Uganda Highlights

Upon arrival in Entebbe you will be collected by your guide and transferred to your hotel in Kampala.

Depending on your arrival time you may be able to explore Kampala and the surrounding area this afternoon. We recommend visiting the Royal Mile (Lubiri Palace and Bulange Parliament), Ndere Cultural Centre, Kasubi Royal Tombs, and Kampala Central Mosque where you can take in the panoramic views of the city from the Minaret.

Today you will drive for seven hours through spectacular scenery to Murchison Falls National Park in northwestern Uganda. Depending on your arrival time you may have an opportunity to explore the mighty Murchison Falls either on a boat trip or on foot.

This morning you can enjoy a game drive on the plains of Murchison Falls National Park where you’ll have a chance to spot giraffe, spotted hyena, lion, leopard, spotted hyena, buffalo, kob and hartebeest.

We also recommend that you take a boat tour on the river towards the base of the waterfalls where it meets the Nile. On the banks of the river you’ll see hippo, Nile crocodile, elephant, and if you’re lucky, the elusive leopard. There is prolific birdlife within the area too, including the extraordinary looking shoebill stork.

Today, you’ll have a long drive through the plantations and mountains that are synonymous with Ugandan countryside. This afternoon you’ll arrive at your lovely lodge in Fort Portal, at the foot of the Rwenzori Mountains and the base of the Kibale Forest.

You’ll have an early start this morning as you’ll be required to meet park rangers at 8am for a briefing about your chimp trekking adventure. After the briefing you’ll head deep into the Kibale Forest to track the troops of chimpanzees that live there. As you trek through the dense forest in search of the chimpanzees you’ll hear them screech and hoot around you and it will feel as if the jungle has come alive. Once you’ve found a family of chimpanzees you can spend one hour watching them swing through the trees, play on the forest floor and build nests for their afternoon naps. It is a truly magical experience! The forest is also home to other primates, including colobus monkeys and red tailed monkeys, plus colourful giant butterflies.

We also recommend the 'swamp walk' which is a two hour trek through the swamps to meet a local community living in this hostile environment. There is stunning scenery and some incredibly rare wildlife to spot en route.

After breakfast at your lodge in Kibale you’ll travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park at the base of the Rwenzori Mountain range, adjacent to Lake Edward and Lake George. This spectacular national park is full of game and it is known for its large elephant population.

After checking in to your lodge you’ll head out for an afternoon game drive and a sundowner before dinner.

Today you’ll have a full day to explore Queen Elizabeth National Park. You’ll have morning and afternoon game drives, plus you can also enjoy a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel, a guided nature walk in the Maramagambo Forest or you can take an early morning hot air balloon flight over the savannahs of the Queen Elizabeth NP.

Today you’ll drive to Lake Matunda in southwest Uganda. This region is known as ''Little Switzerland'' due its lush mountains and freshwater lakes. It is the ideal base for a number of activities beyond gorilla tracking, including hiking, mountain biking, cultural village tours, bird watching or boat cruises on the lakes.

After an early breakfast you’ll drive to the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park HQ where you’ll begin your gorilla trek. You will be allocated to one of nine habituated groups and your experienced guide and park ranger will lead you deep into the forest in search of your allocated family. Your trek could last from a few minutes to a full day, depending on the exact location of the specific gorilla family which you’re tracking.

When you meet the gorillas you’ll have the chance to spend up to one magical hour quietly observing them. The gorillas are likely to be just a few metres away from you and they will continue to go about their daily lives - feeding and interacting with each other, under the watchful gaze of the silverback.

In the late afternoon you’ll be transferred back to your accommodation where you can spend the evening reflecting on your incredible encounter with the wild mountain gorillas of Uganda.

Today you’ll have a full day to explore Lake Matunda, plus the nearby lakes and Virunga Volcanoes.

We highly recommend that you participate in the Batwa cultural experience. This fascinating full day excursion offers an opportunity to hike in the forest with a Batwa guide and learn about the history, culture and traditions of the Batwa pygmies who inhabited Bwindi forest for centuries.

After breakfast this morning you’ll drive for around six hours to Lake Mburo National Park. This is a small but spectacular national park with plenty of African wildlife, including buffalos, leopards, lions, hyenas, warthogs, giraffes, hippos and crocodiles, plus over 350 bird species. On arrival at the park you’ll enjoy a game drive, plus you may also have the opportunity for a bush walk or a mountain bike or horse riding safari.

Sadly your Ugandan adventure is coming to an end. This morning you’ll have breakfast and then you’ll be driven back to Entebbe for your international flight home.