Gorillas of Bwindi (Small Group)

Hotel No. 5
No. 5 Boutique Hotel is a stylish hotel located in a quiet suburb of Entebbe, just 10 minutes’ drive from Entebbe International Airport. The hotel offers 10 air-conditioned rooms, with outside sitting area and en-suite shower room, and facilities including a gym, spa and swimming pool.

This evening, you can expect to meet with the rest of your tour group as they arrive into Entebbe on their own flights.

Arriving Kihihi late morning, meet with your guide and driver at the airstrip and transfer south to Buhoma, northern Bwindi. This is a short but scenic drive of approx. 1½ hours, which will see you journey through a wonderfully lush region of rainforest, interspersed with tea and coffee plantations, as you travel into the forested foothills of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This is also one of the richest agricultural regions in East Africa, and along the way you’ll pass through several farming communities.

Expect to arrive in Bwindi, home of the endangered mountain gorillas, in time for lunch at your lodge, the fabulous Buhoma Lodge. The rest of the afternoon is free for you to relax. There are pleasant walks to be had on the grounds of Buhoma Lodge, including to the Munyaga River, which marks the boundary of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Buhoma Lodge
Buhoma Lodge is a rustic retreat with a homely atmosphere and a fantastic location on the edge of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. It offers just ten cottage rooms, all of which open onto private verandahs overlooking the Munyaga River Valley and Bwindi Forest. The cottages are large and spacious, and equipped with en-suite bathrooms (some with bathtub, some just with shower).

The main building at Buhoma is built on two levels, with a cosy lounge with fireplace on the top floor overlooking the forest, and a relaxed dining area where you’ll enjoy a hearty dinner this evening.

You will spend one hour with a single family, and anything from one to seven hours trekking through the forest to find them. The conditions can be wet, muddy and hilly, but whatever the travails en route, the experience of observing a gorilla family at close range as they eat, play and rest makes it all worthwhile.

And it's not all tough work. The rainforest trek is also an opportunity to explore the unique rainforest eco-system, and learn more about Bwindi’s distinctive flora and fauna, particularly its birdlife, from your guide and ranger.

After an hour spent with the gorillas, return to Buhoma Lodge. Depending on the time you arrive back at the lodge, you may like to take the time to enjoy a walk through Buhoma village this afternoon. Otherwise, the rest of the day is at leisure.

In the evening, share the day's stories around the fireplace lounge and enjoy another delicious meal.

If you tracked the gorillas yesterday, today will be free for you to relax at the lodge or to take part in one of a number of activities available locally, with possible options including:

Second Gorilla Trek: Permit availability permitting, you may like to take part in a second gorilla tracking experience. Please note that this must be booked prior to travel and is at the cost of an additional gorilla permit.

Forest Walk: Enjoy a guided walk with a knowledgeable wildlife guide. The walk will take place around the perimeter of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, and will focus on the region’s colourful birdlife, plant life, and many species of monkey ($70 payable locally).

Community Walk: Embark on a 3-4 hour guided walk through Buhoma Village and its surroundings. The locations visited during your walk can vary, but may include a traditional rural home, a local school, and/or a banana beer brewery, as you explore the region in the company of your guide ($30 payable locally).

Ishasha Wilderness Camp
Sister property to Buhoma Lodge, this remote bush camp is situated on the banks of the Ntungwe River, in the southern Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. This is a fabulous game-viewing region, famous particularly for its tree-climbing lions, a known fixture of the Ishasha region that are found in only a few other places in Africa. During the day, they can often be seen lolling in the giant fig trees not far from the camp.

Ishasha Wilderness Camp is a lovely retreat. It's very much an eco-camp, powered largely by solar and with basic bush showers. The large canvas tents, of which there are just ten, are comfortable and spacious, and ideally positioned on the banks of the river.

After lunch, enjoy a game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park in search of the tree-climbing lion and other notable species, such as Ugandan kob, topi, warthog, and buffalo. Elephant and leopard are also seen in Queen Elizabeth, albeit more rarely.

Late afternoon, stop at the Ishasha River, where Uganda and the Congo meet, and where many hippo pods have made their home, before returning to Ishasha Wilderness Camp for dinner and overnight.

Your transfer to Kihihi airstrip is included. We can help organise an overnight hotel stay in Entebbe if your international flight schedule requires it. Otherwise, your tour ends on arrival at Entebbe Airport.