5 Days Gorilla Trekking and White Water Rafting Safari
This 5 Days Gorilla Trekking and White Water Rafting Safari combines the experiences of spending time with the mountain gorillas in Bwindi National Park and a boat ride on the river Nile in Jinja. You will first go to Bwindi National Park located in Southwestern Uganda in the Kanungu district along the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) border next to the Virunga National Park and on the edge of the Albertine Rift. The impenetrable forest protects an estimated 400 mountain gorillas-roughly half of the world’s population including several habituated groups which can be tracked. It is also host to a rich fauna including a number of the endemic butterflies and one of the richest mammalian assemblages in Africa.
On the other hand, Jinja city is in the Jinja district on the shores of Lake Victoria in the Eastern region of Uganda. It is known as the adventure capital of Uganda and is the second largest town in Uganda after Kampala. It is where the mighty river Nile the world’s largest river is found. Jinja is just 81 Kms away from Kampala hence it is easy for travelers to go for an excursion safari from Kampala and then return the same day.
Highlights – 5 Days Gorilla Trekking and White Water Rafting Safari
Day 1: Kampala to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 2: Gorilla trekking
Day 3: Back to Kampala
Day 4:
Day one: Kampala to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
The driver/guide will pick you up from your hotel and brief you about your trip before you start your journey to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The journey will take about 9-10hours. You’ll be having a number of stops, the first one at the Equator where you may buy souvenirs, take photos, and then proceed with your journey. Another stop will be at Igongo cultural center where you’ll have your lunch from. After your lunch, you will continue your journey with the spectacular views of the rolling hills, terraced farmlands, homesteads, plantations, Kigezi hills, and beautiful scenery among others. Upon arrival in the park, you’ll check in at Rushaga Gorilla Camp (Budget accommodation), Four Gorillas Lodge (Midrange accommodation), or Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day two: Gorilla trekking
After your early morning breakfast, you’ll go with your packed lunch to the park headquarters where you’re going to be briefed about the Dos and Don’ts while gorilla trekking after you will join another group of park guides among others, and start trekking for gorillas. This activity will take you about 8hours depending on where the gorilla families are located. During trekking, you’ll be able to view other primate species like the chimpanzees, baboons among others, bird species, tree species, and mammal species among others. Once you find the gorilla family you’ll be with them for like an hour taking photos of the moment for remembrance. Dinner and overnight at your lodge.
Day three: Back to Kampala
Do breakfast at leisure then check out for your journey back to Kampala.
Day four: Transfer to Jinja
After breakfast early morning, your driver will pick you up and embark on the 1 hour and 45minutes journey to Jinja town. On this journey, you will have a stop in Mabira forest, one of the thickest and largest forests in Uganda, do a brief nature walk for primates like the grey checked mangabey, and also through the large tea and sugarcane plantations in Lugazi.
This is quite an interesting journey as there’s a lot to see along the way from the roasted food vendors at Najjembe and close to Mabira to the beautiful scenery. Close to Jinja town, you will cross the Jinja Bridge, where Owen falls dam is located. While in Jinja town, have lunch and you will be driven straight to the source of the Nile, buy some souvenirs from the craft shops around then go for a boat trip to the point where the source of the Nile was discovered. Also, check out the Mahatmah Ghandi statue. Dinner at Jinja Nile Resort / 2Friends Guest House.
Day five: Water Rafting
Jinja is so much full of adventure that one cannot be bored in any way, so on this day, you will go water rafting at the spectacular Bujagali falls. These rapids go about 10km downriver of the source of the Nile which has turned it to be one of the best spots for water rafting and kayaking. After lunch, set off for Kampala.
