6 Days Uganda Gorilla Trekking and Walking Safari

Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you’ll be met and transferred to Boutique Hotel Number 5, a luxury hotel nestled in the leafy suburbs of Entebbe just 10 minutes from the airport. It is perfect for an overnight stay and offers a refined escape for travelers seeking tranquility and sophistication.

Depending on the time you arrive, enjoy optional activities around Entebbe including visiting the world-renowned botanical gardens for bird-watching or Mabamba swamps to see the prehistoric shoebill stork. You can also take a quiet walk to the local markets or shops at the modern malls.

After a quick breakfast, you’ll transfer to the airport for an early morning flight to Kisoro. On landing, you’ll be collected and transferred to Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, an elegant, eco-friendly property nestled on a forested ridge amidst Uganda’s lush wilderness. The lodge commands sweeping views over the steamy Bwindi, the hilly rift valley region, and the entire Virunga Volcanos chain. It is the perfect base for gorilla trekking, with the starting point a five-minute walk away.

After settling in, you’ll embark on a guided walk through villages and terraced gardens in the surrounding communities, then stop at the calm shores of Lake Mutanda for a canoeing experience with local fishermen. Enjoy paddling in a traditional dug-out canoe across the volcano lake. The relaxing ride drops you off for another garden walk to meet your driver uphill.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to nearly half the population of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. There are over 20 habituated mountain gorilla families spread across four distinct sectors/trail heads: Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, and Nkuringo.

Today, your butler will wake you up by 7:00 am. Enjoy a quick breakfast and ensure your lunch is packed. Carry your trekking gear, drinking water, and a walking stick. You’ll be transferred to the visitor’s center for your trekking excursion which starts with a mandatory briefing at around 7:30 am.

At 8:00 am, you’ll be led by a professional tracker, guide, and two armed rangers into the forest with seven other trekking travelers to search for a habituated gorilla family. Once found, you’ll be allowed only one hour in their presence observing them at a safe but intimate distance of 7 meters (about 21 to 23 feet). Alternatively, you can get up-close and personal with the gorillas spending upto four hours on a gorilla habituation experience, though you’ll be required to book a habituation permit.

After your unforgettable encounter with these majestic creatures, you’ll return to the trailhead to pick up your trekking certificate and head back to the lodge. Relax after an adventurous day or get a massage at the lodge spa.

On day 4 of your adventure, you can embark on any optional activity to keep you active. You can unwind at your forest cottage for a relaxing day, read a book, join a cooking class or take a community walk to talk to some locals. Alternatively;

1. You can take another trekking excursion to encounter the gorillas for a second time, or join the rangers for the habituation experience to spend more time with the gorillas. But you must book your permit in advance.
2. Go on a cultural experience of the fascinating Batwa people on a short forest trail where they showcase their ancient forest medicines, cultures, drama, and dance.
3. Enjoy a sundowner picnic on Nteko Ridge, known as the “Top of the World”, offering 360-degree spellbinding views of the hilly landscapes. It’s within walking distance from your lodge.

Day 5 unfolds as a symphony of discovery. After a delightful breakfast, you’ll join your guide on a walking safari starting from the lodge (Kashasha Trail) or a few miles away (Ivy River Trail). Amidst the ancient, verdant embrace of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, immerse yourself in the primal rhythms of the jungle as you explore giant ferns, trees, millions of butterflies, birds, forest elephants, chimpanzees, monkeys, bush pigs, and even leopards along mist-shrouded pathways.

Your guide will be sure to maintain a slow, easy pace, allowing you to immerse yourself in the untamed wilderness intimately. The trail you will follow is one of the oldest human trails on the continent. It served as a commercial link between Nkuringo-Nteko villages on the elevated south of Bwindi and Buhoma village on the lower north of the prehistoric rainforest. You may bump into some locals making the journey to the other side. Two armed rangers will ensure your protection from aggressive animals and other unknowns.

Pause somewhere in the forest for your packed lunch before continuing to Buhoma. In Buhoma, about 800 meters from the exit gate, lies an idyllic forest cottage, Mahogany Springs Lodge which you will check into. The property features a cozy fireplace, sumptuous dinner, and out-of-this-world views of the jungle you just conquered. Enjoy a tranquil and cozy night amidst the sounds of the African rainforest and the flowing Munyanga River.

After a sumptuous breakfast, you will take an 8:00 am domestic flight from Kihihi Airstrip (an hour’s drive from Buhoma) to Entebbe International Airport on the shores of Lake Victoria. It’s a scenic one-hour flight over Uganda’s most beautiful landscapes.