Fly-In Gorilla Safari: 5 Days Bwindi Trekking Experience.
The 5 days fly-in gorilla trekking safari is a luxury and once-in-a-lifetime adventure that will take you to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, where you will be able to spend time with the habituated mountain gorillas in their environment. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in southwestern Uganda and is famously known for harbouring the highest number of mountain gorillas, which are found in four sectors, namely Nkuringo, Ruhija, Buhoma and Rushaga.
Highlights of the safari
Day 1: Pick up and transfer to the hotel in Entebbe
Day 2: Fly to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Day 3: Gorilla trekking experience
Day 4: Nature walk and Batwa cultural tour
Day 5: Departure flight to Entebbe
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Pick up and transfer to the hotel in Entebbe
Depending on your arrival time at Entebbe International Airport for your Uganda safari, you will be welcomed by the hotel representative and then transferred to the hotel in Entebbe for relaxation, dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 2: Fly to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
You will have breakfast, check out of the lodge and meet up with the hotel representative to transfer to Entebbe Airport for your domestic flight to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The scheduled flights depart from Entebbe Airport at around 7:00 am and 10:30 am, arriving at Kihihi Airstrip at around 8:15 am and 11:45 am, respectively. Upon arrival, you will be welcomed by our driver and later transferred to the lodge for lunch and spend the rest of the day at leisure. Dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Gorilla trekking experience
You will have an early breakfast, carry your lunch box and meet up with your driver guide to go for a gorilla trekking briefing at the park headquarters. After the briefing, you will be allocated an experienced park guide and park rangers and start trekking on foot in the jungle in search of the habituated mountain gorillas. Trekking for gorillas in Bwindi National Park takes about 2 to 7 hours, depending on where the gorillas are located.
During trekking, you will have a chance to view other primates like L’hoest monkeys, olive baboons, and chimpanzees, among others. Once the gorillas are located, you will be allowed to spend one hour with them, which allows you to learn more about their habits, lifestyle and behaviours; watch them feed, breastfeed and play; take pictures; and record the incredible moments to show people back home after the safari. After the face-to-face encounter with the gentle giants, you will trek back to the starting point, where you will be awarded a certificate for participating in gorilla trekking and later return to the lodge for an evening of relaxation, dinner and overnight stay.
Day 4: Guided nature walk and Batwa cultural tour
After breakfast, your driver guide will pick you up from your lodge to transfer to the park headquarters for a nature walk briefing. After the briefing, you will start trekking in the forest with an experienced guide, spot different primates and bird species like the Albertine rift endemics, and view different plant and tree species, among others. Later, return to the lodge for lunch.
After lunch, you will go for an interesting cultural tour in the neighbouring communities where you will be able to interact with the local people; learn about their culture and way of living; listen to their stories; learn about coffee and local beer preparation; and enjoy their traditional performance, among others. After the cultural tour, you will drive back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Departure flight to Entebbe airport
You will have breakfast, check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Kihihi airstrip for your domestic flight, which departs at around 8:35 and 12:05, arriving at Entebbe airport at around 11:25 am and 2:25 pm, respectively. End of a 5 days fly-in gorilla trekking safari.
The tour includes
- Gorilla trekking permit @ $800pp
- Park entrance fees
- Batwa cultural tour
- Guided nature walk
- Domestic flights (return)
- Full board accommodation
- Meals at the lodge and en-route (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
- Full-time English-speaking driver guide
- 4WD safari Vehicle and fuel
- Pick up and drop off in Entebbe
- Bottled drinking water during the safari
The tour excludes
- Air flight tickets (International)
- Visas
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses like buying alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks, souvenirs, crafts, telephone calls, laundry services, and hiring a porter, among others.
- Tipping and gratuities
