5 Days Uganda Gorilla Experience

This morning we leave Kampala for Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, home to the few remaining mountain gorillas. Bird life and primate life in Bwindi is quite superb, and there is an incredible variety of flora. Once continuous with the forests of the Virunga Volcanoes, Dian Fossey’s stomping ground, Bwindi is now an ecological island surrounded by cultivation on the rich volcanic soils.

Dinner and overnight: Silver Back Lodge or Ruhija Gorilla Lodge (Luxury), Lake Kitandara Tented Camp or Engagi Lodge (Midrange), Buhoma Community Bandas, Kisoro Tourist Hotel or Wagtail Eco Lodge (Budget).

We head to the park headquarters for a briefing from the Uganda Wildlife Authority before setting off into the forest to see the gorillas. The ranger guides take you through the forest to track the gorillas, which can take from half an hour to five hours. A reasonable degree of fitness is required, as well as a sturdy pair of walking shoes. If you have the afternoon free, you can take a guided village walk to see how Ugandans live.

Dinner and overnight: Silver Back Lodge or Ruhija Gorilla Lodge (Luxury), Lake Kitandara Tented Camp or Engagi Lodge (Midrange), Buhoma Community Bandas, Kisoro Tourist Hotel or Wagtail Eco Lodge (Budget).

This morning we depart for Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda’s most popular game reserve. It boasts one of the highest biodiversity ratings of any game park in the world, running from open savannah to rainforest, dense swamps and beautiful crater lakes, out to the vastness of Lake Edward. A great many species are found here, including hippo, lion, buffalo, leopard, hyena, chimpanzee, colobus monkey and baboon.

Dinner and overnight: Mweya Safari Lodge (Luxury), Katara Lodge (Midrange), Ihamba Safari Lodge or Simba Safari Camp (Budget).

We venture into Queen Elizabeth park to view antelope, hyena, lion and other animals on the savannah, then enter the Kyambura Gorge to track chimpanzees. In the afternoon we enjoy the unique two hour boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel and into Lake Edward. This trip passes through a high concentration of hippo, buffalo, elephant, crocodile and water birds, offering fantastic photographic opportunities.

Dinner and overnight: Mweya Safari Lodge (Luxury), Katara Lodge (Midrange), Ihamba Safari Lodge or Simba Safari Camp (Budget).

We depart for Kampala, with lunch enroute, arriving in the evening.