GORILLA TREKKING
Entebbe to Entebbe UGANDA
6 Days/5 Nights
(1 Nights Hotel, 2 Nights Lodge, 1 Night Permanent
Tented Camp)
INCLUSIONS:
• Return airport transfers
• Meet & greet service
• Accommodation as stated in good quality hotels /
lodges
• Meals as stated (All meals on safari, plus hotel
breakfast day 2)
• Transport and services with a local driver/guide
• All park entry fees
• Excursion to Ngamba Chimpanzee Island by boat &
entrance fees (day excursion only)
• Comprehensive passenger and public liability insurance
• Game drives in Lake Mburo National Park
• 1 x Forest or 1 x community walk at Bwindi
DAY 1 - ENTEBEE
Met upon arrival at the Entebbe International Airport by your driver/guide and
transfer to the Windsor Lake Victoria Hotel. If you have time you may consider
taking teh scheduled boat transfer to Ngamba Island
Chimpanzee Sanctuary. Overnight at the Windsor Lake
Victoria Hotel or similar.
WINDSOR LAKE VICTORIA HOTEL
This is an old colonial-style hotel with lovely views over Lake Victoria.
ENTEBBE
Entebbe is a small town, located on the edge of Lake Victoria. Depending on your time of
arrival, you may like to spend some time exploring the town on foot, or you can take a taxi
in to Kampala and visit the craft and curio markets there, the Kasubi Tombs and Museum.
In Entebbe there is the Wildlife Education Centre, and you can see close up the large slowmoving
Shoebill Stork, or you can try your hand at golf on the local 9-hole course.
NGAMBA ISLAND CHIMPANZEE SANCTUARY (Not Included) Ngamba Island is part of the Koome group of islands located on Lake Victoria 23km south
of Entebbe, Uganda. It consists of approximately 100 acres, 98 of which are forested and
separated from the visitor’s area by an electric fence. Ngamba Island was officially opened
to visitors in October 1999 and is currently home to 35 orphaned chimpanzees, 15 of
which have been confiscated and brought to the island since it’s opening.
Ngamba Island is a project of the Chimpanzees Sanctuary and Wildlife Conservation Trust
(CSWCT), established in 1997 by the Born Free Foundation (UK), International Fund for
Animal Welfare (USA), the Jane Goodall Institute (Germany and Uganda), The Uganda
Wildlife Education Centre Trust (UWECT) and the Zoological Board of New South Wales
(Australia) and it provides these orphaned chimpanzees with a secure home to live out
their lives, since a return to their natural habitat is not possible, while educating visitors
and local communities about their remarkable species and the importance of conserving
their fragile forest habitat.
DAY 2- ENTEBBE – BWINDI NATIONAL PARK Depart after an early breakfast and drive to
the west of Uganda, along mountain roads to the Bwindi
Impenetrable Forest for overnight at the Gorilla Valley
Lodge with all meals included. It will be a fairly long
day in the vehicle, passing some interesting
scenery, farmland and lush green hillsides. Charter
flights are available at an additional cost to avoid the
full day drive Overnight at Gorilla Valley Lodge (BLD)
GORILLA VALLEY LODGE
This lodge, one of only two located inside the
Bwindi National Park, is on the edge of the
forest, offering spectacular views and a short
walk to the starting point for the gorilla
tracking. Each of the cottages have their own
private verandah and en suite facilities.
Wholesome meals are taken either out on the
terrace, or in the central dining area where a
fireplace provides warmth in the cooler
evenings.
DAY 3 - BWINDI NATIONAL
PARK
An early morning start. You’ll be introduced to your
experienced local guides and trackers who will give a
brief on the etiquette of gorilla trekking. Then trek
into the forest on the slopes of the volcanoes to the
area that the Gorilla’s were last seen and begin
tracking from there. This will bring you amongst a family of Mountain Gorillas. These massive
primates are extremely rare, only approximately 650 remaining. You will get within
metres of the family, and be privileged to spend time amongst them. This
personal encounter is arguably the most sensational
wildlife experience of them all! The trekking may be fairly
strenuous; up to six hours or longer is not uncommon – at relatively high altitude.
Please
refer to our information sheet. Mountain Gorillas are wild animals, as such sightings cannot
be guaranteed, however the success rate is well over 90%. Return to the
lodge for a late lunch and overnight, including
dinner. (BLD)
DAY 4 - BWINDI NATIONAL
PARK
Today you will have the second gorilla trek if
pre-purchased. Otherwise you will be able to go on a forest walk in Bwindi, looking for birds and
smaller primates with a local knowledgeable guide. Or you could go on a local
community village walk. These have been included in your tour. Relax for the afternoon at your camp, or
possibly go and do some curio shopping along the road, or visit a local village where you
may be treated to some dancing etc (Bwindi). Overnight at Gorilla Valley Lodge (BLD)
DAY 5 - BWINDI NATIONAL
PARK – LAKE MBURO NATIONAL PARK
The drive to Kabale takes you into the Uganda Highlands - the Switzerland of
Africa - with great views and vistas of this lush green area. From here we continue,
heading towards Kampala on good tarmac roads to Lake Mburo National park. This small
park offers a great variety of game including zebra, leopard, various antelope and hippo –
as well as prolific birdlife. Here you may go on a walk with a local guide, or on game
drives exploring this park. Overnight at Lake Mburo Tented Camp (BLD)
LAKE MBURO TENTED CAMP
Situated high up on a hillside off the main route to the park headquarters is this tented
camp with views stretching far and wide. Each tent caters for two persons and has it’s
own bathroom area with hot showers provided, eco friendly toilet systems and a private
dressing area. A central area provides dining and bar facilities. Meals are generally of a
high standard with several courses for most.
LAKE MBURO
Lake Mburo, 260 square-km, was gazetted in 1982 as Uganda’s fourth national park. It is
composed primarily of grassland, wetland, and acacia woodland habitats. At the centre of
the park lies Lake Mburo, which together with 14 other lakes in the area forms part of an
extensive wetland system. The park has topi, eland, klipspringer, zebra, buffalo, oribi,
sitatunga, leopard, an excellent variety of water and acacia savannah bird species, like
crested crane, marabou stork and bronze-tailed starling.
DAY 6 – LAKE MBURO NATIONAL PARK – ENTEBBE
Return to Entebbe, stopping enroute to shop for curios,
and perhaps at the Equator for a photo etc, or at the
Royal Drum makers at Mpigi if desired. You will arrive
back in Entebbe early evening where the tour ends
(BL)
BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST NATIONAL PARK
The park is located in South-western Uganda,
covering parts of Rukungiri, Kisoro, and Kabale
Districts. It is situated in a hilly
countryside, which, together with some remnant
lowland forest outside the boundary, constitutes
an important water catchment area for many
rivers, supplying the agricultural land of the
surrounding region. This is the richest forest
in Uganda, in terms of the number of plant
species, as the area is one of the few large
expanses of forest in East Africa where lowland
and montane communities merge. The valley
contains a dense ground cover of herbs, vines,
and shrubs with only a few trees hence its name,
the impenetrable forest. This is one of the
richest faunal communities in East Africa. Here
exists about one half of the world’s population
of the endangered mountain gorillas.
Key to Inclusions:
(B) Breakfast
(L) Lunch
(D) Dinner
(B&B) Bed & Breakfast
(FB) Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
6 Days/5 Nights Package
Cost Per Person
Twin
Single
Jan - Dec 08
$2300
$2650
Gorilla Permit
Local Payment: US$500 (Subject to change)
Regular departures: please contact us for
details
Departure guarantee: Minimum of
2 passengers
Included: Itinerary as specified, fully
equipped safari vehicle, services of tour leader
and camp courier, all accommodation, all camping
and catering equipment and National Park
entrance fees. All meals on safari, plus hotel
breakfast day 2
Occasionally breakfast and lunch may be combined
into a brunch where necessary e.g. mornings with
early game drives.
N.B:
Also 8-Day Option Available
Day Trips Available - We have a number of
additional optional excursions
available to extend your stay. Please contact us for
details.
Please confirm prices with Bench International prior
to booking your trip.
There could be changes beyond our control that have not made it to
the web site yet.
