5-Day Uganda Apes Safari with Gorilla Trekking and Kazinga Cruise

Your tour begins with pick-up from either your hotel or the airport on arrival. An English-speaking driver-guide will meet you and transfer 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 abundance of wildlife, including ten species of primates, more than 600 bird species, and large mammals such as elephants and lions.

You will stop for lunch along the way before continuing into the beautiful Queen Elizabeth National Park. Arrival is 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. Look out for Cape buffaloes, herds of elephants, and lions. Leopards can be harder to spot, but it is always worth keeping an eye out for them.

After the drive, return to your lodge to relax and have a meal. Following lunch, take a two-hour boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, which connects Lakes George and Edward. During the cruise, you may see large hippos, elephants, crocodiles, and many different bird species gathered along the water's edge.

After the boat ride, you can either return to the lodge to rest or head out for another game drive until around 6:30 or 7:00 pm.

Wake up early and head out for one final game drive in the Kasenyi Plains. Keep an eye out for Cape buffaloes, groups of elephants, lions, leopards - although they may be difficult to see - 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 hunting in the tall grass. 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 prefer, you may choose chimp tracking in Kyambura instead of the sunrise game drive, but please note that chimp tracking permission 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 trekking. You will then enter Bwindi Forest for your exciting gorilla trekking experience. Trekking time and terrain vary depending on the movement of these large primates. Once you find a gorilla family, you will 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 can fill you with wonder and awe, and you could easily spend a whole 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, arriving in the late afternoon or evening in time for your departure.

Along the way, you will stop for lunch at the Equator and have time to capture some special moments with photos.