5-Day Gorilla and Chimp Trekking Safari in Uganda with Lake Bunyonyi

Your tour begins with pick-up from either your hotel or the airport on arrival. Your English-speaking driver-guide will meet you and drive with you to Queen Elizabeth National Park, one of Uganda's most popular tourist destinations. The park is home to a remarkable variety of habitats that support an impressive range of wildlife, including ten species of primates such as chimpanzees, more than 600 bird species, and large mammals like elephants and lions.

You will stop for lunch along the way before continuing into the beautiful landscapes of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Arrival is expected in the late afternoon or evening, after which you will head to your accommodation to rest and relax. If time allows, there may also be an opportunity for a late afternoon to evening game drive.

Wake up early and enjoy breakfast before setting out for a morning game drive in the Kasenyi Plains. This is a great time to look for Cape buffaloes, herds of elephants, and lions. Leopards can be harder to spot, but you should still keep an eye out for them.

After the drive, return to your lodge for some rest and a meal. Following lunch, you will head out on a two-hour boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, the waterway that connects Lake George and Lake Edward. During the cruise, you may see large hippos, elephants, crocodiles, and many different bird species gathered along the shoreline.

After the boat ride, you can either return to the lodge to relax or continue with another game drive until around 6:30 or 7:00 pm.

Wake up early for one final game drive in the Kasenyi Plains. Look out once again for Cape buffaloes, groups of elephants, lions, leopards, although they may be difficult to spot, and other wildlife. After the drive, return to the lodge and check out.

You will then continue to the Ishasha sector in search of the famous tree-climbing lions. There is about a 70% chance of seeing them, although they can sometimes be difficult to find, especially when they are moving through the tall grass in search of food. If you do spot them, it is a beautiful and unforgettable sight.

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

If you wish, you can choose chimp tracking in Kyambura instead of the sunrise game drive. Please remember that permission for chimp tracking must be secured before the actual date.

Place to stay: Broadbill Forest Camp (economical option) | Food included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner | Travel time: 6 hours.

After breakfast, head to the rangers' station, where a ranger guide will brief you on the dos and don'ts of gorilla trekking. You will then enter Bwindi Forest for this exciting experience. Trekking time and terrain vary depending on the movement of these large primates. Once you find a gorilla family, you will be allowed to spend one hour with them. Watching these peaceful and rare giants is a memorable and exciting experience.

After the trek, return to your accommodation, check out, and continue to Lake Bunyonyi. The lake is surrounded by lush, terraced hills rising between 2,200 and 2,478 metres. Its true beauty, however, lies in its 29 islands, each with its own shape and character. Scattered across the water, these islands create a scene that inspires wonder and awe, and you could easily spend an entire day simply admiring them.

Enjoy a peaceful breakfast while taking in the beautiful little islands of Lake Bunyonyi right in front of you. Afterwards, begin your journey back to Entebbe. You are expected to arrive in the late afternoon or evening, in time for your departure.

Along the way, you will stop for lunch at the Equator. Be sure to take some memorable photos before continuing your journey.