4 Days Bwindi Gorilla Trekking Safari from Tanzania to Kigali
4 Days Bwindi Gorilla Trekking Safari from Tanzania to Kigali: This Bwindi gorilla trekking safari starts in Tanzania and ends at Kigali International Airport. This is an ideal safari for visitors who do not have to drive long distances from Entebbe International Airport to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, home to the magical mountain gorillas. The 4-day safari involves meeting eye-to-eye with the magical mountain gorillas. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is famous for being home to half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas as well as Uganda’s oldest and most biologically diverse rain forest, with over 25,000 years of history and over 400 species of plants that form the extensive evergreen impenetrable forest.
It is home to over 459 mountain gorillas, 120 mammals, and 350 bird species, including 23 Albertine Rift endemics, and it is the ancient home to the forest custodians commonly known as the Batwa people. Therefore, this is an ideal tour that will fully immerse you in nature’s magical wonders, filled with beautiful scenery and excitement from the magical jungle experience that is characterized by numerous primate species, such as the miraculous mountain gorillas and other primates, during the forest walk.
Safari Highlights
· Day 1: Arrival in Tanzania, pick up, meet and greet, drive to your booked hotel in Uganda.
· Day 2: Drive to Bwindi and check in at your booked hotel (Chameleon Hill).
· Day 3: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park—Mountain gorilla trekking experience
· Day 4: Departure—Transfer to Kigali International Airport
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Tanzania, pick up, meet and greet, and drive to your booked hotel in Uganda.
Depending on the time of arrival in Tanzania, you will be picked up by our company representative or your safari guide at your hotel or the airport, get briefed about your 4-day Bwindi gorilla trekking safari, have an en-route lunch, and then drive to your booked hotel at Igongo Country Hotel in Mbarara city. You will arrive in the evening to check in at your booked hotel, refresh, and spend your evening relaxing. Have dinner and an overnight stay.
Accommodation: Igongo Country Hotel
Meals: lunch and dinner
Day 2: Drive to Bwindi and check in at your booked hotel (Chameleon Hill).
Wake up at your leisure, prepare and pack all your travel bags in your safari vehicle, have your hearty breakfast, and after that tour the Igongo cultural museum, one of Uganda’s richest heritages with the history, traditions, and lifestyle of the Ankole people in southwestern Uganda that will take you centuries back into the lifestyle of the people of western Uganda. After, begin your adventurous journey to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in the Rushaga sector. On your way to Bwindi, you will have a stopover at Kabale for lunch and then proceed with your journey to the magical Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Check in at your booked lodge and relax. Have dinner and spend the night at the lodge.
Accommodation: Chameleon Hill
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 3: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park—Mountain gorilla trekking experience
On your 4-day Bwindi gorilla trekking safari, get up early to organize yourself and arrange the necessary equipment for mountain gorilla trekking, such as hiking and waterproof shoes, long-sleeved shirts, and a pair of trousers, particularly khaki or jean trousers; cameras; rain jackets; brimmed hats; extra batteries; gloves; insect repellents; and more. Make sure that you dress appropriately as per the regulations. Have a heavy breakfast, get your packed lunch boxes with packed drinking water, meet your safari guide, and get transferred to the park information officers for a pre-gorilla trekking briefing concerning the rules and regulations of the exercise, such as how to behave in the presence of these gentle giants and the expectations as well.
You will get allocated a mountain gorilla family to track, accompanied by ranger guides. Visitors are divided into groups of 8 per gorilla family; however, we would recommend you hire a porter to help you carry your packed backpack and other items you would need during the gorilla trek. Begin your forest walk in search of the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. The time taken before encountering your assigned mountain gorilla family is not known. However, it may vary anywhere from 45 to 5 hours depending on the movements and location of the gorilla family. Hence, you should be physically and mentally prepared to trek a long distance into the forest, which is made up of hills with no clear walking trails.
Upon seeing the mountain gorillas, the excitement outweighs the hardship you went through while searching for them. A mountain gorilla family can be made up of several members headed by the silverback, mothers, infants, and juveniles. You will spend a maximum of 1 hour studying their behaviors, such as how they socialize, as you get excited by their actions, like playful babies, mothers grooming their babies, and Mr. Silverback watching the situation silently, ensuring protection of the family from any kind of attack. Capture as many photos and record videos as possible to keep your great memories with the mountain gorilla family in the jungle.
After an hour with the mountain gorilla family, return to the trekking starting point to receive your mountain gorilla trekking certificate in appreciation of your immense contribution towards the conservation of the endangered mountain gorillas in Uganda. Have refreshments and lunch, and later return to your lodge and share memories of the experience. Have dinner and spend the night at the lodge.
Accommodation: Chameleon Hill
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 4: Departure—Transfer to Kigali International Airport
On this final day of your 4-day Bwindi gorilla trekking safari, you will wake up at your convenient time, prepare all your luggage and pack it in your safari vehicle, have breakfast, check out of the lodge, and drive to the Kyanika border. If time allows, you will have a city tour in Kigali, Rwanda. Visiting the Kigali Genocide Memorial honors over 250,000 genocide victims, with nearly one million Rwandans, mainly Tutsis, killed by Hutu extremists. It serves as a final resting place and educates visitors about the genocide’s history, promoting peace and reconciliation. Visiting the main market and the memorial are key experiences in understanding Rwanda’s past.
End of Tour
The 4 Days Bwindi Gorilla Trekking Safari from Tanzania to Kigali package price includes:
· Pick up from Tanzania.
· All private transport in a 4X4 safari vehicle
· Fuel for 4 days
· 1 mountain gorilla trekking permit
· Igongo Cultural Centre Museum Tour
· Private English-speaking guide
· All accommodation and en-route meals for 3 days
· Bottled drinking water
· Border crossing fee
The 4 Days Bwindi Gorilla Trekking Safari from Tanzania to Kigali package price excludes:
· Travel Insurance
· Extra meals and activities
· Alcoholic and other soft drinks (wines, special juice, and sodas at the lodge)
· Country entry visa
· Domestic and international flights
· Entry Visas
· Personal items like laundry, telephone charges, bills, gifts, etc.
· Tip