Magic of the Mountain Gorillas
• Gorilla Trek • Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
PRICE FROM | DURATION | |
---|---|---|
NZD
$5,595
|
Days
4
|
Nights
3
|
PRICE FROM | DURATION | |
---|---|---|
NZD
$5,595
|
Days
4
|
Nights
3
|
Introduction
Explore Uganda’s mist-covered Bwindi Impenetrable Forest on the edge of Rift Valley, listed as a World Heritage Site due to its unique ecology and biological diversity.
The forest is home to an estimated 400 mountain gorillas – approximately half of the world’s population – and also home to baboons, chimpanzees and many of the planet’s rarest birdlife.
Few animals have sparked the imagination of man as much as the gorilla, the largest of the living primates. Although strong and powerful, mountain gorillas are generally gentle and shy. Gorillas have strong attachments to members of their own group, which are led by the dominant male silverback. Most gorillas live in inaccessible regions in various dense forests in tropical Africa, and one subspecies, the mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei), was not even known to science until 1902. The mountain gorilla has a robust build with long, muscular arms, a massive chest, and broad hands and feet. It is the hairiest race of gorillas; its long, thick black hair insulates it from the cold of living at high elevations.
Mountain gorillas have a slow rate of reproduction. This slow reproduction makes this species even more threatened. In a 40-50 year lifetime, a female might have only 2-6 living offspring. Females give birth for the first time at about age 10 and will have offspring every four years or more. A male reaches sexual maturity between 10 and 12 years. Able to conceive for only about three days each month, the female produces a single young and in rare cases twins.
Trekking through dense jungle to spend time with a family of mountain gorillas will be an incredible experience, creating memories for a lifetime.
This itinerary can be tailor-made, with the number of days, places visited, and activities varied to suit you.
Itinerary
Day 1 : Entebbe > Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Fly to Kihihi, and road transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Transfer to your selected lodge or camp for the next three nights.
Days 2 & 3 : Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Over the next two days, you have one included and one optional (must be pre-booked) gorilla trek with expert guides in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. You can also join village visits and forest walks.
An ancient rain forest, the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest extends over a series of steep ridges in the Virunga Volcanoes mountain range. Declared a World Heritage Site due to its ecological uniqueness and biological diversity, the forest is home to roughly half of the world’s total gorilla population. With terrain that varies from swamp and bamboo forest to dense thicket, this beautiful area poses both challenges and rewards for anyone interested in an intimate glimpse of the life of these fascinating primates.
NB: The gorillas you will track belong to one of the ‘habituated’ family groups in northern Bwindi. Experienced guides accompany the tracking, many of whom have been involved in the habituation process themselves. One population of mountain gorillas inhabits the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda. A census in 2011 recorded over 400 gorillas here.
Day 4 : Bwindi Impenetrable Forest > Entebbe
Transfer to Kihihi, to connect with your return flight to Entebbe where arrangements end.
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Pricing
Pricing (per person), NZD
TYPE |
TWIN from |
SINGLE from |
EXTRA from |
---|---|---|---|
2024 |
|||
Buhoma Lodge |
|||
1 – 30 Oct; 1 – 31 Dec |
NZ$6,465 |
NZ$7,055 |
|
1 – 30 Nov |
NZ$5,595 |
NZ$5,845 |
|
Bwindi Lodge |
|||
1 – 30 Oct; 1 – 31 Dec |
NZ$8,770 |
NZ$8,770 |
|
1 – 30 Nov |
NZ$11,590 |
NZ$13,115 |
|
2025 |
|||
Buhoma Lodge |
|||
1 Jan – 28 Feb; 1 Jul – 30 Sep; 1 – 31 Dec |
NZ$6,710 |
NZ$7,355 |
|
1 – 31 Mar; 1 – 30 Jun; 1 – 31 Oct |
NZ$6,335 |
NZ$6,780 |
|
1 Apr – 31 May; 1 – 30 Nov |
NZ$5,995 |
NZ$6,290 |
|
Bwindi Lodge |
|||
1 Jan – 28 Feb; 1 Jun – 30 Sep; 1 – 31 Dec |
NZ$17,500 |
NZ$20,045 |
|
1 Mar – 31 May; 1 Oct – 30 Nov |
NZ$11,755 |
NZ$11,775 |
|
2024
Buhoma Lodge
1 – 30 Oct; 1 – 31 Dec
Twin: from $6465
Single: from $ 7055
1 – 30 Nov
Twin: from $5595
Single: from $ 5845
Bwindi Lodge
1 – 30 Oct; 1 – 31 Dec
Twin: from $8770
Single: from $ 8770
1 – 30 Nov
Twin: from $11590
Single: from $ 13115
2025
Buhoma Lodge
1 Jan – 28 Feb; 1 Jul – 30 Sep; 1 – 31 Dec
Twin: from $6710
Single: from $ 7355
1 – 31 Mar; 1 – 30 Jun; 1 – 31 Oct
Twin: from $6335
Single: from $ 6780
1 Apr – 31 May; 1 – 30 Nov
Twin: from $5995
Single: from $ 6290
Bwindi Lodge
1 Jan – 28 Feb; 1 Jun – 30 Sep; 1 – 31 Dec
Twin: from $17500
Single: from $ 20045
1 Mar – 31 May; 1 Oct – 30 Nov
Twin: from $11755
Single: from $ 11775
Departs
Daily, year round |
Included
- Tailor-made journey
- 3 nights’ accommodation at your property of choice
- All meals (B, L, D) during your stay
- Select alcoholic beverages
- Private transfer from your Entebbe pre-night hotel to the airport
- Shared transfers in Kihihi
- Scheduled flights from Entebbe > Kihihi > Entebbe
- English-speaking lodge host
- One gorilla tracking permit in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
- One complimentary massage per person
- Community fee contribution
- Liability insurance cover
Not Included
- Pre-night accommodations in Entebbe, Uganda
- Activities listed as optional in the itinerary
- Gratuities
Important Notes
- Please enquire about cross-season pricing and for groups of 3 to 7
- Surcharges apply during the Christmas and New Year’s period
- The single price is based on travelling with others in your party
- Please enquire for pricing for a single travelling alone
- Gorilla tracking is a shared activity
- Permits are subject to availability at time of booking
- Once purchased permits are non-changeable and non-refundable
- The price of the included flights are subject to change
- A luggage restriction of 15kg total of soft-sided luggage applies
Please refer to World Journeys terms & conditions
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