| Product | G Adventures Review – Uganda & Gorillas Overland |
| Country | Uganda |
| Where to Buy | G Adventures |
| Duration: | 9 Days |
| Date Available | January- December |
| My Rating: | 9.0 out of 10 |
Uganda & Gorillas Overland – Overview
This Uganda & Gorillas Overland adventure is a 9-day safari package. Your journey begins in Kampala, the capital of Uganda, and covers three major destinations, and they are:
- The Kalinzu Forest Reserve is renowned for chimpanzee trekking.
- Lake Bunyonyi, is the host of the mountain gorilla, an endangered species.
- The Town of Jinja is the outdoor adventure capital of East Africa.
This safari vacation is perfectly suited for the adventure seeker. You will explore the breathtaking landscapes of Uganda and admire the abundant and diverse wildlife from an overland truck. This means of transportation combined with camping in the wilderness constitutes a very efficient and inexpensive way to travel and is the essential feature of the Uganda & Gorillas Overland safari package.
Also included with this safari package are 2 Chief Experience Officers (CEO) or tour guides, one driver, and one cook.
Yolo Travel Style
The travel style offered here with Uganda & Gorillas Overland package is called: Yolo. This package is for young travelers between the age of 18 to 39 years old, that are on a tight budget and looking to get the most out of their safari adventure. You will spend your days doing loads of activities!
Furthermore, you will not be lodged in a 5-star hotel during this trip; you will be camping in the wild!
The group size is an average of 20 persons with a maximum set at 22.
Another requirement for this safari vacation is that you need to be in excellent physical condition since you will be spending your time in a humid environment and doing strenuous physical activities (such as primates trekking).
Now, don’t despair, if you are not eligible for this safari vacation, G Adventures offer another safari package where you can visit the gorillas and chimpanzees in East Africa!
Gorilla & Chimpanzee Trekking
Kalinzu Forest Reserve
As part of your trip, you’ll spend one full day tracking the chimpanzees in the Kalinzu Forest Reserve, which lies about 4,593 feet (1,400 m) above sea level in the southwestern part of Uganda near Queen Elizabeth National Park.
This forest is well renowned for chimpanzee tracking and harbors six different species of primates, including the blue monkey, black and white colobus monkeys, the vervet monkey, the baboon, and the Hoest guenon.
Furthermore, the Kalinzu Forest Reserve is also home to a wide variety of wildlife, including 378 species of birds, the ideal destination for bird lovers.
As part of a unique cultural experience, a visit to a tea plantation within the Kalinzu Forest Reserve is also scheduled. Learn everything there is to know about tea during this excursion!
Lake Bunyonyi
Lake Bunyonyi is near the town of Kabale and the Rwandan border. The lake sits at 6,437 feet (1,962 m) above sea level and contains 29 islands. The lake is surrounded by volcano forests harboring the mountain gorillas.
During your two-day visit to Lake Bunyonyi, one full day of gorilla trekking awaits you! To make sure you get the most out of your trekking experience, a certified mountain gorilla tracker will accompany you.
As a result, the chances of an encounter with the mountain gorilla are maximized.
Because of strict regulations from the Ugandan government, the permit only allows a group of 8 people to visit a family of gorillas per day. Since the group may contain up to 20 individuals, it will be split up into sub-groups for the trek.
The price of the Uganda & Gorillas Overland safari package includes the permit fees.
Jinja: The Ultimate Destination for Adventure Seekers
The Uganda & Gorillas Overland adventure includes a visit to the town of Jinja, the destination of choice for all the adrenaline junkies out there! Many activities are available and include:
- Mountain Bike through the Mabira forest (more encounters with monkeys).
- Quad biking along the Nile River banks.
- Nile River Kayaking.
- Nile River Rafting through grade 5 rapids.
- Bungee jumping over the Nile.
- Horseback riding.
- Sunset cruises on the Nile.
Optional Activities
Some optional activities are offered to fill up your free time! While you are at Lake Bunyonyi, you will have a full day to explore Lake Bunyonyi’s surroundings.
Here are some activities to consider:
- Canoeing.
- Swimming.
- Nature walks around Lake Bunyonyi.
- Bird watching since Lake Bunyonyi is the host of more than 200 species of birds, so get your binoculars ready!
- Boat tour of Lake Bunyonyi.
- Fishing.
Camping & Overland Truck
The Uganda & Gorillas Overland adventure is for people that don’t mind “roughing it” since the accommodation involved camping in the wild!
For this journey, you’ll have to bring your sleeping bag and pillow. G Adventures provide the tents and all the other camping equipment.
On the downside, you will not be lodged in luxurious campsites.
The campsites are nearby the National Parks, and the comfort is usually basic. Don’t expect to have all the amenities, like flush toilets, warm showers, shelters for eating, and so on; you will have some amenities but not all of them!
However, since you are traveling with an overland truck to get to different locations, it is not entirely rustic camping. The overland truck can seat 24 persons and includes a basic kitchen and a cook.
The vehicle also offers the possibility of charging your electronic devices, since it is equipped with various outlets, but there are no bathrooms or showers within the truck. The large sliding windows are ideal for gazing at the breathtaking landscapes along the way as well as for game viewing.
Visas
Depending on your nationality, you might need to get your entry visa prior to your departure from Africa. To be on the safe side, check with G Adventures or your local embassy in Uganda prior to your departure for more information.
Conclusion
The Uganda & Gorillas Overland safari constitutes an experience of a lifetime within the Pearl of Africa! Best suited for adventure seekers on a tight budget and looking to get the most out of their vacation with days filled with unforgettable adventures!
The Uganda & Gorillas Overland offers a unique opportunity to meet up close to the chimpanzees and gorillas, and also, observe a wide variety of wildlife in their natural habitat.
Furthermore, all the adrenaline junkies will not be left behind as they will enjoy fantastic outdoor activities!
Yolo travelers, adventure seekers out there, are you craving a break from your daily routine? Then, you should consider taking a well-deserved vacation to visit your closest relatives!
Hey Sonia,
I have never been to Uganda, but I will for sure put this on my bucket list. The whole experience sounds like fun, and I would not mind seeing gorillas and chimpanzees up close.
Yeah, it’s time to make a trip back to Africa. It was a great review, very informative and detailed.
Thanks,
Kelechi
Besides trekking the primates, which is a once in a lifetime to meet our closest relatives up close, if you are looking to have some fun while traveling in Uganda, you should try some of the sporting activities offered by the Uganda & Gorillas Overland safari package. You should sign up for rafting on the Nile or Bungee jumping if you dare!
Thanks.
This Uganda & Gorillas Overland safari package looks amazing! It’s definitely my kind of vacation. I’ve never been anywhere like this. I’ve mostly toured cities, but an African safari is my dream vacation.
I have a few small children right now, so I can’t see myself doing this in the near future, but I would love to some day.
Do you think it would be dangerous for a woman to travel to Africa alone? Is it recommended to have a male travel companion?
I usually travel alone, and I don’t find it more dangerous than if I am accompanied. If you think you might feel lonely, bring a companion with you. However, while you are in Uganda trekking the primates, you will not have time to get bored!
Lastly, when traveling alone or with someone, you need to use common sense to avoid dangerous situations. Furthermore, before booking your African safari adventures, you should always check with the State Department (USA) or the consulate of the country you are planning to visit to see if any warnings or alerts have been issued.
If you are interested in getting more traveling tips for your African vacation, click here.
Thanks.
Awesome! Thanks, Sonia!
Wow This looks incredibly exciting! My husband and I have been talking about visiting Africa for a while now and this safari review has made me more excited than ever about it! I’m wondering if we can customize the trip to include seeing other animals such as elephants and zebras?
One of the great things with G Adventures is that you can customize your trip! So if you want to add other activities such as seeing the zebras or elephants, this can be done. However, when booking your African vacation, let them know about your wish list so that they can design your dream vacation!
Thanks.
Exciting adventure tourist package here, experiencing Uganda and its gorillas, Sonia!
Uganda does provide a great wildlife, adventure and culture experience to visiting tourists but I wonder whether an exclusive tourism visit to Uganda will provide the complete fulfillment a typical wildlife tourist would crave. Because Uganda is landlocked, I wish this exciting package could be integrated with some beach and culture experience at Zanzibar or – even better – a more complete wildlife, beach and culture experience across Kenya’s Maasai Mara and the coastal strip of Mombasa and Lamu!
One of the great things about G Adventures is that they let you customize your trip. For instance, if you want to combine a cultural experience with wildlife sightings and some time at the beach, you can combine more than one safari package into a once-in-a-lifetime experience!
I have a suggestion for you, why not merge the three following safari packages into an unforgettable African vacation: First off, trek the gorillas by booking Uganda & Gorillas Overland. Then, add a cultural experience with Local Living in Kenya, where you will spend three days among the Maasai people and learn about their cultures. Finally, end your vacation on a high note and Escape to Zanzibar for three days to explore the Zanzibar Island and relax on the sandy beaches!
Or you can contact G Adventures and let them customize your dream vacation by clicking here.
I’m curious about the Yolo style. Though you say it’s for young travelers 18-39, does that mean you have to be in that age group? I ask because the outdoor camping in the wild seems like a great adventure. However, my party (son, husband, and I) wouldn’t fit into the age bracket.
To answer your question, yes, you have to be between 18 and 39 years old to travel Yolo. As I mentioned in my review, there is an alternative, if you want to see the gorillas and don’t fit into the category of Yolo travelers, G Adventures offer instead a package called Culture & Wildlife of Uganda & Rwanda.
If you want to combine camping in the African wilderness with gorillas trekking, then G Adventures can help you customize your dream vacation on the Dark Continent. If you want to get in touch with G Adventures and customize your trip, click here.
Hope its helps.
This safari package seems to be exciting. I love to go to Uganda someday and experience natures wonder and be able to see the animals not just in the zoo. I hope that if I have a family of my own, I can also bring them on a safari adventure. It is really fun to interact and be able to appreciate natures wonder not just in books, videos and zoos but also to be able to see it with our own eyes.
It is definitely more thrilling to see the wild animals in their natural habitat. However, if you’re thinking of going on a safari vacation with your family one day (when you’ll have a family), you have to be aware that not all safaris are children-friendly!
Especially if you want to go to Uganda on the primates trek, young children are not allowed. It is recommended to be at least 15 years in order to go on a trek!
So, before booking a safari vacation with your family, find out first if there is an age restriction for the trip you’re interested in.
Wow. That looks absolutely amazing. Africa is a place that I’ve always wanted to go. What an amazing experience it must be. I would love to be able to see the gorillas. I am always worried about safety in some of those countries though. Should I be? How safe is it?
The best place to go for gorilla trekking, in my opinion, is Uganda. When traveling abroad, you should always use some common sense and caution, don’t put yourself at risk.
However, Uganda is a safe place for travelers. There are no warnings or travel advisories that have been issued by the State Department (the USA and the UK). But if you plan to go gorilla trekking, don’t book a trip that includes going to the Republic of Congo as part of the trip. Congo isn’t a safe destination for tourists!
Hope it helps!
Wow, I got an adrenaline rush just by reading this article. I’m sure this would be quite an adventure for anyone looking into having one.
For me, all of the choices seemed like an adrenaline rush.
When I read camping, I knew it wouldn’t be for me. I don’t know if I could do something like that because I know there are some animals out there lurking in the wild.
All the choices does sound like an adventure, is there something out there that’s a little more on the conservative side? Something more for an older adult? Thanks!
Yes, there are more traditional safari packages you can choose from. It all depends on the activities you want to do and which countries you want to visit.
If it’s your first safari adventure, I would recommend going to Tanzania and, more specifically, with the Tanzania Safari Experience package.
You will be staying in a cozy safari lodge. And this safari package comprises game drives in the Serengeti Park, the Lake Manyara, and the Ngorongoro Crater, and a visit to the Masai Village, a great cultural experience! Nothing too physical and for all ages!
Very interesting information. To be honest, I have never thought of visiting African countries, but your article on Uganda certainly makes an interesting choice and is food for thought. I am not really a wildlife person, but I am certainly open to new experiences. Can you recommend other African trips that may not be safari related? I am more of a resort person…. So any vacation that includes a resort would be great.
If you want to go to Africa for your vacation and are not too inclined to go on a Safari, your best destination in South Africa and Cape Town, is very popular with tourists. There are a lot of activities you can do, such as going sightseeing around Cape Town and visiting the Castle of Good Hope, the oldest building in Cape Town. Another alternative, if you want to explore the backcountry of South Africa, is to go to the Cape Winelands region just outside Cape Town, which is famous for its wine and gourmet cuisine.
But, if you want to do nothing during your vacation and just relax, there are many beaches in Africa. For instance, in the Seychelles, or off the coast of Tanzania, the Zanzibar Island. There are all amazing destinations for a beach holiday. Now it comes down to your own personal preferences!
Hopes it helps.
Going on a safari is something I always wanted to do and I love the activities that you describe on this one. Particularly the swimming and the river rafting.
Some of the views in the pictures are superb as well. Definitely something I would be interested in. I remember a trip to South Africa I did once and having Table Mountain as a view every day was superb. I could imagine this would be far better!
Yes, you’re right, the Uganda & Gorillas Overland adventure is awesome! You’ll get with this vacation the best of both worlds! In fact, you’ll get an adrenaline rush through all the activities available, as well as the unique opportunity to explore and discover the spectacular landscapes of Uganda and visit our closest relatives in their own habitat! What more can you ask for!