6 day Gorillas by air

Safari Overview

This Gorilla and Chimps Trekking Adventure Safari takes you exploring the jungles of Bwindi impenetrable forest and Kibale Forest National Park and Bigodi community walk.

Safari itinerary

Day 1: Fly to Kisoro – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

After an early morning breakfast, you will be transferred to Entebbe International Airport for your scheduled flight to Kisoro Airstrip Ex. Aerolink Aviation departing at 07h00 arriving at 08h10, on arrival you will be met and by your professional driver guide who will transfer you to Lake Mutanda for a dugout canoe ride in Lake Mutanda, A boat ride on Lake Mutanda in a locally made dugout canoe is a thrilling adventure that most tourists love to experience while visiting this part of Uganda. While on a canoe ride, there is so much to see, including the vast bird species around the lake and the many islands that give Lake Mutanda that scenic and magical look. Canoe rides are usually done in the morning when the water is still calm and easier to navigate with the canoes. For those who love to swim, the lake is safe for swimming, and you can swim as you go on a boat ride.

There are also several islands on the lake. The barely touched islands here are quite a scene to behold. Mutanda island is the biggest of them. Found here is the Abagesera clan, who are predominantly farmers. The Punishment Island and Python Island are also part of this community, which have their own stories to tell. The lake’s environment is wetlands habitats and a lakeside forest, which provides a home for the endangered mountain gorilla and the golden monkey. The lakeside environment harbors unique varieties of plants and animal species. There is a common sight of bird species that are very beautiful and chirp harmoniously along the lakeshore. Some birds are kites, ibis kingfishers, and the crested crane, which is also a national bird.

Accommodation:

Chameleon Hill Lodge – click here for more info about your lodge

Meal Plan: Lunch, Dinner, Bed and Breakfast

Day 2: Gorilla Habituation in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (Rushaga Sector)

Wake up for heavy breakfast, drive to the park headquarters (with packed lunch and water). Have 30 minutes briefing about gorilla habituation experience. At 8:00 am, start off a hike to habituate wild mountain gorillas. You will spend four hours with a wild gorilla family training it to get used with human presence. The whole experience may take up a full day depending on the length of the gorilla trek.

Accommodation:

Chameleon Hill Lodge – click here for more info about your lodge

Meal Plan: Lunch, Dinner, Bed and Breakfast

Day 3: Normal Gorilla Trekking

Today your adventure starts right after breakfast, at around 7:45 am, with packed lunch and drinking water you will be transferred to the National Park Head Quarters for the briefing on the dos and the don’ts while with the gorillas. You then continue to the forest for the start of the actual gorilla tracking.

The beauty of this rain forest is spectacular. The area offers a dramatic, steeply forested landscape and is incredibly dense, but crisscrossed by numerous animal trails allowing access to tourists. The time taken and the terrain varies as per the movements of these great primates. The thrill of spending time observing these gentle and endangered giants is an awesome, exciting experience to be long savored. Many find it to be a rare and moving opportunity. The tracking will take place in Nkuringo Sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park as you will have already visited Rushaga Sector for Gorilla habituation.

Accommodation:

Chameleon Hill Lodge – click here for more info about your lodge

Meal Plan: Lunch, Dinner, Bed and Breakfast

Day 4: Transfer to Kisoro Airstrip and head to Kibale National Park Home of Chimpanzee

After an early breakfast you will be transferred to Kisoro Airstrip for your scheduled flight to Kasese Airstrip departing at 08h25 arriving at 09h00. On arrival you you will be met by your guide who will transfer you to Kibale National Park, Kibale National Park is a national park in western Uganda, protecting moist evergreen rainforest. It is 766 square kilometres in size and ranges between 1,100 metres and 1,600 metres in elevation. Despite encompassing primarily moist evergreen forest, it contains a diverse array of landscapes.

Lunch will be served at your lodge followed by a relaxed afternoon in readiness to chimps trekking adventure the following day.

Accommodation:

Turaco Treetops – click here for more info about your lodge

Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 5: Chimps Trekking Experience
After an early morning breakfast, head to the park headquarters arrive at 8:00am. Get the introduction from the park warden join the group and begin your adventure to meet our closest relatives the “Chimpanzees” Tracking will start and last for 3-4 hrs along the trails you will come across other primates like Black and white Colubus, Grey face Mangabeys, Bird life and Plant life is abundant here.

After lunch we head for Bigodi swamp walk, Rich in biodiversity and scenic beauty, the Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary is a must visit. A 4,5km long walk will take you through this important wildlife corridor of Kibale Forest and will take up to 3h. The “Home of the Great Blue Turaco” is a real bird watcher’s paradise. This wonderful place shelters over 200 species of birds including Hornbills, Turacos, Parrots, Cranes, Kingfishers and many more swamp endemics. Furthermore, the sanctuary is the home of 8 species of primates, including the Black and White Colobus, Red Colobus, Red Tailed Monkey, Grey Cheeked Mangabey, Olive Baboon, L’hoest Monkey, Vervet Monkey and the Blue Monkey.

Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation:

Mid-range: Turaco Treetops – click here for more info about your lodge

Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 6: Fly to Entebbe covid test and depart

 After an early breakfast enjoy another glimpse of the misty jungle as you are transferred back to Kasese Airstrip for your scheduled flight back to Entebbe international Airport departing at 10h20 arriving at 10h25. (Flight can fly via other airstrips based on the routing and passengers traffic). On arrival you will be met and transferred to case clinic for covid test and later for a farewell lunch at Faze three restaurant as you await for your covid results. Transfer back to the airport for your outbound flight back home or to other destination.

Accommodation: No accommodation pre-booked on this day
Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch – Dinner on own’s account.

The above itinerary includes:

  • 1 Gorilla normal trekking permit US$ 700.00
  • 1 Gorilla habituation permit US$1,500.00
  • 1 chimpanzee tracking permit US$ 200.00
  • Internal flights US$ 1,079.00
  • Return airport transfers in Entebbe, Kisoro and Kasese airstrip
  • Return flight Entebbe – Kisoro – Kasese – Entebbe Ex Aerolink Aviation
  • Ground transport (in a safari minivan or a safari 4 x 4, note price varies depending with type of vehicle)
  • 2 litre mineral water per day per person
  • Full board accommodation as mentioned in the itinerary
  • Service of a professional English-speaking driver guide
  • All mentioned activities except for the optional ones

Tour excludes

  • Extras at the accommodation i.e. drinks, telephone, laundry etc.
  • Tips to porters and driver/ guide
  • Insurance
  • Items of personal nature
  • Covid test US$ 50.00
  • Any other item not included on the includes list

What to bring

  • Rain jacket
  • Water proof hiking shoes
  • Trousers and long sleeved shirts
  • Insect repellent
  • Sun hat