Mountain Gorilla Safari

Uganda is an extraordinary African dreamscape where mystical Central African forests meet the sun-dappled savannas of the Great Rift Valley—and the result is prime safari country with an unmatched biological diversity. On Uganda’s dramatic forested volcanoes, we hike in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in search of mountain gorillas for the heart-pounding experience of seeing these near-mythical creatures in the wild. We also hike in Kibale Forest, with its fantastic array of smaller primates including bands of wild chimpanzees, and enjoy a classic big-game safari by 4WD vehicle across the golden grasslands of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Here the towering Ruwenzori Mountains make a fine backdrop for our sightings of elephant, lion, leopard, big herds of buffalo, the handsome Uganda kob, and the largest concentration of hippos in the world.

Itinerary at a Glance

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Days 1-3
Kibale Forest National Park / Wild Chimpanzees

From lovely Ndali Lodge, set at a cool 5,000 feet in Kibale National Park’s tropical rainforest, we track bands of wild chimpanzees as they play, squabble, and scamper across the treetop canopy. The park is also home to vervet, colobus, and red-tailed monkeys as well as grey-cheeked mangabeys.

Days 4-6
Great Rift Valley / Queen Elizabeth National Park

In the western Great Rift Valley, vast Queen Elizabeth National Park has stunning and diverse ecosystems teeming with wildlife. We safari by 4WD vehicle on lake-dotted savannas, on foot in the Maramagambo Forest, and by boat on the Kazinga Channel, with its huge population of hippos.

Days 7-9
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park / Gorilla Tracking

Bwindi, a remnant of a once-vast primeval forest, is home to 11 primate species including highly endangered and magnificent mountain gorillas. With specialist rangers, we hike through mountainous terrain at altitudes of 3,800 to 8,500 feet to track gorillas for the spine-tingling experience of watching these gentle giants at close range in their natural habitat. Our lodge, Gorilla Forest Camp, located in the park, is a wonderful place that offers delightful tented rooms with comfortable beds, verandas, and en suite facilities including a shower and claw-footed bathtub.

Days 10-11
Entebbe

Fly to Entebbe and depart on Day 11 or join our Masai Mara Extension.

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Optional Extensions

If you would like to continue your adventure, we offer the following extensions:

• Masai Mara Game Reserve Extension (4 days)
• Gorilla Tracking In Rwanda's Parc Des Volcans (5 days)

What the Trip is Like

This trip is rated Level 3+, moderate. Our accommodations will be in comfortable hotels, safari lodges, and tented camps with spacious tents equipped with en suite facilities. The hikes to see the mountain gorillas can last anywhere from 3 to 6 hours over moderately steep, thickly forested, and uneven terrain, and the climate will be hot and humid. The shape you’re in will be an important factor in your enjoyment of these hikes.

We do our game viewing on bush walks and also by 4WD vehicle. During game drives in our 4WD vehicles, we guarantee window seating for all—there’s no taking turns on who gets the window seats. We use five-passenger Toyota Land Cruisers or Land Rovers (never minibuses!), and all vehicles have roof hatches for easy wildlife viewing and photography. A cooler of drinks and refreshments is carried aboard. And our 4WD vehicles can go virtually anywhere, an important feature when we’re tracking game. Please note that there are some long driving days over rough roads and dirt tracks. Any African safari is an adventure, and the traveler to Africa should bring along flexibility, a sense of humor, and an openness to the unexpected.

Explanation of Trip Levels