3 Day off season gorilla safari

Our 3 Day off season gorilla safari is a short safari to Uganda that will take you to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park to spend time with the world’s endangered mountain gorillas. On this trip you will benefit from offseason discounts on accommodation, gorilla trekking and other services. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is home to half of the remaining mountain gorillas in their natural habitat it is approximately 459 gorilla individuals in Bwindi and your visit to this park gives you 99% of seeing the mountain gorillas.

Summarized Itinerary for 3 Day off season gorilla safari

Day 1: Pick up from Kampala/Entebbe and Transfer to Bwindi

Day 2: Gorilla tracking and community walk

Day 3: Transfer to back to Kampala/Entebbe to end the trip.

Detailed Itinerary for 3 Day off season gorilla safari

DAY ONE: Pickup from your Hotel in Entebbe or Kampala and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

This day, you will meet your guide, and then drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park for overnight. You will have a stopover at the Equator for photography and En route lunch in Mbarara. After you will proceed your scenic drive to southwestern Uganda arriving late afternoon for overnight at Rushaga Gorilla Havens Lodge.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bwindi National Park, located in southwestern Uganda on the edge of the Great Rift Valley, is considered the most diverse forest in Uganda. The area, one of the few large expanses of forest in East Africa, where lowland and montane habitats meet, contains a dense ground cover of herbs, vines, and shrubs.  Home to over 120 mammals, 345 species of birds, 200 species of butterflies, and 160 species of trees, Bwindi is one of the richest ecosystems in East Africa.  The park contains almost one half of the world’s population of the endangered Mountain Gorilla, making it an extremely valuable conservation site. Bwindi is also home to several endangered bird species with very limited ranges, and acts as an important catchment area for many rivers, supplying water for agriculture in the surrounding region.

Overnight at Rushaga Gorilla Havens Lodge

DAY TWO: Gorilla tracking in Bwindi

Following breakfast at the lodge, travel to National Park Headquarters to meet your guides and Researcher for the day and begin your gorilla tracking experience. Experienced guides and trackers will accompany your party on an early morning trek into the dense rain forest on the mountain slopes.  The journey, through dense foliage and up steep climbs, is abundantly rewarded with the lifetime experience of viewing mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.  You will have an opportunity to be within meters of these magnificent apes, sharing in their daily lives and experiencing their day-to-day activities.  Mountain gorillas are extremely rare with only an estimated 1000 remaining in the wild.  This is an experience you won’t soon forget!

Please note: tracking may be fairly strenuous with treks up to six hours or longer, at high altitudes, not uncommon.  Also, mountain gorillas are wild animals and, as such, sightings cannot be guaranteed. However viewing success rates are over 90%.  Please refer to our detailed information sheet for more detailed information on Gorilla Tracking requirements, conditions, and considerations.

Overnight at Rushaga Gorilla Havens Lodge

DAY THREE: End of the 3 Day off season gorilla safari

Transfer back to Kampala/Entebbe for drop off at the Hotel to end the tour.

Tipping advise
A thorny issue that often raises questions. It is at your discretion as the guest, customary in this part of the world, but not compulsory, and based upon service levels received. Our guidelines per passenger traveling are:

Gorilla & Chimpanzee Guides: Tips should be placed in the central tip box if provided or given to the main guide who will distribute amongst all the trackers and game guards – region of USD15 for the main guide (per guest)

Porters: This is an optional extra and they are normally hired for around USD15 per porter per day and the tip will vary depending on the work load – between USD15-20 per guest for each porter.

Safari Driver/guides:  USD 10 to 20 per day – per guest, averaging 4-6 guests in a vehicle.  If you are traveling privately, ie just two of you, please tip at your discretion.

Lodges /camp staff:  We suggest USD3-5 per guest per stay.  Many of the smaller lodges have central tip boxes.  At hotels and larger establishments, it is generally given at your discretion to individuals who have performed well.

National Parks Guides (cruises / bird walks):  For each guide USD 3.00 to 5.00 per guest in local currency.

Porters at hotels: Around USD1-2.00 in local currency

Waiters/ Bar Staff: 10% of bill, or say Uganda Shillings 2000-3000 as a tip for service.

SUGGESTED ITEMS TO PACK FOR YOUR TRIP.

• Insect Repellent                       
• Torch/Flashlight – and Spare Batteries
• Wet Wipes                              
• Water Bottle                                 
• Camera, lenses etc
• Comfortable walking /hiking boots & socks  
• Gardening gloves for gorilla tracking
• Sandals / strops / walking shoes     
• Hat & Sunscreen
• Rain Jacket
• Sweater / fleece
• Binoculars (game/bird watching)

Why book with Eco Adventure Safaris 3 Day off season gorilla safari.

At Eco Adventure Safaris we provide personalized service with the utmost dedication to the safety and enjoyment of our clients. We are committed to the well-being of our staff and guests as well as to having a positive impact on the communities and wild places that our operations reach. On all our operations and safaris, we embrace the environmental ethic “Take Nothing but Photographs, Leave Only Footprints” all our packages are eco-friendly. During your travel Post Covid safety and health of our clients will be our major priority and we shall ensure all our service providers and workers implement the SOPs and healthy guidelines set for the safety and health of clients and services providers while on safari.