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Gorilla Encounter 7D/6N

Meet up with your tour in Kampala and head in the direction of The Murchison Falls National Park.

The park is recognized as one of the best National Parks in Uganda. We’ll also go on a trek through the Budongo forest, the biggest Mahogany forest found in the whole of East Africa in search of the chimps. This forest is home to the largest number of chimpanzees throughout Uganda.

We visit the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary before travelling to Lake Bunyonyi with its dramatic island scattered views. Here we prepare for our trek to the nearly extinct mountain gorilla families of Uganda.

Get your boots on and go in search of these magnificent creatures as they continue their day to day existence in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, your local guides will show you where to find them. Visiting the gorillas is a great way to support their future on earth as the money spent on permits is used for their protection.

This epic 7-day tour ends in Kampala.

Tour Highlights

  • Visit the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
  • Trek to the nearly extinct mountain gorilla families of Uganda
  • Trek through the Budongo forest, the biggest Mahogany forest found in the whole of East Africa in search of chimps
Price from

$1,510.00

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Tour Information

Includes:

  • - 7 Nights Accommodation
  • - Transport in an overland truck
  • - Qualified crew
  • - Meals (Breakfast x 6 / Lunch x 6 / Dinner x 6)
  • - Included highlights as per the itinerary
  • - Entrance fees to National Parks.

Departures - Small-Group Adventure

Select Fridays - All Year

Itinerary

Day 1: Masindi – Murchison Falls National Park

After meeting your crew this morning, we head in the direction of The Murchison Falls National Park.

Also referred to as the Kabaraga Falls, Murchison Falls is a waterfall found on the course of the great Nile and is located within the Murchison National Park. The park is recognized as one of the best National Parks in Uganda.

After settling into our accommodation in Masindi, your guide will brief you on the activities for the following day.

Day 2: Masindi – Budongo Central Forest Reserve

Budongo Forest is the biggest Mahogany forest found in the whole of East Africa and is home to the largest number of chimpanzees throughout Uganda.

It is believed that there are between 600 – 700 chimpanzees in Budongo and this morning we will meet up with our chimp guide who will take us on our trek through the forest in search of the chimps.

We will also enjoy a boat cruise in the park.

Note: As the Chimp trekking is limited to 12 guests per trek, should there be more than 12 guests on a tour the trekking will be split between the morning and the afternoon. Therefore you may find that you will first do the game drive activity followed by the Chimp trekking or vice versa. Please allow for flexibility.

Day 3: Lake Mburo

Today we make our way to Leopard Rest Camp, nestled on the border of Lake Mburo National Park. This National Park consists of Woodland interspersed with rocky ridges and forested gorges.

Lake Mburo is one of 13 other lakes, forming a 50km wetland system, linked by a swamp.

The Park is the smallest of Uganda’s savannah national parks and is home to 350 bird species as well as zebra, impala, buffalo, leopard, hippo and hyena to name but a few.

Day 4: Gorillas (Lake Bunyonyi)

Crossing the Equator once more we travel south to the beautiful scenery of Lake Bunyonyi.

With eager anticipation we prepare for the upcoming Gorilla trekking excursion and tonight we will receive a briefing on what to expect.

Day 5: Gorillas (Lake Bunyonyi)

The mountain gorilla is extremely endangered and while exact numbers vary it is widely assumed that there are only around 650 left.

Visiting the gorillas is a great way to support their future on earth as the money spent on permits is used for their protection.

An extremely important part of the future conservation of the remaining gorillas rests in the community development work – as local communities change their attitudes towards wildlife and start to protect rather than poach, the future of the mountain gorilla is assured.

As permits granting permission to visit the gorillas are extremely limited we require flexibility in both the tour itinerary and where we actually visit them.

The home of the mountain gorillas is completely at odds with man-made borders and so their range encompasses Uganda, Rwanda and the DRC (Democratic Republic of the Congo).

Whenever possible we choose to make use of the National Park in Uganda, but this depends on the availability of permits. Should we not obtain permits to visit the mountain gorillas in Uganda then we will inform all passengers beforehand that the tour will travel to Rwanda or DRC.

On your free day in Bunyonyi you will have the opportunity to participate in certain optional activities. You can also go hiking or explore the area on a mountain bike.

Day 6: Gorillas (Lake Bunyonyi)

Although there are 2 days allocated to Gorilla Trekking you will only spend one day on the trek.

The other days are there to provide a large enough window in which to obtain permits and to allow the entire group to trek if there are more than 6 of you on the tour.

Day 7: Lake Bunyonyi – Kampala

This morning we set off on our return journey to Kampala, where your tour comes to an end upon arrival in the city.