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3 Days Bwindi Gorillas and Lake Bunyonyi

  • 3 days
  • Uganda
  • Luxury
  • Private

Fly into Bwindi, spend an hour with a mountain gorilla family, then unwind on the islands of Lake Bunyonyi.

From US$2,858 per person

Request a free quote See the itinerary
Duration
3 days · 2 nights
Route
Starts and ends in Entebbe
Comfort
Luxury lodges
Group
Private, 1 to 6 travellers
Best time
Jun to Sep, Dec to Feb

Overview

This is the short version of Uganda’s greatest experience, done properly. Instead of ten hours on the road from Entebbe, you take a light aircraft to Kihihi and are sitting by the fire at Bwindi Lodge in time for lunch.

The next morning you walk from the lodge to the trek briefing, and your guide and trackers lead you into the forest to find one of Buhoma’s habituated families. Afterwards we drive you south through the terraced hills to Lake Bunyonyi, where a slow canoe among the islands is exactly what your legs will want.

Highlights

  • A full hour with a mountain gorilla family in Bwindi
  • Scheduled flights over the Rwenzoris instead of a long road transfer
  • Walking to the trek briefing straight from your lodge
  • A private dugout canoe among Lake Bunyonyi's islands

Route

UGANDARWANDAKENYATANZANIASOUTH SUDANDR CONGOLake AlbertLake VictoriaLake EdwardLake Turkana 1 · 3 Entebbe 1 Bwindi Impenetrable National Park 3 Lake Bunyonyi

Uganda

  1. StartEntebbe (Day 1)
  2. Day 1Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
  3. Day 3Lake Bunyonyi
  4. EndEntebbe (Day 3)

What to expect

  • Luxury safari

    Handpicked luxury lodges and camps, chosen for their setting, service and guiding.

  • Private safari

    Your own vehicle and guide for the whole journey, never shared with other travellers.

  • Made to measure

    Change the pace, a lodge or an activity and we rebuild the itinerary around you.

  • Start any day

    Travel on the dates that suit you, subject to lodge and permit availability.

  • Solo travellers welcome

    Priced for one on request, with the single supplement shown under Rates.

  • Minimum age 15

    Gorilla permits are only issued to visitors aged 15 and over.

  • Pace and fitness

    Balanced, fitness: active.

Activities
Birding, Canoeing & Kayaking, Gorilla Trekking, Hiking & Walking
Getting around
Private 4x4 safari vehicle with a professional driver-guide

Day by day

Day 1 Fly from Entebbe to Bwindi Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Your guide meets you at Entebbe for the morning flight to Kihihi. From the airstrip it is a scenic hour’s drive through tea gardens to Buhoma, where lunch is waiting on the terrace at Bwindi Lodge. In the afternoon you can walk to the village with a local guide or simply sit and listen to the forest.

  • Travel 1 hr 45 min flight
  • Meals Lunch & dinner

Overnight

Bwindi Lodge (opens the property’s website in a new tab)

Eight bandas facing the forest in Buhoma, a short walk from the gorilla trek briefing point.

Bwindi Lodge, Buhoma sectorBwindi Lodge, Buhoma sectorBwindi Lodge, Buhoma sectorBwindi Lodge, Buhoma sector+2 photos
Day 2 Gorilla trekking, then on to Lake Bunyonyi Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Breakfast is early. You walk to the park office for the briefing, then set off with the rangers and trackers to find your gorilla family. The trek can take anything from one to five hours, and the hour you spend with the gorillas goes faster than you would believe. After a picnic lunch we drive south through Kabale’s terraced hills to Lake Bunyonyi and a hot shower overlooking the water.

  • Travel 3 to 4 hrs by road
  • Meals Breakfast, lunch & dinner
  • Gorilla Trekking
  • Hiking & Walking

Overnight

BirdNest Resort (opens the property’s website in a new tab)

A calm lakeside hotel on Bunyonyi with a waterfront deck and heated pool.

BirdNest Resort, Bufuka, KabaleBirdNest Resort, Bufuka, KabaleBirdNest Resort, Bufuka, KabaleBirdNest Resort, Bufuka, Kabale+2 photos
Day 3 Lake Bunyonyi by canoe and fly home Lake Bunyonyi

Take the morning slowly. A dugout canoe with a local paddler takes you among the islands, past fishing villages and crested cranes, with stories of Punishment Island along the way. After lunch we drive to Kisoro for your afternoon flight back to Entebbe, in time for an evening international departure.

  • Travel Road to Kisoro, then 1 hr 30 min flight
  • Meals Breakfast & lunch
  • Canoeing & Kayaking
  • Birding

Where you stay

DaysAccommodation & meals
Day 1

Bwindi Lodge (opens the property’s website in a new tab)

Eight bandas facing the forest in Buhoma, a short walk from the gorilla trek briefing point.

Lunch & dinner

Bwindi Lodge, Buhoma sectorBwindi Lodge, Buhoma sectorBwindi Lodge, Buhoma sectorBwindi Lodge, Buhoma sector+2 photos
Day 2

BirdNest Resort (opens the property’s website in a new tab)

A calm lakeside hotel on Bunyonyi with a waterfront deck and heated pool.

Breakfast, lunch & dinner

BirdNest Resort, Bufuka, KabaleBirdNest Resort, Bufuka, KabaleBirdNest Resort, Bufuka, KabaleBirdNest Resort, Bufuka, Kabale+2 photos

Rates

Important to know

  • Rates are per person, shown in USD, and do not include international flights to and from your home country.
  • The price per person depends on how many travellers share the vehicle and guide.
  • Minimum age for this safari: 15 years.

Rates per person

Price per person by number of travellers
SeasonSolo2 people3 people4 people5 people6 people7+ people
High season (Jun to Oct, Dec to Feb)US$4,100US$3,450US$3,243US$3,243US$3,243US$3,243Get quote
Low season (Mar to May, Nov)US$3,690US$3,040US$2,858US$2,858US$2,858US$2,858Get quote
Deposit to confirm
30%

Prices are per person, in US dollars, and depend on the number of travellers sharing the vehicle and guide. They are sample rates for planning and will be confirmed when you enquire, as lodge and permit prices change each year. Gorilla permits are included at the current government rate and are subject to availability.

  • Rates can change when lodge, permit and park fees are updated, and are confirmed when you enquire.
  • The order and content of the safari can be adjusted to suit you, and a change may affect the price.
  • If a lodge is fully booked, we will offer a comparable one.
  • This safari is subject to our terms and conditions.

Best time to go

Best time for this trip Jun to Sep, Dec to Feb

  1. January: best
  2. February: best
  3. March: possible
  4. April: possible
  5. May: possible
  6. June: best
  7. July: best
  8. August: best
  9. September: best
  10. October: possible
  11. November: possible
  12. December: best

What is included

Included

  • Private 4x4 safari vehicle with a professional driver-guide
  • Accommodation as listed, on the meal plan shown for each lodge
  • Gorilla, chimpanzee and golden monkey permits where the itinerary includes them
  • Park entry fees and all activities in the itinerary
  • Domestic flights where shown
  • Bottled water, binoculars and a Uganda field guide in the vehicle
  • Airport meet and greet

Not included

  • International flights and visas
  • Travel insurance (required)
  • Tips for guides, trackers and lodge staff
  • Premium drinks and personal spending
  • Optional activities not listed in the itinerary

Good to know

For gorilla and chimp treks, bring sturdy waterproof hiking boots, long trousers you can tuck into your socks, a long-sleeved shirt, a light rain jacket and gardening gloves for grabbing vines. Porters are available at the trailhead and we recommend hiring one: it helps your trek and supports the local community.

Pack light, neutral colours for game drives, a warm fleece for early mornings, a sun hat and good sunscreen. Light aircraft have a soft-bag limit of 15 kg per person including hand luggage, so leave the hard suitcases at home.

Made to measure

Make this safari your own

Every Uwera safari is private. Slow the pace, add a night by a lake, swap a lodge or bring the children: tell us in your request and we will rebuild the itinerary around you.

Request a free quote

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