Trip highlights: 8 Days Uganda’s Best Kept Secrets itinerary will take place in the “Pearl Of Africa”; arriving and departing via Entebbe International Airport. You will encounter the Greatest Primates; I.e. Chimpanzees and the Mountain Gorillas. You will drive to Kibale Forest National Park where you will trek the Chimpanzees and enjoy a nature walk in the bigodi swamp. There after proceed to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park home to the Great Apes and encounter the Mount. Gorillas twice though visiting different habituated groups. You will also take part in the Batwa cultural experience. Visit a pygmy community living at the boundaries of the park.
Uganda’s Best Kept Secrets Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival
After arriving Entebbe International Airport, you will clear with immigration, proceed to the arrivals where you will meet your driver guide who will transfer you to your hotel for overnight stay.
Accommodation: Protea Hotel by Marriott Entebbe (high-end), The Boma Guest House (medium) or 2 Friends Entebbe (budget). Meal Plan: B
Day 2: Drive to Fort Portal
Drive to Fort Portal Town / Kibale National Park. Fort Portal was founded as a garrison for British soldiers by Gerald Portal from whom the town derives its name. And is the only town with an English name in Uganda. Here you will see many tea plantations producing high quality tea for local and export market en-route.
Accommodation: Kyaninga Lodge (high-end), Isunga Lodge (medium) or Chimpanzee Guest House (budget) Meal Plan: B, L & D
Day 3: Chimpanzee Trekking and Bigodi Swamp Walk
On this day, you will have a morning Chimpanzee trekking experience in the company of an experienced ranger guide, you will search for Kibale Forest’s resident Chimpanzees and also have a chance to see other primates such as Grey-cheeked Mangabeys, Red Colobus, Red-tailed and Blue monkeys. In the afternoon you will enjoy a walk through the papyrus swamps of the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary.
Accommodation: Kyaninga Lodge (high-end), Isunga Lodge (medium) or Chimpanzee Guest House (budget). Meal Plan: B, L & D
Day 4: Kibale – Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After breakfast, you will be assisted with checking out and start your drive to the South Western part of Uganda to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park home to the great apes the Mountain Gorillas.
Accommodation: Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp (high-end), Mantana Engagi Lodge (medium) or Buhoma Community Bandas (budget). Meal Plan: B, L & D
Day 5: First Gorilla Trekking
After an early breakfast; you will proceed to the park headquarters for briefing and thereafter go to the start points and enjoy the highlight of the safari. Trekking the Great Apes the Mountain Gorillas is a once in a lifetime and worthwhile experience which takes between 2–6 hours. You will then return to your Lodge for lunch, dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation: Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp (high-end), Mantana Engagi Lodge (medium) or Buhoma Community Bandas (budget). Meal Plan: B, L & D
Day 6: Second Gorilla Trekking
On this day after breakfast, you will proceed to the park headquarters for briefing once again and thereafter go to the start points. You will get to trek a different Gorilla Habituated group from the one visited the previous day. Lunch, dinner and overnight stay at the Lodge.
Accommodation: Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp (high-end), Mantana Engagi Lodge (medium) or Buhoma Community Bandas (budget). Meal Plan: B, L & D
Day 7: Batwa Cultural Experience
After a relaxed breakfast and lunch at your Lodge, you will proceed for the activity of the day the Batwa cultural experience. The Batwa people are one of the oldest surviving Indigenous tribes in Africa. And are the original dwellers of this ancient jungle and also referred to as the keepers of the forest. This cultural experience was developed by the Batwa pygmies to earn a source of income and share their amazing traditions and heritage with the World. Enjoying a nature walk and hike through the forest seeing the endangered forest in the eyes of its original occupants and learn more about the pygmy people, how they lived, hunted traditionally. You will have an opportunity to visit a Batwa homestead, visit the medicine man and learn how they go about their daily activities. After that lunch, dinner and overnight stay at the Lodge.
Accommodation: Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp (high-end), Mantana Engagi Lodge (medium) or Buhoma Community Bandas (budget). Meal Plan: B, L & D
Day 8: Departure
Lastly, after breakfast, start your full day drive having picnic lunch en-route passing via Kampala to Entebbe International Airport to catch your departure International flight. Meal Plan: B & L
Uganda’s Best Kept Secrets Inclusions and Exclusions:
Includes
- Return airport transfers
- 7 nights’ accommodation with meals as indicated in the itinerary above
- Activities shown in the itinerary
- Two Uganda Gorilla permits $1,400 per person
- Park fees
- Batwa cultural experience
- Chimpanzee trekking
- Bigodi swamp walk
- Services of an experienced English speaking driver guide
- Transportation in a 4×4 safari vehicle
- Government taxes
Excludes
- International flights
- Visas
- Insurance
- Optional activities
- Tips
- Drinks
- Items of personal nature
