Please note that itinerary and accommodation may vary depending on availability at the time of booking.
We can add an extesion tour to Queen Elizabeth National Park or excursions in Entebbe, etc – do let us know at the time of making your travel arrangements if we can assist.
Day One: Arrive and Transfer to Hotel in Entebbe
Arrive at Entebbe International Airport where you will be met by a Ubuntu Uganda Journeys representative and will be transferred to your accommodation.
Entebbe is a small, quiet town located on the shores of Lake Victoria and is easy to explore on foot or local transport on motorbikes known as “boda bodas” or local taxis. You may visit the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre for the behind-the-scenes tour, local markets to buy clothes and crafts, curio shops for souvenirs, and the Botanical Gardens on Lake Victoria where you can walk among beautiful trees, watch monkeys moving through the canopy above, and spot many indigenous bird species or enjoy a sunset cruise on Lake Victoria.
Overnight at Boma Guest House or Hotel No. 5 on bed and breakfast basis
The Boma Guest House
The Boma is a small, family run guest house located in the suburbs of Entebbe. A converted residential home, that offers quiet, relaxed accommodation and a peaceful atmosphere. Each en suite room is uniquely decorated, with many having their own veranda. Gourmet meals are prepared upon request and guests can enjoy the welcoming bar area any time of day as well as the guest house’s large garden, private swimming pool and large patio boasting of beautiful views towards Lake Victoria.
Hotel No.5
Hotel No. 5 is a luxury boutique Hotel in Entebbe just about 10mins with all luxurious rooms opening onto the garden and swimming pool, this is a great option for guests looking for an intimate stay in a tranquil setting. Make yourself at home – unwind beside the swimming pool, pamper yourself with a spa treatment, or work up a sweat in the hotel gym. Attention to detail and an attentive guest experience are synonymous with Hotel No 5, making it the perfect choice for a restful stay in this busy town.
Day Two: Fly to Bwindi Forest National Park
This morning you will be transferred back to Entebbe airport for your scheduled flight to Kihihi airtsrip (Approx. 1h15mins flight). Meet with your guide and transfer for approx. one hour and thirty minutes to your lodge in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
Bwindi National Park, located in south western Uganda on the edge of the Great Rift Valley, is considered the most diverse forest in Uganda. The area, one of the few large expanses of forest in East Africa, where lowland and mountain habitats meet, contains a dense ground cover of herbs, vines, and shrubs. Home to over 120 mammals, 345 species of birds, 200 species of butterflies, and 160 species of trees, Bwindi is one of the richest ecosystems in East Africa. The park contains almost one half of the world’s population of the endangered Mountain Gorilla, making it an extremely valuable conservation site. Bwindi is also home to several endangered bird species with very limited ranges, and acts as an important catchment area for many rivers, supplying water for agriculture in the surrounding region.
Embark on a community walk through the local villages surrounding Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Optional activities include visits to a traditional home, local orphanage or school, banana brewing demonstrations and even meeting traditional medicinal healers. This three to four hour walk is easily tailored to the client’s schedule and interests.
Overnight at Mahogany Springs OR Gorilla Forest Camp on Full board basis
Mahogany springs
Mahogany Springs offers privacy and serenity blended with optimal comfort in a spectacular setting and is the perfect base from which to begin you Gorilla Tracking or Bird watching adventures. The lod ge is situated in the Buhoma area, and gets its name from the river that is just a short walk downhill from the main lodge.
All the rooms are suites with Twin, Double or Triple options offered. These suites are spacious with large double doors and beautiful windows opening onto its own private exquisitely designed terrace with panoramic views of the surrounding area. There are power points in the rooms as well as a dressing table/desk. For added comfort and peace of mind all the suites have an advanced mosquito net system that wraps aro und the entire area of the beds. Meals are served from the restaurant set within the main building, where guests may choose to dine inside by the cozy fire or outside on the terrace. A private bush breakfast or dinner can be organized down by the riverside as well.
Gorilla Forest Camp
This camp, located on a hillside nestled in the rain forest, is within walking distance of the starting point for the park’s gorilla tracking in Buhoma. An exclusive, luxury tented camp with eight en suite double rooms, each with two queen sized beds, a private wooden deck and a bathtub with view of the forest, Gorilla Forest Camp provides a beautiful and relaxing setting. The main camp area features a dining, bar and comfortable lounge as well as a mini-spa with a variety of treatments available. The camp offers guests fantastic bird and wildlife viewing and often receives visits from the gorillas themselves.
Day Three: Bwindi National Park
After an early breakfast, you will be transferred to National Park Headquarters to meet your guides for the day and begin your gorilla tracking experience. Experienced guides and trackers will accompany your party on an early morning trek into the dense rain forest on the mountain slopes.
The journey, through dense forest and up steep climbs, is abundantly rewarded with the lifetime experience of viewing mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. You will have an opportunity to be within meters of these magnificent apes, sharing in their daily lives and experiencing their day-to-day activities. Mountain gorillas are extremely rare with only an estimated 880 remaining in the wild. This is an experience you won’t soon forget!
The mountain gorillas are wild animals and, as such, sightings cannot be guaranteed. However, viewing success rates are over 90%.
Overnight at Mahogany Springs Lodge OR Gorilla Forest Camp on Full board basis
Day Four: Bwindi National Park
2nd Gorilla Trek
Those with pre-purchased permits will depart for a second gorilla tracking experience following early breakfast at the lodge.
Forest Walk (Optional)
Embark on a walk through tropical rainforest with experienced wildlife guides. Enjoy scenic views, the sights and sounds of the rain forest, ample opportunities for bird watching and glimpses of the many monkey species living in the park as they move through the forest canopy.
Batwa Cultural Experience (Optional)
Embark on a three to four hour hike to a Batwa village in the midst of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. This amazing encounter will allow you the opportunity to meet Batwa elders and their families and learn about their daily lives. Through the assistance of a skilled interpreter you will discover the unique traditions and practices the Batwa people inclu ding their deep attachment to the forest, the cuisine they enjoy, how they harvest their food, the style of their homes, and their burial rites. Visitors are even given the chance to learn how to light a fire with just a stick and how to shoot a target with traditional weapons.
Overnight at Mahogany Springs Lodge OR Gorilla Forest Camp on Full board basis
Day Five:
Depart Bwindi Forest National Park and travel to Kihihi for your return flight to Entebbe. Check-in at Entebbe International airport for your international flight out.