Day 1: Start from Kampala or Entebbe Bwindi impenetrable Forest, Equator stop-over
Your Uganda Gorillas trekking, and Lake Bunyonyi tour shall commence with your tour guide meeting you at your hotel in Entebbe or Kampala or Kigali at 7 am. You will be briefed through the tour program and then set off for your drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
We shall have numerous interesting stops along the way including the Equator, local Ugandan farmlands, beautiful scenery for photographs, and of course your lunch break in Mbarara city.
Accommodation options available (all on full board basis)
Up-market: Mahogany Springs Lodge | Buhoma Lodge | Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge Bwindi
Moderate: Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge| Engagi Lodge | Gorilla Mist Camp
Low Budget: Gorilla Haven Lodge Rushaga | Ruhija Gorilla Friends Camp | Gorilla Conservation Camp
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
The whole of this day is reserved for tracking the mountain gorillas in Bwindi. Your driver will be meeting you over breakfast at about 7 am to discuss more details about your preparation for gorilla trekking before transferring you to the park headquarters for briefing. The briefing also has a lot of gorilla conservation information shared. Usually, a traditional cultural music and dance piece from the Bakiga tribe is performed for the gorilla visitors. After all this, you will be allocated the gorilla group to track in the forest. The driver might have to drive you to the gorilla trek trailhead before you start hiking into the jungles of Bwindi in search of the silverbacks and their family.
The usual time to reach the gorillas is quite unpredictable but it would normally not go beyond 4 hours. We trek the gorillas through the rainforest and bamboo-covered slopes, accompanied by a guide and trackers, in search of a mountain gorilla family. There are several stops along the trek for you to catch your breath and also for the park rangers to share more information about the park, its biodiversity, and the other species here. These include 310 species of butterfly, 51 reptiles, 200 trees, 88 moths, and an exceptional 120 types of mammals including 10 primates. You could encounter primates like the chimpanzee, L'Hoest's, red-tailed and blue monkey, black and white colobus, baboon. There are also at least 350 bird species that have been recorded resident in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, seven of 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.
When the gorillas are sighted, visitors will be guided to within 6 meters from the gorillas, sit around them for a whole hour while gazing into their big round eyes.
Accommodation options available (all on full board basis)
Up-market: Mahogany Springs Lodge | Buhoma Lodge | Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge Bwindi
Moderate: Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge| Engagi Lodge | Gorilla Mist Camp
Low Budget: Gorilla Haven Lodge Rushaga | Ruhija Gorilla Friends Camp | Gorilla Conservation Camp
Day 3: 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.
Accommodation options we usually book for Lake Bunyonyi (all on fullboard basis)
Up-market: Bird's Nest | Acadia Cottages Lake Bunyonyi
Moderate: Bunyonyi Overland Resort
Low Budget: Itambira Island
Day 4: Drive from Lake Bunyonyi back to Entebbe or Kigali
After breakfast, you shall embark on your return journey from Lake Bunyonyi to Entebbe / Kampala or Kigali. The drop-off can be at your hotel or at the airport if you are flying out that same day.
