OVER VIEW
Step into Uganda’s natural beauty and rich culture with this unforgettable eco-tourism adventure. Your journey begins at a scenic Coffee Farm Estate in Fort Portal, where you'll explore the fascinating process of coffee production. Then, venture to Bwindi National Park for a life-changing Gorilla Trekking experience, getting up close with the majestic mountain gorillas. Along the way, immerse yourself in the vibrant Ugandan culture at the Igongo Cultural Centre, adding a unique cultural twist to your adventure.
SAFARI HIGHLIGHTS
The 8 Day Coffee and Gorilla Experience starts at Entebbe Airport, where you will be met by a company representative/guide who will transfer you to your place of overnight stay. Depending on the time of your arrival, you may visit the Gorilla Conservation Cafe in Entebbe to learn more about Coffee in Uganda.
Gorilla Conservation Coffee is a social enterprise of Conservation Through Public Health, an award-winning NGO and nonprofit supporting local farmers and helping to protect endangered gorillas and their fragile habitat.
Meal Plan: Dinner depending on time of arrival.
Accommodation: Papyrus Guest House
Comfort Level: Mid-range
Today set off for Clarke’s farm and Coffee Estate situated on 1500 acres of land. The Clarke farm has seven hundred acres of coffee, mainly Robusta, with a few hectares of Arabica.
It was set up to teach both smallholder and large-scale farmers expert agronomy practices. It also acts as a tool for educating non-farmers or school children on how Ugandan food and Robusta coffee are produced. You will arrive in the evening for relaxation at the lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: The Coffee Lodge
Comfort Level: Mid-range
After a relaxed breakfast head out for the coffee farm tour. Get immersed on the farm tour led by experienced farm staff. You will be driven through the coffee forest and taken to the nursery and coffee factory where they can learn.
Learn how coffee is grown and prepared for the market. Activities on this tour include picking your coffee cherries or potting coffee trees. The session ends with a unique coffee-tasting and cupping experience in the coffee lab as you discover the flavors of coffee in a whole new way!
After lunch, spend the day participating in activities at the farm. You may embark on scenic walking with amazing hilltop views as you head out for nature river walks, jogging, and mountain biking trails of various difficulty levels, bouldering/ rock climbing.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: The Coffee Lodge
Comfort Level: Mid-range
Spend this day at leisure or partake in any other activities you may have missed out on the day before.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge
Comfort Level: Mid-range
The journey from Clarke Farm to Bwindi Forest takes you through scenic landscapes, starting with a drive southwest towards Bwindi. As you pass rolling hills, lush greenery, and rural villages, you'll be treated to breathtaking views. The final stretch becomes more rugged, with winding roads leading into the dense, mist-covered rainforest of Bwindi, setting the stage for your gorilla trekking adventure.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Mwebesa Guest House
Comfort Level: Mid-range
In the early morning, you will be briefed on gorilla tracking at the park headquarters and assigned groups of 8 people per group. Accompanied by a guide and your packed lunch, you will go in search of the gorillas in a small group. You walk through the forest, sometimes you descend again and then climb up a slope again. The duration of gorilla tracking is unpredictable.
The walk can be quite strenuous due to the muddy trails and mountainous areas and can take up to 8 hours depending on how far the gorillas have moved in search of food. It is worth it and what awaits you, in the end, is indescribable.
For an hour you can admire these peaceful ‘Gentle Giants’ as they go about their daily activities of grooming, feeding, and playing. It is a once-in-a-lifetime memorable experience.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Mwebesa Guest House
Comfort Level: Mid-range
Breakfast and you head to Igongo Cultural Center arriving in time for late lunch / have lunch en-route. You may make use of the spa and wellness center for relaxation. Alternatively, check out the Cultural Museum and discover art, crafts, photos and History of Southwestern Uganda.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Igongo Cultural Center and Country Hotel
Comfort Level: Mid-range
The day begins with a visit to the Igongo Museum to explore Ankole's cultural heritage, followed by a stop at the Nkwanzi Crafts Shop.
Next, you’ll head to Entebbe, with a stop at the Equator for photos or shopping and enjoy lunch on the way. Upon arrival in Entebbe, you'll have time to relax before your departure.
Depending on your flight time, a day room is available for freshening up before heading to the airport.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch
• Comfortable hiking boots and lightweight clothing.
• Rain jacket and a warm sweater for cooler evenings.
• Insect repellent and sunscreen.
• Reusable water bottle.
• Binoculars and a good camera.
• Personal medications and a small first-aid kit.
• Nature blending clothes
Uganda, deservedly dubbed the Pearl of Africa, is in the Great Lakes Region in central Africa and boasts an ecological diversity that rivals that of many larger countries. Here, the Eastern Savannah meets the West African jungle. Uganda offers visitors incredible diversity through its multitude of varying ecosystems. Bordered by the Rwenzori Mountains (often called the Mountains of the Moon, the third highest in Africa), the Virunga Mountains, and Africa's largest lake, Lake Victoria, it's a beautiful country bursting with birds and wildlife.
In no other African destination can one see a comparable variety of primates with so little effort - not just the great apes but also more than ten monkey species. And, if Uganda had primate enthusiasts grinning with satisfaction, it would have birdwatchers doing cartwheels. Uganda is, by far, the smallest of the four African countries in which more than 1,000 bird species have been recorded, and it is particularly rich in western rainforest specialists - undoubtedly the finest birdwatching in Africa.
For most, the highlight is found amongst the forests in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, where facing endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat is one of the most profound wildlife encounters you will ever experience. Discover tree-climbing lions around Ishasha in Queen Elizabeth National Park, trek chimps in Kibale Forest or Kyambura Gorge, or snatch massive Nile perch up north at Murchison Falls, where the mighty Nile cascades through a gap just seven meters wide. Adrenaline junkies will find Jinja simply exhilarating with its white-water rafting, kayaking, and bungee jumping activities. Jinja is rapidly emerging as East Africa's answer to the more southerly "adrenalin capital" Victoria Falls.
We invite you to explore Uganda, a diverse landscape with abundant wildlife, plenty to discover, and unique experiences. When recounting your time in this jewel of a country, you'll struggle to find the words that do justice to it.
Your passport must have a minimum of at least two full clear pages for visas and stamps and be valid for more than 6 months from the date of entry into Uganda.
Please check visa requirements prior to travel with your booking agent or Bush Wander, as requirements are regularly changed with little notice.
Most passports require a single-entry visa (US$55). Visas cannot be obtained on arrival. You must apply and pay for them online at https://visas.immigration.go.ug at least two weeks before your arrival.
You must upload clear copies of your current passport, a yellow fever certificate, and a passport photo.
Only Visa and Mastercard cards are accepted for visa payments. Once payment is made, the system will process your application and send you a barcoded email. Print out this email and bring it with you to Uganda. Upon arrival, you should present the barcoded email to the immigration officer, who will scan the barcode, take your fingerprints and photo, and place a visa in your passport.
Alternatively, the Ugandan High Commissions may issue visas where such commissions are located.
The following nationalities do not require a visa to enter Uganda: all nationalities from East African countries (Tanzania, Rwanda, Kenya, Burundi), all nationalities from COMESA countries (Angola, Eritrea, Malawi, Madagascar, Seychelles, Swaziland, Zambia, Comoros, Kenya, Mauritius, Zimbabwe), and passport holders from OTHERS (Antigua, Barbados, Fiji, Grenada, Lesotho, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, The Grenadines, Vanuatu, Cyprus, Bahamas, Belize, Gambia, Jamaica, Malta, Singapore, St. Vincent-Tonga and Ireland).
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If you are planning an East Africa trip to Uganda, Rwanda, and/or Kenya, it may be better to apply for a multiple-entry visa, which is valid for 90 days for tourists only. The cost is USD100 per visa. For more information go to: https://visas.immigration.go.ug/#/apply if you are entering Uganda first, or alternatively, the Government visa site for the East Africa country you will be first entering.
US Dollars cash is widely accepted and, in most cases, preferred as the currency that travellers should use to EXCHANGE into UGX on arrival for spending money on the road e.g. for drinks, curios, tips. Please note that USD bills older than 2009 are not accepted. Ensure your USD bills are 2009 or younger. Small USD bills are difficult to change – use Uganda shillings for small tips.
Credit cards can be used at some lodges and hotels, but a transaction fee of up to 5% may be charged. Ask first.
Travel, Transport, and Getting Around Flights:
Note that baggage allowance on all domestic flights is max 15 kgs in soft bags
Travellers require a Yellow Fever inoculation more than 10 days prior to your departure. The certificate will be checked on arrival in Uganda. If you have a history of liver disorders (hepatitis etc.), consult your physician first.
Tetanus and Cholera inoculations are recommended but not compulsory. Hepatitis inoculation is at the discretion of the traveler.
Malaria prophylactics are a must and can be purchased from your local pharmacy. Please consult your pharmacist/doctor.
Diarrhoea / Giardia - Bottled water is readily available throughout Uganda, however, it’s advisable to bring medicine just in case.
This is a guide only. Please check with your doctor or travel clinic for the latest information