Day 1:  No.5 Boutique Hotel, Entebbe

Entebbe

Situated on a peninsula in Lake Victoria, the former seat of Uganda’s government, Entebbe is just a short drive from the current capital and offers plenty to keep visitors amused. This charming town features tree-lined streets and serves as an excellent base from which to explore the surrounding area. Tourists can look forward to spending days on beautiful beaches along the banks of Lake Victoria, stroll through the fields and forests of the magnificent Botanical Gardens, or pay a visit to Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary, a haven for country’s orphaned chimps.

Day Itinerary

• TBA: Arrival at Entebbe International Airport. 
• TBA: Meet & greet assistance on arrival. 
• TBA: Clearing with immigration.
• TBA: Transfer to your hotel for an early check-in and stay. 
• TBA: Dinner at Hotel No. 5

Overnight: No.5 Boutique Hotel       

Nestled in the leafy suburbs of Entebbe, is the stylish boutique hotel, Hotel No.5. From the moment you arrive, you are warmly welcomed and cared for. With luxurious rooms opening onto the garden and swimming pool, this is a great option for guests looking for an intimate stay in a tranquil setting.

Make yourself at home – unwind beside the swimming pool, pamper yourself with a spa treatment, or work up a sweat in the hotel gym. For one of the most flavoursome dining experiences in Entebbe, carefully planned menus are paired to an international wine list, and served with pride.

Attention to detail and an attentive guest experience are synonymous with Hotel No. 5, making it the perfect choice for a restful stay in this busy town.

Alternate: Protea Hotel by Marriott Entebbe           

This 73-roomed hotel is ideally located on the glistening shores of Lake Victoria and a convenient 1km from the airport.  Protea Hotel by Marriott Entebbe has a restaurant that offers an exciting and truly inviting a la carte menu seven days of the week. Specialties include Tilapia and Nile Perch, while guests can also relax on the terrace and bar. It’s a hotel that complements your travel style. With elegant furnishings and a warm, inviting feel, the hotel’s decor and rooms create a luxurious atmosphere. The outside terrace, with its own special ambience and superb lake views is the perfect place to take it all in.

Basis

Full Board – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch

Day 2:  Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park    

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

Located in southwestern Uganda, the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is said to be Africa’s oldest rainforest. It is world-renowned for its excellent gorilla-sighting opportunities – the forest is home to half of the remaining mountain gorillas on earth. This gorilla experience takes place among a rugged landscape of dense jungle, cascading waterfalls, sparkling mountain streams, deep valleys, and steep ridges. The untouched forest has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its breathtaking natural beauty and unique ecological significance, and aside from the amazing gorilla interactions, there are other drawcards such as a network of forest walks, over 340 species of bird to spot, and a variety of brightly-coloured butterflies to identify. Don’t miss the opportunity to explore the spectacular Virunga Volcanoes, three of which are still active.

Day Itinerary

• 0600: Begin the day with breakfast
• 0630: Transfer to Entebbe International Airport
• 0700: Flight to Kihihi Airstrip. 
• 0925: Estimated time of arrival at Kihihi Airstrip. 
• 0940: Transfer to your lodge.
• 1230: Lunch at the Lodge. 
• 1500: Afternoon Batwa Cultural Experience. 
• 1800: Dinner and overnight stay at your lodge.

Overnight: Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp    

Once-in-a-lifetime encounters with Uganda’s endangered gorillas await when you stay in one of these ten private luxury tents in the heart of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.

Ecologically respectful, contemporary-yet-classic in style, Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp blends in sensitively with the dramatic African mountain landscape and, situated uniquely inside the national park, you are only minutes away from the start of your gorilla trekking adventure.

Located in one of the remotest areas of Africa, these comfortable canvas spaces are dressed with indigenous prints and furniture made from natural materials. Beds are draped in neutral-toned linens, and local artefacts set a scene that ensures memorable moments both inside and out the accommodation. Each tent has a spacious, stone-walled bathroom with private sections, and a free-standing bath for a relaxing soak after a day’s trekking. The trees around the camp light up in the morning when the sun starts shining, and thanks to there being so few tents, the camp retains an intimate, exclusive feel, enabling you to experience Africa’s magic with the lightest of footprints yet with practically every mod con.

Alternate: Mahogany Springs Lodge             

Mahogany Springs is situated in one of the most intimate, secluded, beautiful and most importantly natural settings in the world and only around 2 minutes away from the Gorilla tracking starting point.

All the rooms at Mahogany Springs are high end suites. All Suites can be twin, double or triple.  There is 24/7 power in all the rooms. All rooms have large en-suite bathrooms with a gorgeously designed open terracotta shower.

All 12  luxurious suites have their own private terrace with magnificent panoramic views over the grounds, river and surrounding areas.

The main dining area is exquisitely furnished and with panoramic views beyond the lodge’s own gardens you will enjoy dining in a tranquil and unrivalled setting. The service provided is as much an art form as the food therefore, the staff are trained to very high standards. Within the main building there is a stunning bar where guests can sit all day and night trying one of the many cocktails or simply a bottle of fine wine. Most of the produce used at Mahogany Springs is grown on site to provide guests with the freshest ingredients.

Activities

Batwa Cultural Village

The Batwa Cultural village is where the Batwa (Pigmies) still live in the same way they used to years ago in tree houses. The Batwa only began leaving their forest homes around 15 years ago and they have been able to remain on this land thanks to the support of a generous American benefactor who donated the land back to them and created a cultural program. The fees from visiting tourists and are given to the Batwa project and they delight in welcoming visitors to their village and demonstrating how they make weapons, dance, make fires using sticks and cook.

Basis

Full Board – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch

Day 3:  Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park    

Day Itinerary

• 0600: Start the day with morning breakfast ready for the day’s gorilla trek
• 0700: Transfer/walk down to the park headquarters for the gorilla trek 
• 0800: Start the gorilla trekking adventure in Bwindi. 
• 1300: Estimated time of returning from the jungle.
• 1500: Afternoon relaxation at your lodge
• 1830: Dinner is served at the Lodge. 

Activities

Gorilla Trekking Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

Wake early for a hearty breakfast to give you the energy needed for gorilla trekking. Before 8:00 am, report to the ranger station for registration and a talk by one of the rangers. The guides will then take you through the bush, pushing your way through the undergrowth, to track the gorillas. (Please note this trek can take from 30 minutes to 5-6 hours). A reasonable degree of fitness is required, as well as a sturdy pair of walking shoes. Sit in the forest among the gorillas, listening to them ‘talk’ to one another, and marvel at the sheer size of the dominant male, the Silverback. It is an extraordinary feeling sitting in the dense rainforest knowing you are with a few of the last remaining mountain gorillas. It’s amazing to think there are only about 650 of these beautiful creatures left.

Basis

Full Board – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch

Day 4:  End of Itinerary     

Day Itinerary

• 0730: Breakfast is served.
• 0830: Transfer to the Airport for your flight check-in
• 1125: Estimated time of arriving at Entebbe Airport from Bwindi for your outbound flight
• 1140: End of service.

Basis

Bed and Breakfast