Gorillas, Chimpanzees and Savannah Game - A 12 Day Safari - From £3,500 per person

Day 01 - Arrival - Entebbe

Arrive early morning at the newly refurbished and modern Entebbe International Airport, where we will meet you for a welcome drink and a briefing. We then set off west to Kibale Forest. In the afternoon we arrive at our camp.

Overnight: Ndali Lodge - A fantastic traditional colonial lodge set in the stunning crater region of Western Uganda. Built of local stone and thatch, the 8 luxury bandas offer views over the dramatic Rwenzori Mountains; each banda is ensuite with a private veranda. The dining room and lounge offer relaxing views over the crater lake below.

Meal Plan: Lunch, Dinner

 

Day 02 - Kibale Forest National Park

This 766-square-kilometer tropical rain forest is the natural habitat for an amazing 12 primate species, and contains the highest primate density of an area on Earth. Here, on a guided forest walk, you may find families of Chimpanzees and Red Colobus Monkeys chattering and swinging through the ancient forest trees. Some of the trees are 50 to 60 meters (150 to 180 feet) in height, and provide a majestic canopy for the profusion of rainforest life, including 325 bird species. Even though you may only rarely see them, the park is home to the largest population of Forest Elephant in Uganda, and is also home to Buffalo, Uganda Kob, Genet, Civet, Waterbuck and Bushbuck. This morning we take a guided walk through this fascinating forest, following the well-marked trails. After lunch we visit a nearby forest swamp that is excellent for viewing more primates and other forest animals.

Overnight: Ndali Lodge

Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 03 - Kibale Forest National Park - Queen Elizabeth National Park

After breakfast we enjoy another morning walk in the forest, and return to camp for lunch. We then set out in a southerly direction for the Queen Elizabeth National Park. Set in the western branch of the Great Rift Valley, the park is incredibly diverse in the type of terrain it encompasses. Prehistoric volcanic explosion craters now serve as huge amphitheatres across the floor of which troop herds of Elephant and Buffalo. Some of these craters have formed salt lakes in which Flamingo from as far away as Kenya are scattered like delicate pink dust. Wide-open plains support fair numbers of game, both prey and predator. The two large lakes that bound the park – Edward and George, together with the connecting Kazinga Channel are home to large numbers of Hippo, and numerous Crocodile. This evening, we arrive at Mweya Lodge, dramatically located on a peninsula that juts out into Lake Edward and provides excellent views of the Kazinga Channel. We will enjoy our first game drive this evening.

Overnight: Mweya Safari Lodge - located on a peninsular in the heart of Queen Elizabeth National Park this lodge offers spectacular views over the Kazinga Channel with great bird watching and a variety of game. Perfect pool positioning means that you can look down onto the plains whilst enjoying a cooling swim. All rooms have ensuite facilities.

Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 04 - Queen Elizabeth National Park

This morning, we will go on the first of our game drives. It’s an early start, and we will enjoy coffee and tea out on the rolling plains of the park. We return to the lodge for breakfast, and in time to prepare for our launch trip on the Kazinga Channel. This water system hosts the highest concentration of Hippo in the world, and this excursion brings us up close to them. We will also see crocodile, buffalo, and other game that drink from the Channel, and experience the profusion of bird life that is supported here. We return in the late afternoon, and transfer to our lodge. As dusk falls, we prepare for dinner and a good night’s rest.

Overnight: Mweya Safari Lodge

Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 05 - Queen Elizabeth National Park (Ishasha Southern Sector)

We begin this morning with a bush walk through the Maramagambo Forest. This is one of the largest forests in Uganda, and forms a habitat for a number of primates and forest dwellers. Due to its location, Maramagambo also has a high diversity of butterflies and birds. Our walk culminates in a visit to volcanic caves that are home to thousands of bats, and often, several reptile species. Later we continue to Ishasha in the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Ishasha – a much more remote and less-travelled part of Queen Elizabeth National Park, but one which has a sense of exclusivity and remoteness. The game densities here are high, and this region has reported some of the largest herds of Elephant anywhere in Uganda, as it is the main migration corridor between Uganda and the DRC. There is prolific plains game here - primarily Topi and Uganda Kob, Buffalo, Hippo and of course Elephant. There is plenty of smaller plains game and a number of primate species and this of course means that predators are in attendance. Spotted Hyena is a common visitor, and Leopard is occasionally sighted. However, a prime attraction for Ishasha is that is has a large lion population, and the frequency of sightings for this magnificent animal is higher here than anywhere else in Uganda. An added bonus is that they have learned to climb trees to escape the midday heat and insects, and one is usually rewarded by the slightly surreal sight of anything up to six lions relaxing high up in a Sycamore Fig, Arbisia or Acacia. These are the only other lions apart from those in Tanzania’s Lake Manyara National Park known to exhibit this behaviour.

Overnight: Ishasha Wilderness Camp - a cosy camp located on the banks of the Ishasha River. Sitting round the fire and listening to the hippos below as you discuss the days activities is a great way to end the day.

Meal Plan: Full Board     

Day 06 – Queen Elizabeth National Park (Southern Sector)

A full day to explore the beautiful remote area of Ishasha. A variety of game drives are on offer and opportunities to visit the tree climbing lions (only seen in on other area in Africa).

Overnight: Ishasha Wilderness Camp - a cosy camp located on the banks of the Ishasha River. Sitting round the fire and listening to the hippos below as you discuss the days activities is a great way to end the day.

Meal Plan: Full Board     

Day 07 - Queen Elizabeth National Park-Bwindi Impenetrable National Park                     

Today we travel further south to the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. This is a leisurely drive, taking most of the day. We climb out of the Rift Valley at first, and then travel through the Kigezi Highlands of South-Western Uganda. The scenery gets increasingly breathtaking as we switchback up and down the hills. Thirty kilometres (18 miles) before the end of our journey, we see our objective – the mist-swathed mountains of the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the most biologically diverse areas in the world. On arrival, we are welcomed to the comfortable Bwindi Lodge with a welcome drink. We retire to our comfortable bandas for a hot shower, and meet later on the terrace to recount the day’s activities. After dinner, we retire for the night, lulled to sleep by the sounds of one of Africa’s most incredible natural environments.

Overnight: Bwindi Lodge- A comfortable eco-lodge with 8 bandas and stunning views overlooking the primeval forest. Gorillas, chimpanzees and birds can often be heard screeching near the river below whilst you sit back and relax on the open veranda after a hard days trekking through the Impenetrable Forest.

Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 08 - Bwindi Impenetrable National Park 

Today’s activities may be amongst the most exciting and challenging of our entire expedition. The Mountain Gorillas in Bwindi are part of a worldwide population of just 700 individuals. The gorillas we are allowed to track belong to either one of three habituated family groups. For up to five years each, these groups have undergone an extremely delicate process that has gradually brought them to tolerate the presence of humans for a brief period every day and allowed a few privileged visitors to interact with them in the wild.

The gorillas are by no means tame, and are completely wild animals. However, experienced guides will accompany us on our tracking, many of who have been involved in the habituation process themselves. The guides will use their knowledge of the gorillas’ habits and information from the previous day to locate the group’s whereabouts.

Because of this, the time taken to track the gorillas varies enormously, from as little as half an hour to as much as 9 hours before one returns to camp. Once the gorillas are located, our group will be allowed a maximum of one hour with them. This is one of the world’s truly memorable experiences – a look into one of these magnificent creatures’ eyes brings home the bond that exists between them and us. It also brings home the poignant fact that they are on the edge of extinction, and that our presence here contributes to ensuring their continued survival. Coming across these amiable cousins is an awe inspiring experience, after hours of tracking all thoughts of fatigue disappear and as you spend time with a 175kg silverback it is evident that this is one of the most breathtaking wildlife experiences left in the world today. The hour is often over all too quickly, and we slowly make our way back to camp to recount the day’s adventures.

Overnight: Bwindi Lodge 

Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 09 - Today we drive south over the border to Rwanda, where we will check in to our lodge. Enjoy the scenery as we drive down through south western Uganda and come into sight of the dramatic Virunga volcanic peaks. Clearing the border into Rwanda, we make our way up to the stunning Virunga Lodge; at 2,300m this lodge affords some of the most breathtaking scenery in Africa. A chance to relax and enjoy your surroundings after a long days drive.

Overnight: Virunga Lodge - A comfortable eco-lodge located on a hillside overlooking the Virunga Volcanoes and Lakes Ruhondo and Bulera. 360 degree breathtaking views make this one of the top lodge destinations in Africa. Eight bandas with private verandas offer views over the lakes and volcanoes; open fire places in the lounge and dining room are a warm welcome after a days tracking the mountain gorillas.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, Dinner 

Day 10

Early start to Ruhengeri, to start the Gorilla tracking. The Mountain Gorillas in the Parc National des Volcans form the other half of the total population. The gorillas we are allowed to track here belong to one of five habituated family groups.

Coming across these amiable primates in the foothills of the dramatic Virunga Volcanoes is a life changing experience; sitting amongst them you recognise the similarities between us and them and it is a struggle to tear yourself away from your new family once the hour is up…

As with Bwindi, the time taken to track the gorillas varies enormously, from as little as half an hour to as much as 8 hours before one returns to base.

Overnight: Virunga Lodge

Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 11

An early start for To Ruhengeri for your second day of gorilla tracking at Parc National des Volcans. On returning to the park headquarters you make your way southwards through the rolling hills to Kigali for a night of relaxation.

Overnight: Intercontinental, Kigali – a comfortable western style hotel located in central Kigali.

Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 12

This morning you have a city tour and visit of the genocide memorial before transferring to the airport for your international flight home.