Discover Uganda Small Group Wildlife Safari

Welcome to the pearl of Africa! After having arrived independently to Entebbe International Airport you will be greeted by a representative for your transfer to the Boma Guesthouse (5 to 10 minute drive) for your included overnight stay. Enjoy a comfortable night’s sleep in this tastefully restored colonial homestead in preparation for the adventures that lie ahead.

Overnight stay at the Boma Guesthouse with breakfast included.
Upgrade option: Protea Hotel.

Today your adventure truly begins and after an early breakfast at your guesthouse you will be collected by your English speaking driver and guide to begin your journey through some of Uganda’s most remarkable National Parks. Travelling in a comfortable 4wd safari minibus we will begin our 450km journey to our first stopover, Kibale Forest National Park. The journey is likely to take in the region of 7 hours but the spectacular scenery along the way is sure to keep you more than occupied.

Along the way we will enjoy the first of many thrilling wildlife experiences as we make a stop at Queen Elizabeth National Park to go in search of the famous tree climbing lions and enjoy a picnic lunch before proceeding towards the foothills of the “Mountains of the Moon” to reach Kibale Forest. Kibale Forest is home to the greatest variety and concentration of primates found anywhere in East Africa, including over 1000 chimpanzees. Tomorrow you will have the chance to get up-close to these intriguing animals so after a delicious dinner at the lodge a good night’s rest is in order in preparation for a new day of adventure.

2 nights accommodation at Kibale Primate Lodge in a standard cottage with breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Upgrade option: Primate Lodge luxury cottage.

Today it’s time for one of the highlights of your trip as we take the short walk into the forest to begin your chimpanzee tracking experience! Kibale Forest is home to the greatest variety and highest concentration of primates in East Africa, and is renowned as being the best place to see chimpanzees in their natural habitat. After a pre-tracking briefing you will begin your hike into the forest to visit a large habituated family of chimps that consists of over 120 individuals. Along the way your guide will tell you all about this beautiful forest and its fascinating residents including other primates and bird species such as the blue breasted Kingfisher, black billed Turaco, Pied Hornbill, Chestnut winged Starlings and many more. We will hope to spot some of these as we walk.

Upon sighting the chimpanzees you will have an hour to observe them, soaking up their captivating behaviour as they climb through the trees, groom, growl, feed, and take care of their young. An unforgettable experience that will no doubt leave a lasting impression.

After your exciting morning tracking the chimpanzees you will head back to the lodge for lunch before travelling to the nearby Bigodi Village to take part in a community walk to meet and learn all about the local tribe that lives in this area. Your guide will offer you an insight into the traditional customs and lifestyle, and you will have the chance to visit the local primary school and traditional homesteads before returning to the lodge for dinner and a well-deserved rest.

Waking up surrounded by the sounds of the African bush is quite an experience, and an early start this morning will reward with an enjoyable guided bush walk through the forest for the chance to encounter some of the unique wildlife that resides here. After returning to the lodge for breakfast we will set off in our minibus for the next leg of our tour and the remarkable Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, home of the endangered mountain gorillas. Bwindi is home to almost half of the world’s mountain gorilla population and is quite simply the best place to observe these gentle giants at a close distance. The park is also home to 9 other primates and features spectacular scenery of trails, rivers and waterfalls.

The 390km journey by road to Bwindi will take approximately 5 hours and en-route we will make a stop at the Igongo Cultural Centre for lunch and an insight into the culture and traditional way of life of the local tribes in this area. The centre includes a museum, garden with indigenous trees and plants and traditional homesteads, and we will have to fully explore before continuing our journey to Bwindi and the Haven Lodge. The Haven Lodge is perched high above Buhoma village offering delightful views across the national park, and after dinner you can settle into your beautifully designed cottage for a good night’s sleep in preparation for tomorrow’s mountain gorilla experience.

2 nights accommodation at Haven Lodge with breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Upgrade option: Buhoma Lodge

Get ready for the experience of a lifetime! After an early breakfast you will join your transfer to the offices of the National Park where upon arrival you will be allocated a gorilla family, an 8-person group and a gorilla trekking guide. After a briefing into what lies ahead, including safety precautions and an introduction to the behaviour of the gorillas, you will be driven to the trailhead for the start of your thrilling adventure.

Depending on the gorilla family that you have been allocated the trek to see them can take anywhere from 15 minutes to 6 hours so patience and an average fitness level are required. The terrain can be muddy, and rainy weather is likely, but as you trek through the jungle the anticipation of seeing these gentle giants in the wild, along with the spectacular views and likely bird sightings on offer, is likely to be more than enough distraction from that. And we can almost guarantee that when you come face to face with these majestic animals the trek will soon become a distant memory!

Upon sighting the gorillas your group will be allowed one hour with them to watch them as they go about their daily lives; feeding, moving, playing, wrestling and feeding their young – this will be a totally unique and unforgettable experience!

Gorilla trekking experiences in Bwindi have been designed to ensure that numbers are kept to a minimum whilst still offering the experience of seeing these animals in the wild so that more can be done to protect them and ensure the species’ ongoing survival. The vast majority of your gorilla permit cost goes to protecting these vulnerable animals and ensuring that their population thrives. Thanks to these conservation efforts, in the last few years the mountain gorillas population in Bwindi NP alone has increased from 300 to 400! Without tourist visits there would be substantially less funds available to do this. Each of the habituated families of mountain gorillas are only allowed to be visited by one group of eight people per day, and only 72 visitors are allowed each day.

After your thrilling experience of witnessing the famous mountain gorillas up-close, your guide will lead you back to base where you will be transferred back to the lodge for a delicious dinner and the chance to reflect on what may well have been the greatest wildlife experience of your life.

After breakfast this morning we will make our way to the final national park of our tour as we jump back into the minibus and head towards the beautiful Lake Mburo National Park. The 340km journey to Lake Mburo will take approximately 6 hours, and along the way we will stop at the Ugandan Equator point to take some pictures and perhaps purchase some souvenirs.

Upon reaching the national park we will check in to Rwaboko Rock, located in a scenic outcrop at the edge of the park, and enjoy a welcoming lunch surrounded by fabulous views. Lake Mburo is the smallest of the Ugandan national parks but it certainly packs a punch in terms of dramatic scenery and fascinating wildlife, and in the early evening you can enjoy an included game drive in search of up-close encounters with impalas, zebras, gigantic elands and giraffes. There are also excellent birding opportunities here, with over 315 species having been recorded in the area. Guided safari walks and boat rides on the lake can also be arranged at an additional cost.

Overnight stay at Rwakobo Rock with breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Upgrade option: Mihingo Lodge

As your memorable Uganda wildlife adventure comes to an end it’s time to say goodbye to the Pearl of Africa as we set off after breakfast back towards Entebbe. The journey back to the airport will take approximately 6 to 7 hours, with a stop along the way for lunch. As you relax and soak up the surrounding scenery filled with memories of your unforgettable experiences make sure to keep an eye out for the black-and-white colobus monkeys that will be hiding along the road.