Africa

Latin America

India



01582 766122
Search for your perfect holiday: 
2by2 for holidays that will change your life
2by2 for holidays that will change your life
Call 01582 766122
Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safari Holidays and Primate Tours Chimpanzees

Gorilla Safari, Uganda: Adventure Holiday - White Water Rafting, Nile River

Uganda: White Water Rafting + Gorilla Trekking
Gorilla Safari Uganda Adventure Holiday White Water Rafting Nile River
7 NIGHTS FROM:
$3,764
Per person sharing
Scheduled flights quoted separately
URD7E
• Gorilla Safari, Uganda
• Adventure Holiday
• White Water Rafting, Nile River
• Skywalk Canopy Zip Line, Jinja
• Cross the Equator
• Lake Mburo National Park
• Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
• Gorilla Trekking
• Community Village Walks
• Kigali

This exciting gorilla safari in Uganda is also an adventure holiday as it includes white water rafting down the Nile River, with its thundering grade 5 rapids at Jinja. Then trek to view a family of endangered mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest - an incredible experience. Also stand on the equator & enjoy a safari game drive in Lake Mburo National Park. All transfers & gorilla permits included. Min age 15 yrs.

Day 1
You will be met at Entebbe Airport and transferred 3.5-hours to Jinja - the second largest city in Uganda, situated at the source of the River Nile.
 
Along the way you can ask your driver to make a short stop at Mabira Forest, one of the largest tropical forests in Uganda, where you can see a variety of primates, birds and colourful butterflies.
 
We check into our lodge in Jinja, where the River Nile flows out of Lake Victoria and begins its epic 4,150 miles (6,700 km) journey to Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea.
Day 2
A morning of adrenalin today, as you enjoy thrilling White Water Rafting down the River Nile.
 
After receiving safety instructions, put on your lifejacket and helmet and start paddling, as you tackle eight widely spaced thundering rapids - ranging from grade 5 to grade 3. As there are no submerged rocks, hippos or crocodiles in the river, these rapids are regarded as the safest for white water rafting in the whole of Africa. A safety boat will accompany you down the river taking an easier route, as well as a rescue kayak. Between rapids, enjoy paddling and drifting down the river surrounded by beautiful scenery.
 
After changing into dry clothes, enjoy a simple picnic on the riverbank before returning to your hotel.
 
Note: Wear swimwear under comfortable clothes that can get wet and will dry easily, sandals that are securely attached to your feet (not flip flops) and sunscreen. You cannot take shoes, glasses, jewellery, camera, phone, money or anything loose onto the boat so leave these in a small bag for safekeeping, together with dry clothes for afterwards. You can take a Go-Pro, provided it is securely attached to your helmet or body.
 
This activity is not suitable for pregnant women, anyone with back problems, recent surgery. medical or heart problems. Minimum age 9 years.
 
If you would like to experience 'softer' rafting, you can transfer into the safety boat at any stage. You can also do the whole trip in the safety boat. You will pay the same price, but will not need to paddle and you are unlikely to fall out the boat. You will however still feel the full force of the rapids and will be submerged in water.
Day 3
Today we travel 5-hours to Lake Mburo National Park.
 
Along the way we cross the equator, where you can stop to see how water flows clockwise on one side and anti-clockwise on the other side.
 
We continue to Lake Mburo National Park, which offers excellent plains game viewing and is the best place in the country to see eland, zebra, topi and impala. You should also have excellent sightings of giraffe, bushbuck, warthog, oribi, vervet and red-tailed monkeys, olive baboon, pigmy mongoose, white tailed mongoose and buffalo. If you are very fortunate you may even see leopard. There are no lions or elephants in this national park.
 
On arrival enjoy an afternoon game drive and distant views of the lake.
Day 4
Today we travel 5.5-hours from Lake Mburo to your lodge situated near the entrance to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest - home to over 50% of the world's population of critically endangered mountain gorillas, and also a sanctuary for colobus monkeys and chimpanzees.
 
This dense equatorial jungle is accessible only on foot and features one of the richest ecosystems in Africa, including 120 species of mammals, 350 bird species including hornbills and turacos, 220 butterfly species, 27 frog species as well as chameleons, geckos and many other endangered species. It also boasts over 1,000 different flowering plants, ferns & trees.
 
Check into your lodge and enjoy the beautiful scenery of your remote forest surroundings.
Day 5
This morning we enter Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park - home to half the world's population of critically endangered mountain gorillas, and also a sanctuary for colobus monkeys and chimpanzees.
 
This dense equatorial rainforest is accessible only on foot and features one of the richest ecosystems in Africa, including 120 species of mammals, 350 bird species including hornbills and turacos, 220 butterfly species, 27 frog species as well as chameleons, geckos and many other endangered species. It also boasts over 1,000 different floral species.
 
After walking (or driving up to 1.5-hours) to your specified gate, rangers will allocate you to a small group of up to 8 people - with each gorilla family graded as a short, medium or long hike, based on their location the previous day. We recommend you ask your guide to request the appropriate category for you, although this cannot be guaranteed as the gorillas may have moved significantly overnight.
 
After a briefing, you will then track a family of endangered Mountain Gorillas, accompanied by two rangers - one at the front and one at the back. The group will walk at the speed of the slowest member, so it is important to proceed at your own pace and enjoy the experience. We strongly recommend hiring a local porter at a cost of around $15 per person, as not only is this an important source of local employment, but they will carry your backpacks and give you a hand up (or a push) where necessary. Expect to walk 1 to 4-hours each way in steep, sometimes muddy and dense tropical jungle conditions to view a family of these enormous primates and observe their behaviour up close - a rare privilege indeed.
 
You must take a copy of your passport with you today, as this will be required to trek. You must be over the age of 15 years to track gorillas and be sufficiently fit to walk for the period indicated. Ensure you arrange a packed lunch with your lodge and carry sufficient water in your backpack (at least 2 litres). You should wear long trousers, long sleeved top, long socks (tucked into your trousers to keep out biting ants), proper walking boots and gardening gloves to protect your hands from nettles and undergrowth. Start off wearing a light fleece, as it is cold in the forest in the morning and pack proper rain gear, including a rain jacket and waterproof trousers, as it can rain at any time. A walking stick to help with the steep ascents will be provided if you don’t have your own.
 
You cannot be sick or have any infectious disease and no eating or drinking is permitted in the vicinity of the gorillas. Only one hour is allowed with the gorillas and you have to keep a distance of at least 7 metres. No flash photography is allowed and no touching the gorillas (although they may decide to touch you)!
Day 6
At leisure to relax and enjoy the natural beauty of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest with your guide.
 
It is possible to participate in another optional gorilla trek today, but this must be booked in advance as gorilla permits are strictly limited. Alternatively you can travel to Mgahinga National Park to search for rare golden monkeys, which should also be pre-booked
 
Other optional activities include a Community Village Walk where you can learn more about the local inhabitants, as well as meet the forest-dwelling Batwa pygmies. You can also enjoy a guided walk to a waterfall in the rainforest, where you can see endemic birds, butterflies and plants.
Day 7
Today we travel 5.5-hours from Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to Lake Mburo National Park.
 
This national park offers excellent plains game viewing and is the best place in the country to see eland, zebra, topi and impala. You should also have excellent sightings of giraffe, bushbuck, warthog, oribi, vervet and red-tailed monkeys, olive baboon, pigmy mongoose, white tailed mongoose and buffalo. If you are very fortunate you may even see leopard. There are no lions or elephants in this national park.
 
On arrival enjoy an afternoon game drive and distant views of the lake.
Day 8
After an early morning game drive, we transfer 5-hours to Entebbe crossing the equator along the way, where you can stop to see how water flows clockwise on one side and anti-clockwise on the other side.
 
On arrival you will be dropped off at Entebbe Airport for your flight home.