Shared service with other clients and an English-speaking driver-guide.

Entebbe or Kampala - Ziwa Rift Reserve - Masindi Conservation Area - Murchison Falls National Park - Lake Albert - Chimpanzee viewing in Budongo Forest - Bugoma Community - Bugoma Forest - Kasese - Queen Elizabeth National Park - Kazinga Channel - Ishasha - Bwindi National Forest - Mountain gorilla safari

This Western Circuit itinerary of the renowned Albertine Rift Valley offers an engaging nature-based journey with numerous ecotourism activities (such as trekking to see primates, chimpanzees, gorillas, and other species), photo safaris, scenic landscapes and tourist attractions like Murchison Falls, birdwatching excursions, and cultural village walks. Therefore, this active program is recommended for those who wish to fully immerse themselves in nature and its beauty. But primarily, this itinerary supports the Bugoma rainforest conservation project in Uganda.

Alternative programs

Gorillas in Uganda
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10 Days / 9 Nights

Circuit details

-Scheduled flights.

-Arrival and departure transfers in Entebbe.

-Transportation in a 4x4 Land Cruiser vehicle. Maximum 6 passengers per vehicle.

-8 nights' accommodation.

-Full board (drinks not included).

-Entrance fees to National Parks and excursions as described in the itinerary.

-Gorilla watching permit.

-Chimpanzee watching permit in Budongo.

-English-speaking driver-guide.

-Mineral water in the vehicle.

-Travel assistance Plus insurance.

-Visa.

-Tips and personal expenses.

-Drinks during lunch and dinner.

-Optional activities.

-Spanish-speaking guide (see supplement).

-Any other service not specified as included.

-Optional insurance.

Ground Services:

  • Cancellations made between 61 – 32 days before the start of the trip are subject to a penalty of 30% of the total amount of the confirmed services.
  • Cancellations made between 31 – 17 days before the start of the trip are subject to a penalty of 60% of the total amount of the confirmed services.
  • Cancellations made between 16– 0 days before the start of the trip are subject to a penalty of 100% of the total amount of the confirmed services.

Flights:

Air reservations do not allow name changes and once the tickets have been issued, they are non-refundable.

-Guaranteed departures from 2 passengers.

-Hotels and camps do not guarantee room availability before 2 pm on the day of arrival.

-Room use is limited until 10 am on the day of departure.

-Free time: During free time, clients do not have transportation or a local guide.

-Possible route change: Our representative in Uganda has the full right to modify the program for the benefit of the client or for reasons of force majeure without losing any of the scheduled visits.

-Possible changes in accommodations: If it is not possible to confirm the planned hotels or lodges on any of the departures, an alternative will be offered to the client within the same contracted category.

-Luggage: In the event of luggage being lost by the airlines, It will be the passenger's responsibility to manage the claim and call the company directly to arrange delivery or compensation that may apply. Luxotour will not be responsible for any processing of lost or broken luggage.

-People with reduced mobility: some places, accommodations and transport are not adapted for wheelchairs, please check and notify before making the reservation. Any additional assistance costs that may be required throughout the tour will be the responsibility of the client.

-Special foods: cases of food intolerances (allergies, celiac disease, vegetarian food, etc.) must be communicated before arrival in Uganda, although it is not possible to guarantee any type of special diet or menu.

-Withdrawal of the consumer: the circuit is sold as a closed package, so there will be no refund or discount for services that customers decide not to enjoy or in which they cannot participate due to personal, medical, flight schedule or other events.

-Behavior during the trip: in the event that the attitude of a passenger endangers the operation of the tour and/or causes inconvenience to the rest of the group, he or she will be forced to leave the circuit without any type of discount or refund for the services that he or she cannot enjoy.

-Credit card: for example, if the passenger's behavior is unfavorable to the group, he or she will be forced to leave the circuit without any type of discount or refund for the services that he or she cannot enjoy.

- In general, hotel establishments require the passenger to present a credit card or cash deposit as a guarantee in order to provide telephone calls, extras in bars and restaurants, minibar, laundry, room service charges, etc.

-Personal documentation and entry requirements in Uganda: It is the client's responsibility to inform themselves about the current regulations regarding entry and exit of the country to which they are traveling, as well as to carry the personal documents required by the authorities. Luxotour assumes no responsibility in this regard. Please note that visa, transit, entry and vaccination regulations vary from one country to another and may also be modified at short notice and without prior notice.

This program does not have a discount for children.

Tracking mountain gorillas in Bwindi is one of the highlights of any trip to Africa. The euphoria that comes with seeing a mountain gorilla in the wild for the first time is hard to describe. They are enormous animals: up to three times larger than humans, their exaggerated size only increased by their lush fur. However, despite their fearsome appearance, gorillas are extraordinarily peaceful creatures, much less aggressive than monkeys or baboons. Despite this, it's important to remember that they are animals and that they react as such.

Even more impressive than the gorillas' size and demeanor is their curious attitude toward people, which is very different from that of any other wild animal. As cliché as it may seem, almost everyone who visits the gorillas experiences an almost mystical sense of recognition. Often, one of the gorillas will stop chewing bamboo to study its human visitor, its soft brown eyes staring at you as if searching for a connection, one of the most exciting life experiences you'll ever experience.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is home to half of the world's mountain gorilla population, with approximately 11 families habituated to human presence. Only 8 permits are issued per family each day, so it's important to book your trip well in advance, otherwise sightings are not possible.

 

The trekking begins at 8 a.m. Groups are limited to a maximum of 8 people. A park ranger will brief you on important aspects of the activity, including rules for behaving in their presence. We will have a strict time limit to stay with the gorillas once we have located them.

Each group is assigned a family of gorillas that are accustomed to human presence. The scouts have previously located the area where they are located, however, the walk time is unpredictable and can extend up to 6 or 7 hours.

 

Equipment: It is important to wear comfortable boots, a raincoat, and gardening gloves to remove nettles. The hotel provides a picnic and plenty of mineral water to consume during the walk.

 

Porters: In addition to the ranger and a group of park employees, we will be accompanied by porters who will carry our backpacks and walk alongside us to help us in the less accessible sections. Our contribution (15 USD) per person helps each of them and their families.

Day 1: CITY OF ORIGIN - ENTEBBE

Scheduled flight departure to Entebbe. Overnight on board.

Day 2: ENTEBBE OR KAMPALA

Arrive at Entebbe International Airport and transfer to hotel in Entebbe or Kampala. Accommodation.

What will you see today?

Day 3: ENTEBBE OR KAMPALA - MURCHISON FALLS NP

Breakfast and drive northwest via Masindi to Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda's largest national park. It offers a diverse mix of landscapes, including acacia trees and savannas in the north and tropical forests in the south. Along the way, we'll stop at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for a nature walk and to learn about the breeding and care project for the endangered white rhinos. After lunch, we continue to the National Park, reaching the Nile River for a visit to the top of Murchison Falls, where the river flows through a narrow canyon, forming a spectacular waterfall. We arrive at the lodge at dusk after a nearly six-hour drive, part of which will be on dirt roads within the park. Dinner and overnight stay.

What will you see today?

Day 4: MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK

Early breakfast and departure for a safari to explore the savanna in the northern Nile Delta region, on Lake Albert. The aim of this excursion is to see elephants, lions, buffalo, giraffes, waterbuck, oribi, leopards, and spotted hyenas. The park has dense vegetation and offers spectacular views, so we advise you to have your camera ready to capture the best photos. Lunch at the lodge. In the afternoon, we will go on another safari, this time by boat along the banks of the Nile, to spot hippos, crocodiles, and a variety of birds such as the African hawk-eagle, great pelican, kingfisher, and Egyptian goose. Dinner and overnight stay.

What will you see today?

Day 5: Murchison Falls National Park - Budongo Forest - Bugoma Forest

After breakfast, we depart early for Budongo Forest, specifically the Kaniyo-Pabidi ecotourism site, for a rainforest trek to observe the great apes, the chimpanzees, in their natural habitat. The forest is also home to many other primates, including the black-and-white colobus monkey, the red-tailed monkey, the blue monkey, the vervet monkey, and baboons. This chimpanzee trek is made possible by conservation efforts undertaken by the Jane Goodall Institute and park authorities to protect the forest and the endangered chimpanzees. Lunch will be at a local restaurant featuring typical regional cuisine. In the afternoon, the journey continues to Lake Albert and the Bugoma Forest Reserve, where you will enjoy a cultural experience with a visit to the Bugoma community and its villages, organized by the Bugoma Forest Conservation Association. This is an opportunity to interact with the people who live near the forest, observe their daily activities, and even visit the primary school. A local guide leads this activity. Dinner and overnight stay at the lodge.

(*) The chimpanzee trekking activity in Uganda is conducted according to park rules and regulations, and we can confirm morning or afternoon schedules.

What will you see today?

Day 6: BUGOMA FOREST - KASESE

Breakfast and departure for a nature walk in search of the mangabeys of Bugoma Forest, which, at 410 km², is the habitat of this primate species. A forest conservation project is underway here, and the association makes nature walks possible by developing ecotourism activities in Bugoma and training local guides, benefiting the surrounding communities. You can actively support the Association's conservation projects: the Every 5 Acres reforestation project, the Chimp T-RAP private patrol for law enforcement against illegal logging, the public nursery of native trees, and the beekeeping project with local farmers. Local community products such as tea and honey are available here. You can also participate in planting a native tree in the reforestation project area, helping to create a new habitat for chimpanzees. We then leave Bugoma Forest and head southwest along Lake Albert and the Rift Valley escarpments, enjoying breathtaking panoramic views as we make our way towards Queen Elizabeth National Park. Lunch is en route at a local restaurant. The road continues along the Rwenzori Mountains to the town of Kasese. Dinner and overnight stay at the lodge.

What will you see today?

Day 7: KASESE - PN QUEEN ELISABETH

Breakfast and an early game drive along the trails of Queen Elizabeth National Park, in the northern sectors towards Lake George and the village of Kasenyi, for possible sightings of lions, elephants, buffalo, spotted hyenas, waterbuck, Ugandan kobs, and perhaps leopards. Queen Elizabeth Park boasts unique landscapes and views of crater lakes and the Albertine Rift Valley, making this area a special and unforgettable place. Lunch at a local restaurant. In the early afternoon, a boat game drive departs from the Mweya Peninsula along the Kazinga Channel, one of Uganda's most popular spots for wildlife, birds, and excellent photography opportunities. There is a good chance of seeing hippos, buffalo, and elephants drinking from the channel. Afterward, a short transfer to the Ishasha Sector of the park. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

What will you see today?

Day 8: QUEEN ELISABETH NP - BWINDI FOREST NP

After breakfast, we begin our game drive in the Ishasha Sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. We'll set out in search of the famous tree-climbing lions, which can be seen during the hottest hours of the day as they rest in the fig trees. We may also observe herds of buffalo, elephants, and topi. We return to the lodge for lunch. We continue our journey into the tropical rainforests, the natural habitat of the endangered mountain gorillas. We'll reach an altitude of up to 2,300 meters above sea level in Bwindi, although the choice of gorilla safari area depends on the availability and allocation of permits for this activity. We arrive at the lodge in Bwindi National Park. Today's transfer can be quite long, up to 7 hours, depending on road conditions and the location where the gorilla safari permits are allocated. Dinner and overnight stay.

What will you see today?

Day 9: BWINDI FOREST NATIONAL PARK

Breakfast and departure to venture into the Bwindi Rainforest for a gorilla safari. The activity begins at 8:00 AM, and we will follow the ranger's instructions in a group of no more than 8 people as he searches for the mountain gorilla family assigned according to our permits. The Bwindi Rainforest in Uganda is home to a population of 450 gorillas, half of the world's mountain gorillas according to the 2018 census, some of which have become habituated to the presence of humans. The time it takes to find the gorillas is unpredictable. Once found, we have an hour to observe the primates and their behavior while taking photographs. We must make sure to bring lunch and water with us. Local porters will also be available to help us with our belongings and assist us along the way, sometimes with uneven terrain or dense undergrowth (for a fee). Return to the lodge, dinner, and overnight stay.

What will you see today?

Day 10: BWINDI-ENTEBBE FOREST PARK

Breakfast and departure by road to Entebbe, making a stop en route to visit a local craft market. Lunch en route and continuation with transfer to Entebbe International Airport.Note: Today's transfer is approximately 9 hours (approximately 450 km), therefore we recommend booking flights departing late in the day or considering adding an extra night (not included) in Entebbe or Kampala.

Flight from Entebbe International Airport, Uganda to your hometown.

Day 11: CITY OF ORIGIN

Arrival in the city of origin and end of the trip.