On this Uganda safari, experience the “pearl of Africa” as you search for tree climbing lion, trek through the rain forest for boisterous chimpanzees and set off into the misty mountains in search of mountain gorilla.  This adventure has been described as one of the most profound natural history experience in the world!

Day 1 Travel Day – To Africa
Day 2 Entebbe
Day 3 Kibale Forest National Park
Day 4 Kibale Forest National Park
Day 5 Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 6 Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 7 Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Day 8 Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Day 9 Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Day 10 Lake Mburo National Park
Day 11 Your Journey Ends

DAY 1 TRAVEL DAY – TO AFRICA

Your safari begins today as your board your international flight to Africa!

DAY 2 ENTEBBE

Welcome to Africa! On arrival in Entebbe, Uganda, you will be met by your guide and transferred to the Lake Victoria Hotel for your first night in Africa!

About Lake Victoria Hotel: Classic colonial style décor, with manicured gardens, a shady verandah and breezy upstairs terrace offering a gorgeous view of Lake Victoria
Accommodation Type & Location: Hotel located just 4 kilometers from the Entebbe Airport.
Guest Accommodations: 99 rooms each with en-suite bathroom facilities.

Overnight: Lake Victoria Hotel (B)

DAY 3 KIBALE FOREST NATIONAL PARK

After breakfast, you will drive to the Kibale Forest area, a full day of approximately seven hours. After leaving the Lake Victoria Basin, you will pass through beautiful agricultural countryside where every type of fruit and vegetable imaginable is grown. Upon reaching Kyanjojo, in the lower foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains (Mountains of the Moon), you will drive through beautiful tea plantations and into the Kibale tropical rain forest, arriving to the Primate Lodge for your next two nights.

About the Primate Lodge: The lodge is committed to the conservation of nature and culture and is constructed using local materials.
Accommodation Type & Location: Safari lodge located in Kibale Forest National Park
Guest Accommodations: 8 luxury safari tents and 7 cottages all privately situated in the forest, with en-suite bathroom facilities.
Wildlife: This enchanting and exotic environment is home to at least 60 mammal species, remarkably 13 of which are primates. The park is home to the largest concentration of chimpanzees in Africa. It also has a rich diversity of birds, with 335 species identified including the endemic Prirogrine’s ground thrush.

About Kibale Forest National Park
Kibale Forest National Park is the most accessible of Uganda’s rainforests. Its dominant vegetation is lush and shady rainforest but is interspersed with patches of grasslands and swamp. The most alluring and rewarding activity in Kibale Forest is trekking for habituated primates.

Overnight: Primate Lodge (B, L, D)

DAY 4 KIBALE FOREST NATIONAL PARK

Today you will have the opportunity to explore Kibale Forest National Park in search of primates. Whilst trekking in the depths of the lush green forest, you will be surrounded by bird song and can expect to see at least 5 or 6 other types of primate, most likely the grey-cheeked managebey, the red-tailed monkey and of course the chimpanzee. The walking is fairly easy due to the well-maintained trails and reasonably flat terrain. You will get another chance to trek the chimpanzees in the afternoon, allowing for observation of the chimpanzees during a different section of their daily lives.
**Please note chimpanzee sightings are not guaranteed.

Overnight: Primate Lodge (B, L, D)

DAY 5 QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK

This morning, you will be met in the hotel lobby for your transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The drive passes through Fort Portal and then south along the eastern length of The Rwenzori Mountains, with the hope of viewing the glaciated peaks. You will descend into The Great African Rift Valley and Queen Elizabeth National Park, arriving to Kyambura Game Lodge, where you will enjoy your next two nights.

In the afternoon, explore the park and its wonders on a game drive.

About Kyambura Game Lodge: The lodge has been built using environmentally friendly, local materials.
Accommodation Type & Location: Luxury safari lodge situated on the eastern edge of Queen Elizabeth National Park
Guest Accommodations: 8 spacious grass-thatched cottages, with private balcony and en-suite bathroom facilities
Wildlife: The wildlife biodiversity in Queen Elizabeth National Park is most astonishing with 95 types of mammals and 612 different birds. The Kazinga Channel alone is said to contain the world’s largest concentration of hippos. Other wildlife includes lion, warthogs, buffalo, rare aquatic sitatunga antelope, giant forest hog, Uganda kob, topi, waterbuck, elephant and leopard.

About Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park resides in a fertile, equatorial area and has beautiful scenery. It is Uganda’s most popular and accessible savannah reserve, with a total area of 1978 square kilometers. It is primarily associated with grassy savannah plains, but this impressive park also includes within its boundaries, leafy rainforests, dense papyrus swamps and natural volcanic crater lakes. As a result it has one of the highest biodiversity ratings of any game reserve in the world, including a total of 95 recorded mammal species and more than 610 species of birds.

Overnight: Kyambura Game Lodge (B, L, D)

DAY 6 QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK

After breakfast, enjoy a morning game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park including a private boat trip of about two hours on the Kazinga Channel to view some of the largest concentration of hippo in the world.

Overnight: Kyambura Game Lodge (B, L, D)

DAY 7 BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST NATIONAL PARK

This morning, embark on your morning game drive through the Ishasha region in search of tree climbing lion and other game. This afternoon, you will drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park passing through the scenic area known as The Switzerland of East Africa (approximately 5.5 hours not including game drives), arriving to Mahogany Springs Lodge for your next three nights.

About Mahogany Springs Lodge: Mountain gorillas can regularly be viewed from the terraces crossing the river outside the lodge.
Accommodation Type & Location: Luxury safari lodge located in the Buhoma, Northern side of Bwindi. Mahogany Springs, on its own private section of the Munyanga River
Guest Accommodations: 6 luxury suites, all with double beds, a private elevated terrace and en-suite bathroom facilities
Activities: Gorilla trekking
Optional Activity: Batwa Experience (cost available on request)
Wildlife: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has at least 90 mammal species, including 11 primates and is ranked as one of the best in Uganda for forest birding. The park is renowned for its mountain gorillas, home to more than half of the world’s mountain gorilla population.

About Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park 
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest impresses with a truly theatrical landscape – this is a region of volcanoes, jagged valleys, waterfalls, lakes and dramatic mountain ranges. This ancient rainforest is regarded as one of the most biologically diverse forest in Africa.

Overnight: Mahogany Springs Lodge (B, L, D)

DAY 8 BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST NATIONAL PARK

Today is your first day of gorilla trekking! This morning, you will take a short drive to Park Headquarters to meet with the local guides and trackers who will give a talk on the etiquette of gorilla trekking. You will then hike into the forest where the gorillas were seen the night before and track from there. The trekking can take from 1 to 6 hours and climb to altitudes in excess of 7,500 feet. The terrain is rough and at time muddy. Although the hike is physically demanding the beauty of the forest and surrounding scenery make the trekking worthwhile.

Once the gorillas are located all fatigue is forgotten, as the experience is often described as being the most profound natural history experience in the world.
** Please note gorilla sightings cannot be guaranteed.

Overnight: Mahogany Springs Lodge (B, L, D)

DAY 9 BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST NATIONAL PARK

Enjoy your second day of gorilla trekking or optional Batwa Cultural Experience.
** Please note gorilla sightings cannot be guaranteed.

Overnight: Mahogany Springs Lodge (B, L, D)

DAY 10 LAKE MBURO NATIONAL PARK

This morning, enjoy your drive to Mbarara passing through the Switzerland of East Africa area and eventually into Ankole Cattle country around Mbarara. These cattle are incredible with horns larger than one can imagine. Continue to Lake Mburo National Park and Mihingo Lodge for your final night in Africa!

About Mihingo Lodge: From the dining and pool area, enjoy a view of the westward oriented valley and stunning evening sunsets over Lake Mburo National Park.
Camp Type & Location: Safari Lodge located adjacent to Lake Mburo National Park
Guest Accommodations: Ten thatched and stilted tents, with en-suite bathroom facilities, hot and cold running water, showers and flush toilet.
Activities: Morning and afternoon game drives
Optional Activities: Game walks, boating excursions, horseback safaris, night game drives and cultural walks (cost available on request).
Wildlife: The park’s well developed Acacia woodland harbors a number of wildlife species and it is the best place in the country to see the gigantic eland antelope, as well as topi, impala and several acacia-associated birds. Lake Mburo is the largest of the five lakes found this park, which together attract hippos, crocodiles, and a variety of waterbirds, while in swamps hide sitatunga antelope and red, black and yellow papyrus gonalek.

About Lake Mburo National Park
Lake Mburo National Park contains an extensive area of wetland and also harbors several species of mammals and birds found nowhere else in Uganda. Its sculptured landscape, with rolling hills and idyllic lake shores has a varied mosaic of habitats; forest galleries, seasonal and permanent swamps, and rich acacia-woodland, and grassy valleys which all support a wealth of wildlife.

Overnight: Mihingo Lodge (B, L, D)

DAY 11 YOUR JOURNEY ENDS

After breakfast, you will be transferred back to Entebbe, approximately a 5 hour drive. If time permits, you can enjoy a stop in Kampala for curio shopping and a visit to the Mpigi Royal Drum Makers. You will then be transferred to Entebbe Airport to connect with your departure flight.