7 Days Uganda Mountain Gorillas & Zanzibar Beach Holiday
Our 7 days Uganda Mountain Gorillas & Zanzibar Beach Holiday is a wonderful blend of gorilla trekking within Bwindi Impenetrable National Park as well as a Beach relaxation vacation in the tropical and beautiful Zanzibar Island. Mountain Gorilla Trekking is a dream-come-true for most safari fanatics and spicing it up with a beach vacation will complete your safari experience.
Bwindi National Park was established in 1991 to protect the outstanding flora and fauna in this beautiful ecosystem. The Park shelters over 459 mountain gorillas and of these, some have been habituated into about 20 gorilla groups in four sectors (Ruhija, Rushaga, Buhoma and Nkuringo). Therefore, about 160 gorilla permits are available on each trekking day.
Zanzibar is an archipelago of beautiful Tropical Islands in Tanzania known for numerous spices, rich culture and history, stunning white sand beaches and many other attractions that would make your Beach Holiday a memorable experience.
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Journey to Bwindi National Park from Kampala or Entebbe
Best reception from your safari driver is followed by briefing on the 7 days Uganda Mountain Gorillas & Zanzibar Beach Holiday. This comes after a hot cup of tea/coffee at the Hotel and the drive to the gorilla trekking destination in south-western Uganda takes 8-10 hours. Transverse through different Towns and make several stops along the way including at Uganda Equator for a photographic session and leg stretching then another at Igongo Cultural Center for lunch. The day is closed at the Lodge with sumptuous dinner and overnight stay.
Day 2: Uganda Mountain Gorilla Trekking Adventure
Delicious breakfast is served at the Lodge and this is followed by a meeting/briefing with fellow gorilla trekkers, done by Park Rangers. Because of the unpredictable of mountain gorilla treks (sometimes even lasting an entire day), a lunch box, bottled water, healthy energizing snacks among other things are recommended. The actual walks begin by 8:00am, following allocation by ranger guides based on age, physical fitness and personal interests. Walk through the steep slopes, rugged terrains and thick vegetation until contacts are made with the endangered mountain gorillas going about their daily routines and you will have one hour of photography and watching mountain gorillas.
While searching for the mountain gorillas, trekkers are constantly reminded of the guidelines and even during the one hour encounter, the rules and regulations have to be followed. After the hours in the forest, walk or be driven back to the Lodge for relaxation and lunch followed by an optional cultural tour around the Park.
Day 3: Early drive to Entebbe Airport and flight to Zanzibar International Airport
Start an early drive straight to Entebbe Airport, or better still Kigali Airport of neighboring Rwanda for a flight to Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (Zanzibar Island) for the real Beach Holiday. Dinner and overnight at the exquisite Beach Resort.
Day 4-6: The Zanzibar Beach Holiday
For the three days of the Zanzibar Beach Holiday, there will be a wide range of activities to enjoy on each day. On the fourth and fifth day, we try-out half day spice tours or tours of Stone Town where historical landmarks such as Hamamni Persian Baths, Old Slave Market, Old Fort , House of Wonders and the Old Dispensary will be toured. Lunch at any of the popular eateries for a taste of traditional Zanzibari dishes and overnight as well as dinner at the Beach Resort. However, you can visit Nungwi Island for a variety of beach activities such as snorkeling, scuba diving, kite surfing, swimming and many others.
On the sixth day there is an option of exploring Zanzibar beyond the beaches by undertaking a tour of Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park to see unique animal species that are endemic to the Island such as Zanzibar leopards, African civets, Zanzibar Colobus monkeys to mention but a few.
Day 7: Short tour of Stone Town and return back to Abeid Amani Karume Airport
Have a cup of African tea/coffee then check-out of the Beach Resort for a short tour (shopping) in Stone Town before continuing to the Airport. From here, you will determine whether you are returning back home or continuing with your tour of East Africa.
