8 Days Western Uganda Gorilla, Chimpanzee and Wildlife Safari

After an early breakfast, you will embark on a guided nature walk in Lake Mburo National Park.
A guided walk provides a different perspective of the park from a vehicle safari. Accompanied by a trained guide, you can explore the landscape on foot while learning about animal tracks, plants, birds and the smaller details of the ecosystem.
Depending on the route and conditions, you may encounter wildlife such as zebras, impalas, warthogs, buffaloes and other antelope species.
After the nature walk, you will begin the journey towards southwestern Uganda and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
The drive takes several hours and passes through changing landscapes, rural communities, cultivated hills and highland scenery. You will have lunch en route before continuing to your lodge.
As you approach Bwindi, the landscape becomes increasingly mountainous and forested. Upon arrival, you will check into your lodge, relax and prepare for the following day's gorilla trekking adventure.
Accommodation Options
Luxury: Buhoma Lodge, Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp, Gorilla ResortMid-range: Rushaga Gorilla Camp, Lake Kitandara CampBudget: Buhoma Community Rest Camp, Gorilla Mist Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

After an early breakfast, you will prepare for one of the highlights of your safari: mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
You will carry your packed lunch and transfer to the appropriate park headquarters for registration and a briefing on gorilla trekking guidelines.
After the briefing, you will enter the forest accompanied by experienced park guides and trackers. The trek can take several hours depending on the location and movement of the gorilla group assigned to you.
Bwindi's terrain is mountainous, densely forested and sometimes steep or muddy. The trek itself is part of the experience as you move through one of Uganda's most important montane forest ecosystems.
Along the way, you may encounter birds, primates, butterflies and other forest life before eventually locating the gorillas.
Once the gorillas are located, you will spend the permitted viewing time observing them in their natural habitat. You may see them feeding, resting, grooming, playing and interacting with members of their group.
The experience provides a rare opportunity to observe one of the world's most endangered great apes at close range while learning about their behaviour and the importance of conservation.
After the gorilla encounter, you will trek back to the park headquarters and meet your safari guide before returning to the lodge.
You will have dinner and overnight at your lodge.
Accommodation Options
Luxury: Buhoma Lodge, Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp, Gorilla ResortMid-range: Rushaga Gorilla Camp, Lake Kitandara CampBudget: Buhoma Community Rest Camp, Gorilla Mist Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Packed Lunch and Dinner

After a relaxed breakfast, you will check out and begin your journey towards the Ishasha Sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Ishasha is located in the southern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park and is particularly famous for its population of tree-climbing lions. The lions are sometimes seen resting in the branches of large fig and acacia trees while surveying the surrounding plains.
You will arrive in the Ishasha area in time for lunch before heading out for an afternoon or evening game drive.
As you explore the sector, you may encounter Uganda kob, topi, buffaloes, elephants, antelopes and other savannah wildlife. The open plains also provide an excellent setting for wildlife photography.
With some luck and favourable conditions, you may encounter the area's famous lions resting in trees.
After the game drive, you will return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation Options
Luxury: Ishasha Wilderness CampMid-range: Ishasha Jungle Lodge, Topi LodgeBudget: Savannah Resort
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

After breakfast, you will enjoy another opportunity for wildlife viewing in the Ishasha Sector before continuing towards the northern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park.
During the morning drive, you will continue searching for wildlife and may have another opportunity to see the famous tree-climbing lions.
You will then proceed towards the Kasenyi area, with game viewing along the way.
After lunch and depending on the day's schedule, you will enjoy a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, one of Uganda's most popular wildlife-watching experiences.
The channel connects Lake Edward and Lake George and attracts large numbers of wildlife. From the boat, you can often see large concentrations of hippos in the water and buffaloes, elephants and other animals along the shoreline.
The channel is also an important bird habitat, and you may encounter species such as kingfishers, herons, egrets, African fish eagles, cormorants and other water-associated birds.
Crocodiles can also be seen basking along suitable sections of the shoreline.
After the cruise, you will return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation Options
Luxury: Kyambura Gorge Lodge, Elephant Plains LodgeMid-range: Buffalo Safari Lodge, Marafiki Safari LodgeBudget: Kazinga Channel View Resort, Pumba Safari Cottages
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

You will wake up early for a morning game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
The early hours are often productive for wildlife viewing, as many animals are active before the heat of the day becomes intense.
Depending on the area visited and wildlife movements, you may encounter elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kob, antelopes, warthogs and other savannah species. There may also be opportunities to spot lions and other predators, although wildlife sightings are never guaranteed.
After the game drive, you will return for breakfast before checking out and continuing towards Kibale Forest National Park.
Kibale is renowned for its rich primate diversity and extensive tropical forest. The journey takes you through western Uganda's scenic countryside, with opportunities to see tea plantations, crater landscapes and rural communities.
Upon arrival, you will check into your lodge and have time to relax before the following day's chimpanzee trekking experience.
Accommodation Options
Luxury: Ndali Lodge, Primate Lodge, Kyaninga LodgeMid-range: Turaco Treetops, Isunga LodgeBudget: Kibale Forest Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

After breakfast, you will transfer to the chimpanzee trekking briefing point in Kibale Forest National Park.
After registration and briefing, you will be allocated to a chimpanzee tracking group and enter the forest accompanied by experienced park guides and trackers.
Chimpanzees are highly mobile and move through the forest in search of food, social interaction and suitable resting areas. The duration of the trek can therefore vary.
As you explore Kibale Forest, you may encounter other primates, birds, butterflies and a variety of forest vegetation.
Once chimpanzees are located, you will have the permitted viewing time to observe them in their natural habitat. You may see them feeding, climbing through the canopy, calling, grooming, playing and interacting with members of their community.
After the chimpanzee trek, you will return to the park headquarters and meet your driver-guide before returning to the lodge for lunch.
In the afternoon, you will visit the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, a community-managed wetland near Kibale Forest.
The guided Bigodi walk provides an opportunity to explore a different ecosystem and search for primates, birds and wetland wildlife. Depending on conditions, you may see red-tailed monkeys, black-and-white colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, vervet monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, baboons and other species.
The wetland is also known for its diverse birdlife, while species such as sitatunga and other small mammals may occasionally be encountered.
After the walk, you will return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation Options
Luxury: Ndali Lodge, Primate Lodge, Kyaninga LodgeMid-range: Turaco Treetops, Isunga LodgeBudget: Kibale Forest Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

After breakfast, you will check out and begin your journey back to Kampala or Entebbe.
The journey provides a final opportunity to enjoy Uganda's countryside before your safari comes to an end.
Depending on your flight schedule, your driver-guide will drop you off at your hotel in Kampala or at Entebbe International Airport for your onward flight.
This marks the end of your 8 Days Western Uganda Gorilla, Chimpanzee and Wildlife Safari.
Meal Plan: Breakfast