3 DAYS GORILLAS AND L. BUNYONYI

The Guide/Driver will show up at a pick point in Kampala or Entebbe at 7:00 am. After briefing you about the tour, he/she will start the journey to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. There will be stopovers along the way including at the equator crossing for photography. Lunch will be in Mbarara preferably at the Igongo Cultural Centre. The journey will be long but if you love nature and observing new places, you will be deeply impressed by the landscape. The Western part of Uganda has incredible scenery, national parks, mountains and remnants of volcanic activity. Expect to drive past beautiful lakes, rivers and the local people tending to their gardens. Look out for the Long-horned Ankole cattle and request to stop at some of the markets along the way to taste some of the fresh local fruits. Remain awake while passing past the beautiful hills of Kabale and Kisoro.

Dinner and Overnight at Rushaga Gorilla Camp (Budget and Mid-range) and Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge (Luxury).

Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi for evening relaxation. Wake up early and take your breakfast as you wait for the Guide to take you to the park headquarters for the mandatory briefing at 7:30am. The briefing covers everything you need to know about the park, the wildlife and of course the mountain gorillas. You will be assigned a gorilla family based on your overall fitness. After the briefing, you will head out to different points depending on the gorilla family you are allocated. If you have heavy equipment, you can hire the services of a porter for about $15. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi forest can take between 30 minutes to 5 hours depending on the gorilla group you are assigned. During the trek, you will encounter rich tropical forest with amazing biodiversity Watch out for the bird, smaller primates and plant life. You are only allowed one hour with the gorillas. Take the time to observe and study their behavior. Ensure that you follow the gorilla trekking rules including keeping a distance of 7 meters from the nearest primate. Do not be attempted to touch a gorilla – especially a baby gorilla to avoid alerting the massive Silverback. Remain calm at all times. After your time with the primates has elapsed, you will be led back to the starting point and offered a certificate of participation. The driver will take you back to your lodge for relaxation, lunch and checkout. After packing all your belongings, you will be transferred to Lake Bunyonyi for evening relaxation. Dinner and Overnight at Bunyonyi Overland Camp (Budget), Arcadia Cottages (Mid-range) and Bunyonyi Birdnest Lodge (Luxury).