mountain gorilla tracking; uganda safari; bwindi national park

Mountain gorilla, Bwindi National Park, Uganda

Bwindi’s magical montane forests are home to half of the world?s population of mountain gorillas. highly endangered mammal. We hike through dense, sometimes steep forests at altitudes of up to 8,500 to find and observe the gorilla families.

Photo by Cyril Ruoso / Minden Pictures

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Tracking mountain gorillas on foot through the equatorial forests of Uganda is one of the world’s most thrilling wildlife experiences. On rigorous hikes into the mountain forests of primeval Bwindi, a World Heritage Site and home to half of the world’s 700 remaining mountain gorillas, we search for clans of these near-mythical creatures for the rare experience of observing their fascinating interactions at close hand. Before gorilla tracking, our classic safari explores the Kibale Forest, home to a wide-ranging population of primates, including chimpanzees, and the Great Rift Valley dreamscape of Queen Elizabeth National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve right on the edge of the towering Ruwenzori Mountains.

Highlights

  • Exciting encounters with mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
  • Track chimpanzees in Kibale Forest National Park
  • Classic safari in East Africa’s Great Rift Valley

Details

  • 11-day trip begins and ends in Entebbe
  • 8 nights hotels/lodges, 2 nights luxury tented camp with en suite facilities at Bwindi
  • All meals included
  • 4 days gorilla- and chimp-tracking hikes, 2-6 hours, steep, muddy trails

Tour Costs

$5895 (10-12 members)
$6295 (8-9 members)
$6595 (5-7 members)

Single supplement: $925
Internal airfare: $895 (subject to change)
Gorilla & Chimp permits: $1180
Gorilla Tracking Extension from: $1895
Masai Mara Game Reserve Extension from: $2900

Prices are for 2010 dates

Departures & Leaders

Jun 12-22, 2010  Denis Erabu
Aug 14-24, 2010  Denis Erabu
Aug 28-Sep 7, 2010  Denis Erabu
Jan 9-19, 2011  Scott McMillan
Feb 20-Mar 2, 2011  Scott McMillan
Jul 2-12, 2011  Scott McMillan
Jul 30-Aug 9, 2011  Scott McMillan
Sep 3-13, 2011  Scott McMillan

Suggested Reading

Reading list, click here.

Itinerary at a Glance
Mountain Gorilla Safari route-map

Days 1-3
Kibale Forest National Park / Wild Chimpanzees

We cross Rift Valley landscapes amid shimmering lakes and tea plantations to Ndali Lodge, set at a cool 5,000 feet. In Kibale, we have an exciting chance to see bands of wild chimpanzees as they leap from tree to tree on their daily rounds of foraging. The chimp groups are habituated to seeing people and take little notice of us as they play, squabble, and scamper across the treetop canopy. The park is also home to vervets, colobus, grey-cheeked mangabeys, and red-tailed monkeys.

Days 4-6
Great Rift Valley / Classic Gameviewing Safari

Queen Elizabeth National Park, jewel of the western Great Rift Valley, has stunning and diverse ecosystems, from lowland rainforest to open bush country to lake-dotted savanna. With the dramatic backdrop of the fabled “Mountains of the Moon,” the Ruwenzoris, we enjoy gameviewing by 4WD vehicle, on foot, and by boat along the Kazinga Channel, with its large concentrations of hippos.

Days 7-9
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park / Gorilla Tracking

One of the most biologically diverse places on earth, Bwindi protects a remnant of a once-vast primeval forest. There are 113 species of mammals in the park, 200 species of butterflies, and over 360 species of birds. Among the 11 primate species that reside here are magnificent mountain gorillas, about half of the world’s population of this elusive and highly endangered mammal. We set out on foot with special rangers, hiking through steep, rough terrain for two to six hours each day at altitudes of 3,800 to 8,500 feet. The rigors are soon forgotten once we spot a gorilla family and have the opportunity to watch these gentle creatures. Gorilla Forest Camp, a lovely tented camp—and the only one located right in the park—provides us with the perfect base for exploration.

Days 10-11
Entebbe

After a flight to Entebbe, we have the afternoon for optional excursions, including a visit to the Chimpanzee Sanctuary and Wildlife Conservation Trust on Ngamba Island. Depart on Day 11 or join our Masai Mara Extension.

This is the Itinerary-at-a-Glance. For the complete trip description, Download Full Trip Brochure

Optional Extensions

If you would like to extend your adventure, we offer the following options:

Lake Victoria Hotel

Day 1 (1 night),
Days 10 to 11 (2 nights),
Entebbe, Uganda

Set on the shores of Lake Victoria, this hotel has a convenient location close to the international airport and Entebbe Botanical Gardens. It is ...
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Ndali Lodge

Days 2 to 3 (2 nights), Kibale, Uganda

Perched on the rim of an extinct volcano above Lake Nyinambuga, this family-run lodge was built by a British tea farmer and has the wonderful ...
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Mweya Safari Lodge

Days 4 to 6 (3 nights), Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda

With a superb location right in Queen Elizabeth National Park overlooking the Kazinga Channel and Lake Edward, this well-run lodge has clean and ...
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Gorilla Forest Camp

Days 7 to 9 (3 nights), Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda

This luxury tented camp is the sole property right inside Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The main lodge has a bar and dining room overlooking ...
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Extension Accommodations

If you would like to view the accommodations offered with our extensions options:

Note: Listed above are our signature accommodations for this trip. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.