Africa has three countries in the world where you can go for a gorilla safari. Uganda, Rwanda and Congo have made a name for themselves in the gorilla safari industry as the leading destinations for travelers seeking to visit mountain gorillas through untamed, pristine rain forests in search of these elusive primates.
The experience of encountering mountain gorillas in their natural habitat is said to be a life-changing and eye-opening moment that has become an unforgettable memory for all who have had the privilege to enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
For you to have a luxury gorilla safari in Africa, you need to combine it with other endowed countries having other breathtaking features. This can be going for gorilla trekking in Rwanda as well as the migration safari in Kenya or you may go for gorilla trekking in Uganda and migration safari in Tanzania.
You can choose to visit one country per say Rwanda and go through all its national parks with gorilla being the main activity. You can still do the same to Uganda or Congo. A decision here is made on Uganda
On arrival to Entebbe international airport, you will take a domestic flight by Aero link which will lead you to Bwindi Forest National Park. On arrival at Kihihi airstrip, you will be received by our drive/guide who will transfer you to Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp and you check in for dinner then you will take your fly-in gorilla safari and then overnight stay and dinner at the luxury gorilla camp.
Early morning breakfast and transfer to the park headquarters for briefing and checking in with your $800 gorilla permit as well as other documents. You will be grouped into groups of 8People then assigned a family to trek depending on your level of fitness.
The Park Guides from the Uganda Wildlife Authority, two armed rangers and porters move with each group. The guides are very experienced, knowledgeable and well-trained. While leading tourists to the gorillas, they will share information about the gorilla family and other animals found in the forest.
The time taken tracking gorillas in Bwindi depends on the gorilla group one is assigned to. It can take only 30 minutes to locate some groups while others can take hours. A team of trackers normally go ahead of the group to identify the location of the gorilla family. They then inform the lead Guide by radio call of the exact location of the gorilla family.
Once you spot the family, you will be allowed only one hour with them – so that they don’t start getting uncomfortable. Take your time to observe their behavior and different personalities while taking some great photos for your memories. After the trek, go back to the park headquarter to pick your tracking certificate then head to the lodge for lunch.
In the evening you can choose to visit the Batwa pygmies. Visiting them is a great opportunity to learn about their culture and get involved in some of their cultural activities. Expect to see traditional dance performances while listening to stories about how they used to hunt and gather fruits in the forest. Return to lodge for dinner and overnight.
Early morning transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park for wildlife encounter. The park boasts over 95 mammal species, which vindicates it as one of the best Uganda safari parks to experience the wildlife of Uganda.
Start with Ishasha the only sector with tree climbing lions. The lions spend most of their afternoons on top of fig and acacia trees. About 4 prides of tree climbing lions can be found in the area but visitors can also see about 1000 elephants, Uganda Kobs, Topis, other antelopes and warthogs. After spotting the lions, you check in at Jacana safari lodge for dinner and overnight.
Wake up early and go for a morning game drive at the Kasenyi sector. This game drive will target early morning risers and predators heading back to their dens after hunting in the night. Expect to have more encounters with Buffaloes, Bush bucks, Elephants, Giant Forest hogs, Hyenas, The Uganda Kobs, Lions and Water bucks. After the morning game drive, you will be taken back to the lodge for relaxation and lunch as you wait for the afternoon launch cruise.
Take a launch cruise at the Kazinga Channel. Many of the park animals come to the channel at some point for a drink or bathing. You will see buffaloes, elephants, hippos, crocodiles, antelopes and predators like prowling leopards or hyenas coming for a drink. The Kazinga channel is one of the greatest birding destinations in Africa. Among the bird species to look out for are Cormorants, egrets, herons, Jacana and Pelicans. Dinner and Overnight at Jacana safari lodge.
Transfer to Kibale for chimpanzee trekking. The most favourite of Kibale’s walks embarks on from the Kanyanchu Visitor center at 08.00 & 15.00 and lasts 2 to 3 hours. Chimpanzees are the most sought-after primate by visitors, but you should look out for the black & white colobus, red tailed monkey or the grey cheeked mangabey. Your guides will be able to show you pittas & different bird species and will give details of the plant species within the forest. This walk is for 6 people in a group either in the morning or afternoon. Overnight at Ndali lodge.
Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park. It has large forests like Budongo, Rabango and Kaniyo Pabidi. Kaniyo Pabidi contains large mahogany and ironwood trees. All three forests are known for hosting numerous bird and primate species like Chimpanzees, blue monkeys, olive baboons, black and white colobus monkeys.
The first activity most visitors do is to visit the top of the falls. The Murchison Falls form when the river Nile squeezes through a narrow gorge as it makes its way to Egypt.
Take a boat cruise at the bottom of the falls. The cruise lasts about 3 hours starting and ending at the bottom of the falls. The top of the falls offers a breathtaking view of the waterfall and the loud roars coming from the water rushing down to the river. The section of the Nile after the falls shores has abundant wildlife and some of the greatest collection of hippos and crocodiles in Africa.
Game drives can be done alone although the presence of a ranger from the park turns it into a more educative activity because they can help identify the types of birds and mammals or take you to the best places to find them. While on a 3-hour game rive to Murchison Falls, expect to spot animals like buffaloes, crocodiles, elephants, giraffes, Hippopotamus, Leopards, lions, monitor lizards, Side Striped Jackals, Spotted Hyenas and warthogs.
Cultural visit to Bomu Village: This activity is arranged for a few hours or a whole day with the Bomu Women’s group. The group organizes village tours, accommodation and a shop for African art. The village walks offer opportunities to mingle and interact with locals living in the village and then overnight stay at Paraa Safari Lodge
Transfer to Kidepo Valley National Park. Visitors are treated to exceptional wildlife sightings on thrilling game drives. Animals, some of which cannot be found elsewhere in Uganda (think greater and lesser kudu, eland and cheetah); include lion, leopard, elephant and an assortment of plains game.
Kidepo Valley National Park is one of Uganda’s most spectacular parks. It harbors scenery unsurpassed in any other park in East Africa as well as great numbers of wild animals, birds and plant species. The vegetation can best be described as open tree Savannah which varies much in structure and composition.
Animals that can be seen include elephants, leopards, jackals, bush bucks, buffaloes and much more. The park protects a great diversity of animal species than other parks in Uganda. These include carnivores, ungulates, and primates. There are high chances of viewing tree climbing lions that always sits on sauces trees along Narus valley or on the rock just as you enter the Apoka Park Headquarter. Right from Apoka Rest Camp other animals that can be seen include elephants, leopards, bush duikers, jackals, bush bucks, bush pigs, kavirondo bush babies, buffaloes and much more. Once this is done, you will transfer to the airstrip for your flight to Kampala as well as back home.
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