Tips and gratuities
- Visa fees
From the hot savannah lowland of Queen Elizabeth to the chill highland of Kigezi. While in the Savannah you will be able to look extensively at the vastness around you, the thick rain forests of Bwindi and Mgahinga will engulf you and limit your field of sight to a few hundred metres – and at times less.
The Kigezi highlands provide a certain aura of authenticity, a serene environment and star-filled skies, with the coolest temperatures (literally and metaphorically) – you will probably feel right at home. For the most life-changing experience, the Gorillas in Bwindi and Mgahinga National Parks coupled with lodging in or on the borders of the rain forests will be exhilarating.
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Drive To Queen Elizabeth National Park
You will start the tour in Kampala, where you will meet your driver-guide at 8:00 am. Drive west towards Queen Elizabeth National Park through the volcanic formations of the Western Rift Valley, with a stopover at the Equator for photos. The descent into Queen Elizabeth National Park reveals a stunning panorama of Lake George and Lake Edward, amidst game-filled plains.
In the evening, you will enjoy a unique 2-hour boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel and into Lake Edward. The launch cruise passes through possibly the highest hippo concentration in Africa and many mammals may be seen drinking at the water's edge.
The cruise also offers an excellent platform for photography and game viewing. The birdlife is colourful and abundant.
ACCOMMODATION:
Budget: Simba Safari Camp
Midrange: Mweya Safari Lodge
Luxury: Kyambura Gorge Lodge
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Morning Game drive, Tranfer to Bwindi
Queen Elizabeth National Park's diverse ecosystems of grassy plains, tropical forests, rivers, swamps, lakes and volcanic craters provide a home to an incredible abundance of wildlife.
An early morning walk in the spectacular Kyambura Gorge provides excellent opportunities to view chimpanzees, l’Hoest’s, red colobus, black and white colobus monkeys and more.
After lunch, you will drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The drive will go through the hilly and breathtaking Kigezi highlands - commonly referred to as the 'Switzerland of Africa' - because of their undulating majesty. You will reach your accommodation in Bwindi just in time for a relaxing evening and overnight stay.
ACCOMMODATION:
Budget: Buhoma Community Rest Camp
Midrange: Engagi Lodge
Luxury: Bwindi Lodge
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi
Begin your day very early and head to the park headquarters. This is where your gorilla tracking will start. After a briefing by the park officials about the gorilla trekking, you will head-on into the deep rain forest.
Tracking the gorillas can take anything from 1 hour to half a day. Along the way, you will walk and hike through the thick and lush forest with so many other varieties of wildlife. Your guide will tell you all about gorillas and how their daily lives and why they are fascinating.
When you finally meet the gorillas, you will spend 1 hour with the gorillas. During this hour, you will watch and photograph the gorillas. Observing these shy and peaceful animals is a rare, moving, and exciting experience.
ACCOMMODATION:
Budget: Buhoma Community Rest Camp
Midrange: Engagi Lodge
Luxury: Bwindi Lodge
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Drive from Bwindi to Kidepo
Drive through the terraced hillsides and winding roads of the Kigezi Highlands, an area also known as the "Switzerland of Africa", to Kisoro.
ACCOMMODATION:
Budget: Travellers Rest Hotel
Midrange: Mutanda Lake Resort
Luxury: Mount Gahinga Lodge
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Gorilla Trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla NP
Tracking gorillas in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. This provides a simply amazing chance to see the endangered and fascinating mountain gorillas.
ACCOMMODATION:
Budget: Travellers Rest Hotel
Midrange: Mutanda Lake Resort
Luxury: Mount Gahinga Lodge
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Golden Monkey Tracking in Mgahinga
While still in Mgahinga, track the incredibly jolly golden monkeys. Golden monkeys, like mountain gorillas, are yet another species of primates which only live in Uganda, Rwanda and DRC. In Uganda, they can only be found in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
While most people barely know about golden monkeys, you will be fascinated by their social nature - and of course the distinct golden fur.
ACCOMMODATION:
Budget: Travellers Rest Hotel
Midrange: Mutanda Lake Resort
Luxury: Mount Gahinga Lodge
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Drive Back to Kampala, Airport dropoff
Sit back and enjoy a leisurely drive back to Kampala, with a stopover in Mbarara for lunch.
ACCOMMODATION:
X (Last Day)
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch
Notes on Gorilla tracking
- Gorilla trekking is a strenuous activity and one should be physically fit to enjoy this tour.
- The minimum gorilla tracking age is 15 years.
- Minimum chimpanzee tracking age is 12 years
- Anyone with signs of communicable diseases will NOT be allowed to track.
- While possession of a gorilla permit is a guarantee of trekking and sighting the gorillas, the quality of the gorilla trekking cannot be guaranteed.
We strongly recommend that you carry the following:
- Rain poncho (lightweight)
- Long-sleeved shirt
- Waterproof trousers
- Sturdy hiking boots
- Leather gardening-type gloves
- Sunscreen.
- Insect repellent and any necessary medications must be brought by you either from your home town or Kampala.
- Cameras and Camcorders are allowed, but bring enough batteries and memory cards.
Here is our detailed article about what you should carry with you for gorilla tracking in Uganda. Packing list for Gorilla tracking in Uganda.
Please note that to book Gorilla permits is subject to availability and payment. For cases of lack of availability in a requested Gorilla group, we shall suggest an alternative and communicate any changes in your Safari program.
