Safari Brief:

• Stopover at the Equator or Uganda Equator at Kayabwe 
• Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
• Boat cruise or canoeing on Lake Bunyonyi

According to the Uganda Wildlife Authority, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park contains almost 400 species of plants more famously, this “impenetrable forest” also protects an estimated 400 mountain gorillas – roughly half of the world’s population, including several habituated groups, which can be trekked. This biologically diverse region also provides shelter to a further 120 mammals, including several primate species such as baboons and chimpanzees, as well as elephants and antelopes. There are around 350 species of birds hosted in this forest, including 23 Albertine Rift endemics.Lake Bunyonyi is the second deepest lake in Africa after Lake Tanganyika in Tanzania. With a depth of 900 meters Lake Bunyonyi is the fourth deepest lake in the world. It offers a great variety of East African bird species.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe International Airport

On your arrival at Entebbe International Airport you will be welcomed and transferred to the hotel in Entebbe for a night.

Meals: Dinner

 We have two packages (traveling by road or flying from Entebbe or Kajansi to Kisoro/Kabale).  

Day 2: Kampala to Kabale

After breakfast you will depart Kampala for Kabale district through Masaka and Mbarara in the south western Uganda. You will have a stopover at the Uganda Equator for equator experiment at Kayabwe. As you approach Kabale District you will began to enjoy the viewing of the beautiful rolling terrace hillslopes and valleys – a common feature throughout the Kigezi region. Terraced fields spread with various crops and houses built on these Kigezi highlands give this region its unique distinctive character. The British colonialists nicknamed it the ‘Switzerland of Africa’ because of its hilly nature and cold weather.   

You will be booked at a lodge in Kabale, Kanungu or Kisoro where you will spend your holiday. You may spend the rest of the day on a nature walk as well as you experience the cultures of the Bakiga and Batwa (forest people) in the surrounding villages.

Accommodation

• Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge – high-end
• Bakiga Lodge – mid-range
• Gorilla Friends Resort – budget

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

 Day 3: Gorilla Trekking 

 After an early morning breakfast, you will carry your packed lunch and bottled water to the trekking start point on the Eastern sector of Ruhija where you will be registered and briefed by the park rangers on your trekking safari. You will be required to carry a photocopy of your passport to verify the correct names and address as they appear on your gorilla trekking permit.

 Guided by park rangers the actual trekking experience will take you one hour in cold, steeply and muddy conditions. The highlight of this lifetime experience is that you will closely watch these endangered species as they go about their daily life in their habitat. Trekking endangered mountain gorillas remains as one of the undisputed highlights of an Africa safari. Encountering these enormous creatures is an experience that will stay with you for life. After trekking the gorillas, you will enjoy your packed lunch in the forest, and thereafter return to your lodge for the night.

For the gorilla trekking excursion, you must have:

• Long trousers and long sleeved shirts for protection against insect stings
• Leather gloves for protection against stinging plants
• A rain coat
• Hiking boats or waterproof walking shoes
• Packed lunch and bottled water

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 4: Bwindi to Lake Bunyonyi (optional)

After trekking the gorillas, you will be driven to Lake Bunyonyi. After your breakfast you will be headed for an early morning boat cruise or canoeing on Lake Bunyonyi to watch several bird species on the many islands on the lake. You could swim in the lake and enjoy nature walks and hike the terraced hills of Kigezi. Or go for zip lining, mountain biking or a cultural interactive village visit.

Accommodation

• BirdNest Resort – high-end
• Lake Bunyonyi Eco Resort – mid-range
• Hawk’s Eye Lodge – low

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 4 or 5: Kabale/Lake Bunyonyi to Kampala and Transfer to Entebbe Airport for Departure

After breakfast you will head back to Kampala. You will have lunch at a selected restaurant in either in Mbarara or Masaka Town. You will then be transferred to Entebbe International Airport to board your departure flight.

 Meals: Breakfast and lunch