4 Days double gorilla trekking in Uganda offers the best chance to see Bwindi mountain gorillas twice and interact with them in their natural habitat. This itinerary take you to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Southwestern Uganda. On this trip, you will trek different gorilla families or same gorilla group twice. The entire trek will be enjoyed with the lead of an experienced guide from Bwindi National Park
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is comprised of 4 regions (Rushaga, Nkuringo, Buhoma and Ruhija), and each has fully habituated gorilla groups. Bwindi’s gorilla families include Nkuringo gorilla family, Rushegura, Rwigi, Kutu, Mucunguzi, Mubare, Oruzogo, Bitukura, Mishaya and others.
This trip is special in that you will be crossing from Kigali Rwanda to Uganda. This means, you will spend about 4-5 hours on road unlike if you started from Kampala to Bwindi where you can spend 8-9 hours driving.
Brief Itinerary
Day 1: Pick up from Kigali – city tour – Transfer to Bwindi national park
Day 2: 1st Gorilla Trekking
Day 3: 2nd gorilla trekking – Transfer to lake Bunyonyi
Day 4: Canoeing – Transfer to Kigali
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Pick up from Kigali – city tour – Transfer to Bwindi national park
Today will be your pick up day and your driver guide will meet you at your hotel or agreed location in Kigali. You will depart from the hotel for city tour in Kigali and this includes visiting the Kigali genocide memorial –a UNESCO site and historical centre which provides insight into what happened during the 1994 Rwanda genocide. You will also visit other historical sites as well as local markets like Kimironko.
After the Kigali city tour, you will drive to Bwindi and today, your journey will include border crossing via Katuna/Chanika border. You will be dropped off to your respective lodges for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation
- Luxury: Trackers Safari Lodge
- Midrange: Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge/Ruhija Gorilla Lodge
- Budget: Broadbill Forest Camp/Bakiga Lodge
Day 2: 1st Gorilla Trekking
Assemble at Ruhija sector or a sector of your preference to get briefed on gorilla trekking rules and regulations. At Ruhija, you will also be allocated an experienced park ranger guide and gorilla families. Then at around 8:00am, you will be accompanied into the jungles in a search for a family of endangered mountain gorillas.
On locating your group of gorillas, expect to have a face-to-face interaction with these apes for an hour and also take their pictures. After this remarkable interaction, start walking back to where you departed from and the park official will issue you with a certificate. Leave the briefing point and be dropped off to the lodge for relaxation. In the evening, you may consider embarking on Batwa cultural experience, especially if you still have some energy.
Accommodation
- Luxury: Trackers Safari Lodge
- Midrange: Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge/Ruhija Gorilla Lodge
- Budget: Broadbill Forest Camp/Bakiga Lodge
Day 3: 2nd gorilla trekking – Transfer to lake Bunyonyi
Wake up early morning and you will get back to Ruhija for briefing session. Today being the second time for you to trek gorillas, you may decide to visit another gorilla group. Still, you will have an hour guaranteed for you to interact closely with a family of mountain gorillas in the wild and then return to have a delicious lunch.
From Bwindi, you will be transferred by road to Lake Bunyonyi for evening relaxation at the lodge while viewing the Lake and its spectacular surrounding.
Accommodation
- Luxury: Birdnest @Bunyonyi Resort
- Midrange: Lake Bunyonyi Rock Resort
Day 4: Canoeing – Transfer to Kigali
After breakfast, you will set off for a canoe ride and today, be ready to pay a visit to one of the beautiful 29 islands on Lake Bunyonyi. Once you return from the canoe ride, settle for an early lunch at your resort and later, check out. From Lake Bunyonyi, expect to drive back to Kigali via Katuna/Cyanika border.
End of safari
Inclusions
- 2 gorilla permits (Uganda)
- Transportation & border crossing
- Service of an experienced guide/driver (English speaking or any language)
- Accommodation and all meals
- Government taxes
- A bottle of drinking
Exclusions
- Tips
- Laundry
- Cigarettes
- Telephone bills
- Shopping
- Travel insurance
- All activities labelled as optional
- All additional accommodation facilities and their cost after/before the trip