from $1574.25
Tour Map

Tour style – Wildlife & Nature, Culture & History

9 days

Meet mountain gorillas and the other amazing wildlife on this 9-day overland adventure. Spot chimps in Kalinzu Forest and join experienced trackers while travelling deep into the Ugandan forests for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to spot endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Our overland trucks are an adventurous and inexpensive way to see the highlights while wilderness camping will keep you in the thick of the action. Experience a world apart as you encounter the colourful cultures and wild landscapes of Kenya and Uganda.
  • Day 1 Kampala (1D)

    Arrive in Kampala and make your way to the hotel. Attend a pre-departure group meeting with your CEO scheduled for the evening. Please make sure you have all of the necessary visas for this tour by the time of the welcome meeting. It is very important to read the Visa section in our trip details to make sure which visas you will need, if any. Please note that not all nationalities are able to obtain a visa on arrival.

  • Day 2 Kalinzu Forest Reserve/Chimp Tracking (1B,1L,1D)

    Enjoy an included chimpanzee tracking excursion through the scenic Kalinzu Forest Reserve. Trek along the ridges and valleys of the Rift Valley escarpment to visit chimpanzees in their natural habitat. The forest trails offer amazing views over the Rwenzori Mountains, Lake Edward, the Kazinga Channel and the Congo. The Kalinzu Forest Reserve is steeped in mysteries and rich with local legends. Learn about the folklore and uses of the forest from a local guide.

    Approximate Distance: 345 km; Estimated Travel Time: 7 hrs

  • Day 3-5 Gorilla Trekking/Lake Bunyonyi (3B,3L,3D)

    We travel through gorgeous countryside to Lake Bunyoni, our base for several days in the area. Our time in this lush, magical, mountainous region of Uganda is spent between enjoying the area of Lake Bunyoni and many activities that it has to offer, and an unforgettable guided trek deep into the forest-sloped volcanoes for a wild encounter of a family of mountain gorillas (Gorilla Permits Included). Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the home to approximately half of the world’s population of mountain gorillas, the world’s most endangered ape. One of Africa’s major highlights, a close encounter with these amazing animals is simply breathtaking.

    Ugandan authorities are fiercely protective of this natural treasure and currently permit only a maximum of 8 people per day to visit a given gorilla family. As such, the group will be split into different sub-groups for the trek, and depending on the amount of travellers there are total, different sub-groups may do their trek on different days. In the morning of your trek, you will drive in smaller vehicles to park office and meet with your local mountain guides and porters, who can carry your personal items and assist you during the trek. The guides will brief you on the etiquette of gorilla trekking, after which, you set off into the forest. The trek can take from one to six hours and can exceed altitudes of 2500m. The terrain is rough and at times muddy and slippery. It is very important to bring along plenty of water. It can rain in a few minutes notice; hence waterproof clothing is essential along with protective bags for your camera and film. We also suggest dressing in ‘layers’ as often it’s chilly at firs until you start trekking and long sleeves and long pants to protect you from Stinging Nettle found in the forests.

    Approximately 98% of the gorilla treks are successful but there is no guarantee that you will see the gorillas as they are constantly on the move.

    For the rest of your time in the area, you will have the chance of several options of activities to choose from such as : fishing. canoeing on the lake, visiting the local community, renting a mountain bike to explore the area, etc. The area of Lake Bunyonyi is extremely peaceful and is a nature lover’s paradise. Often referred to as the Switzerland of Africa for its picturesque setting.

  • Day 6 Kampala (1B,1L,1D)

    Transfer back to the nation’s capital. We’re covering a lot of ground to get closer to our next stop in Jinja.

    Approximate Distance: 520 km
    ?Estimated Travel Time: 12 hrs

  • Day 7-8 Jinja (2B,2L,2D)

    Head south to the shores of Lake Victoria and renowned as the “Source of the Nile”, Jinja is fast becoming the thrill-seeker’s capital of Africa. Spend a full day rafting or kayaking down the Nile River, mountain biking in the Mabira Forest, volunteering with a local project, or just enjoying the relaxed vibe of Jinja.

    Jinja, the second largest commercial centre in Uganda, was established in 1901. Lying in the south east of Uganda, 87 km north east of Kampala, it is located on the shores of Lake Victoria near to the source of the White Nile. The city is the chief town of Jinja District, and is considered the capital of the Kingdom of Busoga.

    Bujagali Falls (also spelled Budhagali) was a waterfall near Jinja where the Nile River flows out of Lake Victoria. Some consider it the source of the Nile, but now the once beautiful falls and world-class kayaking spot have become submerged by the recently built Bujagali Dam.

    Our camp has flush toilets, hot water (usually!) and an on-site bar with food options. The campsite is located at a beautiful spot on the Nile River where you can swim and enjoy a great view of the surroudings.

    Approximate Distance: 90 km
    Estimated Travel Time: 3 hrs

  • Day 9 Kampala (1B)

    Transfer back to Uganda’s capital where the tour finishes upon arrival to the start point hotel in the late morning. Please note that this transfer is unaccompanied by the CEO, overland truck and some fellow travellers who have booked longer tours, as they will be returning to Kenya on this day.

    The staff at our staff point hotel can assist in booking transfers to the airport if required. Please do not book onward flights until after 3pm on this day.

    Approximate Distance: 90 km
    Estimated Travel Time: 2-4 hrs (depending on city traffic)

Similar Posts