6-Day Uganda Safari with Gorilla Trekking and Kazinga Channel Cruise

You will be picked up either from your hotel or from Entebbe Airport on arrival. An English-speaking driver-guide will meet you and begin the journey to Lake Mburo National Park. Lake Mburo is a small and convenient park located close to the highway linking Entebbe and Kampala with the parks of western Uganda.

It is a compact savannah park that is home to many bird species and wildlife such as zebras, impalas, buffaloes, and hippos. The park is also home to the rare leopard. On arrival, you will proceed for check-in. If time allows, you may head out for a late afternoon to evening game drive. Otherwise, you will continue to your accommodation and spend the evening relaxing at leisure.

After an early breakfast, you will head out for a morning nature walk in Lake Mburo National Park with a ranger-guide from the Uganda Wildlife Authority, who will be armed. During this walk, you may see zebras, giraffes, elands, topis, other antelopes, Cape buffaloes, and more wildlife at close range. You can also follow the trail up the hills for views over Lake Mburo and the surrounding landscape.

After the walk, return to your accommodation and check out. Then continue by vehicle to Queen Elizabeth National Park. You are expected to arrive at your lodge in time for lunch. After lunch and a short rest, head out for a game drive. During the drive, you may spot herds of buffaloes or elephants, a pride of lions, a shy leopard, warthogs, and various antelope species. Later, return to your accommodation and relax.

After breakfast, you will set out to track chimpanzees in Kyambura Gorge. This gorge is home to chimpanzees as well as other wildlife, including baboons, monkeys, and birds. You will spend the first part of the day following the chimpanzees in this remarkable setting.

After the trek, return to your accommodation for a break and lunch. In the afternoon, enjoy a 2-hour boat trip on the Kazinga Channel, the waterway that connects Lakes George and Edward. During the cruise, you may see giant hippos, elephants, crocodiles, and other wildlife, along with many different bird species along the shoreline. After the boat ride, there may be time for a short late afternoon game drive before returning to the lodge.

Wake up early for a morning game drive in the Kasenyi Plains. Look out for Cape buffaloes, herds of elephants, lions, and leopards, although leopards can be difficult to spot, along with other wildlife. After the safari, return to the lodge and check out.

You will then travel through the Ishasha sector in search of the famous tree-climbing lions. The chance of seeing these lions is around 70%, although they can sometimes be hard to find, especially when they are hunting in the tall grass. If you do spot them, it is a beautiful and memorable sight.

After Ishasha, continue to your accommodation near Bwindi National Park in the Ruhija sector, arriving in the evening at around 5:00 or 6:00 pm.

Optional (extra cost $120): You may choose to join a lion-tracking experience with a member of the predator research team, who will guide you during the expedition.

After breakfast, proceed to the ranger station for a briefing from a ranger-guide on the dos and don'ts of gorilla trekking. After the briefing, enter Bwindi Forest for this exciting experience. The duration of the trek and the terrain covered will vary depending on the movements of these great primates.

Once you find a gorilla family, you will be allowed to spend one hour with them. The thrill of watching these gentle and endangered giants up close is an unforgettable experience.

After the trek, return to your accommodation, check out, and continue to Lake Bunyonyi. The lake is surrounded by beautiful green terraced hills rising from 2,200 to 2,478 metres. What makes it especially remarkable are the 29 islands scattered across its waters, each with its own shape and character. They are enchanting to look at, and you could spend hours admiring them.

Enjoy a relaxed breakfast at your accommodation while taking in the stunning views of the Bunyonyi islands right in front of you. Afterwards, begin your journey back to Entebbe Airport.

Lunch is expected en route, with a stop at the Uganda Equator line in Kayabwe. Here, you can take memorable photos and buy artwork if you wish. Continue the journey and arrive at the airport in the late afternoon or evening.