Trip Overview

Uganda, with its mystical forests, sun-dappled savannas, legendary Great Rift Valley, and the snow-capped Ruwenzori Mountains, is an absolutely gorgeous setting for this Private Safari. Led by your own safari guide and in a private vehicle, enjoy a thrilling big game safari, gameviewing by boat, and the ultimate—the rare opportunity to track chimpanzees and mountain gorillas on foot! To observe these endangered creatures up-close in the wild is one of the world's most unforgettable experiences—the excitement of coming within a few feet of them is simply surreal.

Trip Highlights

• Enjoy thrilling encounters with mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
• Track chimpanzees on foot in Kibale Forest National Park
• Thrilling gameviewing safari on the savannas of Queen Elizabeth National Park in the Great Rift Valley
• Private safari guide and vehicle

Itinerary

Days 1-3: Entebbe / Kibale National Park / Chimpanzee Tracking

After an overnight in Entebbe, head through Uganda's lovely landscapes to Kibale National Park, home to 13 primate species. Here you'll track bands of chimpanzees as they play, feed, and scamper across the treetop canopy. Other denizens of the park include vervet, colobus, and red-tailed monkeys, and grey-cheeked mangabeys.

Days 4-5: Queen Elizabeth National Park / Big Game Safari

Queen Elizabeth National Park, designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, supports a wonderful diversity of wildlife in habitats ranging from lowland rainforest to wetlands to grassy savannas—all with the stunning backdrop the Ruwenzoris, Africa's fabled “Mountains of the Moon.” Enjoy gameviewing by 4WD vehicle in the park's lake-dotted savannas, and boating in the Kazinga Channel, with its large concentrations of hippos, elephant, and other wildlife that often come to the water's edge to drink.

Days 6-8: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park / Gorilla Tracking

Bwindi is one of the most biologically diverse areas on Earth, recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Among the 11 resident primate species are 310 magnificent mountain gorillas, half of the world's population of this elusive and highly endangered mammal. You'll enjoy the incomparable experience of tracking, then quietly observing, the mountain gorilla clans that reside in Bwindi's montane forests. The tracking can be physically challenging, but the rewards are tremendous and the rigors soon forgotten when you spot a gorilla family and become absorbed in watching these gentle creatures. When not observing mountain gorillas, you have time to observe some of the amazing varieties of bird, butterfly, and animal species that make their home in this unusual park. Depart on Day 8 via Entebbe.

Optional Add-Ons

Private Sunset Cruise on Lake Victoria

View the local flora and fauna, and get a glimpse into life amongst the fishing villages along the shores of expansive Lake Victoria on this private two-hour sunset boat cruise. Includes red and white wine, gin and tonics, non-alcoholic beverages, cheese, crackers, fruits, and other local snacks.

Mabamba Wetlands Boat Tour
This large papyrus swamp on the shores of Lake Victoria is a haven for a wide variety of birdlife, including the magnificent shoebill bird.

Gorilla Health Center Visit

After a rewarding day tracking mountain gorillas, you have the option to get a behind-the-scenes look at the Conservation Through Public Health's (CTPH) outstanding gorilla conservation efforts. A Ugandan-run non-profit lead by Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, CTPH aims to improve the health of wildlife, ecosystems, humans and their livestock in and around Uganda's protected areas. Activities include a tour of the facilities, a demonstration of how CTPH analyzes gorilla samples (with the opportunity to participate!), and discussions about CTPH's work with the local community.