4 Days Bwindi Gorilla Trekking & Lake Bunyonyi safari

4 Days Bwindi Gorilla Trekking & Lake Bunyonyi safari is a Short Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safari that is spiced up by the amazing Lake Bunyonyi tour. Bwindi impenetrable national park is located in southwestern Uganda in Kanungu district and is home to the famous mountain gorillas. Bwindi national park is one of the most visited gorilla destination because it harbors half of the endangered mountain gorillas compared to other destinations in Africa and they are found in four sectors of the park namely Ruhija sector, Rushaga sector, Buhoma sector and Nkuringo sector. On your 4 Days Bwindi Gorilla Trekking & Lake Bunyonyi, you will explore gorillas in Bwindi national park and Lake Bunyonyi which is the deepest lake in Uganda and second deepest in Africa.

Highlights of the 4 Days Bwindi Gorilla Trekking & Lake Bunyonyi

Day 1: Transfer to Bwindi National Park
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking
Day 3: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi in Kabale
Day 4: Departure to Kampala

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Transfer to Bwindi National Park

Transfer to Bwindi: Depending on your location, our driver-guide will pick you up from your location and brief you about your 4 Days Bwindi Gorilla Trekking & Lake Bunyonyi and then after you will start your journey to Bwindi.
Equator Experience: On your way, you will have a stopover at the equator and you will be able to view the craft shops, take photos standing at the equator and then continue the journey via Masaka, with en-route lunch at Igongo Cultural Centre.
Arrival at the Park: After lunch, you will proceed via Ntungamo, Kabale and then Bwindi national park to a sector where you want to trek the gorillas such as Ruhija sector in the Eastern part of the park. The journey is long and takes about 9 to 10 hours’ drive but it’s worth it because you will have great views of the landscapes in Kabale, homesteads, local people on the way. After arrival in Ruhija Sector, you will have dinner and overnight at the lodge.

Accommodation options include Gift of Nature lodge (luxury), Bakiga Lodge (mid-range)

Day 2: Gorilla Trekking

Gorilla Trekking: You will wake up early have breakfast at the lodge and with your packed lunch your driver guide will pick you up from the lodge and drive you to the starting point where you will be briefed about gorilla trekking expectation and grouped into 8 people depending on their interests and physical fitness. Ruhija sector is one of the sectors in Bwindi impenetrable national park with habituated gorilla families where each gorilla family is visited by a maximum number of 8 people and you will be given one hour in the presence of the gorillas. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi national park is unpredictable in that it can either take a short period of time or a long period of time of about 2 to 8 hours depending on the location of the gorilla family. After trekking the driver will drive you back to the lodge for evening relaxation, dinner and overnight at the lodge.

Accommodation options include Gift of Nature lodge (luxury), Bakiga Lodge (mid-range).

Day 3: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi in Kabale

Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi: You will wake up early have breakfast and your driver-guide will pick you up and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi which is the deepest lake in Uganda. Lake Bunyonyi harbors about 29 Islands and each Island has a different story behind it, Lake Bunyonyi is also known for birding with various bird species. The distance from Bwindi national park to Lake Bunyonyi is about 2 hours’ drive.
Boat Ride: After arrival, you will go for a boat ride in a dugout canoe on the lake where you will view various bird species and visit some Islands on the lake such as the punishment island where pregnant girls were taken to die in isolation. After the boat cruise, you will go for lunch and refreshen up at the lodge.
Community Walk: After lunch, you will go for an evening community walk where you will interact with the local people such as the Batwa or pygmies or the Bakiga. You will visit their homesteads, farmlands, market centers and learn more about their ways of life as they entertain you through cultural performances. After the community tour, you will drive back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation options include Bunyonyi Bird Nest Resort Lodge (luxury), Arcadia Cottages lodge (mid-range) or Bunyonyi Overland Resort (budget).

Day 4: Departure to Kampala

Transfer to Kampala: You will wake up have a relaxed breakfast and your driver guide will pick you up from the lodge and transfer to Kampala City where you will pass via Kabale town, Ntungamo town, Mbarara town. On your way, you will have an en-route lunch at the Igongo Cultural Centre where you will visit the museum, craft shop, book shop, view sculptures of animals and people among other. After lunch you will continue the journey via Masaka, Kayabwe in Mpingi at the equator and then reach Kampala city early evening. Your driver guide will drop you off either at the airport for your flight in case you have a flight to catch or at any place of convenience.

End of 4 days Bwindi national park and Lake Bunyonyi.

Tour includes

An English speaking driver guide
Gorilla trekking permit
Canoeing on Lake Bunyonyi
Full board accommodation
Community walks on Lake Bunyonyi
Pick up and drop off
Vehicle and fuel
Bottled water

Tour excludes

Air flight tickets
Visas
Optional activities not included on the itinerary
Personal expenses like buying souvenirs, crafts, drinks, laundry services, tips among others.

Gorilla Trekking tips for your safari in Bwindi national park

Bwindi national park is a tropical rain forest which means that it can rain anytime in the forest therefore you need to packs some essential items for your tour such as

Hiking shoes
Garden gloves
Long sleeved shirt and trouser
Insect repellent
Waterproof rain jacket
Warm sweaters
Cotton stockings
Waterproof backpack to carry your equipment’s
camera
Drinking water and packed lunch from the lodge
Porter who will carry your equipment’s and give you a pull and push in steep and slippery areas