5 Days Luxury Gorilla Trekking Safari (Fly-in)

Entebbe, Bwindi Forest National Park

Excellent

from 3 reviews

Duration

5 Days, 4 Nights

Tour Type

Daily Tour

Group Size

12 people

Languages

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Overview

Get into the feel of a misty mountain jungle and push your excitement levels to limit when you site one meter close to the mountain gorilla on this Luxury gorilla trekking safari in Uganda. We deliver you to the gorilla nation, right on the edges of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, check you into your luxury lodge and escort you down the valley for your anticipated jungle experience.

Dates

Since this is a private tour, come explore our world in your own style. Set your dates and we’ll book your accommodation and permits based on availability. Note that you can reschedule your trip up to 12 months ahead without extra charge.

Itinerary

Day 1—Arrival in Entebbe and transfer to the Guest House – Exc. to Mabamba Swamps (Optional Extra)—Papyrus Guest House
Day 2—AeroLink Flight Entebbe/Kisoro – hike & canoe on Lake Mutanda—Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge (B, L, D)
Day 3—Gorilla Tracking—Nkuringo or Rushaga gorilla groups—Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge—B, L, D
Day 4—Nombe Forest (birding), Community tour and Buninga Forest (encounter with the Batwa)—Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge—B, L, D
Day 5—Transfer to Kisoro – AeroLink Flight Kisoro/Entebbe—B

HIGHLIGHTS

Discover the southern region of the Pearl of Africa optimizing the transfer times
Fly to/from Kisoro with daily departures and no minimum of participants
Unforgettable encounter with the Mountain Gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Meet, explore and learn from the local communities
Support sustainable tourism initiatives

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe & Mabamba Swamps

Arrival in Entebbe as per your international flights and transfer to Papyrus Guest House by a trusted Luxury Gorilla Trekking Safari driver.

Optional Extra: In the afternoon (departure from the hotel must be max at 14.30/15.00 hours) departure by car and local canoe to Mabamba Swamp, one of the best places for spotting the rare shoebill storks. Of course some fortune is needed but rarely does one leave the swamp without seeing one! Many other water birds have chosen this area as their home so birding is always very interesting. Enjoy a relaxing sundowner on Lake Victoria and then return to the Guest House.

• Accommodation: Papyrus Guest House (Garden room)
• Meal Plan: Bed & Breakfast basis; Lunch & Dinner on own’s account

Day 2: AeroLink Flight to Kisoro, hike and canoe across Lake Mutanda

After an early breakfast, start your Luxury Gorilla Trekking Safari with the first up-country transfer to Entebbe International Airport for the AeroLink flight to Kisoro across central Uganda and offering a view of the country beautiful landscape of mountains, hills, cultivated terraces, tropical rainforest, bamboo forests and the majestic chain of the Virunga Volcanoes.

Upon arrival meeting with the vehicle and our walking safari guide for a briefing on the very interesting activities of the day which will be adapted to the clients’ desires. You can either walk for approx. 90 minutes - 4km to Lake Mutanda Sheba’s Camp - or drive 30 minutes to the lake. You then “settle” in a dugout canoe for 2-3 hours of gentle relaxed cruising across the lake, enjoying the beautiful landscape.

After lunch at a restaurant on the Lake Mutanda shores, continue on foot till Rubuguri (9km – 2/3 hours) where you meet up the vehicle and drive for another 10 km up to the Lodge in Nkuringo (approx 1 hour). Of course you can also be picked up by the vehicle at the lake and drive all the way up to the Lodge. Your discretion of your fitness is needed!

• Accommodation: Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge (Private Cottage)
• Meal Plan: Full Board

AeroLink flight schedule Entebbe – Kisoro (to be reconfirmed at the time of reservation):
• Jan to 14th Jun & 16th Sept to Dec – Dept at 0745 and arrival at 0855
• 15th Jun to 15th September – Dept at 0700 and arrival at 0810

After breakfast, at around 7:45 am, with packed lunch and drinking water, the Luxury Gorilla Trekking Safari party will transfer to the National Park Head Quarters for the briefing on the gorilla trekking dos and the don’ts. You're then walked to the jungle trailhead for the start of the actual gorilla tracking.

The beauty of this rain forest is spectacular. The area offers a dramatic, steeply forested landscape and is incredibly dense, but crisscrossed by numerous animal trails allowing access to tourists. The time taken and the terrain vary as per the movements of these great primates. The thrill of spending time observing these gentle and endangered giants is an awesome, exciting experience to be long savoured. Many find it to be a rare and moving opportunity. The tracking can take place at Nkuringo or at Rushaga (1 hr drive from Nkuringo), as per the gorilla permits obtained.

Upon return, relax at the lodge and, for those who like, at 5.00 pm either stroll through the community center or drive up to the “Top of the World” - the name given to the football field, high up in Nkuringo which offers amazing views over the peaks and forests around Nkuringo. A great way to stretch your legs after the gorilla tracking and to enjoy a sun-downer.

• Accommodation: Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge (Private Cottage)
• Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 4: Community tour, Nombe and Buniga Forests (encounter with the Batwa)

This Luxury Gorilla Trekking Safari morning after a hearty breakfast, enjoy birding in Nombe Pocket Forest – it was part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and it is still quite impenetrable, however it was cut off from it as people needed more land to live on and cultivate. It can be reached on foot (approx. 1 hour to go and 2 hours to come back) or by vehicle and the visit lasts approx. 2 hours, depending on the interest of guests.

Lunch at the lodge and at 2.00 pm departure to Buniga Forest Trail Walk, an informative project run by USAID and the local Batwa community. The Batwa tribe was forced to leave their home in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in 1991 when it was declared a UNESCO Heritage site for gorillas only.

They had been living in the forest as nomadic hunter-gatherers for millennia, in perfect balance with the flora and fauna around. Moving out and suddenly living in communities with a completely different way of life has proven to be a huge challenge. They now survive as best as they can and earn a living explaining their previous life in the forest and their rich heritage.

Continuation of the walk through the community to visit the traditional herbalist and the black smith.

• Accommodation: Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge (Private Cottage)
• Meal Plan: Full Board

Early breakfast and transfer to Kisoro Airstrip for your morning AeroLink flight to Entebbe. End of services.

Depending on your Luxury Gorilla Trekking Safari departure flight, you can either enjoy day room/overnight at Papyrus Guest House or wait for your departure flight at the Airport.

• Meal Plan: Breakfast; Lunch & Dinner on own’s account

Included/Excluded

Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge (Private Cottage) for 3 nights in full board
Papyrus Guest House (Garden Room) for 1 night on Bed & Breakfast basis • Snacks for the sundowner on day 3
Drinking water in the vehicle (1 liter per person per day) and while at Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge
All the excursions and activities indicated in the itinerary (canoe ride, walks etc) under the supervision of an experienced English-speaking Walking Guide
Support of a private 4x4 vehicle with experienced English-speaking driver-guide, from the morning of day 2 to the late afternoon of day 5 (6 seater)
Transfer to Entebbe upon arrival
Wi-Fi (in main areas of the Guest House and Lodge)
AMREF Evacuation Insurance cover
Government taxes

1 Gorilla tracking permit per person, Park/Forest Fees and Batwa Fees (725 USD)
Return AeroLink Flight Entebbe – Kisoro (542 USD), to be reconfirmed at the time of booking
All drinks, including the drinks for the sundowner on Day 3
Uganda Entry Visa fee
International air flights
Any optional activity not indicated in above program
Laundry Services
Gratuities and Tips
Day-room use at Papyrus Guest House on Day 5
Baggage – there is a maximum allowance of 15kg per person,

FAQs

A 30% deposit of the total tour price will be required to secure a booking, the balance being due 45 days before the tour departure date. Bookings not secured by the appropriate deposit will be released.

Cancellation between 90 and 45 days of tour departure will incur a 30% of tour price penalty charge. Confirmed bookings cancelled within 45 days of the tour departure date or no show will incur 100% of tour price penalty charge.

Availability of accommodation and activities is not guaranteed; reservations will be made after receiving confirmation of the final itinerary and the payment of the requested deposit. Should any of the quoted accommodations not be available, we reserve the right to substitute it with an alternative suitable option, which might affect the final quoted price.

All clients who participate in this tour must be adequately covered by medical insurance as well as travel insurance to protect them in case of unforeseen circumstances.

Rates specified for this tour are subject to change without notice, however every effort will be made to maintain them. In the event of any change of Government taxes or operating conditions that affect the rates we reserve the right to pass on these charges.

A 30% deposit of the total tour price will be required to secure a booking, the balance being due 45 days before the tour departure date.

Bookings not secured by the appropriate deposit will be released.

Cancellation between 90 and 45 days of tour departure will incur a 30% of tour price penalty charge. Confirmed bookings cancelled within 45 days of the tour departure date or no show will incur 100% of tour price penalty charge.

Availability of accommodation and activities is not guaranteed; reservations will be made after receiving confirmation of the final itinerary and the payment of the requested deposit.
Should any of the quoted accommodations not be available, we reserve the right to substitute it with an alternative suitable option, which might affect the final quoted price.

All clients who participate in this tour must be adequately covered by medical insurance as well as travel insurance to protect them in case of unforeseen circumstances.

Rates specified for this tour are subject to change without notice, however every effort will be made to maintain them. In the event of any change of Government taxes or operating conditions that affect the rates we reserve the right to pass on these charges.

UGANDA GORILLA PERMIT CANCELLATION POLICY(different and separate from the tour cancellation policy)

Gorilla Permits will be guaranteed ONLY upon receipt of the full deposit (US$700 per permit in 2020) since we need to immediately pay Uganda Wildlife Authority Offices in order to secure the permits.

Cancellations received on full payment:

• More than 90 days before the tracking date, 25% cancellation fee
• 89 to 46 days before the tracking date, 50% cancellation fee
• 45 to 9 days before the tracking date, 75% cancellation fee
• 8 to 0 days before the tracking date, 100% cancellation fee

Important: the minimum age required for gorilla tracking is 15 years and in case of flu or of any other airborne disease the person will be not allowed to meet with the gorillas.

Reviews

4.7/5

Excellent

Based on 3 reviews

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Ramiro

10/04/2020

0 likes this

Other than the weather everything went perfect

The entire trip was perfect except for one thing, it rained heavily while we were walking back from seeing the gorillas. Given that it's a rainforest and rain's gotta come down anytime of the day, i was drenched cold and robbed of my experience with gorillas. But the service we got from this travel company was impeccable. I would travel with these guys again and soon.

Kate

10/04/2020

0 likes this

Great care given

My travel designer of this travel company planned the vacation of a lifetime - a real dream come true. As a solo female traveler, I was particularly concerned about safety but once I was there, those concerns dissipated because of the care my designer had taken to ensure that I was accompanied by a trusted guide every step of the way. I would not hesitate to recommend my travel designer and this travel company!

Ferdinand M

10/04/2020

1 like this

Amazing company to safari with

This company was an amazing company to work with. They were genuinely excited to be helping us, almost as if planning a trip for themselves. the trip itself was fantastic, not just because of the destination, but a huge boost came from recommendations and decisions of mandy who helped us in it. The recommendation for gorilla trek's was spot on. In Kenya, doing the national reserve first then the conservancy (we didn't even know the difference) was the best decision of the trip. all lodges and camps we stayed at were top notch, perfect service and to make it all even better, all had both a social and natural conservation agenda. Overall, the trip was amazing and safari true had the biggest hand in that. Keep doing great travels.

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