3 DAYS FLYING GORILLA TREKKING SAFARI IN UGANDA, ENTEBBE

Entebbe Town: Situated on a peninsula in Lake Victoria, the former seat of Uganda’s government, Entebbe is just a short drive from the current capital and offers plenty to keep visitors amused.

This charming town features tree-lined streets and serves as an excellent base from which to explore the surrounding area. Tourists can look forward to spending days on beautiful beaches along the banks of Lake Victoria, stroll through the fields and forests of the magnificent Botanical Gardens, or pay a visit to Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary, a haven for country’s orphaned chimps.

Day 1 Planned Itinerary:

• Arrival at Entebbe International Airport.
• Meet & greet assistance on arrival.
• Clearing with Immigration Offices at Entebbe Town
• Transfer to your Hotel for an early check-in and Relaxation.
• Dinner and Overnight at No.5 Boutique Hotel, Entebbe

Alternate Hotel Stay in Entebbe, Uganda

1. 5 Boutique Hotel

Nestled in the leafy suburbs of Entebbe, is the stylish No.5 Boutique hotel, No.5. From the moment you arrive, you are warmly welcomed and cared for. With luxurious rooms opening onto the garden and swimming pool, this is a great option for guests looking for an intimate stay in a tranquil setting.

Make yourself at home – unwind beside the swimming pool, pamper yourself with a spa treatment, or work up a sweat in the hotel gym. For one of the most flavoursome dining experiences in Entebbe, carefully planned menus are paired to an international wine list, and served with pride.

1. Protea Hotel by Marriott Entebbe

This 73-roomed hotel is ideally located on the glistening shores of Lake Victoria and a convenient 1 km from the Airport.  Protea Hotel by Marriott, Entebbe, has a restaurant that offers an exciting and truly inviting a-la-carte menu seven days of the week. With elegant furnishings and a warm, inviting feel, the hotel’s decor and rooms create a luxurious atmosphere. The outside terrace, with its own special ambience and superb lake views is the perfect place to take it all in.

(Basis: Full Board - Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch)

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

Located in southwestern Uganda, the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is said to be Africa’s oldest rainforest. It is world-renowned for its excellent gorilla-sighting opportunities - the forest is home to half of the remaining mountain gorillas on earth.

This gorilla experience takes place among a rugged landscape of dense jungle, cascading waterfalls, sparkling mountain streams, deep valleys, and steep ridges.

The untouched forest has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its breathtaking natural beauty and unique ecological significance, and aside from the amazing gorilla interactions, there are other drawcards such as a network of forest walks, over 340 species of bird to spot, and a variety of brightly-coloured butterflies to identify. Don’t miss the opportunity to explore the spectacular Virunga Volcanoes, three of which are still active.

Day 2 Planned Itinerary

• Begin the day with breakfast
• Transfer to Entebbe International Airport
• Flight to Kihihi Airstrip.
• Estimated time of arrival at Kihihi Airstrip.
• Transfer to your Lodge.
• Lunch at the Lodge.
• Afternoon Batwa Cultural Experience.
• Dinner and Overnight stay at your Lodge.

(Accommodation: Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp)

Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp

Once-in-a-lifetime encounters with Uganda’s endangered gorillas await when you stay in one of these ten private luxury tents in the heart of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.

Ecologically respectful, contemporary-yet-classic in style, Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp blends in sensitively with the dramatic African mountain landscape and, situated uniquely inside the national park, you are only minutes away from the start of your gorilla trekking adventure.

Each tent has a spacious, stone-walled bathroom with private sections, and a free-standing bath for a relaxing soak after a day’s trekking. The trees around the camp light up in the morning when the sun starts shining, and thanks to there being so few tents, the camp retains an intimate, exclusive feel, enabling you to experience Africa’s magic with the lightest of footprints yet with practically every mod con.

Alternative Hotel Stay: Mahogany Springs Lodge, Entebbe

Mahogany Springs is situated in one of the most intimate, secluded, beautiful and most importantly natural settings in the world and only around 2 minutes away from the Gorilla tracking starting point.

All the rooms at Mahogany Springs are high end suites that can be interchanges to twin, double or triple.  There is 24/7 power in all the rooms. Rooms have large en-suite bathrooms with a gorgeously designed open terracotta shower.

Activities:

Batwa Cultural Village: This is where the Batwa (Pigmies) still live in the same way they used to years ago in tree houses. The Batwa only began leaving their forest homes around 15 years ago and they have been able to remain on this land thanks to the support of a generous American benefactor who donated the land back to them and created a cultural program. The fees from visiting tourists and are given to the Batwa project and they delight in welcoming visitors to their village and demonstrating how they make weapons, dance, make fires using sticks and cook.

(Basis: On Full Board - Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch)

Day 2 Alternative Itinerary:

• Start the day with morning breakfast ready for the day's gorilla trek
• Transfer/walk down to the park headquarters for the gorilla trek
• Start the gorilla trekking adventure in Bwindi.
• Estimated time of returning from the jungle.
• Afternoon relaxation at your lodge
• Dinner is served at the Lodge.

Activities:

Gorilla Trekking Bwindi Impenetrable Forest: Wake early for a hearty breakfast to give you the energy needed for gorilla trekking. Before 8:00 am, report to the ranger station for registration and a talk by one of the rangers. The guides will then take you through the bush, pushing your way through the undergrowth, to track the gorillas. (Please note this trek can take from 30 minutes to 5-6 hours)

A reasonable degree of fitness is required, as well as a sturdy pair of walking shoes. Sit in the forest among the gorillas, listening to them ‘talk’ to one another, and marvel at the sheer size of the dominant male, the Silverback. It is an extraordinary feeling sitting in the dense rainforest knowing you are with a few of the last remaining mountain gorillas. It's amazing to think there are only about 650 of these beautiful creatures left.

(Basis: On Full Board - Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch)

Day 3 Planned Itinerary

• Breakfast is served.
• Transfer to the Airport for your flight check-in
• Estimated time of arriving at Entebbe Airport from Bwindi for your outbound flight
• End of service.

(Basis:  Breakfast)