Gorilla Trekking Safari to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park – Road Trips

Uganda’s weather patterns including other destinations keep fluctuating and therefore it is important that you try to regulate the speed of your car to suit the weather conditions. Especially if it happens to rain and given the fact that Uganda’s parks are located in remotest areas, the ground can be muddy and you have to drive slowly on potholes and others may not be passable but once you have a 4 by 4, you will be good to go! While driving on a highway, the maximum speed can be 80 kilometers per hour and 50 km while you approach the trading center.

You can expect a lot of speed bumps and the occasional pothole. Usually, the last stretch of your daily trip requires some driving on gravel roads to get to your lodge or park entrance gate. Inside the parks, it’s off-road driving on dirt roads. The conditions of these gravel and dirt roads tend to be variable from one season to the next and are most difficult during the rainy season.

Abide by the rules and regulations that might break for example the fine can be put on approximately shs.100000 for overspeeding and $150 for off-track driving in the national park. Another strict rule in the park is that travelers are not allowed to hoot anyhow since it is against conservation rules.

Come with satellite phones to help while in the remotest areas with network problems.

A safari can bore especially when you keep getting lost and that is why you need a road map or GPS to help you navigate throughout Uganda’s corners. With your 4×4 car, you can access the road maps and GPS (Global Position System) without incurring any cost. If possible you can rent your GPS or come along with it!

If you want to do multiple country road trips, you do need to let us know in advance as we have to arrange a COMESA card, an extension of the car insurance for your vehicle. The insurance costs €70 and is valid for three weeks. Without our consent, you are not allowed to cross the border and you are not insured for any damage.

Feel free to contact us for more details and our safari consultants will be ready to reply to you in the quickest time possible. We will be honored if you allow us to plan and organize your holiday/ safari tour to either of our operational countries for either gorilla trekking experience, culture, or wildlife encounter.

Suggested Gorilla Trekking Safari Itinerary

Day 1: Pickup from the Guesthouse in Kampala/ Entebbe and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After an early cup of coffee. Our guide will pick you up from your hotel/ guest house in Kampala/Entebbe for a short briefing about the entire 5-day trip and the en-route stops you will be making on your way to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, this early morning drive enables as to reach early as well as a curb traffic jam.

Drive to the southwest part of Uganda, along the way have stops at the equator for photography and stretching. Stand between the imaginary lines crossing through the world, visit the souvenir shops one can buy one in memories of the tour. Head to Mbarara town as you drive through grasslands, see long-horned cattle grazing along the roadside.

Proceed to Bwindi as you view Banana plantations beautiful sceneries of rolling hills and many more.

Arrive at your lodge check in relax and have dinner.

Meal plan: Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation (optional)

Drive time: approximately 8-9 hours drive.

Day 2: Gorilla trekking Safari

After early morning breakfast, you will meet your guide again and drive to the park headquarters and meet other travelers for briefing at 7:30 am about the dos and don’ts when you meet the Gorillas in the forest. Meet the game ranger and start off the hike which takes 30minutes to three-quarters of the day this depends on where the Mountains Gorillas are.

As you trek see different tree species, for bird lovers this will be your opportunity to spot a number of birds, have a chance to see the primates such as black and white colobus monkeys, mammals, and many more. There are muddy steep slopes you’re advised to use a walking stick, and a minimum level of fitness is required to have your trek a success.

Once you meet our close relatives, you are given one hour to be in meters with the Gorillas for photo shots as you listen to an informative talk from the wardens and rangers. Have lunch in the jungle thereafter return to the lodge to celebrate the Gorilla experience you will be awarded a Gorilla certificate.

Return to the lodge relax. In the evening visit the Batwa Community as they expose their culture the Batwa are the first people who lived in Bwindi Forest, be entertained with their amazing dances, poems, and many more.

Note: Gorilla tracking is fairly strenuous, so a minimum level of fitness is required before you come for the hike.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Packed Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation (optional)

Day 3: Depart for Kibale Forest National Park

After the morning cup of coffee. You will meet your guide once again and you drive to Fort portal town in southern Uganda with beautiful scenery and it is natural green color, check-in at the lodge, thereafter do a brief city tour and overnight.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

Accommodation: Primate Lodge Kibale/, Kyaninga Lodge/ Crater Safari Lodge

Drive time: approximately 6-7 hours’ drive.

Day4: Chimpanzee tracking and Bigodi wetland walk

Early Morning breakfast. Meet your guide and drive to Kanyanchu the park headquarters to meet other visitors for a briefing about the dos and don’ts when you meet the Chimpanzee. You will be divide into groups of 6 people and with the company of the Rangers guides, you start your Chimpanzee tracking experience that takes 1 hour to three-quarters of the day as the chimps are wild animals and they are always on the move looking for food.”. Once you meet the Chimps, you are allowed one hour to take the photos and to be in meters with the primates.

Remember, chimp tracking is fairly strenuous, therefore a minimum level of fitness is required. From chimp tracking, you will have lunch at the lodge, relax and later in the evening go for a walk in Bigodi swamp, an initiative started by the community with the aims of giving back to the community for development purposes and all the yields from the walk, are given back to the community.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Packed Lunch, and Dinner.

Accommodation: (Optional)

Day Five: Transfer back to Entebbe/ Kampala

After Breakfast, Bid farewell to you’re Lodge and Transfer back to Entebbe for your international flight.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, and Lunch.

Drive time: approximately 5-6 hours’ drive

For any enquiries, please contact Safari vacation and travel services for more detailed information.