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Arrival at Entebbe International Airport

Welcome to Uganda, the Pearl of Africa, for your African Gorilla Adventure in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, which according to CNN Travel, is one of the best parks in Africa.

You will be met by us no matter your arrival time. We will take you to your hotel where you can enjoy lunch or dinner.

Stay overnight at a luxury hotel that we arrange for you conveniently near the airport for an early flight to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest with Aerolink Safari Airline.

This is the quickest and most convenient way chosen by an increasing number of our clients, and the convenience outweighs the extra cost and will give you more time in and around Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. 

We can also arrange a day room or an overnight stay before your flight out of Uganda. Entebbe International Airport Tourist Information.

 

Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge:

Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge is an excellent, moderately priced lodge with splendid views of the Virunga Volcanoes above the scenic Lake Mulehe. The food is one of the European-Ugandan Fusion’s fantastic services.

The stone cottages are perfect for your stay while doing Gorilla Trekking or the Gorilla Habituation Experience in the Rushaga Area Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.

This Lodge gives you Value+ for your Dollar and value in terms of its setting, quality of rooms, and service on the Lake. We have used the Lodge for our Clients and have had no complaints during that time.

The Lodge is owned by a woman which years of experience in providing quality accommodations to International and Domestic Tourists alike.

Four Gorillas Lodge

Stay at the Luxury Four Gorillas Lodge – the Affordable Luxury Lodge for your Gorilla Trek or Gorilla Habituation Experience in the Rushaga area of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The Lodge overlooks the primeval Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. You can see primates, birds, and wildlife right from the balcony of your cottage as you have your morning cup of Ugandan coffee or a sundowner at sunset.

The newer Rushaga Luxury Four Gorillas Lodge is a welcomed upmarket addition providing trekkers with an away-from-it feel adjacent to the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest with scenic views of the lush rainforest from both the main-loge area where you will find the restaurant and bar to the cottages.

The Lodge is a blend of modernity with traditional architecture and decor, providing a comfortable setting where you are surrounded by subdued elegance with Bwindi Impenetrable Forest so near you.

A stay here is an immersion into Africa, from the Ugandan welcome and hospitality to the Lodge accentuating African decor and style. Even the meals come with an African twist, reflect

 

What is included in our private Gorilla-Chimpanzee Wildlife Safaris:

• Experienced Ugandan Driver-Guide: A Safari becomes ing what comes from local gardens and the spices used. Read more here.more enjoyable when you go with a knowledgeable and professional Local Driver-Guide.

• Greet and Meet at Airport upon arrival: We provide meet and greet Services which include a welcome gift and Sfari Informational Packet.

• Full-Board Lodging: All meals are included except alcoholic drinks, sodas, and snacks that you might order apart from meals. Some luxury Lodges have non-premium alcoholic beverages and sodas.

• Private 4×4 Safari Vehicle with pop-Up Roof: The vehicle has a car fridge, WiFi, bottled Water, Local Fruit, and Nut Snacks; car seats for children are available. Beer, Wine be cooled in Car Fridge upon special request.

• Gorilla Trekking: Permits are included in your Safari. Additionally, we provide porter services, a walking stick for support and bottled water. Read our Practical Gorilla Trekking Advice:

• WiFi Internet Access: Most Lodges only provide a WiFi Internet Connection in the main lodge. We offer you a MiFi Router that gives you and your party access to the internet in your cottage or room, depending on nearby transmission towers. Read Staying in touch with home.

• Spanish, French, Italian, German, Russian, Mandarin, Arabic Speaking Driver-Guides: At an extra cost.

• Your Dietary Needs can be met: Notify us if you are a vegan, vegetarian, or need a gluten-free diet. Halala dietary requirements can be met in most instances. Strictly kosher nutritional requirements cannot be met on safari. The Abhyudaya- Ugandan Jews by choice Synagogues can be consulted for strict kosher meals in Kampala and at their Guesthouse near Mbale in Eastern Uganda.

• Religious Observances: Catholic, Anglican, Born-Again (evangelical), and Pentecostal Sunday services can be incorporated into a Safari as can be Friday Prayer services for Muslims. Shabbat Services for Jews can be included in a Safari in the Kampala area, where there are several synagogues as well near Mbale in eastern Uganda. 

• AMREF-Flying Doctors Air-Medivac Insurance coverage: Our clients are covered in the case of with us an infrequent need for medical evacuation to a hospital that meets international standards.

Not included: Visas, Travel Insurance, Laundry, Tips, drinks at lodges such as Alcoholic drinks and sodas, and optional listed activities.

Our Flexible Booking Policy and our Price Guarantee are additional ways that we give our Clients peace of mind when booking a Safari with us. We suggest you take out travel insurance with a cancellation policy that Protects you.

 

 

Get Started Planning your Gorilla – Chimpanzee – Wildlife Safaris in Uganda!

Planning your Safari

With your input we create the private, luxury or midrange Safari Itinerary that fits you. Permits are bought, Lodges are booked.

Your Safari

On the date of your choice - your African Dream Safari in Uganda begins

Contact us to begin planning your Gorilla – Chimpanzee – Wildlife Safari in Uganda.

 

 

We automatically include the AMREF Flying Doctors Air-Evac Insurance for you:

We offer Hakuna Matata No-Worries Safaris for our clients. Emergencies are happy, but they can happen. We want to make sure that our clients are covered by Emergency AMREF Flying Doctors insurance.

In the case of a medical emergency AMREF-Flying Doctors will evacuate you by air to Nairobi to a hospital that meets international medical standards. Only once in our years as a tour operator have we had to evacuate a client due to a medical emergency.

The flying Doctors medivac insurance provides peace of mind for our clients while gorilla, chimpanzee trekking, hiking or other safari activities.

We suggest that you have good travel insurance covering your time on Safari in Africa. We do not act as a insurance reseller but we have recommendations that will help you find the travel insurance that is right for you. Please read more here.

 

What is included in this 3-Day Luxury Gorilla Habituation Experience Safari?

• Experienced Ugandan Driver-Guide: A Safari becomes more enjoyable when you go with a knowledgeable and professional Local Driver-Guide.
  

• Greet and Meet at Airport upon arrival: We provide meet and greet services, including a welcome gift and Safari Informational Packet.

• Full-Board Lodging: All meals are included except alcoholic drinks, sodas, and snacks that you might order apart from meals. Some luxury Lodges have non-premium alcoholic beverages and sodas.

• Private 4×4 Land Cruiser Safari Vehicle with pop-Up Roof: The vehicle has a car fridge, WiFi, and bottled Water.

• Gorilla Trekking: Gorilla Habituation Experience Permits are included in your Safari. Additionally, we provide porter services, a walking stick for support, and bottled water. Read our Practical Gorilla Trekking Advice:

• WiFi Internet Access: Most Lodges only provide a WiFi Internet Connection in the main lodge. We offer you a MiFi Router that gives you and your party access to the internet in your cottage or room, depending on nearby transmission towers. Read Staying in touch with home.

• Spanish, French, Italian, German, Russian, Mandarin, Arabic Speaking Driver-Guides: At an extra cost.

• Your Dietary Needs can be met: Notify us if you are a vegan, vegetarian, or need a gluten-free diet. Halala dietary requirements can be met in most instances. Strictly kosher nutritional requirements cannot be met on safari. a.

• AMREF-Flying Doctors Air-Medivac Insurance coverage: Our clients have covered in the case of a rare need for medical evacuation to a hospital that meets international standards.

Not included: Visas, Travel Insurance, Laundry, Tips, drinks at lodges such as Alcoholic drinks and sodas, and optional listed activities.

 

 

What should I pack for My trip to Uganda?

What you need to pack for your trip to Uganda depends on why you are visiting the country. If you are coming on Business, for a convention, we suggest that you dress more formals. Ugandans like to dress smart, especially in the capital city of Kampala.

If you are coming for a Safari, what you will pack will depend on the type of Safari you will be on. 

Check with your airline as to luggage limitations from your country. North Americans will have more generous luggage limitations than Europeans.

• Packing for a Safari: This page covers general safaris and gives you a packing list you can download.
• Gorilla Trekking Safari:  Gorilla Trekking requires different clothing and gear, as does a Savannah Park Safari.
• Fly-In Safari:  On a Flying Safari, you are dealing with weight restrictions of 15kg. You can have more luggage, but there is an excess charge.

As you can see, coming for a Safari, you will need to pack differently than coming as a volunteer or business visitor. Every visitor, while visiting Uganda, should make plans to spend a few days in the African Wild, even on a mini safari.

 

Can I use a Hairdryer?

Often we are asked, “Will my hotels and Safari Lodges have hairdryers that I can use?” That is a tricky question since if you are on a Safari, you are often not on the power grid, and power is provided by solar energy and backed up by generators.

Neither solar nor generator-powered electricity can handle a hairdryer; they use too much power since they require full power, which is 240 volts. 

When it comes to hairdryers, there is not much good news. In Kampala and Entebbe, you might find hairdryers in luxury or mid-range hotels in other cities. On Safari in the wilderness with lodges and tented camps not on the power grid. These lodges use solar power and generators that do not provide full power to run a hairdryer.

We realize that not being able to use a hairdryer will be an inconvenience for some. On the positive, you are in tropical Africa, temperatures are pleasant, and wet hair will not be as uncomfortable as in a northern climate. 

One option is to sit out in the equatorial sun with a cup of morning coffee while your hair dries.

 

What about CPAP machines?

If you have obstructive sleep apnea, you can still go on a safari in Uganda. Since most lodges and tented camps are off the power grid, there are power problems.

Most lodges have switched to solar power, which works well with low lighting. Some lodges use generators which would work. However, the generators are turned off from midnight to six in the morning. This is highly inconvenient for safari-goers who suffer from sleep apnea and has caused some to forego a Safari in Africa.

The solution is a portable CPAP machine with batteries that will take you through the night. 

We are not medical experts. However, we have had quite a few clients suffering from sleep apnea who did just fine on their Safari because they came with a portable CPAP machine making their Safari possible. Such devices can be charged during the day at the front desk of lodges with charging stations.

Can I freely photograph Ugandans during my Safari?

Before taking a picture of anyone, first, ask for permission. Put yourself into the place of the person whose photo you might want to take. You probably would be annoyed and offended if someone back home just took your picture.

Ugandans are just like you. Many might be annoyed by a western tourist taking their picture. Additionally, Ugandans may feel that you will profit from taking their picture. 

Like, suggest that you ask before you take their picture. Your driver-guide can assist you if there is a communication problem. Additionally, it is a nice gesture of gratitude if give a small monetary gift to them. 

We ask you not to take pictures that might be demeaning such as you are standing with the Batwa People, who are smaller in stature than most travelers.

Further, you do not take poverty pity pictures or what is referred to as Western Savior pictures. 

 

 

Alternative – Use WorldRemit Money Transfer Service:

Using an ATM means fees that be quite costly. There is an excellent alternative that most are not aware of. You can use World Remit with minimal costs and a slightly lower exchange rate from your bank to a local MTN or Airtel phone. In less than five minutes, the money will be on a Ugandan telephone, and it can be obtained from a Mobile Money agent. The transfer costs you less than a dollar, and you will have the money you need for expenses not included in the Safari.

I use WorldRemit to get money from my bank in the US, and it works flawlessly. Once there was a system delay, it was resolved within three hours. WorldRemit is used by thousands of Africans in other countries, and they use it to send money to their family or friends.

WordRemit works for me, an American in Uganda, I just used it today, and within minutes, the money was deposited on a local phone. Use your debit card for the lowest fee of 99 cents; credit cards have a higher fee attached to them. The fee for credit cards is a third of what it would cost you using an ATM in Uganda.

Set an account with WorldRemit, download the app onto your phone, and when you are on a safari in need of local currency, you can have it on a Ugandan telephone within minutes. Use the phone number of the driver-guide with a mobile money account, and you will have money when needed. WorldRemit is a workaround for high ATN fees.

 

Drive to Mgahinga Gorilla Park from Kigali-Rwanda:

Your 3-Day Gorilla Habituation Experience Safari begins as we leave your hotel in Kigali at 6:30 am or the Kigali Airport for your moderately priced Safari. The drive time to Rushaga is about 4 hours, depending on the Border Crossing.

Visa for Uganda is $50, or the East African Visa is $100 and covers entry to Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya. Both visas must be obtained online. In addition, you will need a Yellow Fever certificate for entry into Uganda.

Usually, the border crossing is about 30 to 45 minutes, and you are in Uganda heading for the ancient Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Officials on both sides will try to ease the border crossing for Tourists.

Any inconvenience fade in the light of the shorter drive time you have before you. Please note that it takes nine to ten hours from Entebbe or Kampala to reach Mgahinga Gorilla Park.

The Route you are on from Kigali to Bwindi is one of the most scenic drives in East Africa through the rolling, terraced hills of Rwanda and Uganda.

Fly from Entebbe International Airport to Kisoro – 90-minute scenic flight:

We will pick you up at your hotel in Entebbe at around 6:15 am for your 7:00 am departure with AeroLink Airline to Kisoro. Your flight time is 90 minutes, with a brief stopover at the Kihihi Airstrip. In Kisoro, you are met by your driver-guide, who will take you to your Lodge.

This is the quickest and most convenient way to reach the Mgahinga Gorilla Park. The Drive-Time from Kisoro to Mgahinga Gorilla Lodge is 40 minutes.

There is a 15 kg weight restriction for your flight. Excess baggage costs $6 additional payment, and you can leave extra luggage with us. To save on the weight of your bag, we suggest that you wear your gorilla wear for your flight, including the rain jacket and hiking boots.

 

What is a Value+ Midrange Safari?

Our Value+ Safaris are private, full-service Safari using quality, midrange lodges with ensuite rooms or cottages. Our Value+ Hakuna Matata Safaris come with a full-board meal plan and a private safari vehicle with your experienced driver guide, who will show you to Uganda, its primates, wildlife, and the scenic wonders of the Pearl of Africa.

For over a Decade since 2008, we have offered Hakuna Matata – No-Worries Safaris:

Our private Hakuna Matata – No Worries Safaris are full-service Value+ Midrange and Luxury Safaris that come with all needed for a successful Safari in Uganda. You have your own Safari Vehicle with an experienced driver. You stay at a quality midrange or luxury Lodge, and all the activities listed are included. The outcome of your safari is more important to us than income.

What is a Luxury Safari:

A Luxury Safari is a cut above the rest. It is a private, handcrafted safari planned with care to cater to your tastes and wishes. You have an experienced, local driver-guide who knows the country with a map or GPS. You, especially the Toyota 4×4 Landcruiser Safari come with a pop-up roof, individual seats, a car fridge, WiFi, bottled water, and fruit snacks.

Stay at exclusive and luxury safari that exceed most luxury hotels in quality. Be served requisite meals with an African Twist. Do one-of-a-kind activities not done on midrange or budget safaris, such as private gorilla treks, boat rides or guided walks, bushbreakfast, and a sundowner in the bush. A luxury safari is what we call, a Hakuna Matata+ no-worries safari for you.

 

The Uganda Gorilla Trekking Advantage:

• $700 Gorilla Permit Price: A gorilla Safari in Uganda costs half the price that it costs in neighboring Rwanda without compromising the quality of the experience. 

• Luxury Gorilla Safaris at hundreds of Dollars Less:  A Luxury Gorilla Trekking Safari will cost you a lot less in Uganda without a compromise in the quality of the experience.

• More Gorilla Permits: Uganda has half of the endangered Mountain Gorillas. The country has more Habituated (used to Humans) Gorilla Families which means that it is Uganda that has the most available permits for Gorilla Trekking.

• Safe-Secure Guerrilla-Free Trekking: Uganda is the only Mountain Gorilla Destination that has had no guerrilla activities in the last 20 years.

 

Is this 3-Day Luxury Gorilla Trekking Safari right for me?

The Pros:

• You have a 99%+ chance of seeing the Gorillas
• 1-hour with a Gorilla Family
• You are staying at the luxury Mount Gahinga Lodge with all the comforts you require.
• Best price for a Luxury Gorilla Trekking Safari from Kigali
• This is a private Safari with no other people in your vehicle but your driver.

The Cons:

• 4-Hour Drive Time from Kigali
• Having to obtain an East African Visa

The Choice is yours to make. We will assist you with alternatives or variations to this Safari.

Safari includes – All permits, Lodging, and bottled water in the vehicle. It does not include sodas or alcohol at lodges or tips.

If you are interested in this 3-Day Luxury Gorilla Trekking Safari – please use the contact form below.

 

The Uganda Gorilla Trekking Advantages:

• Two Gorilla Parks with different Habitats: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest with its Ridges and Valleys and Mgahinga Gorilla Park, where you trek Gorillas on the sides of the Virunga Volcanoes.

• More Mountain Gorillas: Uganda is home to nearly half of the endangered Mountain Gorillas.

• More Habituated Mountain Gorilla Families: Uganda has twice as many Habituated Gorilla Families (used to the presence of humans) open for visitation as does Rwanda.

• More Gorilla Trekking Permits: Uganda offers nearly twice the number of permits daily as Rwanda.

• $700 Gorilla Permit Price: A permit in Uganda is $800 less than in Rwanda, where a permit costs $1,500.

• Gorilla Safaris at a significantly lower price:  A Gorilla Trekking Safari will often cost you half the price in Uganda of what a similar safari will cost in Rwanda.

• Private Gorilla Trekking at a significantly lower cost: A private Gorilla Trek in Uganda will cost you $5,600, whereas, in Rwanda, it will cost you $15,000.

• Lower Accommodation Cost: Uganda’s Midrange, Luxury, and Exclusive Lodge rates are considerably lower. There is a wide array of losing choices at a lower cost without a compromise in the quality of rooms or services.

• Gorilla Habituation Experience: Uganda is the only Gorilla Destination that offers the one-of-a-kind Gorilla Habituation Experience, where you spend four hours with a gorilla family, and there are a maximum of four participants. The permit cost is for the Gorilla Habituation Experience.

• Safe-Secure Guerrilla-Free Trekking: Uganda is the only Mountain Gorilla Destination with no guerrilla activities in the last 20 years, offering safe and secure Gorilla Safaris at an affordable price.

• Uganda is the Best Primate Destination: Uganda is not only the best Gorilla Trekking Destination but the best Chimpanzee Trekking destination with sure sightings, unlike other Chimpanzee Trekking locations. Additionally, it is the best Golden Monkey destination with Golden Monkeys in Mgahinga Gorilla Park.

• Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is a UNESCO World Heritage Site: Not only is Bwindi Impenetrable Forest a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Additionally, CNN Travel chose the Park as the most beautiful place in 2019 and one of the Best Hiking Trails in the world, and Lonely Planet chose it as one of the most unusual Honeymoon Destinations in the world.

• Uganda gives you more Safari Options and Choices: Chimpanzees. Golden Monkeys, the Big-5, Snowcapped Rwenzori Mountains, Five Savannah Parks, Adrenaline Pumping Adventures on the Nile, Hiking, Africa as you imagined, but only better.

 

 

Inflation Busting Discounts on our Midrange Value+ and Luxury Safaris:

Private Midrange Value+ Safari Discounts:

• 5% discount on a Safari of four to nine days in length: This includes quality midrange, quality, above average lodges who have agreed to work with us to be able to this one-of-kind unprecedented discount to you. Arrival and departure days are included. 

• 10% on 10 days or longer Safaris: Save an incredible 10% on your Safari in Uganda. 10% has never been offered by tour operators in Uganda, aside from times when gorilla permits were on special and time-limited discount by Uganda Wildlife Authority. Our discount is not limited to a short time; our offer is for all of 2023 and 2024. However, the Safari must be booked by December 31. 2023

Read more about Midrange Safaris here. When contacting us, include in your text “Inflation Discount.”

Private Luxury Safari Discounts:

10% discount on a Safari of four days or longer: This includes our Fly-In Safaris with Aerolink Safari Airline. We use the best Luxury Lodges available with whom we have working relationships. Most luxury lodges we use have seasonal discounts during the off-and-shoulder seasons of the Year. The dates of such seasonal discounts vary from lodge to club. We will automatically include such discounts and inform you of them.

Our Luxury Safaris      Our Luxury Fly-In Safaris

Please Note: Gorilla Trekking, Gorilla Habituation Experience, Chimpanzee Trekking, and Chimpanzee Trekking, Golden Monkey Trekking, or Golden Monkey Permits are not discounted since they are set at a fixed price unless Uganda Wildlife Authority offers a temporary discount, then that discount will be reflected in the cost of the Safari. It should also be mentioned that our discounted Safaris are not a stripped-down version of what we usually offer. This offer is not retroactive, covering previously booked safaris.

 

What is included in your 

• Full-Board stays at safe, secure quality Lodges: We choose welcoming, friendly, and hospitable quality lodges for your Safari, including the incoming hotel in Entebbe or Kigali, Rwanda. 

• Vegetarian and Vegan Meals: We can accommodate vegetarians and vegans on a safari. Additionally, there are kid-friendly meals for families with children. Kosher Friendly meals can also be provided. Other dietary needs, such as gluten- and sugar-free, can be met if we are notified.

• Gorilla – Chimpanzee – Golden Monkey Permits: Permits are included in the Safari.

• Porter Services for Gorilla Treks: Porter Services are automatically included in your Safari. You are walking sticks; we supply bottled water for your treks, volcano climbs, and hikes.

• Private 4×4 Safari Vehicle equipped with Pop-Up Roof: You have an experienced driver-guide that will guide you on a Safari through the Pearl of Africa. The vehicle has a refrigerated unit, and bottled water and fruit snacks are available on longer drives. WiFi is available. We can make arrangements for a MiFi Router for you, which would give you access to the internet even in your cottage since, at most lodges, WiFi is available only in the leading club. You would incur a small charge for the use and data of a MiFi Router.

• AMREF-Flying Doctors Medivac Insurance: Your Well-being is foremost on our mind, and we automatically include emergency air-evac insurance for your Safari.