5 Days Nile water rafting and Gorilla Safari : Uganda the pearl of Africa is among the top best tourist destinations in Africa with diverse attractions best known as the home of primates, wildlife and adventure destination as compared to other African countries. Uganda is also home to the Source of River Nile. It was discovered that The Nile starts it’s flow from Uganda in a place called Jinja which is about 3 hours’ drive from Kampala city. It is from here that the world’s longest river flows with about a length of 6,695 Kilometres northwards to drain into the Mediterranean Sea. The existence of River Nile has supported water activities like white water rafting, Boat cruises on the Nile and other activities.
Bwindi impenetrable national park on the other hand is Uganda’s best-selling tourism product as it is the world’s habitant for half of the remaining mountain gorillas in the world offering visitors the best experience of gorillas with a maximum adventure for both habituated and semi-habituated gorilla families. Bwindi forest is one of Uganda’s oldest national park with diverse rainforest of over 25,000 years ago and contains about 400 plant species. Bwindi Impenetrable national park is divided into 4 sectors including; Buhoma sector which is the oldest trekking sector, Rushaga sector which has the largest number of gorilla families, Ruhija sector and finally Nkuringo sector. Bwindi forest also shelters some species of mammals including the forest elephants and the different species of antelopes. The park is also rich with different bird species including Albertine Rift endemics. Rushaga sector is the only sector that offers opportunities of Gorilla habituation, this means visitors are also enjoy a habituation experience, a process that involves taming the gorillas to get used to visitors. This is a full day experience with the help of the researchers.
Safari highlights
Day 1: Transfer to Jinja – Quad biking, Source of the Nile visit and Boat cruise
Day 2: White water rafting and return to Kampala
Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable national park
Day 4: Gorilla trekking experience.
Day 5: Return to Kampala/Departure
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Transfer to Jinja – Quad biking, Source of the Nile visit and Boat cruise
On the 1st day of your 5 Days Nile water rafting and Gorilla Safari, depending on your location in Kampala/upon arrival at Entebbe airport, very early, you will be met by your driver guide to transfer to Jinja – home to the source of Nile. Drive through the Lugazi sugar plantations and Mabira forest (Uganda’s largest rainforest) as you proceed to Jinja. Upon reaching Jinja, connect for a quad biking experience for about 2 hours, thereafter, enjoy your lunch then drive to the source of the Nile and evening boat cruise along Lake Victoria. Return to your hotel for dinner and overnight at 2 Friends Jinja Guesthouse for mid-range/Source of the Smile Hotel for budget
Day 2: White water rafting and return to Kampala
After your delicious breakfast at your lodge, meet your guide at 8 am to transfer for your water rafting experience. You will receive briefing before the activity. Rafting is a whole day’s activity. Later in the evening, connect back to Kampala. It’s a 2-3 hours’ drive arriving late afternoon. Dinner and overnight stay at Forest Cottages for budget/Fairway Hotel for mid-range
Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable national park
After breakfast, drive out of the park to connect to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park (home of Uganda Mountain Gorillas). Dinner and overnight at Bakiga lodge for budget/Buhoma Haven lodge for mid-range
Day 4: Gorilla trekking experience.
On the 4th day of your 5 Days Nile water rafting and Gorilla Safari, wake up early, have breakfast and connect to the forest with your packed food and water. The briefing from the park warden about the gorillas starts at 8 am where your will be guided on highlights about the way of life of the gorillas you will be tracking. The hike can take anything from 2-8 hours. Once you reach the gorillas, you are allowed to spend one hour with them as you stand 6 meters away. Return to the lodge to unwind and dinner and overnight stay as above.
Day 5: Return to Kampala/Departure
After breakfast at the lodge, proceed back to Kampala with en route lunch in Mbarara town and the Equator. Arrive Kampala/Entebbe late afternoon and connect the airport for drop flight back. End of Uganda Safari tour.
