Essential Uganda - Gorillas & Chimps
Nearly half the world's remaining Mountain gorillas are in Bwindi  
Kibale Forest is arguably the best site for observing wild Chimps  
Ross's turcaou can be seen in Bwindi and even Entebbe  
Ishasha's so called 'tree-climbing' Lions are a big drawcard  
White-backed, Ruppell's griffon and White-headed vultures, Mweya  
A pair of Red colobus in Bigodi Wetland, Kibale  
Bigodi in Kibale Forest NP is also excellent for butterflies  
The stunning Black bee-eater can be seen in Kibale and Bwindi  
Rwenzori sun squirrel can be seen in Bwindi  
Ishasha is an excellent place for Leopard sightings  
Bush elephant and Cape buffalos, Kazinga Channel  
Uganda kobs, Ishasha  
11 day tour
Including flights and transfers
Prices from
£7420

Tour Highlights

  • Awe-inspiring encounter with Mountain gorillas
  • Tracking wild Chimpanzees in Kibale Forest
  • Carnivores and ungulates in Queen Elizabeth NP
  • Birdlife galore!
  • Boat excursion on Kazinga Channel and guided bush walk in Mburo National Park
I'm enquiring about: Essential Uganda - Gorillas & Chimps

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I'm enquiring about: Essential Uganda - Gorillas & Chimps

Essential Uganda - Gorillas & Chimps

Uganda

For first time visitors to Uganda, this private, fully-guided tour is an excellent choice. The itinerary takes in a smorgasbord of Uganda's better-known highlights: expore the Mweya and Ishasha sectors of Queen Elizabeth National Park for savannah habitat, plains game and predators; enjoy the beautiful equatorial forest of Kibale for Chimpanzees, smaller primates and rare birds; visit Lake Mburo for a walk on the wild side, and of course, spend time at Bwindi Impenetrable Forest for its incredible Mountain gorillas.

Throughout, you'll have the services of one of our excellent, experienced, professional and knowledgeable driver-guides.  Accommodation is in very comforable lodges.

Please note that demand oftentimes exceeds the daily availability of Gorilla permits, so if you plan to travel during peak season (Jul - Sep), do contact us soonest to avoid disappointment.

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Read more about this tour


Day 1
Day 1
Flight: UK - Entebbe
Welcome to Uganda!
 
Take a daytime flight (we recommend KLM) from London Heathrow or selected other UK airports (if you're travelling from UK), arriving into Entebbe this evening.
 
Upon your arrival you will be welcomed and transferred to the comfortable and well-located Boma Hotel to stay the night with breakfast included.
Accommodation: Boma Hotel
       
Day 2
Day 2
Entebbe- Kibale Forest National Park (drive)
An approximately 4- hour drive on good roads in your private, customized 4-wheel drive vehicle, will take you via town of Fort Portal to the beautiful Kibale Forest National Park.
 
Here you will stay for 2 nights at the very well -located Primates Kibale Lodge in an en suite cottage, with all meals included.
 
Your dedicated driver-guide will take you to Bigodi Wetland this afternoon, where among various species of monkey, you have the chance to seek Grey-cheeked mangabey (pictured here)
Accommodation: Primate Lodge Kibale
         
Day 3
Day 3
Kibale Forest National Park - Chimpanzee tracking
Spend a half-day tracking wild Chimpanzees in Kibale Forest, a superb opportunity to follow our closest relatives and observe their daily activities, accompanying the reserve researchers and rangers.
 
This is an early start to watch the chimps wake up, search for food and spend the full day enjoying their behaviour without interfering or changing their natural environment.
 
We can also arrange a full-day habituation experience for those who are keen - call us for details.
Accommodation: Primate Lodge Kibale
         
Day 4
Day 4
Kibale Forest National Park - Mweya Sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park (drive)
Depart for the Queen Elizabeth National Park which will take about three hours. Stay 2 nights at the Elephant Plains Lodge, which is well located for game drives in Mweya, as well as launch cruises on the Kazinga Channel.
 
Mweya offers very rewarding game viewing, with sightings including African elephant, Cape buffalo and African lions. The boat rides along Kazinga channel linking lakes George and Edward affords plenty of opportunity to see some of Africa’s highest densities of Hippos as well as plenty of enormous Nile crocodiles. Of course birdlife here is abundant.
Accommodation: Elephant Plains Lodge
     
Day 5
Day 5
Mweya Sector, Queen Elizabeth National Park
In the morning, enjoy a game drive in wildlife-rich Mweya. After lunch, embark on a launch cruise on the Kazinga Channel.
Accommodation: Elephant Plains Lodge
     
Day 6
Day 6
Mweya - Ishasha, Queen Elizabeth National Park (drive)
Take a game drive southwards through Mweya to the Ishasha sector of the national park. Its this area where Lions are noted for their tree climbing propensities.
 
You continue to the beautifully located Ishasha Wilderness Camp on the banks of the Ntungwe River for an overnight stay with all meals included.
Accommodation: Ishasha Wilderness Camp
           
Day 7
Day 7
Ishasha - Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park (drive)
Game drive out of Ishasha, during which one of the targets you'll be seeking are the 'tree-climbing Lions, such as this one pictured in a Candelabra tree.
 
Continue southwards to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park - the drive time today is about 3 - 4 hours depending on stops taken for sightseeing.
 
Stay for 2 nights at the very comfortable Buhoma Lodge, with its elevated views over the tropical rainforest, with all meals included.
 
Time allowing, we recommend a nature walk, especially for keen birders wanting to see some of the 'ARE's (Albertine Rift Endemic species) which are resident here.
Accommodation: Buhoma Lodge
             
Day 8
Day 8
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
The lodge is a 5- minute walk to the park HQ, where guests gather early in the morning for a briefing on conduct during Gorilla tracking and then, with trackers and scouts, head out in search of a habituated Gorilla family.
 
Once reached (this can take anything from 40 minutes to a few hours), enjoy that golden hour among these gentle and Critically Endangered giants which form the backbone of Uganda's flourishing wildlife tourism industry.
Accommodation: Buhoma Lodge
             
Day 9
Day 9
Lake Mburo National Park
After a leisurely breakfast, drive along the Kigezi Highlands to scenic Lake Mburo National Park - this will take approximately 6 - 7 hours.
 
Your ends at the charming Mihingo Lodge, a quiet retreat overlooking a waterhole, for a 1 night stay in a thatched roof walk in tent on raised wooden platform, with all meals included.
 
In the late afternoon, you'll be taken for a game drive in the national park.
 
A treat here is the presence of some Greater galago (bushbabies), which the staff may be able to show you at night. Birders can seek among others, the Acacia-specialist Red-faced barbet (pictured).
Accommodation: Mihingo Lodge
       
Day 10
Lake Mburo - Entebbe and Departure
After breakfast, enjoy a guided bush walk in Mburo National Park.
 
A final 5 - 6 hour road journey will take you to Entebbe via the Equator marker. You will have the use of a day/evening room in Papyrus Guest House.
 
In the evening, you will be transferred to Entebbe Airport to check in for your late night flight back to the UK.
Accommodation: Papyrus Guest House
     
Day 11
Arrival home
Arrive back into London Heathrow or selected other UK airports, after a wonderful Uganda experience!

Pricing Information & Dates

11 day tour, from £7420 per person
Price Includes:
  • Flights
  • Accommodation
  • Transfers
  • Guide
Itinerary Dates From Price
01 Jul 2022
-
30 Sep 2022
 £7420
Price Includes
* Return international flights (economy class seating) from London Heathrow or selected other UK airports if travelling from UK, with airport taxes,
* All meals except in Entebbe where meal plan is B&B
* Private road transfers in customized 4-wheel drive vehicle
* Services of your dedicated, professional, experienced, English-speaking Ugandan driver-guide
* National Park permits and park guide/scout fees,
* All game drives and walks; boat trips as outlined
* 1 Uganda gorilla permit per person and 1 chimpanzee tracking permit per person
Price Excludes
* Items of a personal nature (drinks, tips, travel insurance, phone calls, laundry)
* Visa fees
Price Notes
Should you wish to Travel on your own as a Single Traveller staying in One Single Room it will cost an additional £2,410

Tour Route Map

  1.   Kampala, Entebbe & Jinja
  2.   Kibale Forest
  3.   Queen Elizabeth National Park
  4.   Bwindi
  5.   Lake Mburo

Accommodation on this Tour

Boma Hotel
Boma Hotel
Kampala, Entebbe & Jinja, Uganda
Boma Hotel Boma Hotel is our accommodation of choice in Entebbe. It is very conveniently located just a 5 minutes drive from Entebbe International Airport, so makes for the perfect pre or post safari......
       
Buhoma Lodge
Buhoma Lodge
Bwindi, Uganda
Buhoma Lodge Buhoma Lodge is one of the original lodges in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, situated diagonally opposite the park entrance, about five minute’s walk to the gorilla......
             
Elephant Plains Lodge
Elephant Plains Lodge
Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda
Elephant Plains Lodge The recently opened Elephant Plains Lodge is located in the heart of Queen Elizabeth National Park, commanding panoramic views over the savannah and plains; its wildlife as......
     
Ishasha Wilderness Camp
Ishasha Wilderness Camp
Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda
Ishasha Wilderness Camp Ishasha Wilderness Camp is a tented safari camp in the remote, unspoilt Ishasha region of Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park. On a beautiful spot by the river, it is......
           
Mihingo Lodge
Mihingo Lodge
Lake Mburo, Uganda
Mihingo Lodge Mihingo Lodge has ten lovely thatched roofed tents, constructed on wooden platforms, supported by stilts. The lodge setting is outstanding, with some tents in woodland, some on rocky......
       
Papyrus Guest House
Papyrus Guest House
Kampala, Entebbe & Jinja, Uganda
Papyrus Guest House We really like this charming, owner-run guest house, which is under the same ownership as the highly-praised Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge. Opened in late 2014, Papyrus......
     
Primate Lodge Kibale
Primate Lodge Kibale
Kibale Forest, Uganda
Primate Lodge Kibale In terms of its location, Primate Lodge Kibale is unbeatable for those who want to go Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest National Park.Set within the park parameters, it is......
         

Image Gallery

Nearly half the world's remaining Mountain gorillas are in Bwindi
Kibale Forest is arguably the best site for observing wild Chimps
Ross's turcaou can be seen in Bwindi and even Entebbe
Ishasha's so called 'tree-climbing' Lions are a big drawcard
White-backed, Ruppell's griffon and White-headed vultures, Mweya
A pair of Red colobus in Bigodi Wetland, Kibale
Bigodi in Kibale Forest NP is also excellent for butterflies
The stunning Black bee-eater can be seen in Kibale and Bwindi
Rwenzori sun squirrel can be seen in Bwindi
Ishasha is an excellent place for Leopard sightings
Bush elephant and Cape buffalos, Kazinga Channel
Uganda kobs, Ishasha
Click on images to enlarge
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