How To Plan 8 Day Gorilla, Chimpanzee Trekking And Game Safari In Uganda Through
Planning an 8 day gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking and game safari in Uganda through Rwanda is exciting as you drive through the land of a thousand hills. You cross into Uganda passed Cyanika border to cross into Uganda. You can also cross into Uganda from Rwanda through Gatuna Border. ENQUIRE NOW
The drive from Kigali Airport into Uganda may last approximately 6 hours to 7 on the road. Arrive Bwindi Impenetrable National park and check in to your booked accommodation facility. Ensure you reserve your overnight accommodation in or closer to the area where your gorilla permit is booked.
Highlight of Activities to Do On 8 day gorilla, chimpanzee trekking and game Safari In Uganda.
Day 1 Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National park through Rwanda
Day 2 Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National park
Day 3 Drive to Queen Elizabeth National park
Day 4 Game Safari and Launch trip in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 5 Drive To Kibale National Park
Day 6 Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale National park
Day 7 Nature Trek Visit Mabere Ganyina Mwiru and Tooro Kingdom
Day 8 Drive To Rwanda Departure Flight
Day 1 Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National park through Rwanda
On arrival at Kigali Airport, your driver guide picks you and drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Enjoy the lush green cover on the hills of Rwanda as you drive on winding roads of the country.
Go through border crossing procedure at Cyanika Rwanda border and continue driving until you arrive Bwindi Forest National Park. If trekking gorillas in the southern sector expect to go through Kisoro town.
Check into your lodge
Accommodation Gorilla Forest Lodge/ engage Lodge/ Bwindi View Bandas
Day 2 Gorilla Trekking In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After breakfast, head to the ranger station for briefing. Do not forget to pack your gorilla trekking gears and an extra face mask. Your ranger guide takes you through the donts and dos of gorilla trekking like no provoking the mountain gorillas, no littering the forest, keep a distance of about 8 meters from the gorillas when you find them.
Finally when you are divided into groups of maximum 8 clients to follow the way leading to where the gorillas are feeding that day. Look out for other exciting primates like black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, olive baboons, blue monkeys to mention but a few.
Keen birders have this double blessing as they can identify a number of birds including some on the red list of IUCN
When you get to locate the mountain gorillas, wait for the ranger guide to observe there current behavior because they also have mood swings. Finally whenever thing is in control, watch the family do there activities like feeding, nurturing, play, you may witness some family drama just like humans. Gorillas have about 96% human DNA.
Take as many photos as you can for memories of your gorilla trekking adventure in the wild. Retreat back to your lodge to relax.
Day 2 Drive to Queen Elizabeth National park
This adorable game park gets its name from the fallen Queen Elizabeth of England. It’s a about 6 hours drive from Buhoma in Bwindi forest to Queen Elizabeth National Park. you can get into Queen Elizabeth National park through Ishasha sector in the south driving 64 km.
Look out for the famous tree climbing lions that love watching there prey from the figs, Topis, elephants, Buffaloes, the usual suspects warthogs, giant forest hogs and so many others.
Relax at your lodge
Accommodation Mweya safari Lodge/ Elephant Safari Lodge/ Bush lodge/ Simba Safari Lodge
Day 3 Game Drive and Launch Trip in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Get up early for a game drive through the tracts like the crater lakes area where a number of amazing crater lakes create a beautiful scenery, the Kasenyi grassland presents more chances of spotting lions sneaking out to prey from Uganda Kobs that love hanging out here.
You may get to sport, leopards, topis, water bucks, bush bucks, warthogs, olive baboons, black and white colobus, mongoose to mention but a few. Enjoy the varying levels of the beautiful rift valley floor. Return to your lodge for lunch.
The Launch trip on Kazinga Channel is the highlight of Queen Elizabeth National park. After a long game drive relaxing on a launch trip is what you can reward yourself with. This 3hours voyage commences from Mweya pier and slowly you watch the beauties of the park rarely seen from the ground. A number of animals love taking a shower, drink and eat from the shore, a rich avian life spends a good part of the day on the marshy banks. hippos and crocodiles are permanent residents of the park
As the sun goes down, return to the shore to get a rest after a long day of activity.
Day 5 Drive to Kibale National park
This tropical forest is home to the largest number of habituated chimpanzees in Africa and lots of other primates. Enjoy the incredible green in the countryside and fresh breeze. Check into your lodge to relax
Accommodation Primates Lodge/ Kibale Safari Lodge/ Chimps Nest
Day 6 Chimpanzee trekking In Kibale National Park
Get up for breakfast and head to Kanyanchu visitor area for briefing. You will go thought the guidelines for chimpanzee trekking like no feeding the chimpanzees, keep voices low when close to the chimpanzees and so much more.
With other trekkers, a ranger guide accompanies you into searching form the chimpanzees. They are quite faster than mountain gorillas even if they are habituated. There naturel being does go away. Watch the chimpanzees interact with each other and spend just one permitted hour observing and taking photos.
Return to the lodge to relax
Day 7 Visit The Stalagmites and stalactites of Mabere Ganyina Mwiru and Tooro Kingdom Place
Spending the day with nature walking to the stalactites and stalagmites of Mabere Ga Nyinamwiru cave is exciting. These have an amazing local mythical story of a King’s daughter whose breasts were cut off and dumped here to drip.
The sparkling water falls you pass-by are a wonderful point for photography.
Later tour the Tooro place where the King is referred to as Omukama. He was the youngest King Enthroned during his time. Hs goes by the name Omukama Oyo Kabamba Iguru. The beautiful Tooro palace over looks amazing Fort Portal city. This palace is a great photo shoot scenery.
Get back to your lodge to enjoy your night in the jungle.
Day 8 Drive Back To Rwanda For Departure
Having enjoyed your 8 Day gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking, Wildlife safari in Uganda drive to Either Rwanda or Entebbe airport to catch up with your flight back home.
How To Book Uganda Gorilla Trekking Permit
Know your dates and number of people travelling with for gorilla trekking and chimpanzee tracking. When you send an Inquiry, we check availability and get back to you as soon as possible. This because availability changes anytime.
To secure a gorilla permit you need to pay for it and this is also the starting point for booking other safari amenities like accommodation, vehicles and so much more.
Buying the gorilla permit is the only way to show commitment to your gorilla safari
Later some details are required from you such as the full names on the passport, nationality, expiry date for your passport and so much more.
Your gorilla permit card is presented to the ranger guides on the day of gorilla trekking.
What Is The Best Gorilla Trekking area In Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi forest is according to area because of the vast size of the forest. No matter where you trek the mountain gorillas, the experience varies according to what you wish to see. Like humans, mountain gorillas have mood swings, good days, somber moods and so much emotions. The feeling of being in front of these majestic apes is unmatched for sure.
Bwindi Impenetrable National park is divided into Four area that is Buhoma area, Ruhija area, Rushaga area and Nkuringo area.
What To Pack for Uganda Safari Including Gorilla Trekking
Medical Insect repellant to keep away stinging insects
A camera to take photos of all the experience of gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking and wildlife safari.
Tracking boots to where in the jungle while searching for mountain gorillas and chimpanzees
A pair of binoculars to use while searching for far ranging animals and beautiful features
Pajamas to wear in the night
A torch to use for searching when lights go out at night
Safari clothing light wear to put on during the game drives in the dry seasons or long trousers and shirt to put on during gorilla trekking
A light bag to carry in items to sue for gorilla trekking and game safari
Foldable safari hat to wear when you are in the jungle and during a game drive
A shoe bag to keep your dirty shoe after gorilla trekking or Chimpanzee trekking
Sun screen for smearing while under the sun
Garden gloves to wear during the walk in the jungle because you can tripe a falls.
Toiletries in case your lodge or accommodation facility doesn’t provide the.
First aid box to administer fast help in case you get injured
Snacks to munch on when hungry especially during gorilla and chimpanzee trekking.
When Is The Best Time To Book A Uganda Gorilla Trekking And Wildlife Safari
Any time you can book a gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking or wildlife safari. You just have to know that June to September and December are peak seasons. Book your permits in advance to avoid last minute panic or wait listing.
March to May are more relaxed timed for gorilla trekking and other uganda safari activities so if you want to have a lodge to yourself this is the time to book. These however are more wet time and even the gorilla feed from the slopes and chimpanzees live most of there time up the trees
Are gorillas and chimpanzees dangerous?
Both gorillas and chimpanzees are nonviolent primates. The gorillas many be huge, they are serene animals with a dark furred body. The chimpanzees may be more active but after habituation, they get accustomed to presence of humans without losing there natural being.
Which Country Is Best For Gorilla Trekking Uganda or Rwanda
Gorilla trekking is an amazing experience no matter where you book your safari. The presence of the huge gorillas before you speaks volumes. They are gentle, shy, and none violent primates that love there families to the bones.
Although there physical appearance is quite scaring on first spot, when you realise how harmless they are you feel personal connection to them.
It is only the cost of the gorilla trekking permits that differs as mountain gorillas permit for Rwanda costs $1500 while in Uganda the gorilla permit costs $700 per person.
How Difficult Is Gorilla Trekking In Uganda
Although mountain gorillas live in volcanic area, they are reachable. You have to be slightly fit to manage getting to the mountain gorillas. They at times feed from the slopes especially in the severe wet seasons. You walk over slippery surfaces, boggy ground because the soils are volcanic and water doesn’t sip in so fast.
You do not have to go to the gym to enjoy this but do some simple home exercises to stretch your muscles and get them ready for more strenuous walk.
Are Gorilla Permits Refundable
If you buy a gorilla permit, you have contributed to the gorilla funding campaign but at times you may not be in position to do gorilla trekking. If you advise the authority in advance before the date when your gorilla permit is booked, you have high chances of a refund according to the terms and conditions of the Uganda wildlife Authority.
If you are a no show on the day your gorilla permit is booked, you are not refunded because this ticket would have been used by another person but you chose to keep quiet so expect no refund.
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