Suggested Itinerary
HIGHLIGHTS
- Spend two days trekking to find the rare and elusive mountain gorilla in their natural habitat.
- Explore the phenomenal flora and fauna that lives in the densely vegetated Bwindi Forest National Park.
Day 1: Arrival to Entebbe
Boma Guest House
Upon arrival in Entebbe, you will be met by our representative in arrivals. Drive 10-minutes to the nearby Boma Guest House to settle in and spend your evening at leisure.
The Boma dates back to the 1940s and has retained all of the charm and character of its previous life as a private home. Set in a leafy suburb, the tropical gardens and European décor are warmed with uniquely African touches. Not only convenient and exclusive, the Boma Guest House also boasts all of the creature comforts one would expect from a high-quality hotel.
Day 2: Bwindi Forest National Park
Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge
Rise early this morning for your flight from Entebbe airport to Kisoro airstrip. Upon arrival, you will be met by a guide who will escort you for the 2-hour drive to Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge and Bwindi Forest National Park.
This rainforest is said to be 25,000 years old, making it one of Africa’s most biodiverse habitats. The altitude of this mountain park ranges from 1200 – 2600 meters. Five rivers and a high annual rainfall make the climate rather humid. Besides its mayor attraction, the mountain gorillas, the Bwindi National Park is also home to an amazing 120 mammal species, 350 species of birds, 202 species of butterflies and over 200 species of trees.
Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge is small and remote, situated high atop a ridge, with sweeping views overlooking the Virunga Volcanoes in the distance. Each of the private cottages are constructed from volcanic stone and decorated with locally-sourced artwork.
The afternoon is yours to relax, or enjoy a community walk nearby to explore your new surroundings.
Day 3: Bwindi Forest National Park
Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge
Before 8 am, you’ll report to the ranger station for registration and a talk by one of the rangers. The guides will then take you through the bush pushing your way through the undergrowth, parting thick creepers, to track the gorillas. The trek can take from half an hour to 7 hours. A reasonable degree of fitness is required as well as a sturdy pair of walking shoes.
Once you are close to the group the guides will ask you to leave behind your bags as no food items should be carried close to the gorillas. Just take your cameras with you. Here you’ll have the opportunity to sit in the forest amongst the gorillas, listening to them grumble to each other and marvel at the sheer size of the dominant male: the silverback. It is an extraordinary feeling sitting in the dense rainforest, knowing you are with a few of the last remaining mountain gorillas in the world. Sadly, there are only about 650 of these beautiful creatures left. You are allowed exactly one hour with the gorillas before returning to the base station.
Day 4: Bwindi Forest National Park
Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge
Today, you have another opportunity to explore Bwindi Forest National Park by foot to track rare Mountain Gorillas. Once again, the duration of your trek may vary depending on where the gorilla family is. You will have one more magical hour to spend with the gorillas before returning to the lodge and spending the rest of your day at leisure, recovering from your treks.
Day 5: Departure
Depart by private charter flight to Entebbe Airport for your international flight out.
Inclusions:
- All ground transportation as well as fuel and transfers, as per itinerary
- All meals as specified in this itinerary (except hotels in Kampala or Entebbe which are generally B&B)
- Accommodations as noted in this itinerary (or similar)
- Water, snacks, tea, and coffee in the vehicle
- Activities, as indicated in the itinerary
- All game drives in a shared 4 wheel drive vehicle
- Ranger guide fees
- Park and conservation fees
- All applicable taxes, administration, and banking fees
- Gorilla permits (Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park costs US $500.00 per person, per trek for advanced bookings. There is a minimum age limit for gorilla tracking which is strictly 15 years). Gorilla viewing is subject to availability of permits, which are limited, and we can not guarantee gorilla permits without a deposit of US$500 per permit from you. Any additional gorilla permits required should be purchased when booking. Gorilla permit prices are subject to change without warning.
- Charter flights subject to change due to fuel increase
Exclusions:
- International flights
- All airport departure taxes
- All passport and visa fees (US$50)
- All meals not specified on this itinerary
- All drinks, including alcoholic beverages
- Specialty wines, spirits and champagne throughout this itinerary
- Items of a personal nature (i.e. fax, telephone, etc.)
- Any extras and additional activities not mentioned in the itinerary
- Travel/medical insurance
- Laundry in Entebbe/Kampala
- Gratuities for guide/driver/hotel staff
- Trip cancellation, travel delay or baggage insurance
- Charges incurred as a result of delays beyond our control
