Did you know that In the tropical rainforest of Uganda, Congo and Rwanda live the rare Mountain Gorilla.
The rare Gentle Giant is one of the 11 different primates you can visit in Uganda ,Rwanda and Congo. Others include chimpanzees, baboons, colobus and vervet monkeys – all of which you will see during your tour.
The mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei) is the largest of all the gorillas and is the most endangered. The world’s remaining 820 mountain gorillas live in three different countries in Central Africa: Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda. Although this makes their range seem large, the mountain gorillas actually inhabit a small geographic area where the borders of these three countries meet. Over half of the world’s mountain gorillas can be found amidst the Virunga chain of volcanoes and the remaining populations live in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest some 75 km to the north.
Unlike their lowland counterparts, the mountain gorillas have long hair, which helps them handle the temperature extremes found at altitude. Mountain gorillas live in large family units led by a single dominant adult male, known as the “Silverback” — a name derived from the grey hair that develops on male’s back as it reaches adulthood. The Silverback is responsible for protecting the family from predators or other threats, including solitary Silverbacks intent on claiming females as their own. The dominant Silverback also takes on the role of mediator when disputes arise in the family. Some families contain more than one Silverback, but only one is dominant and that male alone is responsible for mating with the adult females of the group.
Despite all the lore about the ferocity of the mountain gorilla, in general they are very peaceful creatures. Most days are spent foraging for food, playing, and grooming. Aside from mock fighting amongst juveniles, displays of aggression are reserved for challenges to the Silverback’s dominance or direct threats to the family’s well being.
The mountain gorilla’s fierceness has been seen protecting its young from illegal animal traffickers intent on capturing baby gorillas. For every mountain gorilla baby that is found in the marketplace, an entire family of gorillas has died trying to protect it.
Disease is arguably one of the gravest threats to the mountain gorilla. With people encroaching more and more into gorilla habitat, one of the few remaining ways to protect mountain gorillas is tourism. Unfortunately, tourism brings with it one of the biggest potential threats — disease. Because mountain gorillas share approximately 97% of our DNA, they are susceptible to the same diseases as humans. Unlike humans, however, their resistance is much lower. Sicknesses that the average human can beat with bed rest and antibiotics can prove fatal to the mountain gorilla. More serious outbreaks, such as Ebola or virulent strains of influenza could take the few remaining mountain gorilla populations beyond the point of return. Because of this vulnerability, it is imperative that tourists only visit gorillas when healthy and keep a minimum distance of 25 feet (7 meters) away. In the bigger scheme, the mountain gorilla’s range needs to be expanded to provide discrete populations with the geographic isolation needed to prevent the widespread transmission of disease.
Understanding the nature of mountain gorillas, and the threats they face, is the first step in assuring their preservation.
The sub-adult males of the family are known as “Blackbacks”. Adult females are generally half the size of the males and it is their responsibility to initiate mating with the dominant male, as well as care for the infants.
Uganda ,Rwanda and Congo have much a lot to offer in terms of nature and wildlife.
The national parks include vast plains and forests that are home to antelopes, elephants, giraffes, lions, leopards and buffaloes and more.
The lakes and river Nile are the natural habitat of hippos, crocodiles and other wild animals including rare bird species.
Uganda and Rwanda are a paradise for birdwatchers there are more than 1000 bird species living in the region, and on any of your safaris you easily see more than 350 of them.
YOUR TOUR
We specialize in gorilla tracking and will organize affordable but unforgettable tours and excursions from 3 to 16 days in Uganda and Rwanda, taking care of everything for you, including the gorilla permits.
3 Days Gorilla Special
4 Days Gorillas and Volcanoes
5 Days Gorillas and Chimps
7 Days Gorillas, Queen Elizabeth NP and Chimps
10 Days Uganda Highlights
16 Days Uganda Total
All our tours are available in Budget, Camping and Luxury versions, and we can also design individual, handicrafted tours in Uganda ,Rwanda and Congo, based on our typical tours but well crafted for your specific wishes.
FIND BELOW OUR PROPOSED TOUR OPTIONS:
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest 3 Days Safari
3 Days/2 Nights, excluding Kampala. The safari starts and ends in Kampala. Visitors travel in 4WD omnibus & Station Wagon.
Highlights
This safari takes a tour group to see gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National park. Situated in south-western Uganda, the Park is rich in diverse forest wildlife. Butterflies are the most conspicuous of the rich insect fauna with more than 200 species. Bwindi is home to more than half of the remaining rare and critically endangered populations of the Mountain Gorillas (about 350 of the 650 individuals). It is just 331Km 2 in size, ranges between 1160 m –2607m above sea level. The park hosts about 300 species of birds. Track one of the five habituated gorilla families in the primeval forest of Bwindi, also rich in other primates, some unusual bird species and butterflies.
Day by day Itinerary
Day 1:
Meet Happy Tours staff at your accommodation at 0800hours. Set off southwest to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. En-route, stop at the Equator a chance to be in both hemispheres at the same time. Take part in the water experiment and get to know changes in your body weight at the equator. Continue to Mbarara arriving at the Agip Motel in time for lunch. (One hour lunch break). Drive through terraced hills to the rising Kigezi hills while descending to Bwindi, a typical tropical rain forest with dense undergrowth and home to the Mountain Gorillas. 9-10 hours drive.
Dinner & Overnight: Buhoma Lodge, Nkuringo Gorilla Campsite
Day 2:
After an early morning briefing by the ranger guide, go gorilla tracking (subject to permit availability at the time of booking). Tracking the gorillas through the impenetrable forest requires patience and endurance, sometimes walking for many hours in the mud and rain. The time taken and the terrain vary with the Gorilla movements. Coming face to face with man’s shy cousins in the jungle is an inspiring moment. Carry packed lunch.
Dinner and Overnight: Buhoma Lodge, Nkuringo Campsite
Day 3:
Mid morning, get going on a leisurely drive back to Kampala through the green country side. Arrive in Mbarara town in time for lunch at the Agip Motel. Make a stopover at Mpambire drum village, a chance to buy a locally made drum. Drop off at your hotel.
End of safari.
Gorilla tracking fees include guide fee, park entrance for the day and community levy. Booking should be done early in advance since the permits are highly demanded
Prices are in US dollars on a sharing basis. Prices include ground transportation with driver/guide, all activities mentioned in the itinerary, park fees, applicable taxes, gorilla permit, accommodation and meals. Prices exclude tips, souvenirs, all beverages and items of a personal nature.
BOOK NOW
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MGAHINGA GORILLA TRACKING 3 DAYS
Day 1: Kampala – Mgahinga Mountain Gorilla
Depart Kampala for Mgahinga Mountain Gorilla national Park. Make a stop over at the equator and experience weight changes at both hemispheres. Drive through the Acacia woodland of Ankole and do not miss the famous long horned Ankole cows. Have lunch at any Hotel en-route. Continue with your Safari through the terraced hills of Kabale (Switzerland of Uganda). Dinner and overnight at Sky Blue Hotel (high end classic accommodation), Mgahinga Safari Lodge (medium class accommodation) or Traveler’s Rest Camp (low budget accommodation).
Day 2: Tracking Mountain Gorillas
After breakfast, set off for Gorilla tracking on the three volcanoes, (Mt Sabinyo, Mt Muhavura or Mt Gahinga). As you track expect to see mountain Gorillas especially the Nyakagezi Gorilla group. Hike up to the top of the volcanoes and view the whole of park. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Return to Kampala
After breakfast, return to Kampala with a brief stop over on Lake Bunyonyi the 2nd deepest lake in East Africa. Participate in boat riding, sight seeing, taking photos. Continue with your return journey and arrive Kampala late afternoon. Transfer to Entebbe International Airport depending on the international flight departure times. Tour ends. Approximate driving time is 8 – 9 hours.
Booking for Gorilla tracking
We advice our clients interested in Gorilla tracking to book for a Gorilla permit at least 3 months in advance to ensure that requested dates are available. This is because of high number of trackers. Please note that Gorilla tracking can be done in Rwanda and Congo as well if permits can’t be got in Uganda at the time of booking. The track experience starts at 8:30am local time and can take three to eight hours.
What to bring
* Wear jungle shoes suitable for steep muddy slopes and carry a rain jacket because the park is often wet.
* Come with ear plugs for those who feel uncomfortable with jungle sounds.
* Carry rain gear, sunscreen lotion, a hat (as the weather is unpredictable) and insect repellant
* Carry packed lunch.
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6 Days Gorillas and Queen Elizabeth
Gorillas and Wildlife (Safari Price: Starting from US$1,900 per person on sharing basis)
Tour group: 4-8 People
Destination(s): Bwindi Impenetrable & Queen Elizabeth National Parks.
Duration: 6 Days/5 Nights, including Kampala & airport transfers.
Visitors travel in 4WD omnibus, Land Rover , Land Cruiser, /Station Wagon vehicles.
Highlights
This safari takes a tour group to see gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National park. Track one of the five habituated gorilla families in the primeval forest of Bwindi, also rich in other primates. Carry on seeing wildlife and diverse physical landforms in Queen Elizabeth National Park. A must- experience during a visit to Queen Elizabeth is the two hour boat trip past all manner of great creatures. Look out for the rare shoebill stork. See the great enthralling game including elephants, tree climbing lions, buffalo, hippos, leopards and many more. Track Chimpanzees in Kyambura gorge. On your way to Kampala make a stopover in Lake Mburo national park for the zebras, baboons, kobs and elands. Don’t miss the water and weight experiments at the equator.
Day by Day Itinerary
Day 1:
Arrive at Entebbe International Airport; meet Happy Tours Staff before transferring to Kampala, for an overnight stay (FB). Time permitting; go for a Kampala urban tour including a visit to Kasubi tombs, Namugongo martyrs Shrine, Uganda Museum and shopping for artefacts and souvenirs.
Day 2:
Meet Happy Tours staff at your hotel in Kampala at 0700hrs. Drive southwest from Kampala to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. En-route; stop over at the Equator and participate in the water experiment and get to know changes in your body weight. Carryon and arrive in Mbarara in time for lunch at Agip Motel (one hour lunch break). Continue to the rising Kigezi hills while descending to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a typical tropical rain forest with dense undergrowth. Dinner & Overnight: Buhoma Homestead (FB).
Day 3:
After an early morning briefing by the ranger guide, go gorilla tracking (subject to permit availability at the time of booking).
Tracking the gorillas through the impenetrable forest requires patience and endurance, sometimes walking for many hours in the mud and rain. The time taken and the terrain vary with the Gorilla movements.
Coming face to face with man’s shy cousins in the jungle is an inspiring moment. Carry packed lunch. In the afternoon, travel to Queen Elizabeth via Ishasha- a home to the tree climbing lions. Take on the northern circuit for the game drive. Lookout in the fig tree branches for the tree climbing lions. Ishasha also offers great scenery. Don’t miss the large numbers of kobs in the sector. Dinner & Overnight: Ishasha Wildness Camp (FB).
Day 4:
Early morning at 6:00am, drive to Mweya park headquarters. The route offers high chances of sporting elephants, buffaloes, kobs and lots of birds. Drive time is five hours. Visit the mini-museum at Mweya and relax while waiting for the 1400hrs launch cruise. After a one hour lunch break at Mweya Safari Lodge, go for the launch cruise on the Kazinga Channel. Expect to see hippos, possibly the highest hippo concentration in Africa, elephants, buffalos and abundant brilliantly waterside bird life providing an excellent platform for photography and game viewing. Don’t miss herds of buffaloes trundle to the water for a drink on the eastern bank of the channel. Cruise time; 2-3hrs. In the evening, relax and enjoy the spectacular sunset over Lake Edward. Dinner & Overnight: Jacana Safari Lodge/Mweya Safari Lodge (FB).
Day 5:
Early morning, take an excursion to Kasenyi area for the game drive. Known as the kob mating grounds, Kasenyi offers high chances of spotting the lions. The area has great scenery and diverse physical landforms. One hour lunch break at the viewing platform. In the afternoon, take an excursion to Kyambura gorge arriving in time for the 1430hours chimpanzee tacking activity. The activity takes 2-3 hours walking through the forest in a gorge while looking for the chimps. Expect to see black and white colobus monkeys, hippos and lots of birds. Dinner and overnight: Jacana Safari Lodge/ Mweya Safari Lodge (FB).
Day 6:
Mid morning, go for a game drive in the northern crater area, a place full of dark lakes and rich grasslands set deep into volcanic craters. The baboon cliff is a stunning view point where the landscape drops dramatically and one feels perched on the edge of the World. Expect to see a variety of flora and fauna most especially kobs, lions, elephants and many more. After the game drive, travel back to Kampala retracing your steps through this green and pleasant land. Make a stopover at Mpambire drum village and have a chance to buy a locally made drum. Connect to Entebbe Airport arriving in time for your evening flight or drop off at your hotel.
End of Safari
NB: Tour prices from June 2011- May 2012
Prices are in US dollars on a sharing basis. Prices include ground transportation with driver/guide, accommodation in Kampala, all activities mentioned in the itinerary, gorilla permits, park fees, applicable taxes, accommodation and meals. Prices exclude tips, souvenirs, all beverages and items of a personal nature.
*Costs are subject to change and must be confirmed at the time of booking. BOOK NOW!
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5 Days Gorilla Safari Uganda
Highlights: Bwindi impenetrable forest and Ankole Cultural village
DAY 1
Arrival at the airport, transfer to your hotel in Kampala city, dinner and relaxation. Your guide will provide a briefing on your tour. O/N (HB).
DAY 2
After breakfast, travel to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, with a brief stop at the equator and experience weight changes as you cross from one hemisphere to the other. Lunch en-route in Mbarara. Proceed to Bwindi. To arrive at Buhoma Park headquarters late in the afternoon. O/N (FB).
DAY 3
Gorilla tracking. You will be accompanied by a Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger / guides and should your require a porter to carry your day pack for you. The terrain can be difficult, with steep slopes covered in dense vegetation that gives the park its name. Participants do need to be physically fit. The time taken to track the gorillas varies enormously, from as little as half an hour to as much as 8-9 hours before one returns to camp. The difficulty is not impossibility whilst coming face to face with one of the great primates is well worth the effort! O/N: (FB).
DAY 4
After breakfast start return journey to Kampala stopping in Mbarara for lunch. Visit the Ankole cultural village to view arts and crafts and souvenirs purchases. Proceed to Kampala arriving early evening. O/N (FB).
DAY 5
Kampala city tour and transfer to the airport depending on your flight schedule (HB).
NB.
We are able to offer this itinerary as an Upmarket, Mid range or budget tour by utilising alternative accommodation options at the places to be visited. Prices on request.
Elements of this tour can be designed into a tailor-made itinerary you may us to prepare for you on request.
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7 Days Primates Super Safari (GORILLA & CHIMPS)
PRE DEPARTURE DAY
Arrival at the airport, transfer to your hotel in Kampala city.
Dinner and Overnight (HB).
DAY 1
Depart Kampala for Fort Portal. Arrive in time for lunch. As you continue to your hotel, visit souvenir shops to view arts and crafts in town. O/N (FB).
DAY 2
Chimp trekking activity within the Kibale Forest National Park is amazing experience known as the ‘Chimp check’. You will be able to observe the chimps coming out of their nests between 5:30am to 6:30 am to follow them during their daily activities up to nesting time between 6:30 and 7:30pm.
A shorter 4 hour chimpanzee tracking experience can be combined with a visit to the Bigodi wetland sanctuary managed by local community as an ecotourism site. Bird watching is the main activity however primates are also very much present and include Grey-checked Mangabey, Red-tailed monkey, L’Hoest’s monkey and Baboons. A packed lunch will be taken. Overnight (FB).
DAY 3
Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park skirting the Rwenzori Mountains and Queen Elizabeth National Park. Overnight (FB).
DAY 4
Go gorilla tracking (subject to availability of gorilla permits at the time of booking), carrying a packed lunch. You will be accompanied by a Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger / guides and you may require a porter to carry your day pack as the terrain can be difficult, with steep slopes covered in dense vegetation that gives the park its name. Participants do need to be physically fit. The time taken to track the gorillas varies enormously, from as little as half an hour to as much as 8-9 hours before one return to the camp. The difficulty is not impossibility whilst coming face to face with one of the great primates is well worth the effort! Overnight: (FB).
DAY 5
After breakfast start your return journey to Kampala stopping in Mbarara town for lunch. Visit the Ankole cultural village to view arts and crafts and souvenirs purchases. Proceed to Kampala arriving early evening. Overnight (FB).
DAY 6
Kampala city tour before your transfer to the airport (HB).
NB.
We are able to offer this itinerary as an Upmarket, Mid range or budget tour by utilising alternative accommodation options at the places to be visited. Prices on request.
Elements of this tour can be designed into a tailor-made itinerary you may us to prepare for you on request.