Ultimate Gorilla Experience - 5 - $4,561
Trip Summary and Itinerary Map
Within half an hour, the family of gorillas had stopped at a small glade and began to play. No cues were needed, we all saw them straight away. Bundles of black wool rolling over one another, shuffling dried leaves on the forest floor, playfully dodging and darting.
Itinerary
Day 1: Entebbe to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Land at Entebbe International Airport. Clear Immigration and collect your luggage before making your way to the Aerolink departure area for the midday scheduled light aircraft flight to Kihihi. The flight takes just over an hour. Upon landing, you will be met by a driver for the 1.5 hour transfer to your lodge in Buhoma, the northern entry point to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Enjoy a relaxing afternoon in the lodge.
Overnight: Gorilla Forest Camp
Day 2: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
The Big Day! Your first gorilla trek! Enjoy an early breakfast (food is fuel) before being escorted to Park HQ for the trek briefing. There you will be allocated to the gorilla family you will trek to, meet your guides and have the opportunity to engage porters. Then the trek begins as you are led into the forest. Be prepared to be walking through dense forest and steep inclines/declines for on average 3 hours before contact is made with the gorillas. You then have up to one hour to observe their behaviour and interactions from a distance of about 7 metres (sometimes less). When the hour is up, return through the forest to your lodge.
Overnight: Gorilla Forest Camp
Day 3: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
The forest calls again. With your luggage travelling by road, today, with a guide and ranger, you will trek through the forest from Buhoma to the remote southern sector of Nkuringo. Following the Kashasha Trail, this wonderful experience takes you through the forest's varying habitats and enables you to spot birds and other promate species you may not have noticed when you were focusing on the gorillas. The trail takes much of the day and finishes with a tough trudge up to Nkuringo, where you can walk straight into your new home, the beautiful Clouds Lodge. Enjoy a hot shower, fine dinner and the first of a two night stay.
Overnight: Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge
Day 4: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Your second gorilla trek. After a second trek briefing, you will descend back into the forest looking for the Nkuringo gorilla group. This is a remote area of Bwindi and so you are unlikely to see any other tourists. Once contact is made, you again have up to one hour with these majestic creatures. Then return slowly and happily to the lodge.
Overnight: Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge
Day 5: Return Home
After a final breakfast, you will be transferred by a lodge driver 1.5 hours to Kisoro airstrip for the sheduled light aircraft flight back to Entebbe. Upon landing, exit the airport to meet your driver who will take you back to Karibu Guesthouse to drop your bags and have lunch. Afterwards, he will take you out to explore Entebbe on a private tour as seen by a local (he will be from Entebbe). enjoy an evening meal before being returned to the airport to connect with your international flight home.
Prices, Departures and Inclusions
- Per person prices estimated base on two travellers.
- All Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) permits are included at the documented UWA rate and are not subject to a mark up.
Includes
- Accommodation as listed in a single room.
- Bed & Breakfast at Karibu; all meals and drinks (exclusing premium drinks) at Gorilla Forest Camp and Clouds.
- Gorilla trek permits.
- All governments fees and taxes.
- Scheduled internal flights.
- Airport transfers.
Excludes
- International flights.
- Ugandan tourist visas ($50 pp).
- Trek porters costs.
- Personal spending money.
- Tips & gratuities.
- Travel insurance.
