6 Day Gorilla And Game Safari In Uganda Through Rwanda

Overview

6 Day Gorilla And Game Safari In Uganda Through Rwanda

The 6 day gorilla and game Uganda Safari through Rwanda is a trip to explore the gem in Uganda’s wildlife jewelry. Mountain gorillas sell like hot cake amongst the diverse fauna that Uganda hosts. An addition of wild game safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park is a cherry on top this Uganda safari ice cream.

To cross from Rwanda Kigali Airport into Uganda Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, you can use Gatuna border or Chanika. To avoid the disturbance of double visa application one can apply for the East Africa visa, which allows entry into two East African community member countries.

The drive time from Kigali Airport to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is about 5 hour to 6 hours.

Summary of 6 day Gorilla And Game Uganda Safari Through Rwanda

Day 1: Drive from Kigali to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Day 2: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Day 3: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Day 4: Game Drive And Launch trip In Queen Elizabeth National Park

Day 5: Chimpanzees Trekking In Queen Elizabeth National Park

Day 6: departure day

Full itinerary

Safari Package Inclusions

4×4 safari vehicle with a pop up roof
A safari guide driver
Accommodation during the safari
Airport pick up and drop off
Park entrance fees
Gas
Launch trip
Game drive

Safari Package Exclusions

Arrival and departure flights
Gorilla trekking permit
Laundry during the safari
Tips
Any other items of personal nature

Itinerary

DAY 1 Drive from Kigali to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

From Kigali, you drive through winding roads curved from the bottom of a series of hills covered with stunning lash vegetation. To cross into Uganda, you use the Katuna or Cyanika border and head to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a pristine forest thick and hosting a wide range of fauna and flora that is believed to have accumulated over 25000 years of its existence.

Check into your accommodation facility to relax to get off jet lag and organize your necessary gorilla trekking gears.

Accommodation to Book in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park: Gorilla Forest Camp, Gorilla Safari Lodge, Mahogany springs, Silverback Lodge, Bwindi View Bandas, Clouds Lodge, Gorilla Resort, Ruhija Gorilla Lodge, Nkuringo Safari Lodge

DAY 2 Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Gorilla trekking is a dream come true Africa safari adventure and on this day, you need an early rise, take breakfast and proceed to the ranger station with your gorilla trekking gears in hand.

After briefing, each one is allocated a gorilla trekking group with maximum 8 people accepted to visit each gorilla family per day. The way to the mountain gorillas may have some topographic challenges like steep slopes, slippery surface from decomposing matter.

Look out for other enchanting primates like black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, olive baboons, grey cheeked mangabey, red-tailed monkeys, blue monkeys and others.

Bwindi forest is a haven to a plethora of birds and currently more than 350 birds are residents of this park including seven bird species on the red list of IUCN. Look out for Albertine rift endemics that can easily be spotted in this forest national park. The birding hotspot for Bwindi forest is in Ruhija area Mubwindi Swamp.

When you finally locate the mountain gorillas keep a distance of about 8 meters from them. observe and take there photographs putting in mind the guideline of gorilla trekking. Only one hours is allowed with the mountain gorillas when you locate them. Try to keep in a tight group when you locate the mountain gorillas so as not to seem having ambushed them.

Slowly get away from the mountain gorillas at the elapse of an hour to let them go about there day today activities like feeding, grooming, playing and so much more. This is because the mountain gorillas are interrupted by human presence even conception cannot happen.

DAY 3 – Drive to Queen Elizabeth National park

Having completed the gorilla trekking adventure, head to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The drive time from Buhoma area of Bwindi Forest to Mweya or Ishasha sector is about 4 hours to 5 hours.

The distance from Buhoma area in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is 160 kilometers from Mweya area and 64 kilometers from Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Enjoy enroute game drive as you enter Queen Elizabeth National park.

Accommodation to book in Queen Elizabeth National Park: Katara Lodge, Mweya Safari Lodge, Bush Lodge, Jacana lodge, Mweya hostels, Ishasha wilderness Lodge, Simba safari Camp, Elephants Lodge

DAY 4 – Game Drive and Launch Cruise In Queen Elizabeth National Park

Rise up early for a game drive via different tracks in Queen Elizabeth National Park. You may take the crater lake track where you enjoy stunning views of both wet and dry crater lakes like lake Nyamunuka the animal hospital with a putrid smell.

Taking the North Kazinga and Kasenyi tracks that go through mosaic of grass thickets where a variety of wild animals love to feed. Chances of carnivore drama from lions are more open on the Kasenyi plain track around which antelopes love to spend there day. during the Queen Elizabeth Game drives, look out for animals like lions, hyenas, topis, herds of buffaloes, herds of elephants, giant forest hogs, hyenas, waterbucks, warthogs, uganda kobs and others.

To get the best out of game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park, you can take the early morning or late afternoon game drives.

Launch trip on Kazinga Channel Queen Elizabeth National Park

A launch trip along Kazinga channel is the highlight of Queen Elizabeth National Park. This 40 kilometer channel provides the wildlife spectacle of this park. In the Kazinga channel water, look out for serried Nile crocodiles, otters, schools of hippos. Some park resident wild animals may be spotted drinking or taking a bath in the channel waters.

The marshy shores of Kazinga channel act as a magnet to an array of birds including both domestic and foreign migrants. Some of the birds you may get to spot include, greater and lesser flamingos, African skimmers, papyrus gonolek, shoebill stork, martial eagle, black-rumped buttonquail, pink backed pelicans and others.

This voyage on at the floor of the rift valley so enjoy the escarpments backed by ragged Rwenzori ranges beautifully stand out. This launch trip my take about 3 hours on a return trip.

Return to your lodge to relax.

DAY 5 – Chimpanzees Trekking In Queen Elizabeth National Park

After breakfast, you head to Kyambura Fig Tree Camp for briefing about chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge. This gorge results from River Kyambura erosion as it flows into Kazinga channel.

Get ready to hike to the chimpanzees living in a gorge which is 100 meters deep. Carry the right chimpanzee trekking gears.

You can book the morning 0800 hours or afternoon 1400 hours chimpanzee trekking session in Kyambura gorge Queen Elizabeth National Park. Get back to your lodge to relax.

Inclusions

Route Map

Day 6: departure day

After gorilla, game drive and chimpanzee trekking experience in Uganda, drive to Entebbe airport to catch up with your home bound flights.

Safari Package Inclusions

4×4 safari vehicle with a pop up roof
A safari guide driver
Accommodation during the safari
Airport pick up and drop off
Park entrance fees
Gas
Launch trip
Game drive

Safari Package Exclusions

Arrival and departure flights
Gorilla trekking permit
Laundry during the safari
Tips
Any other items of personal nature
When Can I Book A Gorilla Permit For Uganda
Booking your gorilla permit atleast 6 months to a year in advance is a safe decision. The latest period when you can book a gorilla permit for Uganda is 3 months to gorilla trekking date especially if you hope to travel in the peak season, which is June, July, August, September, December and January.

Last minute gorilla permits may be available in the low season, which is March, April, May, November, but not a guarantee.

Sometimes Uganda Wildlife Authority provides discounted gorilla permits but not guaranteed every year. The discounted gorilla permits only apply for the season in which they are scheduled.

What is the cost of Uganda Gorilla Permits?

The Uganda gorilla permit costs $700 per person for foreign none residents, $600 for foreign residents and 250000shs for East African Citizens.

This cost of gorilla permit includes park entrance fees, security during gorilla trekking, one hour with the mountain gorillas, mountain gorilla conservation, local community support.

Exclusions of Uganda gorilla permit costs are: porter fee, gorilla trekking gears, packed lunch, drinks and any others items of personal nature.

What is the cost of chimpanzee permit for Kyambura Chimpanzee Permit?

The cost of chimpanzee permit for Kyambura gorge on Queen Elizabeth National park is currently $60 per person per trek.

The chimpanzee permit cost for Kyambura gorge includes ranger guide services, one hour with the chimpanzees, chimpanzee conservation support, security during chimpanzee trekking

Exclusions of chimpanzee permit cost for Kyambura gorge include park entrance fees, tips, transport, snacks, accommodation and any other items of personal nature.

How Much Is The Cost Of 6 Day Gorilla, Chimpanzee and Game Uganda Safari ?

The costs of gorilla and chimpanzee permits are covered in this safari package. We package our Uganda safaris into Luxury, mid-range and budget tours. Each package has different inclusions and exclusions.

To cost the 6 day gorilla, game and chimpanzee Uganda safari the following are considered

The number of people travelling with for this Uganda safari as more people are added to this safari, the less the per person cost. As solo traveler, you bare all the safari costs.

Time for gorilla and Game safari as the peak season costs of safari amenities are high while the low season may call for discounted costs.

Additional activities to include in this Uganda safari as the more the activities, the higher the safari cost.

What Is The Best Month For Booking 6 Day Gorilla Trekking And Game Safari In Uganda Through Rwanda?

All year around gorilla and game safaris in Uganda are open to public booking but the dry season, which is June to September and December to January, are comfortable for doing this 6-day gorilla and game safari in Uganda.

The mountain gorillas and wild animals are more vibrant in this period because the way is not slippery or rains are not regularly falling

For game viewing, the grass is normally shorter creating a visible environment for you to enjoy these wild animals in the natural setting.

The wet season is also favorable for this gorilla trekking safari in Uganda, as discounted costs may be available from service providers like hotels, lodges, car hire services and others. The wet season that serves as the low season is normally March, April, May, November.

Is Gorilla Trekking In Uganda Difficult?

Doing gorilla trekking safari in Uganda has topographic challenges because of the nature of this area affected by volcanic action. You may need to hike some ridges and plateaus in case the gorillas are spending there time at the slopes.

The way may be quite slippery and soggy from the regular rains that fall with less sunray penetration through the dense forest canopy.

As Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a tropical rain forest with a dense network of rivers that flood at times especially in the rainy season causing soggy ground conditions, get ready to walk through this sticky forest situation.

You can pack the right gorilla trekking gears and do pre-safari exercises that can help you with stand these forest conditions. Have some level of fitness that can help you not to get muscle pools.

What Can I Include In The Packing List For A 6 Day Gorilla And Game Safari In Uganda Through Rwanda

Safari boots that cover your ankles and comfortable for you to hike in case you have to do so on slippery slopes.

Insect repellant to protect your skin from biting insects.

Safari cap or large brim hat to cover your head from dust and buzzing insects in the wilderness.

Warm wear to use early morning and late afternoon as temperatures drop in this period of the day.

Safari attire in colors that are wilderness friendly like tan or khaki as there is dust in the game parks especially during the dry season. The forest also has decomposing matter that may fall on your clothes during gorilla trekking.

A backpack to carry with your safari gears like a camera, insect repellant and other Uganda safari gears

Toiletries

A torch

A pair of binoculars

A foldable water bottle

A pair of stockings

Snacks

First aid kit

Sunglasses

flip flops

A camera

Note this As you book a gorilla trekking safari In Uganda

A waterproofed backpack is vital for your camera because it may rain at any time without warning, water bottle to quench your thirst as you trek to see the mountain gorillas and snacks.

If not sure of your fitness, you may hire a porter for a small fee to carry your backpack and help you up the steeper slopes.

As you plan your gorilla tracking tour, ensure you contact your travel insurance about whether they cover your gorilla trekking permit because you may be required to pay an additional premium.