Expeditions

7 Days
From $4,995
Trip typeLand expedition – Safari Land Cruiser
WildlifePrimates, birds, 4 out of BIG 5
Activity LevelModerate, family friendly
Group SizeMax 10

Gorilla Express

Unforgettable great apes encounter

Come with us to track the Mountain Gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and get a taste of the Pearl of Africa in one week.

Upon your arrival at the Entebbe airport, our crew will pick you up and we’ll be beginning the journey towards the home of the Mountain Gorillas, in the Rwenzori Mountains. Our first stop will be at a very picturesque farm lodge, close to Mbarara, at halfway the distance between Entebbe and Bwindi. You will be able to enjoy a farm excursion and immerse yourself into the rhythm of Uganda.

Will be starting the day with a bush breakfast and then drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. The eco lodge (community owned) lies nested between the mountains and the mist providing spectacular views any time of the year.
After checking in, you can relax in the magnificent gardens surrounding the lodge and later in the afternoon, we will be joining the Batwa Pigmy community for an unforgettable cultural experience – you will be able to watch them use ancient methods and tools for making fire, hunting and for healing.

This is the highlight of the trip. Early morning, we will begin the hike on the mountain slopes through the impenetrable forest to track the gorillas accompanied by the UWA’s rangers. We will be seeing one of the habituated groups that live in the park. The experience is better lived than described in words.

Keep in mind that these amazing creatures are living in the wild, and they don’t go out of their way to meet us, nor do we want them too. Hence expect up to 8 hours of hiking with moderate altitude differences in tracking the habituated families.

Upon our arrival back at the lodge, you will be treated with a delicious dinner and then you’ll be able to rememorate the day around the fire.

After experiencing the encounter with the gentle giants, early morning we will drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Along the road we’ll encounter a large palette of wildlife – from big cats, to antelopes and elephants – with focus on the tree climbing lions of Ishasha. This sort of behavior of the big cats is only encountered in Uganda and does not necessarily imply evolutionary modifications but rather an acquired training triggered by the environment. We will be taking you to the lodge sitting on a hill at half distance between lake George and Edward.

We will start the morning with an early game drive in which you can expect to see elephants, hippos, antelopes, and an amazing range of birds and if we get lucky some other big cats: leopard&cheetah. During the heat of the day we will be having lunch on a terrace above Kazinga Channel, which connects Lake George and Lake Edward. In the afternoon, we will take you on a cruise on the channel to see the elephants bathing and experience the paradise: elephants bathing, thousands of birds nesting on the shores and the most peaceful crocodiles you will encounter in Africa.
We’ll end the day watching the sun set on the savannah of Queen Elizabeth National Park.

After an early breakfast, we’ll start the return journey towards Entebbe. We’ll be driving through winding roads watching the tree plantations on the hillside. We will be serving lunch at a plantation house on the way and then continue our trip towards Lake Victoria. Once we arrive at the beach hotel in Entebbe, you can wet your feet in Lake Victoria while a giant tilapia will be roasting for a spectacular dinner on the lake, accompanied by traditional music and dancers.

Depending on the time of your flight, in the morning you can watch the sunrise over Lake Victoria and make the promise to come back to the Pearl of Africa. In case you have a late flight, we’ll take you around based on your requests. We will also make sure you get to the airport in time. 😊

What's Included

  • Accommodation
  • All activities described in the itinerary
  • All meals
  • Experienced tour guide/driver
  • Internal air transfer
  • Gorilla permits
  • Park entrance fees
  • Transport in a 4WD vehicle

What's Not Included

  • All expenses of personal nature (e.g. drinks, laundry, optional activities, souvenirs etc)
  • Entry Visa Uganda
  • International Air fares
  • Personal (medical/ travel) insurance
  • Tips and gratuities to rangers, driver/ guide, porter, hotel staff, etc

Activities

  • Batwa community experience
  • Farm excursion
  • Game drives
  • Gorilla trekking
  • Kazinga channel cruise
  • Nature walk
  • Tree climbing lions

Accommodation

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Between the Rwenzori and the Nile