7-Days Fly-in Gorilla & Wildlife Safari
7-Days Fly-in Gorilla & Wildlife Safari
This safari is designed for those who wish to experience the Mountain Gorillas as well as the Wilderness of Uganda’s Southern Savannahs in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
The safari flies direct from Entebbe to the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park to exhaust the urge for being with a mountain Gorilla as it allows you an up-close encounter with these gentle giants twice. One being the Trekking experience and the other being the Habituation experience where you spend about 4 hours with the gentle giants trailing or trekking them down deep in the forest in a combination of a long walking through the rainforest from Nkuringo to Buhoma and a short Road transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park for a Wilderness safari in Ishasha Sector then fly back to Entebbe International Airport.
Detailed Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival – Entebbe International Airport
Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be met by our representative who will transfer you to your booked hotel in Entebbe.
There are optional activities around Entebbe to engage your travel lust if you arrive early in the day, like a walk to the local market or fish market to find out a little bit about Uganda’s urban culture, among others.
Overnight: Best Western Premier
Meals plan: Dinner
Day 2: Flight Transfer – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
You’ll catch an early morning domestic flight from Entebbe to Kisoro airstrip to kick off your short gorilla safari in Uganda’s famous National Park. The one-hour flight goes over Lake Victoria, beautiful central plains, into the rolling hills of the southwest region with cultivated terraces, tropical rainforest, bamboo forest, and the majestic chain of the Virunga Volcanoes. Our driver will be ready to receive you from Kisoro Airstrip and transfer you to the lodge.
In the afternoon, you can take on the Buniga Forest Forest Trail (Approx. 3 hrs walk) for the Batwa people as they showcase their ancient cultural tales, hunting and survival skills on the trail.
Overnight: Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 3: Gorilla Trekking – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Today morning you shall ascend in to the jungle in company of Ranger guides and porters in search for the Mountain Gorilla. The trek starts at 8am with a briefing and later ascend into the jungles. Time for trekking ranges between 4 to 7 hours depending on where the Gorillas were last found. Return to the lodge and spend rest of your evening on a sundowner and later on a camp fire before you wind off the day.
Overnight: Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 4: Gorilla habituation Experience – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Today just as the previous day, embark on another incredible adventure looking for the gentle giants of Bwindi. But this time, it starts so early as you have to start with the gorillas the same time as they begin their daily work. Once found, you shall spend 4 hours with the gorillas and observe their day-to-day behaviors. This gives you more insight and get to witness what you missed the previous day. Return to the lodge for and spend rest of your evening on a sundowner and later on a camp fire before you wind off the day.
Overnight: Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 5: Nkuringo-Buhoma Long Walk & Transfer – Queen Elizabeth National Park
At 8:00 am, you will join the walking safari guide on the trail starting either from the lodge (Kashasha Trail) or a few miles off (Ivy River Trail).
Giant ferns, trees, millions of butterflies, birds, forest elephants, chimpanzees, monkeys, bush pigs, and even leopards could cross your path on this trail. Your guide will be sure to maintain the slowest person’s pace and allow you to immerse yourself in the untamed wilderness deeply.
The forest trail you will walk is one of the oldest human trails on the continent. They commercially connected Nkuringo-Nteko villages on the elevated south of Bwindi to Buhoma village on the lower north of the prehistoric rainforest. You may bump into some natives making the journey to the other side. However, you have two gun-bearing rangers to protect you from aggressive animals and other unknowns.
You find a resting hut somewhere in the forest to rest and have your packed lunch before you continue to Buhoma.
At the other end of the walking trail, your driver will be ready to whisk you off through Ishasha Savannah plains, where he’ll lazily drive for you to catch sight of the incredible tree-climbing lions.
Overnight: Enjojo Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 6: Morning & Afternoon Game Drives – Ishasha Sector
Wake up early morning for a hot cup of coffee and head out for a full day game drive in the Ishasha area, looking for the huge herds of buffalo, elephant, Uganda Kob and of course the famous tree-climbing lion typically found in the area. Later you will enjoy a late afternoon sundowner inside the park.
Overnight: Enjojo Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 7: Bush Breakfast & Transfer – Entebbe International Airport
Today you will have an early bush breakfast within the park, later transfer to Kihihi airstrip for your connecting flight to Entebbe airport for an outbound departure flight.
Overnight: N/A
Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch
Included
- Park fees(For non-residents)
- Gorilla permits(One per person, non-resident)
- Gorilla habituation permits(One per person, non-resident)
- All activities(Unless labeled as optional)
- All accommodation(Unless listed as upgrade)
- A professional driver/guide
- All transportation(Unless labeled as optional)
- Domestic return flight
- All Taxes/VAT
- Roundtrip airport transfer
- Meals(As specified in the day-by-day section)
- Drinking water(On all days)
Excluded
- International flights(From/to home)
- Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
- Tips(Tipping guideline US$10.00 pp per day)
- Personal items(Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
- Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees