5 days Gorilla Trekking and Habituation (Rushaga Sector)
This 5-days safari will take you to the southwestern part of Uganda, particularly to the impenetrable forests of Bwindi National Park, renowned for being home to the largest number of the world’s most endangered species, the mountain gorillas. It will also give you an opportunity to interact with the former inhabitants of Bwindi Forest, the Batwa pygmies and learn about their life stories, traditions and way of life.
Itinerary overview of 5 days Gorilla Trekking and Habituation
- Day 1: Pick up from Entebbe International Airport and transfer to Rushaga, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
- Day 2: Gorilla habituation
- Day 3: Batwa Community Visit and Guided Nature Walk
- Day 4: Gorilla Trekking
- Day 5: Transfer to Entebbe International Airport
Detailed Itinerary for 5 days Gorilla Trekking and Habituation
Day 1: Pick up from Entebbe International Airport and transfer to Rushaga, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Day 1 of 5 days Gorilla Trekking and Habituation: a professional English speaking driver guide will pick you up from Entebbe International Airport very early in the morning and go for a scenic drive through the small towns, the hilly landscape and lush vegetation to the Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Since this drive takes about 9 to 10 hours, you will have a lunch stopover en route in Mbarara town before continuing to Rushaga.
Arrival at the lodge will be late in the evening and dinner will be served. After dinner, check into your rooms, freshen up and take your night’s rest ahead of the next day’s activity.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Accommodation: Gorilla Leisure Lodge
Day 2: Gorilla habituation
Day 2 of 5 days Gorilla Trekking and Habituation: After an early morning breakfast at the lodge, pick up a packed lunch from the restaurant then your driver guide will pick you up and take you to the park headquarters for a briefing about the dos and don’ts of gorilla habituation. After the briefing, in your group of 4 people, in the company of scientists, researchers and ranger guide you will penetrate the forest in search of the habituated gorilla family. Once you reach the gorilla family being habituated, you will be allowed four hours with them watching them go about their daily activities such as feeding, nesting and social interactions. This activity will take between 6 to 8 hours then you will return to the starting point where you will meet your driver guide and drive back to the lodge where you will spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing.
Later in the evening, dinner will be served before you can retire for the day.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 3: Batwa community visit and nature walk
Day 3 of 5 days Gorilla Trekking and Habituation: In the morning, the lodge will provide you with a tasty breakfast, then your driver guide will take you out for the Batwa community visit. During the Batwa visit, you will get to interact with the Batwa pygmies who were initial habitats of the Bwindi Impenetrable forest and were pushed out as a result of the gorilla conservation program. You will get to spend time with this tribe, learn about their way of life and listen to their life stories. After this, you will return to the lodge for lunch and a bit of relaxation.
Later in the afternoon, you will go out for a guided nature walk experience. This will give you an opportunity to spot a number of bird and butterfly species as well as a few wildlife species along with other primates such as the black and white colobus monkeys. In the evening you will return to the lodge where you will have your dinner then retire for the day.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 4: Gorilla Trekking
Early morning after breakfast at the lodge, you will pick up a packed lunch then your driver guide will take you to the park headquarters for a briefing about the code of conduct for gorilla trekking and what to expect during the trek. After briefing you will be grouped into 8 and each group is assigned a gorilla family to visit. In your group you will penetrate the forest in search of the gorilla family assigned to you. This will take you between 4 to 6 hours and once you find this family you are allowed 1 hour with them then you will return to the starting point where you will meet your driver guide and return to the lodge.
At the lodge you will spend the rest of your afternoon resting and enjoying the amenities at the facility and later dinner will be served before you can take your day’s rest ahead of the next day’s long drive.
Day 5: Transfer to Entebbe International Airport
Arise for an early breakfast after which you will check out of the lodge and embark on yet another scenic drive through the beautiful lush vegetation and hilly landscape to Kampala. En route, you will have a lunch stopover in Mbarara before proceeding to Kampala. Once in Kampala, the driver guide will drop you off either at Entebbe International Airport or at your hotel where you will stay the night.
Trip inclusions
- Ground transportation
- Gorilla habituation permits
- Gorilla trekking permits
- All activities
- Accommodation
- Meals en route
- Water
Trip exclusions
- International flights and visas
- Tips
- Laundry
- Porters
- Drinks
- Cigarettes
- Extra activities