Uganda: Gorillas, Chimps & Game Safari - 8 Days • Indafrica Travel

The Noble, The Powerful, The Gentle

It is hard to describe the rush of emotions when you see your first mountain gorilla face to face. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest protects just over 300 (half of the current population) of these magnificent animals who live in family groups amongst the lush backdrop of emerald green rainforest.

A good level of fitness is required to visit the gorillas. Your trek may be short, or long as you make your way through dense rainforest accompanied by expert guides and trackers to locate the family group allotted to your permits.

Success rates in locating the gorillas is over 95% and you will have up to 1 hour to observe them before returning to base. For those wanting to include a second trek this can be requested when you book your tour (all permits must be pre-booked and paid).

This small-group tour includes your domestic flights to avoid long travelling days. Beyond the Gorillas and Chimp Trekking in Chamburu (Kyambura Gorge) you will have ample opportunity to see some of the local culture and beautiful forests. You will enjoy multiple game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park with its amazing selection of wildlife, including the tree-climbing lions.
For those wishing to spend more time chimp trekking with the inclusion of Kibale, please see our 10day option.

Tour Details:

Tour Code: UGGC08
Tour Name: Gorillas, Chimps & Game
Duration: 8 Days
Touring Style: Small Group
Grade: Accommodated - Comfort

Price From: from $6,455 per person (twin share) + permits
Local Payment? None
Starts: Entebbe, Uganda
Ends: Entebbe, Uganda
Includes: Entrance Fees, Accommodation & Meals as per itinerary, Transport, Professional Guides

Highlights:
Chimp Trekking Kyambura Gorge, Gorilla Trekking - Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Ishasha Community Project

Gallery:

Itinerary:

DAY 1 | ENTEBBE

On arrival at Entebbe International Airport you will be met by our local representative and transferred to your hotel.

Entebbe is a small, quiet town located on the shores of Lake Victoria and is easy to explore on foot, boda bodas (local motorbikes) or taxis. Soak up the local markets filled with clothes and crafts, shop for souvenirs in curio shops, or explore the Botanical Gardens on Lake Victoria. Enjoy the wide variety of restaurants serving many different cuisines as well as several bars and clubs where you can sample the local beer, catch a game of football and chat with the local Ugandans, known for their open, friendly nature.

DAY 2 | ENTEBBE VIA KIHIHI TO BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST

Transfer from Boma to the domestic airport for your scheduled flight to Kihihi airstrip, which is located between Bwindi/Queen Elizabeth National parks.

The flight takes just over an hour. Transfer to Buhoma Lodge, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The drive to the lodge is through local villages and mountain roads – lovely scenery and very interesting en route!
Guests will have the opportunity for two days of gorilla tracking (pre-booking essential). Other optional activities that may be enjoyed in and around the park include forest walks, visits to a local school or orphanage or Batwa pygmy village, and curio shopping.

Bwindi National Park, located in south western Uganda on the edge of the Great Rift Valley, is considered the most diverse forest in Uganda. Home to over 120 mammals, 345 species of birds, 200 species of butterflies, and 160 species of trees, Bwindi is one of the richest ecosystems in East Africa. The park contains almost one half of the world’s population of the endangered Mountain Gorilla, making it an extremely valuable conservation site.

DAY 3 | GORILLA TREK - BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST

Today will be a lifetime experience! Coming face to face with mountain gorillas is a rare wildlife encounter.
Experienced guides and trackers will accompany your party on an early morning trek into the dense rain forest on the mountain slopes. The opportunity to come within meters of these magnificent apes, sharing in their daily lives and experiencing their day-to-day activities, is an experience you won’t soon forget! Mountain gorillas are extremely rare with only an estimated 880 remaining in the wild. Please note that gorilla tracking may be fairly strenuous with treks ranging from 30 mins up to six hours or longer, at high altitudes. Also, mountain gorillas are wild animals and, as such, sightings cannot be guaranteed. However, viewing success rates are over 95%.

DAY 4 | SECOND TREK (Permits pre-purchased) OR LOCAL ACTIVITIES

Those with pre-purchased permits will depart for a second gorilla tracking experience following breakfast at the lodge. Depending upon individual itinerary schedules, guests not tracking gorillas may wish to enjoy other activities available in the area such as a forest walk, a visit to a local school/orphanage/hospital, or Batwa pygmy village, and some local curio shopping.

DAY 5 | QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK - ISHASHA

This morning we depart Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and travel (2-3 hours) to Ishasha in the southern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Time permitting, we may visit a Community Project enroute. Here the local people allow you to enjoy some time in their homesteads, as well as see some of the crops and curios they produce, and visit the local elephant trench project – which stops elephants coming into the village and raiding crops.

Afternoon game drives will be enjoyed 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.

DAY 6 | QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK - ISHASHA

Spend the day enjoying game drives in the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park and visit the Ishasha Community Project. Enjoy scenic sundowners with drinks/ snacks included.

DAY 7 | QENP: DRIVES & BOAT CRUISE - MWEYA SECTOR

Today we depart Ishasha to the ‘Mweya’ sector of the National park to enjoy a leisurely boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel. Kazinga’s shores are a haven for numerous birds, including many migratory species as they make their way south to warmer climates. The cruise also provides a spectacular view of the beautiful Mweya Peninsula and life in local fishing villages set along the banks.

DAY 8 | KYAMBURA CHIMPANZEE TREKKING & END OF TOUR

This morning we will travel early to the Kyambura Gorge to enjoy Chimpanzee trekking. The forest is alive with noise – chimpanzees can be quite active and may move quickly through the forest canopy… or, if you are lucky, you may find them resting or eating near the forest floors. It’s an exhilarating walk, in beautiful scenery. Sightings cannot be guaranteed even though they are habituated to humans

Later, depart to airstrip for the flight to Entebbe. DO NOT BOOK INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS DEPARTING BEFORE 19h00

Inclusions:

MEALS
7 x breakfast, 7 x lunches, 6 x dinners

TRANSPORT
4WD Landcruiser, Plane

ACCOMMODATION
1 night Lodge B&B, 6 nights Lodge Full Board

Pricing:

High Season 2020 (Jan, Feb, Mar, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Dec)
From NZ$7,277 per person twin share + permits
Single Supplement NZ$1,311

Low Season 2019 (Apr, May, Nov)
From NZ6,455 per person twin share + permits
Single Supplement NZ$989

Gorilla Permits:
Jan-Jun 2020: USD600 pp for the first trek, USD670 pp for an optional second trek (includes trek transfer & facilitation fee).
Jul-Dec 2020: USD700pp for the first trek, USD770 for the second trek

Chimpanzee Permits:
Kyambura Gorge chimpanzee permits USD50 each.

ALL Permits must be prepaid at the time of booking.

Important: The minimum age for this small group safari is 16 years.

Departure Dates 2020 - Guaranteed Min 2 people - Max 6 people

Fri 03 Jan – Wed 08 Jan
Fri 24 Jan – Wed 29 Jan
Thu 13 Feb – Tue 18 Feb
Sat 22 Feb – Thu 27 Feb
Sat 07 Mar – Thu 12 Mar
Thu 19 Mar – Tue 24 Mar
Fri 10 Apr – Wed 05 Apr (EASTER) LOW SEASON RATE
Fri 24 Apr – Wed 29 Apr LOW SEASON RATE
Mon 18 May – Sat 23 May LOW SEASON RATE
Thu 04 Jun – Tue 09 Jun
Fri 12 Jun – Wed 17 Jun
Thu 18 Jun – Tue 23 Jun
Wed 15 July – Mon 20 Jul
Thu 23 July – Tue 27 Jul
Fri 07 Aug – Wed 12 Aug
Fri 21 Aug – Wed 26 Aug
Fri 18 Sep – Wed 23 Sep
Thu 24 Sep – Tue 29 Sep
Fri 16 Oct – Wed 21 Oct
Wed 11 Nov – Mon 16 Nov LOW SEASON RATE
Thu 24 Dec – Tue 29 Dec Xmas supplement may apply

Not the right tour for you?

Try the 6 day Gorilla Trekking or the 10 day Encounter Uganda.

Uganda: Gorillas, Chimps & Game Safari – 8 Days

The Noble, The Powerful, The Gentle

Tour Details:

Gallery:

Itinerary:

Inclusions:

Pricing:

Departure Dates 2020 - Guaranteed Min 2 people - Max 6 people

Not the right tour for you?

Request a Detailed Itinerary or Check Availability

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