Gorilla Trek, Sabyinyo Volcano Hike and Canoeing- 5 Days

Day 1: Meet in Entebbe, drive to Bwindi impenetrable Forest (we can also pick from Kigali on request)

Meet and greet with our local guide over breakfast, and then after drive heading to southwestern Uganda.

En route, there is a local community popular for making local drums and crafts and a fruit market. Stopover, admire and buy yourself souvenirs. Proceed to the Equator line taken as one beautiful scenery in Africa - the pathway of the sun and take photographs.

Pass by mountains, tropical rainforest and bamboo forest during the ±8 hours journey.

Accommodation options available (all on full board basis)

Up-market: Chameleon Hill Lodge | Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge Bwindi

Moderate: Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge| Engagi Lodge

Low Budget: Gorilla Haven Lodge Rushaga

Meals included today: Lunch and dinner only.

Day 2: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Today enjoy gorilla trekking in Bwindi.

After breakfast, proceed for the morning briefing before enjoying the highlight of the trip - gorilla trekking, which may last the entire day.

We trek the gorillas through the rainforest and bamboo covered slopes, accompanied by a guide and trackers, in search of a mountain gorilla family. The walking can sometimes be tough and long, but when you catch a glimpse of the magnificent silverback, any discomforts will be quickly forgotten. When the gorillas are sighted, visitors will be guided to within 6 metres from the gorillas, sit around them for a whole hour while gazing into their big round eyes.

Gorilla trekking is unpredictable. It's difficult to foresee how many hours you will hike. The gorilla excursion can take from 2 up to 8 hours. Expect to walk a long distance in steep and muddy conditions, sometimes with rain overhead, before you encounter any gorillas. A good physical condition is recommended. For conservation purposes, time spent with the gorillas is limited to one hour. A ranger will brief you on how to behave with the gorillas.

While most of today's forests are no more than 12,000 years old, Bwindi's vegetation has been weaving itself into tangles over at least 25,000 years, in the process accumulating a lengthy species list. This includes 310 species of butterfly, 51 reptiles, 200 trees, 88 moths and an exceptional 120 types of mammal including 10 primates. The latter includes chimpanzee, L'Hoest's, red-tailed and blue monkey, black and white colobus, baboon, and Bwindi's most famous resident, the mountain gorilla.

Bwindi is a prime destination for birdwatchers. Its 350 species include seven which are IUCN red data listed and 90% of all Albertine rift endemics, species which are difficult or impossible to see in any other part of East Africa.

Accommodation options available (all on full board basis)

Up-market: Chameleon Hill Lodge | Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge Bwindi

Moderate: Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge| Engagi Lodge

Low Budget: Gorilla Haven Lodge Rushaga

Meals included today: Lunch and dinner only.

Day 3: Hike Sabyinyo, Muhavura, Gahinga Volcano or Sabinyo Gorge in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Climbing the Sabyinyo extinct volcano is done in southwestern Uganda and this consists of climbing 3 peaks.

The hike to Sabyinyo takes you through muddy trails often on wooden ladders with expectations of patchy/partial rain and clearing clouds as you get to the beautiful view of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. At this time, the view is at times reduced to 10 ft, reach the summit view and from here you will be able to see and stand in all three countries; Uganda, Rwanda and Congo.

This hike sometimes involves walking straight high up the mountain without going round it. The views and challenges of hiking Mt. Sabyinyo make it an amazing experience for adventurers.

After early breakfast for the hikers will depend on the choice of the following:

Climbing Muhavura Volcano (± 8 hrs; distance 12 km; height 4,127 m; elevation gain 1,700 m).
Climbing Gahinga Volcano (± 6 hrs; distance 8 km; height 3,474 m; elevation gain 1,100m).
Visit Sabinyo Gorge (± 4 hrs; distance 6 km, no elevation gain).
Climbing Sabinyo Volcano (Sabinyo has three peaks, you can climb all three in the same walk, but you need to be fit!! ± 8 hrs; distance 14 km; height 3,669 m, elevation gain 1,300 m).

On hiking safety, Mt. Sabyinyo has walking trails and occasionally maintained wooden ladders which make it safer for hikers.

Mt Sabinyo’s hike goes through three of the volcano’s five summits, the last one culminating at 3669m. Rain is highly expected, and the path will be muddy. We all pick a bamboo stick (soon to become our best pal) and leave at around 8.15 am. The slope up is first very gentle, almost flat, but very muddy indeed – proper hiking boots (or even gumboots, for rent at the base camp) are highly recommended. Bushy areas succeed to grassy patches, the air is fresh and full of flowery scents. Soon, we make the first stop and contemplate today’s menu. In the distance, the old man is smiling at us, his teeth bare: the adventure has just started.

After about an hour, we enter the primary forest. The path goes up between bamboos, steeper and steeper. A light drizzle comes to cool us off. As we reach the mountain base, after about 2 hours 30 of walking, bamboos have been replaced by high, sinuous, ghostly trees. We engage on a steep, sinuous and muddy path. Pale green lichen covers the branches. Stuart, the group’s birdie, points at a Rwenzori Turaco, endemic to the region.

The ascent becomes seriously strenuous, but the effort is rewarded by the stunning view between the trees: strings of fog run along the bright green, steep volcano flanks. Wooden ladders help along the way, though they can be slippery. Breaths become short with both the effort and altitude, the sound of feet and sticks on the soft ground beats out the rhythm. Around 11.30 am, we reach Sabynio’s first peak at 3423 m. Strange, giant phallic plants (lobelia) grow at this altitude. The weather has cleared and allows us to see already see Congolese towns ahead. Down to our left, houses, trees, farms and fields sketch lines and squares. Rwanda, the Switzerland of Africa.

After 30 minutes of rest, we continue our ascent. The ladders are steep, it takes about 45 minutes to reach the next peak, not without effort. At 3537 m, the view is the best reward we could think of; we even enjoy some sun rays as we sit in the soft grass. Ahead, the ladders look steeper and scarier than what we have seen so far. Fatigue clings onto our legs, but the sight of the final objective sets us in motion. After a short climb down, we leave our bamboo sticks below the first ladder up – staircase in fact, with planks for the feet and rails to replace our trusted bamboo sticks. It is steep nonetheless, uneven and vertiginous, broken up by muddy trails and branch ladders. The altitude intensifies the effort. Finally, we all make it to the top – except for two of us, hit by altitude sickness, who went back to peak one.

We enjoy our lunch and some more rays of the sun at 3668m. It is hard to fully realise that we are in three countries at the same time. The arbitrariness of borders seems even more absurd when nature is so overwhelming. Yet the tiny tidy fields and farms in Rwanda are a reminder of how borders can dictate people’s destiny. There are two other peaks ahead but no path to their tops, and they are in DRC. There are also two peaks waiting behind, as we must return the way we came – more than enough to fill in our afternoon. At about 2 pm, you start your descent.

It takes us about an hour to get back to the first peak.

The way down seems endless, your walk becomes automatic – bamboos, ladders, forest, bamboos. Most people arrive back at base camp at about 6:30 pm.

Accommodation options available (all on full board basis)

Up-market: Birdnest Resort Lake Bunyonyi or Arc hadia Cottages Lake Bunyonyi

Moderate: Birdnest Resort Lake Bunyonyi or Archadia Cottages Lake Bunyonyi

Low Budget: Bunyonyi Overland Resort

Day 4: Half-day canoe Trekking on Lake Bunyonyi, relaxing in the afternoon

After breakfast, we drive to Lake Bunyonyi. On arrival, set out for a 5-hour canoe trek as well as bird watching on the beautiful Lake Bunyonyi, traversing to the gorgeous Kyabahinga peninsula. Here you will be gladly welcomed with songs plus dances by the resident school children. You will enjoy with the locals at least a cup of “Obushera” which is a local brew. You will ascend the Kyabahinga slopes having a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the birdlife and the verdant terrain. The view is very breathtaking! The guide will certainly brief you about the history of the area.
Among the bird species, you will see are the Dusky Turtle Dove, the Handsome Francolin and Alpine Chat. A renowned herbalist who is a traditional healer -Omugurusi Jeremiah, based on the hilltop will disclose to you some of the secrets about the flora on the tropical highland.