10 Days Budget Gorillas, Wildlife and Lake Bunyonyi Safari
10 Days Budget Gorillas, Wildlife and Lake Bunyonyi Safari
These 7 days gorilla trekking from Entebbe/ Kampala will usher you to Uganda’s Bwindi impenetrable national park, a UNESCO world heritage site, and home to 459 gorillas, which is an increase from 400 as of the 2018 census. The safari will take you through the National parks of Kibale forest and Queen Elizabeth. You will have a visit to some crater lakes such as Mutanda or Mulehe, the Batwa, and have a memorable encounter with the endangered Mountain Gorillas. Bwindi also contains other species of animals with their numbers estimated at 310 butterflies, 200 trees, 51 reptiles, 88 moths, 120 mammals, and 350 bird species. There are also several other primate species, such as chimpanzees, L’Hoests monkeys, blue monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, baboons, vervet monkeys, and red tail monkeys.
Safari highlights
- Gorilla trekking
- Community walks to visit (The Batwa pygmies, tea picking, local coffee processing, local gin brewing, visiting the traditional medicine man, a visit to Bwindi community hospital, and a visit to the women’s group, “Ride for a woman”)
- Buying local crafts
- Award of gorilla trekking certificates
- Game drive in Ishasha sector
- Chimpanzee tracking
- Boat cruise on Kazinga channel
Detailed Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe and transfer to Jinja for overnight
On arrival at Entebbe international airport, you will be met and driven to Jinja the adventure capital of Uganda, on arrival you will check in to your Lodge for overnight
NB: we recommend booking flights that arrive at Lunchtime or earlier
Day 2: Full day white water rafting on the Nile
After morning breakfast you will drive to the starting point for white water rafting on the Nile, Jinja is East Africa’s Adventure Capital is home to some of the world’s finest grade 5 white water rafting and other adventure activities. Whether you are a first-timer, family, or high adventure enthusiast after the wonderful experience you will return to your lodge overnight.
Day 3: Drive to Murchison Falls national park via Ziwa Rhinos
After early morning breakfast, you will start your drive to Murchison falls national park, which is one of Uganda’s premier wildlife viewing destinations, en route you will visit the Ziwa Rhino sanctuary where you will trek the Rhinos on foot and later drive to your lodge in the park.
Day 4: Game drive and Boat cruise on the Nile
After early morning breakfast, you will set off for a morning game drive where you will expect to encounter African wildlife like Elephants, Buffalos, Lions, leopards, antelopes, and incredible birdlife, and later you will join a scheduled boat cruise to the bottom of Falls where you will expect to see hippos and crocodiles and later return to the lodge for relaxation and overnight.
Day 5: Visit Top of falls and transfer to Kibale forest national park
After morning breakfast you will visit the top of falls and later start your drive to Kibale forest is the home to chimpanzees and other primates, also known as the “Primate capital of the world” with 13 different primate species. This is a 6-hour drive from Kampala to Fort portal from where you will connect to Kibale forest with an en-route stopover for lunch. Some of the primate species here include; Chimpanzees, baboons, red colobus, Black and white colobus, red-tailed monkeys, and many more.
Upon arrival, you will check-in at your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 6: Chimpanzee tracking in the morning and afternoon transfer Queen Elizabeth
After early morning breakfast, your guide will transfer you to the park/visitor information center for registration and briefing. Thereafter, the park guide will take you through this adventurous experience where you may be blessed with enormous encounters of various forest primates such as the L’hoest, black-faced colobus monkeys, baboons, and other forest species. After the tracking activity, you will return to the lodge for a hot lunch and later drive to Queen Elizabeth national park. Upon arrival, you will check-in at your lodge and either choose to relax or go for an evening game drive in the Kasenyi plains.
Day 7: Morning game drive – afternoon boat cruise
After an early breakfast, you will set off for a morning game drive in the Kasenyi plains for game viewing with the possibility of viewing animals such as elephants, Uganda Kobs, waterbuck, lions, leopards, buffalos, and many more. Return to the lodge for lunch and proceed for a boat cruise on the Kazinga channel after lunch for 2 hours. Here you will be able to view a variety of animals such as crocodiles, hippos, elephants, and many birds. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 8: Transfer to Bwindi Forest National Park
After breakfast, you will set off and drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park which is home to more than half the world population of mountain gorillas via Ishasha sector which is on the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth national park with a possibility of seeing the famous tree-climbing lions.
Upon arrival, you will check in to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 9: Gorilla tracking experience
Have an early breakfast and set out for mountain gorilla trekking in one of the four sectors (Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, and Nkuringo) of Bwindi impenetrable forest National Park by 7:30 am for briefing and eventual allocation of gorilla group to trek. Hike through the rainforest accompanied by a ranger guide and trackers, in search of the mountain gorilla family allocated for trekking. The walking can be challenging at times, but when you catch a glimpse of the humongous silverback with his family, any discomforts will quickly be forgotten. The lead guide keeps providing information about trees, birds, butterflies, and other wildlife in the forest as you trek until you reach the gorilla family allocated for tracking. The gorillas are located in different parts across the forest and therefore, the time taken to find one group varies from a few minutes to several hours depending on the location and movement of the Gorillas. Once with the gorillas, you will be allowed to observe them for an hour. At the end of the trek, you will return to the park headquarters and information Centre to be awarded your trekking certificates. You will then meet the driver guide and transfer back to the lodge for relaxation and overnight.
Day 10: Return to Kampala city/ Entebbe airport
After breakfast set out for another scenic journey through the beautiful terrain of the rolling hills with terraced landscapes. Observe the systematic cultivation of the “Bakiga” tribe along the mountain slopes and enjoy the experience of what has been referred to as the Switzerland of Africa because of its cool nature and the rolling hills. Along the way, break off for hot lunch, and proceed to Kampala, arriving late in the afternoon. Drop off at the hotel in Kampala / Entebbe airport for your departure flight.
Safari includes
- Gorilla trekking permits at Bwindi
- Chimpanzee trekking permits
- Park entrance for Murchison Falls NP
- Park entry fees in Queen Elizabeth NP
- Boat cruise fees at Kazinga channel
- Hot /packed lunches on transfer days
- Bottled water in car
- Professional guide/ driver allowance
- Ground transportation in a 4×4 safari car
- Accommodation for 5 nights
- All meals at the lodge
- Airport transfers (pick and drop off)
Safari excludes:
- International Air ticket and visa fees
- Beers and Wine (alcoholic drinks)
- Laundry expenses and craft shopping
- Travel insurance
- Tips
- post-safari accommodation
When to book a gorilla trekking tour
It is usually advisable to book this trip 6 months in advance to allow us ample time to secure the gorilla permits. On the other hand, visiting the savannah national parks does not necessarily require advance booking.
Best time to do gorilla trekking in Bwindi
Bwindi is open for gorilla trekking all year long, but the best times to go are from June to August and December to February. At these times, the forest trails are drier and therefore less slippery. Also, your chance of a dry gorilla viewing experience is higher during these months. However, on the other hand, game viewing in Uganda’s savannah national parks is best at the end of the dry seasons- February and March and September and early October when wildlife is concentrated around water sources. Bird watching is fantastic all year round but is at its peak between November and April when migrant species are present.
