The 3 Days Fly-In Gorilla Safari Uganda takes you to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest for a face-to-face encounter with the giant Mountain Gorillas. From Entebbe Airport, you will be taken on a short flight over the beautiful Uganda landscapes to the Kihihi Airstrip on the outskirts of Bwindi National Park.

This dense rainforest jungle is home to half of the world’s population of endangered mountain gorillas. It has been declared a World Heritage Site because of its incredible biodiversity. Bwindi’s vine-covered, fern-rich canopies are also home to 120 other mammal species and an unbelievable number of birds.

Part of this 3-day rainforest experience includes an eco-friendly luxurious safari lodge/tented camp, as well as an encounter with the local people.

For those seeking to extend their East African safari, this 3 Days Luxury Fly-In Gorilla Safari in Uganda is also a great match with a trip to Serengeti in Tanzania or Masai Mara in Kenya to see the Big 5 or Wildebeest Migration.

Highlights

• Visit the UNESCO site Bwindi Impenetrable Park
• See mountain gorillas in their natural habitat
• Enjoy some of Africa’s best bird-watching
• Stay at an eco-friendly safari lodge/tented camp
• Scenic flight over Uganda’s beautiful landscape
• Local community experience

Details

Day 1: Flight to Kihihi Airstrip And Onto Bwindi By Road Transfer. Optional Activities

Arrive at Entebbe International Airport for your scheduled domestic flight to Kihihi Airstrip. The flight time to Kihihi is just over one hour (depending on routing and the type of aircraft used).

Upon arrival, you’ll be welcomed by our company representative who will take you on a short road transfer to your eco-friendly lodge inside or on the edge of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.

This road trip takes approximately 90 minutes, and it’s a chance to witness a considerable stretch of dense jungle vegetation and remote rural communities of Uganda. Once you arrive, you will have to relax and enjoy a good lunch.

Please Note: If you’re traveling on an aircraft within Uganda, then the luggage restriction may be dependent on combined client and luggage weights and varies from plane to plane and routing but usually only up to 15kg per person in soft bags and this is strictly adhered to for safety reasons.

Optional Afternoon Activities

Batwa Cultural Experience

You can opt to tour a Batwa village on the edge of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The Batwa are one of the oldest surviving indigenous tribes in Africa. They were hunter-gatherers who lived in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest for 1000s of years.

A visit to their village is not only a way to learn more about the traditional forest practices of this hunter-gatherer culture, but a way to support a people whose ancient culture has been almost completely wiped out by modernization.

With the assistance of an expert interpreter or guide you will learn about their unique traditions and practices including their deep attachment to the forest, their cuisine, how they harvest their food, and the style of their homes.

You are even given the chance to learn how to light a fire with just a stick and how to shoot a target with a traditional bow and arrows.

Bwindi Community Village Walk

You can also take a 3 – 4-hour community walk through the local villages surrounding Bwindi National Park. On this cultural tour, you visit a traditional home, local orphanage or school, banana brewing demonstrations, and even meet traditional medicinal healers.

Accommodation Options:

• Buhoma Lodge
• Gorilla Forest Camp
• Haven Lodge

Meal Plan:  Lunch & Dinner

Day 2: Gorilla Trekking & Relaxation

On day three of your 3 Days Luxury Fly-In Gorilla Safari in Uganda, you’ll be guided by experienced local guides through the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest’s towering trees and weaving vines to experience a soul-stirring, face-to-face encounter with one of humankind’s distant relatives.

You’ll spend a captivating hour with a family of rare gorillas, quietly observing the social behaviors of these marvelous apes as they go about their daily business. Young gorillas are rough and tumble like wrestlers, maternal females gather in grooming groups, while the patriarchal Silverback keeps a protective eye on the surroundings.

Back at your lodge or camp, you’ll enjoy a delicious late lunch while reflecting on your magical wildlife experience. Africa’s mountain gorillas survive in what remains of their natural habitat, in the last protected stretches of the continent’s central rainforests. Spending time with them in the wild is not only a rare privilege but by far the most transformative and up-close wildlife experience on Earth.

Expert Tips

• Wear long trousers and a long-sleeved shirt over the top of a T-shirt.
• Put on good ‘worn-in’ hiking boots/shoes with long socks into which you tuck in your trousers or gators.
• No flash photography is allowed when photographing.
• If time allows, we recommend exploring the local community on a guided afternoon walk.

Accommodation Options:

• Buhoma Lodge
• Gorilla Forest Camp
• Haven Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 3: Flight From Kihihi To Entebbe

Wake up to the tranquil sounds of nature and enjoy one last breakfast at the lodge before the drive back to the Kihihi Airstrip for your light aircraft flight back to Entebbe International Airport.

As you return to Entebbe, you will have time to reflect on a newfound awareness of Uganda, its precious wildlife inhabitants, and welcoming people.

You will see why the opening lines of Uganda’s national anthem are “Oh Uganda, Land of Beauty”. It truly is an incredibly scenic place, and no other place in Africa can match its amazing diversity of habitats.

The country lies in Africa’s Great Lakes region, and the southern portion of the country includes a big part of Lake Victoria – Africa’s largest lake.

Uganda also lies within the Nile basin, averages about 1,100m above sea level, and has a moderate equatorial climate. Uganda has 60 protected areas, including 10 national parks that harbor populations of numerous endangered species.

In the last 20 or so years the country has shaken off its dark history (including Idi Amin’s brutal dictatorship and a lengthy civil war) and has emerged as one of the top tourist destinations in Africa. It has good infrastructure. It is also tourist-friendly, filled with smiling, helpful, English-speaking people, and on top of that, has fantastic coffee! What’s not to like?

Before you bid farewell to the Pearl of Africa, you will be met at the airport and transferred to Boma hotel in Entebbe (just a few minutes’ drive from the airport) for lunch. After a delicious meal, you’ll be driven to Entebbe International Airport to depart home or head to your next destination. Safe Travels!

Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch

End of the 3 Days Uganda Luxury Gorilla Fly-In Safari