Sanctuary Retreats Gorilla Forest Camp, Uganda
Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp
5 night, all inclusive luxury Gorilla Trekking Experience
The undiscovered pearl of Africa, Uganda is a landscape of deep lakes, towering mountains and thick rainforests. Boasting wildlife not found anywhere else, Uganda is also home to the world’s greatest concentration of primates.
The gorillas are completely wild but have become used to seeing a few humans after years of habituation. Many of the expert guides have been involved in this process since the beginning and are able to explain the complicated etiquette involved in meeting a giant silverback. This is an opportunity afforded only to a select few, as just eight visitors are allowed to view each group every day. Tracking through dense forest with steep slopes means that participants do need to be physically fit to enjoy the track. Once the gorillas are located, spend a maximum of one hour with them before returning back to camp. Please note only children aged 15 and above can track gorilla.
Sanctuary Retreats Gorilla Trekking Safari
5 night safari: Let us take care of every detail from overnight layovers, road and light aircraft transfers, trekking permits, village visits, National Park permits and of course your luxury all inclusive accommodation.
DAY 01 – Overnight Entebbe at Protea Hotel or similar
On arrival in Entebbe you will be met by a Sanctuary Representative who will transfer you to your Entebbe/Kampala hotel.
DAY 02 – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, overnight Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp
This morning after breakfast you will be picked up and transferred to Entebbe airport for your scheduled flight to Kihihi airstrip where a Sanctuary representative will meet and transfer you to the camp. The transfer time is approximately 1 hour 30 minutes. Gorilla Forest Camp is located within Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is the perfect base for a tracking experience as it offers luxury in the heart of the rainforest. Lunch is served at camp. In the afternoon you can just relax and take in the fresh air or take a forest walk, which is a nice way to warm up before the Gorilla tracking. 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.
DAY 03 – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest NP, overnight Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp
Early breakfast this morning before a briefing from your guide. Tracking commences every morning from the park headquarters at 8.30 am. 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. Once the gorillas are located, the group will be allowed a maximum of one hour with them. Return to camp for dinner.
DAY 04 – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest NP, overnight Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp
Today relax at camp or visit a local village and meet the villagers to learn about their day to day lives. On this walk you can visit a honey production site, a traditional medicine man, a traditional blacksmith, a local school when in term and even attend a Batwa dance performance. The walk is organised with the local community as part of our community support. Or you could take a bird walk. Bwindi boast 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. Lunch and dinner at the lodge. After dinner simply relax and sip a drink as you listen to folk tunes played on the traditional Bakiga guitar.
*OPTIONAL day Gorilla Trekking, $600USD per person trekking permits apply. Prices subject to change.
DAY 05 – Transfer by road and air to Entebbe, overnight at Protea Hotel or similar.
Awaken this morning to a warm cup of tea or coffee served on the veranda of your tent. After a hearty breakfast your return transfer begins by road to Kihihi airstrip for your shared scheduled flight back to Entebbe with a layover night hotel included.
DAY 06 – End of your Gorilla Trek
After breakfast transfer back to Entebe airport for your onward connecting flight.
ABOUT UGANDA
The undiscovered pearl of Africa, Uganda is a landscape of deep lakes, towering mountains and thick rainforests. Boasting wildlife not found anywhere else, Uganda is also home to the world’s greatest concentration of primates.
- The highest concentration of primates on Earth and home to half the world’s remaining mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
- An equally wide range of fauna, flora, and landscapes in all of the country’s
national parks, including Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth, and Kibale Forest - A bird watcher’s paradise with over 350 species of bird recorded in Bwindi
- Excellent climate all year round
- The cheery and welcoming hospitality of its warm-natured people
Sanctuary Retreats
Gorilla Forest Camp
Sanctuary Serengeti Gorilla Forest Camp
The undiscovered pearl of Africa, Uganda is a landscape of deep lakes, towering mountains and thick rainforests. Boasting wildlife not found anywhere else, Uganda is also home to the world’s greatest concentration of primates.
The gorillas are completely wild but have become used to seeing a few humans after years of habituation. Many of the expert guides have been involved in this process since the beginning and are able to explain the complicated etiquette involved in meeting a giant silverback. This is an opportunity afforded only to a select few, as just eight visitors are allowed to view each group every day. Tracking through dense forest with steep slopes means that participants do need to be physically fit to enjoy the track. Once the gorillas are located, spend a maximum of one hour with them before returning back to camp. Please note only children aged 15 and above can track gorilla.
WHY SANCTUARY GORILLA FOREST CAMP
- Frequently visited by gorilla families due to its unique location
- Exclusive camp with only eight tents, the perfect base for a once in a lifetime trip to track mountain gorillas
- Opportunity for community interaction, including the local Batwa Pygmies
- Specially customised sedan chairs with support and harness allows less able guests to be carried into the rainforest to track the gorillas in their natural habitat
- An established philanthropy project at Bwindi Community Hospital which guests can visit
DINING AT SANCTUARY GORILLA FOREST CAMP
*Please let us know if you have any special requests and/or dietary requirements.
Scrumptious packed lunches filled with fresh fruit and sweet and savoury delights are provided for day’s out trekking; on return to camp, expect to gather around the campfire for expertly-crafted cocktails. Hungry? Chef Medard serves a silver service three course dinner each evening, which might include his signature dish of black pepper beef with stir-fry noodles.
GETTING TO CAMP
Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp is nestled deep inside Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
Kihihi airstrip is the closest airstrip which is 1 hour and 15 minutes from the camp. The camp can also be reached by vehicle from Kampala; and there is also the option of a scenic road transfer from Kigali, Rwanda.
FLIGHT TIMES
Flying time:
- Scheduled flight from Entebbe to Kihihi airstrip – 1hr 45mins
Road transfer:
- Kampala to Bwindi – 10 hours
- Kigali (Rwanda) to Bwindi – 8 hours (weather dependent)
A maximum of 15 kg / 33lbs of luggage per person in soft-sided bags is allowed.
MEMORIES TO LAST A LIFE TIME
With the benefit of digital photography don’t hold back taking pics, you can always delete them. We recommend packing your largest lense, all safari vehicles have padded rest for stable long distance shots.
UGANDA
MONEY MATTERS
The Ugandan shilling is issued in denominations of 1000, 5000, 10000, 20000 and 50000 shillings for notes, while coins are issued in denominations of 10, 50, 100, 200 and 500 shillings. The local currency can be obtained at authorised facilities (such as banks and foreign exchange bureaus). Foreign currency can also be changed at the airport on arrival. Many establishments will only change USD issued after the year 2003. Be aware that only paper currency will normally be accepted for exchange. Travellers cheques are not widely accepted outside of Kampala. In Uganda, credit card use is usually restricted to major banks and hotels and most shops will not accept other methods of payment other than cash. Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp accepts Visa, MasterCard, Amex and JCB credit cards which attract a surcharge of 5%.
TIPPING
Tipping is not compulsory, nor are there any fixed amounts.
Driver-Guide in Bwindi: a tip of about US$10 per transfer is appropriate for your transfer driver.
On a Gorilla Track: If you choose to take a porter (highly recommended), the minimum recommended tip is US$15 per traveller per track.
A recommended tip of about US$20 per day of tracking per traveller may be placed in the appropriate tip box for your gorilla group (found at Park Headquarters) for distribution amongst the staff.
WE ALSO SUGGEST $15 PER GUEST PER DAY FOR THE REST OF THE STAFF.
PASSPORT & VISA INFORMATION
Each traveller must be in possession of a passport that will remain valid for at least six months beyond the completion of his/her trip. Travellers should check for visa requirements pertaining to their citizenship, as entry requirements vary.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Please note: TSA Bans Powerless Devices From Flights
According to recent rules issued by the US Transport Security Administration (TSA), passengers travelling from Europe, the Middle East and Africa to the US must be able to turn on their electronic devices to prove they are genuine, “Powerless devices” – cellphones and computers that cannot be turned on will not be permitted on board the aircraft.
This was followed by an announcement by the UK Department for Transport regarding stepping up some aviation security measures. “In line with the US advice, passengers on some routes into and out of the UK may now also be required to show that electronic devices in their hand luggage are powered up or face not being allowed to bring the device onto the aircraft.” According to Reuters, TSA officials singled out smartphones, including the Apple iPhone and Samsung Galaxy, for extra security checks on U.S.-bound flights from Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Source: http://www.tsa.gov/press/releases/2014/07/06/enhanced-security-measures-certain-airports-overseas
TIME ZONE
GMT + 3 hours
LANGUAGE
English is the official national language. Luganda, the most common of the many indigenous languages, is also widely spoken.
WEATHER
In Uganda days are warm, but it almost invariably rains, except in the very driest months of January and February. It can get very cool at night. The year-round weather stays within this range.
For more information on Uganda travel please visit http://www.visituganda.com/index.php
Private safari per person rate based on two people sharing with one day gorilla trekking permit included.
1 April – 20 June; 1 November – 20 December; $5520USD
7 January – 31 March; 1 – 31 October; $6550USD
21 June – 30 September, 21 December – 6 January 2020; $7440USD
Additional day Gorilla Trekking permit $750USD per person.
50% additional single supplement.
Share this tour with your friends...