Mid-Range Lodging Priced Gorilla Trekking – Hiking Safari through Bwindi Forest
7 Day Twice Gorilla Trekking – Hiking Safari through Bwindi Forest – The Batwa Experience – Lake Mutanda Canoeing.
Hitting the Trails on a Value-Priced 7 Day Twice Gorilla Trekking – Hiking Safari through Bwindi Forest, see the Forest through the eyes of the first people of the Forest – the Batwa Pygmies and learn their traditions and ways. Trek Gorillas in Buhoma and in Rushaga, Hike through Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, paddle in a dugout canoe across scenic Lake Mutanda.
This Moderately Lodging Priced 7 Day Twice Gorilla Trekking – Hiking Safari through Bwindi Forest gives you quality Lodges where you refresh after each day’s activities.
This is mostly an out of the vehicle Safari where you experience Authentic Africa nature wise but also its people and cultures. we have brought some of the best activities for the outdoor enthusiast.
The added Plus is that your Gorilla Trekking Permits are 600 USD compared to 1500 USD in Rwanda. We suggest that you book this Safari well in advance due to the gorilla permits involved.
Highlights of the 7 Day Twice Gorilla Trekking – Hiking Safari through Bwindi Forest
- The Batwa Experience with the First People of the Forest
- 2 Gorilla TreksHike through Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
- Hike to Lake Mutanda
- Paddle cross Lake Mutanda in a Dugout Canoe
- Optional Golden Monkey Trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla Park
Your Gorilla – Hiking Safari Itinerary in Detail Beginning in Kigali
Day 1 – Arrival in Kigali – Rwanda-The Gateway to Southwest Uganda:
You can arrive at either Entebbe International Airport or Kigali International Airport – drive time to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is much shorter from Kigali to Bwindi Forest than it is from Entebbe where it can take from 9 to 10 hours to Bwindi Forest, that is why we have the fly into Kigali – track in Bwindi option.
Please note: Visa – the best visa if you are coming to Kigali would be the online E-Tourism Visa for East Africa, it is 100 USD and covers both countries. It must be applied for with the country you will be visiting first. The other important certificate is the Yellow Fever Immunization – obtain it in your country 30 days prior to arrival – if you do not have it you will be required to obtain it at the airport.
Our Tour-Guide will meet you and take you to a nearby Hotel in either Entebbe or Kigali – both drives are short – 10 minutes in Entebbe and 20 minutes in Kigali.
Meal Plan: Bed and Breakfast
Convenient and Affordable Lodging with free Airport Pickup:
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Heaven Boutique Hotel:
The Heaven Boutique Hotel is in a class of its own. You could call it moderately priced which it is but you can also call it as some do, upmarket it. It has style, taste and great food in its adjacent award-winning restaurant.
American Style Customer Service with an ever-smiling Rwandan Welcome. There is a small, well-groomed garden and pool to refresh you after a long flight, massage therapy is also available.
All Beds are King-Sized with a firm mattress for your comfort. Meals can be taken next door in the restaurant where the menu is one of California-Rwandan Fusion.
Cultural performances are performed at times. There is also a great gift shop for Rwandan items that you can take home.
A new upmarket area was added on in 2018 called the Retreat.
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Day 2 – Drive to Buhoma area of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest:
Your 7 Day Twice Gorilla Trekking – Hiking Safari through Bwindi begins as we drive to Buhoma – We pick you 
up at the Hotel you are staying in.
From Kigali we need to depart at 6 am Kigali Time- 7 am Uganda Time) since we lose one hour to Time-Zone Change at the Border, you will arrive in Buhoma at Lunch Time – approximately 5 hour drive time.
Check into the Quality Haven Lodge
Afternoon – latest start Time 2 pm – is the Batwa Experience – time with the first people, the Batwa Pygmies who have lived here for thousands of years. go into the forest with them and learn their ancient ways of hunting and gathering, of how they used to live here leaving a low, ecological footprint on the forest. This is a most informative and not too strenuous of a hike of about 3 to 4 hours. If Arrival Time is delayed it can be done tomorrow after the Gorilla Trek.
Meal Plan: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
Lodge: Haven Lodge in Buhoma
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Haven Lodge-upper-Midrange $$$:
The Haven Lodge which is a community project along with Buhoma Community Rest Camp is the newest lodge in the Buhoma area. It consists of three cottages, one of them being a family cottage that sleeps four.
This is a lower priced upmarket lodge in Buhoma that was built with the assistance of the US Government which often helps Tourism in various ways in Uganda.
All cottages come with bath, the trained staff knows about customer service and the food is a harmonious blend of Western – Asian and African dishes that will delight you.
All cottages and the main lodge have an excellent view of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
The Lodge was built with funding from the US Government and on the ground input from Peace Corp volunteers.
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Day 3 – Gorilla Trekking – 1st Gorilla Trek:
Early rise – things you will need is a Daypack, 2 liters of water, packed lunch from the lodge, add some snacks, locally Locally roasted peanuts called Ground Nuts or G-Nuts, Sim-Sim cakes, Dried Banana Chips, Dried Pineapple can be bought at most Supermarkets. Gorilla Trekking Wear is not about fashion but protecting yourself from nettle stings, from thorns, branches, flies. Long Trousers and Long-Sleeved Shirts are a must, boots, thick socks, light rain jacket in your daypack, you are in the Rainforest, hat, wide-brimmed is best, Gardening Gloves, yes, gardening gloves, tough ones, they protect against nettles, allow you to pull yourself up on branches when you are off-trail. Use a porter, locally obtained walking stick and you are set.
At the Gorilla Trekking Orientation, you are assigned a gorilla family, based on your input, fitness level, hiking experience. It is something that normally works out just right.
The Gorilla Trek is normally 3 o 5 hours in length, you have your encounter with a Gorilla Family for one hour and return back to the trailhead where your driver-guide meets you and takes you to your lodge.
Meal Plan: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
Lodge: Haven Lodge in Buhoma
Day 4 – Hiking through Bwindi Impenetrable Forest:
The Hike through Bwindi Impenetrable Forest can be one day or a longer hike from the north of Bwindi to the South – called Nkuringo- there one can stay overnight and continue the next day down to scenic Lake Mutanda where you paddle across in a wooden dugout and continue to the town of Kisoro.
This hike from north to south to Bwindi Impenetrable or reversed is a most rewarding one or two days for those that take the challenge.
The trail difficulty level is medium and is from 5 to 8 hours in duration. There are two variations – both described below – the Ivy River Trail being one and Kashasha River Trail being the other.
Hiking through the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is a one day hike – the two-day hike and dugout canoe trip across Lake Mutanda add to the adventure of the Gorilla and Hiking Safari.
What to wear and bring is the same as for a gorilla trek.
Our Driver Guide will meet you in Nkuringo and take you to your lodge.
Meal Plan: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
Lodge: Bwindi Jungle Lodge
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Bwindi Jungle Lodge:
This is a great newer lodge combining a base for Gorilla Trekking in the Rushaga Area with the added plus of being along Lake Mulehe with the Virunga Volcanoes providing a beautiful backdrop.
Private, en-suite cottages, consistent customer service, meals prepared with your palate and tastes in mind and sumptuous portions are served.
The Advantage of using Bwindi is this, it is located on scenic Lake at very fair price. You have a spacious cottage with bath, views of Lake Mulehe and the Virunga Volcanoes beyond that.
The lodge has another advantage in that because of its location it offers some choice activities such as dugout canoeing, hikes, biking, village visits, boat rides, birding and more. Add to that easy road access that saves time cming and going.
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Day 5 – 2nd Gorilla Trek:
Breakfast
Follow the same instructions as on the first Gorilla Trek.
You can choose the Gorilla Habituation Experience:
Instead of Gorilla Trekking, you can go on an all-day Gorilla Habituation Experience with 4 hours with one of the two Gorilla Families that are being habituated here. This depends if permits are available.
Meal Plan: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
Lodge: Bwindi Jungle Lodge
Day – 6 Lake Mutanda:
Breakfast and continue the Hike from Nkuringo down to Lake Mutanda. Thank goodness this is mostly a downhill hike. Pass through Villages, meet local people along the way and enjoy the view of Lake Mutanda and surrounded by the Virunga Volcanoes, the Mountains that cook.
The Beauty of this hike is that is all downward with scenic views in front of you. Most enjoyable.
Lunchtime as you arrive at Mutanda Lake Resort for a bite to eat and some refreshments and then paddle across Lake Mutanda in a dugout canoe like in the days of old.
In Kisoro the hike ends and your driver-guide will meet you take you to the Lodge for the night and some well-deserved rest.
That ends the hikes on this safari unless you include Golden Monkey trekking tomorrow.
Meal Plan: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
Lodge: Bwindi Jungle Lodge
Day 7 – Continue to Kigali for your Flight out:
The 7 Day Twice Gorilla Trekking – Hiking Safari through Bwindi Forest comes to an end today. Kigali is a short drive from here of about 2 hours –
Optional Golden Monkey Trekking – Can be added in Mgahinga Gorilla Gorilla Park on the way to Kigali. The Golden Monkeys are endangered species only found in the Virunga Volcanoes. This is a 3 hour the Bamboo Forests where you will find a large group of them flitting about in every imaginable Direction around you.
Arrive in Kigali in the Afternoon arrive in Entebbe in the late afternoon.
Included in Safari: Lodging and Food, 4 Wheel Drive Safari Vehicle, Fuel, English Speaking Driver, Bottled Drinking Water on all Drives, Park Entrance fees and cultural site entrance fees, Permits as applicable, Guide for Tracking and Game Drives.
Not included in Safari price: Air Travel, Visa Costs, Laundry, Tips, Drinks, except those included in lodging meal price. Hiking and Nature Walking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest takes some preparation, wearing the right clothing, boots, shoes more.
Hiking in Uganda is simply different from what you may be used to – many hikes are in various rainforests – the altitude is higher and in many cases, it will not be hot due to the elevation.
If you like to know more about this 7 Day Twice Gorilla Trekking – Hiking Safari through Bwindi Forest – Please Contact us
