5 Days Luxury Gorilla Trekking Fly-in

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe & Mabamba Swamps

Arrival in Entebbe as per your international flights and transfer to Papyrus Guest House by a reliable Luxury Gorilla Trekking Safari driver.

In the afternoon, departure from the hotel must be at least 14.30/ 15.00 hours a car and local canoe to Mabamba Swamp, one of the finest places for spotting the rare shoebill storks. Of course, some fortune is needed but seldom does one leave the swamp without seeing one! Many other water birds have preferred this area as their home so birding is continuously very interesting. Enjoy a soothing sundowner on Lake Victoria and then return to the Guest House.

• Accommodation: Papyrus Guest House
• Meal Plan: Bed & Breakfast basis; Lunch & Dinner on own’s account

Day 2: Aero Link Flight to Kisoro & canoe across Lake Mutanda

After an early breakfast, start your Luxury Gorilla Trekking Safari with the first up-country transfer to Entebbe International Airport for the Aero Link flight to Kisoro across central Uganda and contributing a view of the country attractive scenery of tropical rainforest, mountains, bamboo forests, hills, cultivated terraces, and the imposing chain of the Virunga Volcanoes.

Upon arrival meeting with the vehicle and our walking safari guide for an update on the very exciting activities of the day which will be revised to the clients’ needs. You can either walk for approx. 90 mins – 4km to Lake Mutanda Sheba’s Camp – or drive 30 mins to the lake. You then “relax” in a dugout canoe for 2-3 hours of tender relaxed voyaging across the lake, relishing the beautiful scenery.

After lunch at a restaurant on the Lake Mutanda shores, continue on foot till Rubuguri (9km – 2/3 hours) where you meet up the vehicle and drive for another 10 km up to the Lodge in Nkuringo (approx 1 hour). Of course, you can also be picked up by the vehicle at the lake and drive all the way up to the Lodge. Your pleasure of your fitness is desirable!

• Accommodation: Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge (Private Cottage)
• Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 3: Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi

After breakfast, at around 7:45 am, with packed lunch and drinking water, the Luxury Gorilla Trekking Safari gathering will transfer to the National Park Head Quarters for an update on the gorilla trekking dos and the don’ts. You’re then walked to the jungle trail head for the start of the real gorilla tracking.

The exquisiteness of this rain forest is remarkable. The area offers a theatrical, suddenly forested scenery and is amazingly dense, but traversed by frequent animal trails allowing access to tourists. The time taken and the topography vary as per the movements of these great primates. The excitement of spending time observing these gentle and endangered giants is an overwhelming, exciting experience to be long relished. Several find it to be a sporadic and moving occasion. The tracking can take place at Nkuringo or at Rushaga (1 hr drive from Nkuringo), as per the gorilla permits attained.

Upon arrival, relax at the lodge and, for those who like, at 5.00 pm either wander through the community center or drive up to the “Top of the World” – the name given to the football field, high up in Nkuringo which bids astonishing views over the peaks and forests around Nkuringo. A great way to stretch your legs after the gorilla tracking and to enjoy a sun-downer.

• Accommodation: Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge (Private Cottage)
• Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 4: Community tour, Nombe and Buniga Forests

This Luxury Gorilla Trekking Safari morning after a enthusiastic breakfast, enjoy birding in Nombe Pocket Forest – it was part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and it is still fairly impenetrable, however it was cut off from it as people needed more land to live on and nurture. It can be reached on foot (approx. 1 hr to go and 2 hrs to come back) or by vehicle and the visit lasts approx. 2 hrs, depending on the curiosity of guests.

Lunch at the lodge and at 2.00 pm departure to Buniga Forest Trail Walk, an edifying project run by USAID and the local Batwa community. The Batwa tribe was forced to leave their home in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in 1991 when it was professed a UNESCO Heritage site for gorillas only.

They had been living in the forest as nomadic hunter-gatherers for ages, in perfect stability with the flora and fauna around. Moving out and suddenly living in communities with a completely different way of life has proven to be a huge trial. They now survive as best as they can and earn a living explaining their prior life in the forest and their rich legacy.

Continuation of the walk through the community to visit the traditional herbalist and the black smith.

• Accommodation: Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge (Private Cottage)
• Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 5: Aero Link flight to Entebbe

Early breakfast and transfer to Kisoro Airstrip for your morning Aero Link flight to Entebbe. End of services.

Depending on your Luxury Gorilla Trekking Safari departure flight, you can either enjoy day room/ overnight at Papyrus Guest House or wait for your departure flight at the Airport.

• Meal Plan: Breakfast; Lunch & Dinner on own’s account

End of the 5 Days Luxury Gorilla Trekking Fly-in

Accommodation

Entebbe — Papyrus Guest House — B&B

Bwindi — Nkuringi Bwindi Gorilla Lodge — Full Board

This is a private safari that can be tailored to suite your needs and preferences and is available upon request. Accommodations/ Lodges mentioned in the itinerary can as well be changed to the ones of your preference. Kindly contact us with the dates you want to come, number of people in your group and we can check availability of rooms and permits hence send you a quote.