Where To Stay during Gorilla Tracking Safari In Uganda

Accommodation is readily available for your stay during a gorilla trekking experience however this is very much dependent on your budget. Super Luxury facilities are available  and majority have full board basis, luxury accommodations are also available but with full board meal basis and specious well aerated rooms, Midrange accommodation during gorilla tracking are also available and majority offer full board meal plan and budget facilities are also available however majority have shared facilities but well kept.CONTACT US

Gorilla Trekking Safari

7 Day Gorilla Trekking And Wildlife safari Itinerary with accommodation

Day 1: Drive To Bwindi forest National park

Rise up early in the morning for breakfast and your guide driver will pick you from your overnight hotel and take you to Bwindi forest National Park. This road trip is about 8 to 9 hours but very scenic. Make a stopover at the equator for picturesque experience as you stand on both sides of the earth at the same time. Perform the water experiment and carry on passing through the rolling green covered hills of Kigezi.

Arrive in the evening ready for dinner and overnight at

Accommodation: Clouds lodge/ Gorilla Forest Camp/ Engage Lodge/Ruhija Gorilla Lodge/ Bwindi View Bandas

Day 2: Gorilla Trekking

Rise up early in the morning for breakfast and head to the ranger station for briefing. Learn how you must behave to succeed in your gorilla trekking safari experience. You must be free of any communicable disease like a cold because the gorillas are susceptible to human illnesses like this.

In the company of an armed ranger guide, start trekking to find the mountain gorillas. They are well versed with all corners of the forest so you will follow the trail where they were seen the previous day. Avoid making noise while trekking because the mountain gorillas are agitated and scared of noise.

Other primates like enchanting monkeys, olive baboons, black and white  colobus, vervet monkeys, grey cheecked mangabey to mention but a few. Birding is awesome here. You do not have to look for the birds there show is readily available for you to watch there day drama of building nests, pecking the wood and picking fruits from different trees.

Finally when you get to spot the gorillas, you may hear them murmur as if warning each others of your presence. Even if ones of them move close to touching your camera, you just need to relax and avoid touching it because these are wild animals whose mood swings are uncontrollable. Photographs which you will remind you of the moments with the mountain gorillas and after an hour return to the lodge and relax.

Day 3 Drive to Queen Elizabeth National park

This is drive may go through Ishasha sector the home of the renowned tree climbing lions but going through this side of the pack depends on the condition of the bridge over Ishasha river. During this game drive, you may have the chance of meeting herds of buffaloes, elephants, lions, warthogs and so much more.  Check in to your lodge waiting for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge/ Jacana lodge/ Ishasha Wilderness Lodge/ Simba safari Lodge

Day 4: Game Drive And Launch Cruise

Get up early in the morning for game drive in the Northern crater lakes area of the park. You may have the chance of meeting the early risers get out of there night hide outs, to day hangout places. Carry on to the pavilion where you will take photographs of the incredible crater lakes display.

You may have the chance of seeing animals like the lions, elephants, buffaloes, bush bucks, leopards, hyenas, wild dogs, and numerous birds are residents of this park.

Having enjoyed the great views of the park, carry on to the pier to enjoy a launch cruise on the Kazinga Channel. The banks of this channel are so dramatic always decorated with animals that quench there thirst from its waters. This is home to countless birds that are residents of this park and flock the channel banks regularly. Hippos and crocodiles are very many in this channel and the vegetation around is so spectacular. Return to your lodge and relax

Day 5: Chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge

Rise up early and get ready to meet human closest cousins in the animals kingdom. This hike to Kyambura gorge to meet the chimpanzees is very interesting. You may get to meet them at the bottom of the gorge. So interesting to be close to these great apes whose life is very dependent on foliage and to some extreme moments they get to feed on the monkeys incase there is limited resources to feed on in the forest. Return to the lodge and relax

Day 6: Drive back to the airport

Having enjoyed your time in the wilderness and experiencing the service of the lodges, return to Entebbe Airport to catch up with the flight back home.

Pros And Cons Of Gorilla trekking

Volunteer to stay behind in case you have a communicable disease because mountain gorillas area highly susceptible to human disease which may cause them to die.

Mountain gorillas fear lightening so you need to carry a flashless camera to take pictures.

Feeding the mountain gorillas is forbidden because they are wild animals that need to search for there own food.

When you dump anything in the forest, you spoil nature yet mountain gorillas entirely depend on foliage   for survival.

While you trek to see the mountain gorillas, do not forget to stay quiet or speak with a low tone so that you do not scare the mountain gorillas. They get frighten by noise.

Do stand at a distance of about 7 meters from the mountain gorillas when in there presence.

 In case the gorilla gets close to your camera, it is best not to touch them so that they do not get to transfer any contagious disease to you from the wild or you transmitting any communicable disease. It is the best way to conserve the mountain gorillas.

Best Africa Safari To Choose On A luxury Vacation

A Uganda safari is a moment to enjoy the cool wilderness. Most of the wild animals in Uganda survive in the gazette national Parks. They live freely and you can see them when you take a game drive, guided walk or launch cruise in these parks. CONTACT US

Launch cruise On Uganda Safari

Seven Day Uganda Wildlife Tours And Gorilla Trekking

Day 1: Drive to Murchison falls National Park

After breakfast, your driver guide will pick you from your lodge and head to Murchison falls National Park. On the way, you may have the chance of seeing the rhinos in Ziwa Rhino sanctuary. This unique park is bisected by River Nile which forms an amazing cloudy appearance when it squeezes through the narrow gorge and burst out to produce a thundering sound. Hike to the top of the falls to get a closer view of the Nile. Check into your lodge and relax

Day 2: Game drive and Launch cruise

Get up early in the morning for a launch cruise in the northern sector of the park. In case you spent your night in the southern sector you will require ferry crossing. In this area, you may have the opportunity of seeing animals like lions, elephants, water bucks, bush bucks, warthogs, giraffes, buffaloes and so many birds that roam around the park. After lunch get to the pier to enjoy a launch cruise. You may have the chance of seeing other animals you might have missed. Enjoy the energetic River Nile as it plunges down the 7 meters ridge to join the rest of the course.  Take pictures and return to the lodge to relax.

Day 3: Drive To Queen Elizabeth National Park

Following your breakfast, you will drive to Queen Elizabeth national Park. This is about 7 to 8 hours but very scenic. Arrive late in the evening ready for dinner and overnight.

Game Viewing on Uganda Safari

Day four Game drive and launch cruise

This park is endowed with varying vegetation so you are to enjoy a game drive in its mazing scenery. You may have the chance of seeing animals like lions, leopards, warthogs, buffaloes, elephants and so much more. Return for lunch and head to the pier for a launch cruise. The shores of this Kazinga channel are always flocked by rich bird life, animals and great vegetation cover gives you a chance to take magnificent pictures. Return to the lodge and relax.

Day 5: Drive to Bwindi forest national Park

Rise up early for a game drive as you proceed to Bwindi forest national Park. Drive through the southern sector the home of the great tree climbing lions, elephants, buffaloes, Kobs to mention but a few. Arrive and relax at your lodge

Day 6: Gorilla trekking

Ready to go gorilla trekking, carry your lunch box and move to the ranger station for briefing. Hire a porter to support you in case you are tired. The time of finding the gorillas is not easily predictable because of there regular movement. They have a black dark hairy coat that covers there body. When you are finally in there presence, stay with them for just an hour and return to the lodge to relax.

Day 7: Drive back home

7 day Gorilla tracking and Wildlife Safari

Following your gorilla trekking tour and wildlife safari, drive back to Entebbe to catch up with your flight back home.

• Book accommodation in the area where you have booked the gorilla trekking permit to a void waking up early in the dark to drive to the briefing point.
• Hire a pick up safari vehicle from the airstrip because there is quite a distance to the lodges
• Book a seat on the daily domestic flights because of the high demand.
• Send us your flight details for reconfirmation in case of any changes especially the departure flights.
• Gorilla trekking requires you to have some fitness, at least 2 weeks to your trek, do some exercises.
• Before starting a gorilla trek, you may hire a porter to carry your gears
•  Carry some hard cash to exchange into local Uganda shillings in case you wish to buy anything. This is because credit cards are not commonly used in Africa.

5 Must activities to Include on Uganda Safari Itinerary

A Uganda Safari can be memorable when you do not leave out major activities like gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, game drive and so many others. These are done on different parks that the country is endowed with CONTACT US

Gorilla trekking

Gorilla tracking is done in Bwindi forest National Park and Mgahinga National park. This brings you closer to the left over mountain gorillas which only exist in Uganda, Rwanda and D.R Congo. They have a dark court that shelters them from the year round coldness. Despite there sheer size, they are generally vegetarian and there best delicacy is bamboo shoot. 

To join other gorilla trekkers, you must have a gorilla permit and when packing you need to have gorilla tracking gears. Only 8 gorillatrekking permits are released for each day per family to book yet in Uganda there are about 10 gorilla trekking families. This is the reason why you really need to book you gorilla permit atleast 6 months in advance. 

Gorilla tracking time is not clear as it may take between 2 hours and beyond depending on the proximity of the mountain gorillas. You are given just one hour with the gorillas because they are habituated to have human presence for just one hour.

Gorilla trekking safari In Uganda

Chimpanzee tracking

 Tracking the chimpanzees is another memorable activity to enjoy. Chimpanzees exist in Kibale National park , Kaniyo Pabidi, Ngamba Island and Kyambura Gorge. They live in communities under the leadership of the alpha male. You also need to book a chimpanzee trekking permit in advance. You have two chance of meeting the chimpanzees that is the morning session and afternoon

Chimpanzees are the closest relatives of the humans in the animal kingdom with about 98% human genes. You may get to recognize them before meeting them as they keep alerting others of your presence.

Game drives

Uganda is endowed with a number of wild animals that live in reserved parks. You have the chance of meeting them on game drives. Some of the wild animals to see include lions, elephants, buffaloes, water bucks, giraffes, zebras, cheetahs, leopards and so many others.

Some of the parks you can book include Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park and so much more. 

Within some of these parks, you may do a lunch cruise or boat ride which gives you the chance of viewing a congregation of animals and birds along the shore. The scenery is so incredible and picturesque. 

Birding in Uganda

Uganda is home to a number of birds. You have the chance of meeting unique birds including the albertine endemics.  Over 1057 bird species and has about 34 birding sites where by Bwindi forest is the top most birding site. It was awarded by the African Bird Club the top destination for birding in Africa. The Pearl of Africa harbors about 47% of Africa’s bird species which makes it the birder’s haven in Africa.

Some of the birds to see include saker falcon, Nahan’s Francolin, Black-Rumped Bottonquail, Denham’s Bustard, African green broadbill, White-bellied Robin-Chat, Oberlaender’s ground thrush, Basra Reed Warbler, Turner’s Eremomela grey headed sun bird, Mackinnon’s fiscal, oriole fich, scare swift, waller’s starling, mountain buzzed, African wood owl, Toro olive-green broadbill, olive thrust, Grauer’s rush-warbler, Red faced woodland-warbler, grey cuckoo-shrink, red sheeted owlet, Handsome fracolin, sooty boubou, African hill babler and so many theres. Sites where to see some birds include Bwindi Forest, Mabira forest, Mabamba Island, Makaga site, Lutembe Beach and so much more. 

White Water Rafting

For adventurous traveller, this is another adrenaline stimulating activity you can book. It is done in Jinja at Itanda Falls. You have the opportunity of selecting the level of tides you wish to take. Take off the stress with this great water activity peddling the tides and going in and over the vigorous water. Visit the source of River Nile the longest river in Africa and witness where the Nile water separates from Lake victoria

Birding on Gorilla trekking Safari In Uganda

Gorilla trekking in Uganda is not only a memorable experience but also a double opportunity to meet several other wild creatures that live freely in the forest like the birds, monkeys, butterflies and several other inhabitants. During gorilla trekking, you have the chance of asking your ranger guide to stop and explain about the bird sounds that you listen too even identify the birds that you come across. This is a double chance for those interested in birding. CONTACT US

Birding In Uganda During Uganda safari

Bwindi forest being one of the prehistoric forests is home to several birds that roam around. A number of other insects also live freely in the forest. This area is known for harboring the unique albertine indemics. During gorilla trekking, you may spot some of these birds and take shots of them like the saker falcon, Nahan’s Francolin, Black-Rumped Bottonquail, Denham’s Bustard, African green broadbill, White-bellied Robin-Chat, Oberlaender’s ground thrush, Basra Reed Warbler, Turner’s Eremomela, southern Hyliota, chapin’s flycatcher and so much  more

On the way, you have another chance of meeting primates like the olive baboons, vervet monkeys, grey checked mangebey, black and white colobus, blue monkeys, chimpanzees that roam freely in the forest. As you trek to see the gorillas, they keep entertaining you with there acrobatic styles which keeps you moving and the time of finding the gorillas is not known.

Uganda Birding Tour

Birding In Bwindi forest Uganda

For those interested in entirely birding safari in Uganda, it can also be possible in Bwindi Forest without considering going gorilla trekking. Uganda is endowed with over 1057 bird species and has about 34 birding sites where by Bwindi forest is the top most birding site. It was awarded by the African Bird Club the top destination for birding in Africa. The Pearl of Africa harbors about 47% of Africa’s bird species which makes it the birder’s haven in Africa.

While in Bwindi Forest, there are areas where birds can easily be identified like the Ruhija area in the Mubwindi swamp which is at an altitude of 2340m to 2050m above sea level. It is the best spot to find the Albertine endemics like African Green broadbill, Arcer’s Robin- chart, Rwenzori Apalis, African hill babbler to mention but a few.

Some more birds to identify in Bwindi Forest include

Yellow eyed black-flycatcher, Cassin’s rey flycatcher, African hill babbler, Blue headed Sunbird, Northern Double collared sunbird, grey headed sun bird, Mackinnon’s fiscal, oriole fich, scare swift, waller’s starling, mountain buzzed, African wood owl, Toro olive-green broadbill, olive thrust, Grauer’s rush-warbler, Red faced woodland-warbler, grey cuckoo-shrink, red sheeted owlet, Handsome fracolin, sooty boubou, African hill babler, Dusky crimsonwing, strange weaver, Rwenzori batis blck and white shinke-flycatcher, bar tailed trogon, blue throated brown sunbird the list is endless.

How to book a birding safari in Bwindi forest Uganda

When you wish to do birding in Uganda, you have to send us detail of which birds you wish to see. We shall advise you where they can be found and then we reserve a birding guide for you. In your inquiry, we need to know if you are a keen birder  

Kindly advise the number of people you are travelling with and the kind of accommodation you wish to book for your nights.

State the number of days you wish to do your birding experience and we shall advise accordingly.

Birding Tour In Uganda

Other Birding sites in Uganda

In case you wish to do birding in other areas too in Uganda, some of the common birding areas in Uganda include Queen Elizabeth National park on Kazinga Channel. Although there is a boat that takes tourists on a launch cruise provided by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, it is best to book a private boat so that you take your time identifying the birds at the shore of Kazinga channel and Murchison Falls National Park

Lutembe Beach and Botanic gardens in Entebbe are also very interesting biding destinations in Uganda, Mabamba Swamp is renowned for the rare shoe bill stork, Mpanga forest, Mabira forest, Mgahinga gorilla national Park, Makanaga Swamp to mention but a few

Uganda is indeed a birder’s destination in Africa because you can never run out of count for the various bird species. As you go gorilla trekking, listen observe and do not forget binoculars for a clear view.

4 features to see while trekking to see the gorilla in Uganda and Rwanda

As you trek to see the mountain gorillas in Uganda or Rwanda, you are anxious to see the gorillas but afraid of what you might meet on your way.  At the start of your trek, all those doing gorilla trekking are briefed at the ranger station. You are advised that the time of meeting the gorillas is not known because of there regular movements in search for food. It is approximated that you may take between 2 hours to over 8 hours depending on the conditions of the day. You use the trails that were created by the regular visitors through the path where they were last seen the previous day but what do you expect to find on the way. CONTACT US

Other primates

Black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, grey checked mangabey, olive baboons, l’hoest, wild chimpanzees, golden monkeys are some of the renowned primates that you may not miss out to see. They live freely in the forest.

Uganda is the only country with a park in the world where two big primates that is to say chimpanzees and mountain gorillas co-exist in the same forest. However the chimpanzees are not habituated. Rwanda has the golden monkeys that are trekked. They live in Virunga forest and at a certain fee they are trekked very early in the morning.

Birding in Bwindi forest and Volcanoes National Park

A variety of birds live in these forests and the renowned are the albertine endemics that are common to this area like the African Green Broadbill and shelley’s Crimsonwing.More to spot include mountain and yellow steaked Greenbuls, 

Western Green Tinkerbird, African Hill Babbler, collared Apalis, Montane sooty Boubou, Red-faced woodland Batis, Mountain Masked and Chestnut- throated Apalises, cinnamon-chested Bee eaters to mention but a few. Ruhijah gorilla trekking area is the birder’s haven. It is easy to identify a number of birds while gorilla trekking in this area.

Natural trees

For herbalists, while you trek to see the gorillas, you may get to identify a number of tree species that have been destroyed by deforestation in other area.

Your ranger guide gives you the chance to ask which ever question you wish to know so get ready to ask about the vegetation you pass by but you are not allowed to pick anything from the forest unless authorized by management for conservation reasons.\

Butterflies

As you trek to see the mountain gorillas you may have the chance of identifying a number of unique butterflies that dwell in the forest. For scientists who deal in bio- conservation, you enjoy the way Bwindi forest is capable of conserving a variety of creatures that you may not find elsewhere in the world.

This forest has existed since the ice age period and so is Volcanoes national Park in Rwanda. Even humans once existed in the forest with the mountain gorillas. The Batwa pygmies had this as their ancestral home and sole provider of all there food stuffs until 1991 in Uganda when they were evicted for conservation reasons.