7-Day Gorilla and Chimp Trekking Safari in Uganda with Lake Mburo

We will pick you up on arrival, either from your hotel or the airport. Your driver-guide for the tour will be an English-speaking professional, and from there we will begin the journey to Murchison Falls National Park. The highlights of this park are the thunderous rapids of Murchison Falls and the wide open plains of Uganda's biggest national park. Along the way, you may spot lions, giraffes, hartebeest, buffalo, elephants, and other wildlife. There will be a lunch break during the journey.

If time allows, you can enjoy a late afternoon to evening game drive or safari. Note: if you are staying at the hotel or leaving the airport early, you can take a slight detour to visit Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary and spend an hour tracking rhinos. This visit is optional and costs an additional $50 per person. Otherwise, we will continue straight to Murchison.

After breakfast, head out on a morning drive through the wide plains of Uganda's biggest national park and keep your eyes open for animals such as lions and leopards, although leopards can be difficult to spot. Bird lovers will also have the chance to see many different species while driving through the park.

Return to your accommodation to relax and have lunch. In the afternoon, you will take a boat trip to the bottom of Murchison Falls. During the cruise, you will see more wildlife, including hippos, crocodiles, and water birds. If you wish, you can hike to the top of the falls at an extra cost. The hike can be challenging, but the feeling of reaching the summit is unforgettable. Afterwards, return to your accommodation and relax.

Wake up early and drive to Budongo Forest Reserve, which is about 1 hour and 15 minutes away. We will arrive in time for the 8:00 am briefing. After the meeting, we will head into the forest to look for the closest relatives of humans in their natural habitat.

Enjoy a supervised walk through the beautiful tropical forest in search of a friendly group of chimpanzees. Your guide will also share information about the animals and plants you encounter along the way. After the trek, we can relax and have lunch at Budongo Eco Lodge. Later, we will continue on a short drive to Hoima City, where we will spend the night at the accommodation already reserved for you.

Enjoy a relaxed breakfast at your accommodation before driving to Queen Elizabeth National Park. You will arrive in time for lunch, a short rest, and then an evening game drive. During the drive, keep an eye out for wildlife such as reedbuck, bushbuck, kob, warthogs, elephants, lions, and buffaloes, among others.

Alternatively, you may choose the stunning drive through the explosion craters. This route offers a great opportunity to enjoy beautiful views and striking scenery in and around Queen Elizabeth National Park. You may also see some wildlife along the way, with Cape buffaloes and elephants being the most common. Afterwards, return to your accommodation to relax, have dinner, and stay overnight.

Wake up early and go on a morning drive in the Kasenyi Plains. Keep your eyes open for Cape buffaloes, herds of elephants, lions, and leopards, although leopards can be difficult to spot. Afterwards, return to the lodge and check out.

Then continue to the Ishasha sector in search of the famous tree-climbing lions. You have a good chance of seeing them, around 70%, although they can sometimes be hard to spot, especially when they are down in the grasslands searching for food. If you do see them, it is a beautiful sight and one you will remember. After leaving Ishasha, we will continue to your accommodation near Bwindi National Park in the Ruhija sector, arriving in the evening at around 6:00 pm.

After breakfast, go to the ranger station, where you will receive important instructions from a ranger guide about what you should and should not do during the trek. After the briefing, you will enter Bwindi Forest for this exciting experience.

This rainforest is truly beautiful, with steep and densely forested terrain filled with animal trails for visitors to explore. The duration of the trek and the type of terrain you cover will depend on where the gorillas have moved. Once you find a gorilla family, you will spend one hour with them. Watching these gentle giants, which are sadly at risk of extinction, is an unforgettable and thrilling experience. Afterwards, return to your accommodation, check out, and continue to Lake Mburo National Park for the night.

Enjoy breakfast and then set out for a morning walk in Lake Mburo National Park. You will be accompanied by an armed ranger from the Uganda Wildlife Authority. During this guided walk, you may see zebras, giraffes, eland, topi, other antelope species, and Cape buffaloes up close.

Continue along the trail to the highest point of the hills for views over Lake Mburo and beyond. From here, you can see 9 of the 12 lakes around Lake Mburo National Park. Afterwards, return to your accommodation, check out, and begin the journey back to Entebbe.