OVER VIEW
This unforgettable 7-day Gorilla and Wildlife Safari takes you through Uganda's stunning Kibale, Bwindi, and Lake Mburo National Parks. Encounter captivating wildlife, from chimpanzees and mountain gorillas to zebras, giraffes, and other remarkable species.
Experience the thrill of trekking through lush tropical rainforests, home to both gorillas and chimpanzees, and enjoy exciting wildlife safaris amidst the scenic landscapes of Lake Mburo.
For an even more immersive adventure, choose the extraordinary gorilla habituation experience, adding depth to your wildlife exploration.
Join us for this once-in-a-lifetime 7-day safari, where you’ll witness the breathtaking beauty of Uganda’s landscapes, encounter majestic mountain gorillas, and discover the diverse wildlife that makes this African gem truly special.
SAFARI HIGHLIGHTS
- The Ultimate Chimp trekking experience in Kibale Forest
- Explore Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, a birders paradise in Kibale
- Gorilla Trekking / Gorilla Habituation Experience in Bwindi Forest
- Visit the Projects of Ride 4 A Woman Community in Bwindi Park
- Wildlife Viewing in Lake Mburo National Park
- Cycling session in Lake Mburo National Park
- Take an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour at the Uganda Wildlife Education Center
- Stay in mid-range accommodations surrounded by nature’s beauty that support the local communities.
Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe Airport
The 7 day Gorilla and Wildlife Safari starts at Entebbe Airport, where you will be met by a company representative/guide who will transfer you to your place of overnight stay. Depending on the time of your arrival, you may visit the Uganda Wildlife Education Center for a brief introduction to the Uganda Wildlife.
Nestled along the serene shores of Lake Victoria, the Uganda Wildlife Education Center (UWEC) has evolved from a simple animal orphanage to a leading center for wildlife education, conservation, and research.
Meal Plan: Dinner depending on time of arrival.
Accommodation: Papyrus Guest House
Comfort Level: Mid-range
Day 2: Entebbe- Kibale Forest NP
After breakfast, you’ll head west by road to Kibale National Park. You will have lunch en route before proceeding to Kibale, home to a population of over 1,400 chimpanzees and home to an astounding 13 species of primates. This stunning rainforest, often referred to as the “Primate Capital of the World,” offers a unique and unforgettable experience for primate adventurers.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Turaco Treetops
Comfort Level: Mid-range
Day 3: Chimp Trekking and Bigodi Community
Today the forest opens its doors for sensational chimp tracking. Kibale Forest is reputable for having the greatest variety and the highest concentration of primates in East Africa. Enjoy a guided nature walk in the tropical rainforest in search of the wild chimpanzee, red-tailed monkey, black-and-white colobus monkey, and many others.
After lunch head to the Bigodi Swamp for a 2 hours nature walk- a home of 200 bird species including the Papyrus Gonolek and the Great Blue Turaco. The Walk is an initiative of the local community and is known for its rich diversity of birds and primates. Community trails will give you a glimpse into the indigenous way of life.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Turaco Treetops
Comfort Level: Mid-range
Day 4: Kibale – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
After breakfast, head out to Bwindi Forest NP, the home of the mountain gorillas arriving in the late evening for relaxation on this day of the 7 day Gorilla and Wildlife Safari. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its extraordinary biodiversity. This ancient rainforest, one of the oldest in Africa, spans over 321 square kilometers and is home to an array of flora and fauna, many of which are endemic to the region.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Mwebesa Guest House
Comfort Level: Mid-range
Day 5: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi National Park
In the early morning, you will be briefed on gorilla tracking at the park headquarters and assigned groups of 8 people per group. Accompanied by a guide and your packed lunch, you will go in search of the gorillas in a small group. You walk through the forest, sometimes you descend again and then climb up a slope again. The duration of gorilla tracking is unpredictable.
The walk can be quite strenuous due to the muddy trails and mountainous areas and can take up to 8 hours depending on how far the gorillas have moved in search of food. It is worth it and what awaits you, in the end, is indescribable.
For an hour you can admire these peaceful ‘Gentle Giants’ as they go about their daily activities of grooming, feeding, and playing. It is a once-in-a-lifetime memorable experience.
Alternative: Gorilla Habituation Experience.
The Gorilla Habituation Experience gives you the chance to spend 4 hours in the company of the Mountain Gorillas in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. You’ll trek into the forest alongside park rangers – blazing a trail through the wilder sides of the forest – in search of gorilla families.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Mwebesa Guest House
Comfort Level: Mid-range
Day 6: Bwindi National Park – Cycling Session
After breakfast, begin your journey back to Lake Mburo National Park, arriving in time for a late lunch or enjoy lunch en-route. As Uganda's smallest savannah national park, Lake Mburo is part of a 50 km-long wetland system connected by swamps and includes 13 other lakes in the area. Once at the park, embark on a cycling safari, where you can spot wildlife such as zebras, giraffes, impalas, and elands, among many others.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Mpogo Safari Lodge
Comfort Level: Mid-range
Day 8: Nature walk in Lake Mburo – Entebbe - Departure
Early start of the day head for a nature walk with a guide heading to the salt lick area which attracts a variety of wildlife, offering unique opportunities to observe animals such as zebras, antelopes, elands, giraffes and buffaloes among others. Thereafter you will have lunch en route at Igongo Cultural Center and a stop at the equator for photos or shopping. Later proceed to Entebbe.
Depending on your flight time, a day room is available for freshening up before heading to the airport.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch
• Comfortable hiking boots and lightweight clothing.
• Rain jacket and a warm sweater for cooler evenings.
• Insect repellent and sunscreen.
• Reusable water bottle.
• Binoculars and a good camera.
• Personal medications and a small first-aid kit.
• Nature blending clothes
Included in the Itinerary
- Ground transportation in a safari customized 4WD Toyota Landcruiser with gasoline/fuel
- Chimpanzee trekking permit
- Gorilla trekking permit
- Cycling and Nature walk in Lake Mburo
- Nature walk in Bigodi Sanctuary
- Igongo Cultural Museum
- Drinking water / refillable water bottle
- English-speaking Guide
- Accommodation and Meals
- All Park Entrance Fees.
Excluded in the Itinerary
- International Airfares;
- Visa Fees;
- Drinks and Beverages
- Tips, and Gratuities for your Driver/guide and hotel staff
- Jinja Activities white-water rafting, kayaking, tubing, or even quad biking.
- Optional activities unless specified as included
- Any other services not expressly shown in the itinerary or indicated as included.
Uganda, deservedly dubbed the Pearl of Africa, is in the Great Lakes Region in central Africa and boasts an ecological diversity that rivals that of many larger countries. Here, the Eastern Savannah meets the West African jungle. Uganda offers visitors incredible diversity through its multitude of varying ecosystems. Bordered by the Rwenzori Mountains (often called the Mountains of the Moon, the third highest in Africa), the Virunga Mountains, and Africa's largest lake, Lake Victoria, it's a beautiful country bursting with birds and wildlife.
In no other African destination can one see a comparable variety of primates with so little effort - not just the great apes but also more than ten monkey species. And, if Uganda had primate enthusiasts grinning with satisfaction, it would have birdwatchers doing cartwheels. Uganda is, by far, the smallest of the four African countries in which more than 1,000 bird species have been recorded, and it is particularly rich in western rainforest specialists - undoubtedly the finest birdwatching in Africa.
For most, the highlight is found amongst the forests in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, where facing endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat is one of the most profound wildlife encounters you will ever experience. Discover tree-climbing lions around Ishasha in Queen Elizabeth National Park, trek chimps in Kibale Forest or Kyambura Gorge, or snatch massive Nile perch up north at Murchison Falls, where the mighty Nile cascades through a gap just seven meters wide. Adrenaline junkies will find Jinja simply exhilarating with its white-water rafting, kayaking, and bungee jumping activities. Jinja is rapidly emerging as East Africa's answer to the more southerly "adrenalin capital" Victoria Falls.
We invite you to explore Uganda, a diverse landscape with abundant wildlife, plenty to discover, and unique experiences. When recounting your time in this jewel of a country, you'll struggle to find the words that do justice to it.
Entry Requirements:
Your passport must have a minimum of at least two full clear pages for visas and stamps and be valid for more than 6 months from the date of entry into Uganda.
Please check visa requirements prior to travel with your booking agent or Bush Wander, as requirements are regularly changed with little notice.
Most passports require a single-entry visa (US$55). Visas cannot be obtained on arrival. You must apply and pay for them online at https://visas.immigration.go.ug at least two weeks before your arrival.
You must upload clear copies of your current passport, a yellow fever certificate, and a passport photo.
Only Visa and Mastercard cards are accepted for visa payments. Once payment is made, the system will process your application and send you a barcoded email. Print out this email and bring it with you to Uganda. Upon arrival, you should present the barcoded email to the immigration officer, who will scan the barcode, take your fingerprints and photo, and place a visa in your passport.
Alternatively, the Ugandan High Commissions may issue visas where such commissions are located.
Visa Exempt Countries:
The following nationalities do not require a visa to enter Uganda: all nationalities from East African countries (Tanzania, Rwanda, Kenya, Burundi), all nationalities from COMESA countries (Angola, Eritrea, Malawi, Madagascar, Seychelles, Swaziland, Zambia, Comoros, Kenya, Mauritius, Zimbabwe), and passport holders from OTHERS (Antigua, Barbados, Fiji, Grenada, Lesotho, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, The Grenadines, Vanuatu, Cyprus, Bahamas, Belize, Gambia, Jamaica, Malta, Singapore, St. Vincent-Tonga and Ireland).
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East Africa Tourist Visa:
If you are planning an East Africa trip to Uganda, Rwanda, and/or Kenya, it may be better to apply for a multiple-entry visa, which is valid for 90 days for tourists only. The cost is USD100 per visa. For more information go to: https://visas.immigration.go.ug/#/apply if you are entering Uganda first, or alternatively, the Government visa site for the East Africa country you will be first entering.
Banking and Currency:
US Dollars cash is widely accepted and, in most cases, preferred as the currency that travellers should use to EXCHANGE into UGX on arrival for spending money on the road e.g. for drinks, curios, tips. Please note that USD bills older than 2009 are not accepted. Ensure your USD bills are 2009 or younger. Small USD bills are difficult to change – use Uganda shillings for small tips.
Credit Cards:
Credit cards can be used at some lodges and hotels, but a transaction fee of up to 5% may be charged. Ask first.
Travel, Transport, and Getting Around Flights:
Note that baggage allowance on all domestic flights is max 15 kgs in soft bags
Health and Medical Information
Travellers require a Yellow Fever inoculation more than 10 days prior to your departure. The certificate will be checked on arrival in Uganda. If you have a history of liver disorders (hepatitis etc.), consult your physician first.
Tetanus and Cholera inoculations are recommended but not compulsory. Hepatitis inoculation is at the discretion of the traveler.
Malaria prophylactics are a must and can be purchased from your local pharmacy. Please consult your pharmacist/doctor.
Diarrhoea / Giardia - Bottled water is readily available throughout Uganda, however, it’s advisable to bring medicine just in case.
This is a guide only. Please check with your doctor or travel clinic for the latest information
