Uganda Independent Travel Idea

Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp is the only concessionaire located within Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is the perfect luxurious base for a tracking experience as it offers luxury in the heart of the rainforest

The camp has a bar and dining cottage, as well as a raised natural platform for open-air dining. Guests can sit around the cozy campfire at night and enjoy Bwindi's crystal clear mountain sky.

Gorilla tracking tomorrow will be in the Bwindi Forest, a UNESCO World Heritage site and a spectacular place to visit. Birders come thousands of miles to see the more than 350 species that live within the area. There are also rare forest elephant, giant forest hog and eleven kinds of primates, such as red tailed and blue monkey, black and white colobus, baboons and chimpanzee. You can also find forest duiker antelopes and bush buck, antelopes and over 200 species of butterflies are found in the park.

The gorillas we track belong to one of the 'habituated' family groups in Northern Bwindi. For several years each group has undergone an extremely delicate process that has gradually made them used to the presence of humans. Experienced guides will accompany the tracking, many of who have been involved in the habituation process themselves.

We recommend a visit to the Batwa Pygmy tribe, for hundreds of years they had lived in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, reliant on the forest for food and shelter. When gorilla tourism started to take off and the recognition of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest by UNESCO as a world Heritage site there was need to protect and conserve the Forest, this led to the Batwa to be moved to the periphery of the Forest. Years later an American doctor, Doctor Scott, learnt about their plight and working with other stake holders was able to procure them land. Now they are sustained through tourist visits. Dr Scott is still active in the region and when on site can give a tour of the clinic he and his wife helped to built from scratch. It now has an HIV/aids centre, excellent maternity facilities and an x-ray room, built in a container crate.

Or you could also take a bird walk, Bwindi boasts over 300 bird species, including 24 that are endemic to these highlands straddling Uganda, Rwanda and the Congo – the “Albertine Rift Endemics”. There are also over 200 species of butterflies found in the park. A local expert will guide you on this fascinating walk. After dinner simply relax and enjoy your drink as you listen to folk tunes played on the traditional Bakiga guitar.

Accommodation is in eight large en-suite ‘tents’ which have two queen-sized beds and a bathtub looking out onto the forest - ideal for soaking away aches and pains after a day searching for gorillas in the forest

Day 01. Arrive Kigali, Rwanda
On arrival at Kigali International Airport you will be met by a Goway Representative who will transfer you to Chanika or Katuna border point and after clearing with the customs you will drive the 160KM to your camp in Bwindi.

This drive will give you an opportunity to see the two different country’s side. Kigali is touted as the cleanest city in Africa - and it really does live up to its reputation. The transfer to Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp is a delightful and scenic drive. Rwandans seem to radiate an air of productivity and wherever you look there are scenes of tea being plucked from vast plantations, plots of land being tilled and scare crows guarding the paddies of rice. Stop at the White Horse Inn with gorgeous views and an enormous menu, for those who want to sample an African cuisine, there's also a strong Indian influence in Ugandan cuisine.

The next stretch is a long winding road high up into the Ugandan mountains is four-by-four territory. Peppered with little children who run alongside the vehicle, yelling “hello” and the road seems to wind into a long forgotten time. About seven hours from Kigale, five hours from the Ugandan border post you enter Bwindi's Impenetrable Forest.

Arrive at Camp later in the evening for check in, dinner and overnight. (LD)
Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp (3 nights)

Day 02. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
After breakfast this morning, you will take a 10 minute walk to the park headquarters where you will meet the park officials for a briefing before the commencement of the tracking at 08:00. Once the gorillas are located, the group will be allowed a maximum of one hour with them. Return to camp for dinner.  (BLD)

Day 03. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
If you are not recovering from your gorilla trek the day before, we would recommend a visit to the Batwa Pygmy tribe. The hike is stiff as they live high, high up in the mountains. It is a rare privilege to see this forgotten group of people. Only eight of the original Batwa remain. Although no one is sure exactly how old they are, they are believed to be between 80 and 110! The walk to their village is spiced with interesting information and anecdotes: the way the locals make banana gin, how they build their homes and the history of the Batwa, of course. They are about 4 feet high and very nimble. They will be delighted that you have come to visit and will welcome you with a traditional chant. Then they will tell you via a translator, how they hunt, make fires, build houses, use plants for medicinal purposes and even how they bury their dead.

After the tour you are welcome to taste their traditional meal of goat stew, pap (ground mealie meal) boiled green banana's with salt. Delicious! (BLD)

Day 04. Depart Kigali, Rwanda
After breakfast at the lodge, your guide will be ready with picnic lunch box, to pick you up and start the 260 KM drive back to Kigali International airport for your onward international flight. (BL)

Departures

Daily

PRICES:

Exchange rates differ from time to time. For the most up-to-date prices of this holiday idea please fill out our Africa Travel Quote form (button above). We will do all possible to respond back to you within 24 hours.

PRICE INCLUDES:

3 nights accommodation with private facilities, airport meeting & assistance, return airport transfers, all transportation by comfortable land cruiser jeeps, services of experienced guides, Batwa Tribe Experience or Community Walk or Forest Walk
Laundry, Picnic lunches both days of the transfers, meals as indicated by BLD,  and 2 gorilla permits.

Note: charter flights are available from Entebbe to the camp, please inquire.