Uganda:
Wildlife & Gorilla Tracking

You will arrive at Entebbe Airport, where we will pick you up and take you to the guesthouse.

Ideally, you should book a flight that arrives in Entebbe early in the morning. This way, you will have time to relax, enjoy lunch, and get to know the other travellers.

With an early arrival, we also have the opportunity to head to Mabamba Swamp for “Shoebill Tracking” before moving on to dinner.

Mabamba Swamp is a marshy bay on the northern shore of Lake Victoria, providing refuge to more than 300 bird species, most notably a rare population of the enigmatic shoebill. The only way to explore this wetland is on a guided boat tour, organized for you by a well-structured local community project at the edge of the swamp.

Overnight stay at: Airport Guest House Nature Lodge

After breakfast, we will take a private transfer by minibus to go rhino tracking. We will see these magnificent animals either on foot or from the vehicle.

After lunch, we will continue our journey to Murchison Falls National Park, where we will visit the highest viewpoint of the waterfalls. Here, the White Nile plunges dramatically into the depths. With a bit of luck, we will witness a stunning sunset, and you will have the chance to enjoy refreshing drinks at a beautiful location before heading to dinner.

Overnight stay at: Pakuba Safari Lodge

In the early morning, after breakfast, you will embark on a guided safari through the park. Additionally, you will enjoy a boat tour on the Nile.

The wildlife of Murchison Falls National Park is truly unique. You can witness it in all its glory during an early morning game drive, where you may spot elephants, buffalo, lions, giraffes, and various species of antelope.

After lunch and some time to relax, you will head out again in the early evening for another guided safari before dinner.

For those interested, a night safari is available for an additional €150, offering the chance to observe nocturnal animals in their natural habitat.

Our base in Murchison Falls is Pakuba Safari Lodge, which stands out for its isolated setting on the east bank of the Nile, 20km downstream from where it flows out of Lake Albert. No other lodge has a more convenient location for enjoying the wildlife action along the park’s legendary Delta Circuit.

After breakfast, we will head to Fort Portal for lunch, a town near Kibale National Park. During our drive through Murchison Falls National Park, we will once again have the opportunity to spot wildlife.

We will arrive in Kibale National Park in the evening and check into the lodge before heading to dinner.

Kibale Forest offers an accessible and enlightening insight into life in a tropical rainforest. Large mammals are not easily spotted here, but the swarms of butterflies and colorful forest birds more than make up for it. Besides, it is most famous for its primates and it is commonly known as the primates’ capital with about 13 species of primates. The commonest being the Chimpanzees.

Overnight stay at: Turaco Treetops Lodge

In the early morning, we will go chimpanzee tracking. On the search for the primates, we will walk through the forest. With a bit of luck, we might also spot other monkey species: Red Colobus, Black-and-white Colobus, or the Uganda Mangabey as the most common species.

Afterward, you will have the opportunity to see various bird species on a guided walk through the Bigodi Wetlands.

On our way to the lunch spot, we will pass the Ndali Kasenda Crater Lakes before arriving later in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Here, you will enjoy an evening game drive to discover more wildlife before heading to dinner.

Overnight stay at: Aardvark Safari Lodge

After breakfast, you will go on a morning game drive in Queen Elizabeth NP.

After lunch, you will enjoy a boat trip on the Kazinga Channel, which connects Lake Edward with Lake George. The 3-hour boat tour promises views of hippos, elephants, buffalo, crocodiles, antelope, and, of course, various bird species.

In the afternoon, you will continue with a private transfer to the Ishasha sector for an evening game drive. Ishasha is the part of Queen Elizabeth National Park where lions can be observed resting in trees.

Tonight, we will overnight at Topi Lodge.
The bandas at Topi Lodge have a distinctly African feel, with timber floors, beds made from rough-hewn branches, and decor dominated by local matting and wood carvings. All the bandas feature wide, stilted balconies from where you can enjoy the bush setting and, with some luck, spot passing wildlife from the bordering Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park.

After breakfast, we will embark on a guided tour through Ishasha. With a bit of luck, we may spot lions resting in the trees.

Later, we will drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, one of Uganda’s most important national parks and home to over 500 mountain gorillas. The park is located in the mountainous areas of southwestern Uganda, near the border with Rwanda. We will overnight at Buhoma Gorilla Camp.

In the evening, we will immerse ourselves in a cultural experience and take part in the Batwa Cultural Experience, an unforgettable journey into the traditions and history of one of Africa’s oldest indigenous groups. The Batwa, once forest dwellers of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, lived in harmony with the land for centuries. Today, their rich traditions offer a fascinating insight into a unique way of life that has been passed down through generations.

What to expect: Traditional dances & music, forest walks, storytelling, and folklore.

Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of the most unique and exhilarating wildlife experiences in the world. Located in southwestern Uganda, Bwindi is one of the few places on Earth where visitors can encounter the critically endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.

The trekking experience begins early in the morning with a briefing at the park headquarters. Small groups, led by expert guides and trackers, then embark on a journey through the dense, mist-covered forest. The trek can vary in duration from a couple of hours to a full day, depending on the location of the gorilla families. The terrain is often steep and challenging, requiring a moderate level of fitness, but the reward is worth the effort.

Once the gorilla group is found, visitors are allowed to spend a magical hour observing them as they go about their daily activities – feeding, playing, resting, and interacting with each other. The close encounter with these gentle giants, who share 98% of their DNA with humans, is profoundly moving and offers a deep connection with nature.

Bwindi is home to over 20 habituated gorilla families, spread across four sectors of the park: Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, and Nkuringo. Each sector offers unique experiences and varying levels of difficulty in trekking. The park also supports a rich diversity of other wildlife and plant species, making the journey through the forest as fascinating as the encounter with the gorillas themselves.

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is not just an adventure but also a critical conservation activity. The permit fees paid by visitors contribute directly to the preservation of the gorillas and their habitat, as well as to the welfare of local communities through employment and revenue-sharing initiatives.

Of course, you will also be provided with lunch, and in the afternoon, we will continue to Lake Bunyonyi, where we will relax and have dinner.

Accommodation for tonight: Sharp Island Lodge

After breakfast, we will go canoeing on Lake Bunyonyi.

Afterwards, we will continue to Lake Mburo National Park and have lunch at our next accommodation, Kigarama Wilderness Lodge, before heading out for an evening game drive.

Protecting a tract of acacia woodland quite unlike any other habitat in Uganda, Lake Mburo National Park forms a convenient, popular and thoroughly worthwhile addition to any safari. A visit here isn’t so much about the Big Five (though you’re certain to see buffalos, and leopards are a genuine possibility) as it is admiring the hilly setting, exploring the atmospheric wetlands and enjoying the high concentrations of herbivores such as zebra, giraffe, hippo, warthog, impala and bushbuck.

Optional activities for today include a bicycle tour through the park (€50) or a night drive (€150) to spot the park’s nocturnal animals.

It’s time to bid farewell to this amazing country. Depending on your booked flight, we’ll shuttle you to the airport in groups.

As your unforgettable journey through Uganda draws to a close, your final day offers a chance to reflect on the breathtaking landscapes and remarkable wildlife encounters.

Whether you’re waking up to the peaceful sounds of nature or overlooking the shimmering waters of Lake Mburo, the last day will be a perfect blend of relaxation and reflection.