Uganda Gorilla & Big Five Safari
wild nature, breathtaking landscapes, rich biodiversity, and friendly people!
Uganda is a destination of supreme diversity: home to Africa’s tallest mountain range (the Rwenzoris), the source of the Nile, the largest lake in Africa, Lake Victoria, one of the last remaining true rain forests, and some of the most prestigious national parks. The diverse cultural heritage counts of over 50 local tribes and many different languages.
The UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site Bwindi lies in southwestern Uganda on the edge of the Rift Valley between 1,160m – 2,607m above sea level, covering an area of 321 km2. Its mist-covered hillsides are blanketed by one of Uganda’s oldest and most biologically diverse rainforests, which dates back over 25,000 years and contains almost 400 species of plants, 120 mammals, including several primate species such as baboons and chimpanzees, as well as elephants, antelopes and 350 species of birds. More famously, this truly“impenetrable forest” also protects an estimated 400 mountain gorillas – roughly half of the world’s population, including several habituated groups, which can be tracked by visitors.
Kibale is famously known for Chimpanzee tracking. This park in fact hosts the world’s largest population of chimpanzee and is home to 13 other species of primate and a total of 70 mammal species.
With an area of almost 800 km2, Kibale’s varied altitude supports different types of habitat, ranging from the wet tropical forest on the Fort Portal plateau to woodland and savanna on the rift valley floor, displaying 351 tree species, some rise to over 55m and are over 200 yr.
Uganda’s most visited national park covering an area of almost 2,000 km2 and spans the equator line with the highest point being the Katwe explosion craters at 1,350m above sea level, while the lowest point is at 910 m, at Lake Edward. The park is home to over 600 bird species and over 95 mammal species, being the most common the Ugandan Cob and the Topi. It’s also home to the famous tree-climbing lions, that can only be found on the southern section of the park, in Ishasha area.
Located 1,962m above sea level, it is known as the second deepest lake in Africa (and fourth deepest in the world), with a maximum depth of 900 meters. It is one of the few lakes in the region safe for swimming. The towns on its shores are home of fishing communities. This lake has recently started to attract travellers because of its watersports, impressive hillsides and its 29 islands, with different character and histories to tell.
Are you ready for adventure?
tailor-made safari
We will provide you with everything you need, plus a personal professional guide for your trip.
Set your mind free and enjoy the adventure!
Included
- 14 nights accommodation mixed Style (11 nights Camping & 3 nights Accommodated)
- Pre-tour accommodation in Entebbe
- Airport Transfer on arrival
- Transport (in a fully equipped 13-seater overland truck)
- Meals – 14x breakfast, 11x lunch, 9x dinner
- Professional & experienced tour guide
- All national park entrance fees
- Drinking water
Highlights
- Rhino Trekking
- Murchison Falls National Park with 5 safaris
- Murchison Falls viewpoint
- Nile Riverboat cruise
- Kibale Forest National Park
- Chimpanzee trekking
- Queen Elizabeth National Park with 3 safaris
- Bwindi Forest National Park
- Gorilla Trekking
- Rubuguri village – community projects tour
- Lake Bunyonyi boat cruise
- Kigali Genocide Museum
Not included
- international flights
- travel and medical insurance
- personal drinks/snacks (other than water)
- any own expense meals (as seen in the
itinerary) - personal spending money
- visas
- optional activities
- tips for guides
FAQ
When is the best time to visit Uganda?
The trips to Uganda run from December to February and from June to August, in correspondence with the dry season. We should still expect some rain. Also, weather conditions sometimes may vary tremendously from one day to another.
Temperatures range from being very hot and humid (+-32 °C) in Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth National Parks, dropping down to ±6 oC at night in the mountainous areas of Bwindi and Kibale forest.
Do I need a Visa?
East Africa Tourist Visa costs around US$100. It is recommended to acquire an East Africa Tourist Visa prior to your arrival in the country. The East Africa Tourist Visa is a 3-month Visa, granting you access to both Uganda and Rwanda. However, it is possible to get both an Uganda and a Rwanda Visa at your point of entry.
Make two photocopies of valuable documents such as your passport, tickets, visas and travellers’ cheques. Keep one copy with you in a separate place to the original and leave another copy with someone at home. Please ensure that you are in possession of valid travel documents. Double-check with the Uganda embassy of your country about visa requirements.
Is the team on site to assist me?
How is the accommodation like?
We will stay in different types of accommodation. All rooms are invariably twin. In case you are accompanied and prefer a double bed (king size bed), we will try, without any guarantee, to book a double room. Individual bookings will be sharing a twin room or double tent with other individual booking guests. For single occupancy request, guests should enquire and an extra fee will be charged.
Camping is no doubt one of the best experiences on tour. This style of accommodation was chosen to enhance your experience in those specific areas.
On camping nights, we provide spacious two-person tent and a sleeping stretcher (camping beds), which we will help to set up. Don’t forget your sleeping bag, inflatable pillow and other items you find important to bring with you. In some campsites, you may be able to upgrade to rooms for an extra charge.
During this trip, we will be sleeping in unfenced campsites, in the heart of the National Parks. It is not uncommon to be visited by giraffes, various antelopes, or even elephants and hippo’s while camping out in this area. A truly memorable time!
We will have 3 nights of ‘assisted camping’ while in Murchison Falls National Park.
The entire camp will be set up for the group prior to our arrival at the camp and, upon departure, the camp will be packed away for us (all of the benefits of camping in the wild with none of the work behind it!).
Toilets used here are homemade long-drop toilets (equipped with our portable toilet seats and tents). Showers used here are our portable bucket showers, equipped with warm water and a shower tent.
What if I have special dietary requirements?
Is Uganda safe?
Even pickpockets are less frequent than in European cities but it is always advisable not to carry valuables with you or to be careful to carry them close to you and in a visible place.
Will we have electricity during the trip?
Electricity is limited on the tour, so if you have a power bank, you should bring it! There is, however, a small charging station in the vehicle that can be used while the vehicle is running. The power is 220 Volts and in some lodges, the sockets are compatible with those of Europe, and it is recommended to carry an adapter and possibly a 3 port charger if you have many devices to charge daily.
Which are the health precautions and requirements to travel to Uganda?
The only recommended prophylaxis is against Malaria. Please consult with your general practitioner before coming regarding this.
We strongly advise the use of insect repellant on exposed areas after sunset.
All guides have first aid boxes for use in emergencies, however, we recommend that you bring along your own basic supply of medication, headache tablets etc.
If you are taking any regular medication, we advise you to bring it with you for the entire stay, as it may not be easy to find these medicines at local pharmacies.
You are required to have a yellow fever vaccination to enter Uganda. Please ensure you travel with your yellow fever vaccination card.
How to stay connected during the trip?
A large number of local cellphone operators offer roaming connection, however, it is best to inquire about tariffs and conditions before leaving. We can help you buy local SIM cards so that you can better and more economically communicate with friends and family back home and share your experiences.
The Internet connection is available almost all the way, although sometimes slow and nonexistent in the most remote areas, namely in some of the National Parks that we will visit. The easiest thing to do is to wait for a Wi-Fi internet connection in some of our lodges, cafes and restaurants, and communicate via Skype, WhatsApp, etc.
Is laundry available during the trip?
There will be limited laundry facilities during this tour, please feel free to bring along some biodegradable washing powder so you can wash your own clothes at our various campsites, where laundry service is not available.
Which is the local currency and how much money should I bring along?
The Ugandan Shilling is the currency used in Uganda.
It is recommended to bring extra US$ in cash which you can exchange into Uganda Shillings on our first day. All major currencies can be exchanged in any exchange bureau. Major credit cards can be used for expenses such a restaurant meals, etc. Although, small trading stores will probably not have the facilities to deal with a credit card.
The money you spend depends on your lifestyle. Remember that the price of the trip already includes many things, such as the majority of the meals, transportation and all National Park tickets.
There are ATMs in almost every major city along the way and this is undoubtedly the easiest way to get local currency and also the safest way without having to carry a lot of money with you. However remember that every time you make a withdrawal or transaction, you will have to pay a commission to the bank.
We recommend bringing around $250 USD. Ideally, you should bring US Dollars (not Euros because it is harder to exchange and the exchange rate is usually lower) and exchange if necessary.
Can I bring gifts for the local communities?
Please feel free to bring gifts for local communities in the form of stationary, school books and sports gear. Please avoid bringing gifts in the form of sweets and chocolates for children – dental hygiene and care are minimal in rural Africa and damaged teeth are a growing problem in these areas.
Any gifts brought for communities/school kids will be collected by your guide at the beginning of the tour. These gifts will be handed to the management team in Rubuguri village, Uganda (home to all of our on-going community projects) who will distribute the gifts to various schools in need in the area. During the tour, please avoid handing out gifts to individuals along the way. The expectation of gifts from foreign visitors is a growing issue in a lot of rural Africa and creates an uncomfortable experience for people visiting the area.