DETAILED ITENERARY

Day 1: Kampala

You will be met at the airport by our safari guide who will transfer you to the hotel reserved for you in Kampala. Briefing about the safari will be done right before dinner at the hotel where you’ll spend the night.

 

Day 2: Whitewater Rafting in Jinja

You will have an early breakfast and travel to Jinja for the magnificent white water rafting adventure. You will be driving past acres of sugarcane and roadside stalls selling avocados, pawpaws, bananas and oranges.

The journey will take you through the tropical rain forest of Mabira, tea and sugarcane plantations plus several roadside markets.

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After a couple of hours you'll cross the Owen Falls Dam which was built several km's down from Speke's source of the Nile. The Nile flows freely below the dam and makes quick time of the trip down the river to Bujagali Falls which is the first major rapid on the river and is where you will start your rafting action! The following morning, you'll raft from Bujagli to Bwekkwaso.

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Each bend in the river brings yet another thunderous roar from the cascading falls ahead. This truly is whitewater rafting at its finest. We'll lunch on our beautiful mid-river island beneath the shade of the trees. The back to back drops of "Overtime" and "Retrospect" provide some of the most technical and sustained rafting to be found anywhere. We spend the night on another beautiful mid-river island. The campsite comes alive after dark to sound of african music and dancing. In the morning you'll raft down to Nabuganyi - the pools between the rapids are larger but don't be fooled - the crashing waves of "Mulalu" and "Potali" will take your breath away!

You will crown your adventure with a visit to the source of the Nile and return to Kampala for dinner and overnight at Forest Cottages.

 

Day 3: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

After breakfast we  drive heading to southwestern Uganda.

En route, there is a local community popular for making local drums and crafts and a fruit market. Stopover, admire and buy yourself souvenirs.

Proceed to the Equator line taken as one beautiful scenery in Africa - the pathway of the sun and take photographs.

Pass by mountains, tropical rainforest and bamboo forest during the nine hour journey.

 

Accommodation options available (all on full board basis)

Up-market: Gorilla Safari Lodge (in luxury rooms) | Chameleon Hill Lodge

Moderate: Mutanda Lake Resort | Gorilla Safari Lodge (standard rooms)

Low Budget: Travellers Rest Hotel | Gorilla Valley Lodge

 

Day 4: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Today enjoy gorilla tracking in Bwindi. After breakfast, proceed for the morning briefing before enjoying the highlight of the trip - gorilla trekking, which may last the entire day.

We trek the gorillas through the rainforest and bamboo covered slopes, accompanied by a guide and trackers, in search of a mountain gorilla family. The walking can sometimes be tough and long, but when you catch a glimpse of the magnificent silverback, any discomforts will be quickly forgotten. When the gorillas are sighted, visitors will be guided to within 6 metres from the gorillas, sit around them for a whole hour while gazing into their big round eyes.

Gorilla trekking is unpredictable. It's difficult to foresee how many hours you will hike. The gorilla excursion can take from 2 up to 8 hours. Expect to walk along distance in steep and muddy conditions, sometimes with rain overhead, before you encounter any gorillas. A good physical condition is recommended. For conservation purposes, time spent with the gorillas is limited to one hour. A ranger will brief you on how to behave with the gorillas.

While most of today's forests are no more than 12,000 years old, Bwindi's vegetation has been weaving itself into tangles over at least 25,000 years, in the process accumulating a lengthy species list. This includes 310 species of butterfly, 51 reptiles, 200 trees, 88 moths and an exceptional 120 types of mammal including 10 primates. The latter includes chimpanzee, L'Hoest's, red tailed and blue monkey, black and white colobus, baboon, and Bwindi's most famous resident, the mountain gorilla.

Bwindi is a prime destination for birdwatchers. Its 350 species include seven which are IUCN red data listed and 90% of all Albertine Rift endemics, species which are difficult or impossible to see in any other part of East Africa.

 

Accommodation options available (all on full board basis)

Up-market: Gorilla Safari Lodge (in luxury rooms) | Chameleon Hill Lodge

Moderate: Mutanda Lake Resort | Gorilla Safari Lodge (standard rooms)

Low Budget: Travellers Rest Hotel | Gorilla Valley Lodge

 

Day 5: Hike Sabyinyo Volcano/Muhavura/Gahinga/Sabinyo Gorge in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Climbing the Sabyinyo extinct volcano is done in south western Uganda and this consists of climbing 3 peaks.

The hike to Sabyinyo takes you through muddy trails often on wooden ladders with expectations of patchy/partial rain and clearing clouds as you get to the beautiful view of Rwanda and Democratic republic of Congo. At this time, the view is at times reduced to 10ft, reach the summit view and from here you will be able to see and stand in all the 3 countries; Uganda, Rwanda and Congo. This hike sometimes involves walking straight high up the mountain without going round it.

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The views and challenges of hiking Mt. Sabyinyo makes it an amazing experience for adventurers.

After early breakfast for the hikers will depend on the choose of the following:

1. Climbing Muhavura Volcano (± 8 hours; distance 12 km; height 4,127 m; elevation gain 1,700 m)

2. Climbing Gahinga Volcano (± 6 hours; distance 8 km; height 3,474 m; elevation gain 1,100m)

3. Visit to Sabinyo Gorge (± 4 hours; distance 6 km, no elevation gain)

4. Climbing Sabinyo Volcano (Sabinyo has three peaks, you can climb all three in the same walk, but you need to be fit. ± 8 hours; distance 14 km; height 3,669 m, elevation gain 1,300 m)

On hiking safety, Mt. Sabyinyo has walking trails and occasionally maintained wooden ladders which is makes it safer for hikers.

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Day 6: Bwindi - Kampala/Entebbe

After breakfast return to Kampala, then Entebbe International Airport, with lunch en route before your evening departure flight home.