7 Days Gorilla trekking & Ssese Islands tour

This 7 Days Ssesse, and Bwindi Impenetrable national park tour is the best get away from the daily work seeking to relax and enjoy the nature. This trip features a visit to Ssesse islands which are islands on Lake Victoria composed of about 40 islands mainly for relaxation and fishing experiences for visitors. These islands have beaches and other tourist sites for visitors to enjoy. This trip also features Bwindi Impenetrable national park which is located in the southwestern part of Uganda close to Rwanda-Uganda border at the edge of the Rift Valley. 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 inhabits half of the remaining endangered mountain gorillas in the world with half of the remaining gorilla in the world and it 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.

Gorilla trekking is a life fulfilling experience while relaxing in an enchanting forest accommodations overlooking the Bwindi forest with dense vegetation and great sounds of primates and birds over the montane forest, terraced hills and rolling volcanic slopes. The mountain gorillas’ presence in this part of the world has transformed the edges of Africa’s oldest rainforest into a luxury getaway spot.

Tour highlights

Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe

Upon arrival at Entebbe airport, you will be met by our company representative/driver who will welcome you and transfer you to your hotel within Entebbe. Dinner and overnight stay at Luxury option – Protea Hotel Entebbe/Mid-range option – 2 Friends Guesthouse/Budget option – ViaVia Guesthouse

Day 2: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park

After breakfast, you will be met by your safari guide of the trip and embark on your journey to Bwindi national park located in Kisoro district in the far south west of Uganda close to the Rwanda and Congo borders. Since it is quite a long drive, you will enjoy en-route stops at the Equator and in Mbarara town which is the largest and urban town in the western part of Uganda for lunch and refreshments. On reaching, Kisoro town in the evening, proceed to your accommodation. Check-in, refresh as you wait for dinner and overnight rest at Chameleon Hill Lodge/Ichumbi Safari lodge/Rushaga Gorilla Camp

7 Days Gorilla trekking and Ssese Islands tour

Day 3: Gorilla trekking experience

Enjoy early morning breakfast and transfer to the park headquarters with your packed lunch for a briefing by the ranger guides before entering the forest in your trekking gears including trekking sticks, good hiking shoes and stocking for tacking-in, long sleeved shirts and long trousers and a rain coat or jacket to mention but a few. Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga national park is no different from other trekking parks that is trekking takes 2 to 8 hours depending on the movement of the gorillas as they roam the park freely and there is no way of telling where they will be for a particular day however the rangers will be able to find them as they tracked daily.

On finding them, you will be allowed to spend 1 hour as you view and take photos of these gentle primates before you descend back to meet your driver/guide and transfer back to your new lodge. Relax as you enjoy the views of the Virunga Mountains, dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above

Day 4: Transfer to Entebbe

After breakfast, embark on your journey back to Entebbe. It’s a 8-9 hours’ drive with en-route lunch in Mbarara and if you missed the equator experience on the first day, you will stop at the equator for the experience then proceed to Entebbe. Upon arrival, connect to your booked lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at ViaVia Guesthouse/2 Friends Guesthouse/Protea Entebbe Hotel

Day 5: Sail to Ssesse islands

After breakfast at the hotel, early afternoon your guide will be at the hotel to transfer you to Ssesse Islands. Check-out of the hotel with your packed lunch to connect for your 2 pm via Nakiwogo where the ferry to the Ssese islands dock. The ferry has a specific time of departure which is 2 pm and takes 3- 4 hours to reach Lutoboka bay in Bugala Island. The Ssesse Islands are one of the most interesting places for relaxation.

7 Days Gorilla trekking and Ssese Islands tour

On the ferry, you will be able to take pictures of the lake, fishing activities, you get to see many islands as you get closer to Kalangala, you will also enjoy the breeze of the lake, see different bird species and so many other experiences. On landing, you will connect to your hotel for dinner and overnight stay at Brovad Hotel/Ssese Island Palm Beach Hotel/Hornbill Camp

Day 6: Full day Ssesse islands

After a delicious breakfast, take a nature walk in the forest and later a boat trip and see some of the islands including the Bukasa, Buggala, Buvuma, and Banda which are popularly known for interesting excursions. Return to your hotel for a lunch and spend your afternoon at leisure while relaxing at the beach on a sunbath, or swimming, or mountain biking, to mention a few. Return to your hotel before nightfall for dinner and overnight stay at hotel as above

Day 7: Transfer to back to Entebbe – Departure

After breakfast, check-in out of your hotel very early to drive back to the landing site for the ferry that returns to Nakiwogo at 7 am. On reaching the landing site, you will connect for lunch before you proceed to the airport for your onward flight back home. End of trip