This 8-day Uganda Safari Adventure takes you gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, game viewing in Queen Elizabeth National Park, and more.
Your private Uganda Safari includes:
This Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safari offers exceptional wildlife and scenic adventures in unique Uganda!
__large.jpg "Tree climbing lion in Ishasha")
The Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safari Adventure departs from Kampala setting off north-west on a scenic drive through the renowned Luwero Triangle. We travel to Masindi town via the Ziwa Rhino Project, stopping to visit the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. At the sanctuary we go rhino trekking to see the only rhinos in the country - a highlight on our Ugandan Safari.
After lunch, we head to Murchison, set at the top of the Murchison Falls with panoramic views of the Victoria Nile section of the White Nile. At the Falls the river plummets 45 metres into the gorge below! We admire the Nile River as it passes through a seven meter canyon at the roaring falls, forming rainbows in the misty spray above.
Murchison Falls National Park is one of Uganda’s oldest conservation areas and the largest game park in Uganda, covering 3,893 km². The national park consists mostly of untamed African Savannah bushveld and lies in the northern Albertine Rift Valley, where the Bunyoro escarpment meets the vast plains of Acholiland. The Murchison Falls National Park is bisected by the mighty River Nile with its impressive Murchison Falls.
Overnight and dinner in comfortable accommodation.
Day two of our Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safari kicks off with a fresh cup of African produced coffee. We then cross the River Nile on a ferry, making our way onto the northern banks of the Murchison Falls National Park.
Your guide takes you in search of Africa's wildlife, including elephant, lion, buffalo, Rothschild's giraffe, hyena and numerous crocodiles and hippos. The national park is also home to various antelopes, such as hartebeest, waterbuck, Oribi, bushbuck, and reedbuck. If we are lucky we may even spot the elusive leopard in the park. We return to the lodge for breakfast and a rest.
After lunch we embark on a boat cruise on the calm waters of the Victoria Nile. Along the way we keep an eye out for wallowing hippos and crocodiles from our boat. We may also sight other wild animals as we go, including elephant, waterbuck and Uganda Kob found along this 17 km stretch of river. This riverine area also hosts numerous bird species, from the Goliath heron, Egyptian goose and pelican bee-eater, to the kingfisher, hornbill, cormorant and rare shoebill stork.
Our boat cruise takes us to the base of the Murchison Falls, stopping tens of meters away from the "Devil's Cauldron". We leave the boat at the base of the falls and hike to the top of the falls, which takes about an hour. We get to see the falls from a new perspective as we hike, admiring the world's longest river as it courses through the narrow cleft in the Rift Valley escarpment. Your driver and guide takes you back to the lodge from the top of the falls.
We enjoy dinner and stay in the same accommodation.
Today is spent driving south to the market town of Fort Portal via Hoima. We pass through the lush countryside of farms and traditional homesteads on the Albertine Rift escarpment. Fort-Portal is located in a lush, tea growing region at the base of the mystic Rwenzori Mountains, also called the Mountains of the Moon, in Uganda.
Meals and overnight at accommodation near Kibale Forest, lush tea plantations and the scenic Mountains of the Moon.
Our day starts early, with chimpanzee tracking in Kibale National Park, home to an impressive 500 chimpanzees. The dense jungles of Kibale Park are the best place to view chimpanzees in Africa. The chimpanzees are commonly found feeding on fig tree fruits in the game park and have been habituated to humans since 1992.
Kibale National Park covers 795 km² and consists mostly of a vast tract of equatorial rainforest. This national park is home to numerous forest wildlife species, boasting one of the highest concentrations of primates in the world. The 13 primate species include rare I’Hoest’s monkeys, black-and-white colobus and Uganda red colobus monkeys, red-tailed and blue monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys and bushbabies.
In the afternoon we travel south to the Queen Elizabeth National Park, taking in the sights and looking out for game as we drive.
Dinner and overnight at accommodation set in nature.
After coffee we set off on an early morning game drive in Queen Elizabeth Park, exploring the area of Kasenyi Plains and Queens Mile, near Lake George. Wildlife sightings include plenty of Ugandan kob, elephants, lions, buffalo, waterbuck, warthogs and various birds. After our game drive we return to the lodge for breakfast and a rest.
After lunch at the lodge, we embark on a two-hour boat trip on the Kazinga Channel, getting up close to hippos, buffalos, elephants and other wildlife. The boat trip offers excellent bird watching opportunities. The banks of the channel are home to a rich variety of birds, including pink-backed pelicans, pied and malachite kingfishers and saddle-billed stork.
The Queen Elizabeth National Park is Uganda's most popular protected area and covers about 1978 km². The park is scenically located on the rift valley floor between Lake Edward and Lake George flanked by towering mountains in the distance. The game park is set among hills and lakes and consists mostly of euphorbia tree-studded savannahs or grasslands. The varied habitats within Queen Elizabeth National Park host 95 mammal and 612 bird species.
Dinner and overnight at accommodation set in nature.
Day six starts with breakfast before we take a guided primate walk in the Kyambura Gorge in search of chimpanzees and other primates.
We make our way to Ishasha after our chimpanzee walk in the lush gorge. This journey takes us along the impressive craters of the western Rift Valley escarpment and the Ishasha section of Queen Elizabeth National Park. We take a game drive en route, looking out for wildlife, especially the tree-climbing lions found in this southern part of the game park.
The rewarding four hour drive brings us to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in the evening. Bwindi Park is home to the endangered African Mountain Gorillas, along with a rich diversity of wild animals, insects and plants. Inhabitants include various other primate species, such as the blue and red-tailed monkeys.
Dinner and overnight stay in accommodation near the lush hills of Bugambira.
Day seven starts with an early morning breakfast, before meeting up with our official guide from the Uganda Wildlife Authority, for the once-in-a-lifetime experience of trekking mountain gorillas in the wild.
We head off into the dense vegetation of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, famous for endangered gorilla trekking. Trekking these endangered gorillas is the highlight of visiting Uganda, considered one of the most remarkable wildlife encounters on earth.
The gorilla trek can take up to six hours, so a reasonable degree of fitness and a sturdy pair of walking shoes are required. The thrill of encountering these gentle primates in the wild is well worth the sometimes challenging trek through the thick undergrowth.
This rewarding trek through the jungle takes us in search of a group of gorillas. Once we find the African Mountain Gorillas we spend some time watching them feed and interact with each other. We get to hear the gorillas communicating with one another and marvel at the sheer size of the dominant adult male gorillas, called Silverbacks. Encountering these giant apes is one of Africa’s rarest and most poignant wildlife experiences.
Each gorilla encounter is unique, offering its own rewards. We generally get up close to the adult gorillas to watch them feeding, grooming and resting, as well as witnessing the young gorillas at play.
In the afternoon we explore a local community on foot, if there is enough time. Our visit contributes to the well-being of the community and gives us the chance to gain insight into the ways of the Ugandan people living near Bwindi Park. After our village walk we return to the camp and have a drink together, recounting our unforgettable adventures with the African Mountain Gorillas.
Dinner and another night at the accommodation near Bwindi Park.
Located in southwestern Uganda Bwindi Impenetrable National Park covers part of the diverse Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is best known for its primate populations, being home to about half the world’s mountain gorillas. There are only about 1000 endangered mountain gorillas in total in the wild.The Bwindi Impenetrable Forest ecosystem is exceptionally high in biodiversity, with rich flora and fauna species. This lush forested area hosts some of the richest tree, small mammal, bird, butterfly, reptilian, and moth populations.
Bwindi is a birding paradise, home to 348 bird species. This area is one of Uganda’s best bird watching destinations supporting nearly all of the Albertine Rift endemic species found in Uganda, along with several Red Data Book species.
The Bwindi Forest of Uganda is an ancient rainforest, said to have survived the last ice age. A recently proclaimed World Heritage Site, Bwindi is one of the most biologically diverse areas in the world hosting unique and precious floral species. There's also a substantial chimpanzee population and research shows that Bwindi is the only forest in Africa where both these apes are found.
We enjoy an early breakfast on day eight and then return to Kampala, visiting Igongo Cultural village en route. Here we learn about the Bahima and Ankole cultures of Uganda, finding out about the history of these interesting people.
We cross the equator, stopping to take photographs and have lunch along the way. Arrive back in Kampala and Entebbe in time to catch onward flights, bringing this Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safari Adventure to a close. Airport drop-offs can be arranged free of charge if you are flying out on the last day of the safari.
This tour offers a choice of accommodations ranging from budget to mid-range and high-end. For more information please see the full pricing information.
This tour does take children.
All Kampala Departures | All Uganda Tours | All Gorilla Trekking Safaris & Tour trips
A one-week budget lodge safari, the Uganda Gorillas, Chimpanzees & Wildlife Safari includes Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Forest, Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Park & a boat cruise & game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
More on this 7 Day Gorilla Trekking Tour
The ultimate Uganda Gorilla Safari in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. A Uganda gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking & Murchison Falls Camping Overland Tour
More on this 8 Day Overland Camping Tour
A budget Uganda Gorilla Safari (Lodge Overland Tour) to see wild African Mountain Gorillas includes Uganda Gorilla Trekking, Murchison Falls & Chimpanzee Trek
This Uganda & Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Safari takes you to the endangered mountain gorillas in Bwindi Forest and Volcanoes National Park, as well as tracking golden monkeys.
More on this 6 Day Gorilla Trekking Tour
This 10 Day Uganda & Rwanda Gorilla Trekking & Wildlife Tour takes you gorilla trekking twice - first in Bwindi Forest and then Volcanoes National Park. Plus, you go chimpanzee trekking in Kibale and game viewing in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
A budget Uganda Gorilla Trekking & Wildlife Safari to Bwindi Forest Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park for game viewing & a boat trip on Kazinga Channel.
More on this 4 Day Gorilla Trekking Tour
An affordable Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safari in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. See rare African Mountain Gorillas in the wild and stay in comfortable lodges.
More on this 3 Day Gorilla Trekking Tour
The 4-day Uganda Gorilla Trekking Tour is a budget gorilla safari in Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to see endangered African mountain gorillas in the wild
More on this 4 Day Gorilla Trekking Tour
Our team has the destination knowledge to help you plan an unforgettable African adventure. We're based in Cape Town and ready to help.
We can also plan you an affordable private group or tailor-made tour. We built our business on turning luxury travel into affordable travel.
