Gorilla Express
Trip Length |
Trip Code |
| 8 days | GAGE |
Countries Visited |
|
| Uganda | |
Start City |
End City |
| Kampala, Kampala District, Uganda | Kampala, Kampala District, Uganda |
Gorillas are just like us. They feel love, hate, fear, grief, joy, greed, generosity, pride, shame, empathy, and jealousy. If you tickle a gorilla he will laugh. Please do not tickle the gorillas.
Day to Day Itinerary
Day 1: Kampala
Uganda's capital is big, but it still feels really safe. Ugandans love to party, so there's plenty of great pubs for kicking back with an Eagle beer. Just stay alert around the crazy boda-boda (motorcycle taxi) drivers.
- Arrive at any time as there are no activities planned today, so spend time getting to know Kampala
- If arriving early, perhaps visit the Kasubi tombs, National Museum or wander the Kabaka's trail
Day 2-3: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Elephants are enormous. But their feet have this crazy soft padding which means you can't hear them walking, even if it's right through your camp in the middle of the night.
- Travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park - set between the Great Rift Valley lakes of Edward and George
- Hope to see elephants, lions, leopards, buffaloes, Ugandan kobs and waterbucks
- Take a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, well-known for pelicans, eagles and other wonderful birdlife, as well as its healthy population of hippos
Day 4-6: Gorilla Trek
The good thing about being in a small group is that someone will probably have a kickass SLR camera. Which means you can put away the point-and-shoot and simply watch the gorillas.
- Travel on to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park - home for the next three nights.
- Receive a full briefing and head off early to find mountain gorillas with local trackers
- Enjoy two days for gorilla visits
Day 7: Mbarara
Tonight's the perfect time to sample some waragi - Ugandan gin. It's hotter than a bushfire and has more kick than an angry giraffe. If anyone asks, you're drinking it to keep the mozzies at bay.
- Continue on to the university town of Mbarara
- Take the afternoon to explore the town and perhaps try some local food or find a football match to watch
Day 8: Kampala
When you hear the word 'mzungu' at Owino market, they're talking to you, foreigner. It's the biggest market in the country so if you can't find a bargain here you're not looking hard enough.
- Leave the small town of Mbarara behind and drive back to Kampala via the shores of Lake Victoria
- The trip ends on arrival in Kampala
Your Trip
What to know
This trip is run by our sister company, Intrepid.
Nuts and Bolts
Summary of accommodation, transport & meals
Transport
- Overland expedition vehicle
Accommodation
- 6 nights Camping
- 1 night Hotel
MEALS
7 Breakfasts, 7 Lunches, 6 Dinners
Budget for meals not included:
USD 70.00
By travelling on an Overland trip you have chosen a participation camping tour. This means that you will be helping your cook prepare meals for the group. You may also get the chance to help with the shopping.
Your cook (East Africa only) will come up with meal ideas and quantities needed for large groups. Participating in the camp is usually done on a duty roster system with group of 5 or 6 people (depending on group size) having a different camp job each day. If you have any dietary requirements please tell us at the time of booking, and also remind your crew at your welcome meeting.
A typical camp breakfast might be toast with spreads, cereal, something hot such as eggs or pancakes, as well as tea and coffee. Lunch is almost always a sandwich with healthy salad and assorted fillings, sometimes with fruit to follow. There may be a chance on occasion to buy your lunch. Dinner might be a BBQ, rice dish or pasta dish and there is always the chance to try some African food such as ugali and stew.
On the more remote sections of your trip (for example in West Africa & North Africa), your food and diet will be dependent on what is available locally as well as tinned and dry ingredients.
One thing is sure - you definitely won't go hungry or lose weight on your safari! When you aren't camping you will have the freedom to decide where, what and with whom you eat.
Not Included
International flights, local payment, arrival and departure transfers, airport/departure taxes, visas, pre-tour or post-tour accommodation, all other meals, drinks, sleeping bag, all optional additional tours or activities during free time, transfers outside of the tour program, travel insurance, tips and items of a personal nature, laundry and flights (unless specified).
Local Payment
Important Information
Money Exchange
UGANDA
The official currency of Uganda is the Ugandan Shilling (UGX).
The best way to manage your money in Africa is a mixture of cash and an ATM card (best to have both Visa and MasterCard).
CASH:
Cash is easily changed at exchange bureaus and they generally offer the best rates.
***PLEASE NOTE: MANY BUSINESSES AND BANKS IN EAST AFRICA DO NOT ACCEPT US DOLLAR NOTES OLDER THAN 2004. IF YOU ARE BRINGING USD, WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND LARGE BILLS IN GOOD CONDITION, 2004 SERIES ONWARDS ONLY. ANY OLD OR DAMAGED NOTES MAY NOT BE ACCEPTED. IF YOUR KITTY PAYMENT IS REQUIRED TO BE PAID IN USD, IT MUST BE PAID WITH BILLS NO OLDER THEN 2003 SERIES***
EUR or GBP are also widely accepted. The South African Rand can also be used widely in countries of Southern Africa. When changing money, only use reputable authorised money exchange vendors and never anyone on the street. There are many instances of travellers being given counterfeit notes or being tricked when money is being counted out.
TRAVELLER'S CHEQUES:
Some people like to carry traveller’s cheques for back up emergency cash. While traveller’s cheques are undoubtedly the safest way to carry money, they are becoming harder to cash around the world and can often result in unfavourable exchange rates and commission charges. They are no longer accepted in many locations in Kenya & Tanzania. It can also be tricky to reach banks during banking business hours which are often short in many African countries. Note: Receipts for traveller’s cheques are required by banks and money changers.
VISA AND MASTERCARD:
With ATMs being increasingly available in the many major towns and cities and even some campsites, credit or debit cards are a convenient way to access money. Throughout Africa, cards with the Visa logo are most readily recognised, although MasterCard is also accepted in most places. A charge is made for each international transaction - please check with your bank how much this fee will be. Check with your bank before leaving home that your card can be used as a debit card in Africa. You may also want to notify your bank that you are visiting Africa as it's not unknown for banks to freeze cards which show sudden transactions in other countries. If you're on a multi-country tour, your tour leader will be able to give you an approximate idea of how much money you may need for your stay in each country.
Kitty
On this trip it's compulsory to contribute to a kitty. The kitty is an on-ground payment put into a central fund and overseen by travellers and the crew. It helps fund accommodation, camp meals and some included activities. Kitty amounts are subject to change to reflect local price increases. Please check our website for the up-to-date amount 48 hours prior to your trip commencement.
Your kitty will be collected when you arrive for your trip, either on day 1 or, if on a combination trip, in stages throughout your trip.
Road Conditions and Infrastructure in Africa
Roads in Africa are often in very poor condition, which makes it hard on vehicles. Our vehicles are serviced regularly and are generally in good condition, but breakdowns can and do happen. The infrastructure in Africa is not always what we are used to and travelling on their roads can sometimes be very bumpy experiences. The travelling times indicated in our Trip Notes is just a rough guide and is dependent on various factors that may be outside our control, such as road conditions, weather and time spent at borders.
About this Information
The information provided here is given in good faith and has been compiled with all reasonable care. However, things change and some of the information may become out of date. Please ensure that you have the most up-to-date information for your trip. We recommend that you check the trip notes for your tour around one month before departure. If you have any queries, please contact your travel agent or our staff in Australia. We are here to help you!
Last Updated
23 January 2013