Safari overview.

Gorillas and Batwa adventure, is one of the shortest trips to the Gorillas in Uganda.

The trip offers 1 night in Entebbe and 3 nights in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Northern sector). Bwindi is home to over 50% of the remaining Mountain Gorillas on earth.

You will get immersed in the culture and traditions of the people living around Bwindi. Meet the local men and women who used to be poachers but are now conservation ambassadors at Save Wildlife Uganda.

Visit the oldest tribe on earth – the Batwa. Visit the Gorilla Conservation center and lab for an introduction on how wildlife and humans can co-exist. Have an opportunity to interact with the special ladies at a charity organization Ride for a woman that will make your customized African wear in less than 48 hours and possibly have a cooking lesson.

Itinerary at a glance.

Day 1: Arrive in Uganda, via Entebbe International Airport.
Day 2: Bush flight from Entebbe to Bwindi – Afternoon community walk.
Day 3: Gorilla tracking – Afternoon Gorilla lab and women project visit.
Day 4: Walk to the water falls – Afternoon Batwa experience.
Day 5: Fly to Entebbe – connect to your international flight.

Safari Description.

Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe International Airport, Uganda.

Adventure Consults’ airport staff will meet you on arrival, assist through customs, get the luggage, and hand over to the field guide for a transfer to the hotel.

Depending on arrival time, you may have a briefing on your safari today/tonight or can opt to get a briefing the following day before setting off to the field.

Overnight accommodation included on Bed & Breakfast basis.

Most recommended hotels in Entebbe are 10 minutes’ drive from the airport.
Inclusions: Bed & Breakfasts basis.
Excludes: All meals and Drinks.

Day 2: Fly from Entebbe to Kihihi airstrip/Bwindi – Afternoon community activity.

There are 2 daily flight departures (0700 hours & 1200 hours). If booked on a 0700 hours flight, you have an option of having breakfast at the hotel or request for a box/packed breakfast.

At an agreed time, meet the guide the lobby and transfer to Entebbe international airport for your bush flight to Kihihi airstrip, – check in time is one hour in prior the flight) Note that flight schedule can change and sometimes at short notice or no notice due to unforeseen circumstances.

Baggage restrictions on domestic flights:  Maximum luggage weight is 15 kgs /33lbs in soft-sided bags.  Standard luggage should have the three dimensions of 24 inches (60cm) height, 18 inches (45cm) length, and 13 inches (33cm) width. Any excess luggage can be paid for at 5$ per Kg depending on space availability or can make advance reservation. Alternatively, any extra baggage can be kept in Entebbe at the hotel, to be returned to you at the end of the trip. 

On arrival at Kihihi airstrip, meet your guide and start for Bwindi. You have an option to drive via to Save Wildlife Uganda conservation project – an Adventure Consults’ initiative aimed at empowering the local communities.

As part of the project is the Simba café and restaurant popular for brewing and serving the best Ugandan coffee. The day-to-day management of the center is by men and women who were previously poachers, but now are the amazing ambassadors of conservation.

The stop at the Save Wildlife Center is more than just for a drink or coffee but you will have an opportunity to check out and possibly purchase beautiful crafts made out of local material. You will be amazed by the art pieces that were made using material previously used for catching animals (poaching). All profits from sales at the center, directly go to supporting communities neighboring the National park.

After a resourceful and informal interaction with these amazing people, proceed with the journey to Bwindi Forest, arriving at the lodge midmorning or afternoon.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has got almost 400 species of plants, providing habitat for over 120 mammal species (including 11 primates), 346 species of birds (including 23 highly localised Albertine Rift endemics), 202 species of butterflies, 100 species of ferns, 27 species of frogs, chameleons, geckos and many other endangered species. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is notable for being home to over 50% of the approximately 1,060 Mountain Gorillas still living on earth.

Lunch will be at the lodge.

Let your afternoon be more exciting by taking a tea/coffee plantation walk. Bwindi area (outside the park), has got the best soils that favor growth and flourishing of tea and coffee plantations. You don’t have to be a ‘tea-person’ or ‘Coffee person’ to learn more about these crops that probably form part of your daily favorite beverages.

The two crops are more than just cash crops but are of significant historical and cultural importance to the people of Uganda.

You will be guided by the local people (site guides) for that authentic experience. Get an in-depth knowledge on how coffee or tea is grown, harvesting process and traditional processing methods. Get to learn how ‘black’, ‘Green’ and ‘white’ teas are produced and differentiated.

Your walking tour is crowned by a tea/coffee ceremony where you get to taste/sample the fine teas and Coffees whilst looking over the impressive forests.

Return to the lodge late afternoon.

Meals and Overnight accommodation included at the Lodge.

Standard inclusions: All Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner).
Some lodges include both alcoholic and none-alcoholic drinks with exclusion of premium drinks.
Standard exclusions at most lodges: All drinks.

Day 3: Gorilla tracking – Afternoon visit to Gorilla lab and Ride for a woman project.

Today is dedicated to visiting the Gorillas.

Departure time depends on proximity of the sector/Gorilla family you are booked. This is in tandem with lodge location.

While in Northern Bwindi, you have access to Gorilla families of Buhoma or Ruhija sectors. If booked for Ruhija, departure is at 0600hrs and if Buhoma area, departure is at 0700hrs

Breakfast is always ready by 0500 hours. You can opt to have it at the lodge or get or can opt for packed breakfast – discuss with the guide and front desk a night in advance.

Mandatory briefing is always at the park headquarters, then after enter the forest for a fun-filled adventurous day.

The rainforest is spectacular, heavily vegetated, and dense landscape crisscrossed by numerous animal trails, allowing access for trekkers. The time taken to find the Gorillas depends on Gorilla movements and in most cases, they are either looking for food or simply taking time to walk in their territory. Most importantly, all trekkers move at the pace of the slowest person.

When you find the Gorillas, you are allowed to spend 60 minutes/one hour with them, so always spare the last 20 minutes for observation and connection for everlasting memories. Follow this link for more useful information about Gorillas.

A box lunch is available with an option for a warm lunch at the lodge (depending on the day’s tracking duration).

In the afternoon, you have an option to visit Dr. Gladys’ Conservation through Public Health (CTPH) center. This is a non-profit organization that promotes conservation by improving the quality of life of the people living around protected areas. CTPH focuses on human and wildlife coexistence in and around protected areas. It’s at this center that samples from the Gorillas are examined as part of the health observation process to ensure the good health of Gorillas.

The team of vets at the center, will take you through detailed explanation and experiments of their day-to-day work that focuses on the heath of animals and local communities.

Your afternoon walk will end with a visit to Ride for a woman project, a charitable organization set up to support women struggling with poverty, HIV and domestic violence. Your visit indirectly supports the project work and while here, you may participate in basketry, weaving, and have an opportunity for craft shopping. You can as well place your order for African designed cautions, dresses, wrappers, table mats and all that has got an African touch on it! The ladies will ensure your orders are ready for collection in the shortest time possible.

Meals and Overnight accommodation included at the Lodge.

Standard inclusions: All Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner).
Some lodges include both alcoholic and none-alcoholic drinks with exclusion of premium drinks.
Standard exclusions at most lodges: All drinks.

Day 4: Walk to the waterfalls – Afternoon Batwa experience.

Today, you have an option to go for a second Gorilla experience.

Alternatively, go for a morning forest walk to the waterfalls. This is a perfect and most affordable way to experience the depth of Bwindi impenetrable forest. Starting from Buhoma – at the north gate, Munyaga river trail gets you to beautiful pristine waterfalls. The sounds of the forest and the gentle cover of morning mist make your walk enchanting. Along the way you will see plenty of flora and fauna, black and white Colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, lots of colorful butterflies, orchids, tree ferns, epiphytic ferns.

In the afternoon, you may visit the Pygmy/Batwa community. This is cultural tourism activity at its best! It’s a hands-on, mind-opening adventure you will never forget as you go for an incredible hike in the rain forest with the elderly Batwa (pygmy) guides.

The Batwa are known to be one of the oldest surviving indigenous people on earth. A very special and unique group of people lived in the bush and entire lifestyle depended on the forests. Just like the well-known ‘hunters and gatherers’, the Batwa gathered plants and fruits for food, hunted any animals within their reach, caves were their homes with the main big caves reserved for Kings.

A hike to the Batwa community, will enrich you with the history their history, indulge in demonstrations and storytelling sessions of how the Batwa lived before they left the forest in favor of conservation programs. They will make fire using very simple tools (sticks and stones) and take you back to the old stone age period. You may participate in the mock hunting exercise, learn how to use a bow and arrow, and can taste the local meals and drinks, participate in traditional dances and local language lessons.

Meals and Overnight accommodation is included.

Standard inclusions: All Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner).
Some lodges include both alcoholic and none-alcoholic drinks with exclusion of premium drinks.
Standard exclusions at most lodges: All drinks.

Day 5: Scenic flight from Kihihi airstrip to Entebbe Airport – international return flight.

Two flights available everyday (0900 hours and 1400-hour departures). Check in time is one hour in advance. Flight schedules and duration can change and sometimes at short or no notice due to unforeseen circumstances.

Departure time from the lodge to be communicated the previous evening. Meet your guide at the lobby and transfer to Kihihi airstrip for your flight to Entebbe Airport.

The earliest flight arrives Entebbe airport at 1125hrs (+/-). If you have a connecting on an international/regional flight today, ensure it’s scheduled to depart Entebbe not earlier than 1345hrs.

On arrival at Entebbe airport, you will be directed through to customs and connect to your international/regional flight.

If you have more than 4 hours layover, Adventure consults have got exciting offers to make your day more relaxing.

  • Complementary transfer to the nearby restaurant (outside the airport) where you will have an early lunch (on own account), then later transfer back to the airport in time for your flight.
  • Day room at a hotel near Entebbe airport. This will be on payment of supplement and advance reservation is a requirement.
  • Optional day activities to keep you busy and get to see more of Entebbe. Please ask for detailed info and related costs to ensure reservations are in place. For more information, please follow this link.

Accommodation options.

We have long term contracts and partnerships with all hotels and lodges in East Africa. The accommodations are carefully handpicked to suite every traveler’s specifications. The listed options are simply a guideline, so please discuss with us for more options.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has got a wide array of accommodation options. Some facilities are inside the park and others all outside but within proximity of park activities. All facilities have unique locations with either magnificent views of the evergreen forest, twin lakes, rivers, mountains, or beautiful terraced landscapes.

Where to stay in Entebbe/Kampala;

  • Hotel Number 5.
  • Protea Hotel by Marriott Entebbe.
  • The Boma hotel.
  • Papyrus Guesthouse.
  • Entebbe forest lodge.
  • Lake Victoria Serena Golf resort and spa.
  • 2 Friends Beach Hotel.

Where to stay in Bwindi/Buhoma sector.

  • Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge.
  • Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Lodge
  • Mahogany springs lodge
  • Marasa Silverback lodge
  • Buhoma Lodge.
  • Trekkers Tavern Lodge.
  • Kiho Gorilla Safari Lodge.
  • Engagi Lodge.
  • Ride 4 a woman Cottages.