In this Uganda Gorilla Trekking safari you will track lions prowling the open plains, trek chimpanzees through the rainforest, navigate tropical channels teeming with hippos and crocodiles and finally set off into the misty mountains, gorilla trekking, to stare deep into the eyes of these mystical creatures.
Day 1 Travel Day to Africa
Day 2 Kibale Forest National Park
Day 3 Kibale Forest National Park
Day 4 Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 5 Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 6 Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Day 7 Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Day 8 Lake Mburo National Park
Day 9 Your Journey Ends
- Chimpanzee Trekking
- Gorilla Trekking
- Forest Walks
- Community Interactions
- Birding
- Katwe Explosion Crater
- Mahoma Water Fall
DAY 1 TRAVEL DAY – TO AFRICA
Your safari begins today as you board your international flight to Africa.
DAY 2 KIBALE FOREST
Welcome to Africa! On arrival in Entebbe, Uganda, you will be met by your guide and transferred to Fort Portal via Mubende. Enjoy a picnic lunch en-route and continue to Kibale Forest National Park, arriving late afternoon. Relax at your lodge or explore nearby Crater Lake. You will stay at Ndali Lodge for the next two nights.
About Ndali Lodge: Perched on the rim of an extinct volcano that has filled with water to become the breathtaking Lake Nyinambuga – 250 acres in size and 130 meters deep.
Camp Type & Location: Safari lodge set stunningly amidst the Bunyaruguru Crater Lake region of Western Uganda
Guest Accommodations: 8 stone and thatch cottages, with en-suite bathroom facilities including bath and shower, and west facing verandah, offering panoramic views of the spectacular “Mountains of the Moon.”
Activities: Farm Tours, walks to Mahoma Water Fall and boating excursions.
Optional Activities: Gorilla & chimpanzee trekking (cost available on request)
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: Ndali Lodge (B, L, D)
DAY 3 KIBALE FOREST
Today, you will track the boisterous chimps and other primates crashing through the high canopy of forest above. After a picnic lunch, enjoy an afternoon walk in Bigodi to see some of the community projects financed by tourism.
Overnight: Ndali Lodge (B, L, D)
DAY 4 QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK
After breakfast, transfer with your guide to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The drive to takes about 3 ½ hours and passes through Fort Portal and then south along the eastern length of The Rwenzori Mountains, with the hope of viewing the glaciated peaks. You then descend into The Great African Rift Valley and into the Park, finally arriving at Mweya Lodge.
About Mweya Lodge: Surrounded by the magical Rwenzori Mountains aptly described as the ‘Mountains of the Moon’.
Camp Type & Location: Safari Lodge located on a peninsula within the heart of Queen Elizabeth National Park
Guest Accommodations: 32 standard rooms, 12 deluxe rooms and 2 suites, each with en-suite bathroom facilities and breathtaking views of the Kazinga Channel
Activities: Morning and afternoon game drives and private boat cruise.
Optional Activities: Nature walks, bush breakfast and Katwe Explosion Crater drive (cost available on request).
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. The park 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.
Overnight: Mweya Lodge (B, L, D)
DAY 5 QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK
Enjoy your morning at leisure. This afternoon, enjoy an afternoon game drive followed by a sunset cruise along the Kazinga Channel, where the wildlife and a vast array of birds come to drink.
Overnight: Mweya Lodge (B, L, D)
DAY 6 BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST NATIONAL PARK
After breakfast, you will drive through the park to the Ishasha region in search of tree climbing lions and other game. Then you will make your way to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park (a World Heritage Sight) passing through the scenic area known as ‘The Switzerland of East Africa,’ later arriving to Gorilla Forest Camp for the next two nights.
About Gorilla Forest Camp: Often receives regular visits from the gorillas themselves in camp, up to 4-6 times per month!
Camp Type & Location: Permanent Tented Camp nestled deep inside Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Guest Accommodations: 8 tents, with en-suite bathrooms, including a bathtub, ideal for soaking tired muscles after a day spent gorilla trekking.
Activities: Forest walks and community interactions.
Optional Activities: Gorilla trekking and birding walks (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
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: Gorilla Forest Camp (B, L, D)
DAY 7 BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST NATIONAL PARK
Wake early this morning for your day of gorilla trekking! Walk up steep densely forested hills before finally coming across the gorillas camouflaged in the vegetation. An inspiring moment! Trekking in Bwindi requires stamina and can often take most of the day. Alternatively, you can go for a leisurely nature or community walk.
Overnight: Gorilla Forest Camp (B, L, D)
DAY 8 LAKE MBURO NATIONAL PARK
After breakfast, enjoy a morning game drive as your transfer to Mburo National Park and Mihingo Lodge, where you will enjoy 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 the 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 9 YOUR JOURNEY ENDS
Your Gorilla Trekking safari comes to an end early this morning as you depart for Entebbe, retracing your steps through the green landscape. On arrival in Entebbe, you will connect with your international flight to the USA.
