This 5 days Bwindi Gorillas & Jinja White Water Rafting Uganda safari is one of the best packages that includes both gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, in the far southwestern part of Uganda, a home to the largest number of endangered mountain gorillas in the whole world.
There is also a whitewater rafting excursion in Jinja to make the safari even more fascinating. This Uganda excursion will start and end in Kampala.
Highlights of 5 days Uganda safari:
Day 1: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 3: Drive to Kampala
Day 4: Transfer to Jinja & Visit the Source of the Nile River
Day 5: White water rafting and departures
DETAILED ITINERARY
Day 1: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Kampala–Bwindi Impenetrable National Park: You will be picked up from your hotel in Kampala/Entebbe on the day and set off on a long road drive to Bwindi with a 1st stopover at the Equator and the next stop in Mbarara for lunch. After lunch, you will drive directly to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park via Ntungamo–Kabale and off to Kisoro.
Once you get to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, you will check in for dinner and overnight.
Meal plan: Lunch & dinner
Accommodation options: Buhoma Lodge/Trackers Lodge/Mahogany Springs/Kiho Gorilla Lodge (luxury), Gorilla Mist Camp Buhoma Haven Lodge/Bakiga Lodge/Ichumbi Gorilla Safari Lodge (moderate), Buhoma Community Camp, and Ruhija Community Lodge (budget).
Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Ensure that you are done with breakfast in time, then meet your Uganda safari driver to be transferred to the park headquarters for a gorilla briefing before penetrating into the impenetrable forest in search of habituated mountain gorillas. You need to move with a packed lunchbox, enough drinking water and a porter.
You will spend one hour with gorillas after chasing them for almost 2-8 hours in the forest as they be meandering all over the forest in search of food.
Later in the evening, return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Meal plan: breakfast, packed lunch & dinner
Accommodation options: Buhoma Lodge/Trackers Lodge/Mahogany Springs/Kiho Gorilla Lodge (luxury), Gorilla Mist Camp Buhoma Haven Lodge/Bakiga Lodge/Ichumbi Gorilla Safari Lodge (moderate), Buhoma Community Camp, and Ruhija Community Lodge (budget).
Day 3: Drive to Kampala
You will enjoy breakfast in time, then check out of your lodge and meet your driver to start the journey from Bwindi back to Kampala. Lunch will be en route in Mbarara, while dinner will be at the booked hotel in Kampala, where you will spend your overnight.
Meal plan: breakfast, lunch & dinner
Accommodations: Kampala Serena Hotel, Sheraton Hotel (Luxury), Fairway Hotel, Protea by Mariot Skyscraper Hotel, Golden Tulip Hotel (mid-range) Forest cottages for the budget option
Day 4: Transfer to Jinja & Visit the Source of the Nile River
After a relaxed breakfast at your hotel in Kampala, check out of the lodge and be driven to Jinja. This is approximately a 2-hour drive, but to maximize the sightings, we recommend a stopover at Mabira Forest (optional) to visit one of the natural forests in Uganda with beautiful biodiversity.
In Mabira Forest, you have a lot of activities to do, ranging from zip lining, monkey tracking, birding, and guided nature walks.
The choice is yours, as this is an optional activity. After exploring Mabira forest, you will be driven directly to Jinja for a lunch break and later on embark on a visit to the source of the Nile that was discovered by Speke.
After visiting the source of the Nile, you will be transferred to your hotel for dinner and overnight but if time allows, you will enjoy a Jinja city tour.
Accommodation: Jinja Nile Resort, Lemala Wild Waters Lodge (luxury), 2 friends at Jinja Hotel, whispers of the sound at the Jinja Hotel (mid-range), and the source of the Nile cottages for budget
Day 5: White water rafting and departures
After breakfast at the hotel, you will head to the Itanda waterfalls, where you will spend a half day on a white water rafting adventure. After white water rafting, you will return to the lodge, where you will freshen up, have lunch and check out to embark on the journey to Kampala.
You will then proceed on the journey to Entebbe International Airport for departures.
Meal plan: breakfast and lunch
End of Safari
Includes
-Gorilla trekking permit
-White water rafting
-4×4 safari vehicle
-Ranger
-An English-speaking guide
-Enough drinking water
-All meals as per itinerary
– Accommodations for 4 nights
Excludes
-Visa
-Air ticket
-Porter
-Tips
-Laundry fees
-Insurance
-Optional activities
