$3,421 pp (USD)
2 travelers on Start dateArrival
Arrival
Day 1
Journey to the Primate Capital & Bigodi Wetland Walk
Journey to the Primate Capital & Bigodi Wetland Walk
Your Ugandan adventure begins with a morning drive welcoming you into the countryside of Western Uganda. As you approach Fort Portal, the landscape transforms into dramatic rolling tea plantations set against the backdrop of the Rwenzori Mountains. Arrive at your lodge at the edge of the rainforest in time for lunch.
In the afternoon, you will head out on a guided walk through the vibrant Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary. This community-run boardwalk trail is an avian paradise, home to the striking Great Blue Turaco, and offers your first thrilling encounter with wild primates, including the Red Colobus and Grey-cheeked Mangabey monkeys.
Known as the "Primate Capital of the World," Kibale protects one of the most beautiful and well-preserved expanses of rainforest in East Africa. It holds the highest density and diversity of primates on the continent: 13 distinct species in total, making it a world-renowned haven for scientific research and unparalleled wildlife encounters.
- Main Destination:
- Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary (Kibale NP)
- Accommodation:
- Kibale Forest Lodge
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 2
The Chimpanzee Experience & The Rift Valley Escarpment
The Chimpanzee Experience & The Rift Valley Escarpment
After an early breakfast, gather at the park headquarters for a briefing from expert rangers before plunging into the ancient canopy for your Chimpanzee trekking adventure. Moving through the dense foliage, the forest comes alive with vocalizations until you find a habituated community. Spend an unforgettable hour watching our closest wild relatives swing through the trees, groom one another, and socialize. Afterward, return to the lodge for a hearty lunch before journeying south.
Descending into the Great Rift Valley, you will cross the Equator and enter Queen Elizabeth National Park, arriving at your lodge just in time to watch the sunset over the wild savannah.
Queen Elizabeth National park is Uganda’s most popular safari destination. It features an astonishing variety of ecosystems, including sprawling savannah, shady hummock forests, volcanic crater lakes, and rich wetlands, allowing an incredible cross-section of African wildlife to thrive side-by-side.
- Main Destination:
- Kibale National Park (Chimps)
- Accommodation:
- Ihamba Lakeside Safari Lodge
Wildlife in Kibale NP
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 3
Sunrise Savannah Safari & The Iconic Kazinga Channel Cruise
Sunrise Savannah Safari & The Iconic Kazinga Channel Cruise
Dawn brings the best chance to witness predators on the hunt. Set out onto the Kasenyi Plains as the golden morning light breaks over the horizon. Here, large herds of Uganda Kob graze watchfully, keeping an eye out for the resident lion prides and elusive leopards that stalk the tall grasses. Large elephant herds and Cape buffaloes frequently cross the tracks. Return to the lodge for a midday rest and lunch.
In the afternoon, embark on a premier highlight: a boat cruise along the natural Kazinga Channel. This 32-kilometer-long waterway links Lake Edward and Lake George and boasts the world's highest concentration of hippos. You will glide just meters away from massive pods of hippos, giant Nile crocodiles, and thirsty elephants lining the banks.
During the dry season, Kazinga Channel offers a theater of nature where hundreds of birds, elephants, buffaloes, and predators gather along the banks, offering some of the best close-up wildlife photography opportunities.
- Main Destination:
- Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Accommodation:
- Ihamba Lakeside Safari Lodge
Wildlife in Queen Elizabeth NP
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 4
The Tree-Climbing Lions of Ishasha & The Gorilla Highlands
The Tree-Climbing Lions of Ishasha & The Gorilla Highlands
Bid farewell to the lakeside as your safari journeys further south into the remote, wild Ishasha Sector of the park. This region feels entirely different, characterized by sweeping plains dotted with massive, ancient fig trees.
You will embark on a game drive searching for Ishasha's world-famous tree-climbing lions. Witnessing a pride of apex predators casually lounging aloft on low-hanging branches is a rare, breathtaking sight.
After lunch, journey deep into winding mountain roads as you ascend into the breathtaking Kigezi Highlands. Arrive at the edge of the misty Bwindi Impenetrable Forest by late afternoon, feeling the crisp, refreshing mountain air.
The isolated southern pocket of the park, Ishasha Sector, is one of only two places in the entire world where lions habitually climb trees. While scientists debate whether they do it to escape the heat or the tsetse flies, seeing a 400-pound lion resting comfortably on a tree branch is a profoundly unique African safari memory.
- Main Destination:
- Ishasha Sector (Queen Elizabeth NP)
- Accommodation:
- Bweza Gorilla Lodge
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 5
Once-in-a-Lifetime Mountain Gorilla Trekking
Once-in-a-Lifetime Mountain Gorilla Trekking
This is the pinnacle day of your expedition. After an early breakfast, head to the park station for a vital briefing on gorilla etiquette. Accompanied by experienced track rangers and armed guards, you will step into the emerald depths of the ancient rainforest. The trek can take anywhere from one to six hours, climbing steep, vine-covered ridges, but all fatigue vanishes the moment your guide parts the leaves to reveal a family of Mountain Gorillas. Spend a magical, silent hour just meters away from these gentle giants. Watch the silverback protectively survey his family while mothers cradle infants and juveniles playfully tumble through the foliage.
Return to the lodge for a deeply rewarding afternoon of relaxation and a celebratory dinner.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a biological island that's roughly 25,000 years old. This ancient, tangled jungle protects half of the world's remaining population of endangered Mountain Gorillas.
- Main Destination:
- Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Gorillas)
- Accommodation:
- Bweza Gorilla Lodge
Wildlife in Bwindi Impenetrable NP
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 6
Bwindi to the Rolling Savannah of Lake Mburo
Bwindi to the Rolling Savannah of Lake Mburo
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast surrounded by the misty forest canopy before leaving the mountains behind.
Your journey takes you through rolling terraced hills, vibrant local trading centers, and past the calm waters of Lake Bunyonyi as you head east toward Lake Mburo National Park.
Arrive in time for an afternoon boat ride on the lake. The scenery here is beautifully distinct, featuring sculptured acacia woodlands and quiet lakes.
Unlike the previous parks, Mburo is the ultimate place to spot massive herds of Impala, common elands, and playful zebras roaming freely right up to the park borders. Enjoy your final night in the African bush under a star-filled sky.
Lake Mburo National Park is the smallest of Uganda’s parks but packs an incredible punch. It is the only wetland-dominated park in the country that features a massive interconnected chain of five lakes. Because there are no elephants or lions here, it offers a remarkably peaceful ecosystem.
- Main Destination:
- Lake Mburo National Park
- Accommodation:
- Kigarama Wilderness Lodge
Wildlife in Lake Mburo NP
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 7
Guided Walking Safari, The Equator & Farewell
Guided Walking Safari, The Equator & Farewell
True to the spirit of a classic explorer, you will start your final day on foot. Accompanied by an armed park ranger, head out on a morning walking safari.
Walking through the savannah allows you to experience the wild through all your senses: smelling the wild herbs, tracking animal footprints in the soil, and standing completely exposed just a short distance from giraffes and zebras.
Return to the lodge to freshen up and check out. Begin your drive back to Entebbe, breaking up the journey with a festive stop at the Uganda Equator line for, photos, and souvenir shopping. Arrive in Entebbe by late afternoon for your onward evening journey home or hotel drop off.
Walking Safari Experience: Lake Mburo is one of the very few wildlife parks in East Africa where visitors can safely explore on foot. Stripping away the metal barrier of a safari vehicle transforms the dynamic entirely, allowing you to truly feel the pulse of the African wild and appreciate the smaller details of the bush.
- Main Destination:
- Equator Point Uganda (Highlight)
- Accommodation:
- No accommodation (End of tour)
- Meals & Drinks:
