3 Day Bwindi gorilla trekking safari
3 Day Bwindi gorilla trekking safari
This is a 3 Day bwindi gorilla trekking safari in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda. This tour which starts and ends in Kampala, will take you on an adventurous journey to track the endangered species of Mountain gorillas which reside in the thick forests of the famous Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
Overview of the itinerary for 3 Days Bwindi Gorilla Trekking Safari.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has a total of 459 habituated gorillas which can be tracked by visitors in groups of not more than 8 members per group. There are 18 habituated gorilla groups in Uganda of which 15 are available for tourists to track. Gorilla trekking activities in Bwindi National Park can take between 3 to 8 hours and thus calls for trekkers to be both physically and mentally fit.
Detailed 3 Days Itinerary.
Day 1: Pick up from Kampala & Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Welcome to Uganda! Today marks the start of your 3 Days gorilla trekking safari to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Your guide will pick you from your hotel and then embark on a 5 hour drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park via Mbarara- Masaka Highway. You will have a stopover at the equator monuments in Kayabwe, Mpigi district. These two equator monuments mark the point where the equator runs through Uganda.
You will the Proceed to Igongo Cultural Centre for lunch. This epic cultural center is a good stop for many travelers on route to western Uganda and it is just 12 km from Mbarara Town. Igongo Cultural Centre was opened to the general public in 2010. While here, take a short tour of the center’s museum which has a lot to tell about western cultural history. You can also visit the Nkwanzi crafts and bookshop where you can purchase a few souvenirs for yourself.
After having a hearty meal, proceed to Bwindi where you will check into your accommodation, have dinner and your overnight stay at Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge/Buhoma Haven Lodge/Silverback Lodge.
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
This is the day you have been anxiously waiting for! Have breakfast very early at you lodge as your guide will pick you up at 6am. You will embark on a short journey to the Parks headquarters in Buhoma. You are supposed to be at Buhoma at exactly 7am for a briefing by the park’s head ranger which will begin at 8am and then you will be put in groups of 8 individuals per group depending on the gorilla group you are going to track. Tracking begins at exactly 8:30 am hence endeavor to always keep time.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has a total of 15 habituated gorilla groups that are tracked from four trailheads. Of these 15 habituated gorilla groups, 3 are found in Buhoma area in the northwest part of the park; while 4 gorilla groups are situated in Ruhija in the eastern part of Bwindi and 8 gorilla groups in Nkuringo and Rushaga respectively, located south of Bwindi.
Each tracking group consists of strictly eight individuals with each group having a park guide and ranger. Tracking can take about 1- 6 hours depending how easily and quick the gorillas are spotted. Once you have located a gorilla group, you will be give exactly an hour with them; hence you should maximize your time well and don’t forget to take lots of pictures without using your camera’s flash. The tracking trails can be very wet, steep and slippery thus you should wear a good pair of hiking boots.
After your gorilla trekking experience, you will embark on the Batwa Trail Experience in the forest. You will be guided by local Batwa guides who have vast knowledge and experience of the forest. You will be taught some of their hunting techniques, making of traditional herbal medicines and so much more.
Later head back to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 3: Transfer back to Kampala.
Have a relaxed breakfast and then check out of your Lodge. Proceed with your drive back to Kampala where your guide will drop you off at your hotel in Kampala or at the Airport in Entebbe. However, depending on your return flight, you can opt to do a half day Kampala city tour. During your tour of Kampala City, you can visit interesting historical and cultural sites like; the Uganda Museum, Nakasero Market, the Independence Monument, the Craft Village on Buganda Road, Bahai Temple, Bulange Mengo, Kasubi Tombs and shopping malls like Acacia, Garden City, Kingdom Kampala and Forest Mall among others. Please do inform our consultants so that this activity can be added to your itinerary. End of tour.
Hope you had a fantastic time during your safari and we hope to see you again for a return visit. Thank you and safe travels back home.
