Overview
In this five days Gorilla trekking and cultural safari, will visit the community museum with ancient and modern history of western Uganda, Gorilla trekking at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, walk through the Batwa trail where you will fire bow and arrow, check hives for wild honey and light fire without matches, Boat ride on the scenic lake Bunyonyi and a community walk, The safari requires one to be in good physical state as it involves a lot of walking and for long hours. Come share this unique cultural experience in the original setting of the African societies.
Itinerary
Depart after early breakfast and take on the western part of Uganda. This route will take you past the equator line crossing, Lake Mburo National Park and on to Igongo Cultural centre where we break off for Lunch.
The main attraction at Igongo Cultural Centre is the community Museum of South Western Uganda with a tag line “Obwengye bugira Emizi” (Wisdom is rooted in the past). The Museum presents many themes in line with Ancient and modern History of South Western Uganda to present, Cultures of the people of South Western Uganda, Traditional skills of the people in areas of Pottery and Iron working. That you will have an insight into. Proceed to the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park – Rushaga Section where you will have your overnight.
Main Destination: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Accommodation: Rushaga Gorilla Camp (4star), Gorilla Close-up lodge, Wagtail eco-safari (3 star), Camp, Gorilla Valley (3 star) and Bwindi Jungle Lodge (3 star),
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Drinks: Bottled Water
After the early morning breakfast, your guide will drive you to the Rushaga section Park Entrance for a briefing on the Gorilla trekking etiquette. After the briefing which takes place at the headquarters, you shall penetrate the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to trek these gentle giant Gorillas under the guidance of a knowledgeable guide and Park Ranger.
Time taken trekking highly depends on how fast you will locate a gorilla family. It can take from 30 minutes to 7 hours depending on the location of mountain Gorillas on that particular day.
Once you find them, you will be allowed to spend one hour of observation and photography before returning back to the park headquarters for certificates awarding.
Main Destination: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Accommodation: Rushaga Gorilla Camp (4star), Gorilla Close-up lodge, Wagtail eco-safari (3 star), Camp, Gorilla Valley (3 star) and Bwindi Jungle Lodge (3 star),
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Drinks: Bottled Water
After Breakfast, prepare for the Batwa trail experience that leads you to the lives of the ancient people of the forest. They display their hunting skills, harvesting of honey, traditional performances and demonstration of making bamboo cups among others. Learn as they guide you through the forest, dance, sing and storytelling of their traditional ways of farming, handling the bow, gather honey and picking herbal medicine from roots and leaves a local way of treating the local people. Get a chance to share a local meal with them from plants and goat stew this will be another way of learning a life of Batwa people. The experience shows you how they lived grass thatched houses, caves, hunted small animals which were used for food. The trail begins with a nature walk, hike through the forest as you learn from the first keepers of the forest this takes a full day or 5 hours your simple presence will give a great honor to the Batwa people.
After the Batwa trail experience, depart for scenic Lake Bunyonyi for an overnight.
Main Destination: Lake Bunyonyi
Accommodation:
High end/ Luxury facilities: -Arcadia Lodges | Heritage Safari Lodge | Bunyonyi Bird Nest|
Mid range/ Moderate facilities: Bunyonyi Safari Resort | Bunyonyi Overland Camp
Budget/Low facilities: Crater bay cottages Bunyonyi
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Drinks: Bottled Water
Take on a boat ride on the second deepest lake in Africa, the scenic Lake Bunyonyi has over 29 Islands including the Punishment Island. Zip line on the second deepest lake and take a village walk through Muko Market and climb up via a church. Your walk will be punctuated with stops to interact with Farmers that you will have met. After Butengo you will view the Virunga panorama while enjoying your lunch pack. Your walk continues to Nyamiyaga getting the best Bwindi Panorama and along River Ruheza Myenda Go. Dinner and overnight stay at Available Safari Lodges.
Main Destination: Lake Bunyonyi
Accommodation:
High end/ Luxury facilities: -Arcadia Lodges | Heritage Safari Lodge | Bunyonyi Bird Nest|
Mid range/ Moderate facilities: Bunyonyi Safari Resort | Bunyonyi Overland Camp
Budget/Low facilities: Crater bay cottages Bunyonyi
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Drinks: Bottled Water
Day 5: Depart for Kampala.
After early breakfast, check out of your lodge and drive back to Kampala with your lunch en-route arriving in the evening or Entebbe for your outbound flight back home.
Main Destination: Kampala or Entebbe
Cost Includes
- • Airport transfers on first and last day,
- • Transport in a 4×4 safari vehicle
- • Services of an English speaking driver guide
- • Fuel for the whole trip
- • Gorilla Trekking Permit ( USD 800 per person)
- • Accommodation (mid range) and meal plan as per the itinerary
- • 1 Day pre-tour accommodation in Kampala / Entebbe
- • All park activity fees as per itinerary
- • Drinking water while in the vehicle
- • Post-tour accommodation in Entebbe or Kampala
- • International airfares
- • Uganda Visa (USD50.00 which can be paid on arrival at the Airport
- • Items of personal nature such as tips, drinks, and laundry
