Gorillas in the Rift: An Adventure in Uganda
May 22-June 1, 2025
Join fellow Alumni in this once-in-a-lifetime trip to see the last remaining apes in Uganda, affectionately called the “Pearl of Africa” by Winston Churchill. Just over 1,000 mountain gorillas still make their home in the primeval forests of central Africa. This trip enables you to intimately experience these animals and other primates in their natural habitat, while learning first-hand about the history and cultural heritage of this fascinating country.
Tour Highlights:
- Come face to face with endangered mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and trek chimpanzees in Kibale National Park. Learn about the strides being made in great ape and primate conservation in Uganda.
- View a variety of animal and bird species in Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth National Park including the famous tree-climbing lions.
- Get immersed in the local culture, music and dance of Uganda.
Activity Level (varies from moderate to hard depending on the location of the gorillas): chimpanzee and gorilla trekking is often strenuous and requires walking on muddy and uneven paths and requires climbing short but sometimes moderately challenging terrain depending on the location of the gorilla nest. It is important to know and understand your level of stamina, and be comfortable in your abilities for such an activity. While park rangers and porters are available for assistance and support, guests are expected to be able to walk on their own with minimal assistance. Please consult with your doctor to evaluate your physical condition.
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Program Itinerary
[B- Breakfast L- Lunch D- Dinner]
May 22, 2025 U.S/ Entebbe, Uganda
Depart the U.S. for Entebbe (flights not included)
*This is a recommended departure date. Should you wish to arrive early, please contact Immersion Journeys. The cost for the early arrival hotel is $285 per night inclusive of breakfast and taxes.
May 23, 2025 Arrival Entebbe
Met on arrival and transferred to the hotel for rest and relaxation prior to meeting the group at an evening cocktail reception.
Overnight: Protea Hotel (Cocktail Reception)
May 24, 2025 Entebbe /Murchison Falls National Park
Depart north-west for Murchison Falls National Park with a brief stop at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. This sanctuary was created to re-introduce rhino to Uganda after they were almost wiped out. Later arrive at your lodge located along the riverbank on the northeastern edge of the park. This park is where the world’s longest river - the Nile passes through a narrow gorge forming the thunderous falls and is also home to a diversity of wildlife including the Big 5.
Overnight: Paraa Safari Lodge (B,L,D)
May 25, 2025 Murchison Falls National Park
Early morning game drive to the delta circuit where there’s a possibility of spotting the elusive leopard, Jackson's hartebeest, large concentrations of Uganda kobs and large families of the defassa waterbuck, together with giraffe herds, groups of the dainty oribi and buffalo.
Afternoon boat safari on the calm Victoria Nile and the base of the falls just meters from the "Devil's Cauldron." You have an option to take a guided hike to the top of the Murchison Falls and from this vantage point will have an opportunity to see the Nile's beauty perfected as you watch the water forced through a seven meter cleft in the rocks and plunge 45 meters below forming a spectacular rainbow and adrenaline rush.
Overnight: Paraa Safari Lodge (B,L,D)
May 26, 2025 Murchison Falls / Kibale Forest National Park
Travel to Kibale Forest National Park. The drive will go past the verdant countryside and traditional homesteads and farms including the fabled "Mountains of the Moon. Kibale is one of the most varied tracts of tropical forest and home to 70 mammal species, 375 species of birds and 13 species of primates including the chimpanzee.
Overnight: Ndali Lodge (B,L,D)
May 27, 2025 Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale Forest National Park
Chimpanzee tracking starts early in the morning. Besides learning about the primates, your guide will provide detailed explanations on the fauna and flora ensuring that the walk is both informative and enjoyable.
Overnight: Ndali Lodge (B,L,D)
May 28, 2025 Kibale / Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Start for Queen Elizabeth National Park, following the mystical Rwenzori Mountain range along the way. Upon arrival at the park you may be rewarded with view of waterbucks, elephants, leopards, buffaloes, hyenas and a variety of antelope species. Time and interest permitting, visit the Katwe explosion craters. This is highest point of Queen Elizabeth National park at 1,350 meters above sea level. Walk down to the salt lakes to meet the locals who earn a living from salt mining. You will get to learn about salt formation process from the saline waters during the hot season. The creative and hardworking miners will share their experiences of mining and local salt processing.
Overnight: Mweya Safari Lodge (B,L,D)
May 29, 2025- Predator Research Excursion/ Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Depart at dawn in search of lions. Your guides on this exclusive adventure are members of a local predator research team that has been doing carnivore research for years. Learn to use telemetry to find the different lion prides who roam the savanna. There is no better way to find and photograph lions and other big game in Uganda. During the drive, the guides and researchers will discuss human-animal conflict in communities around the park, veterinary issues within the park, and lion family dynamics as part of a very in-depth game drive.
Afternoon boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel. This trip passes through high concentrations of hippos and a wide variety of animals may be seen at the water's edge. This cruise offers an excellent platform for photography, bird watching and game viewing. The prolific bird life is colorful and stupendous with well over six hundred recorded species having been spotted.
Overnight: Mweya Safari Lodge (B,L,D).
May 30, 2025 Queen Elizabeth National Park / Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Depart for Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, home to roughly half of the world’s mountain gorillas. Take a village walk around the Buhoma area and learn about their way of life and local customs.
Overnight: Mahogany Springs Lodge (B,L,D)
May 31, 2025 Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Early morning start for your gorilla trek. The rainforest is spectacular, heavily vegetated and dense landscape crisscrossed by numerous animal trails allowing access for trekkers. This park is best known for the fascinating gorillas. The thrill of spending time with them and observing these gentle giants is a rare and moving adventure that will leave you with long lasting memories of a truly unique experience. The gorillas are shy and peaceful animals and it is an unforgettable experience to watch them as they interact with each other.
Overnight: Mahogany Springs Lodge (B,L,D)
June 1, 2025 Fly to Entebbe / Depart or Kenya Extension
Fly to Entebbe airport arriving in the late morning. Day rooms (available until 18h00) have been arranged for those with late afternoon or evening flights. For those who are up for additional adventure, continue to Kenya or Rwanda (see details below).
Early Bird Signup discount (before September 15, 2024):
$11,195 per person (double occupancy)
$1,350 single room supplement (extremely limited and on first come basis)
After September 15, 2024: $11,945 per person (double occupancy) $1,350 single
INCLUDES:
- All airport meet and greet + transfers.
- All accommodations and meals as indicated above.
- 1 soft drink per guest during lunches and 2 glasses of house wine, local beer or soft drink per guest during dinners.
- Gorilla and chimpanzee trekking permit (one trek per activity type).
- All national park fees, conservation levy, taxes.
- All safari game drives in 4x4 vehicles with professional English-speaking guides.
- Exclusive access and predator tracking with a local research team.
- Boat cruise at Murchison Falls and Kazinga Channel.
- Bush flight from Bwindi to Entebbe + day room on departure day until 6:00pm.
EXCLUDES:
Tips and gratuities to guides, rangers, hotel/ lodge luggage porters, hotel staff, boat crew during cruises, international airfare into/ out of Entebbe (unless traveling on the Kenya extension), visas and passport fees, vaccinations (unless medically waived, proof yellow fever vaccination is required to enter Uganda and when traveling between the East African zone countries), pre-arrival COVD testing (if not fully vaccinated. Fully vaccinated guests must show proof), laundry, beverages other than those mentioned in the inclusions, telephone, fax and internet, Mandatory travel insurance* including air evacuation to your home country/ state/ city. *Guests should have enough coverage for additional in-country COVID testing and any necessary hospitalization/ treatment/ isolation/ transport.
Option 1 : 3-night Kenya Sojourn
June 1-4, 2025
This this-night extension is a wonderful complement to your primate experience in Uganda. The Masai Mara eco-system is teeming with wildlife across the savanna plains.
Cost:
$3,695 (per person, double occupancy)
$845 single supplement (extremely limited)
Above includes: Flights to/from Masai Mara, 3 nights at luxury lodge/ camp (full board basis) all domestic flights, airport meet/ greet, accommodations and meal plan as mentioned above, all conservancy and park fees, safari game viewing with professional Guide.
Does not include: Kenya visas, gratuities, extra services, extra meals, beverages, yellow fever vaccination (proof required for those traveling from Uganda).
Other customized pre/post trip extensions are available. Please contact Immersion Journeys at info@immersionjourneys.com.
Option 2 : 2-night Gorilla Trek in Rwanda
June 1-3, 2025
Cost:
$4,785 (per person, double occupancy)
$895 single supplement (extremely limited)
Above includes: Transport from Uganda to Rwanda, 1x gorilla trek in Volcanoes National Park, 2 nights at luxury lodge/ camp (full board basis), gorilla permit and park fees, self-guided tour of the Dian Fossey Center in Virunga, visit to the Genocide Museum in Kigali.
Does not include: Rwanda visas, gratuities, extra services, extra meals, beverages, yellow fever vaccination (proof required for those traveling between Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda).
Other customized pre/post trip extensions are available. Please contact Immersion Journeys at info@immersionjourneys.com.
TOUR RESERVATION FORM - Gorillas in the Rift
To reserve a space, please complete and return this form. We will not process your deposit until you are assigned a place on the tour. Please contact 917-686-2620 (info@immersionjourneys.com) if you have any questions about the registration process.
