4.9/5

Based on 450+ reviews

4.9/5

Based on 45+ reviews

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5 Day Low Season Uganda Gorilla and Wildlife Safari from Kigali

  • OVERVIEW
  • Itinerary
  • PRICES
  • TRANSPORT
  • THINGS TO CONSIDER
OVERVIEW

SAFARI OVERVIEW

Low season Uganda gorilla and wildlife safari from Kigali

5 Days 4 Nights From $1775 Per person

Rates are per person (pp) and based on 2 people sharing 1 room
Excluding international flights (from/to your home country)

wildlife at shores in queen elizabeth national park

Our 5 Day low-season Uganda gorilla and wildlife safari from Kigali is meant for those who would love to trek gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park during the low season months to take advantage of our discounts on packages during this season, and the fact that travelling to start a trip in Rwanda gives a much shorter drive time compared to starting the trip from Entebbe. Our 5 Day low-season gorilla and wildlife safari starts and ends in Rwanda(Kigali) and visits two great National Parks of Bwindi Impenetrable and Queen Elizabeth National Park for game drives and boat cruises.

Summary of our 5 Day low-season Uganda gorilla and wildlife safari from Kigali

  • Day 01: Start your 5 Day low-season Uganda gorilla and wildlife safari from Kigali
  • Day 02:  Gorilla trekking in Bwindi
  • Day 03: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park
  • Day 04: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise
  • Day 05: Drive back to Kigali International Airport

Highlights

  • You’ll go to Rwanda
  • This tour starts and ends in Kigali (Rwanda)
  • You’ll visit Queen Elizabeth NP and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
  • Activities: gorilla tracking, game viewing and boat cruise on the Kazinga channel
  • Getting around: open-sided 4×4 vehicle & pop-up roof 4×4 vehicle
  • A transfer from and back to the airport (or hotel) is included
  • Additional accommodation before the tour departs and on the last day can be arranged for an extra cost

Things To Consider

  • Accommodation is Inclusive
  • Tour Can Depart any day
  • The tour can be customised
  • Solo travellers can join this tour
  • Age Limit: 15 years and above

Itinerary

ITINERARY

Arrival

  • You’ll be picked up from the airport (or hotel)
  • Accommodation before the tour departs can be arranged for an extra cost

DAY 1: Start your 5 Day low-season Uganda gorilla and wildlife safari from Kigali

Our 5 Day low-season Uganda gorilla and wildlife safari from Kigali will begin by picking you up from Kigali International Airport or your hotel and driving to southwestern Uganda. You first major stop will be at the Genocide Museum of Kigali. From here you will proceed to Katuna Border and transfer to Uganda via Kabale town, you will have lunch and then proceed to Bwindi for an overnight.

Drive time:  Approximately 4-5 hours

Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation:

Budget: Rushaga Havens Lodge/Bakiga Lodge/Ride 4 A Woman

Mid Range: 4 Gorillas Lodge/Gorilla Leisure Lodge

Luxury: Gorilla Heights Lodge/Buhoma Lodge/Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge/Kiho Lodge

DAY 2: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi

You will wake up very early to prepare yourself for your gorilla trek. Make sure you put on the right gorilla trekking gear which may include trousers, long sleeved shirts, garden gloves, long socks, sun glasses, a hat, insect repellants, and energy giving food, your cameras before proceeding to the restaurant for breakfast. The lodge will provide enough drinking water so there is no need to worry. Proceed to the park headquarters to join other clients for briefing and then to the forest to look for the gorillas. Once you find them, you will be given one hour of photography and observation before returning back to the lodge. Gorilla trekking can be a little bit strenuous and a certain level of fitness may be required. We also encourage our clients to take porters to give them a push or a pull during the trek. Gorilla trekking is absolutely an amazing experience one cannot explain in one word. 5 Day low season Uganda gorilla and wildlife safari from Kigali and save time.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Packed Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation:

Budget: Rushaga Havens Lodge/Bakiga Lodge

Mid Range: 4 Gorillas Lodge/Gorilla Leisure Lodge

Luxury: Gorilla Heights Lodge/Buhoma Lodge/Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge/Kiho Lodge

DAY 3: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park

After breakfast, you will leave Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for Queen Elizabeth National Park. On the way, you will have great views of the great East African rift valley, its escarpments and associated crater lakes, the Rwenzori mountains and then onward to the Lodge for relaxation and late afternoon game drive in Kasenyi plains.

Drive time: Approximately 5-6 hours

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation:

Budget: Bush Lodge

Mid Range: Buffalo safari lodge/ Elephant Hab Lodge/ Parkview safari lodge

Luxury: Elephant Plains Lodge/ Kyambura Gorge Lodge

DAY 4: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise on Kazinga Channel

After an early morning cup of coffee or tea, you will drive to Kasenyi plains for your game drive design for you on this 5 day off season gorilla and wildlife safari. Kasenyi plains boost of several wild animals whose chance of seeing them depends on your luck of the day. On a good day, you may spot big cats like lions and leopards hunting, buffaloes, elephants, several antelopes, warthogs and other small mammals. Return to the lodge for lunch and then drive to Mweya peninsular for a two hour boat cruise on Kazinga channel. Kazinga channel has the highest concentration of hippos in the whole world, over 400 water bird species and is a place where most animals converge to drink water. You will have high chances of spotting hippos, birds, elephants, buffaloes, crocodiles and so much more. Retire to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation:

Budget: Bush Lodge

Mid Range: Buffalo safari lodge/ Elephant Hab Lodge/ Parkview safari lodge

Luxury: Elephant Plains Lodge/ Kyambura Gorge Lodge

DAY 5: End of our 5-day low-season Uganda gorilla and wildlife safari from Kigali

After your breakfast, you will drive back to Kigali International Airport for your departure flight out. Since you will have time on your hands if you have a late departure, you will pass via the genocide museum and city tour of Kigali then be dropped off at the Airport to End the safari.

Drive time: Approximately 6-7 hours

Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch

 

PRICES

DETAILED COST PER PERSON SHARING

Persons Date Price per person
1 Person Any date USD2620.00
2 Persons Any date USD1995.00
3 Persons Any date USD1880.00
4 Persons Any date USD1850.00
5 Persons Any date USD1800.00
6 Persons Any date USD1750.00

Cost Includes

  • Airport transfers
  • Gorilla permits at USD800
  • Game drives and a boat cruise on the Kazinga channel
  • Transport in a 4×4 Safari Van
  • Fuel for this round trip
  • Services of an English-speaking local driver guide
  • All park entry fees
  • Drinking water in the vehicle
  • Accommodation and meal plan as outlined above

Cost excludes

  • International flights, Uganda Visa fees at USD50.00, plus all expenses of a personal nature.

TRANSPORT

Safari Vans

STANDARD: 4X4 SAFARI VAN

Our standard mode of transport is by road and we use 4×4 Safari Vans customized for game viewing and photography. Each safari van comes with a professionally trained driver guide and fuel for the whole safari. Our Safari vans have viewing hatches and each client is entitled to a window seat. Our Vans can take up to eight people. We also have 4×4 Super Customs very comfortable and stable on the road. These carry up to 5 people with their luggage. We also have 4×4 RAV 4 for a group of two people

Safari land cruiser

UPGRADE: 4X4 LUXURY SAFARI LANDCRUISER

We have luxury latest Land Cruisers each driven by professionally trained driver guides and fuel. They have pop-up roofs for proper game viewing and photography. They come with a small fridge for cooling your drinking water while on safari (which is always included while IN THE VEHICLE). They have inverters for charging small gadgets such as your smartphones and cameras. They can seat five to a maximum of seven people and each client is guaranteed of a window seat.

THINGS TO CONSIDER

  • Gorilla permits: We encourage you to book gorilla permits in advance so that we secure your trekking spot. Gorilla permits are served on first come first serve at Uganda wildlife Authority. Please contact us so that we book them for you.
  • Cost of the gorilla permit: The gorilla permits in Uganda cost USD800 for Non-Foreign residents, USD700 for East African Foreign Residents, USD500 for Rest of Africa Residents and UGX300,000 for East African Citizens, cost applies for trekking in Both Bwindi impentrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park
  • Gorilla trekking Regions: Bwindi has 4 gorilla trekking sectors namely Buhoma, Ruhaga, Nkuringo and Ruhija. We shall book for you accommodation in respect to the permits location.
  • Physical Fitness: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi can be physically demanding, a certain level of fitness will be required, please ensure you are in good health and have a certain level of fitness before you leave your country.
  • Packing List: Please ensure you have comfortable walking/ hiking shoes that can handle the terrain in Bwindi, a rain Jacket, gloves, Camera, Binoculars,
  • Age Limit: The Minimum age for gorilla trekking in Uganda is 15 years and above, please ensure all travelers are aged 15years and above.
  • Accommodation Options: Please choose the accommodation that suits your budget, Bwindi has all options of Budget, Midrange and Luxury.
  • Means of Transport: You can opt to fly or drive to Bwindi, Flights take 1-2 hours, and driving takes 8-9 hours drive to Bwindi. For budget clients, we recommend use of safari vans, then others can opt for Safari Landcruisers. All vehicles are comfortable with enough leg room, AC and are driven by our professional driver guides.
  • Best time to visit: Bwindi can be visited all year round for gorilla trekking, The most preffered time is June to September, December to February because they are the drier months of the year.
  • Gorilla trekking Regulations: Uganda Wildlife Authority has rules and regulations to adhere while on your gorilla trek, See regulations here.
  • Chances of Seeing the Gorillas:  The chances of seeing gorillas are 98% because there are trackers who follow the movement of gorillas on a daily basis, they communicate to the Park guides and you walk in the direction they are.
  • Choose a gorilla family: You can choose your preferred gorilla family of the day of the trek, if you prefer a close/ easy trek due to your fitness level, please request it  and communicate to your guide.
  • Gorilla Habituation experience: Bwindi has an option of spending 4 hours with the gorillas called gorillas habituation,  the is only possible when you book a gorilla permit that costs USD1500 for Non- foreign residents, USD1000 for East African Residents, and UGX750,000 for East African Citizens
  • Other activities: There are several activities you can do in Bwindi namely Birding, Batwa cutural experience, Nature walks, Community visits.  All these can suppliment your gorilla trek in Bwindi.
  • Trip cost estimate: The cost of the 3day gorilla tour ranges from USD1300 to USD2860 per person, based on your travel style which is Budget to Luxury. The cost Includes gorilla permit, accommodation, Meals, transport, and all services.
  • About Bwindi: Bwindi impenetrable National Park is a UNESCO world heritage site, with half of the worlds gorilla population, it has more than 20 Habituated gorilla famillies in regions of Buhoma, Rushaga, Ruhija and Nkuringo.

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