$3,349 pp (USD)
2 travelers on Start dateArrival
Arrival
Day 1
Entebbe to Kibale National Park
Entebbe to Kibale National Park
Today we journey west toward Fort Portal and the lush Kibale Forest National Park, a drive of about five hours. The road alternates between smooth asphalt and rustic tracks, winding through traditional Ugandan villages where locals cultivate millet, sorghum, beans, and maize. Rolling hills provide stunning photo opportunities, while the approach to Fort Portal reveals the emerald foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains and Uganda’s famed tea plantations—a sweeping carpet of green contrasting beautifully with the countryside behind. From here, we continue into Kibale Forest, one of Africa’s leading rainforest research reserves. Decades of study have made many of its primates accustomed to human presence, and the forest is equally renowned for its rich birdlife.
- Main Destination:
- Kibale National Park (Chimps)
- Accommodation:
- Kibale Forest Camp (Safari Tent)
Wildlife in Kibale NP
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 2
Kibale Forest National Park
Kibale Forest National Park
At 0800 hours, gather at Kanyankyu River Camp for Kibale’s signature experience: chimpanzee tracking. These remarkable primates—our closest relatives—are among the most threatened species, making each encounter unforgettable. Along the way, you may spot black-and-white colobus, L’Hoest’s monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, red-tailed monkeys, bush babies, and pottos. The forest is alive with birdlife, from the yellow-spotted nicator and rumped tinkerbird to the little greenbul, green-breasted pitta, crowned eagle, and dazzling black bee-eater. Elephants occasionally roam the edges, adding to the thrill. Kibale National Park, averaging 3,300 feet in elevation, is an extension of Central Africa’s great rainforests and home to three large chimp communities, each with more than 100 individuals. Their complex social structures—dominant males defending territories while females move in small family groups—offer a rare glimpse into the intricate rhythms of primate society.
- Main Destination:
- Kibale National Park (Chimps)
- Accommodation:
- Kibale Forest Camp (Safari Tent)
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 3
Kibale Forest National Park to Queen Elizabeth National Park Via Fort Portal
Kibale Forest National Park to Queen Elizabeth National Park Via Fort Portal
After breakfast, we drive to Fort Portal to explore the mystical Amabere Caves in Nyakasura, legendary home of the Bachwezi—once revered as demi-gods. The caves still hold remnants of their regalia, offering a glimpse into their lives before their mysterious disappearance. A guided walk then leads to the ancient crater lakes, shimmering with beauty and steeped in Bachwezi lore. From here, we continue south through Fort Portal toward Queen Elizabeth National Park, arriving early afternoon. This 767-square-mile conservation area is framed by dramatic scenery: the snow-capped 16,000-foot Rwenzori Mountains rise along its northern border, Lake George lies to the northeast, and Lake Edward to the southwest. To the west, the park shares its boundary with the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Parc du Virunga, forming one of Africa’s most remarkable cross-border ecosystems.
- Main Destination:
- Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Accommodation:
- Mweya Hostel
Wildlife in Queen Elizabeth NP
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 4
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park
We set out early for a game drive along the Kasenyi Track in the northern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, the prime time to spot lions on the hunt, elephants roaming, and solitary buffaloes grazing. The abundance of Uganda kobs here makes this the best chance to see cats in action, often at close range. In the afternoon, a launch trip along the Kazinga Channel brings the park’s wildlife even closer: hippos huff and spray beside the boat, buffalo linger in the shallows, and elephants gather to drink. Nearly 80% of the park’s wildlife can be found along this channel, making it a highlight of the safari. The shores are alive with birdlife too, from pink-backed pelicans and pied kingfishers to malachite kingfishers and saddle-billed storks, creating a spectacular blend of creatures both great and small.
- Main Destination:
- Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Accommodation:
- Mweya Hostel
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 5
Queen Elizabeth National Park to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Queen Elizabeth National Park to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
We journey through the Ishasha sector, famed for its rare tree-climbing lions. Nowhere else in Africa offers a better chance to see these majestic cats draped across the broad, low branches of fig trees, surveying the plains below. This game drive also provides an opportunity to spot wildlife missed on earlier drives in Kasenyi or along Queen’s Mile, adding depth to the safari experience. The landscape here is wild and untamed, with open savannas blending into dense thickets, creating perfect habitats for both predators and prey. After savoring the unique beauty of Ishasha, we continue toward the breathtaking Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a dramatic shift from open plains to mist-shrouded rainforest, setting the stage for the next chapter of adventure.
- Main Destination:
- Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Gorillas)
- Accommodation:
-
Gorilla Valley Lodge
Wildlife in Bwindi Impenetrable NP
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 6
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After breakfast, you’ll attend a morning briefing before setting out on the highlight of the journey: gorilla trekking. Accompanied by guides and trackers, you’ll hike through dense rainforest and bamboo-covered slopes in search of a mountain gorilla family. The trek can be long and demanding, often over steep, muddy terrain and sometimes in rain, lasting anywhere from two to eight hours. Yet the moment you glimpse a magnificent silverback, any effort fades into awe. Once the gorillas are located, visitors are guided to within six meters and spend one unforgettable hour observing them up close. For conservation reasons, this time is strictly limited, but the experience—watching their complex behaviors and quiet power—remains one of the most profound encounters in the wild.
- Main Destination:
- Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Gorillas)
- Accommodation:
- Gorilla Valley Lodge
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 7
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to Kampala
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to Kampala
After breakfast, we begin the return journey to Kampala, descending through the grassy, terraced escarpments of southwestern Uganda. This breathtaking region, often called the “Little Switzerland of Africa,” is a fertile, mountainous landscape where steep hills are cultivated from top to bottom in neat rows. Passing through Mbarara, you’ll encounter the striking long-horned Ankole cattle, a proud symbol of Uganda’s heritage. A memorable highlight of the trip is crossing the Equator, where we pause briefly before continuing north. By evening, we arrive in Kampala, in time for your flight home, carrying with you lasting impressions of Uganda’s diverse beauty.
- Main Destination:
- Kampala (City)
- Accommodation:
- No accommodation (End of tour)
- Meals & Drinks:
