3 Day Uganda Gorilla Tour through Kigali – SAFARI DETAILS

Day 1 of 3 Day Uganda Gorilla Tour through Kigali: Drive to Bwindi National Park Enjoy En’ Route Lunch at Igongo Cultural Center.

After breakfast, embark on the transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. You drive to the country’s southwest heading for 527km journey taking about 8 -10 hours’ drive. You drive through the traffic of Kampala and connect to Masaka road on smooth tarmac driving for 77km to make a stop at the Uganda Equator crossing Kayabwe where the world’s main latitude that partitions the world into the northern and the southern hemisphere can be encountered.

It is a unique geographical site where water experiments can be carried out to justify the geographical divide between the north and the southern hemispheres. You have an opportunity to take magical photos with one leg in the north hemisphere and another one in the southern hemisphere. Retreat from the break and continue on the drive to Bwindi National Park.

A traditional lunch stop will be made at Igongo Cultural Centre 12km from Mbarara for a local cuisine prepared in modern setting and served in standard utensils. The food is organically grown and freshly served. Continue on the drive welcomed by the fascinating Kigezi Highlands arriving in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight

Highlight of the day: – Scenic drive to Bwindi National Park

 

Accommodation:-

Luxury/Upmarket: – Clouds Mount Gorilla Lodge/ Gorilla Forest Camp/Chameleon Hill Lodge

Mid-range/ Moderate: – Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge/Gorilla Mist Camp/Bakiga Lodge

Budget/ Basic: – Buhoma community rest camp

 

Meal Plan: – Lunch & Dinner

Drive distance &time: – Approx. 530 or 8 – 9hours

 

Activities & Services of the day:-

• Transfer to Bwindi National Park
• Traditional Lunch buffet at Igongo Cultural centre

 

Day 2 of 3 Day Uganda Gorilla Tour through Kigali: Do Gorilla Trekking & Transfer To Lake Bunyonyi.

On this day you will come face to face with the Mountain Gorillas! Dressed in appropriate Gorilla tracking attire and with your packed lunch, your guide will pick you put at the lodge at around 6.30 am and transfer you to the respective park headquarters for briefing in the morning at 8am where you are also allocated the respective gorilla families to track. From here, you will head to the forest in the company of the armed ranger guides that will lead you up the gorillas. The walk is beyond the ordinary as it involves traversing the dense jungle whose thickness would at some points necessitate using a machete to make a path, hiking the challenging landscapes some of which are steep and slippery at times under the canopy of the mature forest, which forms darkness even during the day.

You are treated to the impressive bird songs and beautiful flowers through the experience. The encounter tends to take 2 – 8 hours depending on the Gorilla movements and one hour is availed to you to have a direct touch with the gorillas. Upon approaching gorillas, their reaction is not predictable as it can include them giving you a courteous welcome, minding less about you and charging against you. However, as a result of habituation, Mountain gorillas are always welcoming with the Silverback beating a little of his chest to demonstrate his might and also welcoming to you to the group.

The young gorillas are very playful and are at times not aware of the 7m rule thus can try to draw closer to even touching on your body – save it by taking some steps away to observe the distance. You are not limited in any way to ask as many questions about gorillas and their habitats along with taking pictures so long as you have the opportunity to do so.

After your one hour with the gorillas, return to the starting point and transfer to the starting point to embark on the transfer to Lake Bunyonyi driving through fascinating Kigezi Highlands which locals apply terracing method to cultivate their slopes deriving impressive scenic landscape. You arrive at Lake Bunyonyi in the afternoon for relaxation and recreational boat ride on the lake, dinner and overnight

Highlight of the day: Gorilla trekking in the misty Bwindi Forest National Park

 

Accommodation

• Luxury/ Up market: Birdnest at Lake Bunyonyi
• Mid-range/ Moderate: Bunyonyi Rock Resort

 

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Packed Lunch & Dinner at the Hotel in Lake Bunyonyi

Drive distance & time: Approx. 52 km or 2and a half hours

 

Activities and Services: –

• Gorilla trekking
• Boat ride on Lake Bunyonyi

Optional activities you can choose to do on this day include

• Birding in Bwindi
• Visit Batwa people to learn about their hunter gatherer lifestyle

 

Day 3: Drive to Kigali Rwanda and enjoy the Kigali City Tour

After breakfast at around 7.00am, you will transfer to Kigali driving through the fascinating landscapes of Kigezi Highlands dubbed the Switzerland of Africa and Rwanda hills that have earned her a dub as the land of a thousand hills! You will have a Kigali City drive tour viewing the prominent buildings like the Amahoro sports stadium; the Kigali sports Arena, the parliament and if time allows you can visit the Kimironko market as well as the Inema Art Gallery. After the Kigali city tour, you will transfer to your hotel or Kigali Airport depending on your travel plans.

Highlight of the day: Kigali City Tour

 

Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch

Drive distance & time: Approx. 140km or 4-5 hours

 

Activities and Services: –

• Kigali city Tour

End of 3Day Uganda Gorilla Tour through Kigali

3 Day Uganda Gorilla Tour through Kigali−SAFARI INCLUSIONS

 Full time English professional registered safari driver guide

 4×4 safari van/ 4×4 Safari land cruiser with poop up roof for game viewing with functional A/C

 Full board accommodation

 Gorilla trekking permit fees

 Wi-Fi Internet on board the safari vehicle

 Bottled water

3 Day Uganda Gorilla Tour through Kigali − SAFARI EXCLUSIONS

International & domestic flight fees

Visa fees

Laundry services

Items of personal nature

Gratuities and tips

Other beverages/drinks

Other extras not mentioned in the itinerary above

3 Day Uganda Gorilla Tour – PRICE PER PERSON

Number of people against price per person

2 – $na pp

3 – $na pp

4 – $na pp

5 – $na pp

6 – $na pp

3 Day Uganda Gorilla Tour – RELATED ACCOMMODATION

3 Day Uganda Gorilla Tour through Kigali − GORILLA TREKKING TIPS

Carry plenty of water and some quick calories. The trek can take 2-8 hours and relatively tiresome.

Wear sturdy hiking shoes/boots for the gorilla trek

Put on long sleeved shirt/t-shirt, thick trouser and strong gardening gloves for protection against stinging plants.

Bring a warm sweater/fleece as it is often cold at the outset

Carry a rain jacket or poncho since it can rain at any time in the tropical rainforest of Bwindi

It is also a good idea to have sunscreen and sunglasses

Follow this link to read more about gorilla trekking tips and advice.