6-Day Uganda Safari with Gorillas, Chimps and Tree-Climbing Lions

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.

This small savannah park is home to many bird species and animals such as zebras, impalas, buffaloes, and hippos. It is also one of the places where the rare leopard can be found.

On arrival, you will 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 an armed ranger-guide from the Uganda Wildlife Authority. 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. Afterwards, return to your accommodation, check out, and continue by road to Queen Elizabeth National Park.

You are expected to arrive at your lodge in Queen Elizabeth in time for lunch. After lunch and a short rest, you will head out for an afternoon 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 lodge and relax.

After breakfast, you will head to Kyambura Gorge for chimpanzee trekking. 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 tracking chimpanzees in this remarkable setting.

After the trek, return to your lodge for lunch and some time to rest. In the afternoon, set out on a 2-hour boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, the natural waterway that connects Lake George and Lake Edward.

During the cruise, you may see giant hippos, elephants, crocodiles, and a wide variety of wildlife along the shoreline. The channel is also rich in birdlife, making it an excellent place for birdwatching. After the boat ride, you may enjoy 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, leopards - although they can be difficult to spot - and other wildlife.

After the safari, return to the lodge and check out. You will then travel through the Ishasha sector, where you will search for the famous tree-climbing lions. The chance of seeing them is around 70%, although sightings are never guaranteed, especially when they are out hunting in the tall grass. If you do see them, it is a beautiful and memorable sight.

After Ishasha, continue to your accommodation near Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, specifically in the Ruhija sector. Arrival is expected in the evening, 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 this activity.

After breakfast, head to the ranger station for a briefing from a ranger-guide about the rules and guidelines for gorilla trekking. You will then enter Bwindi Forest for this exciting experience.

The duration of the trek and the terrain covered will vary depending on the movements of the gorilla family you are tracking. Once you find the gorillas, you will be allowed to spend one hour with them. The thrill of watching these gentle and endangered giants in their natural habitat 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 between 2,200 and 2,478 metres above sea level. What makes it especially remarkable are its 29 islands, scattered across the water in different shapes and sizes, creating a truly enchanting landscape that you could admire for hours.

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

You will stop for lunch along the way and also visit the Uganda Equator line in Kayabwe. Here, you can take memorable photos and browse for artwork if you wish.

Continue the journey and arrive at the airport in the late afternoon or evening.