After your early morning breakfast in Kampala, Friendly Gorillas Safaris’ driver guide/representative shall brief you about the safari, afterwards head to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest while driving through the Switzerland of Uganda, Kabale. This is a journey of about 7 hours, so prepare! You shall make a stopover at Uganda’s Equator for fantastic photo shot before proceeding to Bwindi for an evening nature walk will lead you to the Munyaga Waterfall and a chance to see Primates such as the Grey Cheeked Mangabey Blue monkeys and others species.
This is a special day dedicated to the impressive mountain gorillas. Undertaking the gorilla trekking experience in the hilly forested landscapes of Bwindi is such a lifetime endeavor that will create lasting memories. You gather at the respective park headquarters for briefing in the morning at 8am where you are also allocated the respective gorilla families to track. Retreat from the activity and embark on the transfer to Lake Bunyonyi driving through fascinating Kigezi Highlands where locals apply terracing method to cultivate their slopes deriving impressive scenic landscapes. You arrive at Lake Bunyonyi in the afternoon after which you embark on a thrilling boat ride to explore the Lake of a Thousand Islands. The views of the Islands, the surrounding Kigezi Highlands, the bird life on the lake and the sights of local people with their canoes as they connect to and from the Islands is very magical and impressive to explore before retiring for dinner and overnight.
After having your early breakfast, you will check out of your accommodation with the memories of the gorilla tracking involvement and you are off for your Uganda wildlife safari to Queen Elizabeth. The journey to Queen Elizabeth will take you through as you experience the tree climbing lion sector of Ishasha en-route as you proceed to the lodging of your choice in Ishasha or around the Mweya part of Queen Elizabeth National Park. After having your lovely lunch and little relaxation, you will embark on a remarkable afternoon game drive in search of the parks mammals including lions, leopards, elephants, hyenas, bush pigs, monkeys, warthogs, antelopes of different kids. Retreat from this activity and return to your favorite lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight.
In the morning, you will have breakfast at your lodge in Queen Elizabeth Park then you shall go for a game drive. While on the game drive, you will watch wildlife on their way back from the night hunt and these will include lumbering elephants, lions, and running warthogs with tails raised up. Remember, Queen Elizabeth offers stunning views of the Rwenzori Mountains. Then it is time to return to your accommodation for relaxation and lunch. Do not forget to change your camera batteries since you will be going for a boat trip which is the park’s highlight for every visitor. The Kazinga Channel is shared by Lake Edward and Lake Gorge, running 40 kilometers between the two lakes.
In the afternoon, you will have a boat ride or boat cruise. The channel is a home to many birds seen in the middle of the boat cruise, school of hippopotamus, buffaloes, and warthogs. Nothing like the swarms of pelicans on the shore, birds flying all over the channel and the boat takes you slowly as you take your Uganda wildlife pictures along the shores. A rewarding game viewing in the afternoon, to say the least. You will return to your accommodation facility for dinner and a quiet evening at your lodge in the midst of the African savannah.
In the morning, you will be transferred to Kyambura Gorge for your exciting chimpanzee tracking safari before you travel back to Kampala. Kyambura Gorge alone is worth a visit without tracking the chimps. You will spend an hour with chimpanzees that are found there. You will then return to your lodge for lunch before your journey to Kampala. You will also stop at the equator for photos, gift, and craft shopping. You will reach Kampala in the evening hours.
We would like to pass on how extremely happy we were with our trip. Roger was so professional and kind. We can not praise him enough, he is an exceptional guide with alot of knowledge. We will be recommending The Friendly Gorillas Safaris company and Roger to anyone we know wanting to trek in Uganda. Once again many thanks.
I booked a gorilla trekking tour with Friendly Gorillas for a group of ten travelers. Unfortunately, due to a government‑issued travel restriction and an Ebola outbreak, our trip had to be cancelled. What followed was an extremely frustrating experience with this company’s refund process. Despite repeated assurances, Friendly Gorillas failed to refund the full amount owed. The Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) later confirmed that our gorilla and chimp permits were never purchased, meaning those fees should have been refunded at 100%. To date, only a small portion of the total amount has been returned, and the company has repeatedly delayed or avoided addressing the outstanding balance. Communication with the operator has been inconsistent, and attempts to resolve the matter have required UTB intervention. This experience reflects poor business practices and a lack of transparency. I strongly advise future travelers to exercise caution when booking with Friendly Gorillas, especially regarding payments and permit fees.
We had a group of ten set up for a safari in early July. Then Ebola hit DNC, and Uganda started getting cases. We were getting do not travel alerts both from State department and the Embassy's of both US and Uganda and the STEP app. This trip was to happen after a volunteer housing build. That build was cancelled due to Ebola scare and moved to another country. We cancelled 45 days before the safari and per their website and policies. we should have been reimbursed 75% of what we had paid. we were reimbursed less than 25%: 5.2 The following cancellation charges apply to the basic program rate: 60 days or more prior to arrival 20% charge 59 – 32 days prior to arrival 35% charge 31 – 8 days prior to arrival 50% charge 7 – 3 days prior to arrival 75% charge 48 hours or less prior to arrival 100% charge Anthony was terrible to try to work through this issue. Would not reimburse through credit card paid on. Many people had to try multiple ways to get reimbursed. He was picked up and held for 3 days by authorities and asked to show proof of purchase and or permits for parks or accommodations which he did not produce anything. The Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) then wrote a letter asking him to reimburse us properly, which he ignored. This is a dishonorable outfit if any issues at all. There are plenty of safari outfits out there, so be careful who you choose.
We had such an amazing time during our trip organized by Friendly Gorillas Safaris. Our guide Noah was very keen and carefully drove through the bumpy roads and ensured our safety throughout the trip. We was very knowledgeable a bout the animals and taught us so much. ' We were in touch with Tony before and throughout the trip and he made sure everything went as planned. I couldn't recommend them more if you need value for your money
We had an amazing time with our 5 days trip that as carefully organized by Friendly Gorillas team. Throughout the time our preparation we receive updates concerning our trip from Brenda and she constantly kept checking in on us during the trip to ensure all was well. We checked every box we had for this trip and wait to to use them again for our next trip. Our accommodations we very descent and we loved each one of them.
We had a group of 10, a post trip after a volunteer work week in Uganda. Due to the Ebola outbreak , our company moved the build week to another country- opposite side of the continent. We had no choice but to cancel this 5 day tour, about 7 weeks prior to the scheduled date. After many emails, questionable explanations, we received about 25% refund. Despite our request he could not provide any documents that he had spent any $ on permits/lodging etc , to us nor to the Uganda Tourism Authority. I cannot recommend this company from an honest business standpoint. It was an awful experience.
It was a solo yet memory filled experience right from my first inquiry to the last day of the trip. Everything was smooth. My tour guide Eddie was beyond friendly and had an eagles eye for even the smallest animals. The most memorable moment was my first sight of the mighty Gorillas in Bwindi. I highly appreciate and recommend friendly Gorillas safari
we had the most amazing time in Uganda accompanied by our very Friendly tour guide Elias. The support team that handled tour preparations were very kind and responded to every question we had in time. Bliss even went an extra mile to give us a video call during some of the sessions. We were very lucky to see the rare tree climbing lions in the Ishasha sector or Queen Elizabeth while exiting for Bwindi. I highly recommend this company because they met all our expectations and even delivered more than we imagined.
I'm really impressed with this 5 day safari with Friendly Gorillas. From day one, they handled everything very professionally - from hotel pickup to permits, food, accommodation - everything was perfect. The moment of searching for the gorillas in the Bwindi forest filled the whole team with excitement. When the gorillas with the family stood in front of us, it seemed that it was worthwhile to come so far just to see this moment. Then on a game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park, I saw elephants, lions, buffaloes - many animals from close quarters. It was also great to see hippos and crocodiles on the boat ride of Kazinga Channel. The guide was knowledgeable, calm, and took care of us the entire time. The car was a new 4x4 Land Cruiser - very comfortable. This 5-day experience gave a taste of true African adventure. Enjoyed a lot!
I'd like to start by saying that our guide, Elias, and the accommodations were superb. The experience we had was definitely made better by Elias and the comfort, food quality and friendly staff at each of our stays. We also were able to participate in the main highlights of the 5 Day Gorilla and Wildlife tour - the Chimp and Gorilla trekking. And both of these are amazing opportunities and very memorable. However, our experience was riddled with stress and last minute changes. We had booked this tour (through Viator) several months in advance of our arrival. And although we received confirmation of the trip a week before hand, I had tried multiple times to contact the company regarding some questions with no response. As we were sitting in the NBO airport, departing for EBB - 12 hrs prior to our anticipated pick up - we get an email that the tour was cancelled. I then received a message on WhatsApp from Friendly Gorillas saying that they can book us a similar itinerary, we just have to pay through their website and that there is an additional credit card fee. So while this felt really sleazy and like a scam, we felt we needed to go along so that our trip wouldn't be lost. After payment went through, I was made aware that *I* was supposed to add in 4% to the final cost to cover that fee, rather than the charge just being applied to the payment. Now we had to add stopping at an ATM to get several hundreds of dollars to cover this extra cost. Apparently the ATM exchange rate and the accepted Uganda exchange rate are two different prices and what had seemed the correct number was $24 short of the total. We were told this needed to be made whole immediately so we didn't face any "complications" with our itinerary. After returning home and reviewing their website, the cost we paid (the Viator cost + extra fee) is close to what they charge for the Luxury accommodations. Our standard lodging was wonderful and I have no complaints there, but it definitely seems as though we got scammed. All of our activities were scheduled very last minute. We had to adapt to changes for a large part of the trip. Our Chimp trekking was postponed because they didn't sort out the reservations, and because of this our QENP park permits expired, preventing us from entering the park at the Isasha sector to see the Tree Climbing lions (that the guard told us were just inside the gate that day). While it wasn't all bad, and we did have some really amazing moments, there was a looming cloud over our time in Uganda that really dampened the experience.
We did the 5 day Primate Safari with Chimpanzee and Gorilla trekking which was absolutely amazing! We got up close, watched the chimpanzees hunt and share their kill and followed a gorilla family of 6 with an infant. Our visit to the Batwa/Pygmy tribe was a wonderful cultural experience. Our guide Noah was knowlegable and informative about the area, culture and wildlife. Anthony was responsive via email, whatsapp and did a video call to finalize details. The cost was reasonable and accommodations were good. I recommend Friendly Gorillas!
Our guide Noah was very knowledgeable and had an amazing ability to spot the animals. We really enjoyed the boat trip in Queen Elizabeth Park. While watching the hippos in the water - a herd of elephants came down the hill to the water to drink. The chimpanzee trek was so memorable. They were very active and vocal because they were hunting that day. Following the gorillas is not to be missed. There was a baby that was so cute. The guides for the treks are amazing and really take the time to make sure you get to see the chimps and gorillas. We did a side trip to visit the Batwa village at Noah's suggestion and we are so glad we did. Our accommodation at Queen Elizabeth Park was just ok but the Ride 4 Woman Lodge at the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest was fabulous - we wished we had stayed there longer. We booked this 5 night Uganda tour with a 7 night Kenya/Tanzania safari. Anthony and Bliss were easy to book with, answered all our questions quickly and met us at the end of the tour for our feedback. I would highly recommend Friendly Gorillas tours.
Amazing trip! Guide was extremely friendly and knowledgeable as well as very accommodating. All office interactions were also top notch! Highly recommended!!!!!
Our tour was fantastic. Our guide Noah was extremely knowledgeable about all the wildlife and was a very safe driver and a pleasure to spend time with. We had many memorable experiences including seeing the gorillas and the chimpanzees. Our accommodation was typically African with very comfortable beds. We would highly recommend the tour with Friendly Gorillas
Yes, this was truly a safari of a lifetime. Everything went as smooth as we expected and yes, i strongly recommend Anthony and his team. I'm sure beyond doubt that you can never go wring with them.
Absolutely excellent! The gorilla trek was more than I imagined got so close and found them quick. Saw so many animals even in the rainy season. Learned a lot and had an unforgettable experience. Special thanks to Noah our guide who made our trip extra special.
We had an amazing experience with the Friendly Gorillas tour company. We were able to trek with gorillas and chimpanzees, stayed at amazing places, ate delicious food, and met amazing people along the way. Our tour guide, Noah, was excellent and knowledgeable and made the experience unforgettable. I highly recommend this company to anyone interested in exploring East Africa. It was a truly magical experience!
Just finished 5 day tour of Uganda with Friendly Gorilla Safaris. The trip was fantastic. For the price ( cheap compared to many others) the trip was better than others who paid more. Two of three hotels were a lot better than expected. Our guide, Noah was excellent. He had a lot of knowledge and was catering the trip to our needs. They helped make this a trip of a lifetime.
Great value for money we had so much fun! Our guide Noah was the best! So friendly and really went above and beyond to make sure we are happy and even arranged activities not part of the original itinerary just because we mentioned it in a conversation:) really recommend!
Great trip if you are on a budget. Went with a girlfriend. Gorillas were amazing. Our tour guide Tony was top notch. Friendly Gorilla Tours was very organized and professional. Just make sure you take new money USD - 2017 or newer with no writing or tears on the money. Uganda is picky about excepting USD and you have to oay for your Gorilla $750 permit in cash.
A friend of ours suggested Friendly Gorillas excursions. They certainly didn't let us down. Anthony and the team, which included our guide Solomon, were outstanding from the moment of the day the inquiry was answered until the execution time. That rendered the excursion extremely valuable. I heartily endorse them.
This was the most amazing trip ever. Friendly gorillas are true professionals. Their prices are competitive, their guides are excellent and so knowledgeable, and their tours are planned and well organized. Anthony and Toni kept us abreast of all the plans of the tour since before we even set foot in Uganda. They were also flexible and allowed us to add more activities to our tour: we even ended up extending our trip with them. If you are between travel companies, think no more. Friendly gorillas is the way to go. Ask for Toni our tour guide!
Anthony, the owner was very accommodating & communicative. Tonny was our guide for the 5 days journey- always make sure we were safe and had everything we needed before beginning a new adventure-even when he was not the official guide (every primate excursion includes its own guide, such as a designated park ranger). Our most memorable excursions include chimpanzees and gorillas; we had an amazing and unforgettable time encountering these primates. Every accommodation was comfortable with excellent service. Uganda has breathtaking landscapes and the nicest people. We had a wonderful trip and highly recommend this company!
Friendly Gorillas safaris was recommended to us by a friend. For sure, they did not disappoint. Right from the day inquiry response time to the execution time, the Anthony and the team including Our guide Solomon was amazing. It made the trip really worthwhile. I Strongly recommend them :)
Excellent operator; quality of lodgings exceeded my expectations. Prompt response to all of my questions and provided updates to keep me in the loop. They also provided great individual attention. Would most definitely book with them again
A breathtaking journey! Thank you to Hedi for accompanying us and learning a lot about his country during these 5 days. We felt safe with him. The accommodations were very good, special note to the last which was sumptuous! We had the chance to see a climbing lion. Thanks also to Brenda for her various quick exchanges. Manon and Pierre
A great tour! Superbly put together and Tony as a tour guide was absolutely fantastic and well organized! I recommend discussing the program, including the planned accommodation, in advance in case of last-minute changes so that there are no surprises. Otherwise, really highly recommended! General tip - In Africa you should always bring enough US dollars in cash from home. Tips, unforeseen events, etc...
Our 5-day tour with Tony through Uganda was an absolute highlight of our trip. He knows a lot about the country and its people and was very accommodating to our wishes. Unfortunately, something went wrong with the planning with Anthony and he offered us a tour that we couldn't do because of the distances. We also slept in different accommodations than those stated in the tour description. It's best to ask again in detail! Nevertheless, I would absolutely recommend Friendly Gorilla Safari. The price-performance ratio is unbeatable and Tony really had a great experience on this vacation. We felt very safe and the accommodations were great too!
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