When to go
June – December
Price
From £4,945 pp (including flights)
Flight time
8hrs 32mins
Introduction
Celebrated for its varied plant and animal wildlife, Uganda has a rich, diverse ecosystem with savannahs, lush forests, and an estimate of more than 300 mammal species, and more than 1,000 bird species. During this memorable 12-day adventure, you will get to see everything that makes Uganda special, from the majestic wildlife to the gorgeous landscapes, followed by the up-close-and-personal chimpanzee tracking experience.
At a Glance
Duration
12 days & 11 nights
Guide price
Group: £4,945pp (including flights)
Cities/Destinations (in order)
Entebbe – Kibale Forest – Queen Elizabeth National Park – Kazinga Channel – Buhoma – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest – Lake Mburo National Park – Entebbe
Tour Type
Experienced local tour manager and guided sightseeing
Tour Theme
Group Tour
Activity Level
2 out of 7 - Leisurely / Moderate
Age Range
16+
Star Rating of Tour
Superior
Accommodation
Turaco Treetops | Simba Safari Camp | Haven Lodge Buhoma | Rwakobo Rock
Board Basis
Varied - please see the sample itinerary for details
Min|Max Group Size
Average 4 people with a maximum of 14
Start/Finish
Entebbe – Entebbe
Highlights
Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale Forest
The Kibale Forest is home to 13 species of primates, including chimpanzees. It offers professional chimpanzee tracking excursions, where you will track their movement, find them in their natural habitat, and marvel at their unique habitat and lifestyle. It is one of the most popular activities for tourists to do in Uganda.
Enjoy a Classic Safari Experience in Queen Elizabeth National Park
As one of the most popular savannah parks in Uganda, the Queen Elizabeth National Park has a wide range of activities, such as game drives and safari tours. There is also the hot air balloon ride, which takes place in the early morning and lets you see the sunrise from soaring heights.
Spend One Hour in the Company of Mountain Gorillas
While the Mountain gorilla can be found in several parts of Africa, one of the most notable locations where you can go to see them is the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
With the assistance of an expert tour guide and wildlife expert, you will track their movements and, upon finding a Mountain gorilla family, will spend a maximum of 1-hour in the company of these majestic animals.
Recommended Hotels
Turaco Treetops | Simba Safari Camp | Haven Lodge Buhoma | Rwakobo Rock
Sample Itinerary
Ugandan Chimps and Gorillas
Traverse the majestic landscape of Uganda and learn about the many primates that reside in the region. Your time in Uganda will be a memorable experience, one that will see you track native chimpanzees and spend an hour with a family of Mountain gorillas. What’s more, you’ll be guided by experienced and knowledgeable tour guides, who will teach you how to track primates and respect their natural habitat.
Day 1: Leave London
Day 2: Entebbe | Kibale Forest
Arrive at Entebbe, and then drive to Kibale Forest. Depending on traffic conditions, the drive may take around 7-8 hours. After arriving at Kibale Forest, you can enjoy free leisure in the afternoon.
Stay for 2 nights at the Turaco Treetops or similar.
(B, L, D)
Day 3: Kibale Forest | Bigodi Wetlands
In the morning, explore the Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary, a jungle swamp located in Kibale National Park. The sanctuary is dedicated to the preservation of the swamp area, along with extending the benefits of the tourism that it draws in to other communities.
As you trek through the forest, you will track the primates and witness any primate activity that you may come across.
Stay overnight at the Turaco Treetops or similar.
(B, L, D)
Day 4: Queen Elizabeth National Park
There will be a second opportunity to participate in the chimpanzee tracking excursion. It is recommended that you book the second journey in advance due to limited availability. Otherwise enjoy free leisure in the morning.
In the afternoon drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The park is home to a very popular and accessible savannah reserve, which covers a total area of 1,978 square kilometers. The park also has volcanic crater lakes, rainforests, and papyrus swamps, giving the park a high biodiversity rating and providing plenty of photographic opportunities.
Stay for 2 nights at the Simba Safari Camp or similar.
(B, L, D)
Day 5: Queen Elizabeth National Park | Kazinga Channel
In the morning, go on a game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park in search of wild elephants, leopards, hyenas, jackals, and more. Then in the afternoon, go on a boat trip along the Kazinga Channel, where you will see one of the largest concentrations of hippos in the world.
(B, L, D)
Day 6: Queen Elizabeth National Park | Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Make your way to the Ashaga region of the park. While there, you will search for wild game. The most notable animal to watch out for is the tree climbing lion. In the afternoon, go to the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, which will take about 5.5 hours.
Stay for 3 nights at the Haven Lodge Buhoma or similar.
(B, L, D)
Day 7: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Today you will go Mountain gorilla tracking in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. This is a key highlight of the journey, as you will be guided by a local tour guide and wildlife expert, who will take you on an engaging, physically active trek to find a family of Mountain gorillas.
Upon finding one, you will spend a total of 1-hour in close proximity to the gorillas, before the group must depart. Participants should have a moderate level of physical fitness and confidence, as there is some steep terrain to navigate.
Spots are limited for Mountain gorilla tracking, so early booking is strongly advised.
(B, L, D)
Day 8: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Enjoy a free day of leisure. Or participate in a second round of Mountain gorilla tracking. For those that do not wish to join the second Mountain gorilla tracking excursion, there are many nature walks around to explore.
(B, L, D)
Day 9: Lake Mburo National Park
Leave the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and head to Lake Mburo National Park. On the way, stop in Kabale for lunch. The total drive time will be around 5 hours. You should arrive at Lake Mburo National Park in the late afternoon.
Spend 2 nights at Rwakobo Rock or similar.
(B, L, D)
Day 10: Lake Mburo National Park
Today is the last chance to go on a game drive in search of wildlife. The park is home to a wide variety of mammal and bird species, which your tour guide will point out to you during the game drive. The drive will also take you across diverse landscapes, from wetlands to woodlands to grassy hillsides to more.
You can also participate in a search for game by foot and boat. Along the way, you will visit a nearby salt lick, where many animals gather to feed on the salt rocks. During the boat trip, you will get to see all kinds of marine and bird wildlife, including hippos and crocodiles, and heron, Fish eagle, and Black crake.
(B, L, D)
Day 11: Entebbe
Depart Lake Mburo National Park and return to the starting point of your journey, Entebbe. On the way there, you will visit the Babamba Swamp, which provides the perfect viewing opportunity for the endangered Shoebill stork and Papyrus yellow warbler.
Your afternoon will end in the afternoon once you arrive in Entebbe. Take a return flight to London in the afternoon.
(B, L)
