Signature Safari

4 Day Gorilla Trekking & Lake Bunyonyi

This 4-day gorilla trekking and Lake Bunyonyi tour provides a unique chance to see mountain gorillas in their natural habitat within Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site home to nearly half of the world’s remaining gorillas. After the thrilling gorilla encounter, you’ll unwind at Lake Bunyonyi, known as the ‘place of many little birds.’ This stunning lake features 19 islands, is free from bilharzia, crocodiles, and hippos, making it a safe and serene spot for swimming, canoeing, and boat cruises. The tour also includes a visit to Punishment Island, where you’ll learn about the area’s historical past.

Uganda Safaris Uganda

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About this tour

Day 1: Kampala to Bwindi

Your guide will pick you up from your hotel in Kampala and drive to the Ruhija sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Along the way, you’ll stop at the Equator Monument and possibly in Mbarara city for lunch. Continue through Kabale town before arriving in Ruhija for dinner and overnight stay. Ruhija is one of the four gorilla trekking sectors in Bwindi, hosting four gorilla families including Oruzogo and Bitukura, often found near the park’s edge. Though Ruhija sits at a high altitude of up to 2,500 meters, gorilla treks here tend to be shorter and less strenuous.

Day 2: Gorilla Trekking

After breakfast, drive to the park’s visitor center for a 7:30 am briefing on gorilla trekking rules. You will be grouped and assigned to a gorilla family, with the option to hire a walking stick or porter for support. Accompanied by armed Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers and trackers, you will trek into the forest to locate the gorillas. Once found, you spend one hour observing them while maintaining a 7-meter distance. After the trek, you’ll return to the starting point to receive a tracking certificate before lunch at the lodge. In the afternoon, transfer to Lake Bunyonyi for dinner and overnight stay near the lake.

Day 3: Lake Bunyonyi Exploration

Enjoy breakfast before spending the day exploring Lake Bunyonyi’s 19 islands. Take a boat ride or canoe on the lake, and visit Punishment Island, where young girls who became pregnant before marriage were historically abandoned. The practice ended in the 1920s after missionary intervention, but remains of victims can still be seen on a nearby island. You will visit the caves on the island before returning to the lodge for lunch, dinner, and overnight. The lake is free of bilharzia, hippos, and crocodiles, making swimming possible with caution due to its depth.

Day 4: Departure

After breakfast, depart Lake Bunyonyi and transfer back to Kampala, aiming to arrive in the evening. You will be dropped off either at the airport for your flight or at your accommodation, concluding the tour.

Cost of Safari

Pricing varies by travel dates, accommodation class, transport, and group size. Contact us for a tailored quote.

Price From: USD 600.00

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