6-Day Uganda Primate Safari with Gorillas, Chimps and Lake Bunyonyi

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 savannah park that is home to many different birds and animals, including zebras, impalas, buffaloes, and hippos. The park is also home to the rare leopard. On arrival, you will check in, and 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, eland, topi, other antelopes, Cape buffaloes, and more wildlife at close range. You can also follow the trail up the hills for views of Lake Mburo and the surrounding landscape.

After the walk, return to your accommodation to check out, then continue by road to Queen Elizabeth National Park. You are expected to arrive at your lodge 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 types of antelopes. 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 such as baboons, monkeys, and birds. You will spend the first part of the day following the chimpanzees here.

After the trek, return to your accommodation for a break and lunch. In the afternoon, you will board a boat for a 2-hour cruise 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 safari in the Kasenyi Plains. Keep an eye out for Cape buffaloes, herds of elephants, lions, and leopards, although leopards can be difficult to spot, along with other wildlife. After the game drive, return to the lodge and check out.

You will then continue to the Ishasha sector in search of the famous tree-climbing lions. The chance of seeing these lions is around 70%, although sightings are not guaranteed, especially when they are 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 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, head to the ranger station for a briefing from a ranger-guide on the dos and don'ts of trekking. After the briefing, you will enter Bwindi Forest for your gorilla trekking 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 spend one hour with them. The thrill of watching these gentle and endangered giants is an unforgettable experience. After the trek, return to your accommodation, check out, and continue to Lake Bunyonyi.

Lake Bunyonyi is surrounded by beautiful green terraced hills rising from about 2,200 to 2,478 metres. What makes the lake especially remarkable are its 29 islands, scattered across the water in different shapes and sizes. Their enchanting beauty is something 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 your journey back to Entebbe Airport.

You can expect to stop for lunch along the way and also pause 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.