Overview
Visit Uganda’s mountain gorillas in the safest way with our customizable Uganda Fly in 5 days Gorilla tracking tour as recommended by Gorillas and Wildlife Safaris Hall of Fame Trip Advisor
This safari takes you to one of Africa’s oldest forests-being one of that predate the arid conditions of the last ice age -the 325km2 Bwindi impenetrable has carpeted the margin of the Albertine Rift Valley for some 25,000 years . During this time it has accumulated a remarkable biodiversity. Species counts include 350 birds, 310 butterflies, 200 trees, 51 reptiles ,88 moths and 120 mammals. The latter includes several primates, among them chimpanzees, L’Hoest’s monkey, and the star of the impenetrable show: the mountain gorilla. The global population of the endangered ape numbers just 800, half of which live in Bwindi and the remainder on the nearby Virunga volcanoes. With 15 family groups habituated for tourism, 4 trailheads, the impenetrable forest guarantee an ultimate lifetime gorilla experience
Driving to Bwindi from Entebbe is a minimum of 7 hours on both surfaced and dirt roads. You can avoid the long drives with this fly-in gorilla safari to Bwindi with 2 gorilla trekking experiences with pre-booked flights from Entebbe to Bwindi and flying back to Entebbe on Day 5. This fly-in gorilla trekking tour is available on any day of the week subject to the availability of the gorilla tracking permits. Flying in to the gorillas in Bwindi is certainly better and more comfortable than driving 8 hours plus to the Bwindi.
You could also choose to fly one way and drive the other way from Bwindi/Entebbe. We book your domestic flights from Entebbe to Bwindi and back, accommodation, and ground transfers to Bwindi as well as the 2 gorilla permits for Bwindi. Of the accommodation options offered for Bwindi, you could choose to upgrade at the time of booking.
Safari highlights
- Spend 4 hours amongst a family of wild mountain gorillas
- Watch them interact, play, and groom one another
- Have enough time to capture the perfect photograph
- Take part in the valuable task of habituating gorillas to the presence of humans
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe
Meet and greet and transfer to your preferred hotel in Entebbe, overnight on Bed and Breakfast
Accommodation options
- Papyrus Guest House for Budget
- 2 Friends Beach Hotel or The Boma Entebbe for Midrange
- Hotel Number 5 for Upmarket.
Day 2: Fly to the gorillas’ park Bwindi from Entebbe Airport.
After your morning breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your internal flight to Kihihi. Flying from Entebbe to the gorillas is a special experience, especially at lower altitudes. The flight is about 1 hour. The flight from Entebbe to Kihihi/Kisoro airstrip (the landing near Bwindi) departs at 07:45 and the return flight from Bwindi departs at 09:45 arriving in Entebbe at 11:25. Transfer from Kihihi a to Buhoma Lodge on the edge of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, which is approximately an hour away.
As exciting as the gorillas may be, Bwindi is a place that has plenty to keep you busy, without making the leg muscles ache too much. Time spent at the welcoming communty hospital offers the chance to meet many of the people who call this remote region home and the challenges they face. If the rainforest is the enticement, the forest walks offer some of the best birding in the region, with turaco’s and green broadbills flashing through the trees, but for a more relaxed adventure, head off to the sparkling water fall found nearby. Failing this, simply relax at the lodge, looking out over the forest and admire the view…
Dinner and overnight: Bwindi Lodge, All inclusive
Day 3: Day of Gorilla Trekking& Afternoon Nature walk to the Munyaga river trail/ waterfalls trail.
Today is the highlight of your trip as you embark on a once-in-a-lifetime gorilla trekking experience.
Take an Early morning breakfast, head to the park office headquarters together with your packed lunch, drinking water and dressed in good gorilla trekking attire. Attend the briefing about Do’s and Don’ts of gorilla trekking Uganda in the impenetrable forest. Track the gorillas across the steep hills they call home, through dense jungle, with the rangers clearing the way. The mud, sweat (and sometimes tears) are worth it and coming face to face with the gorillas is like no other wildlife experience out there. Bring plenty of memory cards, lots of water and strong legs. Leave any bags with the porters and spend one hour with the gorillas once you find them.
The whole tracking takes 4 – 6 hours depending on the movement of the gorillas and depending on how strong you will be on return, head for a nature walk to Munyaga river trail that takes approximately 1 ½ hours. Here you will enjoy the walking on the edge of the river as you look out for monkeys and bird species that you miss while tracking gorillas or go for waterfall trail if you are still strong enough this takes 2-3 hours return journey.
On waterfall trail, you will enjoy walking in the jungle as you look out for Monkeys, several bird species and magnificent Munyaga waterfall. Later return to the lodge for your dinner and overnight stay at;
Dinner and overnight: Bwindi Lodge, All inclusive
Day 4: Second Gorilla Tracking experience in Bwindi
A relatively early morning start together with packed lunch, you will assemble at the Park office well prepared to undertake gorilla trekking Uganda for the second time and then head out with the team to hopefully find a different group. It is important to remember here that every gorilla group is different and every trek is different. Whereas your first trek may have been a relaxed affair, with some of the younger gorillas playing, this second trek may be a much more thrilling experience, with the silverback displaying his strength. The forest will be different, the atmosphere of the group is different and hopefully you will allow the overall experience to sink in that much more after your initial hour with them already on the previous trek. As before, afternoon activities are kept flexible depending on when you return from the forest.
Alternatively, time permitting on return you will go for village walk to meet the local people in community including Pygmies. The guide will let you know the lifestyles of the local people in the area
Dinner and overnight : Bwindi Lodge, All inclusive
Day 5: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park – Entebbe
Fly Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to Entebbe or Fly back home
Dinner and Overnight
- Entebbe — Papyrus Guest House /2 Friends Beach Hotel Entebbe/Cassia Lodge — B&B
- Bwindi — Bwindi Lodge — Full Board
Safari inclusions
- Accommodation and full board basis
- Internal local flights
- Sightseeing with private guide as per the itinerary
- Transfers as detailed
- Airport transfers
- Transport in comfortable 4WD safari vehicle and Fuel
- Two Gorilla trekking permits (for different days)
- Full time English speaking driver/guide for the duration of the tour
- Park entry fees
- All activities mentioned in the itinerary
- Guiding fees
- Bottled drinking water while on the tour
Safari exclusions
- Other drinks not included in the itinerary
- Travel Insurance
- Visa fees for Uganda
- All optional activities
- Medical and travel Insurance
- Tips and gratuities to the guide/driver and hotel staffs.
- Any item not mentioned in the itinerary of personal nature like laundry and beverages, souvenirs and telephone bills.
