Itinerary Highlights
- 2 Mountain Gorilla visits in Bwindi, Uganda
- 3 Lowland Gorilla visits in Repubic of Congo
- Top notch hospitality throughout with superb guiding
- Central African mammals including Forest elephants, Forest buffalo, Red river hog and Bongo
- A plethora of wonderful birds in Uganda and Congo
What's Included
- Flights
- Accommodation Throughout
- Travel Guide
- Transfers
12 nights from £16,550 per person
Helen Kennedy
Travel Specialist
This very special once-in-a-lifetime tour offers an unrivalled choice for serious Great Ape enthusiasts, who want to spend as much time as possible observing both Mountain gorillas and Lowland gorillas in their natural homes.
The first part of the itinerary entails a trip to spectacular and remote Odzala-Kokoua National Park in Republic of Congo. This very beautiful park is a superb wilderness area where a healthy population of Lowland gorillas thrives. You will be able to visit habituated Lowland gorilla family groups three times during your stay.
After enjoying light adventure in the Congo, fly to Kigali, Rwanda and from there, cross the border into Uganda where in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, you have two opportunities to track habituated Mountain gorilla families.
Apart from the utterly unforgettable encounters with the two species of Gorilla, you'll also be able to see various other mammals of the great central African rainforests such as Forest elephant, Forest buffalo, Bongo, and a phenomenal variety of birds.
Excellent accommodation is used throughout, and guiding is of the highest standard.
The itinerary can be tailored to suit individual interests and requirements - contact Craig, our Gorilla tourism expert, to discuss ideas.
Itinerary
Day 1 International flight to Brazzaville
Check in for your international flight journey to Brazzaville with Ethiopian Airlines via Addis Ababa.
** For this sample itinerary, we quote based on Ethiopian Airlines, as this carrier services the route from UK (and USA) to to Brazzaville and then at the end of the trip, from Entebbe to UK or USA.
***For advice on other international carriers, please ask.
Day 2 Welcome to Republic of Congo!
On arrival into Addis Ababa Bole Airport remain air side and connect with the flight to Brazzaville, capital of Republic of Congo.
On arrival today in the late morning, you will be met and transferred to Radisson Blu, to stay overnight with breakfast included.
This afternoon, we can schedule a guided city highlights tour for you.
Day 3 Brazzaville - Odzala- Kokoua National Park (flight)
You will be transferred to Maya Maya Airport and checked in for the scheduled flight***:departing at 1pm and arriving into Odzala at 3pm.
(You land at Mboko). On arrival at Mboko Airstrip, you will be welcomed and transferred to Ngaga Camp (3 hour road journey through the National Park).
You will meet the gorilla research team for a briefing, and then have dinner.
Ngaga Camp, all meals, house wines, spirits, beers and drinks.
*** This flight will be on a Thursday, to work with the itinerary.
Day 4 Introducing the Lowland Gorillas of Odzala
After breakfast you will be taken for the first of your three Gorilla tracking excursions. Set off with a guide and tracker from the team, who will introduce you to the lowland relatives of the Mountain gorillas which you previously encountered in Uganda.
After the Lowland gorilla tracking, return to Ngaga Camp for lunch and a rest, followed by a forest walk for birding and discovery of other forest wildlife life. Then, enjoy river sundowners and overnight at Ngaga Camp in an en-suite forest chalet.
Day 5 More Lowland gorillas and other wildlife of Odzala
This morning, enjoy a second Gorilla tracking excursion with your guide and tracker, followed by lunch at Ngaga Camp. In the afternoon, spend time with the gorilla research team, and then go for a guided forest walk in search of the wonderful wildlife which finds protection here. After dinner, you will be taken for a guided forest walk in search of nocturnal forest wildlife.
Day 6 Third Lowland Gorilla tracking excursion, and more
After breakfast, enjoy your 3rd and final Lowland gorilla tracking excursion. You will then be transferred by road throug Mbomo village and the Odzala-Kokoua National Park, to Mboko Camp where you arrive in time for lunch, followed by a kayak excursion or sundowner river cruise.
Overnight Mboko Camp in an en-suite river chalet, all meals included.
Day 7 Odzala - Brazzaville - Kigali (flights)
After breakfast at Mboko Camp, you will be taken to the airstrip and checked in for the scheduled domestic flight departing at 9am and arriving into Brazzaville Maya Maya Airport at 11am
You will be taken on a short city excursion, during which you can include a lunch stop (meal payable locally).
In the afternoon you will be transferred back to the airport to check in for the Rwandair Express flight to Kigali, departing 18h00.
On arrival into Kigali this evening you will be met and transferred to Heaven Boutique Hotel to stay overnight with breakfast included.
Day 8 Kigal - Bwindi
Set off this morning in your private 4-wheel drive vehicle on the approximately 5-hour drive from Kigali across the border to Bwindi, Uganda. You will be taken care of by your experienced, private, wildlife expert driver-guide. Continue to Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, to stay 3 nights in an en-suite Deluxe Cottage on an all-inclusive basis.
Day 9 Gorilla tracking in Bwindi
This morning, enjoy the first of your two visits with the Mountain gorillas of Bwindi: you'll depart after an early breakfast to the Park HQ for a briefing, after which experienced trackers will lead you into forested slopes to one of the resident, habituated groups of Mountain gorilla.
Savour your golden hour with these magnificent and endangered primates, which now number some 1,065 globally.
Day 10 Second Mountain Gorilla excursion in Bwindi
For good measure, you'll have a second Gorilla tracking excursion *** in Bwindi today.
In the later afternoon, you will be taken for sundowners to a marvellous viewpoint in Bwindi South known as the Top of the World.
*** For really serious Gorilla fans, it is possible to do a 4- hour Gorilla Habituation experience today, subject to availability of these permits. The permit will cost an additional £645. (A 4-hour Uganda Gorilla Habituation permit costs US$ 1,500 which is the same as a 1 hour Gorilla tracking permit across the border in Rwanda).
Our clients who have done the Gorilla Habituation experience, have all enjoyed it very much.
Day 11 Bwindi - Kisoro (road) - Entebbe (flight) and Departure
You will be transferred by 4-wheel drive vehicle to Kisoro Airstrip for the light aircraft transfer to Entebbe, where you are met on arrival and taken to Papyrus Guesthouse. Here you have the use of a day room until you are transferred to Entebbe Airport to check in for the early evening Ethiopian Airlines flight*** journey to the UK or USA.
*** If you would prefer another international carrier, please contact us for advice.
Day 12 Arrival home
Arrival back home into the UK if you've flown from London or selected other airports.
Helen Kennedy
Travel Specialist
Pricing Information & Dates
12 nights from £16,550 per person
Helen Kennedy
Travel Specialist
Price Includes
- Return International Flights as per the itinerary
- All airport taxes and security charges
- Accommodation and meals as specified
- Transfers as specified
- Activities and excursions as specified
- All entrace fees on sightseeing tours as specified
* International flights from London (Ethiopian Airlines, economy class seating) to Brazzaville and Entebbe to London, and from Brazzaville to Kigali (Rwandair Express)
* Airport taxes;
* Domestic flights in Republic of Congo and Uganda
* All transfers and 4-wheel drive transportation
* Services of experienced, private guides
* All accommodation as stated with meals and drinks as indicated
* All excursions and activities as outlined
* 2 Uganda Gorilla permits per person
* 3 Congo Republic Gorilla permits per person
* National park permits and park fees
* Services of local guides and trackers
* Drinking water in vehicles
Price Excludes
- Travel Insurance
- Any meals not specified in the itinerary
- Tips and gratuities
- Optional excursions
Visa fees; items of a personal nature (travel insurance; phone calls, tips, certain drinks)
Pricing Notes
If you do not need us to book international flights, please deduct £1,370 from the tour price per person.
Why Choose Us?
Passionate travel experts
- We've been leading wildlife travel since our first South Africa tours over 25 years ago
- Our Travel Specialists have lived in their specialist area for years
- We work with local guides to immerse you deeper in our diverse range of experiences
Personal & tailor-made
- You'll speak to your own expert who'll share their first-hand knowledge
- We'll make your itinerary seamless with 24/7 emergency contact available
- Your Travel Specialist will listen to ensure you have the best chance of seeing the wildlife you love
Responsible by nature
- We take care to actively contribute to the conservation of environments we visit
- For select countries, we make a charitable donation on your behalf when you make your booking
- We've partnered with conservation experts and NGOs to curate responsible tours
For the latest travel advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office check www.gov.uk/travelaware
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