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Known as the “Pearl of Africa,” Uganda is full of striking greenery, beautiful lakes, magnificent mountains, and reasonably the most exceptional natural treasure of all – about half of the world’s population of the last remaining mountain gorilla. Being a stunning East African country, it is also home to a variety of national parks and stands to be one of the world’s best destinations for bird-watching. 3 days Uganda Gorilla Safari Tours Bwindi is all about experiencing the mighty mountain gorillas in their natural rainforest habitat and observing the beauty of the forests.
Bwindi gorilla trekking gives you a great opportunity to see these astounding, endangered animals from a view closer than you ever possibly think about! In your 3 days gorilla trekking Bwindi, you will visit Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Kibale Forest National Park, known for having the largest primate density on earth, and the Queen Elizabeth National Park where you get to see the unique tree-climbing lions, Cape buffalo, and Uganda kob. Ideal for bird-watchers, safari-goers, and wildlife enthusiasts, Uganda promises to give you a holistic experience of an East African Safari!
| Day 1 |
Arrival at Kigali (Rwanda) and drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest After having a delightful journey, you will arrive at Rwanda's Kigali airport, where our representative will greet you. Then, our guide will assist you for your westwards drive of about 3-4 hours for reaching the beautiful Bwindi. On your way, you will halt for a while at Kigali Town, where you can explore the natural beauty and click pictures. Then, you will continue with your journey through the enchanting rolling hills of Uganda. Your next halt during the journey would be at Kisoro Town or Kabale, and from there, you will continue your drive to the magnificent Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and reach there by late afternoon. After reaching your destination, you can rest for the day, have dinner, and spend your night at your lodge.
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| Day 2 |
The Gorilla Trek After having a delightful breakfast, you will head to the headquarters of the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for your Bwindi gorilla trekking. Upon your arrival, a group of guides will brief you before you begin your trek for spotting the giant gorillas.
Home to nearly half the population of the world’s Mountain Gorillas, the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National park is the best place to get a close look at the rare mountain gorillas. Being the best place for silverback gorilla trekking, the national park houses about 90 species of mammals, and it also includes around 11 primates, out of which, the black-and-white colobus is the most prominent primate inside the park. Besides Bwindi gorilla trekking, the park has a diversity of attractions like the stunning sceneries, different wild animals, and some of the rarest birds. The journey inside the forests thrills all the travellers trekking inside the park in search of the Mountain Gorillas. The joy after spotting the mountain gorillas is one of the most surreal experiences that the travellers experience.
After exploring the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, you will return to your lodge and relax for the evening.
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| Day 3 |
Travel to Entebbe and fly back After having breakfast, you will drive back to Kigali and then our guide will transfer you to the International Airport for your flight back home with beautiful memories of Bwindi gorilla trekking in Uganda.
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If you are planning a safari vacation, Africa is the most popular destination. Southern and East African countries are mostly famous for safaris which take place in 4WD vehicles. But if you want to enjoy and experience something out of the ordinary during your African trip, Uganda Gorilla safari tours are highly recommended. This unusual and lesser-known activity which takes place in an underrated country is a once in a lifetime experience.
This activity is ideal for wildlife lovers, naturalists, and even those wanting to get closer to nature. In Uganda, these gorilla safari tours take place in beautiful and lush national parks and regions. Here is everything you need to know about Uganda, the mountain gorilla trekking, and the safari tours it offers.
There are two gorilla species that exist in the world. These are the eastern and the western gorilla species. The mountain gorilla is a subspecies of the eastern group. As the name implies, they live high up in the mountains which are their natural habitat. They are found in high-altitude bamboo and montane forests. These primates come under the endangered category and are threatened by various problems like war, disease, habitat destruction, and hunting. These threats were extremely severe, making experts believe that mountain gorilla species would be wiped out by the end of the twentieth century.
However, conservation efforts have saved up a sizeable population of these primates. There are around 1000 mountain gorillas living in the wild today. Mountain gorilla presently reside in the East-central regions of Africa. They live in two isolated groups, the first in Virunga Volcanoes. This region spans three national parks of Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Rwanda. The second group lives in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Since these primates are found in two different regions of Uganda, one can experience the best gorilla trekking safari and tours.
Among all the varied species of primates, the mountain gorilla is the most powerful. They live in family groups consisting of 10 individuals at a time. This is why it is easy to spot multiple mountain gorilla families during trekking.
Treks which focus on searching for this endangered gorilla are not well-known among travelers. But it offers one of the most remarkable wildlife experiences which cannot be replicated anywhere around the world. When you choose this exciting activity, you can enjoy spending time with these special primates for at least an hour, while being accompanied by a small group of fellow trekkers, guides, and rangers.
In Uganda, gorilla safari trekking and tours may last up to hours in search of these primates. But it remains worth it because it is unlike anything you have ever experienced before. Here are some reasons why you should opt for gorilla trekking and safari tours.
A humbling experience
Gorilla trekking counts as a humbling experience because these primates share at least 90 percent of their DNA with humans. When you observe them from a close distance, you can marvel at the similarities and quietly observe the gorilla families. This close contact with the extraordinary primates makes up for an interesting experience and leaves you with a deeper understanding of nature and the animal world.
It is safe
Gorilla trekking is extremely safe. Most of the mountain gorilla population in Uganda is especially habituated by humans. So, they do not pose any threat as they are used to human contact. Overall, these gorillas are gentle and do not pose any danger. You are allowed to observe them for at least an hour, while staying just a few meters away. It is extremely important, however, to follow all the guidelines and rules given by your guides and rangers to avoid any risk.
Supporting conservation efforts
Conservation of the mountain gorilla is extremely costly. But when you directly participate in gorilla trekking and safari tours, you are also contributing and supporting conservation efforts to save these primates. The money generated from such gorilla treks is the primary source to fund the continued conservation.
Scenic hikes and treks
As long as you are fit and want to explore the regions, these treks are ideal. Especially in Uganda, gorilla safari trekking and tours often involve spectacular scenery of the parks and protected regions. Since you’ll be climbing up the mountains, you can marvel at the diverse flora and fauna which provides a rewarding adventure. Along with mountain gorilla, you can see a wide variety of wildlife that thrive in Uganda’s wilderness. You can marvel at the gorgeous scenery through various viewpoints wherein stunning vistas of forested slopes, sprawling mountains, and peaks covered with clouds are seen.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Bwindi Impenetrable is the best park in Uganda to enjoy gorilla trekking safari and other wildlife tours. It lies in southwestern Uganda, at the edge of the incredible Great Rift Valley. It houses the country’s most ancient and ecologically diverse rainforest, which dates back to over 25,000 years ago. It contains at least 400 species of plants, 120 mammals, 200 species of butterflies, and 350 bird species including some endemic to the Albertine Rift. The forest also protects around 450 mountain gorillas which make up roughly half the world’s mountain gorilla population.
The national park has four gorilla trekking routes wherein over 19 habituated groups live. Bwindi also offers a unique gorilla habituation experience in the park along with gorilla trekking. With a few researchers, trackers, and rangers, a small group of tourists can participate in the mountain gorilla habituation process. Bwindi also offers bird watching as this park is known to be a bird haven. All kinds of avifauna, including endemic and rare are found here. One can also enjoy meeting the indigenous Batwa community, going on nature walks in the park, and participating in community tourism.
Bwindi Impenetrable of Uganda is not only limited to gorilla trekking but also offers other wildlife safari tours. You can see animals like elephants, golden cats, duikers, buffalos, jackals, otters, and more. In the rainforest live at least 11 primate species including black and white colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, spectacled galago, baboons, chimpanzees, and more.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Mgahinga in Uganda is another national park where you can enjoy gorilla trekking and safari tours. It is the country’s smallest national park, situated in the southwestern region. It is home to around 39 mammals including the mountain gorilla, bushbuck, duiker, elephant, golden monkey, and more. It has over 100 bird species living in various habitats of Mgahinga. The park is extremely famous for its three beautiful Virunga Volcanoes.
The major activity carried out in Mgahinga is gorilla trekking. Similar to Bwindi, you can spot other wildlife and birdlife species during the trek. Golden monkey trekking is another famous activity undertaken in the park. In fact, Mgahinga is the only safari destination in the country which protects the endangered golden monkey species. Just like gorilla trekking, you can trek the park in search of these monkey species. But it is not as strenuous as gorilla trekking safari tours because the golden monkeys tend to live in the lower areas.
Mgahinga has three dormant volcanoes which offer mountain climbing and hiking opportunities. Travelers can also enjoy bird watching and the Batwa trail experience.
Kibale National Park
In Uganda, Kibale is another fascinating national park to visit after completing your gorilla trekking and safari tours. Kibale is situated in the western part of the country. This tropical rainforest protects a number of wildlife species. But the main highlight of the park is the chimpanzees. Over 1500 chimpanzees are found living inside the forest of Kibale. The national park protects these primates and offers chimpanzee trekking as well.
If you want to try out adventurous chimpanzee trekking in Uganda, Kibale is the best safari destination for it. Travelers can also take part in chimpanzee habituation in Kibale. Alongside chimpanzees, Kibale is famous for its varied flora and fauna. The park is home to over 350 species of trees, over 70 diverse mammals, and around 375 species of birds. There are many activities provided by Kibale aside from chimpanzee treks and habituation. Travelers can enjoy the Kibale forest walk trail, Bigodi Swamp Walk, and crater lake tours.
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth is a savanna national park filled with a variety of wildlife. It is the most popular park in Uganda for game drives. You can visit the park after completing gorilla trekking as it offers exciting safari tours. It is the best place to see tree-climbing lions which are only found in two other African destinations. The park is filled with a diversity of habitats like lakes, savannahs, grasslands, wetlands, and more. These are home to various wildlife species in the park.
Tree-climbing lions, elephants, buffalos, topi, hippos, leopards, spotted hyenas, and chimpanzees are seen in the park. An astounding number of bird species, around 600 different types, are found in the park, making this place exclusive for bird watchers. In Uganda, gorilla trekking is extremely popular, but this park offers the best land-based safari tours. Here, game drives in safari vehicles give you a chance to spot numerous animals and birds.
A plethora of activities is offered by the park. The adventurous balloon safari offers a unique perspective, as you soar above the park and spot the mammals and terrain above you. The verdant forests of Queen Elizabeth Park are famous for offering chimp-tracking expeditions.
The Kazingha channel, which flows inside the park, is known for its boating safaris. This type of safari is out of the ordinary as it allows you to explore an oasis of wildlife like pods of hippos, crocodiles, water birds, bathing elephants, and more. Cultural tours are a great way to learn and educate oneself about the indigenous people of the land. A visit to the Explosion Crater lakes exposes sweeping views of the Rift Valley escarpment and Rwenzori Mountain ranges.
Besides Uganda and gorilla trekking activity, if you would like to enjoy more safari tours, it is best to combine it with other African countries. So, you can try out the East African Tanzania safari and gorilla trekking for a much better and more fulfilling vacation. After visiting Uganda and other nations, you can conclude your gorilla trekking and other safari tours by relaxing at a beach for a day or two.
Lake Manyara of Tanzania is a great addition to your itinerary. This alkaline lake is filled with diverse animals and offers an exciting safari. If you have missed the tree-climbing lions in Queen Elizabeth Park, you can surely witness them in Lake Manyara. The lake is renowned for its bird species, especially flamingoes, which makes it an incredible birding destination. Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Crater is also an interesting place to visit. This dormant volcano is beautiful and has various natural habitats. You can enjoy spotting the Big Five along with big and small cats, various other predators, ungulates, and birds.
For excellent and world-class game viewing, consider visiting Serengeti National Park. This is one of the greatest parks not only in Tanzania but also around the world. It has the highest population of animals on earth. Here, you can easily spot the Big Five African animals during game drives. Serengeti is also an extremely scenic park. It is divided into various sectors or regions for diverse game viewing. Seronera is one such area that houses a rich diversity of animals. North Serengeti is an area full of undiscovered wilderness. This region guarantees isolated game drives, accompanied by fewer tourist crowds and more wildlife to spot.
The best way to end your Uganda gorilla trekking trip and safari tours is by staying at any of the Tanzanian beaches. The Tanzanian coastline is extremely famous, scenic, and surrounded by the mesmerizing Indian ocean. Its pristine beaches and azure waters are not only charming but create the perfect tropical holiday. Staying in Zanzibar Island is the best way to conclude your trip and refresh yourselves after treks and safaris. This island has numerous beaches, luxurious beach resorts, and fun water sports activities.
Swimming, scuba diving, snorkeling, windsurfing, water skiing, and sun dhows are the top ways to explore the marine life and waters of Tanzania. Various attractions are found in Zanzibar cities’ such as spice markets, Old Stone Town, prison island, interesting architecture, and much more. Whether you are the type to explore and enjoy fun adventures or spend your leisure time sunbathing, Zanzibar is ideal for everyone.
Uganda is a year-round destination, which means you can enjoy gorilla trekking and other safari tours in the country whenever you come. However, the country’s condition is at its best during the dry season. This season is marked by December to February and from June to August. It is an ideal time for gorilla and chimpanzee trekking. At Uganda’s savannahs parks, the end of the dry season offers excellent game viewing experiences because wildlife congregates near water sources.
Uganda gorilla safari tours are highly suggested to anyone wanting to create unforgettable memories, understand the precious wildlife, and try out trekking. Contact a travel company, which specializes in Africa gorilla trekking and different safari tours, to embark on your very own gorilla trekking safaris today.
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